A production system for soft capsules

Abstract

The utility model relates to soft capsule production technical field, concretely relates to a production system of soft capsule, including drying revolving cage, select pill table, temporary storage revolving cage and packing table. Drying revolving cage is used for drying soft capsule, the export of drying revolving cage and the import of select pill table are passed through first pipeline intercommunication, and first pipeline has the first pneumatic conveyer in series on it, the export of select pill table and the import of temporary storage revolving cage are passed through second pipeline intercommunication, and second pipeline has the second pneumatic conveyer in series on it, the export of temporary storage revolving cage and the import of packing table are passed through third pipeline intercommunication, and third pipeline has the third pneumatic conveyer in series on it. The device makes soft capsule can shift between drying revolving cage, select pill table, temporary storage revolving cage and packing table and stores dynamically in temporary storage revolving cage, need not adopt the mode of turnover temporary frame and cooperate artificial shift, reduces artificial dependence, reduces manpower investment, and further effectively saves manpower cost.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of soft capsule production technology, and in particular to a soft capsule production system. Background Technology

[0002] Soft capsules are capsules made from materials such as gelatin and glycerin, sealed with liquid or liquid-solid drugs through compression or dripping methods. Their shells are characterized by high airtightness and strong light-blocking properties, and they are commonly used in pharmaceuticals and health foods. In the current soft capsule production process, soft capsules are transferred from the drying drum to the sorting table, and then from the sorting table to the packaging table. This transfer is typically done manually using temporary storage frames. When transferring from the sorting table to the packaging table, temporary storage is required before final packaging. However, this transfer method has significant drawbacks. Due to its heavy reliance on manual operation, the entire process requires a large workforce, resulting in high labor costs. Utility Model Content

[0003] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the problem that the soft capsule transfer method in the existing soft capsule production process is highly dependent on manual operation, requiring a large investment of manpower and resulting in high labor costs. Therefore, this invention provides a soft capsule production system.

[0004] This utility model provides a soft capsule production system, comprising: A drying drum, used to dry soft capsules; The shot selection table, the outlet of the drying drum and the inlet of the shot selection table are connected through a first pipe, and a first pneumatic conveyor is connected in series on the first pipe; A temporary storage drum is provided, and the outlet of the shot selection table is connected to the inlet of the temporary storage drum through a second pipe, on which a second pneumatic conveyor is connected in series. The packaging table has its outlet connected to the inlet of the temporary storage drum via a third pipe, and a third pneumatic conveyor is connected in series on the third pipe.

[0005] The pneumatic conveyor is a device that uses compressed air as a power source to transport powdery or granular materials along the airflow direction within a closed pipeline. The pneumatic conveyor generally includes a material inlet, a material outlet, and an airflow interface.

[0006] This invention provides a soft capsule production system. A drying drum is used to dry the soft capsules. The drying drum, by rotating, can send the soft capsules from its inner wall out of its outlet. A first pipe transports the soft capsules from the outlet of the drying drum to a sorting station, and a first pneumatic conveyor provides power for the movement of the soft capsules within the first pipe. The sorting station is used to sort the soft capsules. A second pipe transports the soft capsules from the outlet of the sorting station to a temporary storage drum, and a second pneumatic conveyor provides power for the movement of the soft capsules within the second pipe. The temporary storage drum dynamically stores the sorted soft capsules. When the soft capsules need to be further transported to the packaging station, the temporary storage drum can transport them to a third pipe. The third pipe transports the soft capsules from the outlet of the temporary storage drum to the packaging station, and a third pneumatic conveyor provides power for the movement of the soft capsules within the third pipe. The packaging station is used to package the soft capsules.

[0007] This invention provides a soft capsule production system. Through the first pipe, the second pipe, and the third pipe, and powered by the first pneumatic conveyor, the second pneumatic conveyor, and the third pneumatic conveyor respectively, the soft capsules can be transferred between the drying drum, the capsule sorting table, the temporary storage drum, and the packaging table, and dynamically stored in the temporary storage drum. This eliminates the need for a turnover storage frame and manual transfer, reducing reliance on manual labor, lowering manpower input, and effectively saving labor costs.

[0008] Preferably, the airflow interface of the first pneumatic conveyor is connected to a first compressed air supply point, the airflow interface of the second pneumatic conveyor is connected to a second compressed air supply point, and the airflow interface of the third pneumatic conveyor is connected to a third compressed air supply point. In this configuration, the first compressed air supply point is used to supply compressed air to the first pneumatic conveyor. The second compressed air supply point is used to supply compressed air to the second pneumatic conveyor. The third compressed air supply point is used to supply compressed air to the third pneumatic conveyor.

[0009] Preferably, the first compressed air supply point, the second compressed air supply point, and the third compressed air supply point are each equipped with a solenoid valve. In this scheme, the solenoid valves are used to control the opening and closing of the first compressed air supply point, the second compressed air supply point, and the third compressed air supply point, respectively, so as to meet actual production needs, flexibly adjust the delivery process of soft capsules in different pipelines, and realize the start and stop control of soft capsule delivery.

[0010] Preferably, the outlet of the pellet sorting table is equipped with a first buffer tank, the outlet of the temporary storage drum is equipped with a second buffer tank, and the inlet of the packaging table is equipped with a third buffer tank. In this design, the first, second, and third buffer tanks all serve as buffers for soft capsules, preventing excessive soft capsules from clogging the pipelines. When the output suddenly increases at a certain stage, the buffer tanks can temporarily store excess soft capsules, preventing a large number of soft capsules from simultaneously flooding into subsequent pipelines. This effectively prevents pipeline blockage caused by excessive soft capsule output, ensuring the smooth operation of the entire production process.

[0011] The first pipe, the second pipe, and the third pipe can be made of plastic hose, steel pipe, or stainless steel pipe.

[0012] Preferably, the first and second pipes are both plastic flexible hoses, and the third pipe is a stainless steel pipe. In this design, the plastic flexible hoses offer advantages such as ease of installation, disassembly, and cleaning, meeting relevant operational requirements. The third pipe typically has a long laying route and needs to pass through partitions; given the higher strength of the stainless steel pipe, it is better suited to such complex working conditions, hence the use of stainless steel for the third pipe.

[0013] The plastic hose can be a polyethylene (PE) hose, a polypropylene (PP) hose, or a polyurethane (PU) hose.

[0014] Preferably, the plastic hose is a food-grade antistatic reinforced hose. In this design, the food-grade antistatic reinforced hose is a conveying hose specifically designed for the food processing, pharmaceutical, and other industries. It is based on food-grade materials such as polyurethane (PU) and achieves static electricity discharge by adding antistatic agents or embedding conductive wires. It also possesses characteristics such as wear resistance, flexibility, and strong sealing.

[0015] Preferably, when the first and second pipelines include a climbing section, the climbing section is equipped with a support frame. In this design, the main function of the support frame is to enhance the stability of the first and second pipelines during the climbing section. Because the pipeline is prone to swaying during the climbing process due to its own weight and the forces of the internal fluid, the support frame effectively reduces the swaying amplitude of the pipeline by providing additional support points, ensuring the safe and stable operation of the pipeline system.

[0016] Preferably, the outlet of the drying drum is equipped with a fourth buffer tank, and the bottom of the fourth buffer tank is provided with casters to facilitate docking between the fourth buffer tank and the outlet of the drying drum. In this design, the casters facilitate the movement of the fourth buffer tank. The fourth buffer tank is used to receive the soft capsules output from the outlet of the drying drum. The front end of the first pneumatic conveyor can generate negative pressure to draw the soft capsules out of the fourth buffer tank, and then the rear end of the first pneumatic conveyor blows the soft capsules into the pellet sorting table under positive pressure.

[0017] During the operation of the drying drum, there may be a sudden surge of soft capsules being discharged. Without the fourth buffer tank, a large number of soft capsules would directly flood into the first pipe, causing blockage. The fourth buffer tank can buffer the concentrated discharge, allowing the soft capsules to be evenly distributed into the first pipe, effectively preventing blockage and ensuring stable system operation.

[0018] Preferably, the outlet of the drying drum is equipped with a valve whose opening degree can be adjusted. In this design, by adjusting the opening degree of the valve, the material outflow rate at the outlet of the drying drum can be precisely controlled, thereby preventing material blockage.

[0019] The first pneumatic conveyor, the second pneumatic conveyor, and the third pneumatic conveyor can be made of aluminum alloy or stainless steel.

[0020] Preferably, the first pipe is connected to the outlet of the plurality of drying drums.

[0021] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows: This invention provides a soft capsule production system. Through the first pipe, the second pipe, and the third pipe, and powered by the first pneumatic conveyor, the second pneumatic conveyor, and the third pneumatic conveyor respectively, the soft capsules can be transferred between the drying drum, the capsule sorting table, the temporary storage drum, and the packaging table, and dynamically stored in the temporary storage drum. This eliminates the need for a turnover storage frame and manual transfer, reducing reliance on manual labor, lowering manpower input, and effectively saving labor costs. Attached Figure Description

[0022] Figure 1 This is a plan view of a soft capsule production system.

[0023] Figure 2 for Figure 1 Enlarged detailed view of area A in the middle.

[0024] Figure 3 for Figure 1 Enlarged detailed view of region B in the middle.

[0025] Marked in the image: 1-Drying drum, 101-Fourth Buffer Tank 2-First Pipeline, 201-First Pneumatic Conveyor 3-Selection Platform 301 - First Buffer Tank 4-Second pipe, 401-Second pneumatic conveyor, 5- Temporary storage and transfer. 501 - Second Buffer Tank 6-Third Pipeline, 601 - Third pneumatic conveyor, 602 - Third buffer tank 7-Packaging table, 8-First compressed air supply point, 9-Second compressed air supply point, 10 - Third compressed air supply point. Detailed Implementation

[0026] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments. However, it should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention to the following embodiments; all technologies implemented based on the content of the present invention fall within the scope of the present invention.

[0027] Unless otherwise specified, the terms "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "center," "inner," and "outer" used in the description of specific embodiments of this utility model to indicate orientation or positional relationships are based on the orientation or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, or the orientation or positional relationship in which the utility model product / equipment / device is usually placed during use. These terms are merely for the purpose of facilitating the description of the utility model solution or simplifying the description in specific embodiments, and for enabling those skilled in the art to quickly understand the solution, and do not indicate or imply that a specific device / component / element must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific positional relationship. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this utility model.

[0028] Furthermore, the use of terms such as "horizontal," "vertical," "suspended," "parallel," and "coaxial" does not imply that the corresponding device / component / element must be absolutely horizontal, vertical, suspended, parallel, or coaxial. Slight tilt or deviation is permissible, as long as it does not affect the normal function of the relevant component. For example, "horizontal" simply means that its direction is more horizontal relative to "vertical," not that the structure must be perfectly horizontal; a slight tilt is acceptable. "Coaxial" means that two components are arranged as coaxially as possible, allowing them to move coaxially or approximately coaxially when their relative positions change. Alternatively, it can be simplified to mean that the corresponding device / component / element, when arranged in "horizontal," "vertical," "suspended," "parallel," or "coaxial" directions, can have an error / deviation of ±10% relative to the corresponding direction, more preferably within ±8%, more preferably within ±6%, more preferably within ±5%, and more preferably within ±4%. For example, the deviation in the "coaxial" direction is controlled within 0.2-1mm, preferably within 0.2-0.5mm. As long as the corresponding device / component / element is within the error / deviation range, it can still achieve its function in the present invention.

[0029] Furthermore, the use of terms such as "first," "second," and "third" in terminology is merely for distinguishing descriptions of identical or similar components and should not be interpreted as emphasizing or implying the relative importance of a particular component.

[0030] Furthermore, in the description of the embodiments of this utility model, "several", "multiple", and "several" represent at least two. The number can be any number, such as two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, or nine, and can even exceed nine.

[0031] Furthermore, in the description of the technical solution of this utility model, unless otherwise explicitly specified / limited / restricted, the terms "set up," "install," "connect," "link," "provided with," "laid out," and "arranged" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; they can refer to common connection methods in the art, such as welding, riveting, bolting, and threaded connections. Such connections can be mechanical, electrical, or communication connections; they can be direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal communication between two components.

[0032] Example 1 like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, a soft capsule production system includes a drying drum 1, a capsule sorting table 3, a temporary storage drum 5, and a packaging table 7.

[0033] The drying drum 1 is used to dry the soft capsules. Specifically, the drying drum 1 can be arranged in multiple rows. The outlet of each row of drying drum 1 is connected to the first pipe 2. The drying drum 1 can be arranged in three rows, with 8, 16, and 16 sections respectively from left to right. Each of the three rows of drying drum 1 is equipped with a relay to control the forward and reverse rotation of the drying drum 1. Forward rotation dries the soft capsules, and reverse rotation discharges the material. The relays are connected to the control panel on the side of the capsule sorting table 3. Each of the three relays has a separate button, meaning that the three buttons control the three relays respectively. The buttons can control the three rows of drying drum 1 to rotate forward simultaneously or one of them to rotate in reverse.

[0034] The outlet of the drying drum 1 is connected to the inlet of the shot selection table 3 through a first pipe 2, and a first pneumatic conveyor 201 is connected in series on the first pipe 2. Specifically, the first pneumatic conveyor 201 is connected in series at one end near the drying drum 1.

[0035] The outlet of the pellet sorting platform 3 and the inlet of the temporary storage drum 5 are connected through a second pipe 4, and a second pneumatic conveyor 401 is connected in series on the second pipe 4. Specifically, the second pneumatic conveyor 401 is connected in series at the end near the pellet sorting platform 3.

[0036] The outlet of the temporary storage drum 5 is connected to the inlet of the packaging table 7 via a third pipe 6, on which a third pneumatic conveyor 601 is connected in series. Specifically, the third pneumatic conveyor 601 is connected in series at one end near the temporary storage drum 5. The temporary storage drum 5 can have 12 sections.

[0037] Specifically, the drying drum 1, as the core equipment for drying, shaping, and surface treatment of soft capsules, plays a crucial role. Its core function lies in precisely removing excess moisture from the surface of the soft capsules through continuous rotation and tumbling, as well as efficient airflow exchange. This process not only promotes uniform drying and gradual hardening of the capsule shell but also effectively prevents the soft capsules from sticking together or deforming, ensuring stable quality. The drying principle of the drying drum 1 mainly includes two aspects: First, the drying drum 1, through its continuous dynamic rotation, drives the internal material to constantly tumble, ensuring full contact between the material and the drying environment, creating favorable conditions for moisture evaporation; second, a fan is specially equipped at the bottom of the drying drum 1. The fan, in conjunction with the low humidity environment, powerfully blows the material, accelerating the evaporation of moisture from the soft capsule surface, thereby achieving rapid drying of the soft capsules.

[0038] The first pneumatic conveyor 201, the second pneumatic conveyor 401 and the third pneumatic conveyor 601 need to be easy to clean and have no blind spots for cleaning.

[0039] When the first pipe 2, the second pipe 4, and the third pipe 6 need to pass through a wall, stainless steel sleeves need to be installed at the wall penetration locations.

[0040] In an optional embodiment, the airflow interface of the first pneumatic conveyor 201 can be connected to the first compressed air supply point 8, the airflow interface of the second pneumatic conveyor 401 can be connected to the second compressed air supply point 9, and the airflow interface of the third pneumatic conveyor 601 can be connected to the third compressed air supply point 10. Specifically, the first compressed air supply point 8, the second compressed air supply point 9, and the third compressed air supply point 10 all serve to supply clean compressed air. The clean compressed air originates from an external compressed air device, is first compressed by the device, then filtered, and finally delivered to the first compressed air supply point 8, the second compressed air supply point 9, and the third compressed air supply point 10.

[0041] In an optional embodiment, the first compressed air supply point 8, the second compressed air supply point 9, and the third compressed air supply point 10 may each be equipped with a solenoid valve. Specifically, the solenoid valve is an automated control valve that controls the valve core to move via an electromagnetic signal, thereby realizing the on / off, regulation, or switching of airflow or fluid in the pipeline.

[0042] In an optional embodiment, the outlet of the pellet sorting table 3 may be provided with a first buffer tank 301, the outlet of the temporary storage drum 5 may be provided with a second buffer tank 501, and the inlet of the packaging table 7 may be provided with a third buffer tank 602.

[0043] In an optional embodiment, the first pipe 2 and the second pipe 4 are both plastic flexible hoses, and the third pipe 6 is a stainless steel pipe. The specific diameters of the first pipe 2, the second pipe 4, and the third pipe 6 can be 50mm-70mm. Specific diameters can be 50mm, 56mm, 58mm, 60mm, 64mm, 68mm, or 70mm. The third pipe 6 can be segmented, with each segment being 80cm-120cm in length, for ease of disassembly, assembly, and cleaning. The outlet of the temporary storage drum 5 can be equipped with a valve that allows for adjustable opening. The outlet of the temporary storage drum 5 and the third pipe 6 can be connected via a flexible hose.

[0044] When the third pipe 6 has bends, a chuck connection is used at the bends. The chucks utilize automatic welding technology to eliminate cleaning dead spots and burrs. Considering that the soft capsule products are all spherical and unidirectionally conveyed, to save pneumatic conveying power, the horizontal conveying section of the third pipe 6 can be set at an inclination angle of 2°-4°. Combined with gravity, this can promote more efficient conveying of the soft capsules. The specific inclination angle can be 2°, 3°, or 4°.

[0045] In an optional embodiment, the plastic hose can be a food-grade antistatic reinforced tubing. Specifically, the first pipe 2, the second pipe 4, and the third pipe 6 all need to meet food hygiene standards.

[0046] In an optional embodiment, when the first pipe 2 and the second pipe 4 include a climbing section, the climbing section is provided with a support frame. Specifically, the support frame can be fixed to the ground or a wall.

[0047] In an optional embodiment, the outlet of the drying drum 1 may be provided with a fourth buffer tank 101, and the bottom of the fourth buffer tank 101 is provided with casters.

[0048] Specifically, the first buffer tank 301, the second buffer tank 501, the third buffer tank 602, and the fourth buffer tank 101 all include a hopper and a material basin. The hopper is funnel-shaped, wider at the top and narrower at the bottom. A pneumatically controlled butterfly valve can be installed at the bottom outlet of the hopper for real-time control of the discharge. An observation window, made of glass and rectangular or square in shape, can be provided on the hopper body. A cover that can be opened and closed is provided on the top of the hopper. The material basin is located below the bottom outlet of the hopper. The outlet of the drying drum 1 is connected to the side wall of the hopper in the fourth buffer tank 101, and the inlet of the first pipe 2 is connected to the material basin in the fourth buffer tank 101. The outlet of the shot selection platform 3 is connected to the side wall of the hopper in the first buffer tank 301, and the inlet of the second pipe 4 is connected to the material basin in the first buffer tank 301. The outlet of the temporary storage conveyor 5 is connected to the hopper side wall of the second buffer tank 501, and the inlet of the third pipe 6 is connected to the material basin of the second buffer tank 501. The outlet of the third pipe 6 is connected to the hopper side wall of the third buffer tank 602.

[0049] In an optional embodiment, the outlet of the drying drum 1 may be equipped with a valve that can adjust the opening size.

[0050] In an optional embodiment, the first pipe 2 may be connected to the outlet of a plurality of drying drums 1.

[0051] In an optional embodiment, the first pneumatic conveyor 201, the second pneumatic conveyor 401 and the third pneumatic conveyor 601 can all be made of 304 stainless steel.

[0052] In an optional embodiment, the device may also be equipped with a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) capable of controlling the start and stop of the first compressed air supply point 8, the second compressed air supply point 9, and the third compressed air supply point 10, as well as controlling the start and stop of the drying drum 1, the shot sorting table 3, and the temporary storage drum 5. To prevent the soft capsules that may remain in a stationary state and stick together after feeding stops, the PLC program is set to delay the shutdown of the first compressed air supply point 8, the second compressed air supply point 9, and the third compressed air supply point 10 after the drying drum 1, the shot sorting table 3, and the temporary storage drum 5 stop discharging material.

[0053] The existing soft capsule production process still has the following problems: 1. High labor intensity: The volume of each batch of products is huge, and the operators' labor intensity for transferring and palletizing is high; 2. High production costs: In the routine dynamic production process of soft capsules, a large number of turnover storage frames and PE bags are required for each batch for loading and transportation. At the same time, manual transportation is inefficient, resulting in high production costs. 3. Large space occupation: The existing temporary storage boxes occupy more than 20m³ of space, affecting the use of other important functional rooms in the workshop; 4. High safety risks: The stacking height of the temporary storage crates is about 1.8m, which is higher than the height of most operators, posing a significant safety risk. 5. High microbial risk: The temporary storage boxes themselves have many dead corners that are difficult to clean, and long-term storage in the production site poses a great risk of microbial contamination. 6. Significant quality risks: The pills stick together due to static state, requiring manual breaking during packaging. Excessive force during breaking can lead to leakage.

[0054] The soft capsule production system provided by this utility model can solve the quality risk of soft capsules sticking together during static temporary storage, which requires manual tapping and may lead to leakage; the elimination of turnover storage frames can reduce a lot of consumable costs, and the elimination of turnover storage frames can free up more space, which can provide important conditions for reducing the clean area area and reducing energy consumption in the later stage; automatic transfer reduces more than 95% of manual intervention, ensuring the inherent safety of the production process; and it reduces the risk of microorganisms and reduces safety hazards.

[0055] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present utility model and is not intended to limit the present utility model. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present utility model should be included within the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A soft capsule production system, characterized in that, include: Drying drum (1), the drying drum (1) is used to dry soft capsules; The outlet of the drying drum (1) and the inlet of the shot selection table (3) are connected through a first pipe (2), and a first pneumatic conveyor (201) is connected in series on the first pipe (2). Temporary storage drum (5), the outlet of the shot selection table (3) and the inlet of the temporary storage drum (5) are connected through a second pipe (4), and a second pneumatic conveyor (401) is connected in series on the second pipe (4). The packaging table (7) has its outlet connected to the inlet of the temporary storage tray (5) via a third pipe (6), and a third pneumatic conveyor (601) is connected in series on the third pipe (6).

2. The soft capsule production system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The airflow interface of the first pneumatic conveyor (201) is connected to the first compressed air supply point (8), the airflow interface of the second pneumatic conveyor (401) is connected to the second compressed air supply point (9), and the airflow interface of the third pneumatic conveyor (601) is connected to the third compressed air supply point (10).

3. The soft capsule production system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first compressed air supply point (8), the second compressed air supply point (9) and the third compressed air supply point (10) are each equipped with a solenoid valve.

4. The soft capsule production system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outlet of the pellet selection table (3) is provided with a first buffer tank (301), the outlet of the temporary storage drum (5) is provided with a second buffer tank (501), and the inlet of the packaging table (7) is provided with a third buffer tank (602).

5. A soft capsule production system according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, The first pipe (2) and the second pipe (4) are both plastic hoses, and the third pipe (6) is a stainless steel pipe.

6. The soft capsule production system according to claim 5, characterized in that, The plastic hose is a food-grade antistatic reinforced plastic hose.

7. A soft capsule production system according to claim 5, characterized in that, When the first pipe (2) and the second pipe (4) include a climbing section, the climbing section is provided with a support frame.

8. A soft capsule production system according to claim 5, characterized in that, The outlet of the drying drum (1) is provided with a fourth buffer tank (101), and the bottom of the fourth buffer tank (101) is provided with casters.

9. A soft capsule production system according to claim 5, characterized in that, The outlet of the drying drum (1) is equipped with a valve that can adjust the opening size.

10. A soft capsule production system according to claim 5, characterized in that, The first pipe (2) is connected to the outlet of the plurality of drying drums (1).

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