Device and method for weighing filled capsules

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12123761-B2
Application number	US-202217854238-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 30, 2022
Priority date	Jun 30, 2021
Publication date	Oct 22, 2024
Grant date	Oct 22, 2024

Abstract

A device for weighing filled capsules has a weighing unit with weighing receptacle for the capsules supplied via a feed channel to the weighing unit in a movement direction. The weighing receptacle has a stop holding a capsule with form fit in movement direction in a receptacle section of the weighing receptacle. The receptacle section relative to the horizontal is slanted such that a leading end of the receptacle section relative to the movement direction is lower than a rearward end. In the method for weighing, the capsule is held with form fit in movement direction in the receptacle section by the stop device such that the capsule is at a slant with a leading end in relation to the movement direction being lower than a rearward end of the capsule. Weighing of the capsule is done in the weighing unit while the capsule is held at the slant.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device for weighing a capsule with a fill, the device comprising:
a weighing unit comprising a weighing receptacle configured to receive the capsule;
a feed channel configured to supply the capsule to the weighing unit in a movement direction;
wherein the weighing receptacle comprises a stop device configured to stop the capsule supplied in the movement direction, wherein the stop device is configured to hold the capsule with form fit in the movement direction in a receptacle section of the weighing receptacle;
wherein the receptacle section of the weighing receptacle in relation to a horizontal direction is slanted such that a leading end of the receptacle section leading in relation to the movement direction is positioned lower than a rearward end of the receptacle section in relation to the movement direction.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the receptacle section of the weighing receptacle comprises a longitudinal axis, wherein the longitudinal axis of the receptacle section in relation to the horizontal direction is slanted at a slant angle, wherein the slant angle lies in a range of 30° to 90°.

3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the receptacle section is formed by two partial surface sections, wherein the two partial surface sections, viewed in a cross section view of the receptacle section, are facing each other at a slant.

4. The device according to claim 3 , wherein the two partial surface sections are positioned at a surface angle to each other, wherein the surface angle lies in a range of 120° to 60°.

5. The device according to claim 3 , wherein the two partial surface sections are separated from each other by an opening.

6. The device according to claim 5 , wherein the opening is a slot.

7. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the feed channel is a drop chute.

8. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the stop device is a stop stopping the capsule in the movement direction.

9. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising a capsule transporter configured to sort out the capsule.

10. The device according to claim 9 , wherein the capsule transporter is a rotatable pocket wheel.

11. A method for weighing a capsule with a fill by a device comprising a weighing unit comprising a weighing receptacle configured to receive the capsule; a feed channel configured to supply the capsule to the weighing unit in a movement direction; wherein the weighing receptacle comprises a stop device configured to stop the capsule supplied in the movement direction, wherein the stop device is configured to hold the capsule with form fit in the movement direction in a receptacle section of the weighing receptacle; wherein the receptacle section of the weighing receptacle in relation to a horizontal direction is slanted such that a leading end of the receptacle section leading in relation to the movement direction is positioned lower than a rearward end of the receptacle section in relation to the movement direction; the method comprising:
supplying a capsule filled at least partially with the fill via the feed channel in the movement direction to the weighing unit;
stopping the capsule when reaching the weighing unit in the movement direction by the stop device;
holding the capsule with form fit in the movement direction in the receptacle section of the weighing receptacle by the stop device such that the capsule is held at a slant with an end of the capsule leading in relation to the movement direction being lower than a rearward end of the capsule in relation to the movement direction;
weighing the capsule held at the slant with the weighing unit.

Assignees

• Harro Hofliger Verpackungsmaschinen Gmbh
• Hoefliger Harro Verpackung

Inventors

• Huhnen Florian
• Gall Steffen
• Cocks Jonathan
• Wurst Reiner

Classifications

• B07C5/18

  using a single stationary weighing mechanism · CPC title

• G01G21/22

  Weigh pans or other weighing receptacles; Weighing platforms · CPC title

• A61J2200/74

  for weight · CPC title

• A61J3/074

  Filling capsules; Related operations · CPC title

• G01G17/00 Primary

  Apparatus for or methods of weighing material of special form or property (determining weight by measuring volume G01F) · CPC title