Device for inspecting the external appearance of solid medicine

Abstract

A device for inspecting the external appearance of solid medicine having a solid medicine supplying section, a first drum-shaped conveying section for conveying solid medicines supplied by the solid medicine supplying section, at equal intervals so that one surface of each piece of solid medicine is observed. A second drum-shaped conveying section receives the solid medicine from the first drum-shaped conveying section and conveys the solid medicine at equal intervals so that the opposite surface of each solid medicine is observed. First and second observing units are provided adjacent to said first and second drum-shaped conveying sections for observing both surfaces of each piece of solid medicine respectively. A third observing unit is employed for observing the thickness of each piece of solid medicine conveyed by the first and second drum-shaped conveying sections at least before the piece of solid medicine reaches the second observing unit. A discriminating circuit determines whether each piece of solid medicine is acceptable or unacceptable according to observation results provided by the first, second and third observing units and a memory stores every solid medicine discrimination signal outputted on the basis of the observation results provided by the first and third observing units. The discrimination signal based on the observation result provided by the second observing unit and the discrimination signals stored in said memory are utilized for general determination as to whether the external appearance of each piece of solid medicine is acceptable or unacceptable.