Queuing and distributing device for capsule tablets

Abstract

A capsule tablet queuing and distributing device comprises a control cabinet, a machine base and a vibration exciter installed on the machine base, a vibration groove plate is fixed to the vibration exciter, at least one groove pointing to the discharging end from the feeding end is formed in the vibration groove plate, and the groove is composed of at least two stages of short grooves with different heights. The position of the short groove which is relatively close to the direction of the discharging end is low, an inclined chute is arranged between every two adjacent short grooves, a scraper shaft is arranged above the short grooves and close to an outlet of the grooves, the axis of the scraper shaft is horizontally arranged and is perpendicular to the length direction of the grooves, and at least one scraper is arranged on the scraper shaft.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to a capsule and tablet queuing and dispensing device in the pharmaceutical and health product field, and in particular to a queuing and dispensing device for a capsule and tablet checkweigher. Background Technology

[0002] In the mass production of capsules and tablets in the pharmaceutical and health product industries, it is often necessary to inspect each capsule or tablet individually from a large influx of unordered incoming materials. This requires queuing up the large number of capsules or tablets, issuing them one by one, and finally having each capsule or tablet pass through an inspection device. For example, at the loading end of a capsule or tablet checkweigher, capsules and tablets must be queued and issued one by one; if two capsules or tablets are issued at once, both will be forcibly rejected because they cannot be accurately weighed independently, resulting in cost waste or rework.

[0003] Existing methods for dispensing capsules and tablets in a staggered manner involve a vibrating trough with at least one groove for each stack of capsules or tablets to be dispensed. However, to prevent two capsules or tablets from being dispensed simultaneously due to overlapping in the same groove, existing technologies employ the following solutions:

[0004] 1. Single-log bridge queuing: A single-log bridge is set at the end of the vibrating trough plate, so that the capsule tablets stacked on it fall off the single-log bridge first, and then they are collected manually or automatically and returned to the hopper at a higher position than the fall point to rejoin the queue. This solution is inefficient, has a large workload, and is very costly to achieve unattended operation.

[0005] 2. Multi-stage vibration: This method involves connecting multiple levels of vibrating troughs with varying speeds, increasing towards the discharge port to gradually separate the capsules and tablets, allowing for sequential feeding. However, this results in high manufacturing costs and a long equipment length. The large and unequal spacing between adjacent capsules and tablets on the last level of the vibrating trough causes inconsistent feeding speeds, leading to either long waiting times for subsequent detection devices or insufficient time for detection between incoming materials, resulting in forced rejection and high false positive or false negative rates. Furthermore, it cannot guarantee against overlapping feeding, making it unreliable.

[0006] 3. Extended Vibration Groove: The vibration groove plate is set to be very long, so that the capsule tablets are stretched apart by long-distance vibration in a sufficiently long groove to achieve queuing, and then output one tablet at a time. This structure is the same as the previous one. The equipment structure is too long, the materials cannot achieve equidistant queuing and feeding, the overall efficiency is low, and it is easy for two incoming materials to arrive too close to be detected in time (i.e., consecutive packaging), and it is impossible to ensure that overlapping feeding does not occur, which is unreliable.

[0007] Existing testing equipment has a high testing speed, and the overall testing speed depends entirely on the queuing and normal feeding speed. Therefore, these shortcomings in existing capsule and tablet queuing and feeding technologies severely hinder the efficiency of subsequent testing equipment. This results in low overall efficiency of capsule and tablet testing equipment, or makes it difficult to achieve unattended operation during continuous production or when connected to a tablet press or capsule filling machine. Utility Model Content

[0008] This invention addresses the shortcomings of existing technologies by proposing an efficient and reliable capsule / tablet dispensing device.

[0009] The technical measures adopted by this utility model are as follows: a capsule tablet queuing and dispensing device, which includes a control cabinet, a base and a vibrator installed on the base. A vibrating groove plate is fixed on the vibrator. At least one groove is opened on the vibrating groove plate from the feeding end to the discharging end. The feature is that the groove is composed of at least two levels of short grooves with different heights. The short groove closer to the discharging end is lower in position. A chute is provided between adjacent short grooves. A scraper shaft is provided above the short groove near the groove outlet. The axis of the scraper shaft is horizontally arranged and perpendicular to the length direction of the groove. At least one scraper is provided on the scraper shaft.

[0010] Another specific feature of this design is that, for the capsule, the cross-sectional shape of the groove is V-shaped, i.e., V-groove.

[0011] For tablets, the groove has a U-shaped cross-section, also known as a U-groove.

[0012] The bottom of the U-shaped groove is slightly concave.

[0013] A photoelectric sensor is also installed at the lowest point of the scraper rotation and between the scraper and the chute.

[0014] The scraper has a serrated or inverted trapezoidal edge shape opposite to the capsule / tablet.

[0015] It also includes two support columns fixed to the base and a crossbeam, the crossbeam spanning between the two support columns and fixedly connected to the two support columns, two bearing seats connected to both ends of the crossbeam, the scraper shaft being connected to the two bearing seats through two bearings, and a rotary drive device.

[0016] The rotary drive device is an electric motor, which is fixed on the crossbeam and drives the scraper shaft through a toothed belt and two gears.

[0017] It also includes a feeding device connected to the base, the outlet of which corresponds to the inlet of the vibrating trough plate.

[0018] The outlet of the U-shaped channel is a downward-sloping guide ramp.

[0019] The feeding device is a vibrating conveyor trough, which includes a second vibrator fixed to the machine base and a feeding trough body fixed to the second vibrator. The outlet width of the feeding trough body corresponds to the inlet width of the vibrating trough plate.

[0020] The beneficial effects of this solution are: 1. Compared with the existing single-plank bridge vibration solution, there is no need to collect fallen capsules or tablets, and no need for manual labor or lifting mechanisms to return fallen capsules or tablets to the higher hopper to rejoin the queue. This facilitates connection with tablet presses or filling machines and allows for unattended operation. 2. This solution enables capsules or tablets to be output in a dense, single-row fashion at the outlet of the vibration trough. Overlapping capsules or tablets are pushed into the gaps at the end of the queue by scrapers and directly enter the queue. In particular, by setting up chutes to form stepped slopes, gaps are created on the sides and lower sides, resulting in higher material dispensing efficiency. Compared with the last stage vibration trough in the existing multi-stage vibration solution, under the same vibration frequency and amplitude, the capsules or tablets in the last stage vibration trough have gaps between them, and the gaps are not equal. Obviously, the material dispensing efficiency of this solution is higher, the dispensing is more reliable, and there is no overlapping dispensing. 3. Compared to existing extended vibrating trough solutions, under the same vibration frequency and amplitude (i.e., the same speed of capsule and tablet movement on the trough surface, and the same maximum queuing efficiency), the scraper forces overlapping capsules and tablets to the rear to find space for them to enter the queuing. Especially by setting a chute a short distance from the scraper to create a stepped slope, creating gaps next to them, it facilitates the entry of overlapping capsules and tablets into the queuing. This allows for a dense, single-row output of capsules or tablets at the vibrating trough outlet, without gaps or uneven spacing between capsules or tablets. Queuing efficiency is higher, dispensing is more reliable, and overlapping is prevented. 4. Setting a chute a short distance from the scraper creates gaps below and next to it, facilitating the insertion of overlapping capsules and tablets into the queuing. This prevents damage caused by repeated scraping and pushing of the same capsule or tablet due to a lack of space on the last short trough. 5. A photoelectric sensor with a horizontally arranged irradiation direction and perpendicular to the length of the groove is installed between the lowest point of the chute and the scraper. This ensures that the capsule tablets lying in the groove do not block the light. Only overlapping capsule tablets will be detected due to light blocking. If light blocking is found to be continuous and prolonged, the feeding speed of the first-stage vibrating conveyor can be reduced. Once the overlapping situation is alleviated, that is, the light blocking time is shortened and disappears, the speed of the first-stage vibrating conveyor can be restored. This ensures both high-efficiency single-capsule output and prevention of material blockage. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is a top view of the structure of the capsule queuing system of this utility model. Figure 2 for Figure 1 Front view, Figure 3 for Figure 2 BB section view, Figure 4 for Figure 2The right-side stereoscopic view, Figure 5 for Figure 4 Enlarged view of part I in the middle. Figure 6 for Figure 4 Rear right side view, Figure 7 for Figure 6 Enlarged view of section III in the middle. Figure 8 This is a diagram showing the fit between the scraper and the groove plate. Figure 9 for Figure 8 Enlarged view of part VI in the middle. Figure 10 This is a rear-view perspective view of the structure of the present invention for arranging tablets. Figure 11 for Figure 10 Front upper right corner view, Figure 12 for Figure 11 Enlarged view of section II.

[0022] In the diagram, 1-vibrator, 2-vibrating trough plate, 3-scraper shaft, 4-scraper, 5-motor, 6-toothed belt, 7-crossbeam, 8-capsule, 9-light receiving hole, 10-bearing, 11-bearing seat, 12-support column, 13-photoelectric sensor, 20-V groove, 21-U groove, 23-guide slope, 24-chute, 25-gap, 81-tablet, 83-overlapping capsule, 111-connector. Detailed Implementation

[0023] Example 1: A capsule / tablet dispensing device, see Figure 1-3 It includes a control cabinet, a base, and a vibrator 1 mounted on the base. A vibrating groove plate 2 is fixed to the vibrator 1 via a connector 111. The vibrating groove plate 2 has at least one groove pointing from the feeding end to the discharging end. Figure 3 The left end of the vibrating trough plate 2 is the feeding end, and the right end of the vibrating trough plate 2 is the discharging end or discharge port. Figure 3 As can be seen, the trough consists of at least two levels of short troughs with different heights. The short troughs closer to the discharge end are positioned lower. Adjacent short troughs are connected by chutes 24. Each capsule tablet slides a certain distance after passing through the chutes 24, thus creating a gap 25 at the lower end of the chutes 24, which facilitates the subsequent overlapping capsules 83 to be ejected. Since the speed of each level of short trough is the same, the capsules in the previous level of short trough are continuously close together, and the capsule tablets in the short troughs near the discharge end are also close together end to end. This ensures that capsules or tablets are ejected at a consistent speed and time interval. A rotatable scraper shaft 3 with its axis horizontally set and perpendicular to the length of the trough is provided at the upper part of the short trough near the trough outlet. Figure 1 and 2 The scraper shaft 3 is equipped with a scraper 4 whose surface is parallel to the axis direction, as shown in the figure. Figure 1-3At least one scraper 4 is located on the rotating circumference of the scraper shaft 3. The scraper 4 can throw any abnormally overlapping capsules back to the lower gap 25 of the chute 24 to re-queue them, so as to prevent overlapping material feeding from affecting subsequent inspection and causing forced rejection. In this way, both feeding efficiency and stability are guaranteed, as well as feeding reliability.

[0024] For capsule 8, see Figure 4-9 The cross-sectional shape of the groove is V-shaped, namely V-groove 20. Capsule 8 can lie in V-groove 20 with its cylindrical surfaces in sequence.

[0025] A photoelectric sensor 13 is installed between the lowest point of the scraper 4 during rotation and the chute 24. The light from the photoelectric sensor 13 passes through the entire vibrating trough 2 and the light-receiving device located at the light-receiving hole 9 on the opposite side. If the light is blocked for a long time, the feeding speed of the feeding device in front of the vibrating trough 2 can be reduced to prevent capsules from accumulating on the vibrating trough 2, or to prevent the same capsule from being repeatedly scraped and thrown without being able to join the queue due to the lack of gaps at the lower end of the chute 24 for a long time, thus causing surface damage.

[0026] See Figure 9 The edges of the scraper 4 and the capsule 8 opposite each other are serrated.

[0027] The capsule tablet queuing and dispensing device also includes two support columns 12 fixed to the machine base and a crossbeam 7. The crossbeam 7 spans between the two support columns 12 and is fixedly connected to them. The device also includes two bearing seats 11 connected to both ends of the crossbeam 7. The scraper shaft 3 is connected to the two bearing seats 11 via two bearings 10. The device further includes a rotary drive device. The rotary drive device is a motor 5, which is fixed to the crossbeam 7. Figure 3 , 7 9. The motor 5 drives the scraper shaft 3 through the toothed belt 6 and two gears to rotate the scraper 4 clockwise, which throws the overlapping capsules 83 that reach the lowest point of the scraper 4 in the groove to the left of the gap 25 located at the lower end of the chute 24, so that the thrown capsules can be inserted into the capsule queue at the gap 25.

[0028] Example 2: A capsule / tablet queuing and dispensing device, which is the same as Example 1 and will not be repeated here. The difference is that, for tablet 81, see [see details]. Figure 10-12 The groove has a U-shaped cross-section, also known as U-groove 21. The bottom of U-groove 21 is slightly concave to accommodate the slightly bulging upper and lower surfaces of tablet 81, so that tablet 81 can move smoothly.

[0029] The outlet of U-groove 21 is a downward-sloping guide slope 23, so that the tablet 81 maintains its posture when it is removed from U-groove 21, and avoids the tablet 81 from rolling on the upper and lower surfaces or rolling along the side of the tablet 81 when it is removed from U-groove 21, so that each tablet 81 leaves the vibrating groove plate 2 at a constant speed and uniform posture.

[0030] The edge of the scraper 4 opposite to the tablet 81 is serrated or trapezoidal.

[0031] For tablets that are prone to powder shedding, a powder leakage channel is also provided at the bottom of the groove to prevent powder particles from entering the subsequent testing device.

[0032] Example 3: A capsule tablet queuing and dispensing device, which is the same as Example 1 and will not be repeated here. The difference is that it also includes a feeding device connected to the machine base, and its outlet corresponds to the inlet of the vibrating trough plate 2.

[0033] The feeding device is a vibrating conveyor trough, which includes a second vibrator fixed to the machine base and a feeding trough body fixed to the second vibrator. The outlet width of the feeding trough body corresponds to the inlet width of the vibration 2.

Claims

1. A capsule / tablet dispensing device, comprising a control cabinet, a base, and a vibrator mounted on the base, wherein a vibrating groove plate is fixed on the vibrator, and the vibrating groove plate has at least one groove pointing from the feeding end to the dispensing end, characterized in that: The trough consists of at least two short troughs of different heights. The short troughs closer to the discharge end are positioned lower. An inclined chute is provided between adjacent short troughs. A scraper shaft is provided above the short troughs near the trough outlet. The axis of the scraper shaft is horizontally set and perpendicular to the length of the trough. At least one scraper is provided on the scraper shaft.

2. The capsule tablet queuing and dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein, For capsules, the cross-sectional shape of the groove is V-shaped, also known as V-groove.

3. The capsule tablet queuing and dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein, For tablets, the groove has a U-shaped cross-section, also known as a U-groove.

4. The capsule tablet queuing and dispensing device according to claim 3, wherein, The bottom of the U-shaped groove is slightly concave.

5. The capsule tablet queuing and dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein, A photoelectric sensor is also installed at the lowest point of the scraper rotation and between the scraper and the chute.

6. The capsule tablet queuing and dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein, The scraper has a serrated or inverted trapezoidal edge shape opposite to the capsule / tablet.

7. The capsule tablet queuing and dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein, It also includes two support columns fixed to the base and a crossbeam, the crossbeam spanning between the two support columns and fixedly connected to the two support columns, two bearing seats connected to both ends of the crossbeam, the scraper shaft being connected to the two bearing seats through two bearings, and a rotary drive device.

8. A capsule tablet queuing and dispensing device according to claim 7, wherein, The rotary drive device is an electric motor, which is fixed on the crossbeam and drives the scraper shaft through a toothed belt and two gears.

9. The capsule tablet queuing and dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein, It also includes a feeding device connected to the base, the outlet of which corresponds to the inlet of the vibrating trough plate.

10. The capsule tablet queuing and dispensing device according to claim 3, wherein, The outlet of the U-shaped channel is a downward-sloping guide ramp.

Images