TW201803466A - Method and apparatus for manufacturing a liquid-filled capsule - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a method of manufacturing liquid-filled capsules for use in smoking articles. The method comprises the steps of: providing a capsule shell (101) defining a cavity (106) and having an open end (105); dispensing a volume of liquid (L) into the cavity (106) through the open end (105) of the shell (101), whereby a clearance ([delta]) is left between an upper surface of the liquid (L) dispensed into the cavity (106) and the open end (105) of the shell (101); and sealing the open end (105) of the shell (101) with a portion of sheet material to provide a liquid-filled capsule (100) containing the volume of liquid (L). The present invention also provides an apparatus for manufacturing liquid-filled capsules for use in smoking articles. The apparatus comprises: a holder for holding one or more capsule shells (101); a conveyor for moving or transporting the holder with the one or more capsule shells (101); a filling station (3) for dispensing a liquid into a cavity (106) of each of the capsule shells (101) held by the holder, wherein the filling station (3) is configured to provide a pre-defined clearance ([delta]) between the liquid dispensed into the cavity (106) and the open end (105) of each shell (101); and a sealing station (4) for covering and sealing an open end (105) of each capsule shell (101) with a sheet material to form a capsule (100). The invention further provides a liquid-filled capsule (100) for use in smoking articles, wherein the capsule comprises: a capsule shell (101) defining a cavity (106) and having an end (105) providing a filling opening; a volume of liquid (L) contained within the cavity (106); and a cap (102) which covers and seals the end (105). A pre-defined clearance ([delta]) is provided between an upper surface of the liquid (L) contained in the cavity (106) and the end (105) of the shell (101).

Description

Method and equipment for manufacturing liquid-filled capsules

The present invention refers to a method and apparatus for manufacturing a fragile liquid-filled capsule for a smoking article such as paper cigarettes, and the fragile liquid-filled capsule itself.

Cigarettes such as paper cigarettes are considered popular consumer products and usually have a generally cylindrical configuration and include a certain amount of charge, a roll or a column made of a paper wrapper. A smoking material such as cut tobacco (for example, in the form of shredded filler) is wrapped so as to form a so-called "tobacco rod". In addition, the cigarette has a cylindrical filter element aligned with the tobacco rod in an end-to-end relationship. This filter may include, for example, a cellulose acetate tow, which is wrapped with a paper stock called a "plug wrap". Generally, the filter tip is attached to one end of the tobacco rod with an external wrapper called "tipping paper."

In recent years, consumer demand for tobacco products that can provide improved sensory attributes has been increasing, especially for paper cigarettes filled with filters, and this filter is used as a vehicle to add flavor to mainstream cigarettes. In particular, this type of smoking article has flavor-changing substances packed in fragile pellets or capsules. During the manufacture of cigarettes, the filter material is shaped into a continuous filter rod, and, for example, such pellets or capsules are disposed within the filter rod along its longitudinal axis. Then, the continuous filter bar is divided or cut at predetermined intervals to form a plurality of filters, so that each filter contains at least one capsule. Thereafter, the capsule was broken by the consumer with a hand to allow a certain substance to be released into the filter material, so that during the smoking period, the filter material could function to change the flavor or taste of mainstream smoke.

For this purpose, the user uses a frangible capsule provided with a liquid-containing case. The casing defines a cavity for receiving and holding liquid, and is provided with an open end which is usually sealed or covered by a cap. In addition, the shell can also be provided with a predetermined failure zone so that the shell will preferentially crack in the rupture zone when the consumer applies pressure on the capsule. With this method, the release of the liquid can be controlled to ensure that it is directed to the intended area.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Application No. JP H 05-330503 has disclosed a manufacturing process for mass production of such fragile liquid-filled capsules. As shown in the fourth diagram of the application (listed in FIG. 1 of the present application), the tray feeding area B supplies a tray 3, and a plurality of trays 3 located on the tray feeding area A are provided thereon. Capsule housing 2 below the plate 1. The heat sealing device C heat-seals the sheet 1 to each case on the tray 3, and then cuts and melt-seals the sheet 1 to each case 2 by the lateral feeding device D, thereby forming on each case A square cover. Next, the top cover packaging machine E bends the edge area of the top cover to the outer peripheral surface of the casing. Finally, the unloading device G unloads the tray 3 containing the finished capsule product, and the sheet winding part F winds up the remaining sheet 1 after cutting off the top cover.

It has been ascertained that customary techniques for making such liquid-filled capsules can produce capsules in excess of those that do not meet operational or usage requirements; for example, in terms of the amount of liquid contained in the capsules and / or sealing effectiveness. Therefore, the object of the present invention is an improved manufacturing method and device for liquid-filled capsules for tobacco products. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to increase yield for such a process with a properly filled and / or sealed capsule.

The invention provides a method and a device for manufacturing liquid-filled capsules for tobacco products, which have the characteristics described in claims 1 and 9 of the scope of patent application. In addition, the present invention also provides a liquid-filled capsule having the characteristics as described in item 13 of the scope of the patent application for a tobacco product.

Therefore, an aspect of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing a liquid-filled capsule for a tobacco product, which includes the following steps: providing a capsule shell defining a cavity and having an open end; The end distributes a certain amount of liquid into the cavity, thereby leaving a space or gap between the upper surface of the liquid delivered to the cavity and the open end of the casing; and sealing the open end of the casing with a sheet Thus, a liquid-filled capsule containing the quantitative liquid is provided.

In this regard, the present inventors have confirmed that the amount of liquid in the cavity has a considerable impact on the production and functional characteristics of the capsule. For example, the ability to seal the open end of a housing may be reduced, especially as the speed of the production process is increased. If the filling rate of the capsule is below a predetermined threshold and the liquid contained in the capsule is generally insufficient, the consumer may experience an unsatisfactory smoking experience. On the other hand, if the space or gap between the open end of the casing and the liquid is below the threshold, the capsule may not be properly sealed, and leakage will occur in situ before the cigarette is delivered to the consumer.

The "filling rate" referred to herein refers to the ratio of the amount of liquid contained in the capsule to the filling capacity of the capsule cavity. The so-called "filling capacity" refers to the nominal value of the void volume defined by the shell, rather than the actual value of the void volume taking into account the allowable manufacturing tolerances.

In a preferred embodiment, the space or gap is a linear dimension measured from the upper surface of the liquid delivered into the cavity to the open end of the capsule shell. That is, this gap is usually measured between the upper surface of the liquid and the outer edge or edge of the open end of the casing. It is to be understood that when making such a measurement, the capsule is usually placed upright; that is, the sealed open end (ie, the filling end) of the capsule faces upward. This space or gap should preferably be at least 0.4 mm, more preferably at least 0.6 mm, and even more preferably at least 0.8 mm.

The measurement of the gap may be, for example, a laser measurement device capable of measuring two relative distances from a reference position. In this regard, the first relative distance is the distance between the open end of the seal (excluding the thickness of the sealing sheet or "top cover") and the reference position, and the second relative distance is between the upper surface of the liquid and the reference position distance. Next, the gap is obtained by the absolute value of the first minus the second relative distance.

In a preferred embodiment, the liquid dispensed may include purified water or a water-based liquid containing dissolved or suspended perfume. This type of liquid usually produces a negative meniscus, so that the upper surface of the liquid is located where the liquid in the cavity contacts the side wall of the casing.

In a preferred embodiment, the step of dispensing the quantitative liquid into the casing includes filling the capsule with a filling rate higher than a predetermined minimum, and preferably within a predetermined range. As mentioned earlier, the filling rate of the capsule is the ratio of the quantity of liquid delivered to the filling capacity of the cavity. In addition, the predetermined minimum value of the filling rate should be 0.5, and the predetermined range of the filling rate should be 0.5 to 0.9, preferably 0.75 to 0.9, the best is 0.8 to 0.9. It has been checked that the filling rate of 0.88 will make the capsules have excellent production and functional characteristics.

In a preferred embodiment, the step of sealing the open end of the shell includes: covering the open end of the capsule shell with a piece of sheet material; and fusing or bonding that piece of sheet material to seal the open end of the shell. ; And cut off the excess material in that piece of sheet from the open end of the housing seal, especially from the outer edge. The step of sealing the open end of the casing preferably includes substantially shaping the outline or shape of the open end of the casing while cutting off the excess sheet material from the open end of the casing. The cover or closure formed by the sheet over the open end of the housing can be referred to as the top cover. Due to the relatively small size of capsules, which usually have a diameter between 2.5 mm and 8.0 mm, the sheet should be cut with a rotary blade cutter. However, lasers or punches can also be used to cut slices.

In a preferred embodiment, the method further comprises the steps of: inspecting the liquid-filled capsule or its components (e.g., the capsule shell, cover, or liquid contained in the shell) for manufacturing defects; and When manufacturing defects are detected, the capsules are identified as defective. Possible manufacturing defects include, for example, deviations or mismatches in the size of the shell, misalignment of the cover and the shell, deviations or mismatches in the size of the capsule, and / or leakage of liquid. The "manufacturing defect" referred to herein is known to be an unacceptable degree of deviation or inconsistency from the target or intended manufacturing parameters, that is, beyond a predetermined tolerance range. Further, the method preferably includes the step of returning the capsule identified as defective. In this way, the defective capsules can be withdrawn or removed during the production of tobacco products to prevent further processing. In addition, this can avoid wasting manufacturing efforts on products that are not qualified for use in tobacco products (e.g., consumers are not satisfied with the results of use) or may break during the production of tobacco products (i.e. generate waste and / or contaminate equipment) On the capsule.

In a preferred embodiment, the method includes the steps of: providing a fixation device for housing the capsule housing; and placing the fixation device and Capsule shells are transported together: the liquid is introduced into the cavity, the open end of the shell is sealed, the capsule or its components are inspected, the capsules are identified as defective, and the capsules identified as defective are returned. In addition, in a particularly preferred embodiment, the fixing device is configured to accommodate a plurality of capsule shells. Therefore, the fixing device can be designed as a tray with a plurality of compartments or containers, and each compartment can be or can be set to accommodate a corresponding capsule shell, so that it can be distributed, sealed, inspected, identified and returned. Wait for the step or between two or more of them.

It will be understood that the step of dispensing liquid into the cavity through the open end of the capsule shell is essentially filling the cavity of the shell with the liquid. If a fixing device designed to accommodate a plurality of capsule shells is used, the steps of dispensing liquid and filling the cavities can be performed on the capsule shells at the same time. In this way, a liquid dispensing device designed to simultaneously dispense or spray liquid into the cavities of these casings can be used.

In a preferred embodiment, if the adopted fixing device is designed to accommodate a plurality of capsule shells, the method includes the following steps:

Placing several capsule shells on a fixture;

Setting a reference for the position of each housing relative to the fixture; and

Between at least two steps selected from the following, a transport system with a position reference is used to transport the fixture: introduce or distribute liquid into the cavity, seal the open end of the housing, inspect the capsule or its components, and Capsules are identified as defective, and capsules identified as defective are returned.

If reference is made to the position of each casing relative to the fixing device, and the position-conveying system is used to transport the fixing device, the position of each casing can be known and tracked along the process path. As a result, once a defective capsule is identified and / or returned, the source of the capsule can be traced, thereby reducing maintenance time.

In the method of the present invention, if a fixing device designed to accommodate a plurality of capsule shells is used, the step of sealing the open ends of the shells may include: covering the open ends of each capsule shell with a sheet; fusing or The sheets are bonded to seal the open ends of the shells; and the excess material in the sheets is cut out from the sealed ends of the shells. As described above, the step of sealing the open end of the casing may include substantially shaping the outline or shape of the sealed open end of the casing while cutting off the excess sheet material from the open end of the casing.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a device for manufacturing liquid-filled capsules for tobacco products, which includes: a holder for holding more than one capsule shell; and a conveyor for transfer or transportation. And one or more capsule shells; a filling station for dispensing liquid into the cavities of each capsule shell placed by the holder, wherein the filling station is set up so that liquid can be dispensed into the cavities Provide a predetermined space or gap with the open end of each shell; and a sealing station for covering and sealing the open end of each capsule shell with a sheet of material, thereby forming a capsule.

As mentioned above, in a preferred embodiment, the predetermined gap is at least 0.4 mm, preferably at least 0.6 mm, and more preferably at least 0.8 mm.

In a preferred embodiment, the holder for holding more than one capsule shell includes a tray provided with a plurality of cells, each of which is configured to receive and hold one corresponding Capsule shell. The conveyor used to transfer or transport the holder may include more than one conveyor arm, a conveyor belt, and a rotary table. The filling station should include more than one nozzle which can communicate with the liquid supply tank. Each nozzle is configured to distribute a predetermined amount of liquid into the corresponding casing through the open end of each casing.

In a preferred embodiment, the sealing station includes a sheet feed roller preferably driven by a feed roller, a heat sealer for fusing the sheet to the outer edge of the open end of each case, and / or A cutter for cutting off excess sheets from the outer edge of the open end of each capsule. The sheet should be pulled out of the feed roller by the feed roller. The cutter should be set to cut off the excess sheet and shape the contour or shape of the outer edge of the open end of each capsule.

In a preferred embodiment, the device further includes a discharge conveyor for unloading the capsules from the inspection station to the delivery station. The discharge conveyor should preferably be a vacuum conveyor that can suck or pull out capsules from the holder (using suction).

In a preferred embodiment, the device further comprises a return station where the defective capsule can be removed.

Still another aspect of the present invention is to provide a liquid-filled capsule for tobacco products, the capsule comprising: a capsule shell defining a cavity and provided with an end portion capable of providing a filling mouth; Liquid; and a cap covering and sealing the filling opening. In addition, the capsule is provided with a predetermined space or gap between the upper surface of the cavity-filled liquid and the open end of the casing.

In a preferred embodiment, the maximum diameter of the capsule is in the range of 2.5 mm to 8.0 mm, preferably 3.0 mm to 7.5 mm, and more preferably 3.5 mm to 7.0 mm. In this regard, for very thin and super slim cigarettes, naturally the maximum diameter of the capsule at the lower end of the range is appropriate.

In a preferred embodiment, the height of the capsule is in the range of 3mm to 17mm, but is preferably 6mm to 14mm, preferably 8mm to 12mm, and more preferably 9mm to 11mm.

In a preferred embodiment, the predetermined space or gap is at least 0.4 mm, preferably at least 0.6 mm, and more preferably at least 0.8 mm; for example, about 1.0 mm.

In a preferred embodiment, the filling rate of the capsule is higher than a predetermined minimum, and preferably within a predetermined range. The predetermined minimum value of the filling rate is 0.5, and the predetermined range of the filling rate is preferably 0.5 to 0.9, preferably 0.75 to 0.9, and most preferably 0.8 to 0.9. In this regard, the filling capacity of the holes can be in a range of 50 μl to 300 μl, preferably 75 μl to 250 μl, and a range of 100 μl to 200 μl can be selected.

The accompanying drawings are provided to further understand the present invention, and are now incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification. These drawings are used as illustrations of some specific embodiments of the present invention, and together with the detailed description herein, explain the principles of the present invention. With reference to the following detailed description of the present invention, other embodiments of the present invention and many accompanying advantages can be easily and better understood.

It is to be understood that, in order to easily show the more abstract views of the embodiments, some commonly and well-known elements that may be used or necessary for conventional techniques may not be described here. Elements in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. It should also be recognized that in certain method embodiments, certain actions and / or steps may be described and described in a specific order of occurrence, but those skilled in the art can understand this specificity related to the sequence. Sex is not a requirement. In addition, the terms and expressions referred to in this specification have the ordinary meaning given to them by relevant research and learning areas, except for the specific meanings given in this specification.

Referring to FIG. 2a, FIG. 2b, FIG. 2c, and FIG. 2d, three embodiments of the frangible liquid-filled capsule 100 according to the present invention are shown. In either case, the capsule 100 includes a housing 101 with an open end and closed and sealed with a lid 102. The side wall 103 of the casing 101 extends from the end wall 104 to an open end 105 so that a cavity 106 is enclosed or defined in the casing 101. The end of the side wall 103 adjacent to the open end 105 is preferably a rim for easy application of the top cover 102. As for the shape of the side wall 103, it may be substantially cylindrical (see FIGS. 2a and 2c) or polygonal (see FIG. 2b). In addition, the side wall 103 may be made smaller or narrower from the open end 105 toward the end wall 104.

The end wall 104 of each case 101 may be provided with more than one line of weakening or more than one stress concentration element 108 to generate a weakened area. The case 101 is designed to be cracked when a compression force is applied to the side wall 103. In other words, the housing 101 is provided with a predetermined damage area so that when the consumer squeezes the side of the capsule 100, the housing 101 is preferably broken from the damage area. Generally, the casing 101 is made of a deformable elastic material, such as a polymer material. The top cover 102 is generally formed and cut out of a section or an expanse of sheet material, such as a laminated plastic sheet. The liquid L in the capsule may include purified water or a water-based liquid containing dissolved or suspended perfume. As shown in FIG. 2d, a certain amount of liquid L is filled into the cavity 106 through the open end 105 of each case 101, so that a predetermined amount can be provided between the upper surface of the liquid L and the open end 101 of the case 101 Space or gap δ is used as the selection principle. For example, the selected predetermined space or gap δ may be in a range of about 0.8 to 2.0 mm, and preferably in a range of about 0.9 to 1.5 mm.

An example of a fragile capsule 100 that can be properly made by the method of the present invention, includes a shell 101 made of LDPE (high density polyethylene), and a layer of PE (polyethylene) and a layer of PET (polyester The top cover 102 made of a plastic laminate laminated with ethylene phthalate, wherein the PE layer is the layer in contact with the outer edge 107 of the casing 101 with respect to the finished capsule 100. The thickness of such a laminated sheet is usually about 0.05 mm; that is, 50 μm. The liquid contained in the capsule 100 includes purified water and a certain flavor.

The target height of the casing 101 is 10.0 mm, and the target outer diameter is 6.28 mm. This case 101 has a filling capacity of 131 μl. The target height of the capsule 100 is 10.0 mm, while the target outer diameter of the casing 101 is 6.70 mm. The target volume of retained liquid is 115 μl, and the target weight of capsule 100 (shell 101, cap 102, and water) is 195 mg. In this case, the gap δ of the capsule 100 is about 0.95 mm, and the filling rate is about 0.88.

An embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 to describe the method and device according to the present invention. The casing 101 can be processed and formed on a molding station 1 configured with a pair of molds (not shown) for batch production of the casing 101, and injection molding is preferred. Next, the housing 101 is placed on a tray 10, and the tray is provided with a plurality of cells 11 for accommodating and placing the housing 101 and preferably arranged in an array. The compartments 11 are provided with referenced so that their position on the tray 10 can be known. As a result, the position of each case 101 on the tray 10 is also known. The tray 10 may have the ability to hold more than one batch of the molded case 101.

As soon as the tray 10 is filled with the housing 101, the conveyor arm (not shown) picks up the tray 10 and conveys it to the housing inspection station 2. When the conveyor arm transfers the tray 10, the positioning reference of each case 101 is maintained. When you reach the housing inspection station 2, the height and diameter of each housing are measured. At that time, an optical measurement device such as a camera should be used for optical measurement. If the measured height and / or diameter of any casing deviates from the target value beyond a predetermined or predetermined tolerance band, the casing 101 is identified as a defective product. This checking step is an option that can be omitted without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Thereafter, the conveyor arm picks up the tray 10 on which the casing 101 is placed again, and conveys or transports it to the filling station 3 provided on the rotary table C. As described above, when the conveyor arm transfers the tray 10, the positioning reference of each casing 101 is maintained. The filling station 3 is provided with a liquid storage tank connected to a number of nozzles, which are designed and arranged to spray liquid into the cavities 106 of all the casings 101 on the tray substantially simultaneously. However, as another alternative, the filling station 3 can also be provided with a reduced number of nozzles, and these nozzles can be designed and arranged to spray and fill only the selected shells at any given time. Each nozzle can still be changed to spray a certain amount of liquid for filling the corresponding housing cavity 106. In this regard, the casing is preferably supported and fixed on the tray 10 such that the open end 105 of the casing is directed upward toward the nozzle, and the casing 101 is filled from above.

After the shell cavity 106 is filled with the liquid at the filling station 3, that is, (as shown in FIG. 4, clockwise), the rotary table C is rotated, and the tray 10 is transferred to the sealing station 4, where all of the The open end 105 of the casing 101 is covered and sealed. The sheet is usually supplied or fed by a feed roller, and preferably via a feed roller (not shown), so that all the open ends 105 of the casing 101 are covered at the same time. Next, the sheet is heat-sealed to the outer edge 107 of each case 101.

Then, further rotate (clockwise as shown in FIG. 4) the turntable C to transfer the tray 10 to the cutting station 5, where the sheet sealed on the open end 105 of the housing 101 at that time is covered. Is cut around each outer edge 107 so as to form the top cover 102 of each capsule 101 individually. The cutting station 5 is preferably provided with a rotary blade cutter (not shown). The specific style may be a roller equipped with blades, and the shape of these blades conforms to the contour of the outer edge 107 of the casing. In this way, at this stage, a batch of frangible liquid-filled capsules 100 can be obtained, and each capsule is filled with a certain amount of distribution liquid.

Continue to rotate (to the clockwise direction shown in FIG. 4) the rotating table C, which will cause the tray 10 containing a batch of rupturable liquid-filled capsules 100 to be rotated to the capsule inspection station 6 to measure or evaluate the height and diameter. In addition, if the top cover 102 of the casing 101 is not aligned, it can also be measured. Moreover, the condition of the liquid L, especially the turbidity of the liquid L, can also be checked at the capsule inspection station 6. These parameters are preferably measured optically, for example, using an optical measurement device such as a camera. If any of the parameters measured for a certain capsule 100 is deemed to deviate from the target value beyond a predetermined error range, the capsule 100 is identified as a defective product.

Next, further rotate (clockwise in FIG. 4) the turntable C to move the tray 10 to the return station, where the defective capsule can be returned or removed. In this regard, a jet of compressed air is preferably used to eject the defective capsules 100 from the tray 10. Defective capsules that are removed or sprayed can be collected for subsequent processing or recycling.

In another alternative embodiment, a batch of fragile liquid-filled capsules 100 may be removed from the tray 10 by applying a vacuum discharge conveyor (not shown). During such transport of the capsules 100, as long as the suction applied to the defective capsules is disconnected, they can be withdrawn from the batch, thus allowing them to fall off the conveyor at the return station.

Without departing from the spirit of the present invention, the rotary table of this embodiment can be replaced by a belt conveyor, and filling, sealing, cutting, inspection and return stations can be set along it.

Although some specific embodiments of the present invention have been exemplified, those skilled in the art know that there are various alternative and / or equivalent implementations. It should also be understood that the embodiments described are provided as examples, and should not be limited in scope, applicability, and configuration. Conversely, the foregoing summary and detailed description provide a skilled person with a road map that can implement at least one embodiment. It should be understood that various functions described in the embodiments can be changed in function and configuration without departing from the scope of the present invention. In general, any modification or change in the matters discussed in the specific embodiments discussed herein is covered by this application.

The terms "including", "including", "containing", "having" and any changes in this document shall be understood as inclusive (ie, non-exclusive), so that the processes and methods described in the article , Device, arrangement or system does not include those components, parts, components or steps that are referenced, but may include other components, parts, components or steps that are not explicitly listed or inherent. In addition, the term "a" or "a" shall mean one or more unless specifically stated otherwise. Furthermore, the terms "first", "second", and "third" are only used as labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on those objects or establish some order of importance.

1‧‧‧forming station
2‧‧‧shell inspection station
3‧‧‧ filling station
4‧‧‧sealed station
5‧‧‧ cutting station
6‧‧‧ Capsule Checkpoint
7‧‧‧Return Station
10‧‧‧ Tray
11‧‧‧ division
100‧‧‧ capsules
101‧‧‧shell
102‧‧‧Top cover
103‧‧‧ sidewall
104‧‧‧ end wall
105‧‧‧ open end
106‧‧‧ Cavity
107‧‧‧ outer edge
108‧‧‧ weakening line or stress concentration element δ‧‧‧ space or gap
L‧‧‧Liquid
C‧‧‧Turntable

Here are some examples and the drawings to explain the present invention in detail for a better understanding of the present invention and its advantages. The same reference numbers in the drawings refer to the same components, of which: Figure 1 is Schematic diagram of a manufacturing method and device known in the art; Figure 2a is a perspective side view of a capsule manufactured according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2b is a capsule manufactured according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention Perspective side view; Figure 2c is a cross-sectional view of a capsule manufactured according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2d is a diagrammatic side view of a capsule manufactured according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; A diagrammatic example of a fixing device for conveying a housing in a manufacturing method and apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of a device implementing a capsule manufacturing method according to an embodiment of the present invention .

1‧‧‧forming station

2‧‧‧shell inspection station

3‧‧‧ filling station

4‧‧‧sealed station

5‧‧‧ cutting station

6‧‧‧ Capsule Checkpoint

7‧‧‧Return Station

C‧‧‧Turntable

Claims (15)

A method for manufacturing a liquid-filled capsule, the method includes the following steps: providing a capsule shell (101), the shell defining a cavity (106) and provided with an open end (105); The open end (105) distributes a certain amount of liquid (L) into the cavity (106), so that the upper surface of the liquid (L) delivered to the cavity (106) and the open end (105) of the housing (101) ) Creates a space or gap (δ): and seals the open end (105) of the casing (101) with a part of the sheet, thereby providing a liquid-filled capsule containing the quantitative liquid (L) (100). The method according to claim 1, wherein the gap (δ) is at least 0.4 mm, preferably at least 0.6 mm, and more preferably at least 0.8 mm. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the step of dispensing the liquid (L) into the casing (101) comprises filling the capsule (100) with a filling rate higher than a predetermined minimum and preferably within a predetermined range So that the filling rate of the capsule (100) is the ratio of the quantity of liquid (L) distributed to the filling capacity of the cavity (106). In addition, the predetermined minimum value of the filling rate is 0.5, and the predetermined range of the filling rate should be 0.5 to 0.9, preferably 0.75 to 0.9, and most preferably 0.8 to 0.9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the step of sealing the open end of the casing includes: opening the open end (105) of the capsule casing (101) with a so-called part of the sheet. Covering; fusing or gluing the part of the sheet to seal the open end (105) of the casing (101); and sealing the open end (101) of the casing (101) from the said A part of the excess material of the sheet is cut out, and the outline or shape of the sealed open end of the casing (101) should be substantially shaped. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the steps of: inspecting the liquid-filled capsule (100) or its components for manufacturing defects; if manufacturing defects are detected, identifying the capsule (100) as a defective product; and identifying Return the defective capsule (100). The method according to claim 5, further comprising the steps of: providing a fixing device for placing the capsule housing (101); and between the at least two steps selected from the following, the fixing device and the capsule housing (101) Conveying together: introducing or distributing liquid into the cavity (106), sealing the open end (105) of the casing (101), inspecting the capsule (100) or its components, and identifying the capsule (100) as a defect Product, and the capsule (100) to be identified as defective. The method according to claim 6, wherein the fixing device is configured to hold a plurality of capsule shells (101), and the method includes the following steps: placing a plurality of capsule shells (101) on the fixing device; Set the reference of the position of the body (101) relative to the fixture; and use at least two steps selected from the following to convey the fixture by a conveying system with a position reference: introducing or dispensing liquid into the cavity (106 ), Seal the open end (105) of the casing (101), inspect the capsule (100) or its components, identify the capsule (100) as a defective product, and return the capsule (100) identified as a defective product. The method according to claim 7, wherein the step of sealing the open end of the shell comprises: covering the open end (105) of the capsule shell (101) with a so-called part of the sheet; fusing or gluing The said part of the sheet is used to seal the open end (105) of the casing (101); and the excess of the said part of the sheet is sealed from the open end of the casing (101). It is cut out, and the outline or shape of the open end (105) of the casing (101) should be substantially shaped. A device for manufacturing liquid-filled capsules, comprising: a holder capable of holding more than one capsule housing (101); a conveyor capable of transferring or transporting the holder and more than one capsule housing (101) ); A filling station (3), which can be used to distribute the liquid into the cavity (106) of each capsule shell (101) placed by the holder, wherein the filling station (3) is set to A predetermined space or gap (δ) is left between the liquid in the cavity (106) and the open end (105) of each casing (101); and a sealing station (4) is available for covering with a sheet of material And seal the open end (105) of each capsule casing (101), thereby forming a capsule (100). The device according to claim 9, wherein the filling station (3) includes one or more nozzles that can communicate with the liquid supply tank, and each of the nozzles is configured to distribute a predetermined amount of liquid into the corresponding casing (101) . The device according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the sealing station (4) comprises: a sheet feeding roller preferably driven by a feeding roller, and a sheet for fusing the sheet to the open end of each casing (101) ( 105) A heat sealer on the outer edge (107) and a cutter can be used to cut off the excess sheet material from the outer edge (107) of each capsule open end (105), and should be substantially shaped The outline or shape of the outer edge (107) of each casing (101). The device according to claim 11, wherein the holder capable of holding more than one capsule housing (101) comprises a tray (10); and / or wherein the conveyor capable of transferring or transporting the holder comprises one The above robot conveys a support arm, a conveyor belt, and a turntable (C); and / or wherein the device further includes a return station (7), where any defective capsule (100) can be removed . A liquid-filled capsule (100) includes: a capsule shell (101) defining a cavity (106) and provided with an end portion capable of providing a filling mouth; A certain amount of liquid (L); and a top cover (102) covering and sealing the end portion (105); the upper surface of the liquid (L) containing the cavity (106) and the casing (101) A predetermined gap (δ) is provided between the end portions (105). The liquid-filled capsule (100) according to claim 13, wherein the predetermined gap (δ) is at least 0.5 mm, preferably at least 0.8 mm, and more preferably about 1.0 mm. The liquid-filled capsule (100) according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the end region of the casing (101) includes a predetermined damage region designed to rupture the casing (101); and / or the capsule (100) The filling rate of) is higher than a predetermined minimum value, and preferably within a predetermined range, so that the filling rate of the capsule (100) is the ratio of the quantity of the liquid (L) to the filling capacity of the cavity (106). In addition, The predetermined minimum value of the filling rate is 0.5, and the predetermined range of the filling rate is preferably 0.5 to 0.9, preferably 0.75 to 0.9, and most preferably 0.8 to 0.9.