Machine for making capsules

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12258159-B2
Application number	US-202017626676-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 15, 2020
Priority date	Aug 5, 2019
Publication date	Mar 25, 2025
Grant date	Mar 25, 2025

Abstract

A machine for making capsules containing powder product including a plurality of processing stations configured for performing respective processes for making capsules and movement means configured for conveying said capsules along a processing path extending through the plurality of processing stations. The movement means include a transfer drum and a plurality of units each designed to receive at least one capsule body. Moreover, each unit is coupled to a lateral surface of the transfer drum and is configured to rotate relative to the lateral surface about a respective orientation axis parallel to an axis of rotation of the transfer drum.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A machine for making a capsule containing a powder product comprising:
a plurality of processing stations configured to perform respective processes for making capsules containing powder product;
a transport mechanism configured for conveying said capsules along a curvilinear processing path extending through the plurality of processing stations and comprising a transfer drum, configured to rotate about a substantially horizontal transfer axis, and a plurality of transport units configured to each receive at least one capsule body;
each transport unit being coupled to a lateral surface of the transfer drum, and said plurality of processing stations comprising a dosing station configured to dose the powder product in said at least one capsule body and a sealing station configured to seal a cover too said at least one capsule body, wherein each transport unit is configured to be moved relative to said lateral surface while said transfer drum rotates and to adapt a position of the transported at least one capsule body, so that the at least one capsule body assumes a predetermined angular orientation relative to each of said plurality of processing stations; and
the plurality of processing stations being positioned along a circular working path defined by the transfer drum.

2. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein the transfer drum is configured to adopt a succession of angular positions wherein in each of said angular positions at least one transport unit is positioned at a respective processing station.

3. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein each transport unit comprises a damping device configured to reduce vibrations to which said transport unit is subjected when the transfer drum rotates.

4. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein each transport unit comprises a compensating device configured to modify an inclination of said transport unit to offset a movement caused by an acceleration generated when the transfer drum starts to rotate.

5. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein each transport unit rotates about a respective orientation axis parallel to the transfer axis of the transfer drum.

6. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein each transport unit includes at least one suction hole operatively connectable to a source of suction.

7. The machine according to claim 1 , and further comprising a detection system positioned at at least one processing stations for assessing a correct positioning of at least one of said transport units relative to the at least one of said processing stations.

8. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein the sealing station comprises a mechanism for making a cover for closing said at least one capsule body.

9. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of processing stations also comprises:
a feeding station for feeding the at least one capsule body;
an insertion station for inserting an insert inside said at least one capsule body.

10. The machine according to claim 9 , wherein said insertion station comprises a first element for inserting a first insert and a second element for inserting a second insert with said dosing station interposed between them.

11. The machine according to claim 9 , wherein said insert is made of filter material.

12. A method for making capsules comprising the steps of:
providing a plurality of processing stations configured to perform respective processes for making capsules containing powder product;
providing a transfer drum configured to rotate about a substantially horizontal transfer axis, and a plurality of transport units each configured to receive at least one capsule body, each transport unit of said plurality of transport units being coupled to a lateral surface of the transfer drum;
moving said transfer drum to move said transport units;
dosing a powder product inside said at least one capsule body;
sealing a cover on said at least one capsule body;
wherein each transport unit is moved relative to said lateral surface while said transfer drum rotates, to adapt a position of the transported said at least one capsule body, so that the at least one capsule body assumes a predetermined angular orientation relative to each of said plurality of processing stations;
the dosing and sealing steps being performed when said transport unit adopts a predetermined angular position relative to the lateral surface of the transfer drum; and
the plurality of processing stations being positioned along a circular working path defined by the transfer drum.

Assignees

• Ima Spa

Inventors

• Rivola Sauro
• Betti Cristian
• Bianchi Mauro

Classifications

• B65B57/02 Primary

  responsive to absence, presence, abnormal feed, or misplacement of binding or wrapping material, containers, or packages · CPC title

• B65B55/24

  Cleaning of, or removing dust from, containers, wrappers, or packaging {; Preventing of fouling} · CPC title

• B65B43/60

  rotatable · CPC title

• B65B43/50

  using rotary tables or turrets {(B65B43/46 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B65B1/08

  by vibratory feeders · CPC title