Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
  • B65G47/00—Article or material-handling devices associated with conveyors; Methods employing such devices
  • B65G47/22—Devices influencing the relative position or the attitude of articles during transit by conveyors
  • B65G47/24—Devices influencing the relative position or the attitude of articles during transit by conveyors orientating the articles
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
  • B65G47/00—Article or material-handling devices associated with conveyors; Methods employing such devices
  • B65G47/02—Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors
  • B65G47/04—Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors for feeding articles
  • B65G47/12—Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors for feeding articles from disorderly-arranged article piles or from loose assemblages of articles
  • B65G47/14—Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors for feeding articles from disorderly-arranged article piles or from loose assemblages of articles arranging or orientating the articles by mechanical or pneumatic means during feeding
  • B65G47/1407—Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors for feeding articles from disorderly-arranged article piles or from loose assemblages of articles arranging or orientating the articles by mechanical or pneumatic means during feeding the articles being fed from a container, e.g. a bowl
  • B65G47/1442—Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors for feeding articles from disorderly-arranged article piles or from loose assemblages of articles arranging or orientating the articles by mechanical or pneumatic means during feeding the articles being fed from a container, e.g. a bowl by means of movement of the bottom or a part of the wall of the container
  • B65G47/1471—Movement in one direction, substantially outwards
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61J—CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
  • A61J3/00—Devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms
  • A61J3/007—Marking tablets or the like
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61J—CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
  • A61J3/00—Devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms
  • A61J3/07—Devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms into the form of capsules or similar small containers for oral use
  • A61J3/071—Devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms into the form of capsules or similar small containers for oral use into the form of telescopically engaged two-piece capsules
  • A61J3/074—Filling capsules; Related operations

Definitions

• This application relates generally to the field of capsule orienting apparatus and more particularly, is directed to a multi-drum type of capsule orientation, rectification and printing apparatus including a plurality of tangentially registered pockets which function with exteriorly positioned air jet guides and other means to uniformly orient randomly fed capsules, and means for receiving the uniformly oriented capsules for subsequent processing, in particular the printing of indicia upon the capsules.
• the capsules generally consist of bodies of predetermined size and configuration to hold the medicinal and other compounds and caps which are telescopically arranged over the bodies to retain the filled material therewithin.
• indicia over the surface of the capsules, for example the name of the manufacturer or of the name or batch number of the material packaged within the capsule or other information required by the Food and Drug Administration or other agencies.
• This can be done by "spin printing" an elongated indicia on the capsule or by printing the capsule in another suitable manner.
• Spin printing is accomplished by causing the capsule to spin about its axis as the indicia is imprinted upon the surface of the capsule.
• the capsules may be uniformly oriented or rectified prior to reaching the imprinting station whereby the capsules can be uniformly rotated during the imprinting operation. The rotation occurs in a manner which allows rotation of the capsule without substantial slippage between the imprinting head and the capsule surface whereby a sharp, precise, printed indicia can be produced on each capsule as it passes through the imprinting station.
• Patent Nos. 3,931,884 and 4,069,753 show "spin printing" apparatus, and Patent Nos. 2,785,786, 2,859,689, 3,026,792 and 3,424,082, show other apparatus and methods for branding or printing indicia on the article.
• the present apparatus represents an improvement over the prior art capsule orientation and printing machines for many reasons e.g. more versatile, greater efficiency and for other reasons as will become apparent from the further description. It provides a reliable, automatic and rapidly functioning device capable of rapidly and uniformly orienting a plurality of randomly fed capsules for subsequent printing operations. In view of these patent and a fairly advanced state of technology, the present machinery and method is quite unobvious and represents a further significant advance in the art.
• indicia applying apparatus of the prior art operate upon a material or body which is being drawn through the printing station along a generally linear path. It has been discovered that drawing the material or body upon which indicia are to be applied through the printing station, in particular a spin printing apparatus, along a curved path, provides significant advantages over the prior art material " handling machinery.
• the materials to which indicia are to be applied are first placed upon a pocket carrier drum, being received within a plurality of pockets peripherally spaced about the drum, in whatever orientation is desired for a given application.
• the pockets are formed as part of a plurality of carriers which are adapted for rotation about an axis radially oriented to the drum.
• the materials are then easily rotatable from the position in which they are received to whatever position is indicated for the proper application of indicia to such materials.
• the drum then draws the materials beneath the printing apparatus, preferably a spin printing apparatus. Unlike devices of the prior art, the materials proceed along a curving path, beneath the printing apparatus, permitting an increased rate of production, as well as providing improved results.
• the materials to which indicia are to be applied are first rectified as follows. First the capsules are loaded from a supply hopper individually into a plurality of peripheral cavities or pockets which are provided about the periphery of a feed drum. Each of the pockets is similarly formed and is characterized by a radially extending portion and a communicating longitudinally or circumferentially extending portion. The capsules are fed from the hopper and may be randomly received in the feed drum pockets, but preferably, the capsules are fed in radial orientation to the radially directed portion. In other of the pockets, the capsules may be in longitudinal orientation within the circumferentially directed portion.
• Either the body or the cap may be positioned radially inwardly within the radial portions of the pockets and either the body or the cap may be positioned in the leading or forward position within the longitudinal portions of the pockets in view of the random feeding from the hopper.
• the capsules are randomly positioned each in one pocket, either in the longitudinal or radial pockets, which are at a 90° angle with respect to each other in one single plane.
• a vacuum chest is located immediately adjacent the inner surface of the feed drum if it is desired to assist the positioning of the capsule in the pocket in radial position.
• a brush means which may be rotating is positioned downstream from the feed hopper and is positioned in tangential arrangement with the feed drum.
• the longitudinal pocket of the cavity will not fit into it because of the radially seated capsule. However, the capsule may partially be in the longitudinal cavity.
• the brush means assists to dislodge any such longitudinal capsules.
• the pockets have their cavity occupied by either a longitudinally or radially seated capsule as the feed drum rotates each pocket away from the rotating brush means.
• the position of the brush and vacuum means may be interchanged, ⁇ so that the vacuum chest will assist in positioning all radially oriented capsules.
• the apparatus includes -a sizing block and back guide circumferentially arranged in overlying relationship to the feed drum downstream of the vacuum and brush means when these are used.
• the sizing block and back guide means comprises a circumferential channel or slot of sufficient size to receive the capsule body in rotary, sliding engagement therewithin and of insufficient size to permit the capsule cap to enter and rotatably slide therewithin.
• the sizing block and back guide means further comprises an air jet oriented to direct a jet stream of air upon each respective pocket as the pocket is rotated beneath the air jet.
• the air jet operates to lift the radially seated capsule upwardly on an air cushion to bring it out of the cavity.
• the air jet impinges on the longitudinal cavity, then streams into the radial cavity to create the necessary uplift pressure.
• the capsules which had randomly been positioned within the radial portion of the pocket with the cap radially inwardly (or downwardly) positioned and the body radially outwardly (or upwardly) positioned are urged upwardly or radially outwardly until the outward portion of the body enters the arcuate slot.
• the sizing block and back guide means then act to retain the capsule so pivoted in the longitudinally aligned position as the feed drum is rotated.
• the capsules which are longitudinally aligned are travelling with their cap portion trailing.
• the capsules which are remaining in the radially extending pocket are processed as follows.
• a transfer drum of similar configuration to the feed drum is tangentially arranged and is rotatably driven in synchronism with the feed drum whereby the pockets in the transfer drum are tangentially brought into register with the pockets in the feed drum as the feed drum and the transfer drum are rotated in synchronism.
• the capsules remain in the same plane, i.e., radially,* but they are inverted in the transfer.
• the pockets of the apparatus described herein need not, and are not configured as the pockets of said patents which include a generally radially-directed pocket, a generally longitudinally-directed pocket, and a generally transversely-directed pocket.
• the pocket herein described need an angularly sloping bottom surface as described in said patent.
• an important object of that patent and others designated above is to dispose the capsule in a position well suited for direct spin printing, i.e., in the transverse position relative to the direction of the machine travel.
• the machine in accordance with the present invention is provided with a third drum which then disposes the capsules in a position best suited for spin printing.
• a second or lower back guide circumferentially overfits the transfer drum and is similarly equipped with an air jet means. As the transfer drum is rotated past the air jet, those capsules that are already longitudinally positioned in the longitudinal portion will be traversed through the lower back guide without further orientation, with the body portion leading and the cap trailing.
• capsules will be similarly oriented after handling by the feed drum and the transfer drum, whereby each oriented capsule is positioned within the longitudinally extending portion of the pocket with the body in leading orientation and with the cap in trailing position.
• Capsules which have not been properly oriented by the feed drum and the transfer drum will generally be radially oriented and can therefore readily be removed from the transfer drum, rather than being delivered for further processing.
• a second vacuum chest may be provided to assist in the positioning of the capsules in this second drum.
• a pocket-carrier drum is tangentially arranged and is rotatably driven in synchronism with the transfer drum whereby pockets of the carrier drum are brought into register with the pockets in the transfer drum as the carrier drum and transfer drum are rotated in synchronism.
• the oriented capsules are longitudinally transferred from the transfer drum to the carrier drum.
• the carrier drum is again provided with a plurality of rotatable carrier means, each having a pocket for receiving a capsule therein.
• the carrier means are each adapted to rotate in response to a cam and follower mechanism which is timed so that the capsule is re-oriented from a longitudinal to a transverse position just prior to entering the printing stage of operation.
• the capsule is then positioned in a manner which is conducive to the printing on that capsule of any desired indicia, primarily by "spin printing" techniques.
• the printed capsules are then delivered from the printing drum for further processing, e.g. packaging.
• the capsules are preferably delivered from the carrier drum in their transverse orientation, so that they may be rolled to the next stage of processing.
• the carrier means are then returned to their original orientation, -with their pockets longitudinally aligned, in order to accept further capsules for printing. It is also possible to first return the carrier means to this original position, and then deliver the capsules from the carrier drum, if desired.
• An air jet means may be provided at the position where the capsules are delivered from the carrier drum, which air jet is positioned to assist the capsules in their movement.
• the pocket carrier drum illustrated is particularly well adapted to receive and process a capsule from a feed drum and transfer drum which have already received and uniformly oriented a series of capsules for subsequent processing, it is important to note that the carrier drum illustrated is equally capable of operating alone, or in conjunction with other machinery, having applicability to a wide variety of materials to be processed, such as pellets, tablets, and both soft and hard shell gelatin capsules.
• It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel capsule rectification and printing apparatus comprising a feed drum and a tangential transfer drum including a back guide means and an air jet means associated with each drum, wherein at least some of the capsules transported by the feed drum are longitudinally oriented by the feed drum air jet means and whereby the remaining capsules are longitudinally oriented by the air jet streams associated with the transfer drum, and a carrier drum in tangential arrangement with the transfer drum, which carrier drum receives the longitudinally oriented capsules, rotates the capsules from the longitudinal to a transverse orientation, and then causes the transversely oriented capsules to pass through a printing apparatus.
• It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel capsule rectification and printing apparatus which includes a first feed drum which picks up capsules from a hopper in random arrangement, first orientation means to selectively rectify some of the capsules in the feed drum to a longitudinal position with respect to the path of movement, transfer means to transfer longitudinally oriented capsules from the first feed drum to a second transfer drum in longitudinal alignment, said transfer means further transferring radially oriented capsules from the first feed drum to the second transfer drum in radial alignment, second orientation means to longitudinally orient the remaining of said capsules in the second transfer drum and, in accordance with the present invention, transfer means to transfer the longitudinally oriented capsules from the second transfer drum to a third carrier drum in a longitudinal orientation, third orientation means to transfer the longitudinally oriented capsules to a transverse orientation, and printing means for applying indicia to the transversely oriented capsules.
• the capsules are located on the carrier drum in a position ideally adapted for "spin printing".
• the third orientation means it is also possible to leave the capsules in a longitudinal orientation with respect to the direction of travel, allowing indicia to be applied to the capsules using other printing techniques.
• It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel capsule rectification and printing apparatus comprising a hopper containing a large number of capsules in
• first and second rotary drum means and first and second guide means including air jets, all of which are adapted to sort out and orient the capsules so that they are uniformly spaced apart about the second drum means in longitudinal orientation with the capsule body forwardly positioned and with the capsule caps rearwardly positioned relative to the direction of travel, and third rotary drum means adapted to receive the longitudinally oriented capsules from the second drum means in a longitudinal orientation, to transfer the longitudinally oriented capsules to a transverse orientation, and to print indicia on the transversely oriented capsules.
• It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel capsule rectification and printing apparatus comprising a first feed drum, said drum including a plurality of pockets each having a radially directed portion and a longitudinally directed portion, a first capsule orientation means associated with the feed drum to longitudinally orient at least some of the capsules contained within the pockets, a transfer drum in tangential arrangement and synchronized movement with the feed drum, the transfer drum comprising a plurality of similar pockets each having a radially directed portion and a longitudinally directed portion, a second orientation means associated with the transfer drum whereby all capsules not longitudinally oriented by the first orientation means will be oriented in the transfer drum pocket by the second orientation means, and a carrier drum in tangential arrangement and synchronized movement with the transfer drum, the carrier drum comprising a plurality of carrier means including pockets adapted to be brought in register with the pockets of the transfer drum to the carrier drum, and a third orientation means associated with the carrier drum whereby the longitudinally oriented capsules are transferred to a transverse orientation for the printing
• Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention.
• Fig. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.
• Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.
• Fig. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.
• a capsule rectification apparatus designated 10 which comprises generally a hopper means 12, a rotary brush means 14, a feed drum means 16, a transfer drum means 18, and a carrier drum means 150, all of which cooperate to rectify a plurality of randomly oriented capsules 20 for printing or marking.
• the hopper means 12 is mounted in stationary relationship upon a suitable support (not shown) and includes an inclined bottom 24 which terminates at a capsule opening 26 to facilitate feeding the capsules 20 one at a time to the drum means 16. As shown, the angle of inclination of the hopper bottom 24 is designed to radially align the bottom whereby the individual capsules will be radially fed toward the feed drum means 16.
• a hopper* may be used from which the capsules will be fed not only radially but also deposited in a longitudinal position in the cavity.
• the feed drum means 16 comprises generally a feed drum 28 which is rotated in the direction of the arrow 30 by its associated shaft 32 in known manner.
• a similarly configured transfer drum 34 rotates in substantially tangential relationship below the feed drum 28 in the direction of the arrow 36 upon rotation of its affixed shaft 38.
• the shafts 32, 38, and their respectively affixed drums 28, 34 are rotated in synchronism by a motor and drive apparatus (not shown) in a suitable manner well known to those skilled in the art.
• the feed drum 28 and transfer drum 34 are similar in construction and are each provided with a plurality of equally spaced, peripherally positioned, uniformly configured, capsule receiving pockets or depressions 40, 42. While a single peripheral row of pockets 40, 42 in each of the drums 28, 34 is illustrated, it will be appreciated that other similar rows can be transversely arranged about the peripheries of the respective feed drum 28 and transfer drum 34 to similarly feed and rectify simultaneously greater numbers of capsules 20, if so desired.
• the feed drum pockets 40 and the transfer drum pockets 42 are substantially identical in that both pockets comprise a radially extending portion 44 and a communicating, longitudinally extending portion 46 which portions are defined one from the other by an intermediate shoulder 48.
• the pockets in the respective drums can differ from each other.
• shoulder 48 can well be shaped differently, e.g., be more slanted or at an incline, or otherwise as desired.
• the radially extending portions 44 and longitudinally extending portions 46 of the feed drum pockets 40 and transfer drum pockets 42 are sized and configured to receive and retain one of the capsules 20.
• the capsules can be conventional in configuration and comprise a generally cylindrical body 50 with a generally cylindrical cap 52 in overfitting, telescopic arrangement.
• the diameter of the cap 52 is slightly greater than the diameter of the capsule body 50 and it is this difference in size that is utilized for capsule rectification purposes in the manner hereinafter more fully described.
• a plurality of randomly oriented capsules 20 feed along the inclined bottom 24 of the hopper means 12 through the opening 26, and one capsule individually enters each of the pockets 40 as the feed drum 28 is rotated in the direction of the arrow 30.
• the capsules 20 will be presented to the feed drum 28 in generally radial orientation and will be received within the radially extending portions 44 of the feed drum pockets 40.
• capsules 20 will fall naturally into the radially extending portions 44 in an upright position with the respective bodies 50 positioned radially outwardly from the caps 52. Others of the capsules 20 will fall naturally with the respective caps 52 positioned radially outwardly from the respective bodies 50; capsules fed to the hopper are initially in haphazard or random orientation. As the capsules gradually descend in the hopper, they become aligned into a radial position with the assistance of conventional combs or "fingers" - forming channels to form rows of the so-arranged capsules. It is to be noted however, that if a hopper ⁇ is not so constructed, the capsules will fall also into the longitudinal cavity of the pockets and then be processed in accordance with the apparatus and method of the invention.
• a vacuum chest 112 is positioned and functions as described hereinafter.
• a rotary brush means 14 is positioned arcuately downstream from the hopper means 12 and is rotated by its shaft 54 in the direction of the arrow 56 to assist in sweeping out and away any capsules 20 that might be lying in a generally longitudinal position partially overlapping with capsule in the radial position, and to assist in sweeping any longitudinally oriented capsules into a radial position within its associated radially extending cavity portion 44, when that cavity is free.
• feed drum means 16 further comprises an arcuate sizing block and back guide 58 which is positioned in circumferentially overlying relationship to the feed drum 28 at the lower quadrant thereof.
• the sizing block and back guide 58 is provided with an arcuate slot 60 which extends in length over one or more the spaced pockets 40 to facilitate capsule rectification therewithin.
• the sizing block and back guide 58 is spaced peripherally outwardly from the surface of the feed drum 28 to define an aligning space 66 therebetween, which space is less in width than the diameter of the body 50 of a capsule 20.
• the block and back guide 58 can be positioned anywhere against the feed drum in the space downstream the hopper and upstream the transfer point from one to the other drum.
• the length of the slot is a matter of judicious choice: when the rotational speed of the drum is comparatively fast, the slot preferably will extend over a plurality of pockets; desirably it will be shorter when the speed is lower. It is evident that the invention contemplates such slots or spaces to be of any length as may be desired.
• an air jet 62 is suitably supported and positioned to direct a radial air stream through an opening 64, provided in the guide 52, into arcuate slot 60 for capsule orientation in the manner hereinafter more fully set forth.
• the capsule cap 52 is radially inwardly positioned within the radially extending pocket portion 44.
• the capsule body 50 is radially inwardly positioned within the radially extending pocket portion 44.
• the air jet stream upon application of a jet of air from the air jet 62 through the opening 64, the air jet stream will impinge directly upon the pocket portions 46, 44 as the feed drum 28 is rotated.
• the directed air stream extends radially inwardly to the bottom of the radially extending pocket portion 44 where it turns and by applying forces against the bottom of the capsule, tends to urge the capsule 20 radially outwardly.
• the width of the slot 60 is just sufficient to admit the body 50 of the capsule 20 in rotary, sliding engagement therewithin.
• the aligning space 66 defined between the outer periphery of the feed drum 28 and the guide 58 is just sufficiently wide to permit passage of a capsule 20 in its longitudinally aligned position, with capsule body 50 forwardly positioned within the space 66 when positioned in a-longitudinally extending pocket portion 46.
• the smooth change of position of the capsule from the radial to the longitudinal position is assisted by the rotary travel of the drum while the capsule pivots into the direction of travel. Yet notwithstanding the drag of the capsule on the interior of the guide, the capsule will not reseat itself radially into the pocket due to the size of the aligning space.
• this capsule is oriented within the radially extending portion 44 in a position with the capsule body 50' extending radially downwardly and with the capsule cap 52' extending radially outwardly. Accordingly, when the jet of air from the air jet 62 is directed into the bottom of the pocket 40 in a manner to impinge upwardly upon the capsule 20', to force the capsule upwardly and radially outwardly from the pocket 40, the cap 52' will be urged toward engagement with the marginal edges 68, 70 which define the arcuate slot 60.
• the width of the slot 60 is fabricated less than the diameter of the cap portion 52' and the marginal edges 68, 70 which define the slot 60 act to prevent the entrance of the capsule cap portion 52' into the slot 60.
• the capsule 20' cannot rise to pivot about the shoulder 48 and so will remain oriented within the pocket 40 in a radially directed position, with the capsule body 50* positioned downwardly within the radially extending pocket portion 44.
• the air stream from the air jet 62 cannot urge the capsule 20' into its longitudinally aligned position within the longitudinally extending portion 44.
• the interior surface 72 of the guide 58 will act to maintain the capsule 20'- in its radially extended position.
• the capsules 20 approach the interface 74 between the feed drum 28 and the transfer drum 34 in either a longitudinally oriented position with the capsule body 50 leading, as indicated at 76, or in a radially oriented position with the capsule body 50 extending radially inwardly as indicated at 78.
• the distance from the face of the guide 58 facing the drum may be adjusted by adjusting the guide; likewise the width of slot 60 can be constructed to admit different sized capsules, i.e. of different diameters.
• a stationary vacuum chest 112 which is located immediately
• a conduit 116 interconnects the vacuum chest 112 with a known vacuum source, which may be introduced immediately adjacent to the feed drum shaft 32.
• the vacuum chest is provided as a further aid, but is not a requirement, to assist in seating such capsules.
• an air chest 118 immediately adjacent to the inner surface of the feed drum means 16.
• a conduit 120 communicates the interior of the air chest 118 with a known source of air, which source may be introduced immediately adjacent to the feed drum shaft 32 in any suitable, known manner.
• the air means assist in the transfer of the capsules from one drum to the other by creating a back pressure on the bottom of the capsule to assist in dislodging it.
• the transfer drum means 18 can be equipped with a vacuum chest 122 with intercommunicating vacuum conduit 124 to aid in the capsule transfer; and with an air chest 126 with intercommunicating air conduit 128 for clean out purposes.
• the air chest 126 preferably is angularly spaced from vacuum chest 122 and is located below the horizontal in a position rotatively beyond the position at which the capsule is discharged from the transfer drum means 18. This vacuum chest also is not necessary to the operation and for the machinery of the invention.
• transfer drum 34 is configured similarly to feed drum 38 and includes a plurality of similarly positioned, circumferentially spaced pockets 42 which are rotated into registry beneath the feed drum pockets 40 as the transfer drum 34 is rotated in synchronism in the direction of the arrow 36.
• the pockets need not be identical with those in the feed drum.
• the transfer drum means 18 includes an arcuate back guide 58' which includes an air jet 62' and an air jet opening 64'.
• the guide interior surface 72' defines an aligning space 66' between the back guide 58* and the outer periphery of the transfer drum 34.
• the air jet 62* directs a stream of air through the opening 64' and into the bottom of each pocket 44 as the transfer drum 34 is rotated.
• Those capsules wherein the capsule body 50 has been radially positioned or oriented at transfer will be acted upon by the air stream.
• Pocket-carrier drum means 149 comprises generally a carrier drum 150 which is rotated in substantially tangential relationship below the transfer drum means 18 in the direction of arrow 198 by its associated shaft 152 in known manner.
• Shaft 152 is rotated in syncronism with the shafts 32, 38 by a motor and drive apparatus (not shown) in suitable manner.
• Carrier drum 150 generally comprises a plurality of carrier means 154 journalled for rotation within a plurality of cavities 156, preferably regularly spaced and peripherally positioned about carrier drum 150.
• Cavities 156 comprise two, generally cylindrical, concentric portions 204, 206, lower portion 204 preferably having a smaller diameter than upper portion 206.
• Lower portion 204 is open at its bottom, permitting communication between the cavities 156 and the area centrally defined by the carrier drum 150.
• Upper portion 206 is open at its top.
• Carrier means 154 comprise a lower, base portion 160 . and an upper pocket containing portion 164, each of which is generally cylindrical in shape.
• Lower base portion 160 is preferably of a smaller diameter than is upper pocket portion 164, forming a flange 162 at the interface between portions 160,164.
• the base portion 160 of carrier means 154 is positioned within the lower portion 204 of cavity 156.
• Pocket containing portion 164 is positioned within the upper portion
• the flange 162 defined between base portion 160 and pocket containing portion 164 of carrier means 154 is positioned to seat upon the abutting shoulder 166 of cavities 156 by a variety of attachment means 196, e.g. c-clip rings.
• the carrier means 154 are retained and journalled for rotation within the cavities 156 of carrier drum 150, the pocket containing protion 164 of the carrier means 154 extending to a point approximately in alignment with the surface of the carrier drum 150.
• Rotation of the carrier means 154 within the cavities 156 may be assisted by roller bearings 202, if desired, positioned between the surfaces defined by lower portion 204 of cavities 156, and base portion 160 of carrier means 154.
• the pocket containing portion 164 of carrier means 154 are provided with uniformly configured, capsule receiving pockets or depressions 158.
• Pockets or depressions 158 are generally cylindrically configured, being sized to accept a capsule 20 therein in a manner which holds the capsule 20 in proper position during the printing process, and which also permits the capsules to axially spin during printing.
• Pockets 158 are also generally configured in a shape substantially equivalent to the peripheral shape of the longitudinally extending portions 44 of the pockets 42 of transfer drum 34.
• the carrier drum 150 and transfer drum 34 are operatively associated with each other so that the pockets 158 of the carrier drum 150 are brought into alignment with the longitudinally extending portions 44 of the pockets 42 of the transfer drum 34 as carrier drum 150 and transfer drum 34 are driven in synchronism, in the direction shown by arrows 198, 36 respectively. Consequently, a longitudinally oriented capsule 20, with its cap portion 52 trailing, is delivered from transfer drum 34 to carrier drum 150 in a longitudinal orientation with its cap portion 52 still trailing.
• Extending longitudinally downward from base portion 160 is follower 168 which is offset from the axis of the carrier means 154, acting as an eccentric, and which, in combination with cam means 170, causes the carrier means 154 to rotate in a manner to be more fully described below.
• Cam means 170 is peripherally connected to a stationary barrel 172 which is concentrically positioned interior to carrier drum 150, and which is adjustably fixed in position by torque arm 174 and adjustment bracket 176. Sliding torque arm 174 along bracket 176 causes stationary barrel 172 to rotate, thereby retarding or advancing the timing function represented by cam means 170, and thus rotation of the carrier means.
• camming means 170 may be used for this purpose.
• a cam in the shape of a ring, peripherally extending around barrel 172 may be used in conjunction with carrier means 154 which are normally biased so that the pockets 158 are normally longitudinally oriented, such as by a spring or other similar mechanism.
• the follower 168 would then interact with the cam ring to cause the desired motor of carrier means 154.
• Cam means 170 may also be in the form of a slot or groove extending peripherally about barrel 172 which is positioned to engage follower 168 to cause carrier means 154 to rotate as required.
• spin printing apparatus 178 Also provided in conjunction with carrier drum 150 are spin printing apparatus 178 and delivery tray 180.
• Spin printing apparatus 178 comprises a transfer roller 182 which is positioned to extend into a quantity of ink or dye 184 contained by resevoir 186. Ink or dye 184 is picked up by transfer roller 182 for application to print roller 188, which contains the indicia to be applied to the capsules 20 as they are passed beneath the peripheral edge of the print roller 188. Squeegee 190 is optionally provided to evenly distribute ink or dye 184 along transfer roller 182.
• Printing apparatus 178' is essentially similar to printing apparatus 178, however the print roller 188' would generally be provided with indicia different from those provided in conjunction with print roller 188. Print rollers 188, 188' could even be interchangeable if desired.
• each printing apparatus be perpendicular to the capsule 20 which is being printed. Rather, the printing apparatus may be positioned at any angle between 30° and 90° to the capsule printing surface. In this manner, a wide variety of- ⁇ ndicia may be applied to each capsule 20, including wording, markings, shapes, colors, etc.
• Delivery tray 180 comprises a sloping base 192 and sides 194 which are positioned to catch a capsule 20 which has been printed as it rolls out of the pockets 158 of carrier drum 150. Printed capsules 20 are then caused to roll down the sloping base 192 toward subsequent capsules processing machinery, as illustrated by arrow 208.
• capsules 20 are received from transfer drum 18 by the pockets 158 of the carrier drum 150 in a substantially longitudinal orientation, with their cap portion 52 trailing.
• the follower 168 of carrier means 154 is brought into contact with the timing incline 210 of cam means 170, shown at 212 in Fig. 1.
• the carrier means 154 which are normally biased so that pockets 158 are longitudinally oriented are thus caused to rotate about their axis, causing the pockets 158 to rotate from a substantially longitudinal alignment to a substantially transverse alignment.
• This transition is shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4 as follows. At position 214 the pocket 158 and capsule 20 are longitudinally positioned.
• the pocket 158 and capsule 20 are rotating, as is the entire carrier means 154, in response to the interaction between the timing incline 20 of cam means 170 and follower 168.
• the pocket 158 and capsule 20 contained therein are transversely oriented.
• the pockets 158, containing uniformly oriented, transversely aligned capsules 20, are then caused to advance beneath the print roller 188 whereupon the desired indicia may be applied to the capsules 20.
• the print roller 188 passes over the surface of the capsules 20, the capsules 20 are permitted to axially spin, so that a clear, neat and sharp image is printed thereon.
• the capsules 20 are advanced to delivery tray 180 where they are permitted to roll out of the pockets 158, down the sloping base 192, toward subsequent capsule processing machinery, e.g. packaging. This process may be facilitated by air jet 198 which is directed toward the pockets 158 as they approach the delivery tray 180.
• the empty carrier means 154 are then further rotated in the direction of arrow 198 toward a timing decline at 222 which returns the carrier means 154 to their original orientation.
• the pockets 158 of carrier means 154 are then caused to rotate back toward their original position, as follower 168 is caused to advance along the timing decline of cam means 170, at 222.
• the now longitudinally aligned pockets 158 of carrier means 154 are again ready to accept additional capsules 20 from transfer drum 34 for further printing and processing.
• timing incline 210 and timing decline 222 may be varied by rotating barrel 172 as previously described, permitting the movement of carrier means 154 to be advanced or retarded as desired. Timing functions other than that described above may be provided by varying the positioning of timing incline 210 and timing decline 22 with respect to carrier drum 150, or with respect to each other.
• the foregoing apparatus is particularly well suited for the spin printing of selected indicia upon a plurality of capsules 20.
• the foregoing apparatus is also capable of use in conjunction with other printing techinques.
• the timing function represented by cam means 170 may be varied if needed. If desired, cam means 170 may even be removed, allowing the pockets 158 to remain substantially longitudinally aligned throughout the entire process. Many variations are clearly possible.
• carrier means 154 Although the foregoing discussion illustrates use of only a single row of carrier means 154, it is also equally possible to provide a plurality of juxtaposed, peripherally spaced rows of carrier means 154, to accept a plurality of capsules 20 from a pluraltiy of rows provided in feed drum 28 and transfer drum 34.
• the material may have a so called cap and body portion, as is illustrated by way of example only, but the material may have a protrusion or asperity or other means or other shape, or be of such configuration that one end of the body will not enter into slot or space 60', thus selectively permitting the body to enter the space by one of its ends but not by the other.
• the pocket carrier drum means 149 is not only applicable for use in conjunction with materials having dissimilar ends, which must be rectified or oriented prior to entering printing operations. Many applications call for the applying of indicia to materials or bodies having similar ends, such as pellets, tablets or soft gelatin capsules, which materials either have or have not been previously classified or oriented.
• the pocket carrier drum means 149 of the present inventions is well suited for use in conjunction with such materials.
• the present inventions provides a rotary printing means capable of applying indicia to a wide variety of objects which are capable of rotation beneath a printing means, principally a spin printing device, along a curved path defined by the movement of the carrier means 154 about carrier drum 150, rather than the linear path used in conjunction with prior art printing devices.
• back guide 58' can be provided with an arcuate slot (similiar to 60) , like back guide 58, but that would be unnecessary since rectification of the capsules will have already been performed by back guides interchangeable on the machinery.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Feeding Of Articles To Conveyors (AREA)
• Medical Preparation Storing Or Oral Administration Devices (AREA)

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• 1981
  • 1981-05-04 EP EP19810901637 patent/EP0077773A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1981-05-04 WO PCT/US1981/000586 patent/WO1982003842A1/en unknown

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