CN212730417U - Feeding device, magazine device, sorting station and capsule filling machine - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is an empty capsule feeding device (11) for a sorting station (1) of a capsule filling machine, comprising at least: a hopper (111) for receiving unordered empty capsules; and a feed ramp (112) for feeding empty capsules from the hopper (111) to the magazine means (12) downstream of the sorting station (1); wherein the feeding ramp (112) is provided with at least two alignment recesses (1121) for pre-aligning empty capsules, and the alignment recesses (1121) are configured to be adapted to be aligned with inlets of the cartridge device (12), respectively. Also disclosed are a magazine device (12), a sorting device (13), a sorting station (1), a separating station and a capsule filling machine. According to the present disclosure, the capsule filling machine may have higher efficiency, reduced cost, and more space available for other additional devices.

Description

Feeding device, magazine device, sorting station and capsule filling machine

Technical Field

The utility model relates to an empty capsule feeding device, a casket-like box-packed putting, a sorting device, a letter sorting station, a separating station and a capsule filling machine that are used for capsule filling machine's letter sorting station for capsule filling machine.

Background

Various capsule filling machines are known in the industrial field and are used in the pharmaceutical field for filling capsules comprising a lower capsule part and an upper capsule part with a medicament, in particular in powder form. Capsule filling machines typically comprise a plurality of work stations arranged along the revolving path of a delivery wheel.

The work stations typically include at least one capsule sorting station, capsule separation station, capsule filling station, capsule closing station, capsule inspection station, and capsule ejection station. The capsule sorting station is used to sort the unordered empty capsules into aligned capsules, in particular into a row, and then to place the aligned capsules into the corresponding empty capsule holders. Along the circumference of the delivery wheel a plurality of capsule holders are provided, each having a plurality of receiving recesses, e.g. receiving holes, for receiving respectively aligned capsules. When placing an aligned capsule in the capsule holder, the capsule separating station separates the upper capsule part from the lower capsule part, while the lower capsule part remains in the receiving recess of the capsule holder. After the upper and lower capsule parts are separated, the lower capsule part may be filled with a medicament at a capsule filling station. After the lower capsule part is filled with the medicament, the upper capsule part can be replaced again onto the lower capsule part to close the capsule, thereby forming a filled capsule at the capsule closing station. The quality and/or filling status of the filled capsules may be checked at the capsule inspection station. The inspected capsules will be removed from the transport wheel at the capsule ejection station.

To increase the filling efficiency, each capsule holder is usually provided with two rows of receiving holes. Currently, two separate sorting stations are provided to sort empty capsules, and each sorting station is used for only one row of receiving holes of a capsule holder. Two separate sorting stations are arranged adjacent to each other along the revolving path of the conveyor wheel.

Additional work stations are often required along the turnaround path of the transfer wheels to accomplish certain specific purposes. However, due to the compactness of the capsule filling machine, in particular due to the use of two separate sorting stations, the number of available positions of these additional work stations is limited.

Furthermore, the use of two sorting stations increases the equipment costs, control complexity and maintenance costs and limits the working efficiency of the capsule filling machine.

Therefore, there may be a need to further improve existing capsule filling machines.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

In view of the technical problems of the prior art, it is an object of the present disclosure to provide an improved empty capsule feeding device, an improved cassette device, an improved sorting station, an improved separating station and an improved capsule filling machine.

In order to achieve the above object, according to a first aspect, there is provided an empty capsule feeding device for a sorting station of a capsule filling machine, comprising at least: a hopper for receiving unordered empty capsules; and a feed ramp for feeding empty capsules from the hopper to the magazine means downstream of the sorting station; wherein the feed ramp is provided with at least two alignment grooves for pre-aligning empty capsules and the alignment grooves are configured to be adapted to align with the inlets of the cartridge device, respectively.

According to an alternative embodiment of the present disclosure, the empty capsule feeding device further comprises a flow regulating valve for regulating the flow of empty capsules from the hopper to the feeding ramp; and/or the empty capsule feeding device further comprises a vibrating unit; and/or the empty capsule supply means further comprises a rotary capsule agitator for agitating the empty capsules.

According to an alternative embodiment of the present disclosure, the vibration unit is disposed below the feeding ramp; and/or a rotary capsule agitator is provided at the feed ramp.

According to a second aspect, there is provided a magazine apparatus for a sorting station of a capsule filling machine, comprising at least: a cartridge for arranging empty capsules vertically on top of each other with at least two vertical columns; and a release controller; wherein the cartridge device is configured to enable vertical release of an empty capsule in each vertical column with the same plurality of capsules at a time by means of the release controller.

According to an alternative embodiment of the present disclosure, the cassette device further comprises an additional cassette expansion structure connected to the cassette; and/or the cartridge device further comprises an inlet separator arranged at the inlet of the cartridge.

According to an alternative embodiment of the present disclosure, an additional cassette expansion structure is provided downstream of the cassette; and/or the inlet separator is provided with at least two separation grooves configured to be respectively aligned with the inlets of the cassettes.

According to a third aspect, there is provided a sorting device for a sorting station of a capsule filling machine, comprising at least: a sorting block for receiving, in a receiving condition, empty capsules into at least two vertical columns; a push member for actuating the received empty capsules from a receiving condition to a condition ready to be pushed in which empty capsules can be pushed into respective rows of receiving recesses of a capsule holder of a capsule filling machine; and a sorting finger for pushing the empty capsule in the ready-to-be-pushed state into the capsule holder; wherein the sorting block is configured and adapted to receive the same plurality of empty capsules at a time for each vertical column.

According to an alternative embodiment of the present disclosure, the plurality of empty capsules comprises two empty capsules.

According to an alternative embodiment of the disclosure, the sorting block is provided with at least two channels, each channel having a receiving portion at one end adjacent to the pushing member for receiving two empty capsules at a time and holding them in a receiving state vertically against each other.

According to an alternative embodiment of the present disclosure, a portion of the channel is divided by a partition wall into a lower channel space for a lower one of the two empty capsules and an upper channel space for an upper one of the two empty capsules; and/or the channel is provided with a step at the bottom of the receiving portion.

According to an alternative embodiment of the present disclosure, the pushing means comprise at least two pushers for actuating the two empty capsules received in the respective channels to the state ready to be pushed in; and/or the sorting finger means comprise at least two sorting fingers for pushing said two empty capsules in the respective channels in said ready-to-be-pushed state into a capsule holder of a capsule filling machine.

According to an alternative embodiment of the present disclosure, the at least two pushers are laterally connected to each other in a row; and/or the at least two sorting fingers are laterally connected to each other in a row; and/or the pusher comprises a first tab for actuating one of the two empty capsules, a second tab for actuating the other of the two empty capsules and a slot formed between the first tab and the second tab; and/or the sorting fingers comprise a first recess for one of the two empty capsules, a second recess for the other of the two empty capsules and a protrusion formed between the first and second recesses.

According to a fourth aspect, there is provided a sorting station for a capsule filling machine comprising at least: said empty capsule supply means and/or said magazine means and/or said sorting means.

According to a fifth aspect, a separating station is provided, which is configured for cooperation with the sorting stations.

According to a sixth aspect, there is provided a capsule filling machine comprising at least: the sorting station and/or the separating station.

According to the present disclosure, the capsule filling machine may have higher efficiency, reduced cost, and more space available for other additional devices.

Drawings

The invention and its advantages may be further understood by reading the following detailed description of some preferred exemplary embodiments, with reference to the attached drawings. The drawings comprise:

fig. 1 schematically illustrates a basic configuration of a sorting station according to one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of a sorting station in a perspective view.

Figure 3 shows a partially exploded view of the sorting station to better illustrate its internal structure.

Fig. 4 shows an exemplary embodiment of a sorting block of a sorting station in a perspective view.

Fig. 5 schematically shows a cross section of a sorting block according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, and also shows a cross section of one of the plurality of pushers of the pushing member of the sorting station.

Fig. 6 illustrates a cross-section of one of a plurality of sorting fingers of a sorting finger assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 7 schematically shows a state where the pushing member and the sorting finger member are partially inserted into the sorting block.

Detailed Description

Some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings in order to better understand the basic concepts of the present disclosure. However, the subject matter of the present disclosure may be embodied in many different forms. Rather, these exemplary embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of these subject matter to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, like numbering represents like elements throughout.

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a basic configuration of a sorting station according to one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in fig. 1, the sorting station 1 comprises at least an empty capsule supply device 11, a magazine device 12 and a sorting device 13, wherein the empty capsule supply device 11 is configured for receiving unordered empty capsules and supplying the empty capsules into the magazine device 12, the magazine device 12 is configured for vertically releasing the supplied empty capsules into the sorting device 13 in at least two, for example nine, vertical columns against one another and for vertically releasing the empty capsules in each vertical column in one and the same plurality of capsules, for example two capsules, the sorting device 13 is configured for receiving the released empty capsules in a receiving state and for actuating the received empty capsules from the receiving state into a state ready to be pushed in which the empty capsules can be correspondingly pushed into corresponding rows of receiving recesses of the capsule holder 2 with the lower capsule parts of the empty capsules facing downwards, Such as in a receiving hole.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the empty capsules in each vertical column within the magazine apparatus 12 may fall vertically in a controlled manner into the sorting apparatus 13.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, in the receiving state, the empty capsules are received in the sorting device 13 with the respective vertical columns standing on top of each other.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, in a state ready to be pushed in, empty capsules are arranged in a respective plurality of horizontal rows allowing to rotate and then push said plurality of horizontal rows of empty capsules into the capsule holder 2.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the directional terms "vertical", "vertically", "horizontal" and the like as used herein are relative to the operating state of the sorting station 1.

Fig. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of the sorting station 1 in a perspective view. Fig. 3 shows a partially exploded view of the sorting station 1 in order to better show its internal structure.

As shown in fig. 2 and 3, the empty capsule feeding device 11 may comprise a hopper 111 for receiving empty capsules and a feeding ramp 112 for feeding empty capsules from the hopper 111 to the cassette device 12.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that empty capsules may be slid from the hopper 111 along the feed ramp 112 towards the cassette device 12, for example by gravity. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the supply ramp 112 may be provided with a plurality of, for example nine, alignment recesses 1121 to pre-align empty capsules, which may make it easier to introduce empty capsules into the cassette device 12.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the empty capsule feeding device 11 may further comprise a flow regulating valve 113, said flow regulating valve 113 being used to regulate the flow of empty capsules from the hopper 111 to the feeding ramp 112 as desired. For example, the regulating valve 113 may be configured for regulating the flow of empty capsules from the hopper 111 by regulating the outlet of the hopper 111.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the empty capsule supply device 11 may further comprise a vibration unit 114, said vibration unit 114 being adapted to vibrate the empty capsule supply device 11, in particular the supply ramp 112 of the empty capsule supply device 11, in order to better pre-align the empty capsules into the alignment grooves 1121 of the supply ramp 112 before they are introduced into the cassette device 12.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the vibration unit 114 may be implemented in any suitable configuration and, thus, the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

Preferably, as shown in fig. 2 and 3, the vibration unit 114 may be disposed below the supply slope 112.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the empty capsule feeding device 11 may further comprise a rotary capsule agitator 115, which may be disposed at the feeding ramp 112, e.g., may be disposed adjacent to a lower end of the feeding ramp 112. In operation, the rotating capsule agitator 115 agitates the empty capsules to facilitate introduction of the empty capsules into the inlets of the cartridge device 12.

Of course, the rotary capsule agitator 115 may be provided at any other suitable location as long as the rotary capsule agitator 115 can facilitate the introduction of empty capsules into the inlet of the cartridge device 12.

As can also be seen in fig. 2, the cartridge device 12 may comprise a cartridge 121. As mentioned above, the cartridge 121 can arrange the empty capsules inside the cartridge vertically one above the other in at least two vertical columns. Thus, the cartridge 121 may be provided with internal vertical channels that may allow the empty capsule to slide downwards while holding it in a vertical orientation.

The cartridge 121 may be plate-shaped, and the internal vertical channels of the cartridge 121 may be arranged side by side.

Preferably, the alignment grooves 1121 of the supply slope 112 are aligned with the inlets of the cassettes 121, respectively.

The magazine 121 also serves as a source for feeding empty capsules towards the sorting device 13. Thus, to obtain a more reliable storage capacity, the cartridge device 12 may further comprise an additional cartridge expansion structure 122, which is preferably arranged downstream of the cartridge 121, as shown in fig. 2, so that more empty capsules can be stored, which is highly advantageous. The cartridge expansion structure 122 can be implemented in a manner similar to the cartridge 121.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the cartridge device 12 may further comprise an inlet separator 123 provided at the inlet of the cartridge 121 for better aligning and guiding the empty capsules into the inlet of the cartridge 121.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the inlet separator 123 may be provided with a plurality of separation grooves 1231, the separation grooves 1231 being respectively aligned with the inlets of the cassettes 121. The separation grooves 1231 face the feed ramp 112 and are suitably sized to vertically hold the empty capsule.

As mentioned above, the empty capsules in each vertical column within the cassette means 12 must be controlled to be released into the sorting means 13 so that the empty capsules in each vertical column can be dropped vertically into the sorting means 13 with the same number of capsules, for example two capsules, at a time. Thus, the cartridge device 12 comprises a release controller configured such that an empty capsule in each vertical column can fall out of the cartridge device 12 with the same plurality of capsules, e.g. two capsules, at a time. A release controller may be provided at the outlet of the cartridge device 121, for example at the outlet of an additional cartridge expansion structure 122, to alternately block and release empty capsules at a predetermined rhythm.

In the following, some exemplary embodiments of the sorting device 13 will be described in detail.

The sorting device 13 may include: a sorting block 131 for receiving, in a receiving condition, the empty capsules released from each vertical column within the magazine apparatus 12; a pushing member 132 for actuating a received empty capsule from a receiving state to a state ready to be pushed in; and sorting finger means 133 for pushing the empty capsule in said ready-to-be-pushed-in state into the capsule holder 2.

For a better understanding of the present invention, some exemplary embodiments will be described below which are suitable for a capsule holder 2 having two rows of receiving recesses.

Fig. 4 shows an exemplary embodiment of a sorting block 131 in a perspective view.

As shown in fig. 4, the sorting block 131 can be provided with a plurality of channels 1311 (nine channels 1311 are shown in fig. 4), each channel 1311 having a receiving portion 1312 at one end adjacent to the pushing member 132 for receiving respectively two empty capsules released from the empty capsules of the respective vertical column within the cassette device 12 and holding them in a receiving state vertically against each other.

Fig. 5 schematically illustrates a cross section of a sorting block 131 through one of the plurality of channels 1311, and also illustrates a cross section of one of the plurality of pushers 1321 of the pushing member 132, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Each pusher 1321 is for a respective channel 1311 and may be laterally connected to one another in a row.

As can be seen from fig. 5, the lower capsule 3 and the upper capsule 4 are held in the receiving section 1312 vertically one above the other, and a portion of the channel 1311 is divided by a partition wall 1315, for example a metal sheet, into a lower channel space 1313 for the lower capsule 3 and an upper channel space 1314 for the upper capsule 4. The separation wall 1315 is provided at a height corresponding to a contact point 1316 between the lower empty capsule 3 and the upper empty capsule 4. Preferably, the channel 1311 is provided with a step 1317 at the bottom of its receiving portion 1312.

As can also be seen in fig. 5, the pusher 1321 may comprise a first tab 1322 for actuating the lower empty capsule 3, a second tab 1323 for actuating the upper empty capsule 4 and a slot 1324 for accommodating the dividing wall 1315. When the pusher 1321 moves towards the respective channel 1311 of the sorting block 131, the first tab 1322 can actuate the lower empty capsule 3, the second tab 1323 can actuate the upper empty capsule 4, and the dividing wall 1315 can engage in the slot 1324 so that the lower empty capsule 3 and the upper empty capsule 4 are in a state ready to be pushed in.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the second tab 1323 extends further than the first tab 1322, so that the lower capsule 3 and the upper capsule 4 can be actuated different distances.

The first and second tabs 1322, 1323 of the pusher 1321 are configured for rotating the lower and upper capsules 3, 4, respectively, such that the lower capsule parts of the lower and upper capsules 3, 4 are oriented away from the pusher 1321.

The pushing member 132 may also be configured in any other suitable way as long as the pushing member 132 is able (possibly also in cooperation with the sorting block 131) to actuate the lower and upper empty capsules 3, 4 to a state ready to be pushed in. Accordingly, the present disclosure is not so limited.

Fig. 6 shows a cross section of one sorting finger of the plurality of sorting fingers 1331 of the sorting finger assembly 133 according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, wherein the plurality of sorting fingers 1331 can be connected laterally to one another in a row and, in operation, each sorting finger 1331 can be inserted into a respective channel 1311 of the sorting block 131 to push a lower capsule 3 and an upper capsule 4 in a state ready to be pushed in into the capsule holder 2.

As shown in fig. 6, sorting finger 1331 has a first recess 1332 for a lower capsule 3 and a second recess 1333 for an upper capsule 4 at its lower end. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the first recess 1332 and/or the second recess 1333 are configured in a triangle, and a protrusion 1334 is formed between the first recess 1332 and the second recess 1333.

When the empty capsules inside the sorting block 131 are in a state ready to be pushed in by means of the pushing member 132, the sorting finger members 133 are moved downwards so that each sorting finger 1331 is inserted into a respective channel 1311 to push the lower empty capsule 3 and the upper empty capsule 4 into respective receiving holes of the capsule holder 2. In the process of pushing the lower capsule 3 and the upper capsule 4, the lower capsule 3 and the upper capsule 4 may also be rotated.

Fig. 7 schematically shows a state in which the pushing member 132 and the sorting finger member 133 are partially inserted into the sorting block 131.

When all receiving pockets of the capsule holder 2 are filled with empty capsules by means of the sorting station, the separating operation can be performed by a separating station/device. As will be appreciated by the person skilled in the art, since the sorting station according to the present disclosure can fill all receiving pockets of the capsule holder 2 with empty capsules simultaneously, the separating station can be adjusted accordingly at least in terms of its operation. The present disclosure therefore also relates to a separating station adapted to cooperate with a sorting station according to the present disclosure.

Under the concept of the exemplary embodiments described above in connection with a capsule holder having two rows of receiving recesses, a person skilled in the art can easily conceive of other embodiments suitable for a capsule holder having three or more rows of receiving recesses. For example, for a capsule holder with three rows of receiving pockets, the sorting block can be divided into three layers and the other parts and operations adjusted accordingly.

While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The appended claims and their equivalents are intended to cover all modifications, substitutions, and changes that fall within the scope and spirit of the present invention.

Claims (15)

1. Empty capsule feeding device (11) for a sorting station (1) of a capsule filling machine, characterized in that said empty capsule feeding device (11) comprises at least:

a hopper (111) for receiving unordered empty capsules; and

a feed ramp (112) for feeding empty capsules from the hopper (111) to the magazine means (12) downstream of the sorting station (1);

wherein the feeding ramp (112) is provided with at least two alignment recesses (1121) for pre-aligning empty capsules, and the alignment recesses (1121) are configured to be adapted to be aligned with inlets of the cartridge device (12), respectively.

2. Empty capsule supply device (11) according to claim 1, characterized in that

The empty capsule feeding device (11) further comprises a flow regulating valve (113) for regulating the flow of empty capsules from the hopper (111) to the feeding ramp (112); and/or

The empty capsule supply device (11) further comprises a vibration unit (114); and/or

The empty capsule supply device (11) further comprises a rotary capsule agitator (115) for agitating the empty capsules.

3. Empty capsule supply device (11) according to claim 2, characterized in that

The vibration unit (114) is arranged below the feeding slope (112); and/or

A rotary capsule agitator (115) is provided at the feed ramp (112).

4. A magazine device (12) for a sorting station (1) of a capsule filling machine, characterized in that said magazine device (12) comprises at least:

a cassette (121) for arranging empty capsules vertically on top of each other with at least two vertical columns; and

a release controller;

wherein the cartridge device (12) is configured to enable vertical release of an empty capsule in each vertical column with the same plurality of capsules at a time by means of the release controller.

5. Cassette device (12) according to claim 4, characterized in that

The cassette device (12) further comprises an additional cassette extension structure (122) connected to the cassette (121); and/or

The cartridge device (12) further comprises an inlet separator (123) arranged at the inlet of the cartridge (121).

6. Cassette device (12) according to claim 5, characterized in that

An additional cassette expansion structure (122) is provided downstream of the cassette (121); and/or

The inlet separator (123) is provided with at least two separation grooves (1231) configured to be respectively aligned with the inlets of the cassettes (121).

7. A sorting device (13) for a sorting station (1) of a capsule filling machine, characterized in that said sorting device (13) comprises at least:

a sorting block (131) for receiving, in a receiving condition, empty capsules into at least two vertical columns;

a pushing member (132) for actuating the received empty capsules from a receiving state to a state ready to be pushed in which empty capsules can be pushed into respective rows of receiving recesses of a capsule holder (2) of a capsule filling machine; and

a sorting finger member (133) for pushing an empty capsule in the ready-to-be-pushed state into a capsule holder (2);

wherein the sorting block (131) is configured and adapted to receive the same plurality of empty capsules once for each vertical column.

8. Sorting device (13) according to claim 7, characterised in that

The plurality of empty capsules includes two empty capsules.

9. Sorting device (13) according to claim 8, characterised in that

The sorting block (131) is provided with at least two channels (1311), each having a receiving portion (1312) at one end adjacent to the pushing member (132) for receiving two empty capsules at a time and holding them in a receiving state vertically against each other.

10. Sorting device (13) according to claim 9, characterised in that

A portion of the channel (1311) is divided by a partition wall (1315) into a lower channel space (1313) for a lower capsule (3) of the two empty capsules and an upper channel space (1314) for an upper capsule (4) of the two empty capsules; and/or

The channel (1311) is provided with a step (1317) at the bottom of the receiving portion (1312).

11. Sorting device (13) according to claim 9 or 10, characterised in that

The pushing member (132) comprises at least two pushers (1321) for actuating the two empty capsules received in the respective channels (1311) to the state ready to be pushed in; and/or

The sorting finger member (133) comprises at least two sorting fingers (1331) for pushing the two empty capsules in the ready-to-be-pushed state in the respective channels (1311) into a capsule holder (2) of a capsule filling machine.

12. Sorting device (13) according to claim 11, characterised in that

The at least two pushers (1321) are laterally connected to each other in a row; and/or

The at least two sorting fingers (1331) being connected laterally to one another in a row; and/or

The pusher (1321) comprises a first tab (1322) for actuating one of the two empty capsules, a second tab (1323) for actuating the other of the two empty capsules, and a slot (1324) formed between the first tab (1322) and the second tab (1323); and/or

The sorting finger (1331) comprises a first recess (1332) for one of the two empty capsules, a second recess (1333) for the other of the two empty capsules and a protrusion (1334) formed between the first recess (1332) and the second recess (1333).

13. A sorting station (1) for capsule filling machines, characterized in that said sorting station (1) comprises at least:

empty capsule supply means (11) according to any one of claims 1-3; and/or

A cassette device (12) according to any of claims 4-6; and/or

Sorting device (13) according to any of claims 7-12.

14. A separating station, characterized in that it is configured and adapted to cooperate with a sorting station (1) according to claim 13.

15. A capsule filling machine, characterized in that it comprises at least:

sorting station (1) according to claim 13; and/or

Separating station according to claim 14.

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