U.S. patent application number 14/399050 was filed with the patent office on 2015-04-30 for apparatus for feeding capsules.
The applicant listed for this patent is I.M.A. Industria Macchine Automatiche S.p.A.. Invention is credited to Fabrizio Salvatore Consoli, Massimo Ribani, Roberto Trebbi.
Application Number | 20150113917 14/399050 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46397369 |
Filed Date | 2015-04-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150113917 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Trebbi; Roberto ; et
al. |
April 30, 2015 |
APPARATUS FOR FEEDING CAPSULES
Abstract
An apparatus for feeding capsules to a transferring wheel of a
filling machine includes a store for containing the capsules. First
feeding conduits are spaced apart along a first direction for
drawing the capsules from the store and conveying the capsules from
the store to first seats of the transferring wheel. Second feeding
conduits are spaced apart along the first direction and spaced
apart from the first feeding conduits along a second direction
substantially orthogonal to the first direction for drawing the
capsules from the store and conveying the capsules from the store
to second seats of the transferring wheel. A first horizontal
pushing arrangement and a first vertical pushing arrangement for
receive and orient the capsules coming from the first feeding
conduits. A second horizontal pushing arrangement and a second
vertical pushing arrangement receive and orient the capsules coming
from the second feeding conduits.
Inventors: |
Trebbi; Roberto; (Castenaso,
IT) ; Consoli; Fabrizio Salvatore; (Bologna, IT)
; Ribani; Massimo; (San Lazzaro di Savena, IT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
I.M.A. Industria Macchine Automatiche S.p.A. |
Ozzano dell'Emilia |
|
IT |
|
|
Family ID: |
46397369 |
Appl. No.: |
14/399050 |
Filed: |
May 7, 2013 |
PCT Filed: |
May 7, 2013 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/IB2013/053651 |
371 Date: |
November 5, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
53/249 ;
53/389.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65G 47/1407 20130101;
B65G 47/14 20130101; B65G 2201/027 20130101; B65B 43/42 20130101;
A61J 3/074 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
53/249 ;
53/389.1 |
International
Class: |
B65B 43/42 20060101
B65B043/42 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 8, 2012 |
IT |
BO2012A000249 |
Claims
1-11. (canceled)
12. An apparatus for feeding capsules to a transferring wheel of a
filling machine, including: a) a store for containing said
capsules; b) first feeding conduits spaced along a first direction
for drawing said capsules from said store and conveying said
capsules toward first seats of the transferring wheel; c) second
feeding conduits spaced along said first direction and spaced from
said first feeding conduits along a second direction substantially
orthogonal to said first direction for drawing said capsules from
said store and conveying said capsules towards second seats of the
transferring wheel; d) a first horizontal pushing device and a
first vertical pushing device, both being movable and arranged for
receiving and orienting the capsules coming from said first feeding
conduits; e) a second horizontal pushing device and a second
vertical pushing device, both being movable and arranged for
receiving and orienting the capsules coming from said second
feeding conduits, said first horizontal pushing device and said
second horizontal pushing device being opposite to one another and
movable with alternating motion along said second direction, said
first horizontal pushing device being movable in an opposite
direction with respect to said second horizontal pushing device so
as to orient, move close along said second direction, and insert
the capsules coming from said first feeding conduits and the
capsules coming from said second feeding conduits in said first
seats and in said second seats, respectively, in cooperation with
said first vertical pushing device and said second vertical pushing
device.
13. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said first vertical
pushing device and said second vertical pushing device are arranged
alongside one another, substantially parallel and movable with
alternating motion along a third direction, orthogonal to said
first direction and to said second direction.
14. Apparatus according to claim 12, and further comprising first
orienting conduits arranged alongside one another and parallel to
the first direction and interposed between the first feeding
conduits and the first seats and second orienting conduits arranged
alongside one another and parallel to the first direction and
interposed between the second feeding conduits and the second
seats, said first orienting conduits and said second orienting
conduits being arranged for receiving said capsules from the first
feeding conduits and the second feeding conduits, respectively, and
being dimensioned to retain said capsules, including respective
lids and bodies, by means of an interference fit with said
lids.
15. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said first horizontal
pushing device and said first vertical pushing device are movable
within said first orienting conduits and include a first abutting
device and a further first abutting device to push and rotate the
capsules, respectively, in a substantially vertical position with
respective bodies turned towards the first seats.
16. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said second horizontal
pushing device and said second vertical pushing device are movable
within said second orienting conduits and include a second abutting
device and a further second abutting device, respectively, to
rotate the capsules in a substantially vertical position with
respective bodies turned towards the second seats.
17. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said first horizontal
pushing device and said second horizontal pushing device include a
third abutting device and a fourth abutting device, respectively,
to push the capsules coming from the first feeding conduits and the
capsules coming from the second feeding conduits along said second
direction to align said capsules on the first seats and on the
second seats, respectively.
18. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said first vertical
pushing device and said second vertical pushing device include a
further third abutting device and a further fourth abutting device,
respectively, to push the capsules within the first seats and the
second seats, respectively.
19. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said first feeding
conduits and said second feeding conduits extend along a third
direction orthogonal to said first direction and to said second
direction, and are moved with alternating motion along said third
direction by means of a first actuating device to draw capsules
from said store.
20. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said first vertical
pushing device is fixed to said first feeding conduits and said
second vertical pushing device is fixed to said second feeding
conduits.
21. Apparatus according to claim 12, and further comprising a
second actuating device for moving said first horizontal pushing
device and said second horizontal pushing device along said second
direction onto a substantially horizontal plane with alternating
motion and opposite directions.
22. A machine for filling capsules with at least one product
including a feeding station provided with an apparatus according to
claim 12.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to automatic machines for
packaging pharmaceutical products. In particular, the invention
refers to an apparatus for feeding capsules to a filling
machine.
[0002] Various types of filling machines exist that are suitable
for filling capsules, in particular capsules of the lid-bottom type
that are made of hard gelatine, with liquid, powder, pill,
mini-pill, chronoid etc. pharmaceutical products.
[0003] Filling machines are known comprising a turret or
transferring wheel, rotating around a vertical axis and provided
with housings or seats arranged for receiving the capsules, and a.
plurality of operating stations arranged around the aforesaid
transferring wheel. During rotation, the transferring wheel moves
the capsules, typically with an intermittent alternating motion,
through the aforesaid operating stations that typically comprise a
feeding station, one or more dosing stations and a capsule closing
station.
[0004] In the feeding station a feeding apparatus is provided that
draws empty capsules from a store and, after orienting the empty
capsules correctly, inserts the empty capsules into the seats of
the transferring wheel. Suitable means opens the capsules,
separating the lids from the bottoms.
[0005] One or more dosing stations dose respective products into
the bottoms of the capsules.
[0006] In the closing station, the lids are again coupled with the
respective bottoms so as to close and recompose the dosed capsules,
which are conveyed outside the filling machine.
[0007] The feeding apparatus of the feeding station comprises a
plurality of parallel, substantially vertical feeding conduits that
are able to draw the capsules from a store or upper hopper, where
they lie loose, and convey the capsules to the seats of the
transferring wheel. Each conduit enables a plurality of capsules
arranged aligned according to the axis of greater length and in a
single row to drop through by the force of gravity.
[0008] Orienting means is associated with each feeding conduit to
orient the capsules correctly and insert the capsules singularly
into the seats of the transferring wheel. In particular, the
capsules are oriented in such a manner as to be inserted into the
seats with the lid at the top and the bottom at the lower part.
[0009] The feeding conduits are equal in number to the number of
seats on the transferring wheel. The seats are generally arranged
next to one another to form a linear or arched row. In order to
increase the productivity of the filling machine, the seats for the
capsules made on the transferring wheel can be arranged next to one
another on two or more parallel or adjacent rows. Each row of seats
is fed with the capsules by a respective feeding station.
[0010] These filling machines thus comprise a plurality of feeding
stations, arranged in sequence around the transferring wheel. These
machines are thus particularly bulky and costly.
[0011] In order to overcome this drawback, feeding apparatuses are
known comprising a plurality of feeding conduits arranged next to
one another according to two adjacent lines or groups so as to feed
to two distinct rows or groups of seats of the transferring wheel
in the same operating station. In this manner, the filling machine
is relatively compact, having only one feeding station, which is
slightly greater than a station with a single aligned group of
feeding conduits. An apparatus of this type is illustrated in the
document US 2011/0146843.
[0012] One drawback of this apparatus lies in the complexity and
cost of the orienting means provided for orienting and inserting
into the seats two rows of capsules that are alongside one
another.
[0013] One object of the present invention is to improve the known
apparatuses for feeding capsules, or similar elements, to filling
machines provided with a transferring wheel with seats for the
capsules.
[0014] Another object is to provide a feeding apparatus that is
compact and not bulky that is able to feed a high-production
filling machine provided with a transferring wheel having seats for
the capsules arranged alongside one another in two adjacent
rows.
[0015] A further object is to make a feeding apparatus that has
simple and reliable operation. These objects and still others are
achieved by a feeding apparatus according to any one of the claims
set out below.
[0016] The invention can be better understood and implemented with
reference to the attached drawings that illustrate some embodiments
thereof by way of non-limiting example, in which:
[0017] FIG. 1 is a frontal schematic and partially sectioned view
of the capsule-feeding apparatus of the invention associated with a
partially illustrated filling machine;
[0018] FIG. 2 is a partial and enlarged front view of the apparatus
in FIG. 1;
[0019] FIG. 3 is a section according to line in FIG. 2;
[0020] FIG. 4 is a frontal schematic and partially sectioned view
of the feeding apparatus in a second operating configuration;
[0021] FIG. 5 is a section according to line V-V in FIG. 4;
[0022] FIGS. 6 to 9 are partially sectioned and enlarged partial
front views of the apparatus of the invention in successive
operating configurations.
[0023] With reference to the figures, the apparatus 1 of the
invention is illustrated arranged for feeding capsules 100 to a
transferring wheel 210 of a filling machine 200, which is partially
illustrated. The capsules 100 are made of hard gelatine. Each
capsule 100 is made up of a bottom 100b closed above by a lid 100a
so as to form a closed cavity that is suitable for containing one
or more products.
[0024] The filling machine 200, of known type, comprises one or
more filling stations for dosing one or more products, in
particular pharmaceuticals, in the capsules 100. The feeding
apparatus 1 is comprised in a feeding station of the filling
machine.
[0025] The apparatus 1 comprising a store 2 for containing the
capsules 100 and provided, in particular, with a tank 2a fed by an
upper hopper 2b.
[0026] The apparatus comprises a plurality of first feeding
conduits 3 that are parallel and spaced apart along a first
direction X and are able to draw the capsules 100 from the store 2
and convey the capsules 100 to first seats 211 of the transferring
wheel 210, and a plurality of second feeding conduits 4 that are
parallel and spaced apart along the first direction X and able to
draw the capsules 100 from the store 2 and convey the capsules 100
to second seats 212 of the transferring wheel 210.
[0027] The second feeding conduits 4 are spaced away from the first
feeding conduits 3 along a second direction Y that is substantially
orthogonal to the first direction X. The feeding conduits 3, 4 feed
the capsules 100 to the filling machine 200 in parallel.
[0028] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the apparatus
comprises twelve first feeding conduits 3 and twelve second feeding
conduits 4 arranged along respective arched rows.
[0029] Similarly, as illustrated in particular in FIG. 3, the
transferring wheel 210 of the machine comprises a plurality of
peripheral sectors, each of which is provided with a first group of
first seats 211 and a second group of second seats 212. The seats
of each group are arranged along respective arched rows.
[0030] The first feeding conduits 3 and the second feeding conduits
4 extend along a third direction Z, substantially vertical and
orthogonal to the first direction X and to the second direction Y,
and are moved with an alternating motion along said third direction
Z by first actuating means 31, so as to draw the capsules 100 from
the store 2.
[0031] Each feeding conduit 3, 4 is able to receive a plurality of
capsules 100 from the store 2 and convey said plurality of capsules
100 to the transferring wheel 210, the capsules 100 being arranged
aligned along a longitudinal axis of greater length, the ones in
contact with the others to form a single row. The capsules 100 are
inserted into the conduits 3, 4 with a random orientation, i.e.
with the bottoms 100b facing downwards (as requested for inserting
into the seats 211, 212 of the transferring wheel 210) or
upwards.
[0032] First stopping means 7 and second stopping means 8 are
provided at the free ends of the first feeding conduits 3 and of
the second feeding conduits 4 (opposite the ends inserted into the
store 2) to stop or enable the descent of the capsules 100 along
and outside the aforesaid feeding conduits 3, 4.
[0033] The apparatus 1 also includes first horizontal pushing means
11 and first vertical pushing means 12 that are movable and are
arranged for receiving and orienting the capsules 100 coming from
the first feeding conduits 3, and second horizontal pushing means
21 and second vertical pushing means 22 that are movable and
arranged for receiving and orienting the capsules 100 coming from
the second feeding conduits 4.
[0034] The first pushing means 11, 12 and the second pushing means
21, 22 enable, as explained. better further on in the description,
the capsules 100 to be oriented in an insertion configuration, i.e.
in a substantially vertical position and in such a manner as to
have the respective bottoms 100b facing downwards, i.e. to the
seats 211, 212 of the transferring wheel 210.
[0035] The first horizontal pushers 11 and the second horizontal
pushing means 21 face one another, opposite and movable with
alternating motion in opposite directions along the second
direction Y so as to orient, move near and insert (in cooperation
with the first vertical pushers 12 and the second vertical pushers
22) the capsules 100 coming from the first feeding conduits 3 and
the capsules 100 coming from the second feeding conduits 4
respectively into the first seats 211 and into the second seats
212.
[0036] The first vertical pushing means 21 and the second vertical
pushing means 22 arc arranged alongside one another, substantially
parallel and movable with alternating motion along the third
direction In particular, the first vertical pushing means 12 is
fixed to the first feeding conduits 3 and the second vertical
pushing means 22 is fixed to the second feeding conduits 4.
[0037] In this manner, the first actuating means 31 moves both the
feeding conduits 3, 4 and the vertical pushing means 12, 22 with
alternating motion along the third, substantially vertical,
direction Z.
[0038] The apparatus 1 further comprises first orienting conduits
5, arranged alongside one another and parallel along the first
direction X and interposed between the first feeding conduits 3 and
the first seats 211 and second orienting conduits 6 arranged
alongside one another and parallel along the first direction X and
interposed between the second feeding conduits 3 and the second
seats 212.
[0039] The first orienting conduits 5 and the second orienting
conduits 6 receive the capsules 100 respectively from the first
feeding conduits 3 and from the second feeding conduits 4. The
number of first orienting conduits 5 and of second orienting
conduits 6 is thus equal respectively to the number of first
feeding conduits 3 and of second feeding conduits 4 (twelve). Each
orienting conduit 5, 6 is dimensioned along the first direction X
(width) in such a manner as to retain the capsules 100 by
interference fit with the respective lids 100a. In other words, the
width of the orienting conduit 5, 6 is slightly less than the width
of the lid 100a of the capsule 100, which in the absence of
external forces thus remains locked inside the orienting conduit.
Nevertheless, owing to the slight interference, and elasticity of
the material (hard gelatine) with which the capsule is made, the
capsule can be rotated and moved inside the orienting conduit 5, 6,
pushed by the pushing means as explained better below. The
dimension according to the third direction Z (length) of each
orienting conduit 5, 6 is such as to enable the capsule 100 to
rotate once completely.
[0040] The first horizontal pushing means 11 and the first vertical
pushing means 12 are movable inside the first orienting conduits 5,
whereas the second horizontal pushing means 21 and the second
vertical pushing means 22 are movable inside the second guide
conduits 6. The first horizontal pushing means 11 and the first
vertical pushing means 12 comprise respectively first abutting
means 13 and further first abutting means 15 arranged for pushing
and rotating the capsules 100 coming from the first feeding
conduits 3 in the desired insertion configuration.
[0041] Similarly, the second horizontal pushing means 21 and the
second vertical pushing means 22 respectively comprise second
abutting means 23 and further second abutting means 25 that are
able to push and rotate the capsules 100, coming from the second
feeding conduits 4, in the desired insertion configuration.
[0042] The first horizontal pushing means 11 and the second
horizontal pushing means 21 also comprise respectively third
abutting means 14 and fourth abutting means 24 for pushing along
the second direction Y the capsules 100 that come from the'first
feeding conduits 3 and are correctly oriented by the first abutting
means 13, 15, and moving these capsules 100 near the capsules 100
that come from the second feeding conduits 4 and are correctly
oriented by the second abutting means 23, 25, such as to align the
capsules 100 on the first seats 211 and on the second seats 212,
respectively.
[0043] The third abutting means 14 and fourth abutting means 24
thus allow to move close the capsules that are fed and oriented in
parallel in. such a manner that they can be inserted with precision
into the seats 211, 212 of the transferring wheel 210.
[0044] The first vertical pushing means 12 and the second vertical
pushing means 22 respectively comprise further third abutting means
16 and further fourth abutting means 26 that are able to push the
capsules 100 moved close by the third abutting means 14 and by the
fourth abutting means 24 inside the first seats 211 and the second
seats 212, respectively.
[0045] Second actuating means 32 is provided for moving the first
horizontal pushing means 11 and the second horizontal pushing means
21 along the second direction Y on a plane that is substantially
horizontal with alternating motion and with opposite
directions.
[0046] With particular reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the first
horizontal pushing means 11 comprises a first supporting element 17
connected to the second actuating means 32 and supporting the first
abutting means 13 and the third abutting means 14. The first
abutting means comprises a plurality of first abutting elements 13,
of the same number as the number of the first orienting conduits 5
and arranged for sliding inside the latter along the second
direction Y in such a manner as to push and rotate respective
capsules 100. In particular, each first abutting element 13
comprises a shaped end that is able to rotate a capsule 100
descending from the respective first feeding conduit 3 in a
substantially horizontal position, with the bottom 100b facing the
opposite second horizontal pushing means 21 (see FIG. 6). The
capsule 100 is rotated because it is retained by interference, at
the lid 100a, by the opposite side walls of the first orienting
conduit 5 in which it has been deposited by the corresponding first
feeding conduit 3.
[0047] The third abutting means comprises a plurality of third
abutting elements 14, of the same number as the number of the first
orienting conduits 5 and arranged for sliding inside the latter
along the second direction Y so as to push respective capsules 100
arranged vertically and in the insertion configuration, towards the
opposite second horizontal pushing means 21, in such a manner as to
align the capsules 100 with the underlying first seats 211.
[0048] The first vertical pushing means comprises a plurality of
first pushing elements 12 that are connected to, and of the same
number as, respective first feeding conduits 3 and are able to
slide inside the respective first orienting conduits 5.
[0049] The further first abutting means of the first vertical
pushing means 12 comprises a first abutting portion 15 made on each
first pushing element 12 and shaped in such a manner as to rotate a
capsule 100, which is arranged in a substantially horizontal
position by the corresponding first abutting element 13, in a
substantially vertical position, with the bottom 100b facing the
first seats 211 i.e. in the insertion configuration (see FIG.
7).
[0050] The further third abutting means of the first vertical
pushing means 12 comprises a third abutting portion 16 made on each
first pushing element 12 and arranged for pushing a capsule 100
arranged vertically and in the insertion configuration along the
third direction Z inside the respective first scat 211.
[0051] The second horizontal pushing means 21 comprises a second
supporting clement 27 connected by a connecting arm 29 to the
second actuating means 32 and supporting the second abutting means
23 and the fourth abutting means 24. The second abutting means
comprises a plurality of second abutting elements 23, of the same
number as the number of second orienting conduits 6 and arranged
for sliding inside the latter along the second direction Y in such
a manner as to push and rotate respective capsules 100. In
particular, each second abutting element 23 comprises a shaped end
that is able to rotate a capsule 100 descending from the respective
second feeding conduit 4 in a substantially horizontal position,
with the bottom 100b facing the opposite first horizontal pushing
means 11 (see FIG. 6). The capsule 100 is rotated because it is
retained by interference, at the lid 100a, by the opposite side
walls of the second orienting conduit 6 in which the capsule 100
has been deposited by the corresponding second feeding conduit
4.
[0052] The fourth abutting means comprises a plurality of fourth
abutting elements 24, of the same number as the number of the
second orienting conduits 6 and arranged for sliding inside the
latter along the second direction Y in such a manner as to push
respective capsules 100, arranged vertically and in the insertion
configuration, to the opposite first horizontal pushing means 11 in
such a manner as to align the capsules 100 with the underlying
second seats 212.
[0053] The second vertical pushing means comprises a plurality of
second pushing elements 22 connected to, and of the same number as,
respective second feeding conduits 4 and able to slide inside the
respective second orienting conduits 6.
[0054] The further second abutting means of the second vertical
pushing means 22 comprises a second abutting portion 25 made on
each second pushing element 22 and shaped in such a manner as to
rotate a capsule 100, which is arranged in a substantially
horizontal position by the corresponding second abutting element
23, in a substantially vertical position, with the bottom 100b
facing the first seats 211 i.e. in the insertion configuration.
[0055] The further fourth abutting means of the second vertical
pushing means 22 comprises a fourth abutting portion 26 made on
each second pushing element 22 and arranged for pushing a capsule
IOU arranged vertically and in the insertion configuration along
the third direction Z inside the respective second seat 212.
[0056] It should be pointed out that the first abutting elements 13
and the third abutting elements 14 of the first horizontal pushing
means 11 are respectively identical to the second abutting elements
23 and to the fourth abutting means 24 of the second horizontal
pushing means 21.
[0057] Similarly, the first pushing elements 12 of the first
vertical pushing means are identical to the second pushing elements
22 of the second vertical pushing means.
[0058] The first feeding conduits 3 and the respective first
stopping means 7 are respectively identical to the second feeding
conduits 4 and to the second stopping means 8.
[0059] The feeding apparatus 1 of the invention, in addition to
having a simple and compact structure, thus enables substantially
the same items to be used to feed two distinct groups of seats
(first seats 211 and second seats 212) of the transferring wheel
210. The apparatus of the invention is thus not very expensive and
is economical.
[0060] The operation of the apparatus 1 provides in a first
operating step (FIG. 4) for the descent of both feeding conduits 3,
4 (moved by the first actuating means 31) and the opening of the
first stopping means 7 and of the second stopping means 8 to enable
a single capsule 100 per feeding conduit 3, 4 to descend (pushed by
the capsules overhead) into the corresponding orienting conduit 5,
6 underneath. Inside each first orienting conduit 5 and second
orienting conduit 6 the capsule 100 is supported and kept upright
by first supporting means 18 and second supporting means 28. In
this step, the first horizontal pushing means 11 and vertical
pushing means 12 and the second horizontal pushing means 21 and
vertical pushing means 22 are in respective non-operating positions
spaced away from the capsules 100.
[0061] In a second operating step (FIG. 6) the first horizontal
pushing means 11 and the second horizontal pushing means 21 are
moved along the second direction Y in opposite directions and
moving towards one another so as to push and rotate (respectively
with the first abutting means 13 and with the second abutting means
23) the respective capsules 100 in a substantially horizontal
position.
[0062] In a third operating step (FIG. 7) whilst the first
horizontal pushing means 11 and the second horizontal pushing means
21 are brought hack to the respective non-operating positions, the
first vertical pushing means 12 and the second vertical pushing
means 22 are moved along the third direction Z (downwards) to
respective operating positions so as to rotate the respective
capsules 100 in a substantially vertical position, with the bottoms
100b facing downwards. it should be noted that this third operating
step coincides with the first operating step for the capsules
arranged in the feeding conduits upstream of the capsules that have
been oriented.
[0063] In a fourth operating step (FIG. 8), the first horizontal
pushing means 11 and the second horizontal pushing means 21 are
moved along the second direction Y in opposite directions towards
one another in the respective operating positions so as to push,
respectively with the third abutting means 14 and with the fourth
abutting means 24, and move the capsules 100 coming from the first
feeding conduits 3 near to the capsules 100 coining from the second
feeding conduits 4. This fourth operating step coincides with the
second operating step of the capsules arranged in the feeding
conduits upstream of the capsules that have just been moved towards
one another.
[0064] In a fifth operating step (FIG. 9) whilst the first
horizontal pushing means 11 and the second horizontal pushing means
21 are brought back to the respective non operating positions, the
first vertical pushing means 12 and the second vertical pushing
means 22 are moved along the third direction Z (downwards) so as to
push, respectively with the further third abutting means 16 and the
further fourth abutting means 26, the respective capsules 100
inside the first seats 211 and the second seats 212. This fifth
operating step coincides with the first operating step of capsules
descending into the orienting conduits from the feeding
conduits.
[0065] Owing to the apparatus 1 of the invention, it is thus
possible to feed with precision and reliability a high-production
filling machine provided with seats for the capsules arranged
alongside one another according to two adjacent rows. The apparatus
is not very bulky and can be easily arranged above the transferring
wheel, to enable operating stations to be positioned adjacent one
another.
* * * * *