Capsule filler

Abstract

There is described apparatus for filling a material into a receptacle, said apparatus comprising: (i) a material; (ii) a receptacle handling unit comprising a pair of axially aligned bushes for collecting a receptacle; and (iii) a bush pair handling system comprising: (a) a means for separating the receptacle into a receptacle body and a receptacle closure; (b) means for temporarily attaching and detaching the one or both of the bushes from the bush pair handling system; (c) means for transporting the receptacle body to the filling station and aligning the receptacle body with a filler nozzle at the filling station; (d) means for transporting the filled receptacle body from the filling station to a closure unit for refitting the receptacle closure; and e) means for segregating compliant receptacles from non-compliant receptacles.

Claims

1. An apparatus for filling a material into a receptacle, said apparatus comprising: (i) a material reservoir for containing an amount of the material to be filled and a filling station adjacent the material reservoir; (ii) a receptacle handling unit comprising a pair of axially aligned bushes for collecting a receptacle from a receptacle reservoir, wherein the receptacle comprises a receptacle body and receptacle closure; and (iii) a bush pair handling system comprising: (a) a means for separating the receptacle into a receptacle body and a receptacle closure, said means comprising a pair of mating bushes provided with axially aligned bores, wherein the mating bushes are capable of independently handling the receptacle body and receptacle closure by being separated into a body bush and closure bush; (b) means for temporarily attaching and detaching the one or both of the bushes from the bush pair handling system; (c) automated means for transporting the receptacle body to the filling station and aligning the receptacle body with a filler nozzle at the filling station, wherein said automated means comprises a robotic arm adapted to rotate about a spindle, wherein said robotic arm is provided with at least one bush holder which is aligned with at least one receptacle holder, such that, the bush holder and the receptacle holder are capable of being separated, in order to open the receptacle and/or re-associated enabling the receptacle to be reclosed; (d) the robotic arm is provided with a rotatory shaft rotatably connected to an extension arm, such that the extension arm is provided with a bush pair holder and receptacle holder at each end; (e) means for transporting the filled receptacle body from the filling station to a closure unit for refitting the receptacle closure; and (f) means for segregating compliant receptacles from non-compliant receptacles; wherein the body bush is designed to be held in the bush pair holder so that the body bush may be moved longitudinally whilst being retained in the bush pair holder; and wherein the bush pair holder is adapted to hold the body bush by means of a pneumatic vacuum cup, a vacuum shoe, a pneumatic gripper, an electric gripper or a magnet.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the material to be filled into the receptacle is a liquid or a solid particulate material.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the material to be filled into the receptacle is a solid particulate material in the form of powder, granules or pellets.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the receptacle is a gelatin capsule.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the dose of material to be filled into the receptacle is measured gravimetrically or volumetrically.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the dose of material to be filled into the receptacle is measured gravimetrically using real time weigh cell.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the dose of material to be filled into the receptacle is measured using real time weight control comprising the steps of: a) dispensing powder from a doser comprising a powder doser, a weighing device and a control system configured to dispense a predetermined amount of powder into a receptacle positioned on the weighing device; b) weighing the powder in the receptacle with the weighing device; and c) ceasing dispensing powder when a predetermined weight has been reached.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the pair of mating bushes comprises a male bush and a female bush.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the male bush is the body bush and the female bush is the closure bush.

10. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means for segregating compliant receptacles from non-compliant receptacles comprises positioning the filled receptacle (in its body bush) on a weigh cell.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the weigh cell is capable of determining whether a receptacle is compliant or non-compliant; and transporting the body bush containing the receptacle adjacent to a respective hopper where the receptacle is ejected from the body bush into a compliance hopper or non-compliance hopper as appropriate.

12. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means for transporting the receptacle to and from a filling station is automated comprising a robotic arm which is remotely controlled and/or computer controlled.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the robotic arm is provided with a plurality of bush holders and receptacle holders.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the robotic arm is capable of visiting more than one filling site.

15. Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the robotic arm is provided with a closure plate mounted adjacent or above the receptacle holder, which facilitates the closure of the respectable after filling, providing a surface against which the receptacle closure can be abutted during reclosure of the receptacle.

16. A method of filling a receptacle with a consistent dose of a material, wherein the method comprises the steps of: (i) filling a reservoir with an amount of material; (ii) operating a receptacle handling unit comprising a receptacle bush pair, to collect a receptacle from a receptacle reservoir; and (iii) separating the receptacle into two parts and automated means for transporting one part of the receptacle to a filling station adjacent the material reservoir—and aligning the receptacle with a filler nozzle wherein said automated means comprises a robotic arm adapted to rotate about a spindle, wherein said robotic arm is provided with at least one bush holder which is aligned with at least one receptacle holder, such that, the bush holder and the receptacle holder are capable of being separated, in order to open the receptacle and/or re-associated enabling the receptacle to be reclosed, wherein the robotic arm is provided with a rotatory shaft rotatably connected to an extension arm, such that the extension arm is provided with a bush pair holder and receptacle holder at each end; (v) filling the receptacle with the material; (vi) transporting the filled receptacle from the filling station to a unit for reclosing the receptacle closure; and (vii) means for dispensing the filled receptacle from the bush; wherein the body bush is designed to be held in the bush pair holder so that the body bush may be moved longitudinally whilst being retained in the bush pair holder; and wherein the bush pair holder is adapted to hold the body bush by means of a pneumatic vacuum cup, a vacuum shoe, a pneumatic gripper, an electric gripper or a magnet.

17. The method according to claim 16 wherein the dose of material to be filled into the receptacle is measured gravimetrically or volumetrically.

18. The method according to claim 17 wherein the dose of material to be filled into the receptacle is measured gravimetrically using a real time weigh cell.

19. The method according to claim 18 wherein the dose of material to be filled into the receptacle is measured using real time weight control, wherein said real time weight control comprises the steps of: a) dispensing powder from a doser comprising a powder doser, a weighing device and a control system configured to dispense a predetermined amount of powder into a receptacle positioned on the weighing device; b) weighing the powder in the receptacle with the weighing device; and c) ceasing dispensing powder when a predetermined weight has been reached.

20. The method according to claim 16 wherein the means for transporting the receptacle to and from a filling station is automated and comprises a robotic arm which is remotely controlled and/or computer controlled wherein the robotic arm is provided with a closure plate mounted adjacent or above the receptacle holder, which facilitates the closure of the respectable after filling, providing a surface against which the receptacle can be abutted during re-closure of the receptacle.

Description

(1) The invention will now be illustrated by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying figures in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the extension arm with bushes attached; and

(3) FIG. 2 is schematic representation of the filling apparatus.

(4) Referring to FIG. 1, apparatus for filling a material into a receptacle comprises a robotic arm (1) operably linked to a robot wrist (2). The robotic arm (1) is adapted to rotate about a spindle (3). At each end (4 and 5) of the robotic arm (1) is located bush pair handling systems (6 and 7). Each of the bush pair handling systems (6 and 7) comprises a securely located closure bush (8 and 9) and a detachably located body bush (10 and 11). Closure bushes (8 and 9) rest in respective forks (12 and 13) in extension limbs (14 and 15).

(5) Bush pair handling system (6) is in the “open” position, in which a receptacle (capsule) (16) is shown to be separated into a capsule body (16a) and a capsule closure (16b). The capsule body (16a) is located in the body bush (10) and the capsule closure (16b) is located in the closure bush (8).

(6) Bush pair handling system (7) is in the “closed” position, in which a receptacle (capsule) (17) is shown as a conjoined unit. The body bush (11) and the closure bush (9) are shown having been brought together; the capsule (17) is closed and urged into the closure bush (9), ready for transfer to means for segregating compliant receptacles from non-compliant receptacles, e.g. a weigh cell (not shown).

(7) Referring to FIG. 2, apparatus for filling a material into a receptacle is shown comprising a robotic arm (1) connected to a robot (18). Between the robotic arm (1) and the robot (18) is a closure plate (19). Bush pair handling systems (6 and 7) are shown at the respective ends (4 and 5) of the robotic arm (1).

(8) The apparatus is provided with a capsule dispenser (20) and a filling system/material dispenser (21). The capsule dispenser is provided with a detachment column (22), said column (22) being provided with a bush locator spindle (23). A weigh cell (24) is located adjacent the filling system/material dispenser (21), generally below the bush pair handling system (6).

(9) A recoupling pillar (25) is also provided. The apparatus also includes ejection posts (26a and 26b) adjacent a pair of hoppers (27a and 27b) for dispatching compliant (27a) and non-compliant (27b) capsules (not shown).

(10) In use the robotic arm (1) delivers a bush pair handling system (6) to a detachment column (22) of the capsule dispenser (21) and locates the closure bush (8) and body bush (10) about the bush locator spindle (23).

(11) The capsule dispenser (21) dispenses a capsule (17) from the dispenser (21) into the bushes (8/10). The robotic arm 1 then depresses the bush (8/10) against the detachment column (22) urging the capsule closure (16b) into the corresponding closure bush (8), when pressure is released by the robotic arm (1), the closure bush (8) and the body bush (10) separate, leaving the capsule closure (16b) in the closure bush (8) and the capsule body (16a) in the body bush (10). The capsule body (16a) is then ready for filling.

(12) The robotic arm (1) then collects the body bush (10) containing the capsule body (16a) and transfers it to the weigh cell (24) at the filling system/station (21). The capsule body (16a) is then filled to a gravimetrically predetermined amount and the robotic arm (1) retrieves the body bush (10) and delivers the body bush (10) and the closure bush (8) to the recoupling pillar (25). At the recoupling pillar (25) the robotic arm (1) depresses the bushes (8/10) between the recoupling pillar (25) and the closure plate (19). urging the body bush (10) and the closure bush (8) together, thus recoupling the capsule body (16a) and capsule closure (16b).

(13) The robotic arm (1) then delivers the bushes (8/10) to one of the ejection posts (26a) or (26b), whereby the filled and recoupled capsule (17) is ejected into either the compliant hopper (27a) or non-compliant hopper (27b).

(14) Providing a bush pair handling system (6 and 7) at each end (4 and 5) of the robotic arm (1) enables the robot (18) to continually process capsules, i.e. collecting another capsule whilst one capsule is being filled.