US 12,465,553 B2
Capsule marking device and method
Kousuke Ookita, Yamatokoriyama (JP); Kazuaki Matsutani, Yamatokoriyama (JP); Junsuke Yasui, Yamatokoriyama (JP); and Hiroshi Sakuramoto, Yamatokoriyama (JP)
Assigned to QUALICAPS CO., LTD., Yamatokoriyama (JP)
Appl. No. 18/260,613
Filed by QUALICAPS CO., LTD., Yamatokoriyama (JP)
PCT Filed Dec. 21, 2021, PCT No. PCT/JP2021/047188
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jul. 6, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/153796, PCT Pub. Date Jul. 21, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 2021-004673 (JP), filed on Jan. 15, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0050318 A1, Feb. 15, 2024
Int. Cl. B23K 26/18 (2006.01); A61J 3/00 (2006.01); B29C 71/04 (2006.01); B41F 17/36 (2006.01); B41J 2/44 (2006.01); B41J 3/407 (2006.01); B41J 13/00 (2006.01); B41M 5/24 (2006.01); G01N 21/89 (2006.01); G01N 21/95 (2006.01); G01N 21/956 (2006.01); G06T 7/00 (2017.01)
CPC A61J 3/007 (2013.01) [B41J 2/442 (2013.01); B41J 13/0009 (2013.01); G01N 21/9508 (2013.01); G01N 21/95607 (2013.01); G06T 7/001 (2013.01); A61J 2205/50 (2013.01); B29C 2795/007 (2013.01); G01N 2223/426 (2013.01); G06T 2207/30128 (2013.01)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A capsule marking device comprising:
a conveying unit that conveys a capsule along a conveyance path;
a first imaging unit that captures an image of the capsule being conveyed, to obtain first imaging data;
a marking unit that performs marking on the capsule being conveyed; and
a control unit that sets a marking region on the capsule on a basis of the first imaging data, and forms a marking pattern in the marking region by controlling an operation of the marking unit,
the capsule marking device further comprising a separating unit that selectively separates the capsule being conveyed from the conveyance path,
wherein the control unit controls an operation of the separating unit, to separate a capsule having a seam with a size equal to or larger than a predetermined reference size in the marking region in the first imaging data without forming a marking pattern.
 
8. A capsule marking method comprising:
a first imaging step of capturing an image of a capsule being conveyed on a conveyance path with a first imaging unit to acquire first imaging data, and setting a marking region on the capsule on a basis of the first imaging data;
a separating step of separating a capsule having a seam with a size equal to or larger than a predetermined reference size from the conveyance path, the seam being present in the marking region; and
a marking step of forming a marking pattern in the marking region of the capsule that has been subjected to the separating step and is conveyed.