EP0163043B1 - Feeding apparatus in packaging machines for small pharmaceutical products such as tablets, pills, capsules, etc. - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a loading device on packaging machines for small pharmaceutical product objects, such as tablets, pills, capsules, oblong products or the like, with a filling shoe for feeding the product objects into mold yards of a product receiver, such as a shaped film or one, which moves beneath it relative to the filling shoe Format plate with a discharge slide arranged between the format plate and the shaped film, the filling shoe forming at least one loading chamber which has an opening which is open towards the product receiver and its molding yards and in which a product channel leading the product objects in succession ends.

In loading devices of this type known from practice, the force of gravity is not sufficient to slide the product objects quickly enough through the product channel into the loading chamber and to drop them from the loading chamber into the mold yard of the product receiver. It is therefore known to accelerate the product objects by means of a compressed air flow which is fed through compressed air channels which open in the product channel shortly before its end at the charging chamber, so that the compressed air flow only detects the product objects located in the product channel immediately before the mouth into the charging chamber . The objects blown into the feed chamber in this way still only get into the mold yard by free fall, because in this way there is no supportive acceleration by the compressed air flow. This escapes from the feed chamber essentially through the gap between the filling shoe and the product receiver, and possibly also through air outlet channels that are connected to the feed chamber. With increasing speed of movement of the product sensor, the filling speed must also increase, and thus the speed of the compressed air flow must be increased. However, this has the disadvantage that a strong air swirl arises in the molding yards, which creates a counter pressure and hinders the fall of the product objects from the loading chamber into the molding yards. The product objects that do not get into the mold yard quickly enough can then be damaged between the opposite edges of the loading chamber and the mold yard as a result of the product pick-up movement. With a correspondingly high air supply, the back pressure of the air can even become so strong that the product objects no longer get to the bottom of the molding yards, but float in or above the molding yards and u. U. can also be blown out of the mold yards. As a result, the filling speed is severely limited. - Another disadvantage of the compressed air flow as a feeding and loading aid is the unavoidable dust development. The dust carried by the compressed air flow as it exits the loading chamber contaminates the sealing surface of the film. Even more serious, however, is that the dust carried to the outside by the compressed air flow regularly originates from the product objects themselves and can also originate from their filling, for example if capsules have been damaged. Often, these are physiologically highly effective substances, such as sleeping pills, hormones, toxins or the like, through which the environment and people working there can be severely burdened. Further disadvantages of compressed air are the high air consumption (costs) and the disturbing strong flow noises. In addition, the compressed air is contaminated by the compressed air generator and, above all, is not sterile.

From FR-A-2 054 592 a loading device similar to the type mentioned at the outset is known, in which the filling shoe and the product receiver move synchronously with one another during the loading process and instead of the mold cavities in the product receiver, downwardly open containers are provided on a conveyor. Between the loading chamber and the container below it is a set of relatively mutually movable measuring and control plates with mold openings, which control the transition of the product object from the loading chamber into the container by the mutual movement of the measuring and control plates and at the same time a positional orientation of the Effect product object. In order to force the product object out of this alignment device formed by the measuring and control plates and into the container, a vacuum or low-pressure chamber is arranged under the container and the conveyor, so that downwards through the conveyor and the container onto the molded object a suction effect accelerating its fall into the container is exerted. This acceleration of the falling process with the aid of suction air is evidently tied to the prerequisite that the container is open at the bottom and therefore the suction air can flow through it parallel to the direction of movement of the product object entering the container. In the case of mold yards in shaped foils, format plates or the like, this requirement is not met, however, so that extraction according to the known model is not possible here. In addition, in the known loading device, the suction air in the loading chamber itself can no longer have an effect, so that it affects the Transfer of the product objects from the product channel into the loading chamber is without any influence.

The invention has for its object to design a loading device of the type mentioned in such a way that significantly higher filling speeds than in the free fall of the product objects or with a stream of compressed air can be achieved.

This object is achieved according to the invention in that the loading chamber is connected to at least one suction channel via at least one suction groove which is open towards the product receiver and which is connected to a vacuum source (suction pump for vacuum).

This creates a suction air flow in the product channel and in the loading chamber, which, like the compressed air in the known loading devices, accelerates the product objects on their way into the loading chamber, but cannot lead to flow vortices in the molding yards, which hinder the transition of the product objects into the molding yards . The position and course of the suction groove or suction grooves influence the vacuum and suction conditions that take effect in the feed chamber and in the molding yard. The opening of the suction groove also towards the product pickup means that vacuum and suction in the molding yard are effective not only through the loading chamber, but also directly from the suction grooves. No pneumatic back pressure can develop in the transition from the feed chamber to the mold yards. In addition, the suction air flow in the product channel not only detects the product objects located directly in front of the loading chamber, but all of them. In addition, by suitably designing the loading chamber and its connection to the suction channel or to the suction channels, the suction effect on the product object in the loading chamber and during its transition into the molding yard can be specifically influenced according to strength and direction, so that in particular reorientation of the position of the product objects can be optimally supported and accelerated during their transition from the product channel through the feed chamber into the molding yard, which is not possible when using compressed air. As a result, the filling speed can be increased significantly. Another very important advantage of the suction air flow is that the air drawn in comes from the immediate vicinity of the packaging machine, that is, it is correspondingly clean and sterile if the machine itself is operated in a sterile clean air area. All solid waste arising during the feeding of the product objects, namely fragments or remnants as well as dust from the product objects, is sucked in and extracted, so it cannot get into the environment. The same applies to damaged product objects themselves. By suitably designing and dimensioning the effective suction cross-section on the loading chamber, it is in your hand to vacuum product objects that have only undergone minor damage, but which have changed their shape that they exit through the suction cross-section and can be removed by the suction air flow. As a result, disruptions in the workflow of the machine that are otherwise unavoidable due to filling errors, for example when sealing or during filling control, the deception of which is then no longer possible, can be reliably avoided. All solids carried downstream in the suction air stream behind the feed chamber can easily be separated from the suction air stream and made harmless to the environment by providing a solids separator in the path of the suction air stream. The suction effect of the suction air flow within the product channel can easily be influenced by the fact that there are suction channels running in the wall of the product channel and ending in the loading chamber. It is often sufficient if these suction channels are only in the end section of the product channel in front of the loading chamber. An embodiment which is expedient with regard to the position and course of the suction groove or suction grooves is characterized in that, in the case of a filling shoe, in the loading chamber of which the product channel opens at an incline in a plane which is essentially perpendicular to the direction of movement of the product receiver, the suction groove on the side of the loading chamber at the acute mouth angle of the Product channel is provided. The suction effect emanating from this suction groove can act directly on the product object in such a way that it promotes and accelerates the change in orientation of the product object that is required during the transition from the product channel to the mold yard. An acceleration of this transition can also be achieved very advantageously and effectively by the fact that the front side of the loading chamber in the direction of movement of the product receiver is formed by a guide ramp for the product objects which runs obliquely in this direction against the product receiver, and that the suction groove or suction grooves along the guide ramp runs or run. The result of this is that a product object that is still in the feed chamber and already in the molding yard is directed by the suction air flow in the direction of movement of the product sensor along the guide ramp into the molding yard, even if the wall part of the molding yard that is rearward in the direction of movement of the product sensor does not yet convey the product object has reached. The result is a movement of the Product object supports that ensures the damage-free transition of the product object into the mold yard even at high running speeds of the product sensor. An expedient embodiment is characterized in that, with only one suction groove, it runs centrally to the loading chamber in the ramp surface of the guide ramp. With two suction grooves, on the other hand, they run better on both sides of the ramp surface of the guide ramp.

The design of the feed chamber in detail depends on the type and nature of the product objects and their supply in the product channel. It should be taken into account that the loading area must not only enable the separation of the product objects from the product column they have formed in the product channel, but also, if necessary, a change in the orientation of the product object if the orientation of the product objects coming from the product channel into the loading chamber is not aligned with their orientation in the mold yard matches. The simplest embodiment is therefore the one in which the loading chamber is designed in such a way that it completely receives the product object in the orientation corresponding to its later position in the molding yard. When passing through a molding yard, the product object then only needs to drop into the molding yard accelerated by the suction air. A preferred embodiment in this respect is characterized in that for oblong products the longitudinal axis of the charging chamber and the molds is transverse to the direction of movement of the product receiver and the product channel in the charging chamber opens essentially in the longitudinal direction thereof, and that the wall of the charging chamber opposite this mouth is inclined is inclined towards the product receiver. The change of orientation can then be initiated within this chamber part and completed on the guide ramp.

A further very significant improvement in the speed of transfer of the product objects into the mold yards is possible if the product receiver is a format plate. In this case, the loading chamber is connected according to the invention through the molding yard to the suction channel provided in the discharge slide, so that the suction air flow passes through the molding yard in the same direction as the loading with the product item, so that the product item is drawn into the molding yard particularly effectively.

• Fig. 1 einen zur Bewegungsrichtung des Produktaufnehmers senkrechten Längsschnitt durch einen Füllschuh,
• Fig. 2 einen Schnitt in Richtung 11 - II durch den Gegenstand der Fig. 1,
• Fig. 3 eine Ansicht des Füllschuhs nach den Fig. 1 und 2 gegen die Unterseite, also von der Seite des Produktaufnehmers her,
• Fig. 4 den Gegenstand der Fig. 3 in einer anderen Ausführungsform,
• Fig. 5 eine weitere Ausführungsform des Füllschuhs in einer den Fig. 3 und 4 entsprechenden Ansicht, und zwar in zwei in den Fig. 5a und 5b dargestellten Varianten,
• Fig. 6a den Schnitt A - B in Fig. 5a,
• Fig. 6b den Schnitt C - D in Fig. 5b,
• Fig. 7a den Schnitt E - F im Fig. 5a, und
• Fig. 7b den Schnitt G - H im Fig. 5b,
• Fig. 8 ein weiteres Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung in einer den Fig. 3, 4 und 5 entsprechenden Darstellung,
• Fig. 9 den Schnitt A - B in Fig. 8,
• Fig. 10 den Schnitt C - D in Fig. 9, und
• Fig. 11 den Schnitt E - F in Fig. 9,
• Fig. 12 eine andere Ausführungsform der Erfindung, wiederum in einer der Fig. 5 entsprechenden Darstellung mit zwei nebeneinander gezeichneten Varianten,
• Fig. 13 den Schnitt A - B in Fig. 12,
• Fig. 14 den Schnitt C - D in Fig. 13,
• Fig. 15 eine Ansicht des Gegenstandes der Fig. 12 in Richtung des Pfeiles Y,
• Fig. 16 eine weitere Ausführungsform der Erfindung in einer den Fig. 8 und 12 entsprechenden Darstellung,
• Fig. 17 den Schnitt A - B - D - D in Fig. 16,
• Fig. 18 den Schnitt E - F in Fig. 16,
• Fig. 19 einen der Fig. 18 entsprechenden Schnitt durch eine Ausführungsform der Erfindung mit einer Formatplatte als Produktaufnehmer,
• Fig. 20 eine weitere Ausführungsform der Erfindung in einer der Fig. 19 entsprechenden Darstellung,
• Fig. 21 den Schnitt A - B in Fig. 20 und
• Fig. 22 den Schnitt C - D - E - F in Fig. 20.

In the following the invention is explained in more detail using exemplary embodiments shown in the drawing; show it:

• 1 is a longitudinal section perpendicular to the direction of movement of the product sensor through a filling shoe,
• 2 shows a section in the direction 11 - II through the object of FIG. 1,
• 3 shows a view of the filling shoe according to FIGS. 1 and 2 against the underside, that is to say from the side of the product receiver,
• 4 shows the subject of FIG. 3 in another embodiment,
• 5 shows a further embodiment of the filling shoe in a view corresponding to FIGS. 3 and 4, specifically in two variants shown in FIGS. 5a and 5b,
• 6a shows the section A - B in Fig. 5a,
• 6b shows the section C - D in Fig. 5b,
• Fig. 7a the section E - F in Fig. 5a, and
• 7b shows the section G - H in Fig. 5b,
• 8 shows a further exemplary embodiment of the invention in a representation corresponding to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5,
• 9 shows the section A - B in Fig. 8,
• Fig. 10 shows the section C - D in Fig. 9, and
• 11 shows the section E - F in FIG. 9,
• 12 shows another embodiment of the invention, again in a representation corresponding to FIG. 5 with two variants drawn side by side,
• 13 shows the section A - B in Fig. 12,
• 14 shows the section C - D in FIG. 13,
• 15 is a view of the object of FIG. 12 in the direction of arrow Y,
• 16 shows a further embodiment of the invention in a representation corresponding to FIGS. 8 and 12,
• 17 shows the section A - B - D - D in FIG. 16,
• 18 shows the section E - F in FIG. 16,
• 19 shows a section corresponding to FIG. 18 through an embodiment of the invention with a format plate as product receiver,
• 20 shows a further embodiment of the invention in a representation corresponding to FIG. 19,
• Fig. 21 shows the section A - B in Fig. 20 and
• 22 shows the section C - D - E - F in FIG. 20.

In the drawing, the product objects are generally designated 2. They can be oblong products in capsule form according to FIGS. 1 to 4 or tablets of circular cross-section as in the figures of the other exemplary embodiments. However, the invention is of course not limited to such tablets.

Rather, the systems described and illustrated are suitable for processing all product shapes and dimensions occurring in the pharmaceutical sector for the product objects.

A filling shoe 1 is used to feed the product objects 2 into the mold cavities 3 of a product sensor 5 which is moved past under the filling shoe 1 in the direction of the arrows. As in FIGS. 1 to 18, the product sensor can be a plastic shaped film, for example made of PVC, with molding yards produced therein by deep drawing be; the product receiver can also be from one the format plates 3 containing the format plate may be formed, a discharge slide 1 'being arranged between the format plate and a shaped film 5' which in turn ultimately accommodates the product objects in its own form cells 3 'and which can be reversibly moved back and forth relative to the format plate in the direction of the double arrow 4a. If the discharge openings 3a in the discharge slide 1 'coincide with the molding holes 3 in the format plate, the product objects 2 contained in the molding holes 3 of the format plate can simultaneously fall through the discharge openings 3a into the molding holes 3' of the molding film 5 ', for example temporarily standing still during this process, which thus moves clocked in the direction of arrow 4b. The movement of the product sensor 5 with respect to the filling shoe 1 is in any case to be understood as a relative movement. Instead of moving the product receiver 5 with respect to the stationary filling shoe 1, the filling shoe 1 can also be moved with respect to the product receiver 5 designed as a format plate, as is the case in the exemplary embodiments according to FIGS. 19 and 20, where the filling shoe 1 is in the direction of the Double arrow 4 is moved relative to the format plate forming the stationary product receiver 5. There is also the possibility of moving both the product sensor 5 and the filling shoe 1 in the same direction, but at different speeds, in order to obtain a lower relative speed between the product sensor 5 and the filling shoe 1 by this entrainment, thus for the transition of the product objects 2 into the mold yards 3 is available for a longer time than when the filling shoe 1 is at a standstill. No matter how the relative movement also comes about and the product receiver 5 may be made up, the loading systems, for example explained, with loading directly into the shaped film are equally suitable for loading by means of a discharge slide and format plate, this also applies in particular to FIGS. 5 to 7 .

In any case, the filling shoe 1 for transferring one of each of the product objects 2 forms a loading chamber 6, which has an opening which is open towards the bottom of the product receiver 5 and is connected to a product channel 7 which feeds the product objects 2 from a magazine device, not shown, in succession to the feeding chamber 6 . These product channels 7 can run vertically above the loading chamber 6, as in FIGS. 5 to 7. FIGS. 8 to 11 show exemplary embodiments in which the product channels 7 are inclined in a vertical plane parallel to the direction of movement 4 of the product receiver 5, while in In all other exemplary embodiments, the product channels 7 run inclined in a plane perpendicular to the direction of movement 4 of the product receiver 5. In the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 4, the oblong products forming the product objects 2 are arranged in the direction of their longitudinal axis in the product channel 7. In the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 5b, 6b and 7b, the tablets lie on one another with their circular surfaces, that is to say they are stacked coaxially in the product channel 7, while in all other exemplary embodiments in the product channel 7 they are, as it were, abutted against one another, that is to say only on their circumference touch.

As a rule, only one loading chamber 6 is drawn in the exemplary embodiments for the sake of simplicity. In practice, however, in order to be able to fill several mold cavities 3 at the same time, a corresponding number of charging chambers 6 are arranged next to one another, as is shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 or 20 to 22 using the example of two charging chambers each, in FIGS. 16 to 18 is shown using the example of three loading chambers. As a result, the filling shoe 1 has its own loading chamber 6 with its own product channel 7 for each molding yard 3. This arrangement can obviously be extended to any number transverse to the direction of movement 4 of the product receiver 5, adjacent molding yards 3.

In all of the exemplary embodiments, the charging chamber 6 is connected to at least one suction air duct 8.1, 8.2, which is connected to a vacuum source, not shown, for example a suction pump for vacuum, which can be largely arbitrary, provided that there is only sufficient suction power and suction power. In the path of the suction air flow downstream behind the charging chambers 6 and the suction channel 8.1, 8.2, a solid separator (also not shown) can be provided, which filters out and separates broken or remaining pieces of damaged product objects 2 or dust created by abrasion on the product objects 2.

The feed chamber 6 is connected to the suction channel 8.1, 8.2 via one or more suction grooves 8. The se suction grooves 8 are open to the product sensor 5. Insofar as the product channel 7 ends inclined in a plane perpendicular to the direction of movement 4 of the product receiver 5 in the loading chamber 6, as is the case in FIGS. 12 to 14, one of the suction grooves 8 on the side of the loading chamber 6 and in acute opening angle 8 'of the product channel 7 may be provided so that the suction air exerts an effect on the product object 2 which promotes and accelerates the folding of the product object 2 into the flat horizontal position. For the rest, in the exemplary embodiments, the front side of the loading chamber 6 in the direction of movement 4 of the product receiver 5 is inclined in this direction against the product receiver 5 Guide ramp 9 formed for the product objects 2. The suction grooves 8 run along the guide ramp 9. If only one suction groove 8 is present, as in the exemplary embodiments according to FIGS. 3 or 5b or 6b, this suction groove 8 runs centrally to the loading chamber 6 in the ramp surface of the guide ramp 9. On the other hand, there are two in total Suction grooves 8 are provided per loading chamber 6, as is the case in the exemplary embodiments according to FIGS. 4 and 5a or 6a, these suction grooves 8 run on both sides of the ramp surface of the guide ramp 9.

The suction effect of the suction air within the product channel 7 can be influenced by suction channels 13, as are provided in the exemplary embodiments according to FIGS. 6a, 6b, 9 to 11 and 13. They run in the wall of the product channel 7 and end in the charging chamber 6. However, such suction channels can also be formed at 13 ′ between the circular-cylindrical product column formed by the product objects 2 and the charging channel 7 with a square cross section, as in FIGS. 5b to 7b. Here the suction effect through the four corner channels 13 'along the product column is particularly optimal.

The loading chamber 6 can, as in FIGS. 1 to 4 or 5b, 6b and 7b, be designed such that it can receive the product object 2 completely in the orientation corresponding to its later position in the molding yard 3. More often, however, the case will arise that the loading chamber 6 must enable the product objects 2 to be reoriented from their position specified by the product channel 7 to the later position of the product objects in the molding yards 3. The guide ramp 9 already mentioned plays a decisive role in this by forcing the product object 2 to perform the movement sequence necessary for this change in orientation. The exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 5a, 6a and 7a shows a particularly typical case where the initially upright product object 2 is transferred to the horizontal flat position on the guide ramp 9. Similar conditions exist in the case of FIGS. 8 to 11, so again the guide ramp 9 ensures that the product object 2 fed in an inclined position rotates along the guide ramp into the horizontal flat position desired for reception in the molding yard 3. In the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 12 to 14 and 16 and 20 to 22, the loading chamber 6 also has a chamber part 14 with a passage cross section between the mouth 11 of the product channel 7 and the beginning of the guide ramp 9, which cross section corresponds to that seen in the direction of movement 4 of the product receiver 5 Projection of the part of the product object 2 protruding from the molding yard 3 into the loading chamber 6, in its orientation still determined by the inclination of the product channel 7. In this chamber part 14, therefore, the product object 2 is reoriented during the movement of the product sensor 5, which is then completed along the guide ramp 9. - On the other hand, as already mentioned, if the loading chamber 6 can completely accommodate the product object 2, as in particular in FIGS. 1 to 4, the product object 2 only needs to fall out of the loading chamber 6 into the molding yard 3 when the molding yard 3 has the mouth the loading chamber 6 happens. In the exemplary embodiment for oblong products shown in this context, the longitudinal axis of the feed chamber 6 and the mold cavities 3 lie transversely to the direction of movement of the product receiver 5. The product channel 7 opens into the feed chamber 6 essentially in the longitudinal direction thereof. The wall 12 of the charging chamber 6 opposite this mouth 11 is inclined obliquely towards the product receiver 5 and is rounded in a concave manner, so that a product object 2 coming from the product channel 7 into the charging chamber 6 can be deflected downwards on this chamber wall 12.

The embodiments shown in FIGS. 19 and 20 to 22 with a product sensor 5 designed as a format plate show the case in which the filling shoe 1, which moves back and forth over the product sensor 5 in the direction of the double arrow 4, can feed the mold yards 3 in the direction of both movement strokes. For this purpose, the filling shoe 1 in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 19 is of completely symmetrical design in both directions of movement with respect to the loading chamber 6, the suction grooves 8 and the suction channels 8.1, 8.2, the suction channels 8.1 or 8.2 being alternately connected to the suction source. 20 to 22 show the case in which the loading chamber 6 is connected through the molding holes 3 to the suction grooves 8 provided in the discharge slide 1 '. The result of this is that each mold yard 3, during its filling in the direction of the loading movement of the product object, that is to say from top to bottom, is traversed by the suction air flow and the product object 2 is thereby drawn in particularly effectively from the loading chamber 6 into the molding yard 3.

Claims (11)

1. A charging apparatus on packaging machines for small pharmaceutical product items (2) such as tablets, pills, capsules, oblong products or the like, comprising a filling shoe (1) for feeding the product items into shaped recesses (3) in a product receiving means (5), which is moved past beneath the filling shoe (1) relative thereto, such as a shaped foil or a format plate, with a discharge slider (1') arranged between the format plate and the shaped foil, wherein the filling shoe (1) forms at least one charging chamber (6) which has a mouth open towards the product receiving means (5) and the shaped recesses (3) thereof and in which terminates a product passage (7) which feeds the product items (2) in successive order in a row, characterised in that the charging chamber (6) is connected by way of at least one suction groove (8) which is open towards the product receiving means (5), to at least one suction passage (8.1, 8.2) which communicates with a source of reduced pressure (suction pump for vacuum).

2. A charging apparatus according to claim 1 characterised in that a solids separator means is provided in the path of the suction air flow.

3. A charging apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterised in that there are provided suction channels (13) which extend in the wall of the product passage (7) and which terminate in the charging chamber (6).

4. A charging apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 3 characterised in that, with a filling shoe (1) having a charging chamber (6) in which the product passage (7) terminates, in an inclined position, in a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement (arrow 4) of the product receiving means (5), the suction groove (8) is provided on the side of the charging chamber (6) in the acute mouth angle (8') of the product passage (7).

5. A charging apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 4 characterised in that the side of the charging chamber (6) which is the front side in the direction of movement (arrow 4) of the product receiving means (5) is formed by a guide ramp (9) for the product items (2), which extends inclinedly in said direction towards the product receiving means (5), and that the suction groove or grooves (8) extends or extend along the guide ramp (9).

6. A charging apparatus according to claim 5 characterised in that, with only one suction groove (8), same extends centrally with respect to the charging chamber (6) in the ramp surface of the guide ramp (9).

7. A charging apparatus according to claim 5 characterised in that, with two suction grooves (8), they extend on both sides of the ramp surface of the guide ramp (9).

8. A charging apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 7 characterised in that the charging chamber (6) is such that it completely accomodates the product item (2) in the orientation corresponding to its subsequent position in the shaped recess (3).

9. A charging apparatus according to claim 8 characterised in that, for oblong products, the longitudinal axis of the charging chamber (6) and the shaped recesses (3) is disposed transversely with respect to the direction of movement (arrow 4) of the product receiving means (5) and the product passage (7) opens in the charging chamber (6) substantially in the longitudinal direction thereof and that the wall (12) of the charging chamber (6), which is in opposite relationship to said mouth (11), is inclined obliquely towards the product receiving means (5).

10. A charging apparatus according to claims 4 and 5 characterised in that between the mouth (11) of the product passage (7) and the beginning of the guide ramp (9) the charging chamber (6) has a chamber portion (14) with a passage cross- section which corresponds to the projection, as viewed in the direction of movement (arrow 4) of the product receiving means (5), of the part of the product item (2) which projects out of the shaped recess (3) into the charging chamber (6), in the orientation thereof which is still determined by the inclination of the product passage (7).

11. A charging apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 10 characterised in that, when the product receiving means (5) is in the form of a format plate, the charging chamber (6) is connected through the shaped recess (3) to the suction passage (8.1) which is provided in the discharge slider (1').

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