Device for dispensing powdered filler material

Abstract

Device (1) for compacting and / or transporting a powdered fill material (2) comprising at least one plunger (3) which is configured to move into a cavity (4) into which the powdered fill material (2) is introduced for compacting the powdered fill material (2), wherein the plunger (3) is coupled to a plunger drive (6) via a motion transmission means (5), wherein the plunger drive (6) is configured to perform a compaction movement (7) which is transmitted from the motion transmission means (5) to the plunger (3), and wherein the motion transmission means (5) has an energy storage device (14) with which energy is stored during the compaction movement (7) and subsequently released to generate a pulse-like movement (8) superimposed on the compaction movement (7), which supports the compaction and / or transport of the powdered fill material (2).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for dosing or for compacting and transporting powdered contents, in particular powdered pharmaceutical products and / or food supplements.

[0002] Such devices are known, for example, from DE 10 2015 206 407 A1 and DE 10 2006 031 250 A1. With such devices, a powdered filling material is typically first compacted and then transported into a capsule, which is typically made of gelatin, and in particular hard gelatin. The device is preferably part of a compaction station in which the powdered filling material is compacted and transported into the capsules. It is further known from DE 10 2007 031 856 A1 and WO 2021 / 014340 A1 that a piston for compacting the powdered filling material is subjected to a further movement in addition to a compaction movement, which supports the compaction and / or the dispensing of the filling material.

[0003] Such devices are characterized by the fact that the powdered material is typically filled into a cavity by a series of plungers and compacted there, before being ejected from the cavity by another plunger and transported into the capsule. Preferably, a series of the devices described here form a compaction station of a machine for filling powdered materials, in particular powdered pharmaceutical products and / or dietary supplements.

[0004] These types of rams typically perform a tamping motion, pushing the powdered material into the cavities and compacting it there. Such rams usually move up and down regularly to repeat the tamping motion.

[0005] In principle, the powdered filler material can adhere to the plungers. However, this should be avoided if possible, because if the plungers move upwards in the opposite direction to the tamping motion, they can transport powdered filler material out of the cavity again, thus (uncontrollably) affecting the exact amount of powdered filler material in the cavity.

[0006] The precise dosage of the amount of powdered filler material in the cavity, which is later transported into the capsule, is particularly relevant for pharmaceuticals as powdered filler material and is also of great importance for food supplements as powdered filler material.

[0007] Furthermore, there is an interest in enabling a large number of stamps to be driven by a common central drive. Such machines for filling powdered products are regularly equipped with a central drive that preferably drives all, but usually a large proportion, of the moving parts of the machine.

[0008] The object of the present invention is to at least partially solve the problems described with reference to the prior art and, in particular, to provide a device that enables precise dosing during the compaction and / or transport of the powdered material. This object is achieved by the invention according to the features of the independent claims. Further advantageous embodiments are specified in the dependent claims, as well as in the description and, in particular, in the description of the figures. It should be noted that a person skilled in the art will combine the individual features in a technologically meaningful way and thereby arrive at further embodiments of the invention.

[0009] The invention relates to a device for compacting and / or transporting a powdered fill material, comprising at least one plunger configured to move into a cavity into which the powdered fill material is introduced, wherein the plunger is coupled to a plunger drive via a motion transmission means, wherein the plunger drive is configured to perform a compaction movement which is transmitted from the motion transmission means to the plunger, and wherein the motion transmission means has an energy storage device with which energy is stored during the compaction movement and subsequently released to generate a pulse-like movement superimposed on the compaction movement, which supports the compaction and / or transport of the powdered fill material.

[0010] It is particularly advantageous if the energy storage system stores energy that is extracted from the compression movement.

[0011] In this way, the impact motion superimposed on the compression motion can be generated very efficiently without additional energy sources or drives in the device. Alternatively, the energy for generating an impact motion can also come from an additional energy source, referred to here as an impact drive. This variant will be explained in more detail below. Such an additional impact drive can also be an electric drive, independent of the drive for the compression motion.

[0012] The powdered contents are in particular a powdered pharmaceutical product and / or food supplement.

[0013] Devices with rams that enter a cavity to compact and / or transport a powdered material are not directly connected to a ram drive, but rather via the described motion transmission means. During operation, the ram drive preferably performs a precisely defined movement, determined by its design, which constitutes the compaction movement. This compaction movement can also be described as a packing movement because it packs the powdered material into the cavity. The ram drive preferably performs an alternating return movement with the compaction movement. Thus, the ram drive preferably moves back and forth regularly. The overall movement (compaction and return) defined by the ram drive can, for example, be sinusoidal.Such a movement can be generated, for example, by a stamp drive powered by an eccentric.

[0014] The term "compaction movement" here primarily describes a movement dictated by the ram drive, characterized by a forward movement towards the ram or the powdered material, alternating with a return movement in which the ram drive (and thus the ram) moves back. In some designs, the compression and return movements combine to form a sinusoidal motion, which can be generated, for example, by an eccentric. The eccentric may be part of the ram drive or, in turn, drive the ram drive. The term "end of movement" refers to the final section of the compression movement before the transition to the return movement. This end of movement is particularly important for the compaction of the powdered material because the highest pressures are typically exerted on it at this point.

[0015] As already explained, the compression movement (and the return movement) is determined by the piston drive and transmitted to the motion transmission device and the piston. Modifications to the movement occur during this transmission, for example, because the connection between the piston and the motion transmission device is not rigid. In the following, the terms "compression movement" and "return movement" will also be used for the subsequent movements of the motion transmission device and the piston, even though these movements do not exactly correspond to the "compression movement" and "return movement" of the piston drive.

[0016] It has been found that a movement superimposed on the compaction movement improves the compaction and / or transport of the powdered material with such a device. For example, a movement superimposed on the compaction movement can cause the powder particles of the material to reorient themselves or move amongst themselves. This can increase the compaction. Simultaneously, separation of the piston from the powdered material during the piston's return stroke can be facilitated. This is the case, for example, because the powdered material is shaken off the piston by the superimposed movement.

[0017] It is proposed here to provide a motion transmission means between the ram drive and the ram, which transmits the movement of the ram drive to the ram and simultaneously generates the superimposed movement from or with the compaction movement, or models the superimposed movement from the compaction movement, whereby the superimposed movement supports the compaction and / or the transport of the powdered filling material.

[0018] By generating the superimposed motion within the motion transmission element, an additional drive for generating the superimposed motion can be omitted. In principle, it is still possible to drive the device with only a single central drive. The additional effort required to generate the superimposed motion is significantly reduced by this approach compared to solutions where the superimposed motion is generated by additional drive components.

[0019] In the compaction stations of machines for filling powdered products, there is preferably a series of devices designed for tamping or compacting the powdered product. These devices are also referred to here as "compaction stages." The powdered product is preferably provided as a powder bed on a metering disc. The cavities are designed as openings or bores in the metering disc. The powder bed preferably extends over the cavities. During the compaction movement, the plungers enter the cavities through the powder bed and push the powdered product into them. The plungers then compact the powdered product within the cavities. Preferably, different plungers successively enter the same cavity, each transporting a quantity of powdered product into that cavity.Preferably, a plug of powdered filler material is formed in stages. Preferably, the series of plugging devices is followed by a device for transporting the powdered filler material or the plug formed from it. Such a device is also referred to here as an "ejection stage." This device also has a plunger that enters the cavity and pushes or transports the plug of powdered filler material downwards out of the cavity. Preferably, the plug of powdered filler material is pushed into an (opened) capsule that is provided in a capsule holder.

[0020] The motion transmission devices described here for generating superimposed motion are particularly advantageous in compaction devices (compaction stages). Significantly improved compaction can be achieved with minimal effort through the generated superimposed motion. However, such motion transmission devices can also be used in conveying devices (ejection stages).

[0021] The quantity of powdered material to be dispensed can be increased by using the described motion transmission device if the compaction of the powdered material can be improved. This is achieved without requiring an increase in the driving force of the rams. A more uniform distribution of the powdered material particles within the cavity can be achieved.

[0022] The motion transmission device has an energy storage device. The energy storage device is preferably configured so that it is initially charged by the compression movement. The compression movement preferably performs work on the energy storage device by exerting a force on it during the compression movement. The energy stored in the energy storage device corresponds to the integral of the force over the path of the compression movement. Preferably, the compression movement is divided into several sections. The energy storage device is preferably charged during a first section of the compression movement. More preferably, a second section follows the first section of the compression movement, in which the energy stored in the energy storage device is released.Preferably, the energy stored in the energy storage device is used to generate a movement superimposed on the compression movement, which supports the transport of the powdered filling material.

[0023] It is particularly advantageous if the motion transmission means has a momentum body which is accelerated with energy from the energy storage to generate momentum of the momentum body, wherein the accelerated momentum body strikes against a first stop surface associated with the punch in order to transfer the momentum of the momentum body to the punch.

[0024] The impulse body is, in particular, a component that is movable relative to the piston (and possibly relative to other components of the motion transmission means) and which can be accelerated within the motion transmission means in order to store kinetic energy that can then be transferred to the piston via an (elastic) impact.

[0025] Preferably, the impact of the impulse body on the first contact surface causes a transfer of momentum from the impulse body to the punch. The superimposed movement is a short, impact-like movement with high energy, which exerts a brief, high pressure on the punch or the powdered fill material. The first contact surface can be located on the punch itself, on the motion transmission means, or on a movable stop mechanism arranged in the motion transmission means. Preferably, however, the contact surface forms a rigid connection to the punch at the moment of impact, so that a transfer of momentum from the impulse body to the first contact surface on the punch and thus also to the powdered fill material takes place.

[0026] By first transferring the energy stored in the energy storage device to a momentum carrier and then generating the superimposed motion through an impact or collision, it becomes possible to release the energy accumulated in the energy storage device over a period of time or a segment of the compression movement abruptly to the piston. In this way, a collision can be generated.

[0027] Furthermore, it is advantageous if an acceleration section is provided for the momentum body in the motion transmission means, along which the momentum body is accelerated in order to convert the energy in the energy storage into momentum energy of the momentum body.

[0028] The acceleration of the momentum body results from the force exerted on it when energy is transferred from the energy storage device. The resulting acceleration of the momentum body, together with the length of the acceleration path, defines the energy transferred from the energy storage device to the momentum body. Preferably, the acceleration path is between 1 cm and 10 cm long. A relatively long acceleration path allows for higher velocities and thus higher momentum energies to be generated in the momentum body.

[0029] Furthermore, it is advantageous if the energy storage device includes a spring that is tensioned by the compression movement and relaxes to release the energy stored in the energy storage device.

[0030] Preferably, the energy is stored in the spring. In the first part of the compression movement, the spring is preferably compressed to store energy. When the spring relaxes, the energy is released and preferably transferred to the momentum body. Preferably, the relaxation of the spring exerts a force on the momentum body, which accelerates it.

[0031] Furthermore, it is advantageous if a movable second stop surface is provided in the motion transmission means, which temporarily blocks an impulse body during the compression movement, so that a spring arranged between the impulse body and a third stop surface of the motion transmission means is compressed by the compression movement.

[0032] A temporary blockage here refers in particular to a blockage during the first phase of the compaction movement.

[0033] The second stop surface serves, in particular, to limit the effective range of the spring during the first phase of the compression movement, such that the spring is compressed. During the compression movement, the second and first stop surfaces approach each other, and the spring is preferably compressed between the stop surfaces or between a stop surface and the impulse body. In this way, energy is stored in the spring. Preferably, a free space is simultaneously opened within the housing of the motion transmission device, into which the impulse body can later be accelerated to generate kinetic energy.

[0034] Furthermore, it is advantageous if the second stop surface is arranged on a movable stop mechanism that moves the second stop surface in such a way that the temporary blocking of the impulse body is lifted when a trigger position of the impulse body is reached.

[0035] In the context of the stop mechanism, the term "movable" means that the stop mechanism can be moved so that the second stop surface blocks the impulse body in a first position and is located outside the movement range of the impulse body in a second position, thus not affecting the (free) movement of the impulse body.

[0036] In various embodiments, the first and second stop surfaces can both be located on the same component and may even be the same surface or overlapping surface areas on that component. Preferably, the first and second stop surfaces are formed on a main component of a movable stop mechanism. When the movable stop mechanism is in a first position, a surface on the movable stop mechanism acts as the second stop surface and blocks movement of the impact body. When the movable stop mechanism is moved to a second position, the surface no longer acts as the second stop surface, but may then act as the first stop surface.

[0037] The movable stop mechanism preferably comprises a main component with a centering cone designed to interact with a centering bore on the motion transmission means or its housing. During a second phase of the compression movement, the centering cone on the main component of the stop mechanism is preferably centered in the centering bore. Conversely, when the second stop surface, which blocks the impact body (as described above), is engaged, the main component or the movable stop mechanism is not centered or is tilted. The centering action displaces the second stop surface such that it moves into a receiving space, allowing the impact body to accelerate along an acceleration path into this free space and then strike a first stop surface of the motion transmission means associated with the piston at the end of this free space.The centering mechanism allows for the preferential movement of the second stop surface from the first position to the second position.

[0038] Preferably, the movable stop mechanism is configured such that it tilts back during a return movement opposite to the compression movement, so that during a renewed compression movement, the second stop surface is again positioned to temporarily block the impulse body. This causes a spring located between the impulse body and a third stop surface of the motion transmission means to be compressed again by the renewed compression movement, and the described process for generating the superimposed movement / impact occurs again. The second stop surface for blocking the impulse body and the first stop surface for transferring the momentum or kinetic energy of the impulse body to the piston can both be located at the same position on the movable stop mechanism or on a main component of the movable stop mechanism.

[0039] Furthermore, it is advantageous if the energy storage device includes an air chamber which is reduced in size by the compression movement, so that the air pressure in the air chamber is increased, whereby the air chamber expands again to release the energy stored in the energy storage device.

[0040] Besides the spring, the use of an air chamber is another way to create an energy storage device in the described apparatus.

[0041] Preferably, the piston drive actuates a piston that acts on an air chamber containing a compressible gas, which at least partially forms the energy storage device. A momentum body with a mass is coupled to the piston via the gas in the air chamber. The momentum body can also be considered part of the energy storage device. The piston and the momentum body are preferably guided in a cylinder in which the air chamber is formed between the piston and the momentum body. Due to the elasticity of the gas in the air chamber and the mass of the momentum body, the momentum body follows the movement of the piston with a time delay.

[0042] Preferably, the piston is connected to the motion transmission means via a spacer spring. The spacer spring ensures a distance between the motion transmission means and the piston that decreases during each compression stroke and then increases again during a return stroke, the distance depending on a counter-pressure acting on the piston surface. This counter-pressure is typically generated by the powdered filler material, which is compressed by the piston in the cavity.

[0043] If the distance falls below a certain threshold, the impulse body, coupled to the ram drive via the air chamber, collides with a stop surface on the ram. This collision transfers momentum from the impulse body to the ram, causing it to be driven abruptly and generating the superimposed movement. This allows the ram to achieve significantly improved compaction of the powdered material.

[0044] The device described here, with its motion transmission means, enables a high degree of compaction of the powdered material. In particular, it also allows for the distribution of large peak forces within the device and the machine. The energy storage system, and especially the use of an impactor and a shock absorber, allows for the generation of locally stronger shocks with greater force, because locally stored energy is used to generate the shock. The energy for generating the shock is stored in the immediate vicinity of the ram where the shock is intended to take effect. While high peak forces do occur locally due to the shock, they are not distributed throughout the machine. The stresses on the machine are thus reduced or at least limited.

[0045] The increased compaction is achieved by firing a mass onto the piston. This means the peak force on the piston is not generated directly by the machine, but by the momentum transferred to the piston from the accelerated mass. This "hammering" action results in significantly higher compaction of the powder, allowing for a larger volume of powder to be filled.

[0046] Basically, two concepts are described above regarding how an energy storage device can be used in the motion transmission means to generate the impact.

[0047] In one initial concept, a spring can be tensioned during the compression movement and then released to propel a mass (e.g., the described impactor) against a stop. The release mechanism is implemented as a sliding stop mechanism and can incorporate another spring (here, the centering spring).

[0048] In a second concept, a freely movable element is used that elastically follows the movement of the punch drive and has mass, thus forming a momentum body. The free movement of this freely movable element is preferably restricted by the first stop surface described above. The first stop surface is preferably positioned within the movement range of the freely movable element such that maximum momentum transfer from the freely movable element or momentum body to the stop surface occurs. The positioning of the first stop surface within the movement range of the freely movable element is preferably set by a spacer spring that defines this distance when pressure is applied to the punch.

[0049] Both concepts share the common feature that energy is stored in an energy storage device, this energy is converted into momentum, and then a shock and / or impact is generated as a superimposed motion. Preferably, the motion transmission means or device is configured such that a shock with an impact energy within a predetermined range can be generated, which acts on the powdered filler material via the plunger.

[0050] It is particularly preferred if the frequency of the superimposed movement is higher than the frequency of the compression movement.

[0051] Preferably, the superimposed movement comprises a plurality of impacts or blows that occur during the compaction movement and act on the powdered material to compact it. Here, the frequency of these impacts is what is meant. The compaction movement is preferably an up-and-down movement of the ram, which is operated at the cycle rate of a machine for filling a powdered product. The device described here is integrated into such a machine for filling a powdered product. The frequency of the compaction movement preferably corresponds to the cycle rate of the machine.

[0052] Preferably, the superimposed motion comprises a plurality of impacts during a compression movement. The frequency of the superimposed motion or the impacts is preferably more than five times higher than the frequency or cycle rate of the compression movement. The storage and release of energy from the superimposed motion therefore preferably also occurs multiple times during each compression movement.

[0053] Furthermore, it is preferred if the motion transmission means has at least one impact drive which is configured to store energy in the energy storage device, the energy being subsequently released to generate the impact motion superimposed on the compression motion.

[0054] The impact drive can, for example, be an additional electric drive that generates an up-and-down motion superimposed on the compaction movement. This up-and-down motion is then converted into an impact-like superimposed movement by a mechanism encompassing an energy storage device (as described here). The entire motion transmission device preferably forms a type of small impact hammer that is moved up and down with the compaction movement to compact the powdered material.

[0055] The use of an additional impulse drive is particularly suitable and advantageous in combination with the energy storage system formed with an air chamber and an impulse drive located further upstream.

[0056] Furthermore, it is preferred if the shock drive is configured to generate a motion that produces a superimposed motion whose frequency is higher than the frequency of the compression motion.

[0057] This document describes a machine for filling capsules with a powdered substance. The machine comprises at least one device according to one of the preceding claims for compacting and / or transporting the powdered substance into the capsule prior to filling.

[0058] The described device preferably forms a compaction stage and / or a transport stage within a compaction station of the machine. The compaction station serves in particular to compact the powdered material into a plug and then transport it into a capsule.

[0059] The invention and its technical context are explained in more detail below with reference to the figures. The figures show preferred embodiments, to which the invention is not limited. It should be noted in particular that the figures, and especially the size relationships shown in the figures, are only schematic. They show: Fig. 1: Devices described comprising a machine for filling a powdered product with a compaction station; Fig. 2a to 2d: a first embodiment variant of a described motion transmission device; and Fig. 3: a second variant of a described motion transmission device.

[0060] Fig. Figure 1 schematically shows a machine 19 for filling a powdered product 2, wherein in the Fig. Figure 1 shows in detail a compaction station 21 of the machine 19. In the compaction station 21, the powdered filling material 2 is compacted and then transported into a capsule 20. The capsule 20 is made, for example, of gelatin or a similar material, and the task of the machine 19 is to produce a large number of capsules 20 filled with the powdered filling material 2.

[0061] The compaction station 21 of the machine 19 preferably has a plurality of compaction stages 31 with which the powdered fill material 2 is compacted stepwise in cavities 4 provided for this purpose. The cavities 4 are preferably provided as bores and / or openings in a so-called metering disc 30.

[0062] On the metering disc 30, the powdered fill material 2 is provided as a powder bed 33. The powder bed 33 is preferably refilled via transport screws 22 when powdered fill material 2 is transported from the powder bed 33 into cavities 4. Preferably, means for homogenizing the powder bed 33 also exist, e.g., sliding elements 25, which are shown schematically here, and with which the powder bed 33 can be regularly homogenized so that it has a constant thickness and the quantity of powdered fill material 2 pushed from the powder bed 33 into the cavities 4 can be calculated. Punches 3 move into the powder bed 33 from above. A punch surface 13 of the punches 3 pushes the powdered fill material 2 into the cavities 4 in the metering disc 30. This occurs in stages.This means that in each compaction stage 31, further powdered filling material 2 is preferably introduced into the cavity 4 and a plug 34 of the compacted filling material 2 present in the cavity 4 is enlarged from compaction stage 31 to compaction stage 31.

[0063] The metering disc 30 is shown schematically in cross-section. Preferably, the metering disc 30 has a plurality of rows of cavities 4 arranged one behind the other in the plane of representation and is also preferably rotatable in order to assign individual rows of cavities 4 to the pistons 3 or the compaction stages 31 of the compaction station 21.

[0064] The compaction station 21 of the machine 19 preferably also has an ejection stage 32, with which a compacted plug 34 of the powdered fill material 2 present in the cavity 4 can be ejected or transported into a capsule 20. This preferably occurs by a plunger 3 pushing the plug 34 out of the cavity 4. The capsule 20 is provided for this purpose in a capsule holder 26.

[0065] The punches 3 are preferably each part of a device 1. Preferably, the punches 3 run in punch guides 29, which perform a linear up-and-down movement of the punches 3. Each punch 3 is driven by a punch drive 6, wherein the punch drives 6 are preferably mechanically connected to a central drive 28, which centrally actuates the punch drives 6 and the punches 3. The central drive 28 is simplified here as an eccentric arranged above the compaction station 21. In embodiments, it is also possible for the central drive 28 to be arranged below the compaction station 21, forming a central drive 28 for a large proportion of the components of the machine 19 and interacting with the compaction station 21 via push and pull rods.To modify the effect of the central drive 28 on the individual punch drives 6, individual spacer components 35 can be used, which modify or individualize the relative position between the central drive 28 and the punch drives 6.

[0066] The devices 1 preferably each have a motion transmission means 5 between the piston 3 and the piston drive 6, which transmits the movement of the piston drives 6 to the piston 3. The motion transmission means 5 each have an energy storage device 14 with which energy from the compaction movement 7 is stored during the compaction movement 7 and subsequently released to generate a pulse-like movement 8 superimposed on the compaction movement 7, which supports the compaction and / or transport of the powdered fill material 2. The motion transmission means 5 of the devices 1 described here will be further explained below with reference to the Fig. 2a to 2d and 3 are explained in detail.

[0067] In Fig. Figures 2a to 2d show a first embodiment of the motion transmission means 5, wherein the Fig. Figures 2a to 2d each represent different states during the motion transmission with the motion transmission means 5. A piston drive (not shown here) acts on a top surface 36 of the motion transmission means 5. The piston 3, shown here (at least partially), is attached to the bottom of the motion transmission means 5.

[0068] A momentum body 15, a spring 10 and a movable stop mechanism 27 are located in a housing 38 of the motion transmission means 5. The momentum body 15 and the spring 10 are clamped between a second stop surface 23 on the movable stop mechanism 27 and a third stop surface 24 on the housing 38.

[0069] The housing 38 of the motion transmission means 5 (driven by the piston drive 6) alternately performs a compression movement 7 in the direction of movement 9 and a return movement 45 in the opposite direction to the compression movement. A lower reversal point, at which the compression movement 7 reverses into the return movement 45, is also referred to here as the end of the compression movement 7. Here, the greatest pressure or compression force is typically exerted on the powdered material 2. The movable stop mechanism 27 is designed to position the second stop surface 23 at the beginning of the compression movement 7 so that the second stop surface 23 initially supports the impulse body 15. For this purpose, the movable stop mechanism 27 is tilted (slightly) relative to the housing 38 and the impulse body 15. The beginning of the compression movement 7 with the tilted stop mechanism 27 is described in Fig. 2a shown. Fig. 2a corresponds to a first phase of the compaction movement 7.

[0070] The compression movement 7 then tensions the spring 10 between the impulse body 15 and the third stop surface 24. This process is described in Fig. 2b can be seen. The spring 10 acts here together with the momentum body 15 as an energy storage device 14. A free space 49 opens in the housing 38, into which the momentum body 15 can later be accelerated by the spring 10 along an acceleration path 16.

[0071] The stop mechanism 27 is influenced by the compression movement 7. The stop mechanism 27 is coupled to the piston 3. The compression movement 7 not only tensions the spring 10, but also a centering spring 39 of the movable stop mechanism 27. The movable stop mechanism 27, or a main component 50 of the movable stop mechanism 27, is thereby displaced relative to the housing 48. This causes a centering cone 37 formed on the main component 50 of the movable stop mechanism 27 to engage with a conical centering bore 48 on the housing 38.

[0072] The movable stop mechanism 27 is centered by the interaction of the centering cone 37 and the (also conical) centering bore 48, so that the in Fig. 2a The particularly noticeable tilting of the movable stop mechanism 27 is lifted and the second stop surface 23 is moved. The movable stop mechanism 27 thereby moves from a first position, in which the second stop surface 23 blocks the impulse body 15, to a second position, in which this blockage is lifted. This is in Fig. Figure 2c shows that the movable stop mechanism 27 is centered such that the second stop surface 23, or a section of the stop mechanism 27, or of the main component 50, corresponds to a receiving space 40 provided in the impulse body 15. The Fig. The position shown in Figure 2c can also be referred to as the release position. The impulse body 15 is now no longer clamped to the second stop surface 23 and can be accelerated by the spring 10 along the acceleration path 16 through or into the free space 49 in order to subsequently release kinetic energy as momentum or impact. The release of the kinetic energy as momentum or impact occurs at the movable stop mechanism 27 or at its main component 50 and is thus transferred to the ram 3. A first stop surface 17 for momentum transfer is provided on the movable stop mechanism 27 or at its main component 50, which may be formed wholly or partially by areas that previously formed the second stop surface 23. The section on the stop mechanism 27 or at its main component 50 moves into the receiving chamber 40 of the impulse body 15.A surface at the base of the receiving chamber 40 of the impulse body 15 strikes the first impact surface 17.

[0073] The situation of impulse transmission is in Fig. 2D representation. Fig. 2c and Fig. 2d or the transition between Fig. 2a and Fig. 2d corresponds to the second section of the compaction movement described above. Here, the superimposed movement 8 occurs, which supports the compaction movement 7. When the impulse body 15 strikes the second contact surface 26, an impulse from the impulse body 15 is transferred to the piston 3, so that the piston 3 is driven in a pulse-like manner. This allows the piston 3 to achieve significantly improved compaction of the powdered filler material 2.

[0074] In Fig. Figure 3 shows another variant of the motion transmission means 5.

[0075] Also shown here are the compression movement 7 and the return movement 45, which are also transmitted in a modified form to the piston 3 via the motion transmission means 5, are in the Fig. 3 corresponding to the Fig. Figures 2a to 2d are shown schematically. The end of the movement 12 is also marked on the compression movement 7, which denotes the lower reversal point of the compression movement 7 before the compression movement 7 reverses into the return movement 45.

[0076] The device according to Fig. 3 has its own impact drive 51, which forms part of the motion transmission means 5 and which generates the impact-like superimposed motion 8 together with the energy storage device 14. The generation of the impact-like superimposed motion 8 is explained below. The impact drive 51 can be operated at a higher frequency than the frequency of the compression motion 7, which is determined by the alternating compression motion 7 with the return motion 45. The impact drive 51 actuates a piston 41, which acts on an air chamber 18 containing a compressible gas and which at least partially forms the energy storage device 14. A momentum body 15 with a mass is coupled to the piston 41 via the gas in the air chamber 18. The momentum body 15 can also be considered part of the energy storage device 14.The piston 41 and the impulse body 15 are guided in a cylinder 44, in which the air chamber 18 is formed between the piston 41 and the impulse body 15. Due to the elasticity of the gas in the air chamber 18 and the mass of the impulse body 15, the impulse body 15 follows the movement of the piston 41 with a time delay. The impulse body movement 47 of the impulse body 15 lags behind the movement of the piston 41. All these described movements preferably occur at the (higher) frequency of the shock drive 51, which preferably differs from the frequency of the compression movement.

[0077] The piston 3 is connected to the motion transmission means 5 via a spacer spring 42. The spacer spring 42 ensures a distance 43 between the motion transmission means 5 and the piston 3, which decreases during each compression movement 7 and subsequently increases again during a return movement 45. This distance 43 depends on a counter-pressure acting on the piston surface 13. If the distance 43 falls below a certain limit, the impulse body 15, coupled to the impact drive 51 via the air chamber 18, collides with a stop surface 17 on the piston 3. During this collision, an impulse from the impulse body 15 is transferred to the piston 3, causing the piston 3 to be driven in an impact motion and generating the superimposed movement 8. This allows the piston 3 to achieve significantly improved compaction of the powdered material 2.The impact triggered by the impulse body 15 acts via the stop surface 17 on the piston 3 and not on the housing 38. The housing 38 and the piston 3 are mechanically decoupled via the spacer spring 42.

[0078] In Fig. Figure 3 shows an example of a rotary movement 11. In embodiment variants, a rotary movement 11 can also be generated as a superimposed movement 8, which further improves / modifies the compaction of the powdered filling material 2. Reference symbol list 1 Device 2 powdered filling material 3 stamps 4 Cavity 5 Motion transmission devices 6 Stamp drive 7. Compaction movement 8. Overlapping movement 9 Direction of movement 10 springs 11 Rotational movement 12 End of movement 13 Stamp surface 14 Energy storage 15 impulse bodies 16 Acceleration section 17 first stop surface 18 air chambers 19 machine 20 capsules 21 Compaction station 22 Transport screw 23 second stop surface 24 third stop surface 25 sliding elements 26 capsule holders 27 sliding stop mechanism 28 Central drive 29 Stamp guidance 30 metering discs 31 Compaction stage 32 Ejection stage 33 Powder bed 34 grafts 35 Spacer component 36 Top 37 centering cones 38 cases 39 Centering spring 40 Recording Room 41 pistons 42 Spacer spring 43 distance 44 cylinders 45 Return movement 46 Piston movement 47 Impulse body movement 48 Centering bore 49 Free space 50 Main component 51 Shock drive

Claims

[1] Device (1) for compacting and / or transporting a powdered fill material (2) comprising at least one plunger (3) which is configured to move into a cavity (4) into which the powdered fill material (2) is introduced for compacting the powdered fill material (2), wherein the plunger (3) is coupled to a plunger drive (6) via a motion transmission means (5), wherein the plunger drive (6) is configured to perform a compaction movement (7) which is transmitted from the motion transmission means (5) to the plunger (3), and wherein the motion transmission means (5) has an energy storage device (14) with which energy is stored during the compaction movement (7) and subsequently released to generate a pulse-like movement (8) superimposed on the compaction movement (7), which assists the compaction and / or transport of the powdered fill material (2). [2] Device (1) according to claim 1, wherein energy is stored in the energy storage device (14) which is taken from the compression movement (7). [3] Device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the motion transmission means (5) has a momentum body (15) which is accelerated with energy from the energy storage (14) to generate a momentum of the momentum body (15), wherein the accelerated momentum body (15) strikes against a first stop surface (17) associated with the punch (3) in order to transfer the momentum of the momentum body (15) to the punch (3). [4] Device (1) according to claim 2, wherein an acceleration section (16) is provided for the momentum body (15) in the motion transmission means (5), along which the momentum body (15) is accelerated in order to convert the energy in the energy storage device (14) into momentum energy of the momentum body (15). [5] Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the energy storage device (14) comprises a spring (10) which is tensioned by the compression movement (7) and which relaxes to release the energy stored in the energy storage device (14). [6] Device (1) according to claim 4, wherein a movable second stop surface (23) is provided in the motion transmission means (5) which temporarily blocks an impulse body (15) during the compression movement (7), so that a spring (10) arranged between the impulse body (15) and a third stop surface (24) of the motion transmission means (5) is compressed by the compression movement (7). [7] Device (1) according to claim 5, wherein the second stop surface (23) is arranged on a movable stop mechanism (27) which moves the second stop surface (23) such that the temporary blocking of the impulse body (15) is lifted when a trigger position of the impulse body (15) is reached. [8] Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the energy storage device (14) comprises an air chamber (18) which is reduced in size by the compression movement (7) so that the air pressure in the air chamber (18) is increased, wherein the air chamber (18) increases again to release the energy stored in the energy storage device (14). [9] Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a frequency of the superimposed movement (8) is higher than a frequency of the compression movement (7). [10] Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the motion transmission means (5) has at least one impact drive (51) which is configured to store energy in the energy storage device (14), the energy being subsequently released to generate the impact-like movement (8) superimposed on the compression movement (7). [11] Device (1) according to claim 10, wherein the impact drive (51) is configured to generate a movement which generates a superimposed movement (8) whose frequency is higher than a frequency of the compression movement (7). [12] Machine (19) for filling a powdered fill material (2) into capsules (20), wherein the machine (19) has at least one device (1) according to one of the preceding claims to compact the powdered fill material (2) before filling it into a capsule (20) and / or to transport it into the capsule (20).

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