WO2021223588A2

WO2021223588A2 - Feeding device, magazine device, sorting device, sorting station and capsule filling machine

Info

Publication number: WO2021223588A2
Application number: PCT/CN2021/088064
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mei XU; Zemao FU; Dengxin ZHU; Gejun WANG; Till Bastian WETTERAUER
Original assignee: Syntegon Packaging Technology (Hangzhou) Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2020-05-07
Filing date: 2021-04-19
Publication date: 2021-11-11
Also published as: CN112190479A; WO2021223588A3

Abstract

Disclosed is an empty capsule feeding device (11) for a sorting station (1) of a capsule filling machine, at least comprising: a hopper (111) for receiving disordered empty capsules; and a feeding slope (112) for feeding the empty capsules from the hopper (111) to a downstream magazine device (12) of the sorting station (1); wherein the feeding slope (112) is provided with at least two aligning grooves (1121) for pre-aligning the empty capsules, and the aligning grooves (1121) are configured to be adapted to be aligned with inlets of the magazine device (12) respectively. Also disclosed are a magazine device (12), a sorting device (13), a sorting station (1), a separating station and a capsule filling machine. According to the present disclosure, the capsule filling machine can achieve higher efficiency, reduced costs and more available spaces for other additional devices.

Description

Feeding Device, Magazine Device, Sorting device, Sorting Station and Capsule Filling Machine

Technical Field

The invention relates to an empty capsule feeding device, a magazine device, a sorting device for a sorting station of a capsule filling machine, a sorting station for a capsule filling machine, a separating station and a capsule filling machine.

Background Art

Various capsule filling machines are known in the industry and are used in the pharmaceutical field for filling capsules, comprising a lower capsule part and an upper capsule part, with a medication that is particularly in a powdered form. The capsule filling machine often comprises a plurality of work stations disposed along a path of revolution of a conveying wheel.

The work stations often comprise at least one capsule sorting station, a capsule separating station, a capsule filling station, a capsule closing station, a capsule inspection station and a capsule expulsion station. The capsule sorting station is used for sorting the disordered empty capsules into aligned capsules, particularly in a row and then placing the aligned capsules into a corresponding empty capsule holder. A plurality of capsule holders are disposed along a periphery of the conveying wheel, each of which capsule holders has a plurality of receiving recesses, for example, receiving holes, for accommodating the aligned capsules respectively. When the aligned capsules are positioned in the capsule holder, the capsule separating station separates the upper capsule parts from the lower capsule parts while the lower capsule parts still remain in the receiving recesses of the capsule holder. After the upper capsule parts are separated from the lower capsule parts, the lower capsule parts can be filled with the medication at the capsule filling station. After the lower capsule parts are filled with the medication, the upper capsule parts can be placed back on the lower capsule parts again to close the capsules so as to form the filled capsules at the capsule closing station. The filled capsules can be inspected for their quality and/or fill status at the capsule inspection station. The inspected capsules will be removed from the conveying wheel at the capsule expulsion station.

For improving filling efficiency, each capsule holder often is provided with two rows of receiving holes. At present, two separate sorting stations are provided to sort the empty capsules and each sorting station only works for one row of receiving holes of the capsule holder. The two separate sorting stations are disposed adjacent to each other along the path of revolution of the conveying wheel.

A need often arises that additional work stations are disposed along the path of revolution of the conveying wheel to achieve some specific purposes. However, due to compactness of the capsule filling machine, particularly due to use of the two separate sorting stations, the number of available positions for these additional work stations is limited.

Moreover, use of the two sorting stations will increase equipment costs, controlling complexity and maintenance costs and limit working efficiency of the capsule filling machine.

Therefore, there may be a need to further improve the known capsule filling machine.

Summary of the Invention

In view of the problems existing in the prior art, an object of the present disclosure is to provide an improved empty capsule feeding device, an improved magazine device, an improved sorting device, an improved sorting station, an improved separating station and an improved capsule filling machine.

For achieving this object, according to a first aspect, provided is an empty capsule feeding device for a sorting station of a capsule filling machine, at least comprising: a hopper for receiving disordered empty capsules; and a feeding slope for feeding the empty capsules from the hopper to a downstream magazine device of the sorting station; wherein the feeding slope is provided with at least two aligning grooves for pre-aligning the empty capsules, and the aligning grooves are configured to be adapted to be aligned with inlets of the magazine device respectively.

According to an optional embodiment of the present disclosure, the empty capsule feeding device further comprises a flow adjusting valve for adjusting flow of the empty capsules from the hopper toward the feeding slope; and/or the empty capsule feeding device further comprises a vibrating unit; and/or the empty capsule feeding device further comprises a rotating capsule agitator for agitating the empty capsules.

According to an optional embodiment of the present disclosure, the vibrating unit is disposed below the feeding slope; and/or the rotating capsule agitator is disposed at the feeding slope.

According to a second aspect, provided is a magazine device for a sorting station of a capsule filling machine, at least comprising: a magazine for aligning empty capsules vertically on top of each other in at least two vertical columns; and a releasing controller; wherein the magazine device is configured to release vertically the empty capsules in each vertical column the same plurality of capsules at a time by means of the releasing controller.

According to an optional embodiment of the present disclosure, the magazine device further comprises an additional magazine extension connected with the magazine; and/or the magazine device further comprises an inlet separator disposed at inlets of the magazine.

According to an optional embodiment of the present disclosure, the additional magazine extension is disposed downstream of the magazine; and/or the inlet separator is provided with at least two separating grooves configured to be adapted to be aligned with inlets of the magazine respectively.

According to a third aspect, provided is a sorting device for a sorting station of a capsule filling machine, at least comprising: a sorting block for receiving empty capsules in at least two vertical columns in a receiving status; a pushing means for actuating the received empty capsules from the receiving status into a ready-for-being-pushed status in which the empty capsules can be pushed into a corresponding plurality of rows of receiving recesses of a capsule holder of the capsule filling machine; and a sorting finger means for pushing the empty capsules in the ready-for-being-pushed status into the capsule holder; wherein the sorting block is configured to be adapted to receive the same plurality of empty capsules at a time for each vertical column.

According to an optional embodiment of the present disclosure, the plurality of empty capsules comprises two empty capsules.

According to an optional embodiment of the present disclosure, the sorting block is provided with at least two channels, which each have a receiving portion at an end adjacent to the pushing means for receiving two empty capsules at a time and holding the two empty capsules vertically on top of each other in the receiving status.

According to an optional embodiment of the present disclosure, a portion of the channel is separated into a lower channel space for a lower empty capsule of the two empty capsules and an upper channel space for a upper empty capsule of the two empty capsules by a separating wall; and/or the channel is provided with a step at a bottom of the receiving portion.

According to an optional embodiment of the present disclosure, the pushing means comprises at least two pushers for actuating the received two empty capsules in a respective channel into the ready-for-being-pushed status; and/or the sorting finger means comprises at least two sorting fingers for pushing the two empty capsules in a respective channel in the ready-for-being-pushed status into the capsule holder of the capsule filling machine.

According to an optional embodiment of the present disclosure, the at least two pushers are connected laterally with each other in a row; and/or the at least two sorting fingers are connected laterally with each other in a row; and/or the pusher comprises a first fillet for actuating one of the two empty capsules, a second fillet for actuating the other of the two empty capsules, and a slot formed between the fist first fillet and the second fillet; and/or the sorting finger comprises a first recess for one of the two empty capsules, a second recess for the other of the two empty capsules and a projection formed between the first recess and the second recess.

According to a fourth aspect, provided is a sorting station for a capsule filling machine, at least comprising: the empty capsule feeding device described above; and/or the magazine device described above; and/or the sorting device described above.

According to a fifth aspect, provided is a separating station configured to be adapted to be in cooperation with the sorting station described above.

According to a sixth aspect, provided is a capsule filling machine, at least comprising: the sorting station described above; and/or the separating station described above.

According to the present disclosure, the capsule filling machine can achieve higher working efficiency, reduced costs and more available spaces for other additional devices.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention and advantages thereof will be further understood by reading the following detailed description of some preferred exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 schematically shows a basic arrangement of a sorting station according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of the sorting station in a perspective view. Fig. 3 shows a partial exploded view of the sorting station to better illustrate an interior structure thereof.

Fig. 4 shows an exemplary embodiment of a sorting block of the sorting station in a perspective view.

Fig. 5 schematically shows a cross section of the sorting block according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, and also shows a cross section of one of a plurality of pushers of a pushing means of the sorting station.

Fig. 6 shows a cross section of one of a plurality of sorting fingers of a sorting finger means according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 7 schematically shows a status that the pushing means and the sorting finger means are partially inserted into the sorting block.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

Some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described hereinafter in more details with reference to the drawings to better understand the basic concept of the present disclosure. The subject matters of the present disclosure, however, may be embodied in many different forms. Moreover, these exemplary embodiments are provided so that the present disclosure will be thorough and complete, and willfully convey the scopes of the subject matters to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, the same numbers refer to the same elements throughout.

As shown in Fig. 1, the sorting station 1 at least comprises an empty capsule feeding device 11, a magazine device 12 and a sorting device 13, wherein the empty capsule feeding device 11 is configured to receive disordered empty capsules and feed the empty capsules into the magazine device 12, the magazine device 12 is configured to align the fed empty capsules vertically on top of each other in at least two, for example nine, vertical columns within the magazine device 12 and release vertically the empty capsules in each vertical column into the sorting device 13 the same plurality of capsules, for example two capsules, at a time, and the sorting device 13 is configured to receive the released empty capsules in a receiving status and actuate the received empty capsules from the receiving status into a ready-for-being-pushed status in which the empty capsules can be pushed into a corresponding plurality of rows of receiving recesses, for example receiving holes, of a capsule holder 2 respectively, with lower capsule parts of the empty capsules being oriented downward.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the empty capsules in each vertical column within the magazine device 12 can fall vertically into the sorting device 13 in a controlled manner.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, in the receiving status, the empty capsules are received on top of each other into the sorting device 13 in the corresponding vertical columns.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, in the ready-for-being-pushed status, the empty capsules are arranged in the corresponding plurality of horizontal rows so as to allow for turning and then pushing the plurality of horizontal rows of empty capsule into the capsule holder 2.

It may be understood by those skilled in the art that directional terms “vertical” , “vertically” , “horizontal” and so on are used herein relative to an operational status of the sorting station 1.

Fig. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of the sorting station 1 in a perspective view. Fig. 3 shows a partial exploded view of the sorting station 1 to better illustrate an interior structure thereof.

As shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, the empty capsule feeding device 11 may comprise a hopper 111 for receiving the empty capsules and a feeding slope 112 for feeding the empty capsules from the hopper 111 to the magazine device 12.

It may be understood by those skilled in the art that the empty capsules can slide toward the magazine device 12 from the hopper 111 along the feeding slope 112, for example by means of gravity. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the feeding slope 112 may be provided with a plurality of, for example nine, aligning grooves 1121 to pre-align the empty capsules, which can make it easier to introduce the empty capsules into the magazine device 12.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the empty capsule feeding device 11 may further comprise a flow adjusting valve 113 for adjusting flow of the empty capsules from the hopper 111 toward the feeding slope 112 as desired. For example, the adjusting valve 113 may be configured to adjust the flow of the empty capsules from the hopper 111 by adjusting an outlet of the hopper 111.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the empty capsule feeding device 11 may further comprise a vibrating unit 114 for vibrating the empty capsule feeding device 11, in particular the feeding slope 112 thereof, to better pre-align the empty capsules into the aligning grooves 1121 of the feeding slope 112 and then introduce them into the magazine device 12.

It may be understood by those skilled in the art that the vibrating unit 114 can be embodied in any suitable configurations and thus the present disclosure does not limit thereto.

Preferably, the vibrating unit 114 may be disposed below the feeding slope 112, as shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the empty capsule feeding device 11 may further comprise a rotating capsule agitator 115 which may be disposed at the feeding slope 112, for example may be disposed adjacent to a lower end of the feeding slope 112. In operation, the rotating capsule agitator 115 can agitate the empty capsules to facilitate introducing of the empty capsules into inlets of the magazine device 12.

Of course, the rotating capsule agitator 115 also can be disposed at any other suitable positions as long as it can facilitate introducing of the empty capsules into inlets of the magazine device 12.

As also can be seen from Fig. 2, the magazine device 12 may comprise a magazine 121. As described above, the magazine 121 can align the empty capsules vertically on top of each other in at least two vertical columns within an interior thereof. Accordingly, the magazine 121 may be provided with a plurality of inner vertical passages which can allow the empty capsules to slide downward while keeping the empty capsules in a vertical orientation.

The magazine 121 may be in a plate-shaped, and the inner vertical passages of the magazine 121 may be disposed side by side.

Preferably, the aligning grooves 1121 of the feeding slope 112 are aligned with the inlets of the magazine 121 respectively.

The magazine 121 also acts as a source for feeding the empty capsules toward the sorting device 13. Therefore, for achieving a more reliable storage capacity, the magazine device 12 may further comprise an additional magazine extension 122 which is preferably disposed downstream of the magazine 121, as shown in Fig. 2, thereby storing more empty capsules, which is very advantageous. The magazine extension 122 can be embodied in a similar manner to the magazine 121.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the magazine device 12 may further comprise an inlet separator 123 disposed at the inlets of the magazine 121 to better align and guide the empty capsules into the inlets of the magazine 121.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the inlet separator 123 may be provided with a plurality of separating grooves 1231 which are aligned with the inlets of the magazine 121 respectively. The separating grooves 1231 face the feeding slope 112 and have a suitable size to hold the empty capsules vertically.

As described above, it is necessary to control releasing of the empty capsules in each vertical column within the magazine device 12 into the sorting device 13 so that the empty capsules in each vertical column can fall vertically into the sorting device 13 the same plurality of capsules, for example two capsules, at a time. Accordingly, the magazine device 12 comprise a releasing controller configured so that the empty capsules in each vertical column can fall out of the magazine device 12 the same plurality of capsules, for example two capsules, at a time. The releasing controller may be disposed at outlets of the magazine device 121, for example outlets of the additional magazine extension 122, to block and release alternatively the empty capsules at a predetermined rhythm.

Below, some exemplary embodiments of the sorting device 13 will be described in detail.

The sorting device 13 may comprise a sorting block 131 for receiving the empty capsules released from each vertical column within the magazine device 12 in the receiving status, a pushing means 132 for actuating the received empty capsules from the receiving status into the ready-for-being-pushed status, and a sorting finger means 133 for pushing the empty capsules in the ready-for-being-pushed status into the capsule holder 2.

For better understanding the present invention, some exemplary embodiments suitable for the capsule holder 2 having two rows of receiving recesses will be described below.

Fig. 4 shows an exemplary embodiment of the sorting block 131 in a perspective view.

As shown in Fig. 4, the sorting block 131 may be provided with a plurality of channels 1311 (nine channels 1311 shown in Fig. 4) which each have a receiving portion 1312 at an end adjacent to the pushing means 132, for receiving two empty capsules released from a corresponding vertical column of empty capsules within the magazine device 12 and holding the two empty capsules vertically on top of each other in the receiving status.

Fig. 5 schematically shows a cross section of the sorting block 131 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure through one of the plurality of channels 1311, and also shows a cross section of one of a plurality of pushers 1321 of the pushing means 132. Each of the pushers 1321 is used for a corresponding channel 1311 and can be connected laterally with each other in a row.

As can be seen from Fig. 5, a lower empty capsule 3 and an upper empty capsule 4 are held vertically in the receiving portion 1312 on top of each other, and a portion of the channel 1311 is separated into a lower channel space 1313 for the lower empty capsule 3 and an upper channel space 1314 for the upper empty capsule 4 by a separating wall 1315, for example a metal sheet. The separating wall 1315 is disposed at a level corresponding to a contact point 1316 between the lower empty capsule 3 and the upper empty capsule 4. Preferably, the channel 1311 is provided with a step 1317 at a bottom of the receiving portion 1312 thereof.

As also shown in Fig. 5, the pusher 1321 may comprise a first fillet 1322 for actuating the lower empty capsule 3, a second fillet 1323 for actuating the upper empty capsule 4, and a slot 1324 for accommodating the separating wall 1315. When the pusher 1321 is moved toward a corresponding channel 1311 of the sorting block 131, the first fillet 1322 can actuate the lower empty capsule 3, the second fillet 1323 can actuate the upper empty capsule 4 and the separating wall 1315 can be inserted into the slot 1324 so that the lower empty capsule 3 and the upper empty capsule 4 are brought into the ready-for-being-pushed status.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the second fillet 1323 extends farther than the first fillet 1322 so that the lower empty capsule 3 and the upper empty capsule 4 can be actuated by different distances.

The first fillet 1322 and the second fillet 1323 of the pusher 1321 are configured to turn the lower empty capsule 3 and the upper empty capsule 4 respectively in such a manner that the lower capsule parts of the lower empty capsule 3 and the upper empty capsule 4 are oriented away from the pusher 1321.

The pushing means 132 also may be configured in any other suitable manners as long as the pushing means 132, possibly in cooperation with the sorting block 131, can actuate the lower empty capsule 3 and the upper empty capsule 4 into the ready-for-being-pushed status. Therefore, the present disclosure does not limit thereto.

Fig. 6 shows a cross section of one of a plurality of sorting fingers 1331 of the sorting finger means 133 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the plurality of sorting fingers 1331 are connected laterally with each other in a row, and in operation, each sorting finger 1331 can be inserted into a corresponding channel 1311 of the sorting block 131 to push the lower empty capsule 3 and the upper empty capsule 4in the ready-for-being-pushed status into the capsule holder 2.

As shown in Fig. 6, the sorting finger 1331 has a first recess 1332 for the lower empty capsule 3 and a second recess 1333 for the upper empty capsule 4 at a lower end thereof. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the first recess 1332 and/or the second recess 1333 is configured in a triangular shape and a projection 1334 is formed between the first recess 1332 and the second recess 1333.

When the empty capsules within the sorting block 131 are brought into the ready-for-being-pushed status by means of the pushing means 132, the sorting finger means 133 move downward so that each sorting finger 1331 is inserted into the corresponding channel 1311 to push the lower empty capsule 3 and the upper empty capsule 4 into the corresponding receiving holes of the capsule holder 2. In the process of pushing the lower empty capsule 3 and the upper empty capsule 4, the lower empty capsule 3 and the upper empty capsule 4 also may be turned.

Fig. 7 schematically shows a status that the pushing means 132 and the sorting finger means 133 are partially inserted into the sorting block 131.

When all receiving recesses of the capsule holder 2 are filled with the empty capsules by means of the sorting station, a separating operation can be executed by a separating station/device. It may be understood by those skilled in the art that as the sorting station according to the present disclosure can simultaneously fill all receiving recesses of the capsule holder 2 with the empty capsules, the separating station may be adapted accordingly at least in terms of its operation. Therefore, the present disclosure also relates to a separating station adapted to be in cooperation with the sorting station according to the present disclosure.

Under the concept of the exemplary embodiments described above in connection with the capsule holder having two rows of receiving recesses, those skilled in the art can easily conceive of other embodiments suitable for the capsule holder having three or more rows of receiving recesses. For example, for the capsule holder having three rows of receiving recesses, the sorting block can be divided into three floors and other parts and operations are adapted accordingly.

While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The attached claims and their equivalents are intended to cover all the modifications, substitutions and changes as would fall within the scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims

An empty capsule feeding device (11) for a sorting station (1) of a capsule filling machine, at least comprising:

a hopper (111) for receiving disordered empty capsules; and

a feeding slope (112) for feeding the empty capsules from the hopper (111) to a downstream magazine device (12) of the sorting station (1) ;

wherein the feeding slope (112) is provided with at least two aligning grooves (1121) for pre-aligning the empty capsules, and the aligning grooves (1121) are configured to be adapted to be aligned with inlets of the magazine device (12) respectively.
The empty capsule feeding device (11) according to claim 1, wherein

the empty capsule feeding device (11) further comprises a flow adjusting valve (113) for adjusting flow of the empty capsules from the hopper (111) toward the feeding slope (112) ; and/or

the empty capsule feeding device (11) further comprises a vibrating unit (114) ; and/or

the empty capsule feeding device (11) further comprises a rotating capsule agitator (115) for agitating the empty capsules.
The empty capsule feeding device (11) according to claim 2, wherein

the vibrating unit (114) is disposed below the feeding slope (112) ; and/or

the rotating capsule agitator (115) is disposed at the feeding slope (112) .
A magazine device (12) for a sorting station (1) of a capsule filling machine, at least comprising:

a magazine (121) for aligning empty capsules vertically on top of each other in at least two vertical columns; and

a releasing controller;

wherein the magazine device (12) is configured to release vertically the empty capsules in each vertical column the same plurality of capsules at a time by means of the releasing controller.
The magazine device (12) according to claim 4, wherein

the magazine device (12) further comprises an additional magazine extension (122) connected with the magazine (121) ; and/or

the magazine device (12) further comprises an inlet separator (123) disposed at inlets of the magazine (121) .
The magazine device (12) according to claim 5, wherein

the additional magazine extension (122) is disposed downstream of the magazine (121) ; and/or

the inlet separator (123) is provided with at least two separating grooves (1231) configured to be adapted to be aligned with inlets of the magazine (121) respectively.
A sorting device (13) for a sorting station (1) of a capsule filling machine, at least comprising:

a sorting block (131) for receiving empty capsules in at least two vertical columns in a receiving status;

a pushing means (132) for actuating the received empty capsules from the receiving status into a ready-for-being-pushed status in which the empty capsules can be pushed into a corresponding plurality of rows of receiving recesses of a capsule holder (2) of the capsule filling machine; and

a sorting finger means (133) for pushing the empty capsules in the ready-for-being-pushed status into the capsule holder (2) ;

wherein the sorting block (131) is configured to be adapted to receive the same plurality of empty capsules at a time for each vertical column.
The sorting device (13) according to claim 7, wherein

the plurality of empty capsules comprises two empty capsules.
The sorting device (13) according to claim 8, wherein

the sorting block (131) is provided with at least two channels (1311) , which each have a receiving portion (1312) at an end adjacent to the pushing means (132) for receiving two empty capsules at a time and holding the two empty capsules vertically on top of each other in the receiving status.
The sorting device (13) according to claim 9, wherein

a portion of the channel (1311) is separated into a lower channel space (1313) for a lower empty capsule (3) of the two empty capsules and an upper channel space (1314) for a upper empty capsule (4) of the two empty capsules by a separating wall (1315) ; and/or

the channel (1311) is provided with a step (1317) at a bottom of the receiving portion (1312) .
The sorting device (13) according to claim 9 or 10, wherein

the pushing means (132) comprises at least two pushers (1321) for actuating the received two empty capsules in a respective channel (1311) into the ready-for-being-pushed status; and/or

the sorting finger means (133) comprises at least two sorting fingers (1331) for pushing the two empty capsules in a respective channel (1311) in the ready-for-being-pushed status into the capsule holder (2) of the capsule filling machine.
The sorting device (13) according to claim 9 or 10, wherein

the at least two pushers (1321) are connected laterally with each other in a row; and/or

the at least two sorting fingers (1331) are connected laterally with each other in a row; and/or

the pusher (1321) comprises a first fillet (1322) for actuating one of the two empty capsules, a second fillet (1323) for actuating the other of the two empty capsules, and a slot (1324) formed between the first fillet (1322) and the second fillet (1323) ; and/or

the sorting finger (1331) comprises a first recess (1332) for one of the two empty capsules, a second recess (1333) for the other of the two empty capsules and a projection (1334) formed between the first recess (1332) and the second recess (1333) .
A sorting station (1) for a capsule filling machine, at least comprising:

the empty capsule feeding device (11) according to any one of claims 1-3; and/or

the magazine device (12) according to any one of claims 4-6; and/or

the sorting device (13) according to any of claims 7-12.
A separating station configured to be adapted to be in cooperation with the sorting station (1) according to claim 13.
A capsule filling machine, at least comprising:

the sorting station (1) according to claim 13; and/or

the separating station according to claim 14.