U.S. patent application number 13/288153 was filed with the patent office on 2012-08-02 for method and machine for filling capsules or similar with at least two products, in particular pharmaceutical products in granules.
Invention is credited to Angelo ANSALONI, Ernesto Gamberini, Antonio Tagliavini.
Application Number | 20120192528 13/288153 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43742516 |
Filed Date | 2012-08-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120192528 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
ANSALONI; Angelo ; et
al. |
August 2, 2012 |
METHOD AND MACHINE FOR FILLING CAPSULES OR SIMILAR WITH AT LEAST
TWO PRODUCTS, IN PARTICULAR PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS IN GRANULES
Abstract
The bottom shell of a capsule is filled with at least two
products, contained in respective tanks, by means of a metering
device, which has a metering chamber for receiving a given quantity
of product from each tank; and a transfer chamber, which receives
and transfers the product from the metering chamber to the bottom
shell, and has a weighing device for weighing the product inside
the transfer chamber.
Inventors: |
ANSALONI; Angelo;
(Crespellano, IT) ; Gamberini; Ernesto;
(Rastignano, IT) ; Tagliavini; Antonio; (Bologna,
IT) |
Family ID: |
43742516 |
Appl. No.: |
13/288153 |
Filed: |
November 3, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
53/467 ;
53/266.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61J 2200/74 20130101;
A61J 3/074 20130101; G01G 7/06 20130101; G01G 17/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
53/467 ;
53/266.1 |
International
Class: |
B65B 1/04 20060101
B65B001/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 3, 2010 |
IT |
BO2010A 000656 |
Claims
1) A machine for filling capsules or similar with at least two
products, in particular pharmaceutical products in granules; each
capsule comprising a bottom shell (2), and a top shell closing the
bottom shell (2); the machine comprising conveying means (11) for
feeding each bottom shell (2) continuously along a given path (P);
at least two tanks (15, 16) containing respective products; at
least one metering wheel (3) mounted to rotate continuously about a
respective substantially vertical axis (4); and a number of
metering devices (18), each of which is fed by the metering wheel
(3) along a portion of the path (P), in time with a respective
bottom shell (2), to feed the products into the bottom shell (2),
and comprises a metering chamber (19) for receiving a given
quantity of product from each tank (15, 16); and the machine being
characterized by each metering device (18) also comprising a
transfer chamber (21), which receives and transfers the product
from the relative metering chamber (19), and comprises a weighing
device (25) for weighing the product in the transfer chamber
(21).
2) A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the weighing device
(25) comprises at least one capacitive transducer (24).
3) A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the weighing device
(25) comprises a bushing (23) forming at least part of said
transfer chamber (21).
4) A machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein the bushing (23)
comprises at least one capacitive transducer (24).
5) A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein each metering device
(18) also comprises a feed chute (26) for feeding the products from
the metering chamber (19) to the transfer chamber (21); and a
piston (27), which defines the bottom of the metering chamber (19),
and is movable, along the metering chamber (19) and parallel to
said axis (4), between an open position and a closed position
opening and closing the feed chute (26) respectively.
6) A machine as claimed in claim 5, and also comprising first
actuating means (29) for moving the pistons (27) to and from their
respective said open positions; the first actuating means (29)
comprising a first cam (30) extending about said axis (4), and, for
each piston (27), at least one first cam follower (31) fitted to
the piston (27) and engaging the first cam (30).
7) A machine as claimed in claim 5, and also comprising a lock
device (45) for selectively locking each piston (27) in the closed
position.
8) A machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein, for each metering
device (18), the lock device (45) comprises a respective lock
member (49) movable between a lock position locking the relative
piston (27) in the closed position, and a release position.
9) A machine as claimed in claim 8, wherein each first cam follower
(31) is fitted slidably to the relative piston (27); a retaining
device (34, 35) being provided to secure the first cam follower
(31) axially on the piston (27) when the lock member (49) is in the
release position.
10) A machine as claimed in claim 9, wherein the retaining device
(34, 35) is designed to secure the first cam follower (31) axially
on the piston (27) with less force than that exerted by the first
cam (30) on the first cam follower (31) when the lock member (49)
is in the lock position.
11) A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein each metering device
(18) also comprises a shutter (36), which defines the bottom of the
transfer chamber (21), and is movable between an open position and
a closed position opening and closing the transfer chamber (21)
respectively.
12) A machine as claimed in claim 11, and also comprising second
actuating means (39) for moving the shutters (36) between said open
and closed positions; the second actuating means (39) comprising a
second cam (39) engaged by the shutters (36).
13) A machine as claimed in claim 11, wherein the shutter (36) is
substantially L-shaped, and comprises a stopper plate (42), and a
supporting rod (40) supporting the stopper plate (42); the
supporting rod (40) being substantially parallel to and offset with
respect to a longitudinal axis (22) of the transfer chamber (21),
and having a wedge-shaped portion (41) for dislodging any product
clogging the transfer chamber (21).
14) A method of filling capsules or similar with at least two
products, in particular pharmaceutical products in granules, on a
machine comprising at least two tanks (15, 16) containing
respective products; and at least one metering wheel (3) mounted to
rotate continuously about a respective substantially vertical
longitudinal axis (4), and having a number of metering devices
(18); each capsule comprising a bottom shell (2), and a top shell
closing the bottom shell (2); and the method comprising the steps
of: feeding the bottom shells (2) continuously along a given path
(P); feeding each metering device (18) along a portion of the path
(P), in time with a respective bottom shell (2); and transferring a
given quantity of each product from the relative tank (15, 16) to a
metering chamber (19) of the metering device (18); the method being
characterized by also comprising the steps of: transferring the
product from the metering chamber (19) to a transfer chamber (21)
of the metering device (18); weighing the product in the transfer
chamber (21) inside the transfer chamber (21) itself; and
transferring the product from the transfer chamber (21) into the
relative bottom shell (2).
15) A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the product in each
transfer chamber (21) is weighed by means of at least one
capacitive transducer (24).
16) A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the product in each
transfer chamber (21) is weighed inside a bushing (23) at least
partly defining the transfer chamber (21).
17) A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the bushing (23)
comprises at least one capacitive transducer (24).
18) A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the metering chamber
(19) of each metering device (18) is closed at the bottom by a
piston (27); the method also comprising the step of moving the
piston (27) between a closed position, in which the metering
chamber (19) is separated from the transfer (21), and an open
position, in which the metering chamber (19) is connected to the
transfer chamber (21).
19) A method as claimed in claim 18, and also comprising the step
of selectively locking each piston (27) in the closed position.
20) A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the transfer chamber
(21) of each metering device (18) is closed at the bottom by a
respective shutter (36); the method also comprising the step of
moving the shutter (36) between a closed position, in which the
transfer chamber (21) is separated from the relative bottom shell
(2), and an open position, in which the transfer chamber (21)
communicates with the relative bottom shell (2).
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a machine for filling
capsules or similar with at least two products.
[0002] More specifically, the present invention relates to a
machine for filling capsules with pharmaceutical products in
granules, to which the following description refers purely by way
of example.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In the pharmaceutical industry, a machine for filling
capsules with pharmaceutical products in granules is known
comprising a conveying device moving continuously along a given
path and having a number of pockets, each for receiving a
respective bottom shell of a capsule; two tanks of respective
products; and a metering wheel mounted to rotate continuously about
a substantially vertical longitudinal axis.
[0004] The metering wheel has a number of metering devices, each of
which is moved by the metering wheel along a portion of the bottom
shell path, in time with, and so as to transfer a given quantity of
each product into, a respective bottom shell.
[0005] Each metering device comprises a substantially cylindrical
metering chamber for receiving a given quantity of product from
each tank; a feed chute for feeding the product from the metering
chamber into the relative bottom shell; and a piston, which defines
the bottom of the metering chamber, and moves along the metering
chamber between an open position and a closed position opening and
closing the feed chute respectively.
[0006] Because the second product is fed into the metering chamber
after the first has been fed to the feed chute and the piston has
moved back into the closed position, the product inside the
metering chamber is weighed by a weighing device, in this case a
capacitive transducer, fitted inside the metering chamber.
[0007] Starting with the metering chamber empty and the piston in
the closed position, the operating sequence by which the product
inside the metering chamber is weighed comprises the steps of:
[0008] lowering the piston to enable the weighing device to weigh
the portion of the piston projecting inside the metering
chamber;
[0009] raising the piston into a position corresponding to a given
volume of the metering chamber;
[0010] filling the metering chamber with the product;
[0011] lowering the piston to enable the weighing device to measure
the total weight of the piston portion projecting inside the
metering chamber, and the product inside the metering chamber;
and
[0012] lowering the piston into the open position to feed the
product along the feed chute into the bottom shell.
[0013] The two weights are measured by moving the piston at
constant speed from the same position along the metering chamber,
so the weight of the piston portion projecting inside the metering
chamber has exactly the same effect on both, and the weight of the
product inside the metering chamber can be calculated as the
difference between the two weights recorded by the weighing
device.
[0014] Because the above operating sequence has to be performed
twice--once for each product fed into the metering chamber--for
each complete turn of the metering wheel about its longitudinal
axis, and, each time, the piston has to perform a relatively large
number of movements along the metering chamber, some merely to
weigh the piston portion projecting inside the metering chamber,
known machines of the above type have several drawbacks, mainly due
to the relatively high travelling speed of the piston along the
metering chamber, which jeopardizes not only correct filling of the
metering chamber, but also correct weighing of the piston portion
projecting inside the metering chamber, and each product inside the
metering chamber.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0015] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
machine for filling capsules or similar with at least two products,
designed to eliminate the above drawbacks.
[0016] According to the present invention, there is provided a
machine for filling capsules or similar with at least two products,
as claimed in Claims 1 to 13.
[0017] The present invention also relates to a method of filling
capsules or similar with at least two products.
[0018] According to the present invention, there is provided a
method of filling capsules or similar with at least two products,
as claimed in Claims 14 to 20.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] A non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will be
described by way of example with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which:
[0020] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view in perspective of a preferred
embodiment of the machine according to the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 2 shows a schematic plan view, with parts removed for
clarity, of a detail of the FIG. 1 machine;
[0022] FIG. 3 shows operating schematics of the FIG. 1 machine.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0023] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 3, number 1 indicates as a
whole a machine for filling known capsules (not shown) with at
least one pharmaceutical product in granules. Each capsule (not
shown) comprises a substantially cup-shaped bottom shell 2, and a
top shell (not shown) closing bottom shell 2.
[0024] Machine 1 comprises a metering wheel 3, in turn comprising a
supporting shaft (not shown), which has a substantially vertical
longitudinal axis 4, is fitted to a fixed frame 5 of machine 1, is
rotated continuously about axis 4 and with respect to frame 5 by a
known drive device (not shown), and supports a metering drum 6.
[0025] Drum 6 comprises a bottom disk 7, an intermediate disk 8,
and a top disk 9, which are coaxial with and perpendicular to axis
4, and are connected in angularly fixed manner to one another and
to the supporting shaft (not shown) to rotate about axis 4.
[0026] On the outer surface of disk 7 are formed: a sprocket 10
coaxial with axis 4 and forming part of a known conveying device 11
for feeding bottom shells 2 along a given path P; and an annular
funnel 12 extending between sprocket 10 and disk 8, and tapering
towards sprocket 10.
[0027] Device 11 comprises a chain conveyor 13 looped about a
number of powered sprockets (of which only sprocket 10 is shown in
FIG. 3) and comprising a number of substantially cup-shaped pockets
14, which are positioned with their concavities facing upwards, are
equally spaced along conveyor 13, are each designed to house a
respective bottom shell 2 with its concavity facing upwards, and
are fed continuously by conveyor 13 along path P and beneath funnel
12.
[0028] In the example shown, frame 5 is fitted with two tubular
containers 15, 16 (FIGS. 1 and 3b), which are mounted on top of
disk 9, are arranged about axis 4, each extend less than
180.degree. about axis 4, are open at the top and bottom in a
direction 17 parallel to axis 4, and each house a respective
pharmaceutical product in granules.
[0029] Drum 6 comprises a number of metering devices 18 equally
spaced about axis 4, and which are moved by drum 6 about axis 4 and
along a portion of path P in time with respective pockets 14, so as
each to withdraw a given amount of pharmaceutical product from each
container 15, 16, and feed it into relative bottom shell 2.
[0030] Each device 18 comprises a substantially cylindrical
metering chamber 19, which extends through top disk 9, has a
longitudinal axis 20 parallel to axis 4, and is offset radially
with respect to funnel 12; and a substantially cylindrical transfer
chamber 21, which is formed through intermediate disk 8, has a
longitudinal axis 22 parallel to axis 4, and is aligned in
direction 17 with funnel 12.
[0031] Chamber 21 is bounded laterally by a bushing 23 fitted
inside chamber 21, coaxially with axis 22, and comprising a
capacitive transducer 24 integrated in bushing 23 and forming part
of a weighing device 25 for weighing the product inside chamber
21.
[0032] Device 25 also comprises a known electric connector (not
shown) coaxial with axis 4 and in turn comprising a fixed member
fitted to frame 5, and a movable member fixed to drum 6 and
connected electrically to capacitive transducers 24 of devices
18.
[0033] Bushing 23, capacitive transducer 24, and weighing device 25
are described and illustrated in the Applicant's Patent Application
WO-2006/035285-A2, which is fully included in the present
Application.
[0034] Chamber 19 is connected to chamber 21 by a feed chute 26
formed through disk 9, and is closed at the bottom by the top end
of a piston 27, which is mounted coaxially with axis 20, extends
through disks 7, 8 and 9, and is fitted in axially sliding,
angularly fixed manner to drum 6 to slide, with respect to drum 6,
straight along chamber 19 in direction 17.
[0035] Piston 27 has a changeable top portion 27a, which is bounded
at the top by a flat surface 28 sloping with respect to axis 20, is
fitted removably to a bottom portion 27b of piston 27, and can be
changed according to the size of chamber 19.
[0036] As shown in FIG. 3e, pistons 27 are moved along respective
chambers 19 by an actuating device 29 comprising a known cam 30,
and, for each piston 27, a respective cam follower roller 31
engaging cam 30.
[0037] Cam 30 extends about axis 4, and, at each container 15, 16,
has a respective movable portion, which is movable in direction 17
independently of the other movable portion to selectively control
the volume of chambers 19 at each container 15, 16.
[0038] Bach roller 31 is fitted in rolling manner to a top sleeve
32, which is fitted slidably to respective piston 27, is coaxial
with relative axis 20, and is normally held contacting a top stop
ring 33, fixed to piston 27, by a spring 34 fitted to piston 27,
coaxially with axis 20, and interposed between sleeve 32 and a
bottom sleeve 35 fixed to piston 27 and also coaxial with axis
20.
[0039] Chamber 21 is closed at the bottom by a shutter 36, which
extends through disks 8 and 9 in direction 17, has a longitudinal
axis 37 offset with respect to axis 22, projects from the top of
disk 9 in direction 17, and is fitted td drum 6 to slide, with
respect to drum 6 and straight in direction 17, between an open
position (FIG. 3a) opening chamber 21, and a closed position (FIG.
3b) closing chamber 21.
[0040] Shutter 36 is normally held in the closed position by a
spring 38 interposed between disk 9 and shutter 36, and is moved
into the open position by its top end engaging a cam 39 fixed to
frame 5 (FIG. 3a).
[0041] Shutter 36 comprises a bottom portion 36a made of insulating
material with a low or zero dielectric constant; and a top portion
36b made, for example, of metal.
[0042] Portion 36a is substantially L-shaped and comprises a
supporting rod 40, which slides inside a groove (not shown) formed
through bushing 23 and parallel to direction 17, has a wedge-shaped
portion 41 for dislodging any product clogging chamber 21, and, on
its bottom free end, has a stopper plate 42 sloping with respect to
axis 37.
[0043] Operation of machine 1 will now be described with reference
to FIG. 3 and to one bottom shell 2 only, and as of the instant
(FIG. 3a) in which:
[0044] relative metering device 18 is located upstream from
container 15 in the rotation direction of wheel 3 about axis 4;
[0045] relative shutter 36 is in the open position; and
[0046] relative piston 27 projects outwards of chamber 19 and
cooperates with a suction device 43 for removing any product
residue from chamber 19.
[0047] At this point, device 18 and relative bottom shell 2 are
advanced in time with each other; piston 27 is lowered in direction
17 into a position closing chute 26 and corresponding to a given
volume of chamber 19; shutter 36 is moved into the closed position
to allow capacitive transducer 24 to weigh the portion of shutter
36 projecting inside chamber 21; and device 18 is fed beneath
container 15 to allow a given quantity of the first product to drop
by gravity into chamber 19 (FIG. 3b).
[0048] Next, device 18 disengages container 15 (FIG. 3c); and
piston 27 is moved into position to open chute 26, so the product
inside chamber 19 slides down chute 26 into chamber 21 (FIG.
3d).
[0049] Finally, shutter 36 is moved into the open position, so the
product in chamber 21 drops into bottom shell 2, and capacitive
transducer 24 measures the total weight of the portion of shutter
36 projecting inside chamber 21, and the product inside chamber 21;
and piston 27 is raised to close chute 26, project outwards of
chamber 19, and cooperate with a second suction device 44 upstream
from container 16 in the rotation direction of wheel 3 about axis 4
(FIG. 3a).
[0050] Because the two weights are measured by moving shutter 36 at
constant speed in direction 17 and between the same positions along
axis 22, the weight of the portion of shutter 36 projecting inside
chamber 21 affects both weight measurements in exactly the same
way, so weighing device 25 can calculate the weight of the product
inside chamber 21 as the difference between the two weights
recorded by capacitive transducer 24.
[0051] Obviously, the above operating sequence relative to
container 15 is repeated for container 16.
[0052] It should be pointed out that each piston 27 may be locked
selectively in the closed position, preventing product feed along
chute 26 into chamber 21, when pocket 14 contains no bottom shell
2, or when only one product is to be fed into bottom shell 2 and
its weight checked by an auxiliary weighing device off wheel 3.
[0053] With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3e, pistons 27 are locked
selectively into position closing respective chutes 26 by a lock
device 45 comprising, at each container 15, 16, a respective
actuating cylinder 46, which is fixed to frame 5, beneath metering
devices 18, has a longitudinal axis 47 parallel to direction 17 and
offset radially with respect to axes 20, and supports a
substantially flat cam 48 fitted to the output rod of cylinder 46
and perpendicular to axis 47.
[0054] Device 45 also comprises, for each device 18, a respective
crank 49 hinged to disk 7 to rotate, with respect to disk 7, about
a hinge axis 50 substantially parallel to direction 17.
[0055] Cylinder 46 moves cam 48 in direction 17 between a lowered
rest position, in which cam 48 is positioned clear of the path of
cranks 49 about axis 4, and a raised work position, in which cam 48
is positioned along the path of cranks 49 to intercept and move
crank 49 of relative device 18 into a work position (shown in FIG.
3e and by the dash line in FIG. 2) in which crank 49 is positioned
beneath piston 27 to prevent it being lowered into position to open
chute 26.
[0056] Crank 49 is moved from the work position to a rest
position--shown by the dash line in FIG. 3e, and in which crank 49
releases piston 27--by a return spring (not shown) and by a further
cam (not shown) identical to cam 48.
[0057] In connection with the above, it should be pointed out that
the upward thrust exerted by spring 34 on top sleeve 32 is less
than the downward thrust exerted by cam 30 on follower roller 31,
and therefore on sleeve 32, when piston 27 is locked in the closed
position, thus enabling sleeve 32 to move down in opposition to
spring 34, and piston 27 to remain stationary in direction 17.
[0058] Machine 1 has several advantages, mainly due to transfer
chamber 21, i.e. an intermediate chamber between metering chamber
19 and bottom shell 2, which allows metering device 18 to fill
chamber 19 correctly with each product, and weighing device 25 to
correctly weigh the portion of shutter 36 projecting inside chamber
21, and the product inside chamber 21.
* * * * *