EP2886099B1 - Filling punch station and method for filling capsules in a filling punch station - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a stuffing stamp station for filling capsules with filling material in a capsule filling machine, comprising a rotationally drivable metering disc comprising at least one group of bores, a filling device for filling the bores with the filling material, at least one group of stuffing punches and a group of ejection punches, the stuffing punches and the ejection punches being held on a vertically displaceable punch carrier, wherein the stuffing punches for pressing the filling material into the bores and the ejection punches for ejecting compacts produced in the bores by the stuffing punches can enter into the bores by vertical movement of the stamp carrier. The invention also relates to a method for filling capsules with filler material in a stuffing die station of a capsule filling machine.

Such stuffing stamp stations are used in capsule filling machines, which are designed as so-called rotary machines. They have distributed around the circumference of various process stations, in particular a feed station and separation station for separating the capsule halves, one or more metering stations, a closing station for closing the capsule halves, one or more ejection stations and optionally one or more empty stations. As metering stations, for example, stuffing stamp stations are used, which are suitable for metering filler material and transferring it into capsules.

The holes of Stopfstempelstationen are adapted in diameter and distance from one another to the capsules held in a capsule holder of the capsule filling machine to be filled capsules. The stuffing stamp station further comprises, for example, 5 groups of stuff stamps and a group of Emissions temples. At five of the groups of stuffing dies are gradually produced from filling material pellets in the holes. The group of ejection punches ejects the pellets from the holes and transfers the pellets into the capsule bases held in the capsule holders.

The dosing disc is usually cyclically driven via a stepping gear, so that the individual groups of holes successively approach the groups of stuffing dies and the group of ejection punches. Each cycle is divided into a rest and switching time. The rest time is the downtime in which the dosing is and formed or ejected into the pellets. The switching time is the movement time of the metering disc in which the metering disc rotates about its axis and each group of bores continues to pace to the next group of punches. The relationship between shift and rest time is determined in the course of the design of the rubble transmission and is then no longer changeable.

In addition, such Stopfstempelstationen have a lifting device which carries the Stopfstempel and the ejection punch and vertically moves up and down in accordance with the clocked movement of the dosing. The lifting device is usually driven by a mechanical curve, the stroke length is set once when designing the stuffing die station and also is no longer adjustable. Due to different mounting heights of the groups of stuffing dies on the lifting device, the compacts are built up step by step. In order to ensure a synchronism between the rotation of the dosing and the movement of the lifting device, the two drive trains are mechanically coupled and are driven by a common drive. While the dosing disk is in its switching time and, for example, rotates 60 ° further with six groups of holes, the stuffing dies already begin their vertical downward movement. you reach the holes of the dosing and possibly a powder bed of filler only when the dosing has already reached its position for the resting time. After the pressing process, the punches return to their original position, with the metering disc already beginning to turn further before the punches have reached their uppermost position.

Due to the use of debris gearboxes for the dosing disc, the ratio between locking and switching times is rigid. Must be extended for production reasons, the rest time, for example, by the need for a longer filling time due to poorly flowing filler, or the switching time must be extended, for example, because otherwise forms on the metering no uniform bed of filler, the other time is also automatically extended , This unnecessarily prolongs the total cycle time of latching and rotating the metering disc unnecessarily.

Due to the coupling of the drive trains for the rotation of the dosing and the lifting movement of the punch beyond the movement of the dosing and the punch are dependent on each other. If one of these movements has to be slowed down, the other movement is automatically slowed down as well. For example, it may be necessary for the stuffing punches to dip more slowly into the powder bed and holes. The mechanical curves provided in addition provide a fixed stroke of the stuffing dies. Only by changing the mounting height of the stuffing die or the pressing force can be acted on the compact height and thus the density and mass of the produced compacts. This is realized in the prior art by a separately adjustable mounting height of the stuffing die or by variable spring characteristics (pneumatic or mechanical). For this purpose, individual drives are provided in the prior art partially. This is disadvantageous and structurally complex.

Another stuffing stamp station is known DE 10 2006 014 496 A1 , The stamps are held on a support, which is driven by columns. The columns are connected via a crank drive with a common servo drive, so that the columns are to move synchronously. A disadvantage is the required for driving the columns considerable design effort. Adjustments to the drive are difficult. In addition, the entire pressing forces must be transmitted by a single servo drive.

Out EP 1 135 294 A1 a capsule filling machine with a stuffing stamp station is known in which the vertical starting position of the stamp can be changed to dose different amounts of pressing. Out DE 10 2012 010 767 A1 a press for producing a compact of powdery material is known in which at least one drive unit comprises a spindle drive.

Based on the explained prior art, the present invention seeks to provide a stuffing stamp station and a method of the type mentioned above, with which in a structurally simple manner moldings of high quality can be produced. The method is intended to achieve a high degree of flexibility, even in trial pressings in galenics.

The invention achieves the object by the subject matters of claims 1 and 13. Advantageous embodiments can be found in the dependent claims, the description and the figures.

For a stuffing stamp station of the type mentioned above, the invention achieves the object by providing first drive means for incrementally rotating the metering disk along the at least one group of stuffing dies and the group of ejection punches and second drive means for vertically moving the stamp carrier, the second drive means being at least two acting on the punch carrier spindle drives each having a spindle nut and each one guided in the spindle nut vertical drive spindle, and wherein the second drive means comprise at least two drive motors, each driving one of the spindle drives for vertical movement of the punch carrier.

The rotating driven dosing disc can have several groups of holes, which are guided by rotating the dosing disc successively along the groups of stuffing dies and ejection punches. It can also be provided several groups of stuffing punches, which are passed through by the holes in succession. For example, there may be five sets of stuffing dies and a group of ejection stamps. In this case, for example, six groups of holes can be distributed along the circumference of the dosing. The holes are in relation to each other in terms of their diameter and their arrangement, in particular their distance from one another, adapted to the capsules to be filled in a capsule filling machine equipped with the stuffing die station and located in a capsule holder. The stuffing punches each move by vertical movement in the appropriately aligned holes and compress in the holes located example, powdery filler to compacts. The holes are filled mainly by gravity with the filler. In addition, the stuffing punches may promote in the course of their downward movement filler in the holes, which is for example on the dosing. The stoppers then solidify this filler in the holes. In particular, when several groups of stuffing punches are provided, which are successively approached by the holes successively, the compacts are generated in stages. The groups of stuffing dies can be arranged at different heights on the carrier or the stuffing punches of different groups can have a different length. The diameter of the holes and the height of the metering disc give the size of the pellets produced and thus the amount of filler to be metered. From the ejection stamps, the compacts are ejected from the holes and passed into the capsule lower parts usually arranged with their capsule holder below the holes. The holes are at their bottom closed when the stuffing dies retract into the holes and open at the bottom when the ejector punches into the holes. The closing of the holes in the region of the stuffing dies can be done for example by a stuffing disc. It forms an abutment for the stuffing dies for pressing the filling material into compacts. The metering disk is cyclically rotated in the course of production and transfer of the compacts, where they alternately downtime (stop times) and travel times (switching times) passes.

In the stuffing die station according to the invention, separate drive means are provided for the stepwise rotation of the metering disk on the one hand and for the vertical movement of the stamp carrier on the other hand. The punch carrier vertically traversing second drive means have at least two spindle drives with vertical drive spindles, which are guided with an external thread formed at least over a portion of its length in an internal thread of a spindle nut. Furthermore, the second drive means have at least two drive motors, one of which drives one of the spindle drives, in particular the spindle nuts or the drive spindles in rotation. As a result, the drive spindles or the spindle nuts are moved in vertical direction and thus move the punch carrier and with him the stuffing punches and ejector in the vertical direction up and down.

The drive lines for the metering on the one hand and the stuffing die or ejection punch on the other hand are therefore separated. In addition, by selecting a suitable drive for the first drive means, it is possible to variably set the ratio between standstill times and movement times of the metering disk, that is to say the latching time and the switching time. For this purpose, a suitable control device can be provided. This also makes it possible to variably set the rotational speed of the metering disk, the rotational travel and the direction of rotation. In addition, due to the separate second Drive means for the punch carrier of the stroke and the stroke speed of the punch carrier and thus the stuffing and ejection punch can be variably adjusted. This can also be done by the controller. The inventively provided spindle drives are characterized by a low design effort and can be precisely controlled synchronously. The provision of two spindle drives for the punch carrier is therefore no problem in terms of synchronicity. In addition, such spindle drives can transmit very high pressing forces.

As already mentioned, it is possible by a variable adjustment of the stroke length of the stuffing die to change the pressing force of the stuffing die, without having to provide separate adjustment options, for example, separate drives. In this case, all groups of stuffing dies are set in the same way, resulting in consistently homogeneous compacts. Due to the separately formed second drive means and variable pressing force curves can be adjusted. While in the prior art, the immersion speed and the duration of the maximum pressing force is set mechanically invariable over a corresponding curve, different pressing force profiles can be realized by the control device. This can be used, for example, for a suitable extension of the pressure holding time without undesirably influencing the switching time of the metering disk. This results in a larger processing window for different products.

• mittels der ersten Antriebsmittel wird die Dosierscheibe in eine Drehposition gedreht, in der die Gruppe von Bohrungen mit einer Gruppe von Stopfstempeln ausgerichtet ist,
• mittels der zweiten Antriebsmittel werden die Stopfstempel zum Verpressen von in die Bohrungen gefülltem Füllmaterial zu Presslingen in die Bohrungen eingefahren, wobei die Stopfstempel für eine Druckhaltezeit in den Bohrungen gehalten werden und anschließend aus den Bohrungen herausgefahren werden,
• mittels der ersten Antriebsmittel wird die Dosierscheibe in eine Drehposition gedreht, in der die Gruppe von Bohrungen mit der Gruppe von Ausstoßstempeln ausgerichtet ist,
• die Ausstoßstempel werden zum Ausstoßen von durch die Stopfstempel in den Bohrungen erzeugten Presslingen in die Bohrungen eingefahren,
• wobei durch variables Ansteuern der ersten Antriebsmittel und/oder der zweiten Antriebsmittel die Druckhaltezeit der Stopfstempel zwischen unterschiedlichen Füllprozessen variiert wird.

Accordingly, the invention also relates to a method for filling capsules with filling material in a stuffing die station of a capsule filling machine, wherein the stuffing die station comprises a rotationally drivable metering disc with at least one group of bores, furthermore a filling device for filling the bores with the filling material, at least one group of stuffing dies and a group of ejection stamps, with the stuffing dies and the ejection stamps vertically movable, and wherein the stuffing die station comprises first drive means for incrementally rotating the metering disk along the at least one group of stuffing dies and the group of ejection punches and second drive means for vertically moving at least the at least one group of stuffing dies, the method being characterized by the following method steps is:

• by means of the first drive means, the metering disk is rotated to a rotational position, in which the group of bores is aligned with a group of stuffing dies,
• by means of the second drive means, the stuffing dies are pressed into the bores for pressing filling material filled into the bores into pellets, the stuffing punches being held in the bores for a pressure-keeping time and subsequently being driven out of the bores,
• the metering disk is rotated by means of the first drive means into a rotational position in which the group of bores is aligned with the group of ejection punches,
• the ejection punches are inserted into the bores for the ejection of compacts produced in the bores by the stuffing punches,
• wherein by variable driving of the first drive means and / or the second drive means, the pressure holding time of the stuffing die is varied between different filling processes.

The stuffing punches, preferably the stuffing punches and the ejection punches, can be held on a vertically movable punch carrier, which is moved vertically by the second drive means. The pressure holding time of the stuffing dies in the bores is defined as the time in which the maximum pressing force is exerted by the stuffing dies during a pressing process. This pressure-holding time can be set specifically by a suitable control of the first and / or second drive means. For example, the stuffing punches by the second drive means retracted faster in the holes and / or extended out of the holes and thus the pressure holding time can be extended without changing the cycle times of the metering. It is also possible to change the pressure holding time by changing the cycle times of the metering disk while keeping the stuffing die constant. In this way, by the separate first and second drive means, the pressure holding time at a change of the filling process, such as a change of the filling material to be pressed, changed and thus adapted individually to the respective process conditions. The quality of the pellets produced in the stuffing stamp station can thereby be increased.

Due to the separate first and second drive means, it is also possible to empty the stuffing stamp station after the end of production in a simple manner. For this purpose, the lifting movement of the punch carrier can be deactivated and the dosing can be driven, for example, to permanent rotation, so that even in the stuffing stamp station befindliches example pulverulent filler can be removed and collected. Moreover, it is possible for the stuffing stamp station to have path measuring and / or press force sensors with which the path traveled by the carrier or the stuffing and / or ejection punches in the course of the production of the compacts and / or those occurring during the production of the compacts Press forces are measured. The measurement results can be given to the control device and this can perform a suitable control on predetermined path lengths and / or pressing forces. For example, certain pressing forces can be specified, which in turn defines the mass and density of the produced compacts.

The punch carrier can be according to a particularly practical embodiment, a support plate or support bridge, with the provision of two spindle drives the spindle drives, in particular the drive spindles or the spindle nuts, are fastened to opposite ends of the carrier plate or carrier bridge. As a result, a particularly uniform force generation is achieved.

The spindle drives may each comprise a fixed to the punch carrier vertical drive spindle, wherein the drive spindles are each guided in a rotatably and axially fixed spindle nut, wherein the at least two drive motors each one of the spindle nuts for vertical movement of the die carrier rotatably drive. In this case, the drive spindles and with them the punch carrier are moved vertically by the rotation of the axially fixed spindle nuts.

According to an alternative embodiment, the spindle drives may each comprise a rotatably and axially fixedly mounted vertical drive spindle, wherein the drive spindles are each rotatably guided in a spindle nut secured to the punch carrier, wherein the at least two drive motors each rotationally drive one of the drive spindles for vertical movement of the die carrier. In this case, the spindle nuts and thus the punch carrier are moved vertically by the rotation of the axially fixed drive spindles.

The drive motors of the second drive means may be electric motors. The axially fixed spindle nuts or drive spindles can then be respectively attached to the rotors of the drive motors of the second drive means and rotated with them. It may in particular be direct drives. As electric motors are preferably servomotors or torque motors in question. These are particularly good and flexibly controllable.

According to a further embodiment, the axially fixed spindle nuts or drive spindles each in a blind hole of Drive motors can be arranged. For example, if the spindle nuts are axially fixed in the blind hole, the drive spindles can move axially limited by the end of the blind hole in this, so that an increased stroke length for the stuffing and ejection punch are available. To further increase the stroke length can be provided that the drive motors of the second drive means are each hollow shaft motors, the axially fixed spindle nuts are respectively arranged in the hollow shafts of the drive motors. In particular, the rotors of the drive motors can be designed as hollow shaft rotors. In this embodiment, a substantially unlimited stroke length for the stuffing and discharge punches is possible, in particular by the drive spindles moving axially in the hollow shaft.

The first drive means may comprise a servomotor. Furthermore, the first drive means may be a direct drive, for example a torque motor. By such drives a flexible method of metering is particularly easy to control.

The filling device can be formed by a filling trough which at least partially covers the metering disk and in which the filling material to be filled into the bores is located. The dosing disc rotates under this filling trough. In particular, it covers the metering disk in such a way that the holes, as they are rotated, pass under the filling trough before they reach each group of tamping punches and are still below the filling trough, in particular in the region of each group of tamping tampers. The stuffing punches then pass through the filling material located in the filling trough into the bores, thereby conveying by gravity not fallen filler material into the bores and then pressing the filling material into the bores.

As already mentioned, the dosing disc can comprise at least two groups of bores. Furthermore, the metering disk can comprise n groups of bores, where n is a natural number greater than 2. On the punch carrier then n-1 groups of stuffing dies are held. For example, six sets of holes and correspondingly five sets of stuffing dies and one group of ejection punches may be provided.

The invention also relates to a capsule filling machine for filling capsules composed of a capsule upper part and a capsule lower part, comprising a delivery wheel, on the circumference of which a plurality of capsule holders are provided, each having a group of capsule receptacles for each capsule, further comprising a conveyor wheel drive in that the conveyor wheel can be cyclically rotated, so that the capsule holders move cyclically along a conveyor track, and comprising a plurality of process stations arranged along the conveyor track, the process stations having at least one feed station for feeding capsules to be filled into the capsule receptacles, at least one opening station for Opening the capsules to be filled by separating the capsule tops from the capsule bases, at least one stuffing die station according to any one of the preceding claims, at least one closing station for closing the filled capsule ln by connecting the capsule tops to the capsule bottoms, and at least one ejection station to eject the filled capsules. One or more process stations can be integrated into a common process station.

In the method according to the invention, the stuffing punches can not in the course of retraction into the holes yet conveyed by gravity into the holes filling material into the holes, so that the dosing between the individual pressing operations does not necessarily have to be rotated. Depending on the flow characteristics of the respective material, however, it may be necessary to turn the metering disc between two pressing operations (for example by 360 °), so that the powder bed is again uniformly closed. Accordingly, it can be provided that the dosing is rotated after each pressing operation and before the next pressing operation by means of the first drive means in a first direction of rotation and / or in a second direction of rotation until it again assumes the rotational position in which the holes are aligned with the stuffing dies. The rotation of the metering in the aligned to the stuffing dies or discharge temples position of the holes and the subsequent further rotation and the vertical method of stuffing punches or ejection punches can be offset in time or at least partially parallel to each other, as basically explained above.

In particular, if at least two groups of bores are provided in the metering disk, the method of the ejection punches can take place in the bores and out of the holes through the second drive means, ie together with the tamping dies. As mentioned, in the method according to the invention, however, in particular a metering disk can be used which has only one group of holes. In this case, the method of ejection punches in the bores and out of the bores by third drive means, by means of which the ejection punches are movable independently of the stuffing dies.

In particular, if only one group of holes is provided, the provision of separate drive means for the ejection punches is required so that they do not move together with the stuffing dies against the closed metering disk during the production of compacts in the holes by the stuffing dies. It is therefore possible in particular by the separate third drive means that the ejection punch does not move with these in a vertical retraction of the stuffing die in the holes. In providing separate third drive means for the ejection punch also the stroke of the ejection punch is not affected in an advantageous manner by the stroke of the stuffing die.

The inventive method can be carried out with a stuffing die station according to the invention or a capsule filling machine according to the invention. It is possible in the method according to the invention that the stuffing punches and the ejection punches are not arranged on a punch carrier. When using the stuffing die station according to the invention with only one group of holes, the third drive means for the separate method can be arranged on the punch carrier so that the ejection punches can be moved separately from the stuffing punches despite the common arrangement on the punch carrier.

Fig. 1

eine erfindungsgemäße Stopfstempelstation in einer ersten Schnittansicht,

Fig. 2

die Stopfstempelstation aus Fig. 1 in einer zweiten Schnittansicht,

Fig. 3

die Stopfstempelstation aus Fig. 1 in einem zweiten Betriebszustand, und

Fig. 4

die Stopfstempelstation aus Fig. 1 in einem dritten Betriebszustand.

Embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to figures. They show schematically:

Fig. 1

a stuffing die station according to the invention in a first sectional view,

Fig. 2

the stuffing stamp station off Fig. 1 in a second sectional view,

Fig. 3

the stuffing stamp station off Fig. 1 in a second operating state, and

Fig. 4

the stuffing stamp station off Fig. 1 in a third operating state.

Unless otherwise indicated, like reference characters designate like items throughout the figures. The stuffing die station shown in the figures is provided as part of a capsule filling machine for filling, for example, hard gelatin capsules with, for example, powdered filling material. The capsules usually consist of a capsule shell and a capsule base. The capsule filling machine comprises a delivery wheel, on whose circumference a plurality of capsule holders is provided, each having a group of capsule receptacles, in each of which a capsule or a capsule lower part is held. Furthermore, the capsule filling machine comprises a conveyor wheel drive with which the conveyor wheel can be cyclically rotated, so that the capsule holders move cyclically along a conveyor track. In addition, the capsule filling machine comprises a plurality of process stations arranged along the conveyor track, including at least one feed station for feeding capsules to be filled into the capsule receptacles, at least one opening station for opening the capsules to be filled by separating the capsule tops from the capsule bases shown in FIGS at least one closing station for closing the filled capsules by connecting the capsule tops with the capsule bottoms and at least one ejection station for ejecting the filled capsules.

The stuffing die station shown in the figures has a metering disk 10 which has a plurality of groups of bores 12 distributed uniformly along its circumference. Via a flange 14, a drive shaft 16 is connected to the metering disk 10, which can be driven in rotation by a first drive motor 18, for example a servomotor or torque motor, about the axis of rotation 20. With the drive shaft 16, the metering disk 10 is also rotated. On a non-rotating with the dosing disc holding plate 22, a base 24 is arranged, which carries a stuffing disc 26. The stopper plate 26 closes the holes 12 in Area of Stopfstempeln 28 down and forms an abutment for the stuffing ram 28. The stuffing punches 28 are secured by springs 30 to a plate or bridge-shaped punch carrier 32. At opposite ends of the punch carrier 32, drive spindles 34 are mounted in the example shown. The drive spindles 34 are received in axially displaceable manner in guides 36 and are in engagement with spindle nuts 38 with an external thread. In the example shown, the spindle nuts 38 are fixed axially to the rotor of a hollow shaft motor 40 designed as a hollow shaft and to the rotor of the hollow shaft motor 40 rotatable. As in Fig. 1 Recognizable extending the drive spindles 34 through the support plate 22 into the hollow shafts of the hollow shaft motors 40. By turning the spindle nuts 38, the drive spindles 34 and with them the punch carrier 32 with the stuffing dies 28 and below to be explained ejection punch in the vertical direction. For example, five groups of stuffing punches 28 may be provided. For example, six groups of bores 12 can then be formed in the metering disk 10. In the reference numeral 42, a filling trough is also shown, which is filled with the filling material to be filled into the bores.

In Fig. 2 It can be seen that on the punch carrier 32 beyond a group of Ausstoßstempeln 44 is held. As in Fig. 2 To recognize the stuffing disc 26 does not cover the bottom of the holes 12 in the region of the ejection punch 44, so that the holes 12 are open here down. The reference numeral 46 also shows a stripping device for stripping filling material from the upper side of the metering disk 10 in the region of the ejection punches 44.

In operation, the metering disk 10 is rotated stepwise via the drive motor 18, wherein the groups of bores 12 each with a group of Stopfstempeln 28 and the group of Ausstoßstempeln 44th be aligned. About the hollow shaft motors 40 while the spindle nuts are rotated and thereby the drive spindles 34 and thus the punch carrier 32 with the stuffing dies 28 and the Ausstoßstempeln 44 in the vertical direction such that the stuffing die 28 in the holes 12 successive compacts from the located in the filling trough 42 form powdery filler. The holes 12 which are aligned with the Ausstoßstempeln 44 are open as mentioned on its underside. As a result, the ejection punches 44 can eject the pellets produced in the bores 12 downwardly into capsule bases oriented in capsule holders of the capsule filling machine. The method of stuffing punches 28 down and into the holes 12 is in the 3 and 4 illustrated.

In addition, a control device not shown in the figures is provided which controls the drive motor 18 on the one hand and the hollow shaft motors 40 on the other hand coordinated in a suitable manner to each other. Due to the separation of the drive means for the metering disc 10 on the one hand and the punch carrier 32 with the stuffing dies 28 and the discharge punches 44 on the other hand, it is possible to variably set the switching and rest periods. It is also possible to change the stroke length of the stamp carrier 32 and thus the stuffing punch 28 and the ejection punch 44. In addition, suitable sensors can be provided with which, for example, the pressing force in the region of the stuffing punches 28 is measured. The measurement results can be supplied to the control device and the control device can execute suitable control circuits in order to comply with predetermined pressing forces.

Although a stuffing stamp station is shown in the figures with several groups of stuffing dies 28, a configuration is also possible in which only one group of stuffing dies 28 and one group of discharge punches 44 are provided. It is then possible that the metering disc 10 so by the Drive motor 18 is rotated, that the possibly only formed in the metering disk 10 group of holes 12 in alignment with the stuffing dies 28. The stuffing punches 28 can then driven by the hollow shaft motors 40 several times in succession vertically into the bores 12 and drive out again, so that in successive pressing a compact in each hole 12 is generated. Subsequently, the metering disk 10 can be further rotated such that the group of bores 12 is aligned with the group of ejection dies 44 and the ejection punches 44 can eject the pellets produced in the bores 12 into capsule sub-parts as explained above. In this case, not shown third drive means are provided, with which the ejection punches are movable independently of the stuffing dies. This procedure is particularly suitable in the field of galenics. Particularly compact laboratory stoppers can be used.

Claims (16)

1. A tamping punch station for filling capsules with filling material in a capsule filling machine, comprising a rotatably drivable dosing disc (10), which comprises at least one group of bores (12), a filling device for filling the bores (12) with the filling material, at least one group of tamping punches (28) and a group of ejection punches (44), wherein the tamping punches (28) and the ejection punches (44) are held on a vertically movable punch support (32), wherein the tamping punches (28) for pressing the filling material into the bores (12) and the ejection punches (44) for ejecting pellets created by the tamping punches (28) in the bores (12) can move into the bores (12) through vertical movement of the punch support (32), characterised in that first drive devices for incremental rotation of the dosing disc (10) along the at least one group of tamping punches (28) and the group of ejection punches (44), and second drive devices for vertically moving the punch support (32) for entrance of the tamping punches (28) and the ejection punches (44) into the bores (12) are provided, wherein the drive trains for rotating the dosing disc (10) on the one hand, and those for vertical movement of the punch support (32) on the other hand are separated, wherein the second drive devices comprise at least two spindle drives acting on the punch support (32), each with one spindle nut (38) and one vertical drive spindle (34) guided in the spindle nut (38), and wherein the second drive means comprise at least two driving motors (18) from which each one drives one of the spindle drives at a time for vertical movement of the punch support (32).
2. The tamping punch station according to claim 1, characterised in that the punch support (32) is a support plate or a support bridge, the spindle drives being fastened on opposing sides of the support plate or support bridge.
3. A tamping punch station according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that each of the spindle drives comprises one vertical drive spindle (34) at a time, fastened on the punch support (32), wherein each of the drive spindles (34) is guided in a rotationally and axially fixedly mounted spindle nut (38) and wherein each of the at least two driving motors (18) rotationally drives one of the spindle nuts (38) for vertical movement of the punch support (32).
4. A tamping punch station according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that each of the spindle drives comprises a rotatable and axially fixedly mounted vertical drive spindle (34), wherein each one of the drive spindles (34) is rotationally guided in a spindle nut (38) which is fixed on the punch support (32) and wherein each of the at least two driving motors (18) rotationally drives one of the drive spindles (38) for vertical movement of the punch support (32).
5. A tamping punch station according to any one of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the driving motors (18) of the second driving devices are electric motors.
6. A tamping punch station according to any one of the claims 3 to 5, characterised in that the spindle nuts (38) or the drive spindles (34) are each at a time arranged in a blind hole of the driving motors (18).
7. A tamping punch station according to any one of the claims 3 to 5, characterised in that the driving motors (18) of the second drive devices are each hollow shaft motors (40), wherein each one of the spindle nuts (38) is arranged in the hollow shafts of the driving motors (18).
8. A tamping punch station according to any one of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the first drive devices comprise a semomotor.
9. A tamping punch station according to any one of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the first drive devices comprise a direct drive, a torque-motor in particular.
10. A tamping punch station according to any one of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the dosing disc (10) comprises at least two groups of bores (12).
11. A tamping punch station according to any one of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the dosing disc (10) comprises n groups of bores (12), wherein n is >2 and wherein n-1 groups of tamping punches (28) are held on the punch support (32).
12. A capsule filling machine for filling capsules composed of a capsule top part and a capsule bottom part, comprising a a conveyor wheel, on the perimeter of which a plurality of capsule holders is provided, each of which has a group of capsule receivers for one capsule at a time, further comprising a conveyor wheel drive, by which the conveyor wheel can be rotated incrementally so that the capsule holders move incrementally along a conveyor track, and comprising a plurality of process stations arranged along the conveyor track, wherein the process stations comprise at least one feeding station for feeding capsules to be filled into the capsule receivers, at least one opening station for opening the capsules to be filled by separating the capsule top parts from the capsule bottom parts, at least one tamping punch station according to any one of the preceding claims, at least one closing station for closing the filled capsules by connecting the capsule top parts with the capsule bottom parts, and at least one ejection station for ejecting the filled capsules.
13. A method for filling capsules with filling material in a tamping punch station of a capsule filling machine, wherein the tamping punch station comprises a rotatably drivable dosing disc (10) with at least one group of bores (12), furthermore a filling device for filling the bores (12) with the filling material, at least one group of tamping punches (28) and a group of ejection punches (44), wherein the tamping punches (28) and the ejection punches (44) can be moved vertically and wherein the tamping punch station comprises first drive devices for incremental rotation of the dosing disc (10) along the at least one group of tamping punches (28) and the group of ejection punches (44), and second drive devices for vertically moving at least the at least one group of tamping punches (28), wherein the drive trains for rotating the dosing disc (10) on the one hand, and those for vertical movement at least of the at least one group of tamping punches (28) on the other hand are separated, characterised by the following procedural steps:

    • by means of the first drive devices, the dosing disc (10) is rotated into a rotational position in which the group of bores (12) is aligned to a group of tamping punches (28),

    • by means of the second drive devices, the tamping punches (28) are moved into the bores (12) for pressing filling material filled into the bores (12) to pellets, wherein the tamping punches (28) are held in the bores (12) for a pressure dwell time and are subsequently drawn out of the bores (12),

    • by means of the first drive devices, the dosing disc (10) is rotated into a rotational position in which the group of bores (12) is aligned to the group of ejection punches (44),

    • the ejection punches (44) are moved into the bores (12) for ejecting pellets created by the tamping punches (28) in the bores (12),

    • wherein the pressure dwell time of the tamping punches (28) is varied between different filling procedures by variable control of the first drive devices and/or the second drive devices.
14. The method according to claim 13, characterised in that the movement of the ejection punches (44) into the bores (12) and out of the bores (12) takes place by the second drive devices, or that the movement of the ejection punches (44) into the bores (12) and out of the bores (12) takes place by third drive devices, by means of which the ejection punches (44) can be moved independently from the tamping punches (28).
15. A method according to one of claims 13 or 14, characterised in that the tamping punches (28), preferably the tamping punches (28) and the ejection punches (44), are held on a vertically movable punch support (32), which is vertically moved by the second drive devices.
16. A method according to any one of claims 13 to 15, characterised in that it is performed by a tamping punch station according to any one of the claims 1 to 11, or by a capsule filling machine according to claim 12.

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