DE2830849A1 - SEALING MACHINE FOR CAPSULES - Google Patents

Description

DR. ING. V. AVUp I) RE v. ^ KClT Ι \ Γ ANN

DK. inc;, d. UEtrnKNS DIFL ·. ING. K. COKTZ PATEHIAN LAWYERS

80OO MUNClIJSA 'OO SCmVKiaEHSTliAS.SE 2 TKMSIOW (ΟΠΟ) 60 20 01
TELKX 5 24 070

PIIOTIiOTIMTJUIT

1A / G-50 955

Patent application

Applicant:

Capsugel AG

Engelgasse 11

CH-4010 Basel, Switzerland

Title:

Closing machine for push-fit capsules

909884/0359

UK. IXO. I '. WUKSTJIOFK

I) It. K. ν. PEOITM A.NN I) Il. ING. D. BKUHKNS DlPL. ING. It. GOETZ ΓΑΤΟ TAN WA Γ.ΤΕ

-U-

8 MÜNOIIKN 00

TEl.EFOV (089) 00 TBLXl 5 24 070

2B30849

ΤΕΙ, ΕΟΙΙΑΜΜΕί I ¹ IIOTKCTr AT ENT Μ ^ ΚΟ μΑ / Θ-50 955

description

Closing machine for push-fit capsules

The invention relates to a sealing machine for push-fit capsules, which has a capsule body and a cap that can be pushed onto it, both preferably made of hard gelatin, with at least a sleeve for receiving and holding a cap and at least one coaxially movable to and fro with the sleeve Rubber stamp.

In known capping machines of this type, upper, vertical sleeves are arranged in slides, which in uniform Distances protrude radially outward from a carousel and with respect to this between a radially inner and a radial outer position are displaceable. The carousel is stepped around a vertical axis by the angular distance between each two slides rotatable. A turntable is arranged under the carousel, which rotates around the same axis together with the carousel is rotatable and has a number of lower sleeves corresponding to the number of upper sleeves. When the slide is radial occupy the outer position, the upper sleeves are arranged vertically over a lower sleeve. If the slide against it occupy their radially inner position, the lower sleeves are freely accessible from above. With a full Circulation of the carousel and the turntable is made by each pair of cans consisting of an upper and a lower can one after the other into several stations arranged around the turntable. The first station includes a device that can be used in

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the upper sleeve is temporarily closed at the capsule manufacturer Plug-in capsule is used in such a way that a collar protruding radially inward at the lower edge of the socket engages under the edge of the cap. The second station has a hollow lower punch that can be connected to a vacuum source and passes through the lower one from below The canister moves up through it, attaches itself to the capsule body and pulls it down from the one that remains hanging in the upper canister Pulls off the cap and lets the capsule body stick in the lower sleeve. On the way to the next station, the upper box is velvet The cap is brought closer to the axis of rotation of the carousel by moving the associated slide, while the lower sleeve is under a filling device got. The filling device fills the capsule body with a metered amount of flowable or pourable filling material. When the carousel and the turntable continue to rotate, the slide returns to its radially outer position, so that the upper Rifle is again above the lower one. In the following station, another lower punch pushes the capsule body back into the Cap while an upper punch presses against the cap from above. The capsule body penetrates deeper than originally the cap so that the capsule body and cap are firmly connected to each other. The strength of the connection is preferred increased by the fact that provided on the capsule body and cap, annular detents engage in one another. Then the upper punch withdrawn upwards and the lower punch pushes the entire plug-in capsule upwards out of the upper sleeve.

Such well-known capping machines have been found in the event proven that the push-fit capsules are filled with pasty or pourable filling material. The ones with known capping machines The connection that can be made between the capsule body and the cap is, however, not tight enough for low-viscosity filling material.

The invention is therefore based on the object of a closing machine of the type described in the introduction so that it is able to be in caps of push-in capsules Bring in seal, which is liquid-tight when the caps and capsule bodies are then finally plugged together

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Establishes a connection between the two. It should be irrelevant whether the push-in capsules in the usual way before final assembly are filled or only afterwards, for example according to the German patent application P 27 13 873.4 with a hollow needle that penetrates the plug-in capsule through a hole it has created or has already prepared.

The object is achieved in that the The punch fits into the cap and has a punch head which is axially displaceable on it and is pretensioned towards the end of the cap, which can be pressed from the inside against the end of the cap and, together with a collar surface of the punch, delimits an annular space, from which a sealing fluid arrives in a ring against the inner wall of the cap when the stamp head against the end of the cap is pressed.

The stamp according to the invention can, for example, in the case of the described known capping machine can be arranged in the station which is normally provided as a filling station. Another station can also be suitable, provided that the capsule body is pulled off the cap there and the cap is in one position has reached in which the stamp according to the invention in the cap can be introduced.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the The punch head is firmly connected to a shaft which is guided in an axial bore in the punch and is supported by a spring.

In this case, the shaft can be designed as a valve body, which has an inflow channel for the sealing fluid that leads in the stamp to the annular space controls. For this purpose, the shaft can have a shoulder, which is formed at the end of the punch as a collar Valve seat is assigned.

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It is also useful if the stamp has a return channel for excess sealing fluid, which together with the inflow channel a circulating system operated by a pump and leading through a heatable storage container belongs to the sealing fluid. In this way it can be ensured that there is always fresh sealing fluid with the required one inside the stamp Properties (temperature, viscosity, etc.) is available.

The last-mentioned feature can be further developed by that the shaft also has a return flow channel which belongs to the circulatory system and which runs in the direction of flow of the sealing fluid starts just before the shoulder and with the reflux canal in the punch is connected at least in the position of the shaft in which the connection of the inflow channel to the annular space is interrupted. To this We ensure that fresh sealing fluid is always in the immediate vicinity Proximity "of the annular space is available. This reduces the risk that the sealing fluid is on the way to Solidified annulus.

It is also advantageous if the stamp is heated. on In this way, it is even better to ensure that the sealing fluid, for example liquid gelatin, in the stamp and thus also in the called annulus, which has the desired properties. For example, electrical heating can be provided. Temperature fluctuations on the stamp, however, can best be prevented if the stamp has heating channels that are connected to one of one Pump-operated circulation system connected for a heating fluid are.

The feature of the invention that the punch head is firmly connected to a shaft which is in an axial bore of the punch is performed, can be developed in that in the annular space between the punch head and the collar surface with a ring-shaped, stretchable spring that can be wetted to the sealing fluid

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is arranged and the collar surface is conical so that the spring is pressed radially outward against the inner wall of the cap, when the punch head is pressed against the end of the cap.

The last-mentioned development can be combined with the feature that the sealing fluid passes through the punch in the annulus is initiated. If, however, the stamp according to the invention, like each of the lower stamps described above known closing machine between an upper working position and a lower rest position can be moved up and down, the spring can also be wetted with the sealing fluid in that the stamp in its rest position is completely in a Immersed container in which sealing fluid is circulated. The sealing fluid can easily be in the container on a predetermined Maintain temperature, and this is essentially the same temperature as the stamp, since it only lasts for a relatively short time needs to be lifted out of the container in order to press the spring against the inner wall of a cap in order to allow this with the sealing fluid is wetted.

Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to schematic drawings. It shows:

1 shows a sealing machine for push-fit capsules in plan view; 2 shows an oblique view of parts of the closing machine;

3 shows an enlarged detail from FIG. 2 in a vertical direction Cut;

FIG. 4 the section IV-IV in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 shows one belonging to the sealing machine according to FIGS. 1 to 4 Line scheme;

FIG. 6 shows a modification of FIG. 5; and FIG. 7 shows an enlarged detail from FIG.

The sealing machine shown has the task of filling and sealing push-fit capsules. Each of the push-fit capsules

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consists of a capsule body and a cap C, as shown in FIGS. The capsule body has a similar one Shape, but a slightly smaller diameter and a greater length than the cap C. The push-fit capsules are the sealing machine supplied in a state in which the caps C are loosely fitted onto the capsule bodies so that they can easily be attached can be separated from each other.

According to FIGS. 1 and 2, the sealing machine includes a frame 1, in which a horizontal control shaft 2 is mounted. The steering shaft 2 is connected to a gear motor 3 and carries a cam drum 4 with a helical shape formed on its circumference ascending and descending groove 4 'with rollers 5' on one Roller disk 5 cooperates. The pulley 5 is rotatably mounted in the frame 1 about a vertical axis and is of the cam drum 4 rotated at each revolution of the control shaft 2 by a certain angle of 45 °, for example.

The pulley 5 is connected by a spur gear 6 connected to a vertical shaft 7, likewise mounted in the frame 1, to which a turntable 8 and, above it, a carousel 9 are attached is. On the carousel 9, several, for example eight, slides 10 are offset from one another at uniform angular intervals arranged. Each of the slides 10 is with respect to the carousel 9 between a radially inner and a radially outer Position can be moved back and forth; a drive, not shown, is provided for this purpose, which is also expediently driven by the control shaft 2 is derived. Each slide 10 has two upper sleeves 11 arranged vertically next to one another, two of which are in the turntable 8 lower sleeves 12, which are also arranged vertically next to one another, are assigned. In the radially outward position each Slider 10, the upper sleeves 11 are exactly perpendicular the associated lower sleeves 12. All components described so far and their movements are in machines for filling and Closing of push-fit capsules known, so that a further ins

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Individual walking description appears dispensable.

A cam disk 13 is also attached to the control shaft 2, which has an eccentric groove 13 'on one end having. The groove 13 'controls a lever 14 in the frame 1 is pivotably mounted and carries a plunger 15 which is guided in the frame 1 so as to be vertically displaceable. In appropriate Way controls another attached to the control shaft 2

16
Cam disk with an eccentric groove 16 ¹ a lever 17 which carries a further plunger 18 which is guided vertically displaceably in the frame 1.

All around the turntable 8 and the carousel 9 are at the same angular intervals that correspond to the angular intervals of the slide 10 match, a number of stations are arranged, namely a loading station 19, in which the loosely plugged together plug-in capsules are used in pairs in the sleeves 11 of a slide 10, a separation station 20 in which the caps C and capsule bodies are separated from one another, a station 21 for introducing a sealing fluid into the caps C, a closing station 22, in which the capsule bodies and caps are put back together and closed tightly, and finally one Dispensing station 23, in which the closed push-fit capsules are ejected from the cans 11. The stations mentioned are with the exception of the station 21 for introducing a sealing fluid into the caps C are known and are therefore not described in more detail. In the example shown, the station 21 occupies a space in the known machine that is between the stations is located for filling on the one hand and for closing the push-fit capsules on the other hand.

The station for introducing a sealing fluid into the caps C has a cross member 25 which is attached to the plunger 15 and two punches 26 hanging down perpendicularly from it. The punches 26 are spaced apart from one another with the spacing between the two sleeves 11 of each slide 10 coincides; as a result, the upper punches 2 6 can be

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Measure Fig. 3 and 4 lower into the bushes 11 of that slide 10, which is currently in the station 21 and there assumes its radially inner position. The ones described below Details are mainly shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

Each sleeve 11 has a bore 28, the diameter of which corresponds to the outer diameter of the cap C and is noticeably larger than the diameter of the lower part of the associated punch 26. The slide 10 has a stepped bore 29 for each of its two sleeves, in which the relevant Bush 11 is guided axially displaceably and in which a compression spring 31 is received, which is supported on the step 32 of the stepped bore and presses against a flange 33 of the bush 11. The compression spring 31 endeavors to press the sleeve 11 upwards against a stop plate 34 fastened on the slide 10. The associated punch 26 can be ^{inserted into the sleeve 11 by lowering the 1} Bt? .Averse 25 and is then able to push the sleeve 11 down against the resistance of the compression spring 31; this has happened to a certain extent according to FIGS. 3 and 4.

This means that the punch 26 in the event of a downward movement the cross member 25 can exert a gradually increasing, downward force on the sleeve 11 is on the upper part of the stamp 2 6 a pressure ring 36 is screwed on and secured there in a selectable position against unintentional rotation. A compression spring 37 is supported on the pressure ring 36 and is guided axially displaceably on the central part of the punch 26 Sleeve 38 pushes down. The sleeve 38 is bell-shaped at the bottom and encloses a further pressure ring 39, which is screwed onto the stamp 2 6 from below and also is secured in a selectable position against unintentional turning. Normally the compression spring 37 takes care of it for the fact that the sleeve 38 rests against the pressure ring 39 according to FIG. However, if the stamp "26 is pressed down beyond the position shown in FIG. 3, the increasing Resistance of the compression spring 31, the sleeve 11 firmly while the

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Compression spring 37 is further compressed, so that the further Downward movement of the ram 26 is a relative movement with respect to the sleeve 11; this relative movement is thereby limits that the pressure ring 39 finally abuts against the upper end face of the sleeve 11.

The sleeve 11 has a bore at its lower end constricting collar 41, which prevents a cap C inserted into the bore 28 from being removed in an undeveloped manner to fall out. This collar 41 makes it possible on the one hand to pull the capsule body off the cap C in the separating station 20, and on the other hand, the collar 41 also forms a stop in the station 21 for introducing a sealing fluid into the cap C, the it enables the punch 26 to bring the cap C into a precisely defined position within the sleeve 11 as shown in FIG.

The station 21 for introducing a sealing fluid also includes two lower punches 51 which are guided in a vertically displaceable manner on the frame 1 below the turntable 8 and which are articulated to a rocker 52 mounted on the frame 1. The rocker 52 is articulated via a linkage 53 to a cross member 54 which is attached to the plunger 18 ^r ; the rocker 52 has the task of reversing the direction of movement of the plunger 18 so that the lower punches 51 each move in a direction which is opposite to the direction of movement of the upper punches 26. This goal of having vertical movements in opposite directions available at the station 21 could also be achieved without the rocker 52 if, for example, the cam 16 were to be changed; However, the illustrated embodiment was based on the endeavor to change as little as possible to a machine available in series.

The lower punches 51 are fixed with respect to those in the turntable 8 The lower bushes 12 are offset radially inward and are aligned with the bushes 11 of the respective in the station 21 standing slide 10 when it is in its radially inner position

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occupies. Thus, the two lower punches 51 at each stop of the turntable 8 and the carousel 9 of her in such egg boxes 12 can be retracted below _W, the rotary table 8 perpendicular unter'den bodies in the radially inner position of the them from the bushes 11 load-bearing. Slider are taken, holes 55 on.

Each of the punches 51 has a lower part 56, which is supported on the rocker 52, a central part 57 screwed to it and an upper part 58 screwed to it is narrowed. A shaft 62 is guided axially displaceably in the bore 59 and a compression spring 63 is arranged below it, which strives to press the shaft 62 upwards against the collar 61. The shaft 62 has a pin 64 which protrudes upward through the collar 61 with radial play and is screwed to a punch head 66.

The middle part 57 of the ram 51 has an inflow channel and a backflow channel 68 for a sealing fluid. To these channels This is followed by longitudinal grooves 69 in the shaft 62, through which the sealing fluid can be seen up to the collar 61 and in FIG. 4 Position of the punch 51 can flow further into an annular space 71 between the collar 61 and the punch head 66 from there to get to the inner wall of the cap C. At a short distance below the collar 61, a shaft 62 begins incorporated return flow channel 72 which opens into the return flow channel 68 in the central part 57.

Middle part 57 and upper part 58 of the punch 51 further comprise Zuflußkanäle 73 and Rückflußkanäle.74 for a heating fluid, "in the illustrated example hot water, to.

According to FIG. 5, the sealing fluid is stored in a container 76 held and from there by a pump 77, in the illustrated example

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play a hose pump, and an inlet line 78 in the inlet channel 67 of the two related stamps 51 promoted. From the return channels 68 of the stamp 51 flows the excess, that is, sealing fluid that has not escaped through the annular space 71 back into container 76.

When the telescope-type capsule, the caps C are to be tightly connected with the associated capsule bodies, are made of hard gelatin, the sealing-fluid is preferably liquid gelatin which imBehälter 76 preferably has a viscosity of about 200 Bloom at a temperature of about 50 ⁰ C. The heating fluid should keep the stamp at a temperature at which the temperature and viscosity of the sealing fluid in the stamp change as little as possible compared to the state in the container 76.

For this purpose, the heating fluid is in a tank 81 with a thermostatically controlled heater 82 is kept at a constant temperature of about 60 ° and from there by a pump 83 in constant circulation through a heating jacket surrounding the container 76 84, then via supply lines 86 into the supply channels 73 and from there through the return channels 74 and a return line 87 conveyed back into the tank 81.

The sealing fluid is in the position shown in Figure 3, which the shaft 62 normally assumes under the influence of the compression spring 63, prevented from entering the annular space 71, since the collar 61 forms a valve seat on which the shaft 62 as a valve body rests in a sealing manner with its upper end face. According to FIG. 3, the collar 41 provided at the lower end of the sleeve 11 lies with a collar 41 formed on it at the bottom conically widening annular surface on a complementary conical surface 88, which is formed on the upper part 58 of the punch 51 is. As a result, the sleeve 11, and with it the cap C, are precisely centered with respect to the punch 51. If now the upper The punch 26 is lowered from its position according to FIG. 3 into the position according to FIG. 4, he presses the cap C within the

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Sleeve 11 down until the lower edge of the cap on the Collar 41 stands. During this downward movement, the cap C in turn pushes the punch head 66 as far below that a gap between the shaft 62 and the collar 61 arises while the annular space 61 narrows at the same time in the axial direction. Now flows through this narrowed annulus the sealing fluid from relatively high speed and is sprayed against the inner wall of the cap, so that there forms a ring of sealing fluid. Then the upper punch 26 is pulled back upwards again and the lower punch 51 pulled down from the sleeve 11, and thus also from the cap C.

The following work steps are the same as for capping machines of the type described and are therefore not described further.

In the variant shown in FIG. 6, numerous correspond Components are those shown in Figure 5 and are therefore provided with the same reference symbols; below will only be the differences are described:

An inner container 91 is located in the container 76 for the sealing fluid arranged, the upper edge of which is higher than the surface of the sealing fluid in the remaining parts of the container 76. Im A vertical punch guide 92 is arranged in the inner container 91, on which a punch 93 is guided so as to be vertically displaceable. The stamp 93 has, as can be seen in particular from FIG is, at its upper end a conically upwardly tapering collar surface 94 and is tubular overall. A shaft is vertically displaceable in the punch 93 out, the upper end of which is designed as a punch head 96. Between the punch head 96 and the conical collar surface 94 an annular spring 97, which preferably consists of helically wound wire, is arranged.

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The punch 93 is connected to the linkage 53 via the rocker 52. The mobility of the rocker 52 and the ram 9 3 with simultaneous separation of the sealing fluid in the inner container from the sealing fluid in the remainder of the container 76, a membrane to be guaranteed.

The punch 9 3 is completely immersed in the sealing fluid in its lower end position, shown in FIG. 6 with full lines. The pump 77 constantly conveys sealing fluid from the parts of the container located outside the inner container 91 from below into the inner container, so that the sealing fluid rises there along the punch 9 3 until it flows over the edge of the inner container. In this way, local temperature differences and the resulting differences in viscosity of the sealing fluid in the area of the punch 93 are avoided. As a result, the stamp 93 is always wetted with usable sealing fluid when it is _{moved upward out of} the inner container 91 by the rocker 52. The main part of the sealing fluid runs back downwards into the inner container 91 during the upward movement of the plunger 93, but a certain amount of the sealing fluid is retained between the coils of the annular spring 97.

During its upward movement, the punch 93 penetrates into a cap C according to FIG. 7, so that the punch head 96, as shown in the left part of Figure 7, rests on the inner wall of the cap, the ring spring 9 7 the inner wall for the time being not touched. If now the upper punch 26 with respect to the sleeve 11, and thus also with respect to the cap C, down Moved into its end position shown on the right in Figure 7, it presses as in the embodiment according to Figure 3 to 5 Cap C down and this in turn presses the punch head 96 with respect to the punch 93 downwards. The pushes Stamp head 96 the annular spring 97 on the collar surface 94 downwards, the annular spring because of the conicity of the collar surface expands and rests on the inner wall of the cap C. Included

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the sealing fluid stored between the coils of the annular spring 97 wets the inner wall of the cap C and leaves it there a ring of sealing fluid when the punch 93 is lowered again.

Both embodiments according to FIGS. 3 to 5 on the one hand and 6 and 7, on the other hand, have in common that no sealing fluid is dispensed if no cap C is in the socket 27. In both embodiments this will be achieved in that the downward stroke of the upper punch 26 with respect to the sleeve 11 by the adjustment of the pressure ring 39 is limited in such a way that the punch 26, in the absence of a cap C, is unable to move the punch head 66 or 96 so far with respect to to press the punch 51 or 93 downwards in order to move or move the shaft 62 away from the collar 61 serving as a valve seat to stretch the ring spring 9 7. In both of the described embodiments of the invention it is thus ensured that the inner wall the sleeve 11 is not soiled with sealing fluid.

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Claims (10)

Expectations IIJ sealing machine for push-fit capsules that have a capsule body and a snap-on cap, both preferably off Hard gelatin, with at least one can for receiving and holding a cap and at least one plunger which can be moved back and forth in the same axis as the sleeve, characterized in that the plunger (51; 93) is inserted into the cap (C) fits and one axially displaceable on it and to the end of the head
Cap biased towards the punch (66; 96) which can be pressed from the inside against the end of the cap and together with a collar surface (65; 94) of the punch (51; 93) delimits an annular space (71) from which a sealing fluid comes ring-shaped against the inner wall of the cap when the punch head is pressed against the end of the cap. 2. Closing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the punch head (66; 96) fixed to a Shank (62; 95) is connected, which is guided in an axial bore (59) of the punch (51; 93) and supported by a spring (63) is. 3. Closing machine according to claim 2, characterized in that the shaft (62) is designed as a valve body which controls a feed channel (67) for the sealing fluid leading in the punch (51) to the annular space (71). 4. Closing machine according to claim 3, characterized in that the shaft (62) has a shoulder, to which a collar (61) formed at the end of the ram (51) is assigned as a valve seat. SS84 / Ö359 50 955 - 2 - 5. Closing machine according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the punch (51) has a return flow channel (68) for excess sealing fluid which, together with the inflow channel (67), is operated by a pump (77) and through a heatable storage container (76) leading circulation system belongs to the sealing fluid. 6. Closing machine according to claim 5 in conjunction with claim 4, characterized in that the shaft (62) also has a return flow channel belonging to the circulatory system (72), which in the flow direction of the sealing fluid begins shortly before the shoulder and with the return flow channel (68) in the punch (51) at least in the position of the shaft (62) is connected, in which the connection of the inflow channel (67) to the annular space (71) is interrupted. 7. Closing machine according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the punch (51) can be heated is. 8. Closing machine according to claim 7, characterized in that g e k e η η ζ e i c h η e't that the punch (51) has heating channels (73, 74), which are connected to a circulation system operated by a pump (83) for a heating fluid. 9. Closing machine according to claim 2, characterized in that in the annular space between the punch head (96) and an annular, expandable spring (97) which can be wetted with the sealing fluid is arranged on the collar surface (94), and the collar surface is conical so that the spring is pressed radially outwards against the inner wall of the cap (C) when the punch head (93) is pressed against the end of the cap. 10. The sealing machine of claim 9, wherein the punch can be moved up and down between an upper working position and a lower resting position, thereby marked t, τ that the stamp (93) is completely in its rest position immersed in a container (91) in which sealing fluid is circulated. 5650 ■ 909884 / O3SS