Powder dispenser with magazine device

Abstract

A powder dispenser (14) for the metered dispensing of powder.

Description

[0001] Applicant:

[0002] Syntegon Technology GmbH Stuttgarter Straße 130 71332 Waiblingen

[0003] General Power of Attorney: 701780.9

[0004] 60010379WO 30.09.2025

[0005] SIN / SIN

[0006] Title: Powder dispenser with magazine device

[0007] Description

[0008] The invention relates to a powder dispenser, i.e. a device for dispensing a powder, in particular a powdered pharmaceutical, into a powder receptacle.

[0009] Such a powder intake can be a capsule segment, a vial, a bottle or any other container for a powder, especially a pharmaceutical product.

[0010] Such a powder dispenser, as known from the prior art, can have a storage container.

[0011] The storage container, in turn, has a reservoir for a quantity of the powder to be dispensed. The storage container further features a dispensing opening and a closure for the dispensing opening. The closure is designed and positioned to close and open the dispensing opening, allowing powder to be dispensed. For this purpose, the closure is typically actuated. In particular, the closure can be moved back and forth between an open and a closed position.

[0012] Powder dispensers known from the prior art usually have a segmented rotary conveyor as a transport device that moves the powder receptacles along a transport path.

[0013] Along the transport path, the powder receptacles, for example capsule segments, pass through various stations. The powder dispenser is designed to dispense powder into the powder receptacles at a filling position along the transport path. For example, the filling position is located at a specific rotational position of the segment conveyor that transports the powder receptacles, e.g., capsule segments.

[0014] In powder dispensers known from the prior art, only one type of powder is dispensed into each powder receptacle at a filling station. These known powder dispensers are typically used in mass production, so this is not a problem. For this purpose, a pharmaceutical active ingredient to be filled is mixed with excipients and, if necessary, other active ingredients, and then the mixture is dispensed into the capsule by means of the powder dispenser. For production facilities where these known powder dispensers are conventionally used, this is unproblematic or even advantageous, since all powder receptacles, or capsules, are filled with the same mixture.

[0015] The present invention is based on the objective of creating a powder dispenser that makes it possible to carry out automated filling even for small batch sizes.

[0016] Solutions according to the invention are described below, illustrated with reference to the figures, and specified in the claims. Advantageous embodiments, variants, and further developments of the invention are also described below and in the claims. The individual features described may be important for the invention both individually and in combination.

[0017] The powder dispenser is designed for the metered dispensing of powder, in particular a powdered pharmaceutical, into a powder receptacle, in particular into a capsule segment.

[0018] The powder dispenser has multiple storage containers. Each storage container has a reservoir for a specific quantity of the powder to be dispensed. The storage containers can be removable from the powder dispenser. However, the powder dispenser can also be designed such that the storage containers are permanently integrated into the dispenser and cannot be easily removed. Each storage container has a dispensing opening and a closure, the closure being designed and arranged to open and close the dispensing opening. Powder can be dispensed from the storage containers via the dispensing opening. In particular, the storage containers are designed such that they dispense powder when the closure is open and prevent powder dispensing when the closure is closed. The storage containers can include additional components. For example, the storage container can, for example,The powder is arranged in the storage chamber and includes a discharge aid that facilitates the discharge of powder or mobilizes the powder in the storage chamber so that it is dispensed through the metering opening by gravity. For example, a rotating rod can be arranged in the storage chamber that can detach the powder from the walls.

[0019] The powder dispenser has a transport device designed to move the powder receptacles along a transport path. The transport device is in the form of a segmented rotary track rotatable about a pivot axis (D). The segmented rotary track transports the powder receptacles by rotating about a vertically extended pivot axis.

[0020] The powder dispenser is further designed to dispense powder into the powder receptacle at a filling position along the transport path. In other words, the powder receptacles are filled at the filling position. The filling position can, for example, be located at a specific rotational position of the segment drive. The powder dispenser includes a magazine assembly. The magazine assembly comprises the hoppers and is designed to move the hoppers alternately into the filling position. The magazine assembly can thus move one hopper out of a position where it can dispense powder and can move another hopper into a position where it can dispense powder. The hoppers can therefore alternately dispense powder into the powder receptacle while in the filling position.

[0021] The magazine mechanism allows the powder hopper at the filling position to be replaced, enabling the dispensing of a different type of powder from a different hopper into the same powder receptacle. The powder receptacle itself can remain in the same position while the hopper is swapped. The powder receptacle does not need to be moved and can remain in its original position.

[0022] A powder dispenser according to the invention is particularly advantageous in the field of personalized medicine or when conducting test series, since in extreme cases each powder intake can be filled individually.

[0023] The magazine assembly can be designed to rotate the storage containers around a vertical axis in order to change the storage container in the filling position. Rotation around a vertical axis allows the storage containers to remain in the same orientation at all times and to be rotated quickly and precisely back and forth. The axis of rotation of the magazine assembly can be arranged parallel to, and especially spaced apart from, the axis of rotation of the segment drive. For example, the magazine assembly can have a multi-armed structure, with each arm carrying a storage container. The magazine assembly can, for example, have a cross-shaped structure.

[0024] The magazine mechanism can be designed to move the storage containers translationally in a horizontal direction to change the storage container in the filling position. Even during a translational exchange movement, the storage containers can remain in the same orientation, particularly with the dispensing opening facing downwards. Translational movement in the horizontal direction offers the particular advantage of a compact installation space. The translational movement can be linear. The storage containers can, for example, be arranged to move along a rail.

[0025] The magazine system can also include a robotic arm that can pick up each powder dispensing container and move it into the filling position. This can be particularly advantageous if the magazine system is to include many different dispensing containers. These can then be stored at intervals from the filling position and moved into the filling position as needed by means of the robotic arm.

[0026] The magazine assembly can also be designed to pivot the hoppers around a horizontally extending pivot axis. This allows the magazine assembly or powder dispenser to be designed particularly compactly. The pivot axis of the magazine assembly can, in particular, be aligned orthogonally to the axis of rotation of the segment concentricity.

[0027] The magazine mechanism can be configured to feed the storage containers to the filling position in a continuous cycle. The storage containers can therefore be moved one after the other through or past the filling position until the first storage container returns to the filling position.

[0028] The magazine mechanism can be configured to feed the storage containers to the filling position in a back-and-forth motion. The storage containers can thus be moved through or past the filling position one after the other. To move the first storage container back into the filling position, the direction of movement is reversed, and the storage containers are moved through or past the filling position in reverse order.

[0029] The magazine mechanism can be specifically designed to move the storage containers past the filling position and, in a separate movement, e.g., by a pivoting motion, to move the storage container intended for powder dispensing into the filling position. This allows the change of the storage container to be prepared while the previous storage container is still dispensing powder.

[0030] Each of the storage containers arranged in the magazine assembly can be equipped with a drive for the closure. The drive is designed to open and close the closure. When the storage containers are replaced, the drive is also replaced, which can increase the speed of the replacement process. Decoupling the storage container from the drive is unnecessary, and thus the replacement of each storage container in the filling position can be carried out quickly. The drive can be specifically designed to move the closure in or out of the dispensing opening by means of a translational displacement, in order to open or close it.

[0031] Each of the storage containers arranged in the magazine assembly can be equipped with a vibration drive, designed to vibrate a section of the respective storage container. The vibration drive serves to increase the mobility of the powder within the storage container. In particular, the vibration drive can be a piezoelectric drive. Specifically, the vibration drive can vibrate a portion of the storage container housing, i.e., a wall section surrounding the storage space. Typically, the vibrating wall section includes the metering opening. This mobilizes the powder, especially in the area of ​​the metering opening, and prevents or breaks up clumping. This facilitates precise powder metering.

[0032] Blockages of the dosing openings can be avoided. A separate vibration drive on each reservoir allows for quick changing of the reservoir dispensing powder and in the filling position.

[0033] The powder dispenser can include a central drive for closing the various storage containers, and the powder dispenser can be configured to alternately couple and uncouple the storage containers with the drive in the filling position when the storage container is in the

[0034] The filling position is changed. In this variant of the invention, the storage containers can be opened and closed via the central drive. The various storage containers are fed alternately to the drive so that they can dispense the powder in the filling position. This reduces the complexity of the powder dispenser, as only one drive is required for several storage containers. Furthermore, the powder dispenser can be designed to be more compact.

[0035] The powder dispenser can include a vibratory drive, and the magazine assembly can be designed to alternately couple the hoppers to the vibratory drive in the filling position. A vibratory drive that can accept different hoppers in the filling position simplifies the operational design of the powder dispenser and allows for a compact design.

[0036] A scale can be positioned at the filling station to measure the weight of the powder being dispensed before, during, and / or after filling with powder from one of the storage containers. A scale positioned at the filling station allows for the precise determination of the dispensed quantity of powder from each storage container. This also represents a simple setup, as a single scale can measure the total quantity of dispensed powder as well as the individual quantities of the dispensed powder components or types. Particularly when dealing with highly potent pharmaceutical active ingredients, the trolleys used must be highly accurate, and the provision of multiple trolleys in the system is often necessary.

[0037] The powder dispenser makes it expensive and prone to malfunctions.

[0038] A scale can be positioned along the transport path of the conveying device before and / or after the filling position. This scale can measure the weight of the powder receptacle before or after it is filled with powder at the filling position. This offers the advantage that each powder receptacle can be weighed separately from the filling process, which can increase the speed of the powder dispenser. Weighing can even occur while another powder receptacle is being filled.

[0039] The storage containers can be designed in such a way that the respective storage space of the container tapers towards the dosing opening. This prevents or reduces powder buildup in the storage container. The accuracy of the dosing can thus be increased.

[0040] The storage containers can be multi-part and include at least one container section with a storage chamber having a cross-section that tapers towards the metering opening. Another container section can, in particular, have a substantially straight cylindrical storage chamber. Such storage containers are simple and modular to manufacture, and the multi-part design facilitates cleaning after use. Furthermore, the container section containing the metering opening can be vibrated by a vibration drive to mobilize the powder.The respective closure of the storage containers can be designed as a metering control element that extends from the metering opening through the storage space and through a wall of the storage container opposite the metering opening, and has a coupling point at its end facing away from the metering opening for coupling with the drive. This design of the storage containers and / or the closures of the storage containers facilitates the coupling of the closure or the metering control element to the drive. The drive can be arranged above the storage container where sufficient installation space is available.

[0041] The storage containers can have a coupling point for coupling to the vibratory drive in the area of ​​the metering opening, particularly on a container section that includes the metering opening. This allows the vibratory motion to be introduced into the relevant part of the storage container, making the powder discharge particularly efficient.

[0042] Since the powder dispenser has a magazine mechanism that can alternately move the hoppers into the filling position, changing the hopper is possible without additional equipment or manual intervention. The powder dispenser can perform the hopper change autonomously.

[0043] The invention also includes an isolator in which the powder dispenser with magazine device according to the invention, as described herein, is arranged. The powder dispenser can, in particular, be designed such that the magazine device and the transport device are arranged on a common base.

[0044] Further features and advantages of the invention are the subject of the following description and the graphic representation of a preferred embodiment.

[0045] The drawing shows

[0046] Fig. 1 a perspective view of a powder dispenser;

[0047] Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a storage container;

[0048] Fig. 3 shows a partially cutaway side view of a powder dispensing unit with a storage container in a closed state;

[0049] Fig. 4 shows the powder dispensing unit from Figure 3 with the storage container in the open state;

[0050] Fig. 5 a perspective view of a powder dispenser;

[0051] Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of another

[0052] Powder dispenser;

[0053] Fig. 7 a perspective view of another powder dispenser; Fig. 8 a perspective view of another

[0054] Powder dispenser; and

[0055] Fig. 9 shows a top view of a transport device designed as a segmented conveyor.

[0056] Figure 1 shows a powder dispenser 14 for metered dispensing of powder 50. The powder dispenser 14 comprises a powder dispensing unit 16. The powder dispensing unit 16 is arranged at a filling position 18 of a transport device 20, which is designed as a segmented conveyor.

[0057] The transport device 20, or segment conveyor, has a plurality of receptacles 22 for powder receptacles 24 to be filled. By rotating about the axis of rotation D, the transport device 20 moves the receptacles 22, or the powder receptacles 24 held therein, one after the other through the filling position 18.

[0058] Powder is dispensed via the powder dispensing unit 16 into the respective powder receptacle 24 at the filling position 18. The powder dispensing unit 16 has a storage container 26 in which powder is held for filling the powder receptacles 24. The storage container 26 is attached to a bracket 28 and connected to and held by this bracket in a machine frame.

[0059] The storage container 26 is further connected to a drive 30, which can dispense powder 50 from the storage container 26. In the present example, the storage container 26 is further connected to a vibratory drive 32. The vibratory drive 32 is arranged and designed to subject the storage container 26, or a part of the storage container 26, to vibration.

[0060] Figure 2 shows a single storage container 26. In this example, the storage container 26 is made up of multiple parts and comprises a first container part 34, which tapers towards a metering opening 36. The first container part 34 is connected via a connecting ring 38 to a second container part 40, which in this case is cylindrical.

[0061] The second container part 40 is closed at its end opposite the metering opening 36 with a lid 42. A closure 44 protrudes from the lid 42. The closure 44 is designed as a rod-shaped metering control element and, with its end protruding from the lid 42, which includes a coupling point 51, can be connected to the drive 30 of the powder metering unit 14.

[0062] The drive 30 is designed to move the closure 44, or the metering control element, up and down along its longitudinal axis, so that the metering opening 36 is opened or closed by the metering control element 44. The first container part 34, which includes the metering opening 36, is further designed to be connected to the vibratory drive 32 via a coupling point 47 arranged on it, so that the latter can introduce vibrations into a region of the storage container 26 that is located near the metering opening 36. In Figure 3, the storage container 26 is shown in a

[0063] A cross-sectional view is shown. It can be seen here that the

[0064] The dosing control element 44 extends through the storage container, 26 and the storage space 46 enclosed by it.

[0065] The vibration drive 32 is connected to the first container part 34 via a coupling element 48, which engages at the coupling point 47, in order to introduce vibrations near the metering opening into the storage container 26.

[0066] The storage chamber 46 tapers continuously towards the metering opening 36. The metering control element 44 is shown in the closed position in Figure 3, in which it completely closes the metering opening 36 and prevents the escape of powder 50, which is represented symbolically.

[0067] Figure 4 shows the storage container 26 from Figure 3 in a state in which the metering control element (or closure 44) is shown in an open position, so that powder 50 can exit through the metering opening 36. The discharge of powder through the metering opening 36 can be improved by activating the vibration drive 32.

[0068] Figure 1 further shows a magazine unit 52 in which several additional storage containers 26 are held. The magazine unit 52 further includes a robot arm 54, which can place the storage containers 26 held in the magazine unit 52 into the filling position 18. This allows, for example, the type of powder 50 dispensed at the filling position 18 to be changed by exchanging the storage container 26, thus enabling the use of several types of

[0069] Powder 50 can be dosed into a single powder intake of 24.

[0070] In the example shown in Figure 1, the magazine unit 52 is designed such that it only exchanges the storage container 26 at the filling position 18. The robot arm 54 is designed to alternately couple different storage containers 26 to the central drive 30 and the central vibration drive 32, which are located at the filling position 18. The storage container 26 coupled to the drive 30 and the optional vibration drive 32 together with these forms the powder dispensing unit 16.

[0071] Figure 5 shows a variant according to the invention in which the magazine device 52 is designed such that each storage container 26 in the magazine device 52 has its own drive 30 and its own vibration drive 32.

[0072] When changing the respective storage container 26 in the filling position 18, not only the storage container 26 is changed, but the entire powder dispensing unit 16 comprising the storage container 26, the drive 30 and in this example the vibration drive 32.

[0073] In the example of Figure 5, the magazine device 52 is designed such that it can exchange the various storage containers 26 or the powder dispensing unit 16 by a rotation about a vertically extended axis A.

[0074] Fig. 6 shows another alternative embodiment of the powder dispenser 14. In this variant, the storage containers 26, or the entire powder dispensing unit, are

[0075] 16 , by means of a translational movement, which in the present case in the horizontal plane powder dispensing units 16 with the respective storage containers 26 can be moved linearly back and forth and thus be moved into and out of the filling position 18 .

[0076] In the powder dispensers 14 shown in Figures 1, 5 and 6, as well as in Figures 7, 8 and 9 described below, a scale 58 is arranged below the filling position 18. It is also possible to arrange a scale 58 alternatively or additionally to the scale 58 arranged at the filling position 18 on the transport device 20, or the segment conveyor, before and / or after the filling position 18.

[0077] Figure 7 shows another variant of the powder dispenser 14 according to the invention. In the variant shown in Figure 7, the magazine device 52 is designed such that it can move the powder dispensing unit 16 into or out of the filling position 18 by pivoting it about a horizontally extended pivot axis S. In the example shown in Figure 7, the transport device 20 is also designed as a segmented rotary conveyor.

[0078] The powder dispenser 14, as illustrated in Figure 8, similarly features a central drive 30 and a central vibration drive 32, and the individual storage containers 26 are each moved into the filling position 18 and coupled to the central drive 30 and the central vibration drive 32 to dispense powder in the filling position 18. For this purpose, the storage containers 26 are arranged in the magazine assembly 52 so as to be displaceable along a movement path located in the horizontal plane. The magazine assembly 52 is shown symbolically in this example.

[0079] Figure 9 shows alternative positionings of the scale 56 in the transport direction of the segment rotation 20 before (position 58) and or after (position 60) the filling position 18.

Claims

Patent claims 1. A powder dispenser (14) for metered dispensing of powder (50), in particular a powdered pharmaceutical, into a powder receptacle (24), in particular into a capsule segment, with a plurality of storage containers (26), wherein the storage containers (26) each have a storage space (46) for a storage quantity of the powder (50) to be metered, wherein the storage containers (26) each have a metering opening (36) and a closure (44), wherein the closure (44) is designed and arranged to close and open the metering opening (44), wherein the powder dispenser (14) has a transport device (20) in the form of a segment drive (20) rotatable about a rotary axis (D) to move the powder receptacle (24) along a transport path, wherein the powder dispenser (14) is designed to dispense the powder (50) into the powder receptacle (24) at a to effect filling position (18) along the transport path, characterized in thatthat the powder dispenser (14) has a magazine device (52) which includes the storage containers (26) and, is designed to move the storage containers (26) alternately into the filling position (18) so that the storage containers (26) can alternately dispense powder (50) into the powder receptacle (24) in the filling position (18).

2. Powder dispenser (14) according to claim 1, wherein the magazine device (52) is configured to orient the storage containers (26) about a vertically extending axis (A) to rotate in order to change the storage container (26) located in the filling position (18).

3. Powder dispenser (14) according to claim 1, wherein the magazine device (52) is configured to move the storage containers (26) translationally in a horizontal direction in order to change the storage container (26) located in the filling position (18).

4. Powder dispenser (14) according to claim 1, wherein the magazine device (52) is configured to pivot the storage containers (26) about a pivot axis (S) extending in a horizontal direction in order to change the storage container (26) located in the filling position (18).

5. Powder dispenser (14) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a drive (30) for the closure (44) is arranged on each of the storage containers which is arranged in the magazine device (52) and the drive (30) is designed to open and close the closure (44).

6. Powder dispenser (14) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a vibration drive (32) is arranged on each of the storage containers which is arranged in the magazine device (52) and the vibration drive (32) is designed to subject at least one section of a respective storage container (26) to vibration.

7. Powder dispenser (14) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 4 or 6, wherein the powder dispenser (14) comprises a central drive (30) for the closure (44) of the storage containers (26) and the powder dispenser (14) is designed to alternately couple and decouple the storage containers (26) with the drive (30) in the filling position (18).

8. Powder dispenser (14) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 5 or 7, wherein the powder dispenser (14) comprises a vibration drive (32) and the magazine device (52) is designed to alternately couple the storage containers (26) with the vibration drive (32) in the filling position (18).

9. Powder dispenser (14) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a scale (56) is arranged at the filling position (18) which can detect the weight of the powder intake (24) before, during and / or after filling with powder (50) from one of the storage containers (26).

10. Powder dispenser (14) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a scale (56) is located along the transport path of the transport device (20) in a position (58) before and / or a position (60) after the filling position (18) is arranged to detect the weight of the powder intake (24) before or after filling with powder (50) at the filling position (18).

11. Powder dispenser (14) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the storage space (46) of the storage container (26) tapers towards the metering opening (36).

12. Powder dispenser (14) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the storage containers (26) are multi-part and at least one container part (34) has a storage chamber section with a dosing opening (36) is formed with a tapered cross-section and a further container part (40) is formed in particular with a substantially straight cylindrical storage space section.

13. Powder dispenser (14) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the respective closure (44) of the storage container (26) a metering control element is formed which extends from the metering opening (36) through the storage space (46) and through a wall of the storage container (26) opposite the metering opening (36) and has a coupling point (51) at its end away from the metering opening (36) for coupling with the drive (30).

14. Powder dispenser (14) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the storage containers (26) have a coupling point (47) for coupling with the vibration drive (32) in the area of ​​the metering opening (36), in particular on a container part (34) which includes the metering opening (36).

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