Device for dispensing powdered filler material

Abstract

Device (8) for metering powdered fill material, comprising at least one metering wheel (11) with several metering chambers (13) for receiving fill material, wherein several metering chambers (13) are formed via a common component (16), wherein the common component (16) can be displaced in the radial direction of the metering wheel (11) via an adjusting means (10) to change the volume of the metering chambers (13), characterized in that the common component (16) has several sleeve projections (18) as a boundary of the metering chambers (13) and that a filter (12) forms a further boundary of at least one of the metering chambers (13).

Description

State of the art

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for dosing powdered filling material according to the preamble of the independent claim. A device of this type is already known from DE 10 2007 018 036 A1. This device comprises a filling wheel with at least one dosing chamber for receiving filling material, wherein the dosing chamber is arranged in a sleeve element. An adjusting device is provided to adjust a position of the sleeve element in the radial direction of the filling wheel. The sleeve element is arranged in an opening in a housing. A device with the features of the preamble of claim 1 is known from WO 2012 / 076859 A1.

[0002] The invention is based on the object of providing a device for dosing powdered filling material that enables a particularly simple adjustment of the dosing volume in a plurality of dosing chambers. This object is achieved by the features of the independent claim. Advantages of the invention

[0003] The device according to the invention for dosing powdered filling material according to the features of the independent claim has the advantage that it can be adjusted particularly easily by integrating several dosing chambers into a common component, preferably a format bar. This allows the number of individual parts of the dosing device to be reduced. In particular, only a small number of complex-to-manufacture format parts can be used due to the now simple adjustment of the dosing volume of several integrated dosing chambers. Furthermore, the device can be assembled and moved together as a compact assembly.

[0004] In a practical development, the common component has a recess for accommodating a support. A filter can then be inserted particularly easily between the underside of the dosing chambers and the support. This filter can preferably extend over several dosing openings, so that only a single filter can be used for several dosing chambers. This also facilitates the replaceability of the filter.

[0005] In a practical further development, the support means comprises a common air duct connected to several dosing chambers. This further simplifies the component and ensures reliable filling and emptying of the dosing chambers by applying a vacuum or compressed air.

[0006] In a practical development, several common components are provided, each of which has a plurality of dosing chambers with the corresponding sleeve attachments. These common components can be adjusted equally to change the dosing volume using a single adjustment means. A cam is preferably used as the adjustment means.

[0007] In a practical further development, spring means exert a counterforce on the common component to the direction of movement of the adjustment means. This ensures that the common component can also be adjusted back in the direction opposite to the direction of movement.

[0008] In a practical development, the air duct is connected to a coupling part. This ensures that the joint component with the air duct contained therein can also be adjusted at least in the radial direction.

[0009] Further useful developments arise from further dependent claims and from the description. drawing

[0010] An embodiment of the device according to the invention for dosing powdered filling material is shown in the drawing and is described in more detail below.

[0011] It shows The Fig. 1 a perspective view as a section through the dosing wheel and the Fig. 2 a longitudinal section in perspective view through the dosing wheel.

[0012] A dosing device 8 comprises a dosing wheel 11. This dosing wheel 11 consists of guide means 14, which form a stationary part of the dosing wheel 11 and have guide surfaces 15, via which common components 16 can be displaced in the radial direction. For this purpose, adjustment means 10 are provided, which have a cam-shaped contour. By rotating the adjustment means 10, the four common components 16 can be adjusted in the radial direction in the same way. For example, the dosing wheel 11 has four common components 16, each arranged offset by 90° on the circumference of the dosing wheel 11. The common component 16 is essentially rectangular in shape. It has a hollow space 19 inside. The hollow space 19 serves to accommodate a support means 20. On the outward-facing upper side, the common component 16 has a plurality of sleeve projections 18 arranged next to one another in the axial direction.In extension of the openings of the sleeve extensions 18, the support means 20 has corresponding openings 21. The support means 20 has a substantially rectangular cross-section, wherein the outwardly directed upper side is reduced in length compared to the base by means of bevels. The side surfaces are parallel and oriented substantially in the radial direction, so that the support means 20 can be displaced relative to the common component 16 via these side surfaces. The interior of the support means 20 is also hollow, so that an air duct 28 is formed. This air duct 28 connects all of the openings 21 of the support means 20. The upper side of the support means 20 serves as a counter surface for a filter 12, which is arranged between the sleeve extensions 18 and the openings 21. The support means 20 can be easily displaced in the radial direction within the hollow space 19, so that the filter 12 can be clamped orto replace the filter 12, jamming can also be prevented. To clamp the filter 12, appropriate clamping means 22 such as screws, particularly preferably worm screws, are provided, which press the support means 20 radially outwards against the filter 12 and the common component 16. On the outside of the guide means 14, spring means 30 are fastened, which engage on the outer circumference in a shoulder 17 of the common component 16. This shoulder 17 is formed, for example, by a corresponding recess on the radially outer side of the common component 16. The spring means 30 exerts a force on the common component 16 directed towards the center of the dosing wheel 11, so that when the stroke of the adjusting means 10 is reduced, the common component 16 is moved towards the center of the dosing wheel 11.Alternatively, a spring means 30' could also be provided, which is arranged in the radial direction and is supported on a shoulder of the common component 16 arranged closer to the center point relative to the guide means 14 in order to apply the corresponding force in the direction of the center point.

[0013] According to Fig.2, the metering wheel 11 is now shown with a metering roller sleeve 24, which forms the outer surface or lateral surface of the metering wheel 11. In radial extension to the sleeve extensions 18, corresponding openings are provided in the metering roller sleeve 24. The inner diameter of these openings in the metering roller sleeve 24 is adapted to the outer diameter of the sleeve extensions 18, so that when the common component 16 is displaced radially outward, the sleeve extensions 18 can be moved into the openings in the metering roller sleeve 24. A metering chamber 13 is now formed by the volume defined by the openings in the metering roller sleeve 24, the inner openings of the sleeve extensions 18, and up to the filter 12 for filling with filling material. The metering volume of the metering chambers 13 can be changed by radially adjusting the sleeve extensions 18.The metering roller sleeve 24 is held by the outer surfaces of the guide means 14 and laterally arranged bearing caps 32. The common components 16 are designed to be adjustable relative to the metering roller sleeve 24. The bearing cap 32 also contains an opening for the air connection of the air duct 28. This opening on the bearing cap 32 is connected to the air duct 28 via a coupling part 26, so that the relative mobility of the common component 16 relative to the bearing cap 32 or metering roller sleeve 24 can be achieved.

[0014] The described device 8 for dosing powdered filling material works as follows. The dosing wheel 11 is particularly suitable for dosing small amounts of powder in the pharmaceutical sector. The amount of powdered filling material to be dosed is determined by the volume of the dosing chamber 13. This volume of the dosing chamber 13 can be adjusted due to the relative movement of the common component 16 with respect to the dosing roller sleeve 24. The filling material to be filled, for example, powder or pellets, is located in a filling hopper (not shown). The container below is delimited at its lower opening by the dosing roller sleeve 24 of the dosing wheel 11 and in the running direction by a powder doctor blade (also not shown). The dosing wheel 11 can be cantilevered or supported by a counterbearing. The dosing wheel 11 is driven by a drive shaft.In a filling position, the dosing wheel 11 is arranged below a filling material container such that the dosing chambers 13 can be filled with filling material. To support the filling process, a negative pressure is created via the air duct 28 through the filter 12, which draws the filling material into the dosing chambers 13 and up to the filter 12. The filter 12 prevents the filling material from entering the air duct 28. It should be noted that other filling methods, for example, mechanical or based solely on gravity, can also be used to fill the dosing chambers 13.

[0015] Once the dosing chambers 13 are filled, the dosing wheel 11 is rotated 180° so that the dosing chambers 13 are arranged in a dispensing position. In the dispensing position, the air channel 28 is connected to a pressure connection so that compressed air flows through the filter 12 and forces out the filling material in the dosing chambers 13. Containers (not shown) to be filled are arranged beneath the dosing wheel 11, into which the filling material is then dispensed. The containers can be, for example, opened capsules arranged on a conveyor belt or a capsule base segment and transported further after filling.Since several common components 16 are provided in the dosing wheel 11, preferably four in the exemplary embodiment, the dosing wheel 11 is always rotated in cycles until the next common component 16 is reached, so that the dosing chambers 13 located at the top can be filled, while the filled dosing chambers 13 located at the bottom are emptied again.

[0016] The common component 16 is designed as a format part. It comprises, in particular, several sleeve extensions 18 arranged in a row in the axial direction, each of which is open towards the cavity 19. The side surfaces of the common component 16 are oriented relative to the guide surfaces 15 of the guide means 14 in such a way that radial displacement of the common component 16 with the integrated sleeve extensions 18 is possible. The base surface of the common component 16, oriented towards the center of the dosing wheel 11, cooperates with a cam of the adjusting means 10 for radial adjustment. The adjusting means 10 is rotatably mounted and can be rotated via a corresponding adjusting hub with associated adjusting wheel. If the dosing volume of the dosing chamber 13 is to be reduced, the cam of the adjusting means 10 presses the common component 16 further outwards. This pushes the outer surface of the sleeve 18 into the opening of the metering roller sleeve 24.If the dosing volume is to be increased, the cam is rotated so that the spring means 30 move the common component 16 closer to the center of the dosing wheel 11. For this purpose, the spring means 30, which is held by the guide means 14, presses against the shoulder 17 of the common component 16. Alternatively, a spring 30' could also be provided, which is supported on a more outer surface of the guide means 14 and presses against a shoulder of the common component 16 formed further towards the center of the dosing wheel 11 to exert the desired force toward the center of the dosing wheel 11.

[0017] The essentially rectangular cavity 19 of the common component 16 serves to accommodate and guide the support means 20 arranged therein. The support means 20 presses the filter 12 arranged on its upper side against the underside of the dosing chamber 13 or the corresponding openings of the common component 16. Furthermore, there is a central air duct 28 through which the corresponding openings 21 and the filters 12 arranged therebetween can be pressurized with compressed air or negative pressure. Compressed air is introduced when the filled dosing chamber 13 is to be released from the underside of the dosing wheel 11 for transfer of the filling material into the container to be filled. Compressed air can also be provided for blowing out the filters 12 at a cleaning station in a cleaning position, for example, in a horizontal state. A vacuum is applied to the dosing chamber 13 via the air channel 28 to assist in the suction of the filling material.The air supply can be initiated and partially controlled by a slip ring or a rotary union. Several common components 16 are provided, each comprising several sleeve extensions 18 for several dosing chambers 13. However, a different number of common components 16 than the four shown is also possible.

[0018] For multiple dosing chambers 13 of a common component 16, only a single rectangular filter 12 can be provided. Replacing the filter 12 is also very easy by loosening the support means 20 so that it moves toward the center of the dosing wheel 11. This means that the filter 12 is no longer clamped, but can be easily removed from the side for replacement. After replacing the filter 12, the clamping means 22 can be reactivated so that they press the support means 20 radially outward against the underside of the filter 12.

[0019] The construction of the dosing device 8 is also simplified, particularly by the provision of the common component 16. This can now be preassembled with the filter 12 and support means 20 and inserted into the corresponding guide surfaces 15. The spring means 30 are then mounted in the guide means 14, which press against the shoulders 17 of the common component 16. The dosing roller sleeve 24 of the corresponding openings is then connected to the upper sides of the guide means 14 and secured laterally with corresponding bearing caps 32.

[0020] The device 8 is particularly suitable for dosing powdered filling materials, but is not limited to this. So-called pellets, tiny spherical particles, can also be filled using the device 8.

Claims

[1] Device (8) for dosing powdered filling material, comprising at least one dosing wheel (11) with a plurality of dosing chambers (13) for receiving filling material, wherein a plurality of dosing chambers (13) are formed by a common component (16), wherein the common component (16) can be displaced in the radial direction of the dosing wheel (11) by means of an adjusting means (10) in order to change the volume of the dosing chambers (13), characterized by that the common component (16) has a plurality of sleeve projections (18) as a boundary of the metering chambers (13) and that a filter (12) forms a further boundary of at least one of the metering chambers (13). [2] Device according to claim 1, characterized by that the common component (16) has at least one cavity (19) for receiving a support means (20). [3] Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the filter (12) is arranged between the common component (16) and the support means (20). [4] Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that a spring means (30) is provided which acts on the common component (16) for adjustment in the radial direction of the metering wheel (11). [5] Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the filter (12) is intended as the only filter for several dosing chambers (13). [6] Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the support means (20) has a common air channel (28) which is connected to a plurality of dosing chambers (13). [7] Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that several common components (16) are provided, each having a plurality of metering chambers (13) with the corresponding sleeve attachments (18). [8] Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the air duct (28) is connected to a coupling part (26). [9] Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that clamping means (22) are provided which press the support means (20) against the common component (16) for fastening the filter (12).

Images