BINDING DEVICE

Abstract

A binding device includes a pair of gears to rotate, the pair of gears crimping media to be bound while conveying the media to be bound entering an engagement portion of the pair of gears that are rotating, and a guide unit on one side in a rotation-axis direction of the pair of gears with respect to the pair of gears, the guide unit extending from one side to another side with respect to the engagement portion in a conveyance direction in which the media to be bound is conveyed by the pair of gears, the guide unit including a guide to guide a bound end of the media to be bound, the guide being inclined to be disposed closer to the pair of gears as a downstream portion of the guide in the conveyance direction with respect to the engagement portion goes downstream in the conveyance direction.

Claims

1. A binding device comprising: a pair of gears to rotate, the pair of gears crimping a plurality of media to be bound while conveying the plurality of media to be bound entering an engagement portion of the pair of gears that are rotating; and a guide unit on one side in a rotation-axis direction of the pair of gears with respect to the pair of gears, the guide unit extending from one side to another side with respect to the engagement portion in a conveyance direction in which the plurality of media to be bound is conveyed by the pair of gears, the guide unit including a guide to guide a bound end of the plurality of media to be bound, a portion of the guide located downstream of the engagement portion in the conveyance direction is inclined from an upstream side toward a downstream side in the conveyance direction.

2. The binding device according to claim 1, wherein the guide unit includes a pressing portion to face the bound end from above to prevent the bound end from floating up.

3. The binding device according to claim 1, wherein the guide unit has a table on which the plurality of media to be bound are disposed, and wherein the guide protrudes vertically from the table.

4. The binding device according to claim 1, wherein the conveyance direction in which the plurality of media to be bound is conveyed by the pair of gears is switchable, and wherein one side and another side of the guide with respect to the engagement portion in the conveyance direction are inclined with respect to the conveyance direction to be disposed closer to the pair of gears as each of the one side and said another side moves away from the engagement portion.

5. The binding device according to claim 1, further comprising a changer to change an angle of inclination of the guide with respect to the conveyance direction in which the plurality of media to be bound is conveyed by the pair of gears.

6. The binding device according to claim 5, wherein the conveyance direction in which the plurality of media to be bound is conveyed by the pair of gears is switchable, and wherein the changer changes the angle of inclination according to the conveyance direction in which the plurality of media to be bound is conveyed by the pair of gears.

7. The binding device according to claim 5, wherein the changer has a holder that holds the guide unit in a pivotable manner at a same position as the engagement portion in the conveyance direction.

8. The binding device according to claim 5, wherein the changer changes an angle of inclination of the guide on one side in the conveyance direction and an angle of inclination of the guide on another side in the conveyance direction, with respect to a position of the engagement portion.

9. The binding device according to claim 8, wherein the guide unit includes a first member having the guide on the one side in the conveyance direction and a second member having the guide on said another side in the conveyance direction, and wherein the changer has a holder that holds the first member and the second member in a pivotable manner at a same position as the engagement portion in the conveyance direction.

10. The binding device according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of media to be bound is a medicine package.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] A more complete appreciation of embodiments and the many attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.

[0007] FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a medicine-package binding machine.

[0008] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an internal structure of a medicine-package binding machine.

[0009] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a binding mechanism.

[0010] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a binding mechanism viewed in a side-to-side direction.

[0011] FIG. 5 is a magnified view of a pressing mechanism and elements around the pressing mechanism.

[0012] FIG. 6 is a schematic top view of a first gear holder and elements around the first gear holder.

[0013] FIG. 7 is a schematic top view of a second gear holder and elements around the second gear holder.

[0014] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a second gear at a position to apply pressure.

[0015] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a second gear at a position to release pressure.

[0016] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a drive transmission assembly.

[0017] FIG. 11 is a schematic plan view of an operation panel.

[0018] FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a medicine package sensor.

[0019] FIG. 13 is a schematic side view of a pair of side guides, an upper guide, and elements around those guides.

[0020] FIG. 14 is a front view of the second gear holder of FIG. 7.

[0021] FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of a medicine-package binding machine.

[0022] FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram of a bundle of medicine packages that are crimp-bound.

[0023] FIG. 17 is a schematic view of how a bundle of medicine packages composed of five medicine packages is made to enter an engagement portion, according to a comparative example.

[0024] FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram illustrating how medicine packages at midpoint positions are displaced at an engagement portion to the front of a binding device according to a comparative example.

[0025] FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram of a medicine-package guide that is an example of a guide unit.

[0026] FIG. 20 is a schematic view of how a bundle of medicine packages composed of five medicine packages is made to enter an engagement portion.

[0027] FIG. 21A is a diagram illustrating cases in which there is no upper guide.

[0028] FIG. 21B is a diagram illustrating cases in which an upper guide is arranged.

[0029] FIG. 22 is a schematic view of elements according to a first modification.

[0030] FIG. 23 is a schematic view of elements according to a second modification.

[0031] FIG. 24 is a schematic diagram illustrating how the angle of inclination of a side guide on one side and the angle of inclination of a side guide on the other side are adjustable independently, according to a second modification.

[0032] FIG. 25 is a diagram viewed in a direction indicated by an arrow A of FIG. 24.

[0033] FIG. 26A is a diagram illustrating a binding device arranged at a sheet ejection unit inside an image forming apparatus.

[0034] FIG. 26B is a diagram illustrating a binding device arranged at a side sheet ejection unit of an image forming apparatus.

[0035] The accompanying drawings are intended to depict embodiments of the present disclosure and should not be interpreted to limit the scope thereof. The accompanying drawings are not to be considered as drawn to scale unless explicitly noted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the present disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms a, an, and the are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms includes and/or including, when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

[0037] In describing embodiments illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However, the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that have the same structure, operate in a similar manner, and achieve a similar result.

[0038] Some embodiments of the present disclosure are described below with reference to the drawings. The above-described embodiments are illustrative and do not limit the present disclosure. Thus, numerous additional modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. For example, elements and/or features of different illustrative embodiments may be combined with each other and/or substituted for each other within the scope of the present disclosure. The above-described embodiments are illustrative and do not limit the present disclosure.

[0039] Firstly, a configuration or structure of a medicine-package binding machine 1, which is an example of a binding device, is schematically described.

[0040] FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of the medicine-package binding machine 1.

[0041] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an internal structure of the medicine-package binding machine 1 of FIG. 1.

[0042] In the following description, the lateral direction, the depth direction, and the vertical direction of the medicine-package binding machine 1 are referred to as the X-axis direction, the Y-axis direction, and the Z-axis direction, respectively.

[0043] As illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the medicine-package binding machine 1 that is an example of a binding device includes a housing 2, a medicine-package guide 3, a foot switch 6, an operation panel 16, and a binding mechanism 70. As illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the housing 2 of the medicine-package binding machine 1 includes a base panel 7 (see FIG. 2), a side panel 8, a right side-panel cover 9 (see FIG. 1), a left side-panel cover 10 (see FIG. 1), and a front side-panel cover 8a. The housing 2 is provided with a pressure-adjuster cover 61a that covers the pressure adjuster 61 (see FIG. 2) of the binding mechanism 70. The right side-plate cover 9 is provided with a power switch 91 and a power connector 92 connected to external power. The medicine-package guide 3 has a pair of side guides 3a and 3c arranged at both ends in the front-rear direction parallel to the Y-axis direction, and an upper guide 3b that is arranged at a rear portion of the binding device and is an example of a pressing portion.

[0044] The base panel 7 illustrated in FIG. 2 is a base plate formed of sheet metal and shaped like a frame, and lower portions of the side panel 8 are fixed to the base panel 7. The base panel 7 is provided with four legs 11 that support the medicine-package binding machine 1. In FIG. 2, only two of the legs 11 on the front side are visible, and the two legs 11 on the rear side are hidden by the base panel 7 and are not visible. The binding mechanism 70 and the drive motor 5 are mounted on the side panel 8. The drive motor 5 and the base panel 7 are covered with a front side-panel cover 8a as illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0045] At an upper portion of the side panel 8, a pressure release lever 12 is arranged, having a bracket 60 therebetween. As will be described later, the pressure release lever 12 is operated or manipulated by an operator to apply or release the pressing force of a second gear 4a (see FIG. 3) to or from a first gear 4b (see FIG. 3).

[0046] The bracket 60 is positioned and fixed to the side panel 8, and the pressure release lever 12 and the pressure adjuster 61 that is arranged underneath are installed with respect to the bracket 60. The bracket 60 and the pressure adjuster 61 that moves as operated or manipulated by the pressure release lever 12 are covered with the pressure-adjuster cover 61a.

[0047] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the binding mechanism 70.

[0048] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the binding mechanism 70 viewed in a side-to-side direction parallel to the X-axis direction.

[0049] FIG. 5 is a magnified view of the pressing mechanism 67 and elements around the pressing mechanism.

[0050] The binding mechanism 70 is provided with a first gear 4a and a second gear 4b that are an example of a pair of crimpers. The binding mechanism 70 is provided with, for example, a pressing mechanism 67, a pressure adjuster 61, and a pressure release lever 12.

[0051] The first gear 4a is attached to the first-gear support shaft 30 so as to rotate integrally with the first-gear support shaft 30. As illustrated in the schematic view of FIG. 6 in which the peripheral area of the first gear 4a is viewed from above, the rear portion of the first-gear support shaft 30 penetrates the side panel 8, and the first-gear support shaft 30 is rotatably supported by the first gear holder 13a and the side panel 8 through a pair of bearing members 32a and 32b. At a rear end of the first-gear support shaft 30, as will be described later in detail, a drive gear 28 of a drive transmission assembly 80 (see FIG. 10) is fitted. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the first gear holder 13a is fixed to a pair of holder fixation members 31a and 31b that are fixed upright to the side panel 8.

[0052] The second gear 4b is attached to the second-gear support shaft 33 so as to rotate integrally with the second-gear support shaft 33. As illustrated in the schematic view of FIG. 7 in which the peripheral area of the second gear 4b is viewed from above, the second-gear support shaft 33 is rotatably supported by the second gear holder 13b through the bearing members 32c and 32d. The second gear holder 13b is fastened to a holder slider 36 by screws. The second-gear support shaft 33 may be fixed to the second gear holder 13b, or the second gear 4b may be rotatably supported by the second-gear support shaft 33.

[0053] As illustrated in FIG. 3 to FIG. 5, the pressing mechanism 67 is provided with, for example, a pressure plate 15, a pair of pressing springs 14, and a holder slider 36 to which the second gear holder 13b is fixed. The pressure plate 15 has a top face 15a and a side face 15b, and the side face 15b is supported by a linear guide 35 fixed to the side panel 8, so as to be movable in a predetermined range in the vertical direction parallel to the Z-axis direction.

[0054] To the side face 15b of the pressure plate 15, a pair of stepped pins 37 are fixed in the vertical direction parallel to the Z-axis direction. These two stepped pins 37 are inserted into a long hole 36a of the holder slider 36, which extends in the vertical direction parallel to the Z-axis direction, and the holder slider 36 is held by these two stepped pins 37 so as to be movable by a specified distance in the vertical direction parallel to the Z-axis direction, with respect to the pressure plate 15.

[0055] The pair of pressing springs 14 are horizontally arranged in the X-axis direction with respect to the second-gear support shaft 33. These pressing springs 14 are fitted in a compressed state between the second gear holder 13b and the top face 15a of the pressure plate 15 with the bottom ends thereof locked to the second gear holder 13b and the top ends thereof locked to the top face 15a of the pressure plate 15. Due to such a configuration, the second gear holder 13b is biased downward toward the first gear 4a by the pair of pressing springs 14, and the second gear 4b held by the second gear holder 13b contacts the first gear 4a with a predetermined pressure.

[0056] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the pressure adjuster 61 includes a bolt 64 and a pair of nuts 65 and 66, and the bolt 64 is screwed into the internal threads formed on the inner side of a cylindrical shaft 62. The top face 15a of the pressure plate 15 is held and fixed by the head of the bolt 64 and the nut 65. A nut 66 is used to screw the bolt 64 to the cylindrical shaft 62.

[0057] The pressure adjuster 61 adjusts the pressurizing force of the second gear 4b to the first gear 4a by adjusting the vertical position of the bolt 64 screwed into the cylindrical shaft 62. More specifically, the second gear 4b is positioned at a position where the first gear 4a is pressed, and the vertical position of the bolt 64 is adjusted. When the bolt 64 is screwed into the cylindrical shaft 62, the pressure plate 15 moves up relative to the holder slider 36 which is biased downward by the pair of pressing springs 14. Accordingly, a length L illustrated in FIG. 8 between the second gear holder 13b and the top face 15a of the pressure plate 15 increases, and the amount of compression of the pair of pressing springs 14 is reduced. As a result, the pressing force of the pair of pressing springs 14 against the second gear holder 13b decreases, and the pressing force of the second gear 4b against the first gear 4a is reduced.

[0058] By contrast, when the bolt 64 is loosened from the cylindrical shaft 62, the pressure plate 15 moves downward relative to the holder slider 36 which is biased downward by the pair of pressing springs 14. Accordingly, the length L illustrated in FIG. 8 between the second gear holder 13b and the top face 15a of the pressure plate 15 decreases, and the amount of compression of the pair of pressing springs 14 increases. As a result, the pressing force of the pair of pressing springs 14 against the second gear holder 13b increases, and the pressing force of the second gear 4b against the first gear 4a increases. When the pressing force of the second gear 4b against the first gear 4a falls within a desired range, the nut 66 is screwed and fixed such that the bolt 64 will not be loosened.

[0059] The cylindrical shaft 62 is held by the bracket 60 so as to be movable in the vertical direction, and the top end of the cylindrical shaft 62 is attached to the pressure release lever 12 through a link mechanism. The pressure release lever 12 is rotatably supported by a fulcrum pin 63 provided for the bracket 60.

[0060] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the second gear 4b at a position to apply pressure.

[0061] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of the second gear 4b at a position to release pressure.

[0062] The pressure release lever 12 is supported by the fulcrum pin 63 so as to be rotatable by about 180 degrees, and as illustrated in FIG. 8, the pressure release lever 12 is tilted to the right when pressing operation is in progress. By contrast, when the pressing force is released, as illustrated in FIG. 9, the pressure release lever 12 is tilted to the left.

[0063] As illustrated in FIG. 8, when the pressure release lever 12 is tilted to the right, the second gear 4b contacts the first gear 4a with a predetermined pressing force. When the pressure release lever 12, as illustrated in FIG. 8, is rotated by 180 degrees by an operator, the rotation of the pressure release lever 12 is converted into linear motion in the vertical direction by the link mechanism, and the cylindrical shaft 62 moves upward. When the cylindrical shaft 62 moves upward, the pressure plate 15 that is held between the bolt 64 and the nut 65 of the pressure adjuster 61 moves upward as guided by the linear guide 35.

[0064] When the upper one of the two stepped pins 37 of the pressure plate 15 contacts the upper end of the long hole 36a of the holder slider 36, the holder slider 36 rises together with the pressure plate 15. As a result, the second gear holder 13b that is fixed to the holder slider 36 moves upward, and the second gear 4b that is held by the second gear holder 13b moves away from the first gear 4a. Accordingly, the pressure is released. When the pressure release lever 12 is tilted to the left as illustrated in FIG. 9, the second gear 4b is located at a position to release pressure, which is sufficiently spaced from the first gear 4a.

[0065] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of the drive transmission assembly 80 that transmits the driving force of the drive motor 5 to the first gear 4a.

[0066] The drive transmission assembly 80 is arranged on the rear side of the side panel 8, and includes a timing belt 26 looped over a motor shaft 5a of the drive motor 5 and a pulley 27a, a pulley gear 27 arranged coaxially and integrally with the pulley 27a, and the drive gear 28 that engages with the pulley gear 27. The drive gear 28 is attached to the rear end of the first-gear support shaft 30 so as to rotate integrally with the first-gear support shaft 30 provided with the first gear 4a (see also FIG. 6).

[0067] When the drive motor 5 is driven to rotate, the pulleys gear 27 rotate together with the pulley 27a through the timing belt 26, and the drive gear 28 that engages with the pulley gear 27 rotates. As a result, the first gear 4a is driven to rotate through the first-gear support shaft 30. When the drive motor 5 rotates in the clockwise (CW) direction, the drive transmission assembly 80 drives the first gear 4a to rotate in the counterclockwise (CCW) direction at a predetermined speed-reduction ratio.

[0068] FIG. 11 is a schematic plan view of the operation panel 16 arranged on a top face of the housing 2 of the medicine-package binding machine 1.

[0069] On the operation panel 16, first and second rotation-direction switches 17a and 17b, first and second rotation-direction display lamps 17c and 17d, a rotation-speed adjustment switch 18, a rotation-speed indicator 18a, a mode switch 19, a mode indicator 19a, and a feed-amount indicator 20 are arranged. Moreover, feed-amount adjustment switches 21a and 21b, a stop-time indicator 22, a pair of stop-time adjustment switches 23a and 23b, a start-stop switch 24, and a start-stop indicator 24a are arranged on the operation panel 16.

[0070] The first and second rotation-direction switches 17a and 17b are used to switch the rotation direction of the first gear 4a to switch the conveyance direction of a medicine package. When the medicine package is to be conveyed from right to left, the first rotation-direction switch 17a on the left is touched or pressed down to turn on the light-emitting diode (LED) of a first rotation-direction display lamp 17c on the left. When the medicine package is to be conveyed from left to right, on the contrary, the second rotation-direction switch 17b on the right is touched or pressed down to turn on the LED of a second rotation-direction display lamp 17d.

[0071] The rotation-speed adjustment switch 18 controls the number of revolutions per minute (rpm) of the drive motor 5 to switch the rotation speed of the first gear 4a among a plurality of stages such as three stages. The rotation-speed adjustment switch 18 serves as a number-of-revolution setting unit or a rotation-speed setting unit to adjust the number of revolutions per minute or the rotation speed of the drive motor 5 in a one-time binding operation. The rotation-speed indicator 18a has three LED lamps that are turned on depending on the three-stage rotation speed, including low speed, medium speed, and high speed, which is switched by an operation made on the rotation-speed adjustment switch 18.

[0072] The mode switch 19 is used to switch the binding mode of the medicine-package binding machine 1. Every time the mode switch 19 is touched or pressed down, the binding mode sequentially changes among a single-package mode that may be referred to as a single-package feed mode, an intermittent mode, and a continuous mode. The mode indicator 19a that is arranged on the right of the mode indicator 19a displays the current binding mode with its LED lighting.

[0073] The feed-amount adjustment switches 21a and 21b are used to adjust the amount of feed of the medicine packages every time the single-package mode (single-package feed mode) or the intermittent mode is run. Each of the feed-amount adjustment switches 21a and 21b is an example of a feeding-distance setting unit used to adjust the amount of feed of a medicine package by the rotation of the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b through the rotation of the drive motor 5. The amount of paper feed that is currently set is displayed on the feed-amount indicator 20. When the feed-amount adjustment switch 21a with a plus sign to switch the amount of paper feed to increase is touched or pressed down, the amount of paper feed increases. When the feed-amount adjustment switch 21b with a minus sign to switch the amount of paper feed to decrease is touched or pressed down, the amount of paper feed decreases.

[0074] The stop-time adjustment switches 23a and 23b are used to adjust the stop time between jobs in the intermittent mode. The stop-time adjustment switches 23a and 23b are an example of a stop-time setting device used to set the stop time of the drive motor 5 as desired. The stop time that is currently set is displayed on the stop-time indicator 22. When the stop-time adjustment switch 23a with a sign + is touched or pressed down, the length of stop time increases. When the stop-time adjustment switch 23b with a sign is touched or pressed down, the length of stop time decreases.

[0075] The start-stop switch 24 is used to start and stop the binding operation of medicine packages in each mode. By operating the start-stop switch 24, the started state and stopped state of the binding operation for medicine packages in each mode can be checked as the LED of the start-stop indicator 24a is turned on or off.

[0076] With the foot switch 6 illustrated in FIG. 1, an operation equivalent to an operation that can be done by the above start-stop switch 24 can be performed, and the result of the operation can be checked with the start-stop indicator 24a. For example, no LED is turned on when the binding operation for medicine packages is stopped, and a green LED is turned on when the binding operation for medicine packages is in progress. Moreover, a red LED is turned on in the event of an error. Alternatively, in the event of an error, an error code or the like may be displayed using, for example, the feed-amount indicator 20 and the stop-time indicator 22.

[0077] FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a medicine package sensor 40 that detects the entry of a medicine package into a binder, i.e., an engagement portion between the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b.

[0078] The medicine package sensor 40 includes a detection unit 40a part of which protrudes from a guiding surface of the medicine-package guide 3, which is an example of a table, and a sensor that detects the movement of the detection unit 40a, and is held by a bracket 41 fixed to the base panel 7 that is also referred to as a bottom plate.

[0079] The detection unit 40a moves downward or rotates such that a portion of the detection unit 40a protruding from the guiding surface of the medicine-package guide 3 is retracted from the guiding surface by the medicine package moving to the engagement portion, i.e., a binder, between the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b. As the sensor detects the motion of the detection unit 40a, the entry of a medicine package into the above-described engagement portion is detected.

[0080] Both when the bundle of medicine packages moves from left to right and when the bundle of medicine packages moves from right to left, the medicine package sensor 40 can detect a medicine package before the bundle of medicine packages enters a binder, i.e., an engagement portion between the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b.

[0081] More specifically, both when the bundle of medicine packages moves from left to right and when the bundle of medicine packages moves from right to left, the shape of the detection unit 40a is appropriately formed such that the detection unit 40a can move or rotate as desired and the sensor can detect the movement of the detection unit 40a before the bundle of medicine packages enters the engagement portion.

[0082] When the medicine package sensor 40 detects a medicine package, the drive motor 5 starts driving. When the medicine package sensor 40 does not detect a medicine package, the drive motor 5 stops driving. Accordingly, the first gear 4a can be driven to rotate only when a plurality of medicine packages are crimp-bound, and the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b can be prevented from being worn.

[0083] FIG. 13 is a schematic side view of a pair of side guides, an upper guide, and elements around those guides, which are used to bind a plurality of medicine packages.

[0084] FIG. 14 is a front view of the second gear holder 13b of FIG. 7.

[0085] The medicine-package guide 3 supports a plurality of medicine packages on the top face of the guiding surface 131, and as illustrated in FIG. 13, has the pair of side guides 3a and 3c and the upper guide 3b. The pair of side guides 3a and 3c are arranged at the ends of the medicine-package guide 3 in the front-rear direction. The upper guide 3b may be omitted. With the omission of the upper guide 3b, a plurality of medicine packages can easily be stacked on top of one another and set, and the medicine-package bundle that has been crimp-bound can easily be taken out. With the upper guide 3b, even when the ends of the medicine packages near a rear portion of the binding device are bent upward, the multiple medicine packages that are stacked on top of each other can be guided as desired, and the binding positions of the medicine packages can be prevented from being misaligned from desired positions.

[0086] The multiple medicine packages that are stacked on the guiding surface 131 of the medicine-package guide 3 are guided to an engagement portion between the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b as guided by the medicine-package guide 3. Both ends of the bottom face of the second gear holder 13b in the horizontal direction parallel to the X-axis direction are inclined and descend toward the engagement portion, and the bottom face of the second gear holder 13b is an example of a guide that guides the multiple medicine packages stacked on top of each other to an engagement portion.

[0087] The first gear 4a and the second gear 4b are pressed at a predetermined level of pressure. When the above-described medicine package sensor 40 detects a medicine package, the drive motor 5 starts driving. Accordingly, the first gear 4a starts rotating, and the second gear 4b rotates together with the first gear 4a. As operated by an operator, the medicine packages that are stacked on top of each other and are inserted into the engagement portion between the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b are crimp-bound by the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b and are conveyed.

[0088] When the medicine package sensor 40 no longer detects a medicine package, the drive motor 5 stops rotating, and the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b stops rotating. Accordingly, the binding operation stops, and the conveyance of a medicine package stops.

[0089] FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the medicine-package binding machine 1.

[0090] A control board 105 is implemented with, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a read-only memory (ROM), and random-access memory (RAM), and for example, the drive motor 5, the medicine package sensor 40, the power switch 91, the foot switch 6, and the operation panel 16 are coupled to the control board 105. The operation on the operation panel 16 or the foot switch 6 is sent to the control board 105, and the control board 105 controls various kinds of operation based on the operation. The drive motor 5 uses a direct-current (DC) servo motor with which a feeding position can be controlled by pulse, and is controlled by a pulse signal sent from the control board 105. Due to such configurations as described above, the amount of feed of a medicine package can accurately be controlled. Although the stepping motor can accurately control the amount of feed of the medicine package, the torque varies greatly depending on, for example, the number of medicine packages to be bound, the materials of the medicine packages to be bound, and the positions of the medicines inside each of the medicine packages. For this reason, step-out may occur with the use of a stepping motor, and it is desired that a DC servo motor be used as the drive motor 5.

[0091] The medicine-package bundle that has entered a binder, i.e., an engagement portion between the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b is conveyed by the pair of gears while being pushed in the vertical direction parallel to the Z-axis direction by the teeth of the first gear 4a or the teeth of the second gear 4b. The bundle of medicine packages is clamped between the tooth plane of the first gear 4a and the tooth plane of the second gear 4b, and the bundle of medicine packages is crimp-bound by such clamping force. Immediately after entering the engagement portion, the bundle of medicine packages can move in the forward and backward direction of the binding device, parallel to the Y-axis direction, as the above clamping force is weak for the bundle of medicine packages between the tooth plane of the first gear 4a and the tooth plane of the second gear 4b.

[0092] FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram of a medicine-package bundle MT that is crimp-bound.

[0093] More specifically, FIG. 16 illustrates a medicine-package bundle MT including three medicine packages M1, M2, and M3. A plurality of medicine packages M are laid in the conveyance direction, and for example, perforations are formed between each pair of the medicine packages M. Each one of the medicine packages M has a medicine-containing portion MF containing medicines and a bound portion MA that is crimp-bound. As illustrated in FIG. 16, the medicine packages M are crimp-bound by a pair of gears at a position distant from the bound end MA1 by distance X, and crimp-bound portions B are formed.

[0094] FIG. 17 is a schematic view of how a medicine-package bundle MT composed of five medicine packages is made to enter an engagement portion, according to a comparative example.

[0095] The medicine-containing portion MF that is filled with the medicines of the medicine package M is expanded by the filled medicine, and a portion of the medicine-package bundle MT near the medicine-containing portion MF is bulky. Accordingly, the bound portions MA of the medicine packages M in the medicine-package bundle MT face each other with predetermined gap. When the front end of the medicine-package bundle MT enters a binder, i.e., an engagement portion under such conditions, the bound portion of the uppermost one of the medicine packages of the medicine-package bundle MT is pushed downward by the teeth of the second gear 4b. Once such operation is made, as illustrated in FIG. 17, the bound portions MA move downward, and the medicine-containing portions of upper ones of the medicine packages of the medicine-package bundle MT float up with a point around the teeth of the second gear 4b as a fulcrum. When those medicine-containing portions MF float up, upper ones of the medicine packages push lower ones of the medicine packages toward an area ahead of the binding device. Under such conditions, typically, the bound portions MA of the second to fourth medicine packages M2 to M4 of the medicine-package bundle MT at midpoint positions do not contact each other. Even if those bound portions MA contact each other, the pressing force that the teeth of the pair of gears 4a and 4b receive is weak. Accordingly, the medicine packages M2 to M4 at midpoint positions is moved to the front of the binding device by the pushing force Fx.

[0096] In the present embodiment, the medicine packages M2 to M4 at midpoint positions are restricted to move to the front of the binding device by a front portion of the side guide 3c. However, the medicine packages M are elastic and has low resilience. For this reason, the medicine-containing portion MF bends and deforms due to the pushing force Fx, and the bound portions MA of the medicine packages M2 to M4 move to the front in an unintentional manner. As a result, as illustrated in FIG. 18, the bound ends of the medicine packages M2 to M4 at the midpoint may move away from the side guide 3a on the recess side of the binding device, and the bound ends of the medicine packages M may be crimp-bound without being aligned appropriately. In some cases, the bound ends of the medicine packages M2 to M4 may move to the front of the binding device than the positions of the pair of gears, and may not be crimp-bound.

[0097] Although the pushing force Fx is applied from the medicine package M2 to the lowermost medicine package M1, the teeth of the first gear 4a prevents the bound portion MA of the lowermost medicine package M1 from moving to a front portion of the binding device. Due to such a configuration, the medicine-containing portion MF of the lowermost medicine package M1 is not bent.

[0098] FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram of the medicine-package guide 3 that is an example of a guide unit.

[0099] In the present embodiment described with reference to FIG. 19, as the side guide 3a close to a rear portion of the binding device, which is an example of a guide, goes downstream in the conveyance direction of the medicine-package bundle MT, the side guide 3a is inclined with respect to the conveyance direction of the medicine-package bundle MT by the pair of gears 4a and 4b such that the side guide 3a is located ahead of the binding device.

[0100] As illustrated in FIG. 19, the side guide 3a is inclined. Accordingly, a portion of the medicine-package bundle MT receives conveying force from the pair of gears 4a and 4b at the engagement portion, and the conveyance direction is changed from a conveyance direction H1 by the pair of gears 4a and 4b and to a direction H2 along the side guide 3a. The medicine-package bundle MT receives force Fr to pivot the medicine-package bundle MT in a counterclockwise direction. Due to such configurations as described above, pressing force Ft that presses the bound end MA1 against the side guide 3a is applied to a portion of the medicine-package bundle MT at the engagement portion. The pressing force Ft increases as the angle of inclination of the side guide 3a by the pair of gears with respect to the conveyance direction becomes wider. In the present embodiment, the angle of inclination is arranged such that the above-described pressing force Ft will be equal or greater than the pushing force Fx.

[0101] FIG. 20 is a schematic view of how a bundle of medicine packages MT composed of five medicine packages is made to enter an engagement portion.

[0102] As described above with reference to FIG. 19, the side guide 3a is inclined such that the above-described pressing force Ft at the engagement portion will be equal or greater than the pushing force Fx. Accordingly, the bound ends of the medicine packages M2 to M4 of the medicine-package bundle MT at the midpoint can be prevented from moving to the front side of the binding device. As a result, the bound ends MA1 of the medicine packages M2 to M4 at the midpoint can be prevented from moving away from the side guide 3a immediately after the medicine-package bundle MT has entered the engagement portion. Due to such a configuration, the medicine-package bundle MT can be crimp-bound by the clamping force between the tooth planes of one gear 4a and the tooth planes of the other gear 4b with the bound ends of all the medicine packages M1 to M5 pressed against the side guide 3a, and crimp binding can be performed with the bound end MA1 of the medicine-package bundle MT aligned.

[0103] The side guide 3a is vertically arranged on the guiding surface 131 of the medicine-package guide 3 where the medicine-package bundle MT is placed. Due to such a configuration, the bound ends MA1 of the medicine packages M1 to M5 of the medicine-package bundle MT are pushed against the side guide 3a by the pressing force Ft, and the medicine-package bundle MT can be bound with the bound end MA1 of the medicine packages M1 to M5 aligned. As a result, as illustrated in FIG. 16, for all the medicine packages of the medicine-package bundle MT, the crimp-bound portions B can be formed at positions distant from the bound ends MA1 of the medicine packages by distance X.

[0104] In the configuration illustrated in FIG. 19, a front portion of the side guide 3c is also inclined toward the front side of the binding device as the side guide 3c goes downstream in the conveyance direction of the medicine-package bundle MT, and the distance between a rear portion of the side guide 3a and a front portion of the side guide 3c in the front-rear direction parallel to the Y-axis direction is made constant in the conveyance direction parallel to the X-axis direction.

[0105] As described above, in the present embodiment, the pressing force Ft that presses the medicine-package bundle MT against the side guide 3a is applied to an engagement portion. When the medicine packages M are elastic and has low resilience and the upper guide 3b is absent, as illustrated in FIG. 21A, rear portions of the medicine packages M in the binding device may float up due to the pressing force Ft with respect to the engagement portion. As a result, the medicine-package bundle MT may be bound with the bound ends misaligned.

[0106] By contrast, in the present embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the medicine-package guide 3 has the upper guide 3b on the rear side of the binding device with respect to the engagement portion. Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 21B, the upper guide 3b can prevent rear portions of the medicine packages with respect to the engagement portion in the binding device from floating up. Accordingly, the medicine-package bundle MT can be bound with the bound end MA1 of the medicine packages M much more aligned.

[0107] Some modifications of the above embodiments of the present disclosure are described below.

First Modification

[0108] FIG. 22 is a schematic view of elements according to a first modification.

[0109] In the first modification described with reference to FIG. 22, the medicine-package guide 3 is attached to the housing 2 in a pivotable manner. More specifically, in the housing 2, the holding shaft 120 that is an example of a holder that holds the medicine-package guide 3 in a pivotable manner is arranged at the same position as the engagement portion of the pair of gears in the conveyance direction parallel to the X-axis direction. More specifically, the holding shaft 120 is arranged such that the axial center of the holding shaft 120 matches the rotation center of the pair of gears, which will be referred to as a center of engagement O1 in the following description, in the conveyance direction parallel to the X-axis direction. In the center of the rear edge of the medicine-package guide 3 in the conveyance direction, a holding hole 3e is arranged, and the holding shaft 120 is inserted into the holding hole 3e. Accordingly, the medicine-package guide 3 is held in a pivotable manner with the holding shaft 120 as a fulcrum.

[0110] The holding hole 3e is provided with internal threads 3e1, and a fixing screw 121 is threadably fitted to the internal threads 3e1 to fix the medicine-package guide. The fixing screw 121 is screwed into the internal threads 3e1 to press the tip of the fixing screw 121 against the holding shaft 120. By so doing, the medicine-package guide 3 is fixed to the housing 2 so as not to pivot.

[0111] As described above, the medicine-package binding machine 1 can switch the rotation direction of the first gear 4a to switch the conveyance direction of the medicine package M. When the conveyance direction of the medicine packages M is switched from the direction toward the left side of the binding device as illustrated in FIG. 19 to the direction toward the right side of the binding device, the side guide 3a illustrated in FIG. 19 is inclined toward the rear side of the binding device in an unintentional manner as the side guide 3a goes downstream in the conveyance direction of the medicine-package bundle MT.

[0112] In the first modification, the medicine-package guide 3 is attached to the housing 2 in a pivotable manner. Due to such a configuration, the medicine-package guide 3 can be driven to pivot to change the inclination of the side guide 3a, depending on how the conveyance direction of the medicine package is switched. Accordingly, in both the conveyance from the left to the right of the binding device and the conveyance from the right to the left of the binding device, a rear portion of the side guide 3a can be inclined toward the front side of the binding device as the side guide 3a goes downstream in the conveyance direction of the medicine-package bundle MT.

[0113] More specifically, when the inclination of the side guide 3a is changed, the fixing screw 121 is loosened so as to be rotatable. After the medicine-package guide 3 is be driven to pivot with the holding shaft 120 as a fulcrum to change the inclination of the side guide 3a, the fixing screw 121 is loosened to fix the medicine-package guide 3.

[0114] In the first modification, the angle of inclination of the side guide 3a with respect to the conveyance direction of the medicine-package bundle MT can be adjusted. For example, the pushing force Fx may change depending on the temperature and humidity at that moment in time and the material of the medicine package, and the pushing force Fx may become stronger than the pressing force Ft. In such cases, the medicine-package guide 3 is driven to pivot to increase the angle of inclination of the side guide 3a. By increasing the angle of inclination, the pressing force Ft can be increased to be equal or greater than the pushing force Fx, and the medicine package can be prevented from moving to the front side of the binding device at the engagement portion.

[0115] As described above, in the first modification, the angle of inclination of the side guide 3a can appropriately be adjusted depending on the materials of the medicine packages and the temperature and humidity while the binding is in progress, and the medicine-package bundle MT can be bound with the bound end of the medicine packages M well aligned.

[0116] In the first modification, the medicine-package guide 3 is manually driven to pivot to change the inclination of the side guide 3a. However, no limitation is indicated thereby, and the inclination of the side guide 3a may be automatically changed. For example, a driver that pivots the medicine-package guide 3 may be arranged, and when the first rotation-direction switch 17a illustrated in FIG. 11 is touched or pressed down, the driver may drive the medicine-package guide 3 to pivot such that the side guide 3a is inclined and the left side of the binding device in the X-axis direction is located forward.

[0117] By contrast, when the second rotation-direction switch 17b illustrated in FIG. 11 is touched or pressed down, the driver drives the medicine-package guide 3 to pivot such that the side guide 3a is inclined and the right side of the binding device in the +X-axis direction is located forward. Accordingly, the inclination of the side guide 3a is automatically changed with respect to the conveyance direction of the medicine-package bundle MT.

[0118] Further, the operation panel 16 illustrated in FIG. 11 may be provided with an adjustment key used to increase the angle of inclination of the side guide 3a by a predetermined degree and an adjustment key used to decrease the angle of inclination of the side guide 3a by a predetermined degree to enable automatic adjustment for the angle of inclination of the side guide 3a.

Second Modification

[0119] FIG. 23 is a schematic view of elements according to a second modification.

[0120] In the second modification described with reference to FIG. 23, a side guide 3aR on one side on the right in FIG. 23 and a side guide 3aL on the other side on the left in FIG. 23 with respect to the engagement portion, i.e., the center of engagement O1, in the conveyance direction parallel to the X-axis direction are both inclined so as to be positioned toward the front side of the binding device as these side guides move away from the engagement portion.

[0121] Due to such a configuration, in both cases where the medicine-package bundle MT is conveyed from the right in FIG. 23 and where the medicine-package bundle MT is conveyed from the left in FIG. 23, the side guide 3a downstream from the engagement portion in the conveyance direction is inclined toward the front side of the binding device as the side guide goes downstream in the conveyance direction. Accordingly, in contrast to the first modification, when the conveyance direction of the medicine package M is to be switched, without driving the medicine-package guide 3 to pivot to change the inclination of a rear portion of the side guide 3a, the pressing force Ft can be applied to the bound ends MA1 of the medicine packages M in both cases where the medicine-package bundle MT is conveyed from the right and where the medicine-package bundle MT is conveyed from the left. Accordingly, the medicine-package bundle MT can be bound with the bound ends MA1 of the medicine packages M aligned.

[0122] As the conveyance direction of the medicine-package bundle MT before entering the engagement portion is different from the conveyance direction of the medicine-package bundle MT after entering the engagement portion, the direction of conveyance is changed when the medicine-package bundle MT enters the engagement portion. In the second modification, there is an inclination toward the front side of the binding device as the side guide 3a upstream from the engagement portion goes downstream in the conveyance direction, and the medicine-package bundle that has entered the engagement portion as guided by the side guide 3a on the upstream side rotates counterclockwise due to the change in the conveyance direction. Due to such a configuration, the bound end MA1 of the medicine packages M can be pressed against the side guide 3a at portions upstream from the engagement portion. Accordingly, the bound end MA1 of the medicine packages M can be prevented from moving away from the side guide 3a at portions upstream from the engagement portion. Moreover, a bundle of medicine packages can be made to enter an engagement portion with the bound end of the medicine packages M aligned, and the medicine-package bundle MT can be bound with the bound end MA1 of the medicine packages M much more aligned.

[0123] FIG. 24 is a schematic diagram illustrating how the angle of inclination of the side guide 3aR on one side in the conveyance direction (see the right side in FIG. 24) and the angle of inclination of the side guide 3aL on the other side in the conveyance direction (see the left side in FIG. 24) are adjustable independently, with respect to the engagement portion, i.e., the center of engagement O1, according to a second modification.

[0124] FIG. 25 is a diagram viewed in a direction indicated by an arrow A of FIG. 24.

[0125] In FIG. 24, the medicine-package guide 3 includes, with respect to the engagement portion, i.e., the center of engagement O1, a first guide unit 3R with a side guide 3aR formed on one side in the conveyance direction on the right and a second guide unit 3L with a side guide 3aL formed on the other side in the conveyance direction on the left.

[0126] In the guide units 3R and 3L, holding holes 3eR and 3eL are formed, respectively. Into the holding holes 3eR and 3eL, the holding shaft 120 is inserted. The guide units 3R and 3L are held in a pivotable manner with the holding shaft 120 as a fulcrum. In the present embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 25, the guide units 3R and 3L are held by the holding shaft 120 such that the holding hole 3eL of the second guide unit 3L overlaps with the holding hole 3eR of the first guide unit 3R.

[0127] In a similar manner to the first modification, internal threads 3e1R and 3e1L are formed in the holding holes 3eR and 3eL, respectively, and the fixing screw 121 is threadably fitted to each one of the internal threads 3e1R and 3e1L. In a similar manner to the first modification, the fixing screw 121 is tightened such that the tip of the fixing screw 121 pushes the holding shaft 120, and the first and second guide members 3R and 3L are fixed.

[0128] As illustrated in FIG. 24, a gap 3f is formed between the first guide unit 3R and the second guide unit 3L. The gap 3f allows the first guide unit 3R to pivot in a clockwise direction (see FIG. 24) within a range of a predetermined angle, and allows the second guide unit 3L to pivot in a counterclockwise direction (see FIG. 24) within a range of a predetermined angle.

[0129] The fixing screw 121 that threadably fits the holding hole 3eR is loosened to pivot the first guide unit 3R with the holding shaft 120 as a fulcrum. Accordingly, the angle of inclination of the side guide 3aR on one side (right side) is adjusted with respect to the engagement portion, i.e., the center of engagement O1. After the adjustment, the fixing screw 121 is loosened to fix the first guide unit 3R. In a similar manner to the above, the fixing screw 121 that threadably fits the holding hole 3eL is loosened to pivot the second guide unit 3L with the holding shaft 120 as a fulcrum. Accordingly, the angle of inclination of the side guide 3aL on the other side (left side) is adjusted with respect to the engagement portion, i.e., the center of engagement O1. After the adjustment, the fixing screw 121 is loosened to fix the first guide unit 3R. Due to this configuration, the angle of inclination of the side guide 3aR on one side (right side) in the conveyance direction and the angle of inclination of the side guide 3aL on the other side (left side) in the conveyance direction can appropriately be adjusted depending on the materials of the medicine packages and the temperature and humidity while the binding is in progress. Accordingly, the medicine-package bundle MT can be bound with the bound end MA1 of the medicine packages M well aligned.

[0130] The above-described embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrative and do not limit the present disclosure. Thus, numerous additional modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. For example, elements and/or features of different illustrative embodiments may be combined with each other and/or substituted for each other within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0131] As illustrated in FIG. 26A and FIG. 26B, the binding device according to the above embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied to, for example, a binding device 201 of an image forming apparatus.

[0132] FIG. 26A is a diagram illustrating the binding device 201 arranged at a sheet ejection unit inside the image forming apparatus.

[0133] FIG. 26B is a diagram illustrating the binding device 201 arranged at a side sheet ejection unit of the image forming apparatus.

[0134] When sheets on which images are formed by an image forming apparatus are ejected to the binding device 201 and a predetermined number of sheets are stacked in the binding device, crimp binding is performed at a desired position of a sheet bundle by a binding machine. The bound sheet bundle is stacked on an output tray 201a of the binding device 201. By applying the embodiments of the present disclosure to the binding device 201, a sheet bundle can be bound with the bound end of sheets aligned.

[0135] The embodiments described above are given as an example, and advantageous effects are achieved for each of the following modes given below.

First Aspect

[0136] A binding device such as the medicine-package binding machine 1 includes a pair of rotatable gears, and make a medium bundle such as the medicine-package bundle MT including a plurality of media to be bound such as the medicine packages M enter an engagement portion of the pair of gears. The medium bundle is crimp-bound while the medium bundle is being conveyed by the pair of gears. The binding device includes a guide unit such as the medicine-package guide 3 on one side in a rotation-axis direction of the pair of gears with respect to the pair of gears and at a rear portion of the binding device. The guide unit extends from one side to another side in a conveyance direction of the plurality of media to be bound with respect to the engagement portion and includes the guide such as the side guide 3a that guides a bound end of a medium bundle. The guide is inclined to be located closer to the pair of gears as a downstream portion of the guide in the conveyance direction goes downstream in the conveyance direction with respect to the engagement portion.

[0137] The media to be bound that have entered the engagement portion of the pair of gears that are rotating are conveyed by the pair of gears while being pushed toward the roots of the teeth of the other one of the gears by the teeth of one of the gears. The media to be bound are gradually clamped between the tooth planes of one gear and the tooth planes of the other gear, and a portion of the media to be bound closer to the center than the bound end is crimp-bound by such clamping force.

[0138] Immediately after three or more media to be bound enter the engagement portion, the bound ends of media to be bound at midpoint positions, which do not contact the teeth of the gears, may move away from the guide as pushed by the teeth of the gears. This is because, immediately after the media to be bound have entered the engagement portion, the clamping force between the tooth planes of one of the gears and the tooth planes of the other one of the gears is not sufficiently working, and the media to be bound can move in a direction moving away from the guide. In particular, when medicines are enclosed in the end on the other side of the bound end in each of the media to be bound when the ends on the other side of the bound ends of a plurality of media to be bound are bulky, in a similar manner to medicine packages, there is a high possibility that the bound ends of media to be bound at midpoint positions move away from the guide. This is because, when the ends on the other side of the bound ends of a plurality of media to be bound are bulky, the bound ends of the media to be bound enter the engagement portion with gaps among the media to be bound. When the bound end of the uppermost one of the media to be bound is pushed downward by the teeth of one of the pair of gears above the media to be bound, the end on the other side of the bound end of the uppermost one of the media to be bound floats up, and the gap between the bound end of the uppermost one of the media to be bound and the bound end of one of the media to be bound at midpoint positions directly below the uppermost one of the media to be bound becomes narrow. Under such conditions, one of the media to be bound at midpoint positions directly below the uppermost one of the media to be bound is pushed off in a direction moving away from the guide at a point that serves as a fulcrum of the floating of the uppermost one of the media to be bound. There is a high possibility that the bound ends of media to be bound at midpoint positions move away from the guide due to the pushing force.

[0139] As described above, when the bound ends of media to be bound at midpoint positions move away from the guide immediately after two or more media to be bound have entered the engagement portion, the bound ends of media to be bound at midpoint positions move away from the guide when a plurality of media to be bound are later crimp-bound by the clamping force between the tooth planes of one of the gears and the tooth planes of the other one of the gears. As a result, a plurality of media to be bound could be bound without the bound end of the media to be bound aligned.

[0140] In the binding device according to the first aspect, the side guide 3a downstream from the engagement portion in the conveyance direction is inclined toward the pair of gears as a guide goes downstream in the conveyance direction. Accordingly, portions of the media to be bound receive conveying force from the pair of gears at the engagement portion, and the conveyance direction is changed from a conveyance direction by the pair of gears to a direction along a guide. When the conveyance direction that is determined by the pair of gears is changed by the guide, pressing force that presses the bound ends against the guide is applied to portions of the media to be bound at the engagement portion. The bound ends of media to be bound at midpoint positions can be prevented from moving away from the guide by the pressing force immediately after two or more media to be bound have entered the engagement portion. Accordingly, ends of a plurality of media to be bound in the conveyance direction are crimp-bound by the clamping force between the tooth planes of one of the gears and the tooth planes of the other one of the gears with the bound ends of all the media to be bound pressed against the guide, and crimp binding can be performed with the bound ends of a plurality of media to be bound aligned.

Second Aspect

[0141] In the binding device according to the first aspect, the guide unit such as the medicine-package guide 3 has a pressing portion such as the upper guide 3b to face the bound end of the plurality of media to be bound such as the medicine packages from above to prevent the bound end of the plurality of media to be bound from floating up.

[0142] Due to such a configuration, as described above in the embodiments of the present disclosure, a pressing portion such as the upper guide 3b can prevent the bound ends of a plurality of media to be bound from floating up due to the pressing force Ft that pushes the bound ends of a plurality of media to be bound such as the medicine-package bundle MT against the guide such as the side guide 3a.

[0143] Accordingly, crimp binding can be performed that pushes the bound ends of a plurality of media to be bound against the guide, and a plurality of media to be bound can be bound with the bound ends (MA1) of a plurality of media (M) to be bound aligned.

Third Aspect

[0144] In the binding device (201) according to the first or second aspect, the guide unit (3) such as the medicine-package guide 3 has a table such as the guiding surface 131 on which the plurality of media to be bound such as the medicine-package bundle MT are disposed, and the guide such as the side guide 3a protrudes vertically from the table.

[0145] Due to such a configuration, as described above in the embodiments of the present disclosure, a plurality of media to be bound such as the medicine-package bundle MT are pushed against the guide when crimp binding is performed, and a plurality of media to be bound can be bound with the bound ends of a plurality of media to be bound aligned.

Fourth Aspect

[0146] In the binding device according to any one of the first to third aspects, the conveyance direction of the media to be bound such as the medicine-package bundle MT, by the pair of gears, is switchable, and one side and another side of the guide with respect to the engagement portion in the conveyance direction is inclined with respect to the conveyance direction to be located closer to the pair of gears as each of the one side and said another side moves away from the engagement portion.

[0147] According to the present aspect, as described above in the second modification of the present disclosure, both when a plurality of media to be bound such as the medicine-package bundle MT are conveyed from the one side of the guide and when a plurality of media to be bound are conveyed from the above another side of the guide, the side guide 3a downstream from the engagement portion in the conveyance direction is inclined toward the pair of gears as a guide such as the side guide 3a goes downstream in the conveyance direction. Accordingly, a plurality of media to be bound can be bound with the bound ends of a plurality of media to be bound aligned both when a plurality of media to be bound are conveyed from the above-described one side of the guide and when a plurality of media to be bound are conveyed from the above-described another side of the guide.

Fifth Aspect

[0148] The binding device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects further includes a changer to change an angle of inclination of the guide such as the side guide 3a with respect to the conveyance direction of the plurality of media to be bound, by the pair of gears. In the above embodiments of the present disclosure, such a changer corresponds to a holding shaft that holds the guide such as the medicine-package guide 3 in a pivotable manner.

[0149] According to the present aspect, as described above in the first modification of the present disclosure, the pushing force Fx that is generated when two or more media to be bound such as the medicine-package bundle MT enter the engagement portion changes depending on the temperature and humidity at that moment in time and the materials of the media to be bound. The angle of inclination of the guide such as the side guide 3a is changed by a changer depending on the temperature and humidity at that moment in time and the materials of the media to be bound while the binding is in progress. By so doing, the pressing force Ft can be increased to be equal to or greater than the pushing force Fx, and a plurality of media to be bound can be bound with the bound ends of a plurality of media to be bound well aligned.

Sixth Aspect

[0150] In the binding device according to the fifth aspect, the conveyance direction of the media to be bound such as a medicine-package bundle, by the pair of gears, is switchable, and the changer changes the angle of inclination according to a conveyance direction of the pair of gears.

[0151] According to the present aspect, as described above in the first modification of the present disclosure, both when a plurality of media to be bound such as the medicine-package bundle MT are conveyed from the one side of the guide and when a plurality of media to be bound are conveyed from the above another side of the guide, a downstream portion of the guide such as the side guide 3a with respect to the engagement portion can be inclined toward the pair of gears as the guide goes downstream in the conveyance direction, and a medium bundle can be bound with the bound ends of a plurality of media to be bound aligned.

Seventh Aspect

[0152] In the binding device according to the fifth or sixth aspect, the changer has a holder such as the holding shaft 120 that holds the guide unit such as the medicine-package guide 3 in a pivotable manner at a same position as the engagement portion in the conveyance direction.

[0153] According to the present aspect, as described above in the first modification of the present disclosure, the angle of inclination of the guide such as the side guide 3a can be changed by pivoting the guide unit such as the medicine-package guide 3 using a holder such as the holding shaft 120 as a fulcrum.

Eighth Aspect

[0154] In the binding device according to the fifth aspect, the changer can separately change the angle of inclination of the side guide 3aR, i.e., a guide on one side in the conveyance direction and the angle of inclination of the side guide 3aL, i.e., a guide on the other side in the conveyance direction with respect to the rotation center of the gear 4a or 4b.

[0155] According to the present aspect, as described above in the second modification of the present disclosure, the angle of inclination of a right guide such as the side guide 3aR on one side in the conveyance direction and the angle of inclination of a left guide such as the side guide 3aL on the other side in the conveyance direction can appropriately be adjusted depending on the materials of the medicine packages and the temperature and humidity while the binding is in progress, and a plurality of media to be bound can be bound with the bound ends of a plurality of media to be bound well aligned.

Ninth Aspect

[0156] In the binding device according to the eighth aspect, the guide unit (3) such as the medicine-package guide 3 includes a first member such as the first guide unit 3R having a guide such as the side guide 3aR on the one side in the conveyance direction and a second member such as the second guide unit 3L having a guide such as the side guide 3aL on the other side in the conveyance direction, and the changer has a holder such as the holding shaft 120 that holds the first member and the second member in a pivotable manner at a same position as the engagement portion in the conveyance direction.

[0157] According to the present aspect, as described above in the second modification of the present disclosure, by driving the first member such as the first guide unit 3R to rotate using a holder such as the holding shaft 120 that serves as a fulcrum, the angle of inclination of a guide such as the side guide 3aR on one side in the conveyance direction can be changed. By driving the first member such as the second guide unit 3L to rotate around the holder that serves as a fulcrum, the angle of inclination of a guide such as the side guide 3aL on the other side in the conveyance direction can be changed.

Tenth Aspect

[0158] In the binding device according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, each one of the media to be bound is a medicine package.

[0159] Due to such a configuration, as described above in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the medicine-containing portion of a medicine package is filled with medicines. Accordingly, a portion of the medicine-package bundle, including a plurality of medicine packages, near the medicine-containing portion becomes bulky, and the bound portions of the medicine-package bundle face each other with a predetermined gap. When the medicine-package bundle enters the engagement portion and the bound portions of the medicine-package bundle MT are pushed downward by the teeth of one of the gears under the above conditions, the medicine-containing portions of the medicine packages float up. Due to such floating, upper ones of the medicine packages push lower ones of the medicine packages toward the side opposite to the guide such as the side guide 3a. Accordingly, the medicine-package bundle is easily misaligned in a direction where the medicine packages move away from the guide, and there is a high possibility that the medicine-package bundle MT is bound with the bound ends misaligned. As described above, a downstream portion of the guide in the conveyance direction is inclined with respect to the conveyance direction to be located closer to the pair of gears as the guide goes downstream in the conveyance direction, and the bound ends of a medicine-package bundle that have entered the engagement portion can be pressed against the guide by pressing force. Accordingly, the medicine-package bundle MT can be prevented from being bound with the bound ends misaligned.

[0160] Any one of the above-described operations may be performed in various other ways, for example, in an order different from the one described above.

[0161] The functionality of the elements disclosed herein may be implemented using circuitry or processing circuitry which includes general purpose processors, special purpose processors, integrated circuits, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), and/or combinations thereof which are configured or programmed, using one or more programs stored in one or more memories, to perform the disclosed functionality. Processors are considered processing circuitry or circuitry as they include transistors and other circuitry therein. In the disclosure, the circuitry, units, or means are hardware that carry out or are programmed to perform the recited functionality. The hardware may be any hardware disclosed herein which is programmed or configured to carry out the recited functionality.

[0162] There is a memory that stores a computer program which includes computer instructions. These computer instructions provide the logic and routines that enable the hardware (e.g., processing circuitry or circuitry) to perform the method disclosed herein. This computer program can be implemented in known formats as a computer-readable storage medium, a computer program product, a memory device, a record medium such as a compact disc-read-only memory (CD-ROM) or digital versatile disk (DVD), and/or the memory of an FPGA or ASIC.