According to one embodiment, a tablet printing apparatus includes: a conveying path where a tablet is conveyed; a drying device configured to dry the tablet in the conveying path; and a print head device located on the downstream side of the drying device in the conveying path. The print head device is configured to perform printing on the tablet dried by the drying device.

A tablet has a first layer printed using visible ink and a second layer printed using invisible ink. The first layer includes characters, a trademark, or the like printed using the visible ink, which can be visually confirmed by an administrator in charge or a tablet user. The second layer includes a barcode or the like printed using the invisible ink, which cannot be visually confirmed by the administrator or the tablet user. The second layer is visualized by black light or the like so as to be made readable. The tablet is subjected to print processing by a tablet printing device provided with conveying disks A to C conveying the tablet while sucking and supporting a side surface of the tablet. The first layer 51 and the second layer are printed by inkjet heads, respectively.

A tablet has a first layer printed using visible ink and a second layer printed using invisible ink. The first layer includes characters, a trademark, or the like printed using the visible ink, which can be visually confirmed by an administrator in charge or a tablet user. The second layer includes a barcode or the like printed using the invisible ink, which cannot be visually confirmed by the administrator or the tablet user. The second layer is visualized by black light or the like so as to be made readable. The tablet is subjected to print processing by a tablet printing device provided with conveying disks A to C conveying the tablet while sucking and supporting a side surface of the tablet. The first layer 51 and the second layer are printed by inkjet heads, respectively.

A printing process for dosage forms selected from hard or soft capsules, the process comprising the steps of: (i) providing a plurality of said dosage forms, preferably filled with a liquid composition, in a reservoir; (ii) transferring a predetermined number of the dosage forms from said reservoir to a printing station; (iii) printing indicia over each of the dosage forms; (iv) transferring the printed dosage forms to an inspection station arranged to sense a predetermined characteristic of the indicia; (v) sorting the dosage forms based on the sensed predetermined characteristic of the indicia by separating dosage forms that meet the predetermined characteristics from dosage forms that do not meet the predetermined characteristics; wherein the dosage forms that do not meet the predetermined characteristics are collected and further processed through a regenerating unit arranged to remove the indicia from the dosage forms in a regeneration step, and further re-processed according to steps (i) to (v).

A tablet printing apparatus and a tablet manufacturing method are provided which are capable of distinguishing and collecting a preceding tablet and a following tablet from each other when two or more tablets in contact with each other are carried. A tablet printing apparatus includes a carrying device 20 carrying tablets Tb, a sensor 30 detecting the tablet Tb being carried by the carrying device 20, a printing unit 50 performing, when the status changes from the status in which the sensor 30 the tablet Tb is not detected to the status in which the tablet Tb is detected, printing on the tablet Tb that has changed the status, and a collecting unit R distinguishing and collecting, when the time length at which the sensor 30 is detecting the tablet Tb is longer than the predetermined setting value because two or more tablets Tb in contact with each other are carried, the preceding tablet Tb and the following tablet Tb following thereto among two or more tablets Tb.

A tablet printing apparatus first applies either ultraviolet rays or infrared rays to surfaces of tablets that are being conveyed. The ultraviolet or infrared rays are applied to at least a contour portion of a target area where a print image is to be formed. In the case of applying ultraviolet rays, the surface of the contour portion is roughened, and the angle of contact with ink is reduced. In the case of applying infrared rays, the contour portion is etched into a recessed shape. Thereafter, ink is ejected inside the contour portion. This configuration suppresses the spread of the ejected ink to the outside of the target area. As a result, the print image has a well-defined contour.

A tablet printing apparatus first applies either ultraviolet rays or infrared rays to surfaces of tablets that are being conveyed. The ultraviolet or infrared rays are applied to at least a contour portion of a target area where a print image is to be formed. In the case of applying ultraviolet rays, the surface of the contour portion is roughened, and the angle of contact with ink is reduced. In the case of applying infrared rays, the contour portion is etched into a recessed shape. Thereafter, ink is ejected inside the contour portion. This configuration suppresses the spread of the ejected ink to the outside of the target area. As a result, the print image has a well-defined contour.

A tablet printing device includes a first conveying disk that conveys a tablet while sucking and supporting a side surface of the tablet and an inkjet head capable of applying print processing to the front and back surfaces of the tablet conveyed by the conveying disk. The tablet is conveyed while being supported by a second conveying disk at its front and back surfaces and subjected to inspection of the side surface by a side surface inspection device. The tablet is transferred from the second conveying disk to the first conveying disk at a tablet delivery part and then supported by a suction hole formed in an end surface of the first conveying disk with the front and back surfaces fully exposed. The front and back surfaces are subjected to print processing ead, followed by print inspection, and only a non-defective tablet is discharged through a non-defective tablet discharge part.

A tablet printing device includes a first conveying disk that conveys a tablet while sucking and supporting a side surface of the tablet and an inkjet head capable of applying print processing to the front and back surfaces of the tablet conveyed by the conveying disk. The tablet is conveyed while being supported by a second conveying disk at its front and back surfaces and subjected to inspection of the side surface by a side surface inspection device. The tablet is transferred from the second conveying disk to the first conveying disk at a tablet delivery part and then supported by a suction hole formed in an end surface of the first conveying disk with the front and back surfaces fully exposed. The front and back surfaces are subjected to print processing ead, followed by print inspection, and only a non-defective tablet is discharged through a non-defective tablet discharge part.

According to one embodiment, a tablet printing apparatus includes: a conveyor belt that includes a suction hole connected to a suction chamber, and conveys a tablet while sucking the tablet to the suction hole; an ink jet print head that has a nozzle surface where a nozzle is formed, and is located above the conveyor belt such that the nozzle surface faces the conveyor belt, and performs printing on the tablet conveyed by the conveyor belt; and a control plate that is located on the upstream side of the print head in the conveying direction of the tablet between the conveyor belt and the height position of the nozzle surface of the print head, and controls an airflow generated between the conveyor belt and the print head.