EP4151197A1 - Machine de remplissage pour remplir des capsules en deux parties - Google Patents

Machine de remplissage pour remplir des capsules en deux parties Download PDF

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Publication number
EP4151197A1
EP4151197A1 EP21197557.8A EP21197557A EP4151197A1 EP 4151197 A1 EP4151197 A1 EP 4151197A1 EP 21197557 A EP21197557 A EP 21197557A EP 4151197 A1 EP4151197 A1 EP 4151197A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
capsule
drive unit
closing
filling machine
closing element
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
EP21197557.8A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Steffen Gall
Jonathan Cocks
Reiner Wurst
Florian Huhnen
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Harro Hofliger Verpackungsmaschinen GmbH
Original Assignee
Harro Hofliger Verpackungsmaschinen GmbH
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Harro Hofliger Verpackungsmaschinen GmbH filed Critical Harro Hofliger Verpackungsmaschinen GmbH
Priority to EP21197557.8A priority Critical patent/EP4151197A1/fr
Publication of EP4151197A1 publication Critical patent/EP4151197A1/fr
Pending legal-status Critical Current

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    • 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

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a capsule filling machine for filling two-part capsules.
  • capsules are used to administer dosed quantities of a powdery, granular or liquid preparation.
  • the capsules are made of hard gelatin or the like, and upon swallowing they dissolve, releasing their contents as a result.
  • empty capsules are first fed into clocked capsule filling machines, which are positioned upright in capsule holders and then opened.
  • the lower parts of the capsule which are open at the top, are filled with the intended preparation in a dosed quantity.
  • the previously removed capsule tops are placed on the filled capsule bottoms in a closing station.
  • the fully filled capsules produced in this way are finally removed from their capsule holders in an ejection station and then sent for further processing, in particular for packaging.
  • Capsule filling machines which are designed as rotary machines with a turntable. Capsule filling machines of this type have a drive unit which drives the turntable, as a result of which the capsules are conveyed from station to station. Said stations are fixed and distributed at equal angular intervals around the turntable.
  • the handling, especially the opening and Closing capsules requires precise coordination of the individual machine elements with each other. Otherwise damage to the capsules and their sorting out can result. Therefore, in known rotary machines, the closing device is mechanically coupled to the turntable, for example by a connecting link, whereby the closing device is also driven by the drive unit of the turntable. Depending on the angle of rotation of the turntable, the slide elements of the closing device bring the upper and lower parts of the capsule together and close them. The mechanical coupling between the turntable and the closing device ensures precise interaction between the two units.
  • a disadvantage of such capsule filling machines is the complex set-up work that is necessary for adjustments such as the stroke of the slide elements or the like. If a new batch of capsules is to be produced, it may even be necessary to change the slide elements due to different capsule sizes. This circumstance is time consuming and costly.
  • the invention is based on the object of further developing a generic capsule filling machine in such a way that flexible production is made possible with quick changeover times at the same time.
  • the capsule filling machine for filling two-part capsules, each with an upper capsule part and a lower capsule part, comprises a main drive unit for operating the capsule filling machine and a closing device for closing the upper capsule part and lower capsule part.
  • the capsule filling machine comprises a capsule cap receptacle for the capsule cap and a capsule base receptacle for the capsule base.
  • the closing device comprises at least one first closing element for exerting an insertion force acting on the capsule and at least one second closing element for exerting a counteracting force that counteracts the insertion force.
  • the locking device includes an auxiliary drive unit that is configured separately from the main drive unit, the at least one first closing element being driven by the auxiliary drive unit.
  • the first locking element of the locking device is not driven via the main drive unit, but via an auxiliary drive unit which is designed separately from this.
  • the first closing element is therefore not kinematically positively coupled to the main drive unit, in particular to the rotary table of the capsule filling machine.
  • the kinematics of the first closing element can easily be individually adapted to the production conditions. In this way, fluctuations in production can be compensated for without having to mechanically readjust the first closing element.
  • the path length of the first closing element can be adjusted. It is not necessary to exchange the first closing element for a closing element with a different geometry.
  • the speed of the first closing element can also be adapted to the filling material of the capsules.
  • the closing speed of the first closing element can be reduced in order to prevent the filling material from spilling.
  • dust accumulation in the machine can be reduced in the same way.
  • Another application is the calibration of the AMV sensors of the filling stations, which are not shown.
  • the empty capsules are weighed on a weighing device of the capsule filling machine, then filled and weighed again.
  • the measured tare weight of the bare capsule is subtracted from the gross weight of a capsule with filling material, so that the net weight of the filling material is determined. This net weight is compared with the measured values of the MV sensors and then the MV sensors are calibrated.
  • the capsule to be weighed is first fed via the insertion station to a capsule segment of the capsule filling machine.
  • the capsule is in a pre-closed position - hereinafter referred to as pre-close.
  • the capsule can be mechanically separated into its two halves.
  • the capsule is filled, it is completely closed - hereinafter referred to as full closure.
  • the full closure the lower part of the capsule is pushed deeper into the upper part of the capsule than in the pre-closure.
  • the capsule is not filled after the separation process, but closed again empty to determine the tare weight of the capsule on the weighing device.
  • the capsule filling machine makes it easy to adjust the setting of the closing path of the first closing element, as a result of which the capsule can be pre-closed to determine the tare weight and fully closed to determine the gross weight. This calibration of the AMV sensors can thus be carried out fully automatically, without having to mechanically adjust the path of the closing elements or even have to exchange closing elements.
  • the at least one first closing element is preferably assigned to the capsule bottom part receptacle and the at least one second closing element is assigned to the capsule top part receptacle.
  • the capsule base receptacle is provided to hold the capsule base. Accordingly, when the capsule is closed, the first closing element acts on the lower part of the capsule and pushes it in the direction of the upper part of the capsule.
  • the capsule top is held in the capsule top receptacle, with the second closing element acting on the capsule top.
  • the first closing element acts with an insertion force on the lower capsule part in the direction of the upper capsule part, with the second closing element acting on the upper capsule part with a counteracting force to the insertion force. This ensures that the lower capsule part is inserted into the upper capsule part without the upper capsule part jumping out of the upper capsule part receptacle.
  • the at least one second closing element is operatively connected to the main drive unit. Since the second closing element essentially serves to generate a counteracting force that counteracts the insertion force, i.e. individual adjustment of the movement of the second closing element is not absolutely necessary, it is expedient to drive the second closing element via the main drive.
  • the closing device comprises a further auxiliary drive unit designed separately from the main drive unit, with the at least one second closing element being driven by means of the further auxiliary drive unit.
  • the power take-off unit and the other power take-off unit are two independent drive units.
  • the kinematics of the first closing element can thus be set individually via the auxiliary drive unit, and the kinematics of the second closing element can be set individually via the further auxiliary drive unit.
  • the at least one first locking element is preferably designed as a locking pin.
  • the at least one second closing element is designed in particular as a receiving pocket.
  • the receiving pocket allows the capsule shell to be held firmly, which prevents it from jumping out of the capsule shell receptacle.
  • the receiving pocket is preferably designed in the shape of a wedge or cone. This allows capsules of different sizes to be fixed in one receptacle.
  • the second closing element in the form of a closing pin.
  • the power take-off unit comprises a servomotor which acts on the first closing device.
  • a stepper motor instead of the servomotor.
  • a servomotor or a stepper motor can also be provided for the additional auxiliary drive unit.
  • the capsule filling machine preferably includes a controller.
  • This control is in particular also assigned to the closing device, the movement of the at least one first closing element being adjustable by means of the control.
  • the controller controls the power take-off unit. If an additional power take-off unit is provided, this can also be set via the control.
  • FIG. 1 shows a plan view of an embodiment of a capsule filling machine 1 according to the invention for filling capsules 10 ( Figures 5 to 7 ) with a filling.
  • the filling material can be provided in the form of a powder, granules, tablets or the like. This can be a pharmaceutical preparation, a dietary supplement or the like.
  • the capsules 10 consist of a lower capsule part 32 and an upper capsule part 31 attached thereto, both of which are made of hard gelatine, for example.
  • the capsule filling machine 1 after 1 comprises a turntable 2 and a main drive unit 4 shown schematically, the turntable 2 being driven by the main drive unit 4 rotating about a vertical axis of rotation 3 corresponding to the direction of rotation 9 in clocked steps.
  • the main drive unit 4 comprises at least one electric motor, which is operatively connected to the turntable 2 and drives it.
  • the capsule filling machine 1 preferably comprises a controller 30 which is coupled to the main drive unit.
  • the controller 30 is also in 1 shown only schematically in dashed lines.
  • a number of capsule segments 5 are arranged on a peripheral area of the turntable 2 at equal angular intervals. In the exemplary embodiment shown, a total of twelve capsule segments 5 are provided. A different number of capsule segments 5 can also be useful.
  • Each capsule segment 5 consists of a lower segment part 6 that is firmly attached to the peripheral area of the rotary table 2 and an upper segment part 7 that can be pivoted relative thereto 1 are not shown in detail.
  • the number of processing stations 11 to 22 corresponds to the number of capsule segments 5, so that in each angular step clocked rotational position of the Turntable 2 of each capsule segment 5 in the access area of one of the processing stations 11 to 22 comes to rest.
  • the capsule segments 5 of the preferred exemplary embodiment contain a plurality of capsule receptacles 8 for receiving the capsules 10.
  • each capsule segment 5 contains five capsule receptacles 8.
  • the capsule receptacles 5 are arranged in a linear, rectilinear row. If there is a large number of capsule receptacles 5, they can also be arranged in two or more such rows.
  • the preferred exemplary embodiment of the capsule filling machine 1 comprises an insertion station 11 in which empty capsules, which are initially assembled provisionally and consist of a lower capsule part 32 and an upper capsule part 31 , are inserted into the capsule receptacles 8 of the capsule segment 5 .
  • the attached upper capsule part 31 is separated from the lower capsule part 32 .
  • the next processing station is a separating station 12 .
  • the separating station 12 After the separating station 12, the upper segment part 7 with the upper capsule parts 31 held therein is pivoted relative to the lower segment part 6 with the lower capsule parts 32 held therein.
  • the separating station 12 is followed by a total of three filling stations 13, 14, 15, in which the lower capsule parts 32 held in the lower segment parts 6 are filled with the intended filling material. It can also be sufficient to provide only one or two filling stations.
  • the capsules 10 After passing through the last filling station 15 takes place via the stations 16, 17, 18 a pivoting of the segment upper part 7 back into the aligned position relative to the segment lower part 6.
  • the closing station 18 the capsules 10 are closed by the previously removed or separated upper capsule parts 31 are pushed back onto the filled lower capsule parts 32 and latched.
  • Several control stations 19, 20 connect to the closing station 18.
  • capsules 8 are checked and, if necessary, sorted out.
  • the remaining capsules 10 that have been found to be good are ejected by means of rams (not shown) or other ejection means.
  • the capsule filling machine 1 comprises a closing device 23, the capsules 10 being closed again at the closing station 18 by means of the closing device 23.
  • the locking device 23 is below based on the Figures 2 to 4 described: As in the Figures 2 to 4 shown, the locking device 23 comprises a separate from the main drive unit 4 auxiliary drive unit 24, according to which the auxiliary drive unit 24 is completely mechanically decoupled from the main drive unit 4. Furthermore, the closing device 23 comprises at least one first closing element 26 driven by the auxiliary drive unit 24.
  • the closing element 26 is designed in such a way that, when the capsule 10 is closed, it acts on the lower capsule part 32, more precisely on the base of the lower capsule part 32, with an insertion force F S in the direction to segment upper part 7 acts.
  • the auxiliary drive unit 24 comprises an electric motor 40 and a linear drive 45 driven by the electric motor 40 .
  • the electric motor 40 is connected to a drive shaft 42 via a clutch 41 .
  • the coupling 41 is designed as a bellows coupling, but other types of coupling can also be useful.
  • the drive shaft 42 in turn acts via a gear 43 on the linear drive 45, which is designed as a threaded spindle in the embodiment.
  • the linear drive 45 is connected to a lower holding plate 35 for the at least one closing element 26 .
  • the linear drive 45 driven by the electric motor 40, can raise the holding plate 35 and also lower again.
  • all components of the power take-off unit 24 are attached either directly to a rigid table top 37 of the capsule filling machine 1 or via a holding frame 38 arranged on the table top 37 .
  • the auxiliary drive unit 24 is designed to be mechanically decoupled from the main drive unit 4 and that the at least one first closing element 26 can be driven in the form of a linear movement via the auxiliary drive unit 24 .
  • the power take-off unit 24, in particular its electric motor 40, is the 2 assigned only schematically indicated controller 30. Accordingly, movement parameters such as path length, speed, acceleration, etc. of the first closing element 26 can be set by means of the auxiliary drive unit 24 via the controller 30. Since the auxiliary drive unit 24 is mechanically completely decoupled from the main drive unit 4, the parameters mentioned above can be set independently of the rotary movement of the turntable 2. The movement parameters can thus be adapted to the process parameters in a simple manner via the controller 30 without having to make mechanical adjustments to the capsule filling machine 1, for example changing a closing element 26. As already described at the beginning, process parameters can be the filling material to be filled, the quantity of the filling material, the capsule size, etc.
  • the at least first closing element 26 is arranged on the lower holding plate 35, which is arranged below the lower segment part 6 with respect to the force of gravity S.
  • the holding plate 35 has a plate-like basic geometry.
  • five first closing elements 26 are arranged on the lower holding plate 35 .
  • the number of the first closing elements corresponds to the number of capsule receptacles 8, of course a different number of first closing elements 26 can also be expedient.
  • the lower retaining plate 35 is in turn operatively connected to the auxiliary drive unit 24 in such a way that the lower retaining plate 35 can be moved linearly with the closing elements 26 driven by the auxiliary drive unit 24 .
  • the lower holding plate 35 is arranged in alignment with the closing elements 26 opposite the capsule receptacles 8 .
  • the closing device 23 comprises at least one second closing element 27.
  • the second closing element 27 is designed in such a way that when the capsule 10 is closed it acts on the upper capsule part 31 with a counterforce F G in the direction of the lower segment part 6 .
  • the at least second closing element 27 is arranged on an upper holding plate 36 which is arranged above the upper segment part 7 with respect to the force of gravity S.
  • five second closing elements 27 are arranged on the upper holding plate 36 in the preferred exemplary embodiment.
  • the number of second closing elements 27 also corresponds to the number of capsule receptacles 8 .
  • the upper retaining plate 36 is arranged in alignment with the second closing elements 27 opposite the capsule receptacles 8 .
  • the upper retaining plate 36 is mechanically connected to the main drive unit 4 via a gear 39 . Both the linear movement of the second closing elements 27 and the rotary movement of the turntable take place by means of the main drive unit 4. The linear movement of the second closing elements 27 is therefore directly dependent on the rotary movement of the turntable 2.
  • the gear 39 can be used, for example, as a cam gear or as a connecting link the turntable 2 may be formed.
  • FIGs 5 to 7 the closing process of the capsules 10 is shown.
  • the lower segment part 6 and the upper segment part 7 are shown overlapping, so that the capsule lower part receptacle 34 and the capsule upper part receptacle 33 are aligned with one another.
  • the lower capsule part 31 is held in the lower capsule part receptacle 34 of the lower segment part 6
  • the upper capsule part 31 is held in the upper capsule part receptacle 33 of the upper segment part 7 .
  • the first closing elements 26 are aligned at a distance from the lower capsule parts 32
  • the second closing elements 27 are aligned at a distance from the upper capsule parts 31 .
  • the first closing elements 26 and the second closing elements 27 move together.
  • the second closing elements 27 are moved linearly in the direction of the lower segment part 6 via the main drive unit 4 until they contact the upper capsule parts 31 ( 6 ).
  • the first closing elements 26 are moved linearly in the direction of the upper segment part 7 via the auxiliary drive unit 24 until they contact the lower capsule parts 32 .
  • the first closing elements 26 are moved further in the direction of the upper segment part 7 and act on the lower capsule parts 32 with the insertion force Fs.
  • the lower capsule parts 32 are pushed into the respective upper capsule parts 31 by means of the first closing elements 26, with the second closing elements 27 now exerting a counterforce F G on the capsule shells 31 ( 7 ).
  • the capsule shells 31 cannot be pushed out of the capsule shell receptacle 33, which ensures that the capsules 10 are closed securely.
  • the first closing elements 26 and the second closing elements 27 move apart again, as a result of which the capsules 10 can be conveyed on the turntable 2 to the next station.
  • the capsule filling machine 1 it can be advantageous to also provide a further auxiliary drive unit, which is designed separately from the main drive unit 4, for the second closing elements 27 as well. Accordingly, the movement parameters of both the first closing elements 26 and the second closing elements 27 could be adjusted individually.
  • both the first locking elements 26 and the second locking elements 27 are designed as locking pins. In an alternative embodiment, it can also be expedient to provide other locking elements instead of locking pins 28 .
EP21197557.8A 2021-09-17 2021-09-17 Machine de remplissage pour remplir des capsules en deux parties Pending EP4151197A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP21197557.8A EP4151197A1 (fr) 2021-09-17 2021-09-17 Machine de remplissage pour remplir des capsules en deux parties

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP21197557.8A EP4151197A1 (fr) 2021-09-17 2021-09-17 Machine de remplissage pour remplir des capsules en deux parties

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP4151197A1 true EP4151197A1 (fr) 2023-03-22

Family

ID=77838735

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP21197557.8A Pending EP4151197A1 (fr) 2021-09-17 2021-09-17 Machine de remplissage pour remplir des capsules en deux parties

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EP (1) EP4151197A1 (fr)

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3978640A (en) * 1973-09-11 1976-09-07 Manesty Machines, Ltd. Hard-gelatin capsule filling machines
US4615165A (en) * 1983-09-30 1986-10-07 Mg 2 S.P.A. Product capsuling plant, particularly for pharmaceutical products
EP1547570A1 (fr) * 2002-07-05 2005-06-29 Shionogi Qualicaps Co., Ltd. Dispositif de remplissage et de fermeture de capsule
US20080236106A1 (en) * 2004-02-27 2008-10-02 Roberto Trebbi Capsule Filling Machine and Method For Producing Sealed Capsules
US8596025B2 (en) * 2009-06-01 2013-12-03 Patheon International Ag Systems and methods for capsule pressure-relief

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3978640A (en) * 1973-09-11 1976-09-07 Manesty Machines, Ltd. Hard-gelatin capsule filling machines
US4615165A (en) * 1983-09-30 1986-10-07 Mg 2 S.P.A. Product capsuling plant, particularly for pharmaceutical products
EP1547570A1 (fr) * 2002-07-05 2005-06-29 Shionogi Qualicaps Co., Ltd. Dispositif de remplissage et de fermeture de capsule
US20080236106A1 (en) * 2004-02-27 2008-10-02 Roberto Trebbi Capsule Filling Machine and Method For Producing Sealed Capsules
US8596025B2 (en) * 2009-06-01 2013-12-03 Patheon International Ag Systems and methods for capsule pressure-relief

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