Abstract: A method and apparatus are for contactless-printing on tablets that are supplied successively at random spacings in the conveyance direction, respectively in plural rows. The apparatus includes a hopper to supply tablets, a distributing unit to distribute the supplied tablets in plural rows, a conveyor to convey the tablets randomly with the random spacings in the conveyance direction and with the rows maintained, a detection camera to detect the tablets during conveyance, an inkjet printer to print on the tablets based on data detected by the detection camera, an inspection camera to check a printing state on the tablets, and a defective tablet rejection unit to reject a defective tablet during conveyance of the tablets based on the check result of the inspection camera.

Abstract: The present invention provides a tablet printing method and apparatus for contactless-printing on a large number of tablets that are supplied successively and randomly in a predetermined plurality of rows. The apparatus includes a hopper 2 to supply tablets, a distributing unit 3 to distribute the supplied tablets in a predetermined plurality of rows, a conveyor 4 to convey the distributed tablets randomly with the plurality of rows maintained, a detection line sensor camera 5 to detect the tablets during conveyance of the conveyor 4, an inkjet printer 6 to print on the tablets during conveyance based on data detected by the detection line sensor camera 5, an inspection line sensor camera 7 to check printing state on the tablets, and a defective rejection unit 9 to reject a defective during conveyance of the tablets in the plurality of rows based on the check result of the inspection line sensor camera 7.

Abstract: A spring plate for use in a multiple disk friction coupling device, wherein a spring plate is an elastic member formed generally in a dish-like shape; a driving face facing a mating member comprises a side face of an outer diameter end portion, a circular protruding face, and a slant face smoothly continuing to this protruding face. The axial section of the driving face is formed of straight lines and curves which continue. The spring plate, when pushed against the mating member by a piston, is elastically deformed, pressing the driving face against a wide range of the mating member. Therefore the friction coupling member of the friction coupling device will never be locally heated to a high temperature, thus preventing heat distortion and non-uniform seizure of these members and accordingly smooth operation of the friction coupling device for a prolonged period of time.