Filling unit for a rotary moulding machine and how to prepare an optimised rotary moulding machine

Abstract

The present invention proposes a filling unit (10) for a rotary molding machine (12), comprising a filling wheel (14), a metering wheel (24), a supply wheel (30), and a medium unit (36), wherein the filling unit (10) is configured such that the supply wheel (30) can be switched to enter or exit the conveying path of the medium to be metered, particularly by a pivoting movement using a pivoting device (33), particularly by a pivoting movement around a rotation axis (42) of the metering wheel (24) configured as an impeller (20, 26, 32). The present invention also proposes a filling unit (10) and a method for preparing an optimized rotary molding machine.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The invention relates to a filling unit for a rotary moulding machine comprising the features of the preamble of claim 1 and to a method for preparing an optimised rotary moulding machine comprising the features of the independent claims in parallel relation to one another.

[0002] Rotary moulding machines are used in the pharmaceutical, industrial or chemical industry or in the food industry for the large-scale production of tablets or pressed bodies from powdered materials.

[0003] The rotary molding machine has a die disk that is driven to rotate, the die disk has a number of die holes arranged in the die disk, the die holes moving on a circular orbit, and a lower punch and an upper punch are provided, the lower punch and the upper punch move on the circular orbit together with the die disk, and move up and down during this revolution, in this case the lower punch and the upper punch are formed so that their upper or lower punch ends are inserted into the die holes arranged in the die disk, thereby compressing the powder material taken into the die holes to form a tablet.

[0004] The powder to be compacted is fed to the die hole via a hopper by an associated filling unit with a rotating impeller. Filling units of this type are shown, for example, in EP 3406436 A1 and DE 202007002707 A1.

[0005] DE 102016110556 A1 and DE 3527186 A1 each show a filling unit with the features of claim 1.

[0006] By means of an impeller, powder flow from the hopper into the die holes is assisted to achieve consistent packing and therefore a constant weight of each individual tablet.

[0007] The two-impeller filling unit is typically used for free-flowing, non-viscous products for pharmaceutical applications. The powder is filled and metered directly from the hopper into the die hole via the filling and metering wheels.

[0008] Filling units with three impellers are usually used to achieve as uniform a flow as possible in materials with relatively poor flow properties.

[0009] A filling unit with three impellers therefore contributes to maintaining a constant pressure in the feed area, which is assisted by the presence of a third impeller, the feed wheel, which is usually arranged above both other impellers (filling wheel and metering wheel).

[0010] In this type of supply, the powder is filled and metered into the die hole from a hopper via a supply car, a filling car, and a metering car.

[0011] Depending on the flow behavior / properties of the powder, the dosing unit can be equipped with corresponding impellers and therefore manually rearranged in order to obtain an adapted metering behavior.

[0012] SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE The object of the present invention is to provide a filling unit for a rotary moulding machine and a method for providing an optimised rotary moulding machine which obviates the above-mentioned drawbacks.

[0013] This problem is solved by a filling unit for a rotary moulding machine according to the invention, which comprises the features of claim 1. The filling unit according to the invention comprises: The rotary molding machine includes a filling wheel, which is designed to fill the medium to be metered, in particular the powder, into the die bores of the die disc of the rotary molding machine. The filling wheel is designed as an impeller. The filling wheel has blades and is designed to transport the medium to be metered by means of the blades of the filling wheel with a rotating movement. In other words, the blades of the filling wheel, which is designed as an impeller, move on a circular path around the center of the filling wheel.

[0014] The filling unit further comprises a metering wheel, which is designed to precisely meter the amount of medium to be metered into the respective die hole of the die disc. The metering wheel is designed as an impeller. The metering wheel has blades and is designed to precisely meter the amount of medium to be metered by the blades of the metering wheel grazing the die hole of the die disc by a rotating movement. At this time, excess medium is removed by grazing the die hole of the die disc. In other words, the blades of the metering wheel, which is designed as an impeller, move on a circular path around the center of the metering wheel and, in the process, graze the die hole.

[0015] The filling wheel thus moves the powder into the die hole of the die disk. Typically, the lower side of the die hole is then closed by a corresponding lower punch. Before the die hole reaches the metering wheel, the lower punch can be slightly raised to a precisely predetermined position in order to define a precisely defined size of the die hole. The powder components which protrude upwards from the die hole are then "scraped off", i.e. removed, by the metering wheel.

[0016] The filling unit comprises a feeder car, which is designed to feed the medium to be metered to the filling car. The feeder car is designed as an impeller. The feeder car has blades and is designed to transport the medium to be fed to the filling car by means of the blades of the feeder car with a rotating movement. In other words, the blades of the feeder car, which are designed as an impeller, move on a circular path around the center of the feeder car. In the process, the blades of the feeder car transport the medium to be metered to the filling car.

[0017] The filling unit further comprises at least one medium supply unit, which is configured to supply the medium to the filling car. Alternatively or additionally, the medium supply unit may supply the medium to the supply car. The medium reaches the filling unit via the medium supply unit. The medium supply unit may have, for example, a hopper, a pipe or a tube.

[0018] The filling unit is designed in such a way that the supply car can be switched into or out of the transport path of the medium to be metered. This can be done in particular by a pivoting movement of the supply car. In particular, in this case, the supply car can be pivoted about the rotation axis of the metering wheel, which is designed as a vane wheel. For this purpose, a corresponding pivoting device can be provided. The supply car can be bypassed or diverted, in particular by a second medium supply unit. It is also possible that the medium supply unit can be designed to be movable, so that by the movement of the medium supply unit, it can be selected whether the transport path of the medium to be metered passes through the supply car or not.

[0019] By switching the supply wagons in or out of the conveying path of the medium to be metered, or by bypassing the supply wagons, the filling unit can be adapted to different media, each having different flow behavior / characteristics, without the individual impellers having to be replaced.

[0020] The transport path of the medium to be metered is meant here to mean the path of the medium through the filling unit into the die bore.

[0021] The medium supply unit may have a transport splitter, by means of which the medium to be metered can be selectively fed to a supply vehicle or a filling vehicle, so that it can be selected whether the transport path of the medium passes through the supply vehicle or not, without the need to remove the supply vehicle or to switch / swivel the supply vehicle so that it exits the transport path.

[0022] The vanes of the filling, metering and / or delivery vehicles which are configured as vane wheels are designed in such a way that the shape of the conveying surface of the respective vane is variable.

[0023] The conveying surface of the blades is formed by the surface of the blades by means of which the respective impeller is adapted to convey the medium, i.e. the part of the blade that is shaped and configured to come into contact with the medium during operation of the filling unit and to convey or meter it by the respective rotational movement.

[0024] The change in the shape of the conveying surface may be realized by rotation of the vanes of the filling, metering and / or delivery wheels formed as impellers about their respective extension axes. The vanes of the filling, metering and / or delivery wheels formed as impellers may be formed for this purpose so as to be rotatable about their respective extension axes. In this case, the vanes may be transferable by rotation about their respective extension axes into at least two rotation positions, in which the vanes form respectively differently shaped conveying surfaces. The medium to be metered may be conveyed by the respectively differently shaped conveying surfaces depending on the rotation position of the vanes.

[0025] Differently shaped conveying surfaces can be realized by rotating / pivoting the blades to different rotational positions. The rotating / pivoting of the blades can be realized for example by gear mechanisms, slide mechanisms, crank mechanisms, Bowden cables, piston drives and / or cam controlled.

[0026] The blades can have a conveying surface in the form of an arc, in particular a semicircle, on a first side and can in particular be provided with a flat conveying surface on the opposite side. By a simple rotation of 180 degrees, the conveying surface can thus be switched back and forth between a blade form with a circular cross section and a blade with, for example, a square cross section.

[0027] The blades may in particular have a triangular cross section. In particular, the cross section of the blade may correspond to an isosceles triangle, in particular an equilateral triangle. In this case, the blades can be moved by rotation into a position in which one corner of the triangular cross section faces downwards and thus forms an edge-like underside of the blade. A "sharp-edged" underside can thus be achieved. The blades may also be rotated so that one corner of the triangular cross section faces upwards. In this case, one of the sides of the triangular cross section forms the underside of the blade. This allows a selection between different undersides of the blade and a desired setting. Naturally, the conveying surface of a blade with a triangular cross section can also be changed by rotating the blade. Here too, it is possible to select between a conveying surface that is designed flat and a conveying surface that is designed in an edge-like manner.

[0028] The blades may have a cross section that is rectangular, in particular square. In the case of a rectangular cross section, the two opposite sides can be short and the other two opposite sides can be long. The two long sides of the rectangular cross section then form the respective larger side faces of the blade in relation to the two short sides of the rectangular cross section. By rotating the blades, it is thus possible to select between a conveying surface with a larger area and a conveying surface with a smaller area.

[0029] The configuration of the conveying surface may be alterable by variable inclination of the blades with respect to a radial direction extending from the rotation axis of the respective impeller.

[0030] In other words, the vanes of the filling, metering and / or supply wheels formed as impellers may be formed in such a way that the angle defined by the axis of extension of the vanes (or their extension) and the radial direction extending from the axis of rotation of the respective impeller can be changed. The inclination of the vanes may also be realized by means of a gear mechanism. A kind of "Bowden cable" is also possible as a solution for changing the inclination of the vanes.

[0031] The shape of the conveying surface may be changeable by a variable curvature of the vanes of the filling, metering and / or delivery vanes formed as vanes. Curvature in the sense of the present application means a deviation, at least in part, from a straight extension, in particular in an arcuate shape. In particular, the curvature may be a deviation, at least in part, from a radial direction extending from the axis of rotation of the respective vane. The vanes may have at least one section with a variable curvature.

[0032] The variable curvature of the blade may be realized, for example, by bimetallic, Bowden cables and / or pull or push elements. It is also conceivable that the variable curvature may be realized only along one or several sections of the blade. In particular, the variable curvature may be realized along the entire length of the blade.

[0033] By changing the form of the conveying surface of the impellers, the filling, metering and / or supply wheels formed as impellers can be adapted to different media, each with different flow behavior / characteristics, without the need for the individual impellers to be replaced. This makes dismantling of the respective impellers unnecessary. The form of the conveying surface of the impellers can be changed / modified in the assembled state of the respective impellers, without the respective impellers having to be dismantled for this.

[0034] It is thus conceivable that the configuration of the conveying surface of the vanes can be changed / adjusted during operation of the rotary moulding machine.

[0035] It is possible that the configuration of the conveying surface can be changed during the tablet production process or while the respective impeller is transporting the medium to be metered through the filling unit. However, it is also possible that the tablet production process or the transport of the medium to be metered by the filling unit is briefly interrupted, after which the configuration of the conveying surface is changed and then the tablet production process or the transport of the medium to be metered by the filling unit is resumed. In both cases, dismantling of the respective impeller or filling unit is not necessary.

[0036] The blades of the filling, metering and / or supply wheels formed as impellers may be configured to be movable parallel to the rotation axis of the respective impeller. In other words, the blades are configured to be height adjustable. Thus, for example, when rotating a blade whose cross section is different from a circular one about its respective extension axis, the lower edge of the blade can be maintained at a constant height or level. Thus, it can be ensured that no gaps arise between the impeller and the elements of the filling unit arranged below the impeller. In other words, due to the height adaptation of the blades, it can be ensured that, during the medium transported by the respective impeller, all the medium to be transported is captured and transported by the blade.

[0037] The vanes of the filling, metering and / or delivery wheels formed as vanes can have a triangular, rectangular, in particular square cross section or an at least partially rounded cross section. Naturally, cross sections with other geometrical forms are also possible.

[0038] The vanes of the filling, metering and / or delivery wheels formed as impellers may have a constant cross-section along a portion of their respective extension axes, in particular the cross-section may be the same along the entire respective extension axes, but it is also possible for the area of ​​the cross-section along the respective extension axes to be larger or smaller in the radial direction from the respective rotation axis or to vary, in particular uniformly, along the extension axes.

[0039] The number of blades of the filling, metering and / or delivery wheels formed as impellers may vary for each impeller and may be even and / or odd.

[0040] The blades of the filling, metering and / or supply wheels formed as impellers can be designed to be replaceable. In particular, the blades can be designed as replacement elements of the individual impellers. Thus, the blades can be quickly and simply replaced by other blades, in particular blades with other cross sections. Thus, for example, when a blade is damaged, the corresponding blade can be replaced without the entire impeller having to be replaced. Furthermore, this replaceability expands the number of different configurations of the conveying surface.

[0041] The filling wheel, the metering wheel and / or the supply wheel formed as an impeller each have blades which may have different cross-sections along their respective extension axes. In other words, the filling wheel, the metering wheel and / or the supply wheel each may have blades which are shaped differently. Thus, for example, the filling wheel may have blades with a triangular cross-section, the metering wheel may have blades with a circular cross-section and the supply wheel may have blades with a square cross-section.

[0042] The vanes of the filling, metering and / or supply wheels formed as impellers may be arranged such that the extension of their respective extension axes extends at a distance from the rotation axis of the respective impeller. The extension of the respective extension axes is thus tangent to a circle centered on the rotation axis, this circle having a radius different from zero. In other words, the vanes are arranged inclined with respect to a radial direction starting from the center of the respective impeller. In other words, the extension of the respective extension axis and the radial direction starting from the center of the respective impeller define an angle different from zero, in particular lying between zero and 90 degrees, in particular between zero and 45 degrees, in particular between 0 and 20 degrees.

[0043] The filling unit may be designed in such a way that the rotation direction and / or the rotation speed of the filling wheel, the metering wheel and / or the feed wheel, which are formed as impellers, can be changed. The rotation direction and / or the rotation speed can be pre-adjusted according to the respective medium (or powder) before the tablet production. However, it is also possible that the rotation direction and / or the rotation speed can be changed during the tablet production, i.e. during the transport of the medium (or during the rotation of the respective impeller). In particular, the rotation direction can be changed independently of the rotation speed.

[0044] The filling unit may comprise at least one electric motor, which can then drive a filling, metering or supply wheel formed as an impeller directly or indirectly, for example via at least one toothed wheel and / or a toothed belt. It is also conceivable that several impellers are driven by this electric motor. However, it is also possible for each impeller to be driven by a separate electric motor.

[0045] Alternatively or additionally, the electric motor can directly or indirectly, for example via at least one gear and / or toothed belt, vary the rotational position and / or inclination of the blades or the angle defined by the respective extension axis of the blades and the radial direction extending from the rotation axis of the respective impeller. It is possible that the rotational position of the blades and the inclination of the blades with respect to the radial direction extending from the rotation axis of the respective impeller can be varied by the same electric motor. However, it is also possible that for varying the rotational position and the inclination of the blades, one separate electric motor each may be provided.

[0046] In particular, several electric motors may form an electric motor group and be configured as one exchange element, so that as one element they can be quickly and simply exchanged for another electric motor group (e.g. in case of damage).It is also conceivable that several gears, which transmit the torque of the electric motor to the impeller, may be configured as one gear group and also as one exchange element.

[0047] In particular, the electric motors may be configured in the form of servo motors or compressed air motors. In particular, all electric motors may be configured in the form of servo motors or compressed air motors. It is also conceivable that, alternatively or in addition to the electric motors, pneumatic and / or hydraulic drives may be provided. Other drive forms and manual drives ("by hand") are also possible.

[0048] The above object is further achieved by a method according to the invention for providing an optimized rotary moulding machine, which comprises the features of the independent claims, which are in parallel relation to one another. The method includes providing a first rotary moulding machine with an adjustable filling unit, the adjustable filling unit comprising at least one element having at least one adjustable configuration parameter, whereby a configuration parameter in the sense of the present application means a variable that influences the transport of the medium in the filling unit (or rotary moulding machine) and / or the properties of the produced tablets (e.g. tablet quality).

[0049] Producing a plurality of tablets by a first rotary molding machine each time with a different setting of configuration parameters, whereby, for example, a plurality of batches of tablets can be produced, each batch being produced with a respective different setting of the configuration parameters.

[0050] This allows the first rotary molding machine with an adjustable filling unit to try out different settings for the configuration parameters in order to find the optimal settings, without a corresponding substitution and / or exchange of elements for the configuration parameters being necessary.

[0051] The method comprises analysing the produced tablets with respect to desired properties in order to identify tablets (or batches of tablets) having preferred properties among the produced tablets, which may be in particular quality characteristics of the tablets (e.g. particularly good strength, weight, breaking strength, web height).

[0052] The method includes identifying configuration parameter settings that produced tablets (or batches) having the desired characteristics.

[0053] Providing at least one second rotary molding machine with an optimized filling unit, the optimized filling unit comprising at least one element having fixed pre-set configuration parameters according to which tablets (or tablet batches) having preferred properties are produced.

[0054] In other words, the optimal configuration parameters can be identified by the first rotary molding machine with an adjustable filling unit, and then these configuration parameters are transferred to the second rotary molding machine. The configuration parameters are then no longer adjustable on the second rotary molding machine. It is also conceivable that the first rotary molding machine is configured with such an optimized filling unit. In other words, the first rotary molding machine with an adjustable filling unit can be reconfigured to a rotary molding machine with an optimized filling unit.

[0055] As the elements of the second rotary molding machine already have optimal configuration parameters and do not need to be adjusted any more, these elements can be constructed more simply. Additional elements / parts required for adjustability can be omitted. This makes the corresponding elements cheaper to manufacture. The second rotary molding machine can thereby be constructed cheaper and more compact. In addition, the elements of the second rotary molding machine can be constructed more robustly and with a longer service life.

[0056] During the production of tablets using a rotary press, a certain amount of warm-up time is required, so that, for example, it takes some time for the medium to be metered to be distributed evenly over the entire conveying path, which means that the first tablets of a batch may have different properties than the remaining tablets of the same batch.

[0057] Therefore, to identify optimal configuration parameters, the first tablet of a batch may not be considered in the analysis of the manufactured tablets, but the batch may have such a large number of tablets that deviations in tablet characteristics between the first tablet and the remaining tablets of the batch can be neglected due to the high number of tablets in the batch.

[0058] The adjustable filling unit of the first rotary moulding machine is a filling unit according to the above mentioned configuration.

[0059] The adjustable configuration parameters can be the direction of rotation or the speed of rotation of the filling wheel, the metering wheel and / or the feed wheel which are configured as impellers.

[0060] It is also conceivable that the adjustable configuration parameters may be the speed, the front pressure, the main pressure, the weigh feed, the penetration depth or the position of the press part in the die.

[0061] The switching of the supply vehicles into or out of the transport path of the medium to be metered can also be a configuration parameter, in other words the positioning of the supply vehicles inside or outside the transport path of the medium to be metered.

[0062] The adjustable configuration parameter may be the morphology of the conveying surface of the blades or the inclination of the blades, where the morphology of the conveying surface of the blades can be changed by rotation of the blades about their respective axes of extension, where the inclination of the blades means the angle defined by the respective axes of extension of the blades (or their extension) and the radial direction extending from the axis of rotation of the respective impeller.

[0063] In the step of producing tablets by the first rotary moulding machine, multiple configuration parameters may be changed simultaneously. It is conceivable that multiple configuration parameters may be adjusted for the same element. However, it is also conceivable that multiple configuration parameters may be adjusted for multiple elements, in particular each individual configuration parameter for one element.

[0064] Further features, details and advantages of the invention can be seen from the claims and the following description of exemplary embodiments based on the drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0065] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a side view of a rotary molding machine having a filling unit. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a filling unit equipped with the die disc shown in FIG. 1; [Diagram 3] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the filling unit; [Figure 4] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the filling unit; [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the filling unit; [Figure 6]6 is a partial perspective view of the filling unit shown in FIG. 5 from another perspective. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the filling wheel, the metering wheel and the supply wheel formed as impellers, including the gears. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the impeller shown in FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of another embodiment of an impeller. [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of another embodiment of an impeller. [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of another embodiment of an impeller. [Figure 12] 1 is a flow chart of a method for providing an optimized rotary molding machine.

[0066] In the following description and in the drawings, corresponding components and elements are designated by the same reference numerals, and for clarity, not all reference numerals are provided in all drawings.

[0067] 1 shows a side view of a rotary moulding machine 12 with a filling unit 10. Here, the medium to be metered, i.e. the powder to be pressed into tablets, reaches the rotary moulding machine 12 via a hopper 13. After pressing the tablets, they are conveyed out of the rotary moulding machine 12 via a discharge chute 15.

[0068] Figure 2 shows a plan view of the filling unit 10 shown in Figure 1 with a die disc 18. The die disc 18 has a number of die holes 16 arranged on a circular path, into which the medium to be compressed into tablets is metered by the filling unit 10.

[0069] 3 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the filling unit 10. The medium to be metered is supplied to the filling car 14 via a medium supply unit 36. Here, the medium supply unit 36 ​​is designed as a straight pipe.

[0070] For clarity, the supply vehicles 30 that can be switched into the transport path are not shown in Figure 3. The transport path shown corresponds to a transport path in which the supply vehicles have been switched out of the transport path.

[0071] The filling wheel 14 is configured as an impeller 20 having vanes 22. The filling wheel 14 conveys the medium to be metered into the die bores 16 of the die disc 18. This takes place by rotation of the filling wheel 14 about its pivot axis 42 (shown diagrammatically by a dashed line).

[0072] The amount of medium to be metered in the die bore 16 of the die disc 18 is precisely metered by means of a metering wheel 24, which is configured as an impeller 26 with blades 28. This is achieved by rotation of the metering wheel 24 about its pivot axis 42 (schematically shown by a dashed line). The blades 28 of the metering wheel 24 then brush against the die bore 16, so that excess medium is removed and an exactly defined amount of medium remains in the die bore 16.

[0073] The amount of medium remaining in the die hole 16 is subsequently compressed into a tablet. This can be achieved, for example, by a lower punch and / or an upper punch, which are moved relative to one another (not shown).

[0074] Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the filling unit 10. The filling unit 10 shown comprises the filling car 14 and the metering car 24, as in the embodiment shown in Fig. 3. Here, the die disk 18 with the die holes 16 is not shown. Here, the supply car 30 of the filling unit 10 is shown. The supply car 30 is arranged in the transport path between the medium supply unit 36 ​​and the filling car 14.

[0075] The medium supply unit 36 ​​supplies the medium to be metered to the supply vehicle 30. The supply vehicle 30 is configured as an impeller 32 with blades 34. The medium to be metered is supplied to the filling vehicle 14 by the supply vehicle 30. This takes place by rotation of the supply vehicle 30 about its pivot axis 42 (shown diagrammatically by a dashed line).

[0076] Here, the supply vehicle 30 is arranged on a swivel device 33. The swivel device 33, and thus also the supply vehicle 30, can be swiveled about a swivel axis 35. Here, the swivel axis 35 and the rotation axis 42 of the metering vehicle 24 are identical. Thus, the supply vehicle 30 can be swiveled out of the medium transport path or into the medium transport path.

[0077] The illustrated transport path of the medium extends through a medium supply unit 36, which supplies the medium to a supply vehicle 30. The supply vehicle 30 transports the medium to the filling vehicle 14 by rotating about its rotation axis 42. The filling vehicle 14 fills the die hole 16 (not shown) by rotating about its rotation axis 42 (not shown). The medium loaded in the die hole 16 is then precisely metered by being brushed by the blades 28 of the metering wheel 24, which is also caused by the rotation of the metering wheel 24 about its rotation axis 42.

[0078] When the feed vehicle 30 is swiveled around the pivot axis 35 out of the conveying path, the conveying path of the medium then runs via a medium supply unit 36, which supplies the medium directly to the filling vehicle 14. The medium is then filled into the die hole by the filling vehicle and then precisely metered by the metering vehicle 24 (see above).

[0079] Alternatively or additionally to the swivel device 33, the medium supply unit 36 ​​may have a transport splitter (not shown), which selectively supplies the medium directly to the supply vehicle 30 or to the filling vehicle 14. Thus, it is possible to select between a transport path which includes the supply vehicle 30 and a transport path which does not include the supply vehicle 30, without the supply vehicle 30 having to be swiveled out of the transport path for this purpose.

[0080] 5 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the filling unit 10. Here, the filling car 14, the supply car 30 and the metering car 24 are covered by a cover 51 and are not depicted.

[0081] Here, six electric motors 50 are shown, which are formed in the form of servo motors 52. In this case, two servo motors 52 are arranged opposite each other. Each servo motor 52 can be controlled or operated individually and independently of the remaining servo motors 52. The servo motors 52 can also be formed as a servo motor group, which is formed as an exchange element. Thus, for example, the three upper servo motors 52 in FIG. 5 can form one exchange element and the three lower servo motors 52 in FIG. 5 can form another exchange element. Thus, for example in the event of a breakdown, the servo motors 52 can be quickly and simply replaced.

[0082] Figure 6 shows a partial perspective view of the filling unit 10 shown in Figure 5 from another perspective, in which the cover 51 is not shown, so that the filling car 14, the supply car 30 and the metering car 24, which were covered and not visible in Figure 5, can be seen.

[0083] The filling car 14, the supply car 30 and the metering car 24 are connected to a servo motor 52 by gears 46, 48. By means of the gears 46, 48, the torque of the respective servo motor 52 can be transmitted to the filling car 14, the supply car 30 or the metering car 24. The transmitted torque can be used to rotate the filling car 14, the supply car 30 and / or the metering car 24 thus formed as impellers 20, 26, 32 and / or to adjust the rotational position, inclination and / or curvature of the blades 22, 28, 34 of the corresponding impellers 20, 26, 32.

[0084] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the filling car 14, the metering car 24 and the supply car 30, including the gears 46, 48. The six servo motors 52 are shown in a simplified manner by dashed lines. Here, the torques of the three servo motors 52 arranged on the upper side as viewed in FIG. 7 are respectively transmitted to the first gear 46. The first gear 46 meshes with the second gear 46, which in turn meshes with the third gear 46. The third gear 46 is arranged on the filling car 14, the metering car 24 or the supply car 30. Correspondingly, the torques of the three remaining servo motors 52 (servomotors 52 arranged on the lower side as viewed in FIG. 7) are respectively transmitted to the first gear 48. The first gear 48 meshes with the second gear 48, which in turn meshes with the third gear 48. The third gear 48 is disposed on the filling car 14, the metering car 24, or the supply car 30. Thus, the torque of each servo motor 52 is transmitted to the filling car 14, the metering car 24, or the supply car 30.

[0085] Figure 8 shows a perspective view of the impellers 20, 26, 32 shown in Figure 7. The illustrated impellers 20, 26, 32 may be the filling vehicle 14, the supply vehicle 30 or the metering vehicle 24.

[0086] The impellers 20, 26, 32 have a rotation axis 42 about which the charger wheels 20, 26, 32 are rotatable. The impellers 20, 26, 32 have ten blades 22, 28, 34, which here extend along a radial direction 45. The radial direction 45 extends radially outward from the rotation axis 42 and perpendicular to the rotation axis 42. The blades 22, 28, 34 have an extension axis 38, which corresponds to the longitudinal axis of the blades 22, 28, 34.

[0087] The vanes 22, 28, 34 here have a triangular cross section, and in the position shown one corner of the triangle forms the lower edge of each vane 22, 28, 34.

[0088] The impellers 20, 26, 32 each have an upper gear 46 and a lower gear 48, and the impellers 20, 26, 32 and the gears 46, 48 each have the same rotation axis 42, i.e., are arranged coaxially with each other. The impellers 20, 26, 32 are configured to be rotatable via the lower gear 48. This can be realized, for example, by the lower gear 48 and the impellers 20, 26, 32 being connected to each other so as not to rotate relative to each other.

[0089] As the impellers 20, 26, 32 rotate, they pivot about their pivot axes 42, transporting media present between the individual blades 22, 28, 34 through their respective transport surfaces 40. As shown in FIG.

[0090] Via the upper gear 46, the blades 22, 28, 34 can be rotated about their respective extension axes 38. It is also conceivable that via the gears 46 the height (movement parallel to the axis of rotation 42), the inclination and / or the curvature of the blades 22, 28, 34 may be changeable. The elements required for this, for example in the form of corresponding mechanical and / or electrical devices, may be arranged in the body 49 of the impellers 20, 26, 32.

[0091] The lower gear 48 is arranged between the upper gear 46 and the impellers 20, 26, 32. It is of course conceivable that the upper gear 46 is arranged between the lower gear 48 and the impellers 20, 26, 32, or that the functions of the upper gear 46 and the lower gear 48 are exchanged.

[0092] 9 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the impellers 20, 26, 32. Here, the impellers 20, 26, 32 have straight blades 22, 28, 34 having rectangular (square) cross sections.

[0093] 10 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the impeller 20, 26, 32. Here, the impeller 20, 26, 32 is shown with inclined blades 22, 28, 34. The extension (schematically shown by dashed lines) of the respective extension axes 38 of the blades 22, 28, 34 does not intersect with the center of the impeller 20, 26, 32, marked with an "x" and labeled with reference 47 in this case. The respective extension axes 38 or their extensions are thus spaced apart from the center 47.

[0094] In the case of the variable inclination impellers 20, 26, 32, the blades 22, 28, 34 are adjustable so that the angle between the extension axis 38 (or an extension thereof) of the respective blade 22, 28, 34 and the radial direction 45 can be changed. Thus, for example, the blade 54 can be moved from its first arrangement 56, shown in the sketch, to a second arrangement 58, shown diagrammatically by dashed lines. As can be clearly seen, the angle between the blade 54 in the first arrangement 56 and the radial direction 45 is different (larger) than the angle between the blade 54 in the second arrangement 58 and the radial direction 45. The change in inclination is indicated diagrammatically here by a double-headed arrow.

[0095] 11 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the impeller 20, 26, 32. This embodiment of the impeller 20, 26, 32 has blades 22, 28, 34 with a curvature. The blades 22, 28, 34 each have a first section 60 in which the blades 22, 28, 34 extend along the radial direction 45 (i.e., in a straight radial direction outward). The first section 60 is connected to a second section 62, which is curved with respect to the radial direction 45. The second section 62 is connected to a third section 64, which is, on the other hand, straight (similar to the first section 60).

[0096] The possible variable curvatures of the vanes 22, 28, 34 of the impellers 20, 26, 32 are shown diagrammatically (similar to FIG. 10) by double-headed arrows and a first arrangement 66 and a second arrangement 68 of the vanes 70 (schematically shown by dashed lines). Here, varying the curvature also varies the outside diameter of the impellers 20, 26, 32. A stronger curvature of the vanes 22, 28, 34 with respect to the radial direction 45 reduces the outside diameter of the impellers 20, 26, 32. A weaker (smaller) curvature of the vanes 22, 28, 34 with respect to the radial direction 45 increases the outside diameter of the impellers 20, 26, 32.

[0097] FIG. 12 shows a flow chart of a method for providing an optimized rotary molding machine.

[0098] In this flowchart, the method step of preparing a first rotary molding machine 12 having an adjustable filling unit 10, the adjustable filling unit 10 comprising at least one element having at least one adjustable configuration parameter, is indicated by the reference numeral 72.

[0099] The subsequent method step of producing a plurality of tablets by means of the first rotary moulding machine 12 each time with different settings of configuration parameters is designated by the reference number 74 .

[0100] This method step 74 may be performed any number of times and with any number of different configuration parameters.

[0101] After the tablets have been produced, a method step follows in which the produced tablets are analysed with respect to desired properties, in particular quality characteristics, in order to identify tablets having favourable properties among the produced tablets, this method step being labelled 76 in Figure 12.

[0102] The method step of identifying the configuration parameter settings that produced tablets having preferred characteristics is designated by the numeral 78 .

[0103] The final method step of providing at least one second rotary moulding machine with an optimized filling unit, the optimized filling unit comprising at least one element with fixed pre-set configuration parameters with which tablets with preferred properties are produced, is marked with the reference number 80. It is also conceivable that instead of or in addition to providing a second rotary moulding machine, the first rotary moulding machine can be retrofitted with a rotary moulding machine with an optimized filling unit.

[0104] 12 illustrates in particular the chronological sequence of the individual method steps 72, 74, 76, 78 and 80 relative to one another, with the method steps 72, 74, 76, 78 and 80 being carried out one after the other in the sequence shown in the flowchart.

[0105] However, it is also possible for a method step to be repeated any number of times before the next method step is performed.

Claims

1. A filling unit (10) for a rotary moulding machine (12), said filling unit (10) comprising: a filling wheel (14) configured to fill the medium to be metered into a die hole (16) of a die disc (18) of the rotary molding machine (12); the filling wheel (14) is configured as an impeller (20) and is configured to convey the medium to be metered by means of the impellers (22) of the filling wheel (14) by means of a rotary movement; a metering wheel (24) configured to meter an amount of medium to be metered into each of the die holes (16) of the die disc (18); the metering wheel (24) is configured as an impeller (26) for metering the amount of medium to be metered by grazing the die holes (16) of the die disc (18) with the vanes (28) of the metering wheel (24) by a rotary movement and for removing excess medium; a supply car (30) configured to supply the medium to be metered to the filling car (14); the supply car (30) is formed as an impeller (32) and is configured to convey the medium to be supplied to the filling car (14) by means of the impellers (34) of the supply car (30) with a rotating movement; at least one medium supply unit (36), said medium supply unit (36) being configured to supply said medium to said filling car (14) and / or to said supply car (30); the vanes (22, 28, 34) of the filling wheel (14), the metering wheel (24) and / or the supply wheel (30) formed as impellers (20, 26, 32) each have a conveying surface (40), by means of which the respective impellers (20, 26, 32) convey the medium; In the filling unit (10), the filling unit (10) is configured in such a way that the supply wheel (30) can be switched to enter or exit the transport path of the medium to be metered by a pivoting movement using a pivoting device (33) about a rotation axis (42) of the metering wheel (24) configured as an impeller (20, 26, 32), A filling unit (10) for a rotary moulding machine (12), characterized in that

2. The filling unit (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the medium supply unit (36) has a conveying branch by means of which the medium to be metered can be selectively supplied to the supply car (30) or the filling car (14).

3. The filling unit (10) according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the vanes (22, 28, 34) of the filling vehicle (14), the metering vehicle (24) and / or the supply vehicle (30) formed as vane wheels (20, 26, 32) are formed in such a way that the shape of the conveying surface (40) of each of the vanes (22, 28, 34) is variable.

4. The shape of the conveying surface (40) is the blades (22, 28, 34) of the filling wheel (14), the metering wheel (24) and / or the supply wheel (30) formed as impellers (20, 26, 32) can be changed by rotation about their respective extension axes (38); or by a variable inclination of the vanes (22, 28, 34) of the filling wheel (14), the metering wheel (24) and / or the supply wheel (30) formed as impellers (20, 26, 32) with respect to a radial direction (45) extending from the rotation axis (42) of the respective impeller (20, 26, 32), or by a variable curvature of the vanes (22, 28, 34) of the filling wheel (14), the metering wheel (24) and / or the supply wheel (30) formed as impellers (20, 26, 32), The filling unit (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it is

5. The filling unit (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the vanes (22, 28, 34) of the filling wheel (14), the metering wheel (24) and / or the supply wheel (30) formed as impellers (20, 26, 32) are configured to be movable parallel to the rotation axis (42) of the respective impellers (20, 26, 32).

6. The filling unit (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the vanes (22, 28, 34) of the filling wheel (14), the metering wheel (24) and / or the supply wheel (30) formed as impellers (20, 26, 32) have a triangular, rectangular or at least partially rounded cross section.

7. The filling unit (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the vanes (22, 28, 34) of the filling wheel (14), the metering wheel (24) and / or the supply wheel (30) formed as impellers (20, 26, 32) have a constant cross-section along at least a partial region of their respective extension axes (38), in particular along the entirety of their respective extension axes (38).

8. The filling unit (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the vanes (22, 28, 34) of the filling wheel (14), the metering wheel (24) and / or the supply wheel (30) formed as impellers (20, 26, 32) are formed interchangeably, in particular as exchange elements between the individual impellers (20, 26, 32).

9. The filling unit (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the filling wheel (14), the metering wheel (24) and / or the supply wheel (30) formed as impellers (20, 26, 32) each have vanes (22, 28, 34), the vanes (22, 28, 34) having different cross-sections along their respective extension axes (38).

10. The filling unit (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the vanes (22, 28, 34) of the filling wheel (14), the metering wheel (24) and / or the supply wheel (30) formed as impellers (20, 26, 32) are arranged such that the extension lines (38) of each of them extend away from the rotation axis (42) of the respective impellers (20, 26, 32).

11. The filling unit (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the filling unit (10) is configured so that the rotation direction and / or rotation speed of the filling car (14), the metering car (24) and / or the supply car (30) can be changed.

12. 12. The filling unit (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the filling wheel (14), the metering wheel (24) and / or the supply wheel (30) formed as an impeller (20, 26, 32) are driven by the electric motor (50), in particular by the servo motor (52), directly or via at least one gear (48), and / or the rotational position of the vanes (22, 28, 34) and / or the inclination of the vanes (22, 28, 34) with respect to a radial direction (45) extending from the rotation axis (42) of the respective impeller (20, 26, 32) is changed by the electric motor (50), in particular by the servo motor (52), directly or via at least one gear (46).

13. 1. A method of providing an optimized rotary molding machine, comprising: providing a first rotary molding machine (12), the first rotary molding machine (12) having an adjustable filling unit (10), the adjustable filling unit (10) comprising at least one element having at least one adjustable configuration parameter; producing a plurality of tablets with said first rotary molding machine (12) each having a different setting of said configuration parameters; analyzing the produced tablets with respect to desired properties, in particular quality characteristics, in order to identify tablets having favorable properties among the produced tablets; identifying the settings of the configuration parameters at which the tablet having preferred characteristics was produced; providing at least one second rotary moulding machine having an optimised filling unit, said optimised filling unit comprising at least one element having fixed pre-set configuration parameters according to which said tablets having preferred properties are produced; The adjustable filling unit with steps is a filling unit (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 12. method.

14. The adjustable configuration parameters are: the direction or speed of rotation of the filling wheel (14), the metering wheel (24) and / or the supply wheel (30) formed as an impeller (20, 26, 32), or the shape of the conveying surface (40) of the vanes (22, 28, 34), the shape of the conveying surface (40) being changeable by rotation of the vanes (22, 28, 34) about their respective extension axes (38), or by inclination of the vanes (22, 28, 34) with respect to a radial direction (45) extending from the rotation axis (42) of the respective impeller (20, 26, 32), or by changing the curvature of the vanes (22, 28, 34), or switching the supply carriage (30) so as to move the medium to be metered into or out of the transport path.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that

15. 15. The method according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that during the step of producing tablets with the first rotary moulding machine (12), the settings for a number of configuration parameters are changed simultaneously.

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