U.S. patent application number 09/867439 was filed with the patent office on 2002-01-10 for metering device.
This patent application is currently assigned to Robert Bosch GmbH. Invention is credited to Kuhnle, Manfred, Runft, Werner, Wurst, Reiner.
Application Number | 20020002809 09/867439 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 7644243 |
Filed Date | 2002-01-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020002809 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wurst, Reiner ; et
al. |
January 10, 2002 |
Metering device
Abstract
A metering device has a filling material container with a
metering disk. Metering bores for products such as microtablets are
disposed in the metering disk. Underneath the metering disk in a
transfer region, there is a capsule filling shaft which is disposed
in line with prepared capsule bottoms. The invention proposes
supporting the filling material container so that it can rotate on
an axis which is disposed inclined in relation to the vertical.
This permits the microcapsules to be easily dispensed into the
metering bores, permits the microtablets to be handled in a manner
that is gentle on the product, and permits a high performance of
the metering device.
Inventors: |
Wurst, Reiner; (Auenwald,
DE) ; Kuhnle, Manfred; (Schwaikheim, DE) ;
Runft, Werner; (Winnenden, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
RONALD E. GREIGG
GREIGG & GREIGG P.L.L.C.
1423 POWHATAN STREET, UNIT ONE
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
US
|
Assignee: |
Robert Bosch GmbH
|
Family ID: |
7644243 |
Appl. No.: |
09/867439 |
Filed: |
May 31, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
53/247 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61J 3/074 20130101;
B65G 47/1457 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
53/247 |
International
Class: |
B65B 005/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 31, 2000 |
DE |
1 00 27 008.5 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A metering device (10), in particular for pharmaceutical
products such as microcapsules (1), capsules, drages, or the like,
with a filling material container (11) supported on a rotational
axis (14), with metering bores (17) for the products embodied at
the bottom of the filling material container (11), and with a
covering element (19) which closes the metering bores (17) on the
underside of the metering container (11) with the exception of in a
transfer region (20), wherein in the transfer region (20), the
products are dispensed into prepared receptacles (2), the
improvement wherein the rotation axis (14) of the filling material
container (11) is disposed inclined in relation to the vertical
(15) so that upon rotation of the filling material container (11)
around the rotation axis (14), the products collect--with the
exception of the metering bores (17)--in a storage region (36) and
that the transfer region (20) is disposed at a product-free level
above the storage region (36).
2. The metering device according to claim 1, wherein in the
transfer region (20), there is a transfer element (22) that has
through bores (24) which, in a transfer position for the products,
come into line with the metering bores (17) and that underneath the
transfer element (22), the receptacles (2) are disposed in line
with the through bores (24).
3. The metering device according to claim 2, wherein respective
numbers of metering bores (17) are associated with a receptacle
(2), that on the side oriented toward the filling material
container (11), one respective through bore (24) covers a
respective number of metering bores (17), and that on the side
oriented toward the receptacle (2), the through bores (24) have
outlet cross sections (26) adapted to the receptacles (2).
4. The metering device according to claim 3, wherein the respective
numbers of metering bores (17) are embodied as round and are
disposed on at least one arc segment of the filling material
container (11).
5. The metering device according to claim 4, wherein the respective
numbers of metering bores (17) are disposed on several arc segments
with different radii (r.sub.1, r.sub.2) from the rotation axis (14)
of the filling material container (11) and are disposed offset from
one another.
6. The metering device according to claim 4, wherein each metering
bore (17) has a height which corresponds to a multiple of the
height of a product.
7. The metering device according to claim 3, wherein each metering
bore (17a) has a cross sectional area which is suitable for
containing several products disposed next to one another.
8. The metering device according to claim 2, wherein the
receptacles are capsule bottoms (2) of hard gelatin capsules which
are disposed in a capsule part carrier (27).
9. The metering device according to claim 2, wherein the
receptacles are cups of a blister packing strip.
10. The metering device according to claim 1, wherein the filling
material container (11) is comprised of a format-dependent metering
disk (12), which contains the metering bores (17; 17a), and a
rotating filling material container wall (13), which is connected
to the top of the metering disk (12).
11. The metering device according to claim 1, wherein a drive ring
(30) is fastened to the underside of the filling material container
(11) and has an internal gearing (31) which cooperates with an
externally geared drive pinion (32).
12. The metering device according to claim 11, wherein a continuous
guide groove (33) is embodied on the circumference of the drive
ring (30) and cooperates with roller-shaped guide elements
(34).
13. The metering device according to claim 5, wherein each metering
bore (17) has a height which corresponds to a multiple of the
height of a product.
14. The metering device according to claim 3, wherein the
receptacles are capsule bottoms (2) of hard gelatin capsules which
are disposed in a capsule part carrier (27).
15. The metering device according to claim 4, wherein the
receptacles are capsule bottoms (2) of hard gelatin capsules which
are disposed in a capsule part carrier (27).
16. The metering device according to claim 5, wherein the
receptacles are capsule bottoms (2) of hard gelatin capsules which
are disposed in a capsule part carrier (27).
17. The metering device according to claim 3, wherein the
receptacles are cups of a blister packing strip.
18. The metering device according to claim 5, wherein the
receptacles are cups of a blister packing strip.
19. The metering device according to claim 4, wherein the filling
material container (11) is comprised of a format-dependent metering
disk (12), which contains the metering bores (17; 17a), and a
rotating filling material container wall (13), which is connected
to the top of the metering disk (12).
20. The metering device according to claim 4, wherein a drive ring
(30) is fastened to the underside of the filling material container
(11) and has an internal gearing (31) which cooperates with an
externally geared drive pinion (32).
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to a metering device for metering and
dispensing powder into hard gelatin capsules.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] A metering and dispensing device of the type with which this
invention is covered is disclosed by DE 196 51 237 A1. The known
device is designed for metering and dispensing powder into hard
gelatin capsules and to that end, has a powder deflecting body as
well as a tamping and ejecting die so that powder can be compressed
in metering bores of a metering disk and can be transferred into
prepared bottoms of hard gelatin capsules. The known device should
be improved in such a way that it is suitable for metering granular
products or products in small pieces, in particular pharmaceutical
products such as microtablets, capsules, drages, or the like,
wherein the highest possible performance and the gentlest treatment
of the product should be achieved.
OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The metering device according to the invention has the
advantage over the prior art that it is mechanically simple in
design and permits a high performance with metering that is gentle
to the product.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] The invention will be better understood and further objects
and advantages thereof will become more apparent from the ensuing
detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings, in
which
[0007] FIG. 1 is a simplified longitudinal section through the
metering device according to the invention,
[0008] FIG. 2 is a top view of a metering disk,
[0009] FIG. 3 shows a detail from FIG. 2,
[0010] FIG. 4 shows an arrangement of metering bores that has been
modified in relation to FIG. 3, and
[0011] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a tablet filling
shaft.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0012] The device 10 shown in FIG. 1 is used to meter and dispense
so-called microtablets 1 into capsule bottoms 2 of hard gelatin
capsules. However, the device 10 can also be used to meter other
products, such as capsules, drages, bonbons, or the like. Instead
of capsule bottoms 2, other suitable receptacles for the products
can be used, e.g. cups of a blister packing strip.
[0013] The device 10 has a filling material container 11, which is
comprised of a metering disk 12 and a filling material container
ring 13 connected to the metering disk 12. The filling material
container 11 is supported so that it can rotate around an axis 14
which is pivoted in relation to the vertical axis 15 by an angle
.alpha. which in the exemplary embodiment is approx. 30
degrees.
[0014] As can best be inferred from FIGS. 2 and 3, a large number
of cross sectionally round metering bores 17 are embodied in the
metering disk 12. In the exemplary embodiment, the metering bores
17 are arranged in such a way that at a particular radius R from
the axis 14, there is a group of five or four metering bores 17
every 45 degrees of rotation angle. Furthermore, according to FIG.
3, a group of five metering bores 17 with a radius r.sub.1 from the
axis 14 and four neighboring metering bores 17 with a radius
r.sub.2 from the axis 14 are combined into a respective bore group
18, which is associated with one capsule bottom 2. If, according to
FIGS. 2 and 3, the groups of four and five metering bores 17 are
disposed offset from each other at larger radii, then a
particularly dense grouping of metering bores 17 for a bore group
18 can be achieved in a smaller radius range.
[0015] According to FIG. 1, two microtablets 1 are disposed one
over the other in each metering bore 17, wherein the diameter of
the metering bores 17 is respectively slightly greater than the
diameter of the microtablets 1. In connection with FIGS. 2 and 3,
it is clear that in accordance with the nine metering bores 17
associated with a bore group 18, a total of eighteen microtablets 1
are dispensed into a capsule bottom 2.
[0016] A plate- or ring-shaped countersupport 19 is disposed
against the underside of the metering disk 12 and closes the
bottoms of the metering bores 17, with the exception of a transfer
region 20, as the filling material container 11 is rotated around
the axis 14. In the transfer region 20, the countersupport 19 has a
recess 21 for a capsule filling shaft 22.
[0017] The block-shaped tablet filling shaft 22 has a funnel-like
shaft 24 for each bore group 18. On the side oriented toward the
metering disk 12, this shaft 24 has an oblong entry cross section
25 (see FIG. 5) which is adapted in accordance with the respective
outer limit of a bore group 18 and on the side oriented toward the
capsule bottoms 2, has an exit cross section 26 which is adapted to
the diameter of the capsule bottom 2.
[0018] A capsule part carrier 27 with bores 28 for the capsule
bottoms 2 is disposed underneath the tablet filling shaft 22. In
order to receive the microtablets 1, the capsule part carrier 27
can be pivoted according to FIG. 1 into a position in which the
capsule bottoms 2 are flush with exit cross sections 26 of the
shafts 24. In order to close the capsule bottoms 2, the capsule
part carrier 27 can be pivoted away laterally. For the design and
function of a capsule part carrier 27 of this kind in connection
with a capsule filling and closing machine, reference is made to DE
38 30 013 A1, which is incorporated herein by reference to the
extent that the device 10 can be a component of a capsule filling
and closing machine of this kind.
[0019] A guide and drive ring 30 is fastened to the underside of
the metering disk 12 in its edge region. On its inner
circumference, the guide and drive ring 30 has an internal gearing
31, which is disposed in operational connection with a drive pinion
32 of the rotating drive of the filling material container 11,
which is preferably embodied as a servomotor. A continuous guide
groove 33 is embodied on the outer circumference of the guide and
drive ring 30 and is engaged by three guide rollers 34 which are
disposed offset from one another by 120 degrees and provide for the
support of the filling material container 11, wherein only one
guide roller 34 can be seen in FIG. 1 because of the view
selected.
[0020] It is also essential that according to FIG. 1, the filling
material, which is disposed in the filling material container 11
and is in the form of microtablets 1, does not completely fill the
filling material container 11, but only reaches a filling material
level 35. This filling material level 35 is below the level of the
entry cross sections 25 of the capsule filling shaft 22 and the
transfer region 20. Furthermore, the angle a of the axis 14 of the
filling material container 11 must be big enough that upon rotation
of the metering disk 12, microtablets 1 disposed above the metering
bores 17 roll back into the storage region 36 of the filling
material due to the downward pulling force of the slope.
[0021] The device 10 operates as follows: The filling material
container 11 is rotated either cyclically or continuously by the
drive pinion 32. In the course of rotation, the metering bores 17
travel down into the storage region 36 with microtablets 1, as a
result of which two microtablets 1 are disposed one over the other
in each metering bore 17. With further rotation of the metering
disk 12, the metering bores 17 filled with the microtablets 1
travel out of the storage region 36. If additional microtablets 1
have collected in the region of the metering bores 17, then with
further rotation of the metering disk 12, these additional
microtablets 1 roll or slide back into the storage region 36 of the
filling material container 11 due to the downward pulling force of
the slope acting on them. As soon as the metering bores 17 come
into line with the shafts 24 of the tablet filling shaft 22, the
microtablets 1 fall out of the metering bores 17 into the tablet
filling shaft 22 and from there into the readied capsule bottoms 2.
The filled capsule bottoms 2 are then pivoted away by means of the
capsule part carrier 27, out of the filling position shown in FIG.
1, whereupon other, empty capsule bottoms 2 are brought under the
capsule filling shaft 22. Then the events described above are
repeated.
[0022] It should also be mentioned that the form of the metering
bores is not limited to round metering bores 17. Rather, the
metering bores 17a can also be embodied e.g. as oblong in
accordance with FIG. 4 so that each pair of microtablets 1 can be
disposed next to one another in a plane. In this instance, the
thickness of the metering disk is such that it is only possible to
arrange the microtablets 1 in a plane of the metering disk or in
the metering bores 17a is possible. Furthermore, the arrangement of
the metering bores 17a shown in FIG. 4 is such that they are
respectively offset from one another by 90 degrees so that a
space-saving arrangement is achieved.
[0023] The foregoing relates to preferred exemplary embodiments of
the invention, it being understood that other variants and
embodiments thereof are possible within the spirit and scope of the
invention, the latter being defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *