JP3234305B2 - Capsule filling equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a capsule filling apparatus for filling a capsule with a drug, food or the like, and more particularly to a capsule filling apparatus for filling a liquid substance and a powder substance into one capsule.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In pharmaceutical products, a powdered substance is filled into a hard gelatin capsule to facilitate swallowing of the powdered substance. Such a hard gelatin capsule has a hollow body to be filled with a filler, and a hollow cap slightly larger in diameter than the body and externally fitted to one end of the body. Are supplied in a so-called pre-lock state in which both are loosely coupled. In order to fill such a capsule with a predetermined filling,
After separating the pre-locked capsule into the body and the cap, and filling the separated body with the filler, the body and the cap must be re-coupled.

[0003] A capsule filling apparatus which automates such a series of operations is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos.
It is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2962 and the like. The capsule filling devices disclosed in these publications include a capsule transport mechanism that moves a plurality of capsules arranged so that the body is on the lower side while the body and the cap are separated, and a capsule transport mechanism that separates the capsules by the capsule transport mechanism. And a filling mechanism for filling a predetermined filling material into the body that is moved.

[0004]

Recently, in a preparation in which a powdery substance cannot be uniformly suspended in a liquid substance, it is common to fill the liquid substance and the powdery substance in one capsule. Have been done. In this case, when the above-described capsule filling device is used, a filling mechanism for filling the liquid substance and a filling mechanism for filling the powder substance are arranged side by side, and the cap is separated and transported by the capsule transport mechanism. The body may be filled with the powdered substance and the liquid substance continuously. However, due to their relative physical properties, some powdered and liquid substances cannot be filled with the powdered substance until the liquid substance to be filled in the body of the capsule is hardened. Must be filled with a liquid substance, and after the liquid substance has hardened, the powder substance must be filled in the capsule. For the production of such pharmaceutical preparations, waiting for the curing time of this liquid substance significantly reduces production efficiency.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves such a conventional problem, and an object of the present invention is to fill a liquid substance and then fill the capsule with a powder substance after the liquid substance has hardened. An object of the present invention is to provide an excellent capsule filling device.

[0006]

According to the capsule filling apparatus of the present invention, an odd number of cap storage pocket groups each composed of a plurality of cap storage pockets respectively supporting a plurality of caps are arranged at an equal pitch in the circumferential direction. Yes,
An annular cap support ring that intermittently moves by the pitch, and an annular cap support ring that is arranged below each cap storage pocket group so as to move around integrally with the cap support ring. A body support base on which a body corresponding to the cap supported by each cap storage pocket in the group is supported, and a cap supported in each cap storage pocket of every other cap storage pocket group in the cap support ring; And a capsule transfer mechanism for supporting the body in each body storage pocket of the body support stand disposed below each cap storage pocket group in which the cap is supported, and each body in which the body is supported by the capsule transfer mechanism. When the support is moved intermittently an even number of times, A liquid filling mechanism for filling each body in the liquid with the liquid filling mechanism, and a liquid filling mechanism provided adjacent to the liquid filling position by a rotation pitch of the body supporting table and filled with the liquid. A powder filling mechanism in which the powder substance is filled after the body supporting base for supporting the body makes substantially one round, whereby the object is achieved.

[0007]

In the capsule filling device of the present invention, the caps of the capsules are sequentially supported in the cap receiving pockets of the alternate cap receiving pockets while the cap supporting ring intermittently moves. The body is supported by the body storage pockets of each body support stand arranged below each cap storage pocket group. Then, while each of the body support bases orbits, the liquid filling mechanism sequentially fills the body supported in each of the body storage pockets with the liquid filling mechanism. Then, when the body support that supports the body filled with the liquid moves around substantially one round, the powder filling mechanism fills each body supported by the body support with the powder filling material.
While the body support supporting the liquid-filled body orbits around, the body and cap are placed in each body support that does not support the body and the cap storage pocket group corresponding to each body support. The liquid and the powder are filled in the body in the same manner.

[0008]

The present invention will be described below with reference to examples. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the capsule filling device of the present invention is provided on a base 10 and has a capsule transport mechanism 30 for horizontally moving a capsule and moving the capsule by the capsule transport mechanism 30. A powder filling mechanism 95 for filling a powder substance into a capsule, and a liquid filling mechanism 96 for filling a liquid substance
And

[0009] The capsule filling device of the present invention is connected to a capsule alignment mechanism 20 for aligning a plurality of capsules in a state where the body and the cap are loosely coupled to each other in a substantially vertical state with the body on the lower side. A capsule group, which is a predetermined number of capsules aligned by the capsule alignment mechanism 20, is provided in a capsule transfer mechanism provided below the capsule alignment mechanism 20.
40 (see FIG. 2) and the capsule transfer mechanism 40
Thereby, each capsule of the capsule group is transferred to the capsule transport mechanism 30 with the body and the cap separated.

As shown in FIG. 1, the capsule transport mechanism 30 has an annular cap support ring 31. The cap support ring 31 holds the cap of each capsule in each capsule group in a vertical state. 15 cap storage pocket groups 31b composed of supporting cap storage pockets 31a
Are arranged at equal pitches in the circumferential direction. In addition, one body support base 32 is disposed below each cap storage pocket group 31b in a horizontal state. Therefore, below the cap support ring 31, 15 body support bases 32 are arranged at the same pitch in the circumferential direction. Each body support base 32 vertically supports each body corresponding to the cap supported by the cap storage pocket 31a of each cap storage pocket group 31b. The cap support ring 31 and each body support base 32 are
In the circumferential direction indicated by arrow A in FIG.
Are arranged to intermittently move by the arrangement pitch of. The cap support ring 31 and each body support base 32 are intermittently moved 360/15 degrees, that is, 24 degrees, respectively. Then, during the movement, the liquid is filled in the respective bodies in each capsule group by the liquid filling mechanism 96, and after being moved over substantially one round, the powder filled in each body filled with the liquid is charged. The filling device 95 fills the powder. Thereafter, the body filled with the liquid and the powder is coupled to the cap by the coupling mechanism 60, and is discharged from the capsule transport mechanism 30 by the capsule discharge mechanism 70.

As shown in FIG. 3, the capsule aligning mechanism 20 is disposed on a region of the cap support ring 31 outside one cap accommodation pocket group 31b. In the capsule alignment mechanism 20, a reversing roller 24, a regulating roller 23, and a supply drum 22, each of which has a substantially horizontal axis, are arranged vertically in order from the bottom. The capsule hopper 21 is disposed so as to face the upper peripheral surface of the supply drum 22, and inside the capsule hopper 21,
A capsule 90 in which a body 91 and a cap 92 are loosely coupled is accommodated. On the peripheral surface of the upper supply drum 22, a number of capsule accommodation pockets for accommodating capsules in a radial state.
22a has seven in one row along the axial direction and 36 in the circumferential direction.
Rows are provided. One capsule 90 is inserted into each capsule accommodation pocket 22a from either side of the body 91 and the cap 92, and is supported in a radial state with respect to the supply drum 22.

On the peripheral surface of the regulating roller 23 disposed below the supply drum 22, three capsule receiving pockets are arranged in three rows at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. 23a are provided in four rows in the circumferential direction. The regulating roller 23 is rotated so that the surfaces facing the upper supply roller 22 move in the same direction, and by rotation of both, each capsule accommodation pocket of the regulating roller 23 is rotated.
23a is opposed to each capsule accommodation pocket 22a of the supply drum 22. Each capsule storage pocket 23a has a regulating roller 2
The capsule inserted from the body side in the radial direction of 3 is supported in the inserted radial state, whereas the capsule inserted from the cap side is encapsulated along the circumferential direction. Supported in pocket 23a.

The reversing roller 24 disposed below the regulating roller 23 has the same diameter as the regulating roller 23,
It is rotated so that the surfaces facing the regulating roller 23 are in the same direction. Capsule storage pockets 24a are provided on the peripheral surface of the reversing roller 24 so as to face the capsule storage pocket 23a of the regulating roller 23 by the rotation thereof. In each capsule accommodating pocket 24a, a capsule 90 accommodated in each capsule accommodating pocket 23a of the regulating roller 23 is inserted from the cap 92 side and is supported in a radial state. Then, the reversing roller 24
Each of the capsules 90 supported so that the cap 92 is positioned on the axial center side in each of the capsule storage pockets 24a is transferred to the capsule transfer mechanism 40 that is slidably disposed below the reversing roller 24 in the horizontal direction. Be transported. The capsule transfer mechanism 40 is configured such that each capsule 90 has a cap 92 on the upper side and a body 91
Are transported to the capsule transport mechanism 30 in a vertical state with the lower side, and each capsule 90 is transported during the transport.
The body 91 and the cap 92 are separated. Since the details of the capsule alignment mechanism 20 are disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 1-232962, detailed description thereof will be omitted in this specification.

As shown in FIG. 5, the capsule filling apparatus of the present invention in which capsules are transferred from the capsule alignment mechanism 20 by the capsule transfer mechanism 40 includes an annular cap support ring 31 which is rotatably disposed. The capsule transport mechanism 30 includes an odd number (15) of body support bases 32 radially arranged below the cap support ring 31.

The cap support ring 31 is disposed substantially horizontally, and an outer peripheral portion of the cap support ring 31 has a circumferential direction.
At 15 places, a cap storage pocket group 31b composed of 28 cap storage pockets 31a, each having 7 rows and 4 columns,
They are arranged at equal pitch. Each cap storage pocket 31a in each cap storage pocket group 31b
Is a through hole penetrating the cap support ring 31.

Each body support table 32 is provided with 28 body storage pockets 32a capable of housing the body 91 of the capsule 90 in 7 rows and 4 columns, similarly to the respective pocket groups 31b of the cap support ring 31. ing. Each body storage pocket 32a,
Each penetrates the body support base 32.

As shown in FIG. 3, a capsule transfer mechanism 40 disposed below the reversing roller 24 is provided with a flat pallet 41 disposed in a substantially horizontal state, and disposed below the pallet 41. And a shutter 45. The pallet 41 has through holes 4 arranged in 7 rows and 4 columns, similarly to the capsule accommodation pockets 24a in each pocket group 24g on the outer peripheral surface of the reversing roller 24.
1a is provided. A capsule 90 is housed in each through hole 41a in a substantially vertical state with the body facing down. The pallet 41 can be moved in the horizontal direction at a position below the reversing roller 24, and is moved to a position above each cap accommodation pocket group 31b in the cap support ring 31.

The pallet 41 is moved in the horizontal direction in synchronization with the rotation of the reversing roller 24, and each row of the through holes 41a of the pallet 41 is provided at the lowest position in the pocket group 24g of the reversing roller 24. Each row of the pockets 24a is sequentially opposed. Then, after that, the pallet 41 is
is moved to a position where it can face each of the cap storage pockets 31a in the pocket group 31b of the cap support ring 31.

A shutter 45 provided below the pallet 41 has substantially the same diameter as each through hole 41a of the pallet 41,
It has a through hole 45a that can face each through hole 41a. The shutter
45 is a pallet 4 such that the through-holes 41a of the pallet 41 sequentially face each row of the capsule storage pockets 24a of the reversing roller 24.
While 1 moves, each row of the through-holes 45a of the shutter 45 is moved together with the pallet 41 in a closed state where it does not face each row of the through-holes 41a of the pallet 41. Then, when each row of the through holes 41a in the pallet 41 is opposed to each row of the capsule accommodation pocket 24a of the reversing roller 24, only the pallet 41 is moved onto the cap support ring 31 with the shutter 45 stopped. You. Thereby, each through hole 45 of the shutter 45
a and the respective through holes 41a of the pallet 41 face each other in an aligned state.

A suction port 46a is opposed to the lowermost part of the reversing roller 24 via a pallet 41 and a shutter 45. The suction port 46a is provided with a through hole 41a of the pallet 41 in each row of the capsule accommodation pocket 24a located at the bottom of the reversing roller 24.
Are opposed to each other, the capsule 90 in the capsule storage pocket 24a is sucked through the through hole 45a of the shutter 45 and the opposed through hole 41a of the pallet 41, and each capsule 90
Is transferred into the through hole 41a of the pallet 41. The capsule 90 transferred into the through hole 41a of the pallet 41 stays in the through hole 41a by the shutter 45.

Under the cap support ring 31, suction ports 46b are opposed to each other while sandwiching each body support base 32 which moves around. The suction port 46b is provided with the respective through-holes 41a of the pallet 41, the respective through-holes 45a of the shutter 45, the respective cap accommodation pockets 31a in the pocket group 31b of the cap support ring 31, and the respective bodies of the body support base 32 in the aligned state. The air inside the storage pocket 32a is sucked. And pallet 4
The capsule 90 housed in each of the through holes 41a is a shutter
Through the through holes 45a of the cap 45, the cap 91 is housed in the cap housing pockets 31a of the cap support ring 31 from the body 91 side.

The inner diameter of the cap storage pocket 31a is slightly larger at the upper part than the outer diameter of the cap 92, and is smaller at the lower part.
Is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the body 91, but slightly larger than the outer diameter of the body 91. Further, the inner diameter of the body storage pocket 32a in each body support base 32 is slightly larger at the upper part than the outer diameter of the body 91, and is slightly smaller at the lower part than the outer diameter of the body 91. Therefore, when air is sucked from the suction port 46b, only the cap 92 of each capsule 90 is held in the cap storage pocket 31a, and each body 91 is separated from the cap 92, and each of the bodies 91 is separated from the cap 92. It is housed in the body housing pocket 32a.

As shown in FIG. 4, an upper end surface of a cylindrical support cylinder 33 is attached to the lower surface of the inner peripheral edge of the cap support ring 31 in the capsule transport mechanism 30. The support cylinder 33 is
It is rotatably provided on a fixed cylinder 38 having the same diameter as the support cylinder 33, and can rotate integrally with the cap support ring 31. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, fifteen cylindrical bushes 34 are attached to the support cylinder 33 in a radial state penetrating the support cylinder 33. Each bush 34 is provided corresponding to each cap storage pocket group 31b provided on the cap support ring 31. In each bush 34, a horizontal arm 35 is slidably fitted, respectively. Therefore, each arm 35 is radially attached to the support cylinder 33.

FIG. 6 is a development view of the support cylinder 33 and the fixed cylinder 38. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a connecting member 39 is attached to a tip portion of each arm 35 located outside the support cylinder 33, and each connecting member 39 has a pair of vertical members. Support rods 36 and 36 are slidably supported in the up-down direction. Each support rod 36 is urged downward by a suitable urging member against the connecting tool 39. A flat body support base is provided on the upper end surface of each support rod 36 forming a pair.
32 are mounted almost horizontally.

A slider 36 is provided at the lower end of each support rod 36.
The sliders 36a are slidably fitted in guide grooves 38a formed on the outer peripheral surface of a fixed cylinder 38 disposed below the support cylinder 33. Therefore, with the rotation of the support cylinder 33, each slider
36a slides in the guide groove 38a on the outer peripheral surface of the fixed cylinder 38.

A cam follower 35a is attached to a base end of each arm 35 supported by each bush 34 so as to penetrate the support cylinder 33 and located inside the support cylinder 33. Each of the cam followers 35a It is engaged with the moving cam 37. The positive cam 3
Reference numeral 7 denotes, for example, a guide groove opened upward, and each of the cam followers 35a is slidably fitted in the guide groove. As shown in FIG. 5, the positive cam 37 moves each arm 35 in the radial direction of the support cylinder 33 when the support cylinder 33 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow A. The positive cam
The movement of each arm 35 by 37 is as follows.

At a position where the body support base 32 provided at the tip of each arm 35 is close to the reversing roller 24 (indicated by reference numeral I in FIG. 5; the same applies hereinafter) and at a position II where it is rotated 24 degrees,
Each arm 35 is retracted toward the center of the support cylinder 33 such that each body storage pocket 32a of the body support base 32 is aligned with each cap storage pocket 31a of the cap storage pocket group 31b in the cap support ring 31. State. In such a state, the body support base 32 is
It hardly extends outward from the outer peripheral surface of 31. At the position III where the support cylinder 33 is rotated 24 degrees from such a state, each arm 35 is moved in the radial direction so that the body support base 32 projects outward from the cap support ring 31. In this case, as described above, since the support cylinder 33 and the cap support ring 31 are integrated, the rotation of the support cylinder 33 causes the cap support ring 31 to rotate similarly. At the position IV where the support cylinder 33 is rotated by 24 degrees from that state, each arm 35 is arranged in the radial direction so that all the body accommodation pockets 32a of the body support base 32 project outward from the outer peripheral surface of the cap support ring 31. Moved to This state is maintained at the position V where the support cylinder 33 is further rotated by 24 degrees and the position VI where the support cylinder 33 is further rotated by 24 degrees.
Then, from that state, the position VI at which the support cylinder 33 is rotated by 24 degrees.
In I, the body support 32 is retracted toward the support cylinder 33, and further in the position VIII rotated 24 degrees from that state, the body support 32 hardly extends outward from the outer peripheral surface of the cap support ring 31. Is returned to. The support cylinder 33 is further moved from the above state by 24 degrees, and each position IX, X, XI, XII, XIII, X, which is positioned while being circulated seven times.
In IV and XV, the state where the body support base 32 hardly extends outward from the cap support ring 31 is maintained. In this state, as described above, each body storage pocket 32a of the body support base 32 is opposed to each cap storage pocket 31a in the pocket group 31b of the cap support ring 31 in an aligned state. With the rotation of the support cylinder 33, the cap support ring 31,
Each body support 32 is integrally rotated, and the cap support ring 31 and each body support 32 are
It rotates intermittently so as to temporarily stop at each of the positions I to XV shown in FIG.

When each arm 35 moves outward from the support cylinder 33, the slider 36a provided at the end thereof via the connecting member 39 and the support rod 36 is separated from the guide groove 38a of the fixed cylinder 38. At this time, since each support rod 36 is urged downward with respect to the connection tool 39, each urging force moves each support rod 36 downward, and as shown in FIG. The table 32 is also moved downward. Guide groove of fixed cylinder 38
38a is formed along the trajectory of the slider 36a, and faces the slider 36a that has been moved downward while the slider 36a is moving downward.

A powder filling mechanism 95 is disposed above a position indicated by IV in FIG. 5 at a position 72 degrees away from the position where the capsule transfer mechanism 40 is disposed in the rotational direction of the cap support ring 31 in FIG. A liquid filling mechanism 96 is disposed above a position V that is 24 degrees away from this position in the rotation direction of the cap support ring 31. At positions IV and V where the powder filling mechanism 95 and the liquid filling mechanism 96 are arranged, all the body storage pockets 32a of the body support base 32 extend outward from the cap support ring 31. Filling mechanisms 95 and 96 include
A filling port is provided to face each body 91 of the capsule housed in each body housing pocket 32a. And from each filling port in each filling device 95 and 96,
The powder filling and the liquid filling are applied to all the bodies 91 supported by the respective body supports 32 located at the respective positions IV and V.
Is filled in.

The position V at which the liquid filling mechanism 96 fills each body 91 supported by the body support 32 with the liquid filling material.
XI that is 144 degrees away from the cap support ring 31 in the direction of rotation
Is provided with a coupling mechanism 60. The coupling mechanism 60 includes:
Each cap 91 supported by the cap support ring 31 and each body 91 supported by each body support base 32 and filled with the liquid and powder filler are coupled. The coupling mechanism 60 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG.
A cap holding plate 61 which can cover the cap housing pocket group 31b, and a body presser 62 provided below the body support base 32 facing the cap housing pocket group 31b. The body presser 62 includes an elevating table 62a provided substantially horizontally below the body supporting table 32, and all of the body housing pockets 3 of the body supporting table 32 on the elevating table 62a.
Pins 62 arranged substantially vertically so as to face 2a, respectively.
b.

When the lift 62a is raised, the body support
Body 91 supported by 32 body storage pockets 32a
Is pushed up by the pin 62b and fitted into the cap 91 supported by the cap storage pocket 31a of the cap support ring 31. Then, the lifting table 62a is further raised, whereby the cap 91 is pressed against the cap pressing plate 61,
The cap 91 and the body 91 are integrally connected. When the cap 91 and the body 91 are connected, the elevator 62a is lowered.

When the cap 91 and the body 91 are connected to each other, and the cap support ring 31 and the body support base 32 move around 24 degrees and reach the position indicated by XII in FIG.
As shown in FIG.
Is discharged from the cap support ring 31 and the body support base 32. The capsule discharging mechanism 70 includes a hollow box-shaped chute 71.
And a capsule ejector 72. Shoot 71, bottom
71a is inclined, and the upper end thereof faces the cap storage pocket group 31b of the cap support ring 31. Shoot 7
The lower end of the bottom surface 71a extends outside the cap support ring 31, and the lower end is provided with an opening 71b. A through hole 71c is provided at the upper end of the bottom surface 71a of the chute 71 so as to face all the cap storage pockets 31a of the cap storage pocket group 31b of the cap support ring 31. Each of the through holes 71c has a longer vertical length as being located on the upper side along the bottom surface 71a.

The capsule ejector 72 is a flat plate-like elevating table 72 which is disposed substantially horizontally so as to face the lower surface of the body supporting table 32.
a, and a plurality of pins 72b provided substantially vertically on the upper surface of the elevating table 72a. The elevating table 72a can be moved up and down. Each pin 72b is provided at a position of the body support base 32 facing each body storage pocket 32a. Therefore, each pin 72b is different from each through hole 71c provided on the bottom surface 71a of the chute 71 by each cap storage pocket 31a of the cap support ring 31 and each body storage pocket 32a of the body support base 32.
And the length thereof is determined corresponding to the axial length of each through hole 71c.

When the elevating table 72a of the capsule ejector 72 is raised, each pin 72b fits into each body accommodating pocket 32a of the body support table 32, and the body 91 and the cap 91 are integrated by each pin 72b. The capsule 90 is lifted,
Each capsule 90 is pushed into the chute 71 through each cap accommodation pocket 31a of the cap support ring 31 and each through hole 71c provided on the bottom surface 71a of the chute 71. At this time, the length of the pin 72b is a length corresponding to the vertical length of each through hole 71c of the chute 71, and each capsule 90 is pushed into the chute 71 without any trouble. Each capsule 90 pushed out into the chute 71 falls along the bottom surface 71a, and is discharged into a predetermined container from the opening 71b at the lower end.

The operation of the capsule filling apparatus of the present invention having such a configuration is as follows. By the capsule alignment mechanism 20, a predetermined number of capsules 90 (capsule group) in a substantially vertical state with the cap 91 on the upper side and the body 91 on the lower side,
It is stored in each through hole 41a of the pallet 41 in the capsule transfer mechanism 40. Then, the capsule transfer mechanism 40 moves the pallet 41 in the horizontal direction, and
The capsule 90 accommodated therein is opposed to the respective pockets 31a of the cap accommodation pocket group 31b at the position I shown in FIG. 5 in the cap support ring 31 through the respective through holes 45a of the shutter 45. In such a state, the capsule 90 accommodated in each through-hole 41a of the pallet 41 by the suction air from the suction port 46b passes through each through-hole 45a of the shutter 45 and passes through the cap accommodation pocket of the cap support ring 31. Moved into 31a. Then, while the cap 91 in each capsule 90 stays in the cap storage pocket 31a of the capsule support ring 31, each body 91 is in the cap storage pocket 31a.
Through each of the body storage pockets 32 of the body support base 32
Each is accommodated in a.

In such a state, the cap support ring
The cap 31 is rotated around 24 degrees, and the cap storage pocket group 31b in which each cap 91 is stored in each cap storage pocket 31a is moved from position I to position II. At this time, the body support base 32 in which the body 91 is accommodated in each of the body accommodation pockets 32a is similarly moved around 24 degrees and moved to the position II. In such a state, the cap support ring 31 and the body support base 32
After the orbital movement is temporarily stopped, the cap support ring 31 and each body support base 32 are again rotated by 24 degrees. Thereby, a group of cap storage pockets in which each cap 91 is stored in each cap storage pocket 31a.
31b is moved from position II to position III. In such a state, the cap 91 and the body 91 are moved by the capsule transfer mechanism 40 to the respective cap storage pockets 31a of the cap storage pocket group 31b and the respective body storage pockets 32a of the body support base 32 moved to the position I. Each is accommodated.

Similarly, the cap support ring 31 and the body support base 32 are rotated twice by 24 degrees twice, so that the cap storage pocket group 31b in which the cap 91 is first stored in each cap storage pocket 31a. Reaches the position V, the body support base 32 located below the cap accommodation pocket group 31b
a is extended to the outside of the cap support ring 31,
It is located below the liquid filling mechanism 96. In such a state, the liquid filling mechanism 96 is operated, and all the bodies 91 located below the liquid filling mechanism 96 are filled with a predetermined liquid substance. At this time, each cap storage pocket 31a of the cap storage pocket group 31b moved to the position I in the cap support ring 31, and the cap storage pocket group 3
The cap 92 of each capsule 90 and each body 91 are accommodated in each body accommodation pocket 32a of the body support base 32 located below 1b.

Similarly, the cap support ring 31 and each of the body support bases 32 are rotated twice by 24 degrees each time, so that each cap of the cap accommodation pocket group 31b of the cap support ring 31 which is disposed every other is used. The caps 91 are accommodated in the accommodation pockets 31a, respectively, and the bodies 91 are accommodated in the body accommodation pockets 31a of the body support base 32 located below the cap accommodation pocket group 31a. When the body support 32 in which the body 91 is accommodated in each body accommodation pocket 32a is moved to the position V, all the bodies 91 supported by the body support 32 are filled with the liquid substance. Is done.

The above operation is repeated, and the body supporting table for supporting each body 91 initially filled with the liquid substance.
32 is moved to position XV. At this time, the cap accommodation pocket group 31b in which the cap 91 is accommodated in each cap accommodation pocket 32a, and the body support base 32 in which the body 91 is accommodated in each body accommodation pocket 32a are located at positions IV, XI,
And XII, the powder filling mechanism 95, the coupling mechanism 60, and the discharging mechanism 70 disposed at each position.
Are designed not to work.

In such a state, when the cap support ring 31 is rotated twice by 24 degrees each time, the body support base 32 supporting the body containing the liquid substance moves through the position I to the position II. And the body support 32 and the cap support pocket group 31b located on the body support 32 adjacent to the opposite side to the circling direction of the body support 32.
Then, the body 91 and the cap 91 are supplied respectively.

Thereafter, the cap support ring 31 and the body support base 32 are further moved twice by 24 degrees twice, so that the body support base 32 supporting the liquid-filled body 91 is moved to the position IV. The body support 32 is positioned below the powder filling mechanism 95. In such a state, the powder is filled in each body 91 of the body support base 32. In this case, the liquid filled in the body 91 supported by the body support 32 hardens while the body support 32 orbits 336 degrees after the liquid substance is filled at the position V. The powder filled by the powder filling mechanism 95 does not mix with the hardened liquid. During the powder filling operation, at the position I, the cap accommodation pocket group 31b and the body support 32
, A cap 92 and a body 91 are supplied.

Thereafter, similarly, the orbital movement over 24 degrees is repeated intermittently, so that when the body supporting table 32 which initially supports the body 91 filled with liquid and powder reaches the position XI, the body Each body 91 supported by the support base 32 and each cap 91 of the cap storage pocket group 31b located above the body support base 32 are connected by the connection mechanism 60. Then, the cap support ring 31 and the body support 32 move around 24 degrees, and the cap storage pocket group 31 supporting the coupled capsule 90 is moved.
When b and body support 32 reach position XII, cap
The capsule 90 in which the body 91 and the body 91 are combined is discharged from the body support base 32 and the cap support ring 31 by the capsule discharge mechanism 70, and flows down on the chute 71. Then, when the cap storage pocket group 31b and the body support base 32 from which all the capsules 90 have been discharged are next moved to the position I, the same operation as described above is repeated, and the liquid and powder are filled in each capsule. Filled sequentially.

[0043]

According to the capsule filling apparatus of the present invention, the liquid and the powder can be efficiently filled in one capsule without mixing them.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a main part of a capsule filling device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the capsule filling device.

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of a capsule alignment mechanism provided in the capsule filling device.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a coupling mechanism provided in the capsule filling device.

FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of a capsule transport mechanism provided in the capsule filling device.

FIG. 6 is a development view of a main part of the capsule transport mechanism.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a capsule discharging mechanism provided in the capsule filling device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Base 20 Capsule alignment mechanism 21 Capsule hopper 22 Supply drum 23 Restriction roller 24 Reversing roller 30 Capsule transport mechanism 31 Cap support ring 31a Cap storage pocket 31b Cap storage pocket group 32 Body support 32a Body storage pocket 40 Capsule transfer mechanism 60 capsules Coupling mechanism 70 Capsule ejection mechanism 90 Capsule 91 Body 92 Cap 95 Powder filling mechanism 96 Liquid filling mechanism

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. An odd number of cap storage pocket groups each including a plurality of cap storage pockets respectively supporting a plurality of caps are arranged at equal pitches in a circumferential direction, and intermittently move by the pitch. An annular cap support ring, so as to move around integrally with the cap support ring,
Are arranged below each cap storage bag group, a body supporting base body corresponding to the cap which is supported by the cap receiving pocket in the cap accommodating pockets groups are respectively supported, 1 in said cap support ring The cap is supported by each cap storage pocket of the alternate cap storage pocket group, and the body is supported by each of the body storage pockets of the body support base disposed below each cap storage pocket group in which the cap is supported. A capsule transfer mechanism; a liquid filling mechanism for filling each body in each body support with a liquid when each body support on which the body is supported by the capsule transfer mechanism is intermittently moved an even number of times; Body support base for liquid filling position by filling mechanism Only circular movement pitch disposed adjacent,
A powder filling mechanism in which the powder substance is filled after the body supporting base that supports the body filled with the liquid has made one round, and a cap storage pocket of the cap storage pocket group.
And the cap supported by the
Liquid supported by a body support located below
Combine body and body filled with powdered material
Coupling mechanism, and a cap having the cap and the body coupled by the coupling mechanism.
The body support stand and the cap storage pocket.
Capsule discharged by removing from the cap support ring
A capsule filling device having a mechanism . 2. When each of the body supports is moved to a position corresponding to an arrangement position of a liquid filling mechanism and a powder filling mechanism, all body receiving pockets are positioned outside a cap support ring. The capsule filling device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid filling mechanism and the powder filling mechanism are arranged so as to face all the body storage pockets of each body support base. 3. The capsule ejecting mechanism is spaced apart from the coupling mechanism by a distance corresponding to an arrangement pitch of adjacent cap storage pocket groups in the cap support ring in a direction in which the cap support ring rotates. The capsule filling device according to claim 1, wherein