Metering device

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for metering consumable preparations for tablets, capsules or syringes, comprising: at least one cartridge which is provided to contain a component of the consumable preparation and which has a metering unit for the metered dispensing of the consumable preparation; a cartridge magazine for receiving and transporting at least one of the cartridges; at least one container for filling with the consumable preparation; a container carrier for receiving and transporting at least one of the containers; and a filling station for the metered filling of the individual container with the component of the consumable preparation from the cartridge; and further comprising a controller for controlling the metering device, wherein the filling station comprises a precision scale which is designed to detect the weight of the metered component of the consumable preparation, and wherein the metering device can be controlled in such a way that a predetermined weight of the component of the consumable preparation is metered.

Description

[0001] Dosing device

[0002] This patent application relates to a device for dosing (dosing device) edible preparations for tablets, capsules, or syringes. Tablets are portioned powders, granules, or substrates compressed under pressure. A capsule consists of a shell filled with the edible substance in powder, granule, or liquid form. Gelatin, cellulose, or carrageenan are commonly used as the shell. The edible substance can be a medication, a dietary supplement, and the like.

[0003] Tablets are pressed from powder mixtures. These mixtures are usually—though not always—granulated before compression, i.e., converted into coarser particles. The tablet production process is then divided into the following steps: preparation of the substances and weighing, granulation, and compression. In capsules, the edible substance is filled into one part of the capsule, which is then sealed with another part of the capsule, for example, by pressing both capsule parts together.

[0004] Current devices for producing tablets or capsules are either largely manual, which allows for precise, flexible dosing of the edible ingredient but results in low efficiency. Automatic devices allow only limited flexibility in dosing the ingredients of the edible ingredient.

[0005] From DE 699 296 33 T2 a capsule packing machine with monitoring and control device is known,

[0006] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a dosing device of the type mentioned at the outset which enables flexible and precise dosing of a food preparation.

[0007] The problem is solved according to the appended patent claims. Preferred further developments are described in particular in the dependent patent claims. According to one aspect, a device for dosing consumables for tablets, capsules, or syringes comprises the following: at least one cartridge intended to contain a component of the consumable and having a dosing unit for the dosed dispensing of the component of the consumable from the cartridge; a cartridge magazine for receiving and transporting at least one of the cartridges, at least one container for filling with the consumable, a container carrier for receiving and transporting at least one of the containers, a filling station for filling the individual container with the component of the consumable from the cartridge, and / or further a controller for controlling the dosing device.The filling station may comprise a precision scale configured to measure the weight of the dosed component of the edible preparation. The dosing device is controllable so that a predetermined weight of the component of the edible preparation is dosed.

[0008] The invention offers, among other things, the technical advantage that the edible product, which is, for example, a medicament composed of an active ingredient and a filler, can be precisely dosed. The dosed edible product, and in particular its individual components, can be weighed during dosing. This can be done simply by weighing the weight of the container with the edible product. When the edible product is dosed, the weight increases with the known dead weight of the container and the increasing weight of the dosed edible product, so that the quantity of the latter can be determined. Therefore, the container is placed on a precision scale during dosing. To pick up and further transport the container by the container carrier, the container carrier is preferably raised so that the container is lifted off the precision scale.For particularly precise dosing, cartridges with a spindle drive are used, as described in detail in EP 4 019 065 B1. The cartridges, the cartridge magazine, the container carrier, and the precision scale are connected to a common control system that controls the dosing device's operations.

[0009] The cartridge magazine and the container carrier can be designed as a round magazine, a linear magazine, or a tall magazine. Round magazines are particularly well-suited for continuous operation. The container carrier, for example, is designed as a rotatably mounted, driven disc. The cartridges can be designed as powder cartridges or liquid cartridges. Powder cartridges can hold powder or granules, for example.

[0010] The device can be configured to dose a second component of the edible preparation into the container in addition to the component of the edible preparation, with the second component of the edible preparation being dosed from a different cartridge than the component of the edible preparation. For example, in the case of a medicament as a edible preparation, a filler can be dosed with precise weight in addition to the active ingredient. More than two components of the edible preparation can certainly be dosed into one edible preparation.

[0011] The filling station can include a mixing station for mixing the component of the edible preparation with the second component of the edible preparation. The mixing station can achieve better mixing of several components of the edible preparation. For example, the mixing station can be designed as a vibrating station, which, for example, causes the container filled with the components of the edible preparation to vibrate.

[0012] The dosing device can comprise a pressing device for compressing the previously dosed edible preparation. The pressing device comprises, for example, a plunger with which the edible preparation can be compressed in the container. Force is exerted on the plunger, which compresses the powder, thus bonding the materials of the edible preparation together, thus creating, for example, a solid tablet.

[0013] The container carrier can be moved vertically, for example, into a lower position and an upper position, wherein the container rests on a measuring surface of the precision scale in the lower position and is held by the container carrier at a distance from the measuring surface in the upper position. For this purpose, the container has, for example, an upper flange and a lower section which adjoins the flange, wherein the container carrier has an opening for lowering the lower section of the container arranged on the container carrier, and the flange rests on the container carrier in the case of the container arranged on the container carrier. This design allows for easy interchangeability of the containers. Furthermore, all containers can be lifted together by lifting the container carrier. Placing the container filled with consumable material on the precision scale is easy.For example, the container has a conical section that centers the container relative to the opening when inserted into the opening. This allows for compensation of positional tolerances between the opening in the container carrier and the container.

[0014] For example, at least one of the cartridges has a screw for dosing the component of the edible preparation and / or the second component of the edible preparation. Dosing by means of a screw enables very precise dosing and safe storage of the edible preparation in the cartridge.

[0015] According to one aspect, a method for dosing edible preparations comprises the following method steps: (a) arranging cartridges on a cartridge magazine; (b) arranging containers on a container carrier; (c) positioning a selectable cartridge by means of the cartridge magazine and a selectable container by means of the container carrier at a filling station; (d) filling the container with a predetermined weight of a component of a edible preparation from a cartridge, wherein the filled weight is measured by weighing the container during filling using a precision scale and the filling is controlled such that the predetermined weight value of the filled component of the edible preparation is achieved; and / or (e) further transport of the container by means of the container carrier.

[0016] In process step (b), the container can be placed on a measuring surface of the precision balance and, after process step (d) but before process step (e), can be lifted again in a process step (dl) so that it is carried by the container carrier.

[0017] After process step (dl), a pressing process for compressing the edible preparation can take place on a pressing device.

[0018] Before process step (d), a lower half of a capsule can be placed on the container, into which the edible preparation is filled during process step (d). Afterward, an upper half of the capsule can be placed on the lower half of the capsule, with the upper half of the capsule and the lower half of the capsule being pressed together during the pressing process. This enables the production of capsules with the dosing device.

[0019] It is intended that the features directed to a device are combined with the features mentioned with regard to the method, that is, that the device according to the invention is used in the method according to the invention; and also that features of the various embodiments can be combined.

[0020] The invention is described below by way of example with reference to the attached schematic figures.

[0021] Figure 1 shows a device for dosing edible preparations (dosing device) in a perspective schematic view;

[0022] Figure 2 shows a section of the device for dosing consumables of Figure 1 with the container arranged on the container carrier in a schematic view;

[0023] Figure 3 shows a cartridge for powdered media of the device for dosing consumables according to a first embodiment; and

[0024] Figure 4 shows a cartridge for liquid media of the device for dosing consumables according to a second embodiment.

[0025] Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the figures, the same reference numerals are used for identical or corresponding components unless otherwise indicated. Figure 1 shows an exemplary device 1 for dosing consumables 3 in a perspective schematic view.

[0026] Several cartridges 5, cylindrical in this embodiment, are shown in the upper part of the figure and are intended for receiving and dispensing the edible preparation 3. In this embodiment, the cartridges 5 are arranged in a ring shape and held by a substantially cylindrical cartridge magazine 7. In this embodiment, the cartridge magazine 7 is designed to be rotatable about its cylinder axis, so that it can make a desired cartridge 5 available at a specific angular position by rotation. The cartridge magazine 7 enables the reception and transport of at least one of the cartridges 5. A controller 8 is provided to control the actuators, electric motors in this embodiment, for rotating the cartridge magazine 7.

[0027] The device further comprises at least one container 9 for filling with the consumable preparation 3. In this exemplary embodiment, several containers 9 and a container carrier 11, which can hold and transport the containers 9, are provided. In the image, the container carrier 11 is shown below the cartridge magazine 7. In this exemplary embodiment, the container carrier 11 is essentially disc-shaped and can rotate about a rotational axis. By rotating the container carrier 11, the containers 9 arranged on the container carrier 11 are transported.

[0028] In this embodiment, the containers 9 have an upper flange 9a and a lower section 9b adjoining the flange 9a. The upper flange 9a can, for example, be rotationally symmetrical with a larger outer diameter than the lower section 9b, which is also cylindrical but closed at its bottom. In this case, the lower section 9b extends downward in a cylindrical manner, while the upper flange 9a is disc-shaped with a central opening, resulting in a type of cup with a rim.

[0029] An opening 12 is provided in each container carrier 11 for lowering the lower section 9b of the container 9. When the lower section 9b of the container 9 is inserted as far as possible into the opening 12, the flange 9a of the container 9 rests on the container carrier 11 and the container 9 is thus held resting on the container carrier 11. In this way, the containers 9 can be easily placed on the container carrier 11 and displaced upwards relative to the container carrier 11 by a force from below. The directions below and above refer to the operatively installed device 1. In this embodiment, the container 9 has a conical section 9c which, when the container 9 is inserted into the opening 12, centers the container 9 relative to the opening 12. For this purpose, the conical section 9c is provided in the lower region of the cylindrical lower section 9b, i.e., as far away as possible from the flange 9a in the axial direction.When inserting the lower portion 9b into the opening 12, the conical portion 9c centers the container 9 relative to the opening 12, thus facilitating insertion. Likewise, the opening 12 may be beveled at its upper inner edge to facilitate insertion of the container 9 into the opening 12.

[0030] Below the cartridge magazine 7, a filling station 13 is shown for the metered filling of the individual containers 9 with the component of the edible preparation 3 from the cartridge 5. The cartridges 5 each have a dosing unit 15 for dosing the edible preparation 3.

[0031] A precision scale 19 is arranged below the container carrier 11 and is designed to measure the weight of the dosed component of the consumable 3. In this embodiment, the precision scale 19 has a measuring surface 20 on its upper side,

[0032] The figure shows on the left a control unit 8 of the device 1 for dosing consumables 3, to which the cartridge magazine 7, the container carrier 11, the pressing device 23 and the precision scale 19 are connected and, if necessary, further sensors and actuators of the dosing device 1 can be connected in order to control the processes of the dosing device 1 or the dosing method.

[0033] The dosing unit 15 can be controlled such that a predetermined weight of the component of the edible preparation 3 is dosed. For this purpose, in this exemplary embodiment, the container carrier 11 is designed to be lowerable by means of an actuator so that it can be held in a lower position P1 and an upper position P2. In the lower position of the container carrier 11, the container 9 rests on the measuring surface 20 of the precision scale 19, so that a measurement of the weight of the container 9 is possible even with the edible preparation 3 located therein. By measuring the weight of the empty container 9 and the container 9 filled with the edible preparation 3, the amount of edible preparation 3 in the container 9 can be determined and, by appropriate control of the dosing unit 15, the amount can be precisely adjusted during the dosing process.After dosing, in this embodiment, the container carrier 11 is moved to the upper position P2, where the containers 9 are free of contact with the precision scale. The container 9 is then transported further by moving the container carrier 11.

[0034] A mixing station 21 is provided, which is configured to thoroughly mix the dosed edible preparation 3. In this exemplary embodiment, the mixing station 21 comprises a vibration actuator that causes the edible preparation 3 to vibrate, resulting in thorough mixing.

[0035] A pressing device 23 is provided, which is configured to press the edible preparation 3. This results in, for example, a tablet-shaped, solidified edible preparation 3.

[0036] The dosing device 1 can be set up for capsule production. Then, for example, a lower capsule half is placed into the container 9 before dosing and dosed into the lower capsule half. Before pressing on the pressing device 23, an upper capsule half is placed on the lower capsule half and the two are combined by pressing to form a closed capsule with the consumable product 3 inside. The capsule halves can be fed in manually or automatically. For example, a first station is provided which places the lower capsule half into the container 9. The container carrier 11 is then rotated so that the inserted lower capsule half can be filled at the filling station 13. The container carrier 11 is then rotated so that the filled lower capsule half is conveyed to a station where the upper capsule half is placed on top and both capsule halves are pressed together.If necessary, both capsule halves can also be glued together or thermally bonded by heating. Figure 2 shows a schematic view of a section of the device 1 for dosing consumables from Figure 1, with the container 9 arranged on the container carrier 11.

[0037] The container 9 is inserted into an opening 12 of the container carrier 11 (shown hatched). The container 9 has a flange 12a, which is designed to rest on the container carrier 11 when the container 9 is arranged on the container carrier 11. The container 9 has a conical section 9c at its lower end, which facilitates the insertion of the container into the opening 12 on the container carrier 11. The design allows the container 9 to hang from the container carrier 11. At the same time, however, the container 9 is arranged on the container carrier 11 so that it can be brought to a standstill by lowering the container carrier 11 onto the precision scale 19 (not shown in Figure 2). This enables precise and flexible weighing of the container 9 with the edible product 3 contained therein and, at the same time, easy further transport of the container 9.There is no need to grasp the container 9 or to use additional handling devices to transport the container 9. This makes the device structurally simple and easy to maintain.

[0038] Figure 3 shows a cartridge 5 for powdered media of the device 1 for dosing consumables 3 in the first embodiment.

[0039] The edible product 3 preferably comprises powdered components that are dispensed from corresponding cartridges 5. The cartridge 5 has a space 29 for receiving an edible preparation 3 or a component thereof. At the lower end, a dispensing opening 35 of the cartridge 5 can be seen in the image, which is provided for the metered dispensing of the edible preparation 3 from the cartridge 5. A rotatable screw or spindle 25, which is designed spirally, runs inside the cartridge 5 as part of the dosing unit 15. By rotating the screw 25, the edible preparation 3 is conveyed in metered quantities from the cartridge 5. In this exemplary embodiment, a screw drive 27, which serves to rotate the screw and is part of the dosing unit 15, is integrated into the upper side of the cartridge 5. Likewise, the screw drive 27 can be provided at the filling station, and a power transmission to the screw 25 can be formed.The screw drive 27 is controlled by the control 8 for the precisely dosed dispensing of the edible preparation 3 from the cartridge 5.

[0040] Figure 3 shows a cartridge 5 for liquid media of the device 1 for dosing consumables 3 second embodiment.

[0041] The edible product 3 can also comprise liquid components dispensed from corresponding containers 9. For this purpose, the cartridge 5 has a chamber 29 for receiving the liquid edible product 3, or a component thereof. A dosing piston 31 is slidably arranged in the cartridge 5. The dosing piston 31 is driven by a drive spindle 27, which engages an internal thread in the dosing piston 31. By driving and displacing the dosing piston 31, the chamber 29 is reduced, and the edible product 3 is dispensed in a metered manner through the dispensing opening 35 provided at the bottom of the cartridge 5.

[0042] The above embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail using exemplary figures. The features of the embodiments can be combined in whole or in part, and the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments.

[0043] List of reference symbols

[0044] Device for dosing edible preparations

[0045] Consumable product

[0046] cartridge

[0047] cartridge magazine

[0048] steering

[0049] Vessel a flange b lower section c conical section

[0050] 11 container carriers

[0051] 12 Opening

[0052] 13 filling station

[0053] 15 Dosing unit

[0054] 17 Control

[0055] 19 Precision scales

[0056] 20 measuring area

[0057] 21 Mixing station

[0058] 23 Pressing device

[0059] 25 snail

[0060] 27 Worm drive

[0061] 29 Room

[0062] 31 Dosing pistons

[0063] 33 Conveyor movement

[0064] 35 Dispensing opening

[0065] PI lower position

[0066] P2 upper position

Claims

Claims 1. Device (1) for dosing consumables (3) for tablets, capsules or syringes, with at least one cartridge (5) which is intended to contain a component of the consumable (3) and which has a dosing unit (15) for the dosed dispensing of the consumable (3), with a cartridge magazine (7) for receiving and transporting at least one of the cartridges (5), with at least one container (9) for filling with the consumable (3), with a container carrier (11) for receiving and transporting at least one of the containers (9), and with a filling station (13) for the dosed filling of the individual container (9) with the component of the consumable (3) from the cartridge (5), and further with a controller (17) for controlling the dosing device (1), wherein the filling station (13) comprises a precision scale (19) which is designed to measure the weight of the dosed component of the consumable (3) to record,and wherein the dosing device (1) is controllable so that a predetermined weight of the component of the edible preparation (3) is dosed., 2. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the cartridge magazine (7) and / or the container carrier (11) is designed as a round magazine, linear magazine or high magazine.

3. Device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cartridges (5) are designed as powder cartridges or as liquid cartridges.

4. Device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (1) is designed to dose a second component of the edible preparation (3) into the container (9) in addition to the component of the edible preparation (3), wherein the second component of the edible preparation (3) is dosed from a different cartridge (5) than the component of the edible preparation (3).

5. Device (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the filling station (13) comprises a mixing station (21) for mixing the component of the edible preparation (3) with the second component of the edible preparation (3).

6. Device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (1) comprises a pressing device (23) for pressing the previously dosed consumable preparation (3).

7. Device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container carrier (11) is designed as a rotatably mounted driven disc.

8. Device (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the container carrier (11) is displaceable vertically into a lower position (PI) and an upper position (P2), wherein the container (9) rests on a measuring surface (20) of the precision balance (19) in the lower position (PI) and is held by the container carrier (11) at a distance from the measuring surface in the upper position (P2).

9. Device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the cartridges (5) has a screw (25) for dosing the component of the edible preparation (3) and / or the second component of the edible preparation (3).

10. Device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container (9) has an upper flange (9a) and a lower section (9b) which adjoins the flange (9a), wherein the container carrier (11) has an opening (12) for lowering the lower section (9b) of the container (9) arranged on the container carrier (11), and the flange (9a) rests on the container carrier (11) in the case of the container (9) arranged on the container carrier (11).

11. Device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container (9) has a conical section (9c) which, when the container (9) is inserted into the opening (12), causes the container (9) to be centered relative to the opening (12).

12. Method for dosing edible preparations (3) comprising the following process steps: (a) arranging cartridges (5) on a cartridge magazine (7); (b) arranging containers (9) on a container carrier (11); (c) positioning a selectable cartridge (5) by means of the cartridge magazine (7) and a selectable container (9) by means of the container carrier (11) at a filling station (13); (d) filling the container (9) with a predetermined weight of a component of a consumable preparation (3) from a cartridge (5), wherein the filled weight is measured by weighing the container (9) during filling by means of a precision scale (19) and the filling is controlled such that the predetermined weight value of the filled component of the consumable preparation (3) is achieved; (e) Further transport of the container (9) by means of the container carrier (11).

13. Method according to claim 12, characterized in that in method step (b), the container (9) is placed on a measuring surface (20) of the precision balance and after method step (d) but before method step (e) in a method step (dl) is raised again so that it is carried by the container carrier (11).

14. Method according to one of claims 12 or 13, characterized in that after the method step (dl) a pressing process for compressing the edible preparation (3) takes place on a pressing device (23).

15. Use of a device according to at least one of claims 1 to 11 in a method according to at least one of claims 12 to 14.

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