U.S. patent application number 15/136037 was filed with the patent office on 2016-10-27 for capsule filling machine.
The applicant listed for this patent is Fette Engineering GmbH. Invention is credited to Jan Eric Kruse, Daniel Malick, Jan Fabian Scheffler.
Application Number | 20160311565 15/136037 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55808980 |
Filed Date | 2016-10-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160311565 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Scheffler; Jan Fabian ; et
al. |
October 27, 2016 |
CAPSULE FILLING MACHINE
Abstract
A capsule filling machine for filling capsules includes a
machine housing, a machine table, and a conveyor wheel whose
perimeter includes capsule holders, each of which has capsule
receivers for capsules. A conveyor wheel drive is configured to be
rotated incrementally so that the capsule holders move
incrementally along a conveyor track. A plurality of process
stations are arranged along the conveyor track at or on the machine
table and include at least one feeding station, at least one
opening station, at least one filling station, at least one closing
station, and at least one ejection station. The process stations
have process drives for their operation, which are controllable
independently of the conveyor wheel drive. A cabinet includes a
computer machine for operating the capsule filling machine and
controlling the conveyor wheel drive as well as the process drives
is connected to the conveyor drive and the process drives.
Inventors: |
Scheffler; Jan Fabian;
(Hamburg, DE) ; Malick; Daniel; (Ahrensburg,
DE) ; Kruse; Jan Eric; (Seevetal, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Fette Engineering GmbH |
Schwarzenbek |
|
DE |
|
|
Family ID: |
55808980 |
Appl. No.: |
15/136037 |
Filed: |
April 22, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 43/40 20130101;
B65B 7/28 20130101; B65B 65/02 20130101; B65B 43/52 20130101; A61J
3/074 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65B 43/52 20060101
B65B043/52; B65B 43/40 20060101 B65B043/40; B65B 65/02 20060101
B65B065/02; B65B 7/28 20060101 B65B007/28 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 24, 2015 |
DE |
10 2015 106 369.7 |
Claims
1. A capsule filling machine for filling capsules made up of a
capsule top part and a capsule bottom part, the capsule filling
machine comprising a machine housing; a machine table arranged in
the machine housing; a conveyor wheel arranged in the machine
housing, wherein a perimeter of the conveyor wheel comprises a
plurality of capsule holders, each of which has a plurality of
capsule receivers for one capsule; a conveyor wheel drive arranged
in the machine housing, wherein the conveyor wheel is configured to
be rotated incrementally so that the capsule holders move
incrementally along a conveyor track; and a plurality of process
stations arranged along the conveyor track at or on the machine
table and also arranged in the machine housing, wherein the process
stations comprise at least one feeding station for feeding capsules
to be filled into the capsule receivers, at least one opening
station for opening the capsules to be filled by separating the
capsule top parts from the capsule bottom parts, at least one
filling station for filling the capsule bottom parts with material
to be filled, at least one closing station for closing the filled
capsules by connecting the capsule top parts with the capsule
bottom parts, and at least one ejection station for ejecting the
filled capsules; and wherein the process stations have process
drives for their operation, which are controllable independently of
the conveyor wheel drive; and a cabinet arranged in the machine
housing, the cabinet comprising a computer machine for operating
the capsule filling machine and controlling the conveyor wheel
drive as well as the process drives and connected at least with the
conveyor drive and the process drives via lines arranged within the
machine housing.
2. The capsule filling machine according to claim 1, wherein the
conveyor wheel drive is a servo drive, comprising a servo motor
driving the conveyor wheel in a rotary manner via a gearbox.
3. The capsule filling machine according to claim 1, wherein the
conveyor wheel drive is a direct drive.
4. The capsule filling machine according to claim 3, wherein the
direct drive is a torque drive.
5. The capsule filling machine according to claim 1, wherein the
process drives are drives selected from the group consisting of
servo drives, direct drives, torque drives, and linear drives.
6. The capsule filling machine according to claim 1, wherein the
cabinet is arranged in a free space below the machine table on a
floor plate of the machine housing.
7. The capsule filling machine according to claim 6, wherein the
machine table is arranged on a carrier plate below which the free
space accommodating the cabinet is located.
8. The capsule filling machine according to claim 1, further
comprising a removal device with which the cabinet can be removed
from the machine housing.
9. The capsule filling machine according to claim 8, wherein the
removal device comprises rails arranged on the floor plate of the
machine housing, on which the cabinet is arranged.
10. The capsule filling machine according to claim 9, wherein the
rails are telescopic rails, so that the cabinet can be moved out of
the machine housing by extending the telescopic rails.
11. The capsule filling machine according to claim 1, wherein a
control unit for controlling the computer machine by an operator is
provided outside the machine housing.
12. The capsule filling machine according to claim 11, wherein the
control unit is arranged next to the machine housing and separately
from it and communicates with the computer machine wirelessly or
via a wired connection.
13. The capsule filling machine according to claim 11, wherein the
control unit is arranged on a holder fastened on the machine
housing and communicates with the computer machine wirelessly or
via a wired connection fed through or on the holder.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is based upon and claims priority to German
Patent Application No. 10 2015 106 369.7, filed Apr. 24, 2015,
under relevant sections of 35 USC .sctn.119, the entire contents of
which are hereby incorporated by reference.
[0002] The invention relates to a capsule filling machine for
filling capsules made up of a capsule top part and a capsule bottom
part.
[0003] The electrics and electronics of such capsule filling
machines take up more and more space. Since the introduction of
capsule filling machines controlled by computer machines, cabinets
have been provided, which accommodate the computer machine for
controlling the capsule filling machine. In known capsule filling
machines, the cabinet is either permanently mounted, for example
flange-mounted, laterally on the outside on the machine housing, or
set up as an external cabinet separately from the machine housing
either in the same room as the capsule filling machine or in a
separate engineering room. When using an external cabinet, the
required connection lines for controlling the capsule filling
machine from the cabinet over the ground, channels or other
protected or unprotected line paths to the capsule filling machine
are guided and connected with the corresponding components of the
capsule filling machine.
[0004] Both previously known arrangements of cabinets have
disadvantages. In the case of cabinets fastened on the outside of
the machine housing, one side of the capsule filling machine is no
longer accessible or only accessible to a limited degree. Cleaning
and installation work of this side is thereby made more difficult
or impossible. As a result, the time required to perform these
activities is increased and the ergonomics of the capsule filling
machine is worsened. Further, the floor space of the capsule
filling machine is greater than necessary.
[0005] In the case of external cabinets, access to the capsule
filling machine can be improved. However, attention must already be
paid to the correct cable length of the lines leading from the
cabinet to the capsule filling machine during product planning and
this must be taken into consideration both in the machine
construction of the supplier as well as set up again or readjusted
in the event of a potential relocation or storage of the machines
to another filling room or another location of the capsule filling
machine. Furthermore, in the case of the arrangement of the lines,
it should be noted that the cables or cable harnesses are laid such
that contamination is avoided or they can also be cleaned of dusty
products. Lines guided through the room accommodating the capsule
filling machine are bothersome for operating personnel located in
the room and make cleaning more difficult and take up too much
space. If the external cabinet is arranged in the production room
accommodating the capsule filling machine, additional space is
needed. In contrast, if the cabinet is arranged in an external
engineering room, maintenance is made more difficult. Since a
critical length of the lines are guided from the cabinet to the
capsule filling machine, transfer problems can occur or expensive
signal converters need to be used. Large interfaces or connector
fields are required for the connection. The retrofitting of
subassemblies is made more difficult.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The object of the invention is to provide a capsule filling
machine, in the case of which the cabinet can be arranged while
avoiding the disadvantages named above. In particular, lines guided
through the production room should be avoided to the greatest
extent possible. At the same time, access to the capsule filling
machine should not be impaired.
[0007] The invention relates to a capsule filling machine for
filling capsules made up of a capsule top part and a capsule bottom
part, comprising a machine housing, in which a machine table is
arranged, and a conveyor wheel, on the perimeter of which a
plurality of capsule holders is provided, each of which has a
plurality of capsule receivers for one capsule, further comprising
a conveyor wheel drive also arranged in the machine housing, with
which the conveyor wheel can be rotated incrementally so that the
capsule holders move incrementally along a conveyor track, and
comprising a plurality of process stations arranged along the
conveyor track at or on the machine table and also arranged in the
machine housing, wherein the process stations comprise at least one
feeding station for feeding capsules to be filled into the capsule
receivers, at least one opening station for opening the capsules to
be filled by separating the capsule top parts from the capsule
bottom parts, at least one filling station for filling the capsule
bottom parts with material to be filled, at least one closing
station for closing the filled capsules by connecting the capsule
top parts with the capsule bottom parts and at least one ejection
station for ejecting the filled capsules.
[0008] For a capsule filling machine, the process stations have
process drives for their operation, which are controllable
independently of the conveyor wheel drive and a cabinet, which
contains among other things a computer machine for operating the
capsule filling machine and controlling the conveyor wheel drive as
well as the process drives, is also arranged within the machine
housing and is connected at least with the conveyor drive and the
process drives via lines arranged within the machine housing.
[0009] Such intermittent motion capsule filling machines have a
conveyor wheel designed for example as a rotary plate, on the
circumference of which a plurality of capsule holders is provided
for receiving the capsules to be filled. The conveyor wheel is
moved incrementally along a plurality of process stations arranged
along the circumference of the conveyor wheel by a conveyor wheel
drive, wherein the capsule holders pass incrementally through the
process station. Such capsule filling machines form so-called
rotary machines. In the case of the incremental conveying of the
capsule holders from process station to process station, the
conveyor wheel passes through periods of standstill and movement.
We distinguish between a switch time and a rest time. The switch
time defines the time in which the capsule holders are moved from
one process station to the next process station. This is specified
by the movement time of the conveyor wheel. The rest time defines
the time when the capsule holders pause at the process stations to
perform the respective process. This is specified by the standstill
time of the conveyor wheel.
[0010] The intermittent motion movement of the capsule holders is
generally realized in the prior art through a stepping gear, which
is driven by the conveyor wheel drive. The stepping gear converts a
constant rotational speed of the conveyor wheel drive into
incremental movements and thus into switch and rest times. In the
case of conventional capsule filling machines, the required drive
of process stations is also realized through the conveyor wheel
drive via mechanical cam disks. In the case of the capsule filling
machine according to the invention, the process stations in
contrast have process drives, which can be controlled separately by
the conveyor wheel drive. Thus, no mechanical stepping gears or
mechanical cam disks are required. The rest time can thereby be
decoupled from the switch time, which has advantages with respect
to the flexibility of the process flow.
[0011] A further advantageous effect of the process drives to be
controlled separately is that space is created in the machine
housing due to the foregoing of the stepping gear or the mechanical
cam disks, which enables the arrangement of the cabinet according
to the invention in the machine housing. Through the integration of
the cabinet according to the invention in the machine housing,
bothersome lines in the production room accommodating the capsule
filling machine can be foregone on one hand. At the same time,
access to the capsule filling machine is not impeded. The cabinet
is thereby adapted in a suitable manner to the installation space
in the machine housing. In particular, this concerns the suitable
selection of the components of the cabinet as well as the spatial
arrangement of the same (drives, computers, terminals, etc.).
[0012] As already mentioned, an important advantage of the
invention is a machine housing that is easily accessible from all
sides and thus the processing room of the capsule filling machine.
Cleaning is thereby facilitated, cleaning time is reduced and
cleaning quality is improved. This leads to cost savings. Compared
to an external cabinet, planning is simplified, onsite installation
is faster and safer since no power and/or control lines need to be
installed onsite. Furthermore, the capsule filling machine can be
set up at a different location faster, more reliably and more
cost-effectively. The floor space of the capsule filling machine is
reduced compared to both conventional cabinet variants. Complicated
plug connections and terminal areas outside the machine housing can
be omitted. The signal quality is improved. The installation is
simplified by prefabricated cable lengths and is thus more
cost-effective since the required cable lengths within the machine
housing can be standardized. Overall, the production costs are
reduced since external fasteners are omitted and the existing
machine housing can also be used for the cabinet. Further
advantages result for machine maintenance through improved
accessibility compared to the prior art. As mentioned, a plurality
of lines no longer needs to be guided through the production room
accommodating the capsule filling machine. Rather, a connection for
the communication between an external control unit and the cabinet
arranged in the machine housing and an electrical power supply
suffice.
[0013] According to a preferred design, the conveyor wheel drive
can be an electric servo drive, comprising a servo motor driving
the conveyor wheel in a rotary manner via a gearbox, or the
conveyor wheel drive can be a direct drive, in particular a torque
drive. The process drives can be drives from the group of electric
servo drives, direct drives, in particular torque drives, and
linear drives. The named drives, in particular electric servo
drives, are characterized by little required space and thus
facilitate the arrangement of the cabinet according to the
invention in the machine housing.
[0014] According to a further design, the cabinet can be arranged
in a free space below the machine table on a floor plate of the
machine housing. This free space is suitable in a special manner
for the cabinet, since it is then arranged in the machine housing,
but is spatially separated from the processing room accommodating
the operating components of the capsule filling machine, in
particular the conveyor wheel and the process stations, below the
machine table. It is then further possible that the machine table
is arranged on a carrier plate, below which the free space
accommodating the cabinet is located. On one hand, the carrier
plate offers the required stability for receiving the operating
components of the capsule filling machine. On the other hand, a
separation can be realized by the carrier plate, which safely meets
the potentially high purity requirements in the area of the
processing room accommodating the operating components of the
capsule filling machine, without the free space accommodating the
cabinet needing to meet the same purity requirements. The carrier
plate thus separates the processing room from the free space
accommodating the cabinet. The function of the carrier plate can
also be met by the machine table itself. In general, other cabinet
placement locations in the machine housing are naturally also
possible.
[0015] According to a further design, a removal device can also be
provided, with which the cabinet can be removed from the machine
housing. The removal device can comprise rails arranged on a floor
plate of the machine housing, on which the cabinet is arranged. The
rails can be telescopic rails, so that the cabinet can be moved out
of the machine housing by extending the telescopic rails. The
aforementioned designs permit a simple removal of the cabinet for
maintenance or repair or the like from the machine housing. The
cabinet can sit directly on the rails, for example be arranged on
rollers or gliding elements or permanently on the rails. But it can
also be arranged indirectly on the rails, for example on a carrier
plate or the like arranged on the rails. Through the design as
telescopic rails, these and thus the cabinet can be moved out of
the machine housing in a particularly simple manner.
[0016] According to a further design, a control unit for
controlling the computer machine by an operator can be provided
outside the machine housing. The control unit can comprise a
control display, for example a touch display or the like.
[0017] The control unit can be arranged next to the machine housing
and separately from it and communicate with the computer machine
wirelessly or via a wired connection. In the case of this design,
the control element as a pure control terminal can be arranged next
to the capsule filling machine, for example on a suitable stand or
the like.
[0018] Alternatively, the control unit can be arranged on a holder
fastened on the machine housing and communicates with the computer
machine wirelessly or via a wired connection fed through or on the
holder. For example, the control unit can be arranged on a boom
fastened on the machine housing or the like.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] An exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained in
greater detail below based on figures. They show schematically
in:
[0020] FIG. 1 a top view of a capsule filling machine according to
the invention,
[0021] FIG. 2 a partially cut side view of the capsule filling
machine from FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0022] If not otherwise specified, the same reference numbers
indicate the same objects in the figures. The capsule filling
machine shown in the figures for filling capsules made up of a
capsule top part and a capsule bottom part, for example hard
gelatin capsules, comprises a machine housing 10. The machine
housing 10 is divided into a top and a bottom part by a carrier
plate 12. The operating components of the capsule filling machine,
as shown schematically with reference number 14 in FIG. 2, are
located in the upper part. These operating components comprise a
machine table and a conveyor wheel, on the perimeter of which a
plurality of capsule holders is provided, each of which has a
plurality of capsule receivers for one capsule Furthermore, these
operating components comprise a conveyor wheel drive, with which
the conveyor wheel can be rotated incrementally so that the capsule
holders move incrementally along a conveyor track. Moreover, the
operating components comprise a plurality of process stations
arranged along the conveyor track, among other things at least one
feeding station for feeding capsules to be filled into the capsule
receivers, at least one opening station for opening the capsules to
be filled by separating the capsule top parts from the capsule
bottom parts, at least one filling station for filling the capsule
bottom parts with material to be filled, at least one closing
station for closing the filled capsules by connecting the capsule
top parts with the capsule bottom parts and at least one ejection
station for ejecting the filled capsules. The basic design of a
capsule filling machine is generally known. The process stations of
the capsule filling machine according to the invention thereby have
process drives for their operation, which are controllable here
independently of the conveyor wheel drive and are also part of the
operating components.
[0023] A cabinet 16, which contains among other things a computer
machine for operating the capsule filling machine, in particular
the controller of the conveyor wheel drive and the process drives,
is located in the bottom part of the machine housing 10 formed
below the carrier plate 12. The computer machine of the cabinet 16
is connected with the conveyor wheel drive and the process drives
via lines that are not shown in greater detail in the figures. The
carrier plate 12 forms a tight separation between the top part of
the machine housing 10 forming the processing room of the capsule
filling machine and the bottom part of the machine housing 10
forming a free space for the cabinet 16.
[0024] The cabinet 16 is arranged on telescopic rails 18, which are
in turn arranged on the floor plate of the machine housing 10. By
pulling out the telescopic rails 18, the cabinet 16 can be removed
from the machine housing 10 for service or repair.
[0025] A control unit 20 with a control display 22 for controlling
the computer machine by an operator is located next to the machine
housing 10 and separately from it. The control unit 20 is supported
on the floor of the production room via a stand 24 with a foot 26
and communicates in the example shown with the computer machine of
the cabinet via a wireless connection 28. Thus, only one line is
needed from outside into the machine housing 10 for supplying
electricity to the cabinet 16 and to the drives of the capsule
filling machine.
* * * * *