EP2651368B1 - Device for introducing filling material into capsules - Google Patents

Description

State of the art

The present invention relates to a device for filling, in particular powdery, contents in capsules.

Capsules, eg made of gelatin, which are produced from essentially cylindrical hollow shapes with hemispherical end regions are frequently used, in particular for medicaments. One half of the capsules are filled with a medium, in particular a drug, and then the other half of the capsule is placed in order to obtain a closed capsule. The filling of the capsule takes place here in filling machines, which in particular must ensure a high accuracy in the filling of the respective quantities in order to prevent incorrect dosages of a drug. As a result, capsules often have longer filling times, which limits an output of a filling machine. From the DE 199 15 259 A1 For example, a device for metering and filling of powdery contents in containers is known, in which two filling units are arranged side by side in series. In this case, in particular, a partial filling by the first filling unit and a final final filling by the second filling unit can take place.

EP 1 413 434 A1 shows a device according to the preamble of claim 1.

Disclosure of the invention

The inventive device for filling of product in capsules with the features of claim 1 has the advantage over that in comparison with the known devices, an increase in performance by a improved filling of the capsules is achieved. In this case, it is possible according to the invention to dispense in particular with a plurality of filling stations and nevertheless achieve a fast filling time. This is inventively achieved in that the device comprises a filling device for filling the capsules and a capsule holder, wherein the capsule holder at least one row of several receptacles, in which the capsules to be filled are arranged. Furthermore, a station arrangement is provided with a plurality of stations, which are arranged one after the other. In this case, a movement device is provided which allows a relative filling movement between the filling device and the capsule holder at a capsule filling station, wherein the filling device occupies at least a first filling position for filling a first capsule and a second filling position for filling a second capsule relative to the capsule holder. As a result, by means of a single filling device, by providing the relative movement between the filling device and the capsule holder, all the capsules received in the capsule holder can be filled by taking a plurality of filling positions. Thus, the filling device can fill the capsules located in the capsule holder both in the first and the second filling position. The device is also characterized in particular by a very low structural complexity.
Furthermore, the filling station according to the invention has a metering wheel and a storage hopper for receiving the contents. As a result, a reliable operation of the filling material can be achieved in the metering without great structural complexity.

The dependent claims show preferred developments of the invention.

Particularly preferably, the station arrangement comprises a station wheel with a plurality of capsule holders. This allows a very efficient flow during the filling process can be achieved. The movement device performs a relative movement between the filling device and the capsule holder in the radial direction.

Preferably, a relative movement in a first direction and a second direction in a horizontal plane is possible between the filling device and the capsule holder. As a result, in particular a plurality of parallel rows of capsules can be filled. Particularly preferred is the first direction perpendicular to the second direction.

In addition, the filling station has a particularly compact design and it can be easily brought a sufficient amount of filling in the different filling positions.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the metering wheel has at least a first filling chamber and a second filling chamber and the metering rotates during a movement process from the first filling position to the second filling position to bring a filling chamber filled with filling material in the filling position and the empty filling chamber again fill. Due to the simultaneous movements of the dosing wheel and the capsule holder, capsule filling can be carried out in rapid succession both in the first filling position and in the second filling position.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, a filling process of a capsule at the capsule filling station by means of the filling device is the shortest of all individual processes in the station arrangement. Particularly preferably, a filling process in the capsule filling station takes half as long as the next shortest process in a station.

Particularly preferably, the capsule holder comprises a first series of receptacles and a second series of receptacles which are arranged parallel to one another. As a result, a plurality of capsules can be arranged in a small area. More preferably, several more parallel rows, e.g. three or four or five rows.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the device further comprises a second capsule filling station with a second filling device. This makes it possible that, for example, in the first filling station, a partial filling and in the second filling station is a final filling of the capsules.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the movement device is arranged on the filling device and the filling device is moved relative to the capsule holder. In this way, a high variability of the relative movement between the filling device and the capsule holder can be ensured.

Preferably, the moving device comprises a driven cam or a linear motor or a servomotor. As a result, a reliable movement of the moving device in the radial and vertical directions with short cycle times is possible. Alternatively, between the engine and filling device, an intermediate gear or as an intermediate member a carriage combined with a coupling or deflection can be provided to convert a generated vertical movement into a horizontal movement by means of deflection. Furthermore, this can also be a screw (rack / pinion) can be used. Alternatively, the drive can also be positioned below the machine level or base plate of the station.

Alternatively or additionally, the movement device is arranged on the capsule holder in order to move the capsule holder relative to the filling device. In this case, however, it is disadvantageous that, in particular when using a station wheel, the capsule holder has to be removed from the station wheel and has to be moved relative to the filling device.

Further preferably, the movement device comprises a guide element with curved path. As a result, a reliable radial movement of the capsule holder is achieved with minimized number of components and compact volume.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, a slotted guide is further provided to bring the capsule holder in a first position and a second position. Thereby, a radial movement of the capsule holder during the downtime of the device is made possible. Thus, after filling the capsules located in the first row of recordings can be easily positioned on the second row of the capsule holder and then all capsules therein can be filled in succession. This achieves improved machine efficiency with shorter cycle times. The drive of the scenery can be done purely mechanically or via a cam mechanism by means of a linear or servo motor. For smaller outputs, the use of a pneumatic drive is also possible as an alternative.

For a fast filling operation, the filling device preferably comprises a plurality of filling units, which are arranged in series, at the same time several To fill capsules in a row. Particularly preferably, a number of filling units corresponds to a number of capsule receptacles in a row of the capsule holder. More preferably, the filling device is a pressure-vacuum filling device, wherein a filling amount is sucked by means of vacuum and discharged by means of pressure.

Preferably, the filling device comprises a flexible product feed, which is provided between the reservoir and filling station. This enables optimal product feeding to the moving filling station. For better cleaning and to prevent influences on the product properties, it is advantageous to produce the steel feeder and to make it pivotable. Between the reservoir or the filling station and the pivotable product supply each flexible seals are provided.

drawing

Figur 1

eine schematische Draufsicht einer Vorrichtung zum Abfüllen von Füllgut gemäß einem ersten Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung,

Figur 2

eine schematische Schnittansicht durch eine Füllvorrichtung von Figur 1 in einer ersten Position,

Figur 3

eine schematische Schnittansicht durch eine Füllvorrichtung von Figur 1 in einer zweiten Position,

Figur 4

eine schematische Schnittansicht einer Bewegungsvorrichtung für die Füllvorrichtung von Figur 2 und 3,

Figur 5

eine schematische Schnittansicht einer alternativen Bewegungsvorrichtung für die Füllvorrichtung von Figur 2 und 3,

Figur 6

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer zweiten Ausführungsform einer Bewegungsvorrichtung samt Kulissenführung in einer ersten Stellung,

Figur 7

eine perspektivische Ansicht der Bewegungsvorrichtung von Figur 6 in einer zweiten Stellung,

Figur 8

eine vergrößerte Ansicht der Kulissenführung in der ersten Stellung von Figur 6, und

Figur 9

eine vergrößerte Darstellung der Kulissenführung in der zweiten Stellung von Figur 7.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawing is:

FIG. 1

a schematic plan view of an apparatus for filling of filling material according to a first embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 2

a schematic sectional view through a filling of FIG. 1 in a first position,

FIG. 3

a schematic sectional view through a filling of FIG. 1 in a second position,

FIG. 4

a schematic sectional view of a moving device for the filling of FIG. 2 and 3 .

FIG. 5

a schematic sectional view of an alternative moving device for the filling of FIG. 2 and 3 .

FIG. 6

3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a movement device including link guide in a first position,

FIG. 7

a perspective view of the movement device of FIG. 6 in a second position,

FIG. 8

an enlarged view of the slotted guide in the first position of FIG. 6 , and

FIG. 9

an enlarged view of the slotted guide in the second position of FIG. 7 ,

Preferred embodiments of the invention

The following is with reference to the FIGS. 1 to 5 a device 20 for filling of powdery product 21 according to a first preferred embodiment described in detail.

FIG. 1 shows an overall view of the device 20, which includes a station wheel 40 with a total of twelve stations 1 to 12. In the station wheel 40 a total of twelve capsule holders 30 are arranged along the circumference, wherein each capsule holder 30 has a plurality of receptacles 31, 32 for receiving capsules 22. The receptacles 31, 32 are arranged in each capsule holder 30 in two rows, namely a first row R1 and a second row R2 parallel to each other. A rotational direction of the station wheel 40 is indicated by the arrow A.

The stations of the station wheel 40 are as follows. At station 1, empty, closed capsules, which comprise a capsule bottom part 23 and a capsule top part 24, are supplied from a supply. The capsules are introduced individually into a receptacle 31 of the capsule holder 30.

At the station 2, the capsules 22 are opened, that is, the capsule top 24 is removed from the capsule bottom 23 so that the capsule bottom 23 remains in the receptacle 31.

It should be noted that the feeding and opening of the capsules can also take place at the same station. Also, e.g. at station 1, the first row and at station 2, the second row are filled with capsules, and at the stations preferably also be opened the same.

The stations 3 and 4 are not occupied in this embodiment.

The station 5 is a filling station in which the opened capsules 22 are filled. For this purpose, a filling device 25 is provided, which in detail in the Figures 2 and 3 is shown. The filling device 25 comprises a metering wheel 26 and a storage hopper 27, in which the powdery filling material 21 is arranged. The filling device 25 comprises a movement device, not visible here, which moves the filling device 25 in two directions, namely a first direction X and a second direction Y. The two directions X, Y are perpendicular to each other (see. FIG. 1 ) and move the filling device 25 in a horizontal plane. The movement device preferably comprises two separate drives which move the filling device 25 in the two directions X, Y. FIG. 2 shows a start position of the filling, wherein the filling device 25 is disposed over a receptacle 31 of the first row R1 of the recordings and is thus positioned in a first filling position. The metering wheel 26 has a first metering chamber 28a and a second metering chamber 28b. In the in FIG. 2 shown position is sucked at a receiving position E in the first metering chamber 28a by means of vacuum, a small filling amount 80. Thereafter, the metering wheel 26 rotates in the direction of arrow B by 180 ° and the small filling amount 80 at a discharge position F by means of compressed air, so that the filling amount 80 falls into the capsule base 23 into it. How out FIG. 3 can be seen, the filling device 25 then performs a movement in the direction X, so that the dispensing position F is thus positioned in a second filling position on a receptacle 32 of the second row R2. A second filling 51 is then filled in the same way in the capsule bottom 23 in the receptacle 32 of the second row R2. Now to the next Capsule bottom 23 to be filled in the following in the second row R2 recording, the filling device 25 is moved in the direction Y and filled the capsule base 23 in the next shot. Then, the filler 25 can be moved again in the X direction to fill the next capsule bottom 23 in the first row R1. Alternatively, the filling device can also be moved to a second filling position in the second direction Y after filling the capsule lower part 23 previously filled in the first row R1 in order to fill a further capsule bottom part 23 in the first row R1. Likewise, after the filling of the capsule lower part 23 in the second row R2 has taken place previously, a movement in the second direction Y can also take place in order to fill a further capsule lower part 23 in the second row R2. Thus, it is possible, by any successive horizontal relative movements of the filling device 25 in the first and second directions X, Y to fill the respective first and second filling positions all capsule parts 31 of a capsule holder 30 in variable order. Since the reservoir 27 is always moved, a sufficient amount of contents 21 is always present. Particularly preferably, the metering wheel 26 may also have four metering chambers arranged at an angle of 90 ° to one another, wherein the metering wheel 26 is further rotated by 90 ° in each case for receiving and discharging the contents 21. It should be noted that, alternatively, the filling device may also comprise a plurality of filling units in series, the number of filling units being equal to, or a multiple or a subset thereof, of the number of receptacles 31, 32 in the row R1 and R2.

Optionally, a further filling device may also be provided at the station 6, so that, for example, the first filling device at the station 5 performs a partial filling and the second filling device 6 performs a final final filling and accurate metering of the filling quantity.

At the station 7, for example, a weighing device may be provided to check the filled capsules.

The station 8 is an ejection station in which damaged or unfilled or incorrectly filled capsules can be discarded.

At the station 9, the capsule tops 24 are again positioned over the now filled capsule bottoms 23 and in the station 10, the capsules are closed again. This can be done for example by lowering the capsule caps on the capsule parts.

The station 11 is the dispensing station of the filled capsules and the station 12 is a cleaning station in which the capsule holders 30 are cleaned in order to avoid incorrect filling of the capsules into the receptacles 31.

FIG. 4 shows a arranged on the filling device 25 moving device 50, which performs a relative movement between the filling device 25 and the capsule holder 30 in the X direction. How out FIG. 4 it can be seen, the moving device 50 in this case comprises a carriage 53 which is fixed at one end to the filling device 25 and is slidably supported or stored in a holding device 55 by means of a bearing 54. The opposite end of the carriage 53 is rotatably mounted on a cam 51, which is driven by a drive 52, for. B. a servomotor, is moved in the direction of arrow K and thus moves the carriage 53 together with the filling device 25 in the X direction. Thereby, the filling device 25 of the in FIG. 4 shown position above the first row R1 moved to the position above the second row R2 of the capsule holder 30. Corresponding to the shaping of the cam disk 51, a subsequent movement of the driven cam disk 51 results in a corresponding movement in the reverse X direction. The moving device 50 and the filling device 25 are arranged in this embodiment substantially in a common plane.

How out FIG. 4 Furthermore, it can be seen, the filling device 25 also has a flexible product supply 200, which is tubular and is arranged between a reservoir 210 and the storage hopper 27 pivotally. As a result, an optimal supply of the filling material 21 from the storage container 210 to the moving filling station 25 is achieved.

As in FIG. 5 As an alternative, a movement device 60 can also be provided, from which a cam 61 together with drive 62 is arranged below a base plate 67 of the station 5. The Moving device 60 has a mounted on the base plate 67 holding device 68, in which a first carriage 63 is slidably supported by a first bearing 64. One end of the carriage 63 is rotatably connected to the cam 61, which is driven by a drive 62, preferably a form of a servomotor. The opposite end of the first carriage 63 is connected via a deflection 65 with a second carriage 66 which is displaceably mounted in the holding device 68 by means of a second bearing 67.

How out FIG. 5 As can be seen, in this case a substantially vertical movement of the first carriage 63 in a direction S in a movement in the direction X is generated, which causes the displacement of the filling device 25 from the first row R1 to the second row R2 of the capsule holder 30. A drive for the movement of the filling device 25 in the Y direction is in the FIGS. 4 and 5 not shown for simplicity of illustration, wherein the drive in the Y direction may be the same as that in the X direction. Alternatively, a linear drive can be provided.

As a result, a reliable movement of the moving device 50 or 60 with high variability between the filling device 25 and the capsule holder 30 is made possible. Furthermore, this ensures rapid filling of the capsules with significantly shorter cycle times. In addition, a flexible adaptation or integration of the movement device 50, 60 corresponding to the respective space conditions on the station wheel 40 of the device 20 according to the invention is possible.

Hereinafter, referring to the FIGS. 6 to 9 a device 20 for filling of powdery product according to a second preferred embodiment described in detail. The same or functionally identical components are designated here by the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment.

In contrast to the first embodiment described above, the device 20 in this second embodiment comprises a movement device 70 which is arranged on the station wheel 40 and a relative movement between the filling device 25 and the capsule holder 30 in FIG radial direction or X-direction performs. For this purpose, the movement device 70 has a guide element 71 with a curved path 72. Further, on the guide member 71 is a slotted guide 73 with a recess 74 formed therein (see FIG. FIG. 8 ) intended. In the recess 74, a holder 75 is attached (see FIG. FIG. 6 ), by means of which a capsule holder 30 is fixed to the movement device 70 via a rod 76 fixed in the holder 75.

During the rotational movement A of the station wheel 40, the capsule holder 30 is moved in the radial direction or X-direction relative to the filling device 25, not shown here, in accordance with the shape of the curved path 72. The slide guide 73 is located in an in FIG. 6 and FIG. 8 each represented by an arrow first position B, so that a row R1 of capsule holder 30 located in the capsule base 23 (see FIG. FIG. 6 ) can be filled.

To fill the capsule parts 23 located in an adjacent row R2, the slide guide 73 is displaced from the first position B into a second position C represented by an arrow when the station wheel 40 is at a standstill FIG. 9 is illustrated. In the second position C of the slotted guide 73, a filling of capsule parts 23 in a second row R2 of a capsule holder 30 'positioned in this way can then take place (see FIG. FIG. 7 ).

It should be noted that, alternatively, a combination of both previously described moving devices is possible, so that both the filling device and the capsule holder can be moved. As a result, a faster positioning of the capsule holder used and the filling station is possible, whereby a further increase in machine efficiency can be achieved in an individual application. However, this also increases the machine outlay. Further, it should be noted that the filling device 25 has a filling time which is half a time of a station having the second shortest processing time. This makes it possible to comply with a given clock of the station wheel 40 very well, in particular, when using a filling device with five filling units, both the first row R1 and the second row R2 of the capsule holder 30 can be filled in only one station.

The device according to the invention for filling contents 21 into capsules 22 is preferably used for filling capsules with medicaments.

Claims (14)

1. Device for introducing filling material (21) into capsules (22), said device including:

   - a filling device (25) for supplying filling material (21) to the capsules (22),

   - a capsule holder (30) with at least one row of accommodating means (31) in which the capsules (22) to be filled are arranged,

   - a station arrangement having several stations which are arranged one after the other, wherein the station arrangement includes at least one capsule filling station (5) and one drive which operates in a fixed cycle and

   - a movement apparatus (50; 60; 70) which carries out a relative movement between the filling device (25) and the capsule holder (30) at a capsule filling station (5),

   - wherein the filling device (25), in relation to the capsule holder (30), assumes at least one first filling position for filling a first capsule and one second filling position for filling a second capsule,
   characterized in that
   the capsule filling station (5) has a dosing wheel (26) and a hopper funnel (27) for accommodating the filling material (21).
2. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the station arrangement includes a station wheel (40) with a plurality of capsule holders (30) and the movement apparatus (50; 60; 70) carries out a relative movement between the filling device (25) and the capsule holder (30) in the radial direction (X).
3. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a relative movement between the filling device (25) and the capsule holder (30) in a first direction (X) and a second direction (Y) is possible in a horizontal plane, wherein the first direction (X) is perpendicular to the second direction (Y).
4. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the dosing wheel (26) has at least one first filling chamber (28a) and one second filling chamber (28b) and during a movement operation the dosing wheel (26) is rotated from the first filling position to the second filling position in order to fill up one of the filling chambers (28a, 28b) with filling material.
5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a fill time in the capsule filling station (5) is the shortest operating time in the case of all the individual operations of the respective stations of the station arrangement.
6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the capsule holder (30) includes a first row (R1) of accommodating means (31) and a second row (R2) of accommodating means (31), wherein the first and second row are arranged parallel to each other.
7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a second capsule filling station (5) with a second filling device.
8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the movement apparatus (50; 60) is arranged at the filling device (25) and moves the filling device (25) in relation to the capsule holder (30).
9. Device according to Claim 8, characterized in that the movement apparatus (50, 60) includes a driven cam disk (50) or a linear motor or a servomotor.
10. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the movement apparatus (70) is arranged at the capsule holder (30) and moves the capsule holder (30) in relation to the filling device (25).
11. Device according to Claim 10, characterized in that the movement apparatus (70) includes a guiding element (71) with a curved path (72).
12. Device according to Claim 11, additionally including a connecting link guide (73) in order to move the capsule holder (30) into a first position (B) and a second position (C).
13. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filling device (25) includes several filling units in order to fill several capsules in the accommodating means (31) of a row (R1, R2) at the same time, wherein, in particular, the number of filling units corresponds to the number of accommodating means (31) in a row and wherein the filling device is, in particular, a pressure/vacuum filling device.
14. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filling device (25) includes a flexible product supplying means (200).

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