JP2011173653A - Intermittent rotating machine for filling capsule with pharmaceutical product - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an intermittent rotating machine for filling capsules with pharmaceutical products which is free from the drawbacks of conventional apparatus and which is simple and cost-effective to be implemented. <P>SOLUTION: The intermittent rotating machine for filling capsules with pharmaceutical products is provided with a conveying wheel 5 having a plurality of pockets 18 adapted to each receive and keep a respective capsule, and a hopper 71 delimited by a bottom wall 73 provided with a plurality of holes 77, each of which is obtained through the bottom wall to feed a powdery pharmaceutical product contained in the hopper within a respective capsule, and is closed at the bottom by a respective closing member vertically mobile between a raised position and a lowered closing position of the hole 77. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an intermittent rotary machine for filling a capsule with a medicine.

  In the pharmaceutical field it is known to produce an intermittent rotating machine of the type comprising a transport wheel and a dosing wheel, the transport wheel intermittently about a first vertical rotational axis which is substantially vertical. The plurality of pockets are distributed around the first axis, each receiving and holding each capsule, and a predetermined circular path by the transport wheel. The dosing wheel is arranged along the path and is connected to the transport wheel at the transfer station of a predetermined amount of the drug powder product to the respective capsules.

  In general, the dosing wheel is a hopper that contains a drug and is bounded by a bottom wall and is mounted to rotate intermittently around a second vertical axis parallel to the first axis. A group of holes, each of which is distributed about a second axis, each comprising a plurality of vertical holes provided through a bottom wall; And a closure device.

  There are generally two types of closure devices used in the above known types of intermittent rotating machines that close the bottom of the hole while filling with chemicals.

  According to a first type, the closure device comprises a substantially horizontal annular plate, which is fixed to the frame of the machine coaxial to the second axis and passes through the plate at the mentioned transfer station. This allows the transfer of the drug to each capsule from the respective holes arranged at the transfer station.

  According to the other of the two known types described above, the closure device comprises a substantially horizontal shutter for each group of holes, said shutters about a second axis. It is advanced by the dosing wheel and is movable radially with respect to the bottom wall of the hopper between the closed and open positions of each group of holes.

  An intermittent rotating machine of the type described above has several drawbacks mainly due to the following facts. The fact is that the two types of closure devices used in such machines to close the bottom of the hole while filling the drug are the drug and the surface, in one case the surface of the annular plate. The other case is to always consider the sliding between the surfaces of each shutter.

  The hopper bottom wall must be mounted at a distance from the annular plate or shutter to prevent mutual interference between the hopper bottom wall and the annular plate or shutter. Presence will cause the drug to fall (or release) from each hole, and the degree of drop increases as the drug's own particle size decreases. The chemical released from each hole accumulates on the mechanical parts of the machine and prevents normal operation.

  The object of the present invention is to provide an intermittent rotating machine for filling a capsule with a medicine which does not have the above-mentioned drawbacks and is simple and cost-effective to implement.

  According to the present invention there is provided an intermittent rotating machine for filling capsules with chemicals as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

  The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate non-limiting embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a preferred embodiment of the machine of the present invention with some parts removed for clarity. FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the first detail of the machine of FIG. 1 with some parts and some parts removed in cross-section for clarity. FIG. 3a shows five schematic side views of the second detail of the machine of FIG. 1 shown in five different working positions, with some parts and some parts removed in cross-section for clarity. One of them. FIG. 3b shows five schematic side views of the second detail of the machine of FIG. 1 shown in five different working positions, with some parts and some parts removed in cross-section for clarity. One of them. FIG. 3c shows five schematic side views of the second detail of the machine of FIG. 1 shown in five different working positions, with some parts and some parts removed in cross-section for clarity. One of them. FIG. 3d shows five schematic side views of the second detail of the machine of FIG. 1 shown in five different working positions, with some parts and some parts removed in cross-section for clarity. One of them. FIG. 3e shows five schematic side views of the second detail of the machine of FIG. 1 shown in five different working positions, with some parts and some parts removed in cross-section for clarity. One of them. FIG. 3f shows five schematic side views of the second detail of the machine of FIG. 1 shown in five different working positions, with some parts and some parts removed in cross-section for clarity. One of them. FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of the details of the views of FIGS. 3a-3f, with some parts removed for clarity. FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of the third detail of the machine of FIG. 1 with some parts and some parts removed in cross-section for clarity. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. FIG. 8 (FIGS. 8a, b and c) are three schematic cross-sectional views of the fourth detail of the machine of FIG. 1, with some parts removed for clarity. FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view of a variation of the machine of FIG. 1 with some parts removed for clarity. FIG. 10 (FIGS. 10a and b) are two schematic plan views of the details of the machine of FIG. 9, with some parts removed for clarity.

  Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 1 generally indicates an intermittent rotating machine for filling a capsule 2 with a drug, each capsule having its own bottom 3 and a closure cap associated with the bottom 3 itself. 4 is provided.

  The machine 1 comprises a pocket transport wheel 5, which is substantially vertical under the bias of a drive device (known and not shown) with respect to the fixed frame 6, in FIG. It is mounted so as to rotate intermittently around its longitudinal axis 7 orthogonal to the paper surface, and is provided with a lower grip and a transfer disk 8 that are coaxially mounted on the shaft 7. A plurality of upper grips and transfer units 9 (8 units 9 in a suitable example) are provided.

  The disk 8 is provided with a plurality of groups 10 of lower sheets 11, which are uniformly distributed along the periphery of the disk 8, and have the same number as the units 9. Each of the plurality of sheets 11 (24 sheets 11 in a suitable example) includes a plurality of sheets 11 extending through the disk 8 in a vertical direction 12 parallel to the axis 7, each of which has its recess Are arranged to receive and hold the relevant bottom 3 arranged facing upwards, distributed over two mutually parallel rows transverse to the axis 7 itself.

  Each unit 9 includes a support arm 13 that extends radially outward, is mounted on a disk 8 and is advanced by a wheel 5 around a shaft 7 to be slidable. It is coupled to the disk 8 so that it moves in a radial direction with respect to the disk 8 itself in a direction transverse to the direction 12 under the bias of the cam drive 14, the cam drive 14 being connected to the shaft 7. And a cam tap 15 (not shown) that is engaged with each arm 13 at the cam 15 itself.

  Each arm 13 is provided with a grip and transfer head 16. The grip and transfer head 16 are fixed to the free end of the arm 13, extend laterally with respect to the shaft 7, and are provided with a plurality of upper sheets 17. The plurality of upper sheets 17 are the same in number as the sheets 11 of the group 10 of the sheets 11, are linked to the sheets 11 of the group 10 to which the sheets 11 are related, and are provided through the arm 13 in the direction 12. The recesses are arranged to receive and hold related caps 4 which are arranged facing downwards and are arranged on two mutually parallel rows transverse to the axis 7.

  Each sheet 17 has a height measured parallel to the direction 12, which is also at least as long as the capsule 2 measured parallel to the direction 12, and has a wide upper portion 17a and a width. Narrow lower portion 17b, together with the corresponding seat 11, defines a pocket 18 for the associated capsule 2 and moves radially from the associated arm 13 between the advanced and retracted positions. In the forward position, the sheet 17 is substantially aligned with the related sheet 11 in the direction 12, and in the retracted position, the sheet 17 is offset in the direction 12 itself with respect to the related sheet 11. )

  The pocket 18 is advanced around the axis 7 (clockwise in FIG. 1) by the wheel 5 along a substantially circular path P, which starts from the feeding and opening station 19 and is 7, at the station 19, each pocket 18 is configured to receive and open the associated capsule 2. Along the path P in turn: a liquid 18, granular or tablet-like medicine is fed into the capsule 2, in particular a pocket 18 relating to all capsules 2 that remain closed at the station 19, in particular A first dosing station 20 for releasing the sheet 17 to be discharged; a second dosing station 21 for supplying powdered medicine into the capsule 2; and a third dosage for supplying liquid, granular, or tablet-like medicine into the capsule 2 A station 22; a fourth dosing station 23 for supplying liquid, granular or tablet-like medicine into the capsule 2; a closure station 24 for closing the capsule 2; a removal station 25 for removing the capsule 2 from the machine 1; A cleaning station 26 is provided for cleaning.

  Obviously, the machine 1 is further configured to selectively control the supply of one or more drugs to the capsule 2 at one or more of the stations 20, 21, 22 and 23. A control unit (known and not shown) is provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the station 19 has an empty capsule 2 which is bounded at its bottom by a bottom wall 28 which is substantially horizontal and perpendicular to the direction 12. An accommodation hopper 27 and a supply device 29 for the capsule 2 from the hopper 27 to the related pocket 18 are provided.

  The device 29 comprises a substantially rectangular plate 30 that extends in a substantially vertical plane and is secured to the upper end of a substantially L-shaped support bracket 31 through the wall 28. A plurality of supply channels 32 extending into the hopper 27 and arranged in parallel to each other are provided, the number of supply channels 32 being equal to the number of sheets 17 of the head 16 and parallel to the direction 12. Distributed over two rows parallel to each other and parallel to the horizontal direction 33 transverse to the direction 12.

  With respect to the above, the column 32 of the column furthest away from the axis 7 (hereinafter indicated by the numeral 32a) is longer in the direction 12 than the length of the channel 32 of the column closest to the axis 7 (hereinafter indicated by the numeral 32b). It is worth pointing out that it has a length measured in parallel and projects downward with respect to the channel 32b itself.

  The plate 30 is slidably coupled to the hopper 27 and performs a reciprocating linear motion with respect to the hopper 27 itself in the direction 12 under the bias of the cam driving device 34. Of the bracket 31 and the cam 35 mounted so as to be continuously rotated about its own longitudinal axis 36 parallel to the direction 12 and timed. A tappet roller 37 that is mounted to rotate around the lower end and is engaged by the cam 35 itself is provided.

  As a result of the movement of the plate 30 in the direction 12, the capsule 2 falls into the channels 32 a, 32 b which are in turn randomly related, that is to say on the related cap 4, which is arranged on the relevant bottom 3, Falls with the relevant bottom 3 arranged in the middle and is fixed along the relevant channels 32a, 32b by two comb-like fixing elements 38, which are horizontally aligned perpendicular to the directions 12 and 33. Each of the fulcrums located on opposite sides of plate 30 in direction 39, offset with respect to each other in direction 12, hinged to plate 30 and parallel to each other and parallel to direction 33 with respect to plate 30 itself. Reciprocating between a fixed position and an open position around the horizontal axis 40, in which the element 38 is related. The associated capsules 2 are stretched in the direction 12 to extend in the channels 32a, 32b, in which the element 38 is arranged outside the associated channels 32a, 32b, so that the capsules 2 themselves Allows the descent of.

  Each element 38 is moved in a fixed position by a spring 41 interposed between the elements 38 and is normally held and installed by an unsealing roller 42 mounted to rotate about a rotation axis parallel to the axis 40. During the lowering of the plate 30, the roller 42 is moved from its fixed position to the open position by the engagement of the open element (not shown) mounted along the path of the roller 42 itself.

  The station 19 further comprises an orientation device 43, which in turn comprises a support block 44 provided with a plurality of orientation channels 45, the plurality of orientation channels 45 comprising channels 32a in a row of channels 32a, 32b. 32b are aligned with each other in the direction 33, extend in the direction 39, open in the longitudinal direction in the direction 39, and each pair of channels 32a, 32b aligned with each other in the direction 39 itself. Each is linked.

  Each channel 45 includes two vertical inlet portions 46a, 46b and a horizontal outlet portion 48 that extend in direction 12 and are aligned with the associated channels 32a, 32b, respectively. Is substantially cylindrical in shape, and its boundaries are delimited at the bottom by respective bottom walls 47a, 47b orthogonal to direction 12 and approximates beyond the diameter of cap 4 (approximately the same and slightly larger ), Having a width measured parallel to direction 33; the horizontal outlet portion 48 extends in direction 39 and opens vertically in direction 12 and approximates below the diameter of cap 4 ( The horizontal boundary is delimited by two flat walls that are spaced apart from each other at a distance measured parallel to direction 33 (approximately the same and slightly smaller)

  The walls 47a are coplanar with each other and are coplanar with the accommodation surfaces arranged in parallel below the accommodation surface of the wall 47b.

  The device 43 further comprises a first comb-like orientation element 49, which extends in the direction 33, so that it comprises a plurality of substantially flat orientation teeth 50 parallel to each other, the plurality of teeth 50. Are parallel to each other in direction 39, extending in respective vertical planes orthogonal to direction 33, equal in number to channels 45, and approximating below the width of outlet portion 48 of channel 45. And the width is also measured parallel to direction 33.

  Each tooth 50 comprises two mutually parallel orientation elements 51a, 51b, of which the element 51a is arranged on the element 51b and projects from the element 51b towards the wheel 5 in the direction 39 and of the channel 45 concerned. Linked to the part 46b, the element 51b is linked to the part 46a of the channel 45 itself concerned. Each element 51a, 51b has a substantially rectangular shape and is released at both the top and bottom of its free end and defines two cavities 52a, 52b, which are elongated and added The cavities 52a of the cavities 52a extend over the cavities 52b and are arranged so that the recesses face upward, and the cavities 52b are arranged so that the recesses face down. Yes.

  The orienting element 49 is movable in the direction 39 between an advanced position in which the teeth 50 engage the channel 45 with which it relates and a retracted open position of the channel 45 itself, and is attached to the plate 30 by a drive 54 comprising a sprocket 55. Interconnected and offset, the sprocket 55 is mounted to rotate about the frame 6 about its own longitudinal axis 56 parallel to the direction 33 and is mounted on the bracket 31 parallel to the direction 12. Coupled to rack 57 and further coupled to two racks projecting from element 49 on the opposite side of wheel 5 in direction 39 and rotating about axis 56 by movement of bracket 31 in direction 12 itself.

  The device 43 further comprises a second comb-like orientation element 59, which extends in the direction 33, is fixed to the plate 30 and projects downward from the plate 30, so that a plurality of In turn, a substantially flat alignment tooth 60 (only one of which is shown in FIG. 3) is provided, which are parallel to each other, in direction 12, parallel to each other, in direction 33. Stretching in respective orthogonal vertical planes, aligned with each other in direction 33, equal in number to channels 45, approximating below the width of outlet portion 48 of channel 45 measured parallel to direction 33, in direction 33 It has a thickness measured in parallel.

  Each tooth 60 is substantially rectangular and has two lower cavities 61, each cavity 61 having a recess facing downward, arranged parallel to each other, direction 12 Open at the bottom at, offset with respect to each other in direction 12, and aligned in direction 12 itself with respect to the associated pocket 18 located at station 19.

The operation of the dispensing and opening station 19 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 3a to 3f, taking into account the pair of channels 32a, 32b associated with a single channel 45, starting with the following example. In this example (Figure 3a):
The plate 30 and the orienting element 59 are arranged in the raised position, in which the element 59 extends outside the block 44 and thus outside the channel 45, on the outside the two fixing elements 38. Is placed in its fixed position;
The orientation element 49 is arranged in its advanced position;
The channel 45 under consideration is empty.

  After lowering of plate 30 and element 59 in direction 12 and rotation of sprocket 55 about axis 56, element 49 is moved from its advanced position in direction 39 by rack 58 in block 44 and thus in channel 45. The locking element 38 is moved over its associated fulcrum shaft 40 to its open position, whereby the capsule 2 of each considered channel 32a, 32b takes into account. Can be lowered into the relevant inlet portions 46a, 46b of the channel 45, which can be placed in contact with the relevant bottom walls 47a, 47b (FIG. 3b).

  At this point, plate 30 and element 59 are raised again in direction 12; element 49 is moved from its retracted position to its advanced position in direction 39, so that each additional 53 is associated with the midpoint of capsule 2 Allowing the capsule 2 to rotate and to direct the capsule 2 itself in the same direction as the associated bottom 3 located under the associated cap 4 in direction 39; and Each capsule 2 is advanced in direction 39 within the associated cavity 52a, 52b (FIGS. 3c and 3d).

  Because the outlet portion 48 of the channel 45 is narrower than the width of the inlet portions 46a, 46b, the cap 4 of each capsule 2 advanced in the direction 39 by the associated addenda 53 is due to the side walls defining the portion 48 itself. , Is initially blocked at the entrance of the portion 48 by frictional forces on the cap 4. Thus, irrespective of its orientation in the relevant parts 46a, 46b, each capsule 2 rotates under the bias of the relevant addenda 53 and is again arranged in front of the relevant cap 4. It will move forward in the part 48 with the bottom part 3 that does.

The capsule 2 is held in the portion 48 by frictional forces, allowing the following:
The plate 30 and the element 59 descend again in direction 12;
The element 49 moves to the retracted disengagement position of the capsule 2 and the block 44;
Opening element 38 to advance two new capsules 2 into the relevant parts 46a, 46b;
The cavity 61 of the element 59 causes the capsule 2 to engage with and rotate with the associated bottom 3 of the lower part of the associated cap 4 and in the same direction; and the relation in which the element 59 is located at the station 19 Lowering the capsule 2 in the direction 12 within the pocket 18 (FIGS. 3e and 3f).

  Once in the relevant pocket 18, each capsule 2 is opened by a suction pneumatic device (not shown) connected to the relevant lower sheet 11 and the relevant cap 4 is unfolded of the relevant upper sheet 17. The associated bottom 3 is advanced in the associated lower sheet 11 and the capsule 2 itself is moved around the axis 7 by the conveying wheel 5 in the stations 20, 21, 22 and 23. Is advanced through.

  Stations 20, 22 and 23 are provided with an associated supply station (known and not shown), which is configured to supply liquid, granular or tablet-like medicines to the capsule 2. Furthermore, a discharge device 62 is provided for detaching the capsule 2 closed at the station 19 from the associated sheet 17.

  Referring to FIG. 5, the device 62 includes a substantially horizontal support plate 63, which is orthogonal to direction 12, extends under the disk 8, and is secured to the free end of the support bar 64. The support bar 64 extends in the direction 12 and is slidably connected to the frame 6, and performs a linear motion with respect to the frame 6 itself in the direction 12 under the bias of the cam driving device 65. The cam drive 65 is interconnected with the transport wheel 5, timed and comprises a cylindrical cam 66 and a tappet roller 68, which cam 66 is its own longitudinal axis 67 parallel to direction 12. The tappet roller 68 is mounted so as to rotate around the lower end of the bar 64 and is engaged with the cam 66 itself.

  Plate 63 supports a plurality of elongate extrusion elements 69 that extend upward from plate 63 in direction 12 and are the same number of sheets 17 of grip and transfer head 16 as in apparatus 12. 65 is moved between a raised working position and a lowered rest position, in which the element 69 extends in the sheet 17 concerned and from the sheet 17 all closed capsules present. 2 is disengaged and in the lowered rest position, the element 69 is arranged below the disk 8.

  As shown in FIGS. 1, 6, and 7, the dosing station 21 includes a dosing wheel 70, which includes a substantially cylindrical hopper 71, the hopper 71 Has a cup shape with the recess facing upward, and further has a longitudinal axis 72 parallel to direction 12 and bounded at the bottom by a bottom wall 73 substantially perpendicular to the axis 72 itself. A substantially vertical dividing partition 74, which extends upward from the wall 73 and divides the interior of the hopper 71 into two mutually adjacent portions 71a, 71b, of which Only the portion 71 a contains powdery chemicals, while the portion 71 b extends on the disk 8.

  Wall 73 is secured to the free end of sleeve 75 that extends through frame 6 coaxial with shaft 72 and is rotationally coupled to frame 6 to interconnect wheel 5 with respect to frame 6. Then, it rotates intermittently around the shaft 72 itself under the urging force of a drive device (not shown) that is timed.

  The wall 73 is provided with a group 76 of a plurality of holes 77 (in a suitable example, there are six groups 76), and the group 76 of holes 77 is uniformly distributed around the axis 72. Are each advanced with a plurality of holes 77, the number of which is equal to the number of sheets 11 in the group 10 of sheets 11, provided through the walls 73 in direction 12. Are distributed according to two rows parallel to each other and transverse to the axis 72.

  Each group 76 of holes 77 is associated with a lower closure device 78 comprising a support bar 79, which is substantially T-shaped and extends within the sleeve 75 in direction 12. , Which is supplied about the shaft 72 by the sleeve 75 and is movable in the direction 12 with respect to the hopper 71 under the bias of a cam drive device 80 comprising a circular cam 81 and a tappet roller 82, the circular cam 81 being Fixed to the frame 6 coaxial with the shaft 72, the tappet roller 82 is rotatably mounted at the lower end of the bar 79 and engages with the cam 81 itself.

  The bar 79 supports a plurality of elongate shaped lower closure elements 83 that extend upward from the bar 79 in direction 12 and are as many as the holes 77 in the group 76 of holes 77; The bar 79 is moved in the direction 12 between the raised closed position and the lowered unsealed position, in which the element 83 extends in the associated hole 77 and in the lowered opened position the element 83 is It is located below the wall 73 at a distance from the wall 73 that approximates over a thickness of 8 (approximately the same and slightly larger).

  When placed in their raised closed position, each element 83 has a respective volume and a respective dosing chamber having a height equal to the distance between the associated element 83 and the upper surface of the wall 73 at its bottom. Delimit the boundary at. In this regard, it should be noted that the shape of the cam 81 and / or the position of the cam 81 in the direction 12 is selectively controlled by changing the elevated closed position of the element 83 and thus the height and volume of the dosing chamber. Deserve.

  The wheel 70 further comprises an upper compression device 84 comprising two vertical upright portions 85 that extend through the frame 6 in direction 12 and are evenly distributed around the axis 72, Located on the opposite side of the hopper 71 and slidably coupled to the frame 6, the frame 6 itself performs a linear motion in the direction 12 under the bias of the cam moving device 86, and the cam moving device 86. Are mounted to rotate on the lower end of the associated upstanding portion 85 with respect to each of the upstanding portions 85 and the circular cam 87 mounted to continuously rotate about the shaft 72. Each tappet roller 88 is engaged by itself.

  A circular and substantially flat plate 89 is fixed to the upper end of the upstanding portion 85 and is substantially orthogonal to direction 12 and, in the preferred case, is distributed on an elongated shaped axis 72. Four groups 90 of elements 91 are supported, of which three groups 90 are disposed above the portion 71a, and one group 90 is disposed above the portion 71b.

  Each group 90 comprises a plurality of elements 91, the number of which is equal to the number of holes 77 in the group 76 of holes 77 and distributed according to two parallel rows transverse to the axis 72. In the direction 12, the plate 89 extends downward from the plate 89.

  In use, the element 83 of each lower closure device 78 is moved and held in the raised closed position of its associated hole 77 in the portion 71a of the hopper 71 and in its lowered open position in the portion 71b of the hopper 71. Moved, thereby allowing the disc 8 and thus the group 10 of sheets 11 and the associated bottom 3 to be inserted between the wall 73 and the element 83 itself.

  Each stop of the dosing wheel 70 causes each element 91 of the three groups 90 of elements 91 arranged above the part 71a to be lowered by means of the device 86 in the direction 12 and into the interior of the lower relevant hole 77. The element 91 of the group 90 of elements 91 arranged above the part 71b and the disk 8 is lowered by means of the device 86 in the direction 12 into the lower hole 77. The contained powdery chemical is discharged into the relevant bottom 3 supplied by the wheel 5 below the part 71b itself.

  The operation of the machine 1 will now be described with reference to FIG. 1, but assuming that only one group of capsules 2 in the pocket 18 is filled, the support arm 13 under consideration is in its advanced position at the station 19. Starting with an example in which each of the pockets 18 being considered can receive and open the associated capsule 2.

  While the pocket 18 under consideration is advanced from the station 19 to the station 20, the support arm 13 is moved from its retracted position, freeing the top of the lower seat 11 and thus the associated bottom 3; Thereby, at each station 20 itself during each stop of the pocket 18 both possible dosing of the drug into the bottom 3 and the raising of the push-out element 69 of the discharge device 62 are possible, so that the station 19 All capsules 2 closed in can be discharged from the associated upper sheet 17.

  The arm 13 is held in its retracted position during the subsequent three stops at the stations 21, 22 and 23, so that the dispensing device of the station 21 and / or 23 and / or the dosing wheel 70 of the station 22 is maintained. (Not shown) makes it possible to supply the relevant chemical into the bottom 3 under consideration.

  The arm 13 is thus moved again into its advanced position during advancement from the station 23 to 24, in which the capsule 2 is closed by a plurality of lower extrusion elements 92, which are It is the same as the number of sheets 11 in the group 10 and is movable with respect to the frame 6 in the direction 12 between the lowering rest position and the raising action position, in which the pushing element 91 extends in the relevant sheet 11. Cooperates with the upper stop plate 93 which is arranged to raise the relevant bottom 3, block the cap 4 in direction 12 and allow the capsule 2 to be closed.

  The plate 93 has a circular sector shape, extends around the axis 7 at stations 24, 25 and 26, above the disk and is slidably coupled to the vertical upright portion 94 of the frame 6. In the linear motion with respect to the frame 6 and blocked along the upright part 94 by the fixing lever 95 (FIG. 9), thereby selectively controlling the position of the plate 93 in the direction 12 according to the size of the capsule 2 Both the machine 93 can be easily maintained and cleaned by removing the plate 93 from the frame 6.

  The plate 93 is further provided with a suction port 96 at the station 24, which is connected to a pneumatic suction device (known and not shown) and remains from the capsule 2 when the capsule 2 is closed. Suck up air and chemical mixture.

  After lowering the pushing element 92, the group of pockets 18 under consideration are fed sequentially through the stations 25 and 26 by the arm 13 in the advanced position.

  At station 25, the capsule 2 is removed from the conveying wheel 5 by means of a plurality of lower pushing elements 97, the number of pushing elements 97 being the same as the number of sheets 11 in the group 10 of sheets 11, and in the lowered rest position and the raised working position. In between, it is movable with respect to the frame 6 in the direction 12, in its raised working position, the pushing element 97 extends in the relevant pocket 18 to disengage the capsule 2 from the relevant sheet 17 and to turn the capsule 2 upside down. Pressing against the means 98, the upper conversion means 98 is provided on the plate 93 and in cooperation with a compressed air pneumatic circuit provided partly through the plate 93, the capsule 2 is coupled to the plate 93 itself. Turn towards the exit chute 100.

  In the station 26, the pocket 18 is operated by a compressed air / pneumatic circuit 101 fixed to the frame 6, and the action of a jet of compressed air supplied to the upper side through the pocket 18 is partially sucked through the plate 93. It is cleaned by combining with the action of the circuit 102.

The modification shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 differs from that shown in the previous figures only in the following:
Ejector 62 is moved from station 20 to station 22; and plate 93 is deleted and replaced with shaped plate 103, which is similar to plate 93 and has a circular sector shape; Stations 24, 25 and 26 extend about the axis 7 and above the disk 8, and stations 22 and 23 in turn extend individually above the grip and transfer head 16 individually.

  Plate 103 is equivalent to plate 93 at stations 24, 25, and 26, and a suction port 104 is provided at station 22, which cooperates with element 69 of device 62, All the closed capsules 2 remaining in the station 19 are removed from the relevant sheets 17 and in the station 23 a control device 105 for the presence (or retention) of the capsules 2 is provided, which control device 105 is A plurality of optical fibers 106, the same number of optical fibers 106 as the sheets 17 of the head 106, extending through the plate 103, each facing the associated sheet 16.

Machine 1 has several advantages that are mainly contributed by the following facts:
The height of the upper sheet 17 allows the arm 14 to move radially even when the capsule 2 remains closed at the station 19 housed in the sheet 17;
The assembly of the arm 13 above the disk 8 makes it possible to integrate the dispensing with the release of all closed capsules 2 at station 19 at station 20 or 22;
The shape of the feeding device 29 and the orienting device 43 makes it possible to feed all capsules 2 into the pockets 18 of the group of pockets 18 only at the station 19;
Movement of the lower closing element 83 of the dosing wheel 70 in direction 12 makes it possible to open the hole 77 on the element 83 itself, avoiding any slip of the drug powder;
The provision of the plates 93 and 103 facilitates both the loading of the machine 1 according to the size of the capsule 2 and the maintenance and cleaning of the machine 1 itself.

  The lower closing device 78 may be further used with the conveying wheel 5, in which case the disc 8 is disposed above the arm 13, the lower sheet 11 is provided instead through the arm 13, and the upper sheet 17 is Further, it is worth pointing out that it is provided through the disk 8 itself.

  According to a variant (not shown), the element 83 is eliminated and the hole 77 is closed by moving the bar 79 directly into contact with the wall 73.

Claims (7)

An intermittent rotating machine for filling capsules (2) with medicines, each capsule (2) comprising a bottom (3) and a cap (4) for closing the bottom (3), said machine being a transport wheel (5) and a medication wheel (70),
The transport wheel (5) is mounted so as to intermittently rotate around a first rotation axis (7) parallel to a substantially vertical direction (12), and is arranged around the axis (7). Multiple pockets (18) are provided,
Each of the plurality of pockets (18) receives each capsule (2) and is moved forward along the given path (P) by the transport wheel (5);
The dosing wheel (70) is disposed along the path (P) to supply a given amount of powdered medicine inside each capsule and to contain the powdered medicine. (71)
The hopper (71) is demarcated by a bottom wall (73), and is mounted to intermittently rotate around a second rotation axis (72) parallel to the first rotation axis (7), Parallel to direction (12), at least one group (76) of holes (77) formed through the bottom wall (73) is provided and cooperates with a closing device (78) for closing the holes (77). And
The closure device (78) comprises at least one respective lower closure element (79; 83) for each group (76) of holes (77);
The lower closing element (79; 83) is mounted below the associated hole (77) and is moved forward around the second rotational axis (72) together with the associated hole (77), An intermittent rotary machine characterized in that, in the direction (12), the hole (77) is movable between a rising and closing position of the hole (77). Each pocket (18) is arranged below the upper sheet (17) for receiving and holding the cap (4) of the capsule (2) concerned, and below the upper sheet (17), the said of the capsule (2) A lower sheet (11) for receiving and holding the bottom (3);
Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the transport wheel (5) comprises at least one support element (8) on which the lower sheet (11) is provided.   When in the lowered open position, each closure element (83) is capable of inserting the support element (8) from the associated hole (77) between the closure element (83) and the hole (77). The machine according to claim 2, wherein the machine is arranged at a certain distance. The transport wheel (5) includes a disk (8) on which the lower sheet (11) is provided, and a plurality of support arms (13) mounted above the disk (8);
Each support arm (13) is provided with at least one upper seat (17) and is movable in a radial direction between an advanced position and a retracted position with respect to the disk (8); The sheet (17) is aligned with the associated lower sheet (11) in the direction (12), and in the retracted position, the upper sheet (17) and the associated lower sheet (11) are Machine according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that they are offset from each other in direction (12).   The machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the closure device (78) comprises a respective closure element (83) for each hole (77).   The machine according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising an operating cam device (80) for moving the closing element (79; 83) in the direction (12).   The dosing wheel (70) further comprises a compression device (84), the compression device (84) comprising a plurality of upper compression elements (91) and cooperating with the closure element (83); In the direction (12), it is movable between a lowered position for compressing the medicine accommodated in the associated hole (77) and an elevated position for releasing the hole (77). The machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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