Machine and Process for Filing Capsules or Similar

The present invention relates to an apparatus for filling capsules or their equivalents (eg, sachets), especially pharmaceutical capsules.

In the pharmaceutical industry, there is a device that fills the lower shell of a capsule with the correct amount of at least one drug and seals this lower shell with a corresponding upper shell so that the entire capsule is obtained as a final product. Are known.

Traditionally, precise control of the quantity of a product has been done by measuring the weight of the resulting capsule with an electronic balance. This system has two main drawbacks. First, instead of weighing the entire capsule and measuring the actual weight of individual empty capsules, we assume the nominal value or group average value published by the manufacturer as the weight of the container. This essentially limits the accuracy of the weight of the contents of the capsule. Second, given the speed limits of electromechanical balances, only one balance can be used to manage samples. In order to perform 100% product management, a group of parallel balances is required for each divided capsule.

A significant improvement over the above method has been made to this type of device made by the applicant, with two distant locations, both performing weight measurements using capacity.

As mentioned above, what is important in this type of device is the weight of the contents of the capsule, so weigh the empty capsule (tare) at point 1 and weigh the entire capsule at point 2. Based on the information from the first point, the net weight of the contents is determined using an appropriate algorithm.

This method has now been improved by many years of experience, enabling high speed and, as a result, 100% control of the product and accurate weighing of the actual contents. Capsules containing an amount of product outside the specified margin of error are eliminated by the automatic exclusion system.

Currently, these technical improvements are satisfactory only under the condition that due consideration is given to the manufacture, performance and performance of the device. For example, because the measurement is performed on a fast-rotating conveyor wheel, where the capsule is held inside the cavity, for sufficient measurement accuracy, accurate mechanical tolerance, of the conveyor wheel. Stable operation and accurate positioning of the capsule within each cavity need to be guaranteed.

Moreover, this method only controls the total weight of the product inside the capsule or its equivalent. For multi-component products (products containing multiple components weighed consecutively in a capsule), mechanical complexity and additional weight measurement after each weighing operation to distinguish the weight of individual components It is necessary to carry out the process.

Therefore, the present invention provides an improvement of at least one component that constitutes a part of the above-mentioned capsule filling device.

In devices currently in use, the capsule is conveyed by a plurality of perforated cylindrical members (seat assemblies) to be filled, each member containing only the lower shell of the capsule.

The component in question is the "seat assembly", which is defined here as "a recessed cylindrical member with a suitable shape to accommodate each lower shell".

When housed in a sheet assembly, the lower shell is filled with at least one product, the form of which may be powder, granules, tablets, tiny tablets, liquids or gels.

In other words, the lower shell of each capsule is first inserted inside each sheet assembly transported onto the device, and then the desired product is filled and filled in one or more successive steps. The lower shell is sealed by the upper shell to form the corresponding capsule.

In the method currently adopted by the applicant, the weight (tare) of the entire empty capsule is first measured, then opened, filled, sealed, and re-weighted (total). Must be pointed out.

<p> On the other hand, in the solution according to the invention, the tare corresponds exclusively to the lower shell, so the lower shell is first weighed in the empty state (tare) and then finally sealed. Before the filling, the weight is measured in the filled state (total). In the case of multi-component products, the weighed products are weighed after each weighing process and the weight of each individual component is obtained by appropriately calculating the difference in capacitance measurements. ..</p><p> An object of the present invention is basically to provide a capsule or an equivalent thereof, particularly an apparatus for filling a pharmaceutical capsule, and conventional sheet assemblies of known art have at least corresponding capacitive members. Has been replaced by several improved seat assemblies with built-in.</p><p> Depending on industrial and / or economic options, each seat assembly may also incorporate mechanical and / or electrical components to weigh the contents utilizing capacity as described below.</p><p> Electronic by measuring the weight of the lower shell, first empty (tare) and then filled (in each filling step, if there are multiple weighing steps), using capacity. Appropriate arithmetic processing by the arithmetic processing unit can be performed to accurately calculate the total weight and determine whether or not it is within the specified margin of error.</p><p> Therefore, according to the present invention, an apparatus for filling the capsule or its equivalent according to claim 1 can be obtained.</p>

An example of an embodiment of the present invention is described in the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

In addition to the usual components of this type of device, well described in the literature, the device according to the invention communicates and powers a plurality of seat assemblies and the seat assemblies using suitable coupling members. Has electronic devices. Electronic devices built into or out of the seat assembly allow control of the system and allow interaction between the seat assembly and other parts of the device, especially the central electronic control unit that controls the overall operation of the device.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a seat assembly in the present invention.

The seat assembly 10 has a body 11 formed with a seat 12 shaped to accommodate each lower shell (not shown in FIG. 1) of a capsule (not shown in FIG. 1).

In order to expel the entire capsule (not shown in FIG. 1) from the sheet 12, there is a passage 13 outward from the lower portion 12a of the sheet 12 to allow the extrusion rod (or injection of compressed air) to pass through.

The capacitive transducer 14 is embedded in the main body 11 and has two or more movable metal plates 14a and a shielding plate 14b outside the movable metal plate 14a.

The capacitive transducer 14 is electrically connected to the electronic device 15, but not necessarily, preferably a microprocessor-based electronic device with low power consumption, which is shown below. It regulates the signal of the device, communicates with the outside with other electronic devices of the device (not shown in FIG. 1), and supplies power to the components of the seat assembly 10.

In the first embodiment, for example, the communication function and the power supply function are appropriately connected by using a wireless signal to an electronic device housed and fixed in the device (not shown in FIG. 1). This is done using the antenna 16 for wireless connection with other antennas designed in (not shown in FIG. 1).

This technique is similar to the technique commonly used in so-called "transponders" in identification (RFID) systems.

Further, the seat assembly 10 has an energy storage unit 17 for storing externally supplied power, for example, in the form of a large-capacity capacitor (several tens of farads) or a known battery.

By using the energy storage unit 17, power supply, command reception, measurement, and data transfer can be performed asynchronously, unlike most transponders.

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment, and parts common to the first embodiment are shown using the same reference number. For simplicity, the reader should refer to the description in FIG. 1 for parts that are common to both embodiments.

In the second embodiment of FIG. 2, the energy storage unit 17 is charged using the contacts 18. The contacts have, for example, a ring shape that is tuned to make temporary contact with electrodes (not shown) located at appropriate locations in the device. Data transmission between the sheet assembly 10 and the outside is performed optically using a suitable optoelectronic device 19.

The seat assembly 10 is mobile and the energy storage 17 is very important to ensure that the desired measurements are taken as the seat assembly 10 moves from one point (not shown) to another. Is.

This is a clear advantage over known techniques in that the measurements are made in a very short time, i.e. as the lower shell passes through the plate of the fixed transducer. Longer measurement times can be taken to make multiple measurements and to reduce the effects of noise and other interferences, resulting in more accurate final measurement results.

In addition to powering and transferring data to the moving seat assembly 10, the fixed electronic device provides overall control of the system and processing of input electronic measurement results for capsules that are out of tolerance. In order to directly control the exclusion, in some cases, information is exchanged with the device in order to provide measurement data to the outside for the purpose of further processing (for example, exclusion state, data storage, etc.).

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, some of the devices shown in the first embodiment of FIG. 1 can be replaced by other devices of the second embodiment of FIG. In particular, the optical signal of the second embodiment can be replaced with the wireless signal of the first embodiment of FIG. 1, and in the embodiment of FIG. 2, communication and charging are performed at the same time by using the same contact ring. be able to.

The system operates in the steps described below, and some members can partially or completely superimpose in terms of time and function in the sense that they perform multiple functions. For example, sheet assemblies are powered and transferred through the same physical path.

Briefly, its functions are as follows. Powering and accumulating power from a seat assembly to a fixed electronic device, receiving and measuring communications (eg, for conversion start commands), and transmitting communications (eg, for measurements).

More specifically, with reference to the embodiment of FIG. 1, the above functions are as follows. (A) A suitable receiving antenna (eg, a coil wound at least once around the seat assembly) is electromagnetically connected to a fixed antenna properly placed on the device along the passage of the seat assembly. The receiving antenna is supplied by a fixed antenna with a predetermined amount of high frequency energy that is rectified and powers the electronic device on the seat assembly. The presence of energy storage (eg, large capacity capacitors) allows electronic devices on the seat assembly to operate beyond unpowered areas. (B) The sheet assembly can receive communications such as a conversion start command across the high frequency receive channel. And this is the same as that used for power supply (see (A)). (C) By controlling the transducer of the seat assembly with the appropriate signal, the electronics on the seat assembly can make one or more volume measurements that indicate the weight of the substance in the contents. (D) Respond to incoming messages, in particular, via a transmission line (which can be shared or separated from the power supply system) by supplying the performed measurements to a fixed on-machine electronic device. From this measurement result, by using an appropriate method, the on-machine electronic device, as already mentioned, can momentarily analyze the amount of pharmaceutical products inside the lower shell, in order to analyze the amount of pharmaceutical products. It is possible to calculate the variation in weight of various contents.

Function (A) can be performed by a contact system instead, and functions (B) and (C) can be performed by a suitable optoelectronic means or the same contact system instead.

To facilitate the recognition of the seat assembly, it is possible to assign a permanently stored address to each during the initial programming phase on a fixed on-machine electronic device.

Designed for so-called IAP (In-Application Programming) through bidirectional communication with the seat assembly, it can be "calibrated" (meaning permanent storage of seat assembly parameters in the processor or grounding device) or seat. Further functions such as updating and modifying assembly software can be exhibited.

FIG. 3 shows a first example of the interaction process between the seat assembly 10 and a plurality of fixed on-machine electronics.

Overall, the interaction is divided into four steps. For clarity, they are described as if they work separately, but at least some can be done at the same time, not to mention.

In step C (C: Charge), the seat assembly 10 is transported by the system in the direction of arrow V and passes through a fixed on-machine electronic device 100. More specifically, the seat assembly 10 passes through a coupling member 101 (eg, a long coil appropriately oriented when power is supplied by high frequency or induction) or a second embodiment of FIG. In, the contact 18 slides along the member 101 and the energy storage member 17 is charged (see FIGS. 1 and 2).

In the second step F (F: Fill), the sheet assembly 10 is filled (eg, an empty lower shell is inserted or a predetermined amount of drug is filled inside the lower shell. )

In the third step S (S: Start), the seat assembly 10 also constitutes the interface unit 103 (which also constitutes a part of the device 100) from the central control unit 102 (which also constitutes a part of the fixed electronic device 100). ) Is received, and the measurement is performed at a distance of M.

In the fourth step R (R: Read), the seat assembly 10 receives an inquiry and transfers the measured values performed at the movement distance M to the central control unit 102 via the interface unit 104.

Steps (F), (S), (R) by equipping members 101, 103, 104 at appropriate locations on the device to communicate with the seat assembly 10 on the one hand and the central control unit 102 on the other. If necessary, the charging step (C) can be successfully repeated several times on the device.

For example, steps S and R can be performed following each filling step to determine the weight of the product in each step by subtraction.

In practice, if the capsule is filled with only one product, this sequence will be performed twice. As shown in Figure 4, the first is done for the empty lower shell and the second is done for the lower shell containing the product.

FIG. 4 shows a second example of the interaction process between the seat assembly 10 and a plurality of fixed on-machine electronics.

More specifically, in FIG. 4, C1 indicates the charging step of the seat assembly 10, F1 indicates the step of inserting the lower shell FN into the seat assembly 10, S1 indicates the measurement start command step, and M1 indicates the lower. The weighting step of the side shell FN is shown. In read step R1, the system reads the weight value of the lower shell FN and transfers it to device 100. C2 indicates the charging step to the seat assembly 10, F2, S2, M2 and R2 indicate the same steps as above, but for example, product P from the funnel TR fills the lower shell F.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, a third measurement will be made on a complete capsule CS with a lower shell FN, product P, upper shell CP (Figure 4).

As already mentioned, all or some of the above steps can be added. More specifically, the charging and measurement start command steps C and S can be performed in one step, and the reading step can be combined with steps C and S as compared to the next filling step. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, the on-machine member can be simplified. Here, F1 and F2 indicate two continuous filling steps, and M1 and M2 indicate relative measurement steps.

Fixed electronic device 100, seat assembly 10, device for transporting sheet assembly 10 (not shown), device TR for filling product P in lower shell FN, device for attaching upper shell CP to lower shell FN, capsule The device for eliminating CS constitutes a part of the device 1000 for filling capsules or their equivalents according to the present invention (FIGS. 3 and 4).

More specifically, although not described in the accompanying drawings, the central control unit 102 controls all operations performed by the devices that form part of the device 1000 by known methods.

Unlike the solutions shown in Figures 1 to 4, a simple solution (not shown) in which the seat assembly simply incorporates a capacitive transducer that weighs the material when it is loaded is preferred. It is feasible. Even if the seat assembly contains few electronics, if at all, the seat assembly cooperates with the electronics on the device (see below).

Such variants include only capacitive transducers with plates (in the form of metal plates or coatings) properly placed inside the seat assembly, configured and sized according to the characteristics of the object to be measured. It is based on the sheet assembly. The plate is usually placed on a cylindrical surface coaxial with the seat assembly.

This plate is connected to a set of external connection electrodes, for example in a ring shape coaxial with the seat assembly, to make electrical contact with a matching member (brush) located at the on-machine measurement point. .. Then, the contact member is connected not to the seat assembly but to the adjustment electronic device on the device.

Given the characteristics of the device, the goal of contacting the seat assembly with the on-machine electronics to make measurements is not limited to the following two solutions at all.

One of the ways in which the capsule is actually conveyed in different parts of this type of device, namely inside the translating seat assembly or on the wheels of the conveyor, and in which the capsule is held by an air suction system. By utilizing, these solutions can be easily applied.

The first solution is to temporarily place the sheet in place with the ring of the sheet assembly, but with a brush or elastic contact that is properly shaped to contact, for a long enough time to make the measurement. Measurements are taken as the assembly passes.

In the second solution, the seat assemblies are transported over the wheels by a predetermined distance over the perimeter of the grooved seats that hold each seat assembly using standard systems.

Since the seat assembly is stationary with respect to the transport member, the rings are statically contacted, for example, using multiple spring contacts, such as those used in electronic circuit testing equipment known as "in-circuit testers". are doing. In that case, the conditioning electronics or parts thereof must be installed on the wheels of the conveyor, such as sliding contacts, rotary transformers and / or wireless connections to increasingly popular IEEE 802.11 and 802.11 standards. Like a wireless system, it must be connected to the ground by a known method.

For contact with the transducer inside the seat assembly, another embodiment (not shown) uses a derivative system consisting of windings properly built into the body of the seat assembly instead of the contact ring. In this system, mechanical, electrical, and in some cases appropriate electronic steps need to be employed to obtain measurement results that are completely independent of the variability that is unavoidable in inductively coupled. To achieve this, measures are taken to place a portion of the electronics provided by the inductively coupled system inside the seat assembly. In this case, this solution can be regarded as a simplified modification of the seat assembly in FIGS. 1 to 4.

By using a microprocessor in the sheet assembly, in terms of measurement accuracy, for example, determining the weight of individual components (shell, contents and / or components of the contents in the case of a mixture of components with different dielectric properties). In this respect as well, more advanced measurements can be performed.

For example, the following is executed: Multi-frequency measurement (multi-frequency technique), vector measurement (measuring capacitance and loss angle), in the case of transducers with two or more electrodes, multiple measurements between different pairs of electrodes.

The latter method (two or more electrodes) uses a method similar to that used in "capacitive tomography" and yields two important results in terms of content measurement accuracy. That is, the point that the measurement result of the weight of the contents hardly depends on the spatial distribution of the products in the lower shell, and the contribution of the contents (product) and the container (shell) are measured in one step. So, it is a point that can be identified to some extent.

Another advantage is that measurements can be performed in all or part of the device even if the communication and power supply functions are not functioning. Despite the safe shielding of the parts, for maximum accuracy, delicate measurements such as capacitance measurements must be made in the absence of other movements, which is very important. Communication is an extremely delicate task, especially when radio and LED controls are used as part of the optical transmission system.

Another advantage over known systems is that tare, which has only the lower shell rather than the entire capsule, is currently lighter (about half the weight), so tare weighing (the dielectric constant of the shell material is the contents). Especially important because it is higher than that) is that it has a small effect on net weight measurement.

Another advantage is that in an apparatus in which capsules are filled in a plurality of successive steps, according to the present technology, the amount of product to be filled can be determined in each step.

<figref num="1">It is a figure which shows the 1st Embodiment of the sheet assembly used for the filling apparatus of a capsule or the equivalent in this invention.</figref><figref num="2">It is a figure which shows the 2nd Embodiment of the sheet assembly used in the filling apparatus of a capsule or the equivalent in this invention.</figref><figref num="3">It is a figure which shows the 1st example of the application example of the sheet assembly shown in FIG. 1 and FIG.</figref><figref num="4">It is a figure which shows the 2nd example of the application example of the sheet assembly shown in FIG. 1 and FIG.</figref>