Device for dispensing powdered filler material

Abstract

Device (1) for metering a powdered filling material (2) comprising a metering disc (30) with a metering disc surface (5) on which a powder bed (33) of the powdered filling material (2) can be provided and with cavities (4) for receiving powdered filling material (2) to be metered, wherein the device (1) has at least one first plunger (3) which is configured to move from a first starting position (11) with a compaction movement (7) into at least one cavity (4) in order to transport the powdered filling material (2) from the powder bed (33) into the cavity (4) and to compact it in the cavity (4) and subsequently to perform a return movement (9) back to a first starting position (11), wherein the first starting position (11) is arranged above the metering disc (30) such that during the compaction movement (7) of the first plunger (3) powdered filling material (2) can be conveyed into the cavity (4),- wherein the device (1) has at least one second plunger (6) which is configured to move from a second starting position (12) into the at least one cavity (4) with an extension movement (8) in order to transport the powdered filling material from the cavity (4) into a receiving container (20) and subsequently to perform a return movement (9) back to the second starting position (12), wherein the second starting position (12) is arranged at the level of the metering disc surface (5) such that the second plunger (6) in the second starting position (12) covers a cavity (4) arranged below the second plunger (6).

Description

The invention relates to a device for dosing, compacting, and transporting powdered contents, in particular powdered pharmaceutical products and / or dietary supplements. In particular, the invention relates to a device for filling quantities of powder of a pharmaceutical contents into hard gelatin capsules by means of a dosing disc. Such devices are known, for example, from DE 10 2008 040 595 A1, DE 10 2019 215 416 A1, 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. In such devices, the filling material is preferably provided on a metering disc in the form of a powder bed. Within the metering disc (below the powder bed) are cavities into which the filling material is poured. Such devices are characterized by the fact that the powdered material is typically filled into the cavities from the powder bed by a series of plungers and compacted there, before being ejected from the cavity by another plunger and transported into the capsule. Preferably, the device has a plurality of compaction stations arranged in series, with which the material is progressively compacted within the cavity from one compaction station to the next. Following the compaction stations, there is preferably an ejection station in which the compacted material is ejected from the cavity. A plunger also typically enters the ejection station to push the compacted material out of the cavity. The rams typically perform a tamping motion, pushing the powdered material into the cavities and compacting it there. These rams usually move up and down regularly to repeat the tamping motion. Preferably, a multitude of pistons in several compaction stations and the ejection station are 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. The fundamental challenge when inserting rams into cavities is ensuring that the quantity of material transferred from the powder bed into the cavity is precisely defined. This guarantees that the intended amount of material is filled into each cavity. Particularly in the ejection station, it is therefore common practice to displace the powder bed or the material using a displacement device. This prevents additional material from being pushed into and ejected from the cavity when the product is ejected. The desired outcome is that only the product previously filled into the cavity in the compaction stations is ejected at the ejection station. 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. This describes a device for dispensing a powdered fill material, comprising a dispensing disc with a dispensing disc surface on which a powder bed of the powdered fill material can be provided and with cavities for receiving the powdered fill material to be dispensed; wherein the device has at least one first plunger which is configured to move from a first starting position into at least one cavity with a compaction movement in order to transport the powdered fill material from the powder bed into the cavity and compact it in the cavity and then to perform a return movement back to a first starting position, wherein the first starting position is arranged above the dispensing disc such that powdered fill material can be conveyed into the cavity during the compaction movement of the first plunger; wherein the device has at least one second plunger.which is designed to move from a second starting position into the at least one cavity with an ejection movement in order to transport the powdered filling material from the cavity into a receiving container and then to perform a return movement back to the second starting position, wherein the second starting position is arranged at the level of the metering disc surface, so that the second plunger in the second starting position covers a cavity arranged below the second plunger. There are various processes for filling powdered products into containers (especially capsules or hard gelatin capsules). Examples include methods using dosing tubes, vacuum rollers, or dosing discs. What all these methods have in common is that a specific density of the product is achieved within a defined dosing volume. In the device described here, this is accomplished at compaction stations by means of a first plunger that enters a cavity, filling it with the powdered product and compacting it. The dosing quantity is determined by the compaction of the powdered product within the cavity by the first plunger and the size of the cavity. The products to be filled have different properties. They vary in particle size, moisture content, particle shape, true density, and so on. The goal is to process the powder to be filled, and to introduce it into the dosing volume, using process parameters and clever geometric design, in such a way as to achieve the most constant density possible, and if necessary, a high density to allow for maximum filling capacity. The device described here has a metering disc. A powder bed of the powdered product, with a defined powder bed height, is provided on the metering disc. The first plungers move into cavities provided in the metering disc at compaction stations and push the powdered material into the cavities. The metering disc rotates beneath the plungers, so that cavities are moved from a first compaction station to a second compaction station, and so on, so that each cavity successively passes through multiple compaction stations, and the powdered material is continuously compacted within the cavity. Initial plungers for compacting the powdered material in the cavities are arranged at each compaction station. Following the compaction stations, a discharge station is arranged as the final station, at which the compressed quantity of powdered material in the cavity is ejected.is ejected. This is done with second stamps. The first rams preferably perform a predetermined movement, 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. A ram drive preferably performs an alternating return movement with the compaction movement. Thus, the ram drive preferably moves back and forth regularly. The entire movement (compaction movement and return movement) predetermined by the ram drive can, for example, be sinusoidal. Such a movement can be generated, for instance, by a ram drive powered by an eccentric. The movement of second rams is corresponding, except that instead of a compaction movement, an ejection movement is performed, alternating with the return movement. In known devices for dispensing powdered material using a metering disc, the movements of first pistons at compaction stations and second pistons at ejection stations are coupled. A drive pushes all pistons downwards. When all the pistons return to their positions, the problem arises that they must all retract far enough for the metering disc (beneath the pistons) to rotate freely. The problem is that this creates a moment at the ejection station where the powder bed is located above the cavity after the compacted powdered product has already been ejected from the cavity by the second piston. In this situation, powdered product can slide uncontrollably through the cavity into the receiving container. Furthermore, the second piston can force additional product into the cavity. To avoid this problem, displacement devices are commonly used around the second plunger at an ejection station. These devices keep the powdered material away from the ejection station. Such displacement devices are also regularly referred to as "boats" or "scrapers." A boat or scraper has recesses for the second plunger. The boat or scraper pushes the powdered material to the side and scrapes the cavity clean directly above the metering disc. In other words, the boat or scraper ensures that the powdered material in the cavity and the powder bed are separated at the ejection station. This way, only the amount of powdered material in the cavity is ejected by the plunger, and not an additional (undefined) amount of material from the powder bed. A major problem with such boats or scrapers is that they displace the powdered material in the powder bed, creating a kind of ridge of material on the metering disc. This ridge acts like a mound of material that forms in front of the boat as a result of the metering disc's rotation. The powder bed height is increased in this area. Behind the boat, a trough forms in the powder bed, where the powder bed height is reduced. Furthermore, such a boat vigorously agitates the powder bed. According to the solution described here, it is now possible to dispense with the boat, scraper, or any displacement device of any kind at this position on the ejection station. The solution effectively prevents an additional quantity of powdered material from being transported into the cavity when the second plunger enters and subsequently metered into a container when the powdered material is ejected. While first-stage pistons, after a compression movement, return to a first starting position above the metering disc, second-stage pistons, after an extension movement, only return to a second starting position. This second starting position is precisely level with the metering disc surface. Both the first and second starting positions define the positions of the piston's surface relative to the metering disc surface. With second-stage pistons in the second starting position, the piston surfaces lie directly on the metering disc surface, allowing the metering disc to rotate beneath the second-stage pistons, but preventing any powdered material from remaining between the second-stage pistons and the metering disc surface. With first-stage pistons in the first starting position, the piston surfaces lie above the metering surface and, if necessary, even above the powder bed.The metering disc can thus rotate beneath the first punches. Additionally, powdered fill material is present between the punch surfaces of the first punches and the metering disc, or, as the metering disc rotates, powdered fill material is conveyed beneath the first punches. The powdered fill material located between the punch surface and the cavity can then be conveyed into the cavity by the first punch and compacted there. By leaving the second plungers in the second starting position, they perform the same function that the boat or scraper performed in known devices. The second plungers remaining in the second starting position replace the boat or scraper. The second plunger in the second starting position displaces the powdered material in the cavity at the ejection station and seals the cavity, preventing further flow of powdered material. The second plunger in the second starting position then pulls the contents of the cavity directly above the metering disc. The second plungers in the second starting position ensure that the powdered material in the cavity and the powder bed are separated when the second plunger ejects the powdered product from the cavity.This prevents an additional (undefined) quantity of the powder from being ejected from the powder bed along with the second plunger. This achieves the same objectives as using a float. A major advantage is that the plunger(s) remaining in the second starting position offer significantly less resistance to the powder bed than a float, a displacement device, or a scraper. This significantly reduces the formation of a powder bed wave. A float or scraper offers greater resistance than individual plungers that remain directly above the metering disc. 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 pass through the powder bed into the cavities, pushing 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. The powdered contents are in particular a powdered pharmaceutical product and / or food supplement. It is particularly advantageous if the at least one first punch has a first drive which is configured to move the at least one first punch from the first starting position into the at least one cavity and back to the first starting position, and wherein the second punch has a second drive which is configured to move the at least one second punch from the second starting position into the at least one cavity and back to the second starting position. Preferably, the first drive is configured to drive a compression movement of the at least one first piston from the first starting position into the cavity, and preferably subsequently also a return movement of the at least one first piston back to the first starting position. Preferably, the first drive regularly and repeatedly moves at least one first piston from the first starting position into the cavity and back. Preferably, the second drive is configured to drive an extension movement of at least one second piston from the second starting position into the cavity, and preferably subsequently also a return movement of the at least one second piston back to the second starting position. Preferably, the second drive regularly and repeatedly moves at least one second piston from the second starting position into the cavity and back. Therefore, separate drives for the first and second punches are preferably provided. Preferably, the movements of the first and second drives can be controlled independently of each other. Preferably, a plurality of first stamps are attached to a first support structure. More preferably, a plurality of second stamps are attached to a second support structure. Preferably, the first drive actuates the first support structure. Preferably, the second drive actuates the second support structure. By having a plurality of stamps on a (common) support structure, a plurality of stamps can be moved or driven together by a single drive. Furthermore, a device is advantageously equipped with a first drive which is configured to drive a first support structure to which at least one first piston and at least one second drive are attached, wherein the second drive is configured to drive a second support structure to which at least one second piston is further attached, wherein the second drive is configured to modify a movement of the first drive such that a movement of the at least one second piston is modified relative to the movement of the first support structure such that the at least one second piston stops at the second starting position during the return movement and the ejection movement is carried out from the second starting position into the at least one cavity. Preferably, second punches are also indirectly attached to a first drive. In this embodiment, however, the second punches are indirectly connected to the first drive via a second drive. The second drive modifies a movement specified by the first drive. This is achieved such that the second punches stop at the second starting position or, on their return movement, are only moved back to the second starting position. Furthermore, a device is advantageous comprising a first drive which is configured to drive a first support structure to which at least one first punch is attached, and further comprising a second drive which is configured to drive a second support structure to which at least one second punch is attached. It is further advantageous if a first drive is arranged to drive a first support structure to which at least one first punch and at least one second punch are attached and further comprising at least one movement modification means which interacts with at least one second punch in such a way that a return movement of the at least one second punch beyond the second starting position is blocked, so that the at least one second punch remains in the second starting position when first punches are moved further back to the first starting position. In this design variant, the first and second pistons (possibly via a common first support structure) are driven by a single drive. The fact that the return movement of the second piston stops at the second launch position is not achieved by a separate second drive, but rather by a motion modifier that modifies the movement of the second piston accordingly. Furthermore, the device preferably has at least one holding device with which a return movement of second stamps beyond the second starting position is blocked. The motion modification means can, for example, be a holding device. In this embodiment, the second piston can be coupled to a support structure in such a way that compressive forces are transferred from the support structure to the piston during the extension movement, while tensile forces are transferred from the support structure to the piston during the retraction movement, but only as long as the piston has not yet struck the holding device. The holding device is preferably designed such that the retraction of the second piston is blocked accordingly, even though the support structure dictates a further retraction (preferably to the first starting position). First pistons attached to the support structure are then moved back to the first starting position. For second pistons, the retraction is modified accordingly, so that the second pistons are only moved back to the second starting position. Furthermore, it is preferred if the at least one holding device is designed with a stop against which a second punch strikes during the return movement in order to be held in the second starting position. Such a stop is one possible design variant of the holding device. Preferably, second punches are clamped in the holding device by a spring element such that they are held in the second starting position, so that cavities are closed with the punch surface of the second punches. Preferably, a first drive or a first support structure presses on the first punches when they initiate a compression or ejection movement. During a return movement, the second punch is preferably pressed by a spring element so that it follows the movement of the first drive until the second punch abuts the stop. Then the second punch remains in the second starting position. The return movement of the first drive or the first support structure is continued for the other first punches attached to the first support structure, so that the first punches are moved back to the first starting position. It is also preferred if the at least one first piston and / or the at least one second piston are each connected via spring elements to a drive which modifies a drive movement of the drive in order to cause the compression movement, the extension movement and / or the return movement of the at least one first piston and / or the at least one second piston. In principle, it is advantageous for all punches (first and second punches) to be connected or coupled to a drive or to a support structure driven by a drive via spring elements. Spring elements between the respective drive and the first punches allow the pressure exerted by the punches on the powdered material in the cavities to be adjusted. Furthermore, the movements of the respective punches can be modified depending on the amount of powdered material in the respective cavity. Furthermore, it is preferred if at least one second punch has a punch surface which corresponds to the cross-sectional area of ​​the at least one cavity such that the punch surface closes the cavity when the second punch is in the second starting position, wherein the at least one second punch has a tapered section above the punch surface. A tapered cross-section allows for a further reduction of the fill material wave in the powder bed in the area of ​​the second punches or the ejection station. Preferably, the second punches are tapered such that a tapered section of the second punches extends over the entire height of the powder bed. Preferably, the second punches widen only at the very bottom in the area of ​​the punch surface, so that the punch surface corresponds to the cross-sectional area of ​​the cavities. The metering disc, with the powder bed on it, moves relative to the (stationary) first and second plungers when the first plungers are in their initial starting position and the second plungers are in their second starting position. Second plungers in their second starting position create a powder wave in the powder bed that is significantly smaller than the powder wave that would be created by a boat-shaped plunger. This powder wave can be further reduced by using appropriately tapered second plungers. The tapered section can be designed such that a cross-section of the second punches in the tapered area is flat and, particularly preferably, aligned in the direction of movement of the powder bed relative to the second punches. This allows the fill material wave to be further reduced. As a result, the resistance generated by the second punches in the powder bed decreases, and the fill material wave becomes smaller. Furthermore, it is preferred if no displacement means are arranged above the metering disc other than the second plunger, with which a distribution of the powdered filling material on the metering disc is controlled and / or influenced. In particular, no boats or scrapers are provided that displace the fill material in the area of ​​the second pistons. Furthermore, preferably no fill material deflection devices are provided that guide the powder bed around a boat with the aim of controlling a fill material wave. Furthermore, it is preferred if the first starting position is arranged at a distance above the metering disc that is greater than the powder bed height of a powder bed of the powdered filling material on the metering disc during operation of the device. Due to the height of the first starting position, the first starting position is located above the powder bed. When the metering disc and powder bed move, the first pistons in the first starting position are preferably not in contact with the powder bed and therefore do not affect it. Also described here is a machine for filling a powdered material into capsules, wherein the machine has at least one described device for compacting the powdered material before filling it into capsules and / or transporting it in capsules. Preferably, in addition to the device, the machine includes further components required for filling the contents into capsules, such as means for providing the powdered contents on the metering disc, means for providing the capsules, etc. Preferably, the metering disc of the device or machine has groups of cavities. The device or machine also preferably has a plurality of compaction stations and an ejection station. Each group of cavities in the metering disc is located in a compaction station and the other in the ejection station. Each compaction station and the ejection station preferably has a plurality of pistons corresponding to the number of cavities in a group. By a rotary movement of the metering disc, a group of cavities is transported from compaction station to compaction station and then (after the cavities of the group are completely filled with powdered material) to the ejection station. Preferably, the next group of cavities moves into the respective station.The groups of cavities are preferably arranged at a uniform angular interval on the metering disc, by which the metering disc is rotated to move cavities to the next compaction station or to the ejection station. For example, if there are three compaction stations and one ejection station, the metering disc is preferably rotated by 90 degrees each time. Each time the metering disc is rotated, the first set of pistons is in the first starting position and the second set of pistons is in the second starting position. 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: a machine for filling a powdered material according to the prior art; Fig. 2: a top view of the metering disc of the machine according to Fig. 1; Fig. 3: a cross-sectional view through the machine according to Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4: a schematic representation of a powder bed state in a device according to the prior art; Fig. 5: a representation corresponding to Fig. 4 in another operating situation of the device; Fig. 6: a schematic representation of a powder bed state in a device described herein; Fig. 7: one of the figures.6 corresponding representation in a different operating situation of the device; Fig. 8: a first embodiment of a described device; Fig. 9: a second embodiment of a described device; and Fig. 10: a detail of a further embodiment of a described device; and Fig. 11: the detail according to Fig. 10 in a different operating situation of the device. Fig. 1 schematically shows a machine 19 for filling a powdered material 2, with the device 1. It can be seen that a plurality of a total of five compaction stages 31 and an ejection stage 32 are shown in succession. Fig. 1 shows such a device 1 in a simplified, compact representation, which is further explained with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 shows that the compaction stages 31 and the discharge stage 32 are each part of compaction stations 21 and a discharge station 28. The compaction stages 31 (or compaction stations 21) and the discharge stage 32 (or discharge station 28) are shown sequentially along the metering disc 30 in the circumferential direction of the metering disc 30. Fig. 1 is therefore a simplified, so to speak, unfolded representation of the various compaction stations 21 and the discharge station 28, whereby, in simplified terms, only exactly one compaction stage 31 or exactly one discharge stage 32 is shown at any given time. The circumferential schematic section AA according to Fig. 1 clarifies the representation in Fig. 1.This representation was chosen to compactly depict the entire compaction process of the powdered fill material 2 in the cavities 4. Figure 1 shows that the various compaction stages 31 and the ejection stage 32 are attached together to a first support structure 16, which is driven jointly by a first drive 14. First pistons 3 of the compaction stages 31 and second pistons 6 of the ejection stage 32 together perform compaction movements 7, ejection movements 8, and return movements 9. With the first pistons 3 of the compaction stages 31, powdered fill material 2 is pressed from the powder bed 33 on the metering disc surface 5 of the metering disc 30 into cavities 4 in the metering disc 30 and compacted there. Through the multi-stage compaction of the powdered fill material 2 with the compaction stages 31, a plug 34 of compacted powdered fill material 2 is formed in the cavity 4. The powder bed 33 of the powdered product 2 is repeatedly replenished on the metering disc 30.For this purpose, conveying means 22 are provided, which repeatedly refill the powder bed 33 as the powdered product 2 is conveyed into the cavities 4. The second plunger 6 of the ejection stage 32 pushes the powdered fill material 2, or the plug 34, out of the cavity 4 into a receiving container 20, which can be, for example, a capsule in a capsule holder 26. The quantity of product transported into the receiving container 20 is precisely defined by the size of the cavities 4 and the compaction of the powdered fill material 2 within the cavities 4. The first plungers 3 and, in particular, the second plungers 6 each have a plunger area 13 that corresponds to the cross-sectional area of ​​the cavities 4 and with which force is exerted on the powdered fill material 2 by the plungers 3.6. To define the forces exerted by the first plungers 3 during compaction, a connection is provided between the first drive 14 and the second plunger 6.Spring elements 10 are provided for the first support structure 16 and the first pistons 3, which limit the forces exerted by the first pistons 3. Preferably, the second piston 6 is connected to the first drive 14 or the first support structure 16 without such a spring element 10. The movement of the second piston 6 is thus preferably fixed by the second drive 14, so that the powdered fill material 2 is ejected from the cavity 4 into the ejection stage 32 in any case. To prevent unwanted slippage of powdered fill material 2 from the powder bed 33 into the cavity 4 in the area of ​​the ejection stage 32, a displacement element 25 (e.g., a boat) is arranged around the ejection stage 32, which separates the ejection stage 32 from the powder bed 33 for the ejection or pushing out of the powdered fill material 2 from the cavity 4. To better understand the device 1 and the machine 19, the structure is explained in more detail here with reference to Figures 2 and 3, going beyond the illustration in Figure 1. Figure 2 was already discussed above to explain the schematic representation in Figure 1 according to the circumferential section AA from Figure 2. Figure 2 shows the compaction stations 21, each with several parallel compaction stages 31, and the discharge station 28, which has several parallel discharge stages 32. Fig. 2 shows (as already described) the metering disc 30 or the metering disc surface 5 from above. A possible design of the displacement element 25 as a boat is shown in Fig. 2. The metering disc movement 38 (a rotary movement) is also indicated in Fig. 2. This results in a flow 35 of the powdered fill material 2 around the displacement element 25. Additionally, fill material deflection elements 29 can be provided, which support this fill material flow 35 and serve to reduce the height of a fill material wave 36 in the powder bed 33. Fig. 3 now shows section II-II according to Fig. 3. Also visible here is the boat-shaped displacement element 25 in cross-section, as well as the other components already shown and explained according to Fig. 2. The receiving container 20 is also visible; this can be, for example, a capsule held in a capsule holder 26, into which the defined quantity of the powdered filling material 2 is ejected in the cavity 4 at the ejection station 28. Figures 4 and 5 illustrate the conditions that arise in the powder bed 33 as a result of the displacement agent 25 in the region of the ejection stage 32 and the compaction stage 31. Figures 4 and 5 each schematically depict two compaction stages 31 and one ejection stage 32, similar to the representation in Figure 1. The first pistons 3 of the compaction stages 31 and the second piston 6 of the ejection stage 32 are suspended from a common first drive 14 and a first support structure 16, respectively, which is driven by a first drive 14. Figure 4 shows the situation in which the first pistons 3 and the second pistons 6 are retracted into the cavities 4 in the metering disc 30. The first pistons 3 fill the cavities 4 with powdered material 2 and compact the powdered material 2 in the cavities 4.Figure 5 shows the situation that the first stamps 3 and the second stamps 6 are each in first starting positions 11. A powder bed 33 is provided on the metering disc 30 or its surface 5. In the area of ​​the ejection stage 31, the displacement element 25 is arranged above the metering disc 30. This element displaces the powdered fill material 2 and ensures that, when the powdered fill material 2 is ejected into the cavity 4 by means of the second plunger 6, no uncontrollable quantity of the powdered fill material 2 is ejected from the powder bed 33. The displacement element 25 creates a fill material wave 36 that extends above the (normal) powder bed height 37 of the powder bed 33. Figures 6 and 7 illustrate how the powder bed 33 behaves differently on the metering disc 30 in the device 1 described here compared to Figures 4 and 5. The representations in Figures 6 and 7 correspond to those in Figures 4 and 5. Reference is made here to the explanations of Figures 4 and 5, and the differences between the device 1 described here and the device 1 shown in Figures 4 and 5 are discussed. Figures 6 and 7 show a first drive 14 with a first support structure 16 for the first pistons 3 of the compaction stages 31 and an independent second drive 15 with a second support structure 17 for the second pistons 6 of the ejection stage 32. The first pistons 3 each perform compaction movements 7, indicated by arrows in Figure 7, from first starting positions 11 into the cavities 4 and return movements 9 to the first starting positions 11. The second pistons 6, on the other hand, also perform ejection movements 8, indicated by arrows in Figure 7, from second starting positions 12 into the cavities 4 and return movements 9 to the second starting positions 12. The first starting positions 11 are located above the metering disc surface 5 and, in particular, also above the powder bed 33.Second starting positions 12 are arranged such that the cavity 4 at the ejection stage 32 is separated from the powder bed 33 by a punch surface 13 of the second punch 6. For the powder bed 33, the second punch 6 in the second starting position 12 presents a considerably lower resistance than the displacement means 25 shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 to 5. A surge of material 36, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, can thus be avoided or at least greatly reduced. Figures 8 and 9 each show different embodiments of the device 1 described here. The representation in Figures 8 and 9 is based on the representation in Figure 1. Reference is made in full to the description of Figure 1 with regard to Figures 8 and 9. As shown in Fig. 8, the first pistons 3 of the compaction stages 31 are connected to the first drive 14 via a first support structure 16. The first drive 14, the first support structure 16, and the first pistons 3 are designed such that the first pistons 3 can perform compaction movements 7 and return movements 9 starting from the first initial position 11. The second piston 6 of the ejection stage 31 is connected to the second drive 15 via a second support structure 17. The first drive 14 and the second drive 15 are independent of each other. The second drive 15, the second support structure 17, and the second piston 6 are designed such that the second piston 6 can perform ejection movements 8 and return movements 9 starting from the second initial position 12. As shown in Fig. 9, the first pistons 3 of the compaction stages 31 are connected to the first drive 14 via a first support structure 16. The first drive 14, the first support structure 16, and the first pistons 3 are designed such that the first pistons 3 can perform compaction movements 7 and return movements 9 starting from first initial positions 11. A second drive 15 is also arranged on the first support structure 16. The second drive 15 generates a modification of the movement specified by the first drive 14, causing a second piston 6, coupled to the second drive 15 via a first support structure 17, to perform extension movements 8 and corresponding return movements 9 starting from a second initial position 12. In the embodiments of the device 1 shown in Fig. 8 and Fig. 9, the second starting position 12 is chosen such that a punch surface 13 of the second punch 6 closes the cavity 4 when the second punch 6 is in the second starting position 12. Figures 10 and 11 show details of a further embodiment of the device 1 described here. The details shown in Figures 10 and 11 can, in particular, be integrated into the device 1 shown in Figure 1. The displacement element 25 can then be omitted. As shown in Fig. 10, the second piston 6 is indeed coupled to the first drive 14 (optionally via a first support structure 16). However, the device 1 has a holding device 23 that fixes the second piston 6 during a return movement 9 such that the second piston 6 remains in the second starting position 12. This position is chosen such that the second piston 6 remains at the level of the metering disc surface 5 of the metering disc 30 and, with its piston surface 13, covers the cavity 4 or separates the powder bed 33 (not shown here) from the cavity 4. The holding device 23 thus forms a motion modifier 18 with which a movement of the second piston 6 specified by the first drive 14 is modified. The second piston 6 is preferably clamped in the holding device 23 by a spring element 10. The spring element 10 presses the second plunger 6 in the second starting position 2 against a stop 24 of the holding device 23.The first drive 14 or the first support structure 16 are preferably designed such that they can press on the second piston 6, but cannot transmit tensile forces to the second piston 6. During the return movement 9, the second piston 6 detaches from the first drive 14 or from the first support structure 16 as soon as the second piston 6 is in the second starting position 12. Figure 10 shows the situation when the second piston 6 is in the second starting position 12 and covers the cavity 4 or separates it from the powder bed 33. Figure 11 shows the situation when the second piston 6 has retracted into the cavity 4 and the powdered fill material 2 located in the cavity 4 is ejected. As shown in Figures 10 and 11, a further possible detail is that the second punch 6 can have a tapered section 39 above the punch surface 13, in which the second punch 6 is tapered or has a tapered cross-section 27 that is smaller than that of the punch surface 13. Such a design of the second punch 6 can further reduce the resistance that the second punch 6 causes in the powder bed 33 when the metering disc 30 moves. Reference symbol list 1 Device 2 Powdered material 3 First plunger 4 Cavity 5 Metering disc surface 6 Second plunger 7 Compaction movement 8 Ejection movement 9 Return movement 10 Spring element 11 First starting position 12 Second starting position 13 Plunger surface 14 First drive 15 Second drive 16 First support structure 17 Second support structure 18 Motion modifier 19 Machine 20 Receiving container 21 Compaction station 22 Conveyor 23 Holding device 24 Stop 25 Displacement device 26 Capsule holder 27 Tapered cross-section 28 Ejection station 29 Material deflection device 30 Metering disc 31 Compaction stage 32 Ejection stage 33 Powder bed 34 Plug 35 Material flow 36 Material shaft 37 Powder bed height 38 Metering disc movement 39 Tapered section

Claims

Device (1) for metering a powdered filling material (2) comprising a metering disc (30) with a metering disc surface (5) on which a powder bed (33) of the powdered filling material (2) can be provided and with cavities (4) for receiving powdered filling material (2) to be metered, wherein the device (1) has at least one first plunger (3) which is configured to move from a first starting position (11) with a compaction movement (7) into at least one cavity (4) in order to transport the powdered filling material (2) from the powder bed (33) into the cavity (4) and to compact it in the cavity (4) and subsequently to perform a return movement (9) back to a first starting position (11), wherein the first starting position (11) is arranged above the metering disc (30) such that during the compaction movement (7) of the first plunger (3) powdered filling material (2) can be conveyed into the cavity (4),- wherein the device (1) has at least one second plunger (6) which is configured to move from a second starting position (12) into the at least one cavity (4) with an extension movement (8) in order to transport the powdered filling material from the cavity (4) into a receiving container (20) and subsequently to perform a return movement (9) back to the second starting position (12), wherein the second starting position (12) is arranged at the level of the metering disc surface (5) such that the second plunger (6) in the second starting position (12) covers a cavity (4) arranged below the second plunger (6). Device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one first punch (3) has a first drive (14) which is configured to move the at least one first punch (3) from the first starting position (11) into the at least one cavity (4) and back to the first starting position (11), and wherein the second punch (6) has a second drive (15) which is configured to move the at least one second punch (6) from the second starting position (12) into the at least one cavity (4) and back to the second starting position (12). Device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a first drive (14) configured to drive a first support structure (16) to which at least one first punch (3) and at least one second drive (15) are attached, wherein the second drive (15) is configured to drive a second support structure (17) to which at least one second punch (6) is further attached, wherein the second drive (15) is configured to modify a movement of the first drive (14) such that a movement of the at least one second punch (6) is modified relative to the movement of the first support structure (16) such that the at least one second punch (6) stops at the second starting position (12) during the return movement (9) and the ejection movement (8) is carried out from the second starting position (12) into the at least one cavity (4). Device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a first drive (14) which is configured to drive a first support structure (16) to which at least one first punch (3) is attached, and further comprising a second drive (15) which is configured to drive a second support structure (17) to which at least one second punch (6) is attached. Device (1) according to claim 1 comprising a first drive (14) which is configured to drive a first support structure (16) to which at least one first punch (3) and at least one second punch (6) are attached, and further comprising at least one movement modification means (18) which interacts with at least one second punch (6) in such a way that a return movement (9) of the at least one second punch (6) beyond the second starting position (12) is blocked, so that the at least one second punch (6) remains in the second starting position (12) when first punches (3) are moved further back to the first starting position (11). Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one holding device (23) with which a return movement (9) of the second punch (6) beyond the second starting position (12) is blocked. Device (1) according to claim 6, wherein the at least one holding device (23) is designed with a stop (24) against which a second plunger (6) strikes during the return movement (9) in order to be held in the second starting position (12). Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one first plunger (3) and / or at least one second plunger (6) are each connected via spring elements (10) to a drive (14,15) which modifies a drive movement of the drive (14,15) to cause the compression movement (7), the extension movement (8) and / or the return movement (9) of the at least one first plunger (3) and / or at least one second plunger (6). Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one second punch (6) has a punch surface (13) which corresponds to the cross-sectional area of ​​the at least one cavity (4) such that the punch surface (13) closes the cavity (4) when the second punch (6) is in the second starting position (12), wherein the at least one second punch (6) has a tapered section (27) above the punch surface (13). Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein above the metering disc (30) no displacement means (25) are arranged other than the second plunger (6) with which a distribution of the powdered filling material (2) on the metering disc (30) is controlled and / or influenced. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first starting position (11) is arranged at a distance above the metering disc (30) which is greater than the powder bed height (37) of a powder bed (33) of the powdered filling material (2) on the metering disc (30) during operation of the device (1). 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 capsules (20) and / or to transport it in capsules (20).

Images