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EP-4734907-A1 - APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR WEIGHING AND FEEDING CAPSULES

EP4734907A1EP 4734907 A1EP4734907 A1EP 4734907A1EP-4734907-A1

Abstract

A feeding and weighing apparatus (1) associable to a filling machine (200) comprises a hopper (20) to contain a plurality of capsules (100) each formed by a cap (101) and a body (102) coupled to each other; a feeding duct (2) to convey the capsules (100) aligned and in contact one after the other to form a row from the hopper; orientation means (3, 4) to orient and transfer one capsule (100) at a time from the feeding duct (2) to a respective seat (202) of transfer means (201) of the filling machine; a weighing unit (6) provided with a weighing plate (8) to receive a capsule (100) to be weighed; the orientation means (3, 4) comprise first orientation means (3) arranged to receive one capsule (100) at a time from the feeding duct (2) and to rotate it and transfer it to the weighing plate (8) and second orientation means (4) arranged to withdraw the capsule (100) from the weighing plate (8), further rotate it and then transfer it to the respective seat (202) of the transfer means (201) with a predefined orientation (A) having a predefined position of the cap (101) with respect to the body (102).

Inventors

  • RIBANI, Massimo
  • LELLI, GABRIELE

Assignees

  • I.M.A. Industria Macchine Automatiche S.p.A

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20240624

Claims (15)

  1. 1. Feeding and weighing apparatus (1) for weighing capsules (100) and feeding the weighed capsules (100) to transfer means (201) of a filling machine (200), each capsule (100) extending along a longitudinal axis (W) and having a cap (101) and a body (102) coupled to each other, said feeding apparatus (1) comprising: - a hopper (20) configured to contain a plurality of capsules (100); - at least one feeding duct (2) configured to convey said capsules (100) aligned in contact one after the other in a single row from said hopper (20) along a feeding direction (X); - orientation means (3, 4) configured to orient and transfer one capsule (100) at a time from said feeding duct (2) toward a respective seat (202) of said transfer means (201); - at least one weighing unit (6) provided with a weighing plate (8) configured to receive a capsule (100) to be weighed; wherein said orientation means (3, 4) comprise: first orientation means (3) arranged to receive one capsule (100) at a time from the at least one feeding duct (2) and configured to rotate the capsule (100) and transfer it to said weighing plate (8); and second orientation means (4) arranged to withdraw said capsule (100) from said weighing plate (8) and to further rotate it and then to transfer it to said seat (202) of said transfer means (201) with a predefined orientation (A) having a predefined position of the cap (101) with respect to the body (102), characterized in that said first orientation means (3) comprise at least one first orientation element (11) provided with an orienting end (I la) configured to rotate one capsule (100) at a time either in a first rotating direction or in a second rotating direction, opposite to the first rotating direction, depending on the relative position of the cap (101) with respect to the body (102) of the respective capsule (100) coming from the at least one feeding duct (2), so as to adjust the position of the cap (101) with respect to the body (102) in order to have said capsule aligned according to said predefined orientation (A) into said transfer means (201) after being transferred by said transfer means (201).
  2. 2. Feeding and weighing apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein said first orientation element (11) is configured to rotate either in the first rotating direction or in the second rotating direction one capsule (100) at a time by 90° about a rotation axis (Y) orthogonal to the feeding direction (X), and to push the rotated capsule (100) along a first transfer duct (21).
  3. 3. Feeding and weighing apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first orientation means (3) further comprise a respective first pushing element (12) configured to transfer the capsule (100) rotated by the first orientation element (11) onto said weighing plate (8).
  4. 4. Feeding and weighing apparatus (1) according to claim 3 when depending on claim 2, wherein said first pushing element (12) is movable along a second transfer duct (22) arranged substantially orthogonal to said first transfer duct (21).
  5. 5. Feeding and weighing apparatus (1) according to claim 2, wherein said first transfer duct (21) is arranged substantially perpendicular to said feeding duct (2).
  6. 6. Feeding and weighing apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said orienting end (I la) comprises a central tooth (15) separating and defining on said orienting end (I la) an upper concavity (15a) and lower concavity (15b) that are configured to abut the cap (101) of capsule (100) according to a relative position thereof, when the capsule (100) is rotated by said central tooth (15) of 90° about a rotation axis (Y), substantially orthogonal to the feeding direction (X), in the first rotating direction or in the second rotating direction.
  7. 7. Feeding and weighing apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said feeding duct (2) is arranged substantially vertical.
  8. 8. Feeding and weighing apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said second orientation means (4) comprise at least one second pushing element (13) and a respective second orientation element (14), wherein said second pushing element (13) is movable to withdraw said capsule (100) from said weighing plate (8) and to push said capsule (100) along a third transfer duct (23) toward a fourth transfer duct (24), said fourth transfer duct (24) being arranged downstream and orthogonal to said third transfer duct (23), and wherein said second orientation element (14) is movable along said fourth transfer duct (24) to further rotate the capsule (100) by 90°, and then to transfer said capsule (100) having said predefined orientation (A) into the respective seat (202) of said transfer means (201).
  9. 9. Feeding and weighing apparatus (1) according to claim 8, wherein said third transfer duct (23) is arranged substantially orthogonal to said feeding duct (2).
  10. 10. Feeding and weighing apparatus (1) according to claim 8 or 9, wherein said second orientation element (14) comprises a respective end (14a) configured and shaped to rotate said capsule (100) by 90° in a predefined rotation direction about a rotation axis (Y) orthogonal to the feeding direction (X).
  11. 11. Feeding and weighing apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising stopping means (9) positioned at an end of said feeding duct (2) and configured to be selectively activated to let one capsule (100) at a time to escape the feeding duct (2) toward the first orientation means (3).
  12. 12. Feeding and weighing apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said predefined orientation (A) consists in having each capsule (100) placed in said transfer means (201) with the longitudinal axis (W) vertically aligned and the respective cap (101) placed upper to the respective body (102).
  13. 13. Method for weighing and feeding capsules (100) to transfer means (201) of a filling machine (200) by means of a feeding and weighing apparatus (1), each capsule (100) extending along a longitudinal axis (W) and having a cap (101) and a body (102) coupled to each other, said method comprising the steps of: a) arranging in at least one feeding duct (2) of said apparatus (1) a plurality of capsules (100) coming from a hopper (20), said plurality of capsules (100) being aligned and in contact one after the other to form a row along a feeding direction (X); b) releasing one capsule (100) at a time from said feeding duct (2) toward first orientation means (3); c) rotating and transferring said capsule (100) by means of said first orientation means (3) onto a respective weighing plate (8) of a weighing unit (6); d) weighing said capsule (100) on said weighing plate (8) by means of said weighing unit (6); e) further rotating and transferring said capsule (100) from said weighing plate (8) into a respective seat (202) of said transfer means (201) with an alignment according to a predefined orientation (A) by means of second orientation means (4), said method being characterized in that during the step c) each capsule (100) coming from the feeding duct (2) is rotated either in a first rotating direction or in a second rotating direction, opposite to the first rotating direction, depending on the relative position of the cap (101) with respect to the body (102), wherein the rotation is carried out by said first orientation means (3) to adjust the position of the cap (101) with respect to the body (102) in order to have said capsule aligned according to said predefined orientation (A) into said transfer means (201) after being transferred by said transfer means (201).
  14. 14. Method according to claim 13, wherein said step c) comprises rotating said capsule (100) by 90° about a rotation axis (Y) substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis (W) of the capsule (100), in the first rotation direction if said capsule (100) comes from said feeding duct (2) with a first relative position of the cap (101) with respect to the body (102) or in the second rotation direction, opposite to said first rotation direction, if said capsule (100) comes from said feeding duct (2) with a second relative position, opposite to said first relative position, of the cap (101) with respect to the body (102).
  15. 15. Method according to claim 13 or 14, wherein said predefined orientation (A) consists in having each capsule (100) placed in said transfer means (201) with the longitudinal axis (W) vertically aligned and the respective cap (101) placed upper to the respective body (102).

Description

Apparatus and method for weighing and feeding capsules The present invention concerns automatic machines for filling capsules or opercula or similar elements with pharmaceutical and food products, and in particular it refers to an apparatus and a method for feeding and weighing capsules in an automatic filling machine. Various types of filling machines are known, which are arranged to fill capsules, in particular cap-body capsules made of hard gelatin, with pharmaceutical or food products in liquid form, in powder, granules, tablets, micro -tablets, pellets, etc. The known filling machines typically comprise transfer means that move the capsules through the different operating stations. Filling machines are known in which the transfer means comprise a transfer turret or wheel, rotating about a vertical axis and provided with seats suitable for receiving the capsules, and a plurality of operating stations arranged around the transfer turret to perform operations on the capsules. The transfer turret by rotating moves the capsules through said operating stations, which comprise a feeding station, a station for opening the capsules, one or more dosage stations for the product, a capsule closing station and a reject station for non- compliant capsules. In the feeding station there is provided a feeding apparatus that picks the empty capsules from a magazine or hopper and, after having correctly oriented them, typically with the cap above the body with reference to a vertical feeding direction, inserts the capsules in the seats of the transfer turret. In the opening station, suitable means provide for opening the capsules by separating the caps from the bodies. The feeding apparatus generally comprises one or more feeding ducts parallel to each other and vertical or inclined downwards, which receive the capsules from the above hopper, where the capsules are stored in bulk, and convey them to the seats of the transfer turret. In the feeding ducts the capsules are arranged aligned one above the other to form individual respective rows and descend by gravity. Orientation means are associated with each feeding duct to orient the capsules so that they are inserted in the corresponding seats with the correct orientation, i.e. with the cap at the top and the body at the bottom. The orientation means typically comprise horizontal and vertical pusher elements that act on the capsules that remain blocked inside the feeding ducts at a narrowing of the duct section. More precisely, the width of the feeding duct at the narrowing is slightly less than the width of the cap of the capsule which, in the absence of external forces, thus remains blocked. However, due to the slight interference thus created and the elasticity of the material (hard gelatin) with which the capsule is made, the latter can be easily rotated and then moved by the horizontal and vertical pusher elements that act in sequence inside the respective sections of the duct. The shape of abutment portions of horizontal and vertical pusher elements allows each capsule to be rotated so that it is inserted into the seat of the transfer turret with the cap at the top and the body at the bottom. The filling machines are generally also provided with weighing apparatus or devices located downstream of the dosage station or at the exit of the filling machine to measure the weight of the product dosed in the capsules. Weight control is necessary to discard non-compliant capsules from production because they contain a quantity of product outside the allowed dosage tolerance range, and to correct any excesses or defects in the product dosage, acting in feedback on the filling station. In fact, especially in the pharmaceutical sector it is very important to verify that the quantity of product dosed in the individual capsules is exactly that which is required, with very narrow tolerance ranges. Generally capsules are only weighed once at the end of the dosing, since the weight of the empty capsules is known and contained within a defined tolerance range, indicated and guaranteed by the suppliers/producers of the capsules. In this way, from the measurement of the weight of the filled capsule (gross weight), subtracting the known weight of the empty capsule (tare) it is possible to calculate the weight of the dosed product (net weight) with a certain degree of precision. However, in filling processes in which the quantity of product to be dosed in the capsules is very small, for example a few milligrams (so-called "micro-doses"), and the tolerance range required for the dosage of the product is limited, for example ±10%, the normal weight variations of the empty capsules strongly influence and affect the weight measurement. Indeed, since the weight of the empty capsules is comparable to that of the dosed product, these weight variations can be larger than the tolerance range of the allowed dosage. In this case, checking only the weight of the filled capsule is insufficient fo