Filing Information

Inventor(s)	Salvatore Consoli · Roberto Trebbi ·
Assignee(s)	None listed in document.  View assignee updates
Correspondent	ARENT FOX KINTNER PLOTKIN & KAHN ·
Application Number	US10480804
Filing date	12/19/2003
Publication date	08/26/2004
Predicted expiration date	12/19/2023
U.S. Classifications	53/560  · 53/900  ·
International Classifications	B65B047/00  ·
Kind Code	A1
PCT Application Number	WO20PCTIB0301906 - 05/12/2003
Foreign Priority	IB0301906 - 05/12/2003 · ITBO20020284 - 05/14/2002 ·

Patent Family

Abstract

A capsulle filling machine (1) for the production of hard gelatine capsules (c) with between a first station (2) and a second station (4) slide means (7) for supporting and moving the capsule body (3) between a first operating position, in wich the capsule body (3) is distanced from a lower end (5a) of the cylindrical hole (5), and a second operating position, in wich the capsule body (3) is exactly below the lower end (5a) of the cilyndrical hole (5), the slide means (7) comprising a first and a second support (8, 9) operating in conjunction with one another, the first support (8) being carried by the first station (2) and the second support (9) being carried by the second station (4); there also being drive means (10) acting on at least the first support (8) to move the first support (8) towards the second support (9) with both radial and transversal motion until the first support (8) gradually makes contact with the second support (9), with a consequent thrust by the first support (8) on the second support (9) pushing the second support (9) back away from the first operating position to the second operating position, allowing

Independent Claims | See all claims (5)

1. 1. A capsule filling machine (1) for the production of hard gelatine capsules (C) of the type with a capsule lid and a capsule body and containing a product, preferably a pharmaceutical product, the machine (1) comprising at least a first station (2) rotating with a stepping motion for supporting and moving at least one capsule body (3) to a second station (4) for feeding and dosing the product, the second station (4) rotating with a stepping motion synchronised with the first station (2) and having at least one cylindrical hole (5) for containing a dose (6) of the product; between the first station (2) and the second station (4) there being slide means (7) for supporting and moving the capsule body (3) between a first operation position, in which the capsule body (3) is distanced from a lower end (5a) of the cylindrical hole (5), and a second operating position, in which the capsule body (3) is exactly below the lower end (5a) of the cylindrical hole (5), allowing the release of the dose of product (6) into the capsule body (3); the machine being characterised in that the slide means (7) comprise at least a first and a second support (8, 9) operating in conjunction with one another, said first support (8) being carried by the first station (2), rotating and supporting at least one capsule body (3); said second support (9) being carried by the second station (4), rotating and located, in the first operating position, below the end (5a) of the cylindrical hole (5) containing the dose (6), closing the end (5a); drive means (10) designed to act upon at least the first support (8), moving the first support (8) forward towards the second support (9) with both radial and transversal motion until the first support (8) gradually makes contact with the second support (9), with a consequent thrust motion of the first support (8) on the second support (9) pushing the second support (9) back from the first operating position to the second operating position, allowing the dose (6) to be released into the capsule body (3).
2. 5. The machine according to any of the foregoing claims from 1 to 4, characterised in that the second support (9) is connected to an auxiliary support element (12) which is part of the second station (4) and located below the cylindrical hole (5) which feeds the dose of product (6).