Capsule Filling Machine Suction Roller Dosing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current capsule filling machines lack precision when filling hard gelatin capsules with particulate materials like microtablets or micropellets, as the force applied by the piston is not effective in consistently withdrawing a predetermined number of particles.
Innovation Solution
A capsule filling machine with a rotary carousel and a hopper containing a pick-up roller with suction recesses that draw and release microtablets into hollow conduits, ensuring precise dosing by accommodating and releasing a predetermined number of particles into capsule bodies, while maintaining high productivity and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a piston in a cylindrical punch is used to withdraw pharmaceutical material, then precise volumetric dosing is achieved for powder form, but inconsistent dosing occurs for particulate material such as microtablets or micropellets
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical piston-based dosing system with a magnetic field-based dosing system. Magnets are used to attract and hold particulate material (microtablets or micropellets) on the surface of the cylindrical punch, enabling consistent dosing of particulate materials where the mechanical piston system failed. The magnetic field provides reliable control over particle retention and release, achieving both precision and reliability for particulate formulations.
2Productivity
If high operating speed is maintained in capsule filling machines, then productivity is high, but dosing precision for particulate material deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic dosing system enables high-speed operation while maintaining precision because the magnetic field can rapidly attract and release particles without the mechanical inertia and friction limitations of piston systems. The magnets can quickly secure particles during high-speed carousel rotation and then rapidly release them into capsule bodies, achieving both high productivity and dosing precision for particulate materials.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The machine achieves high dosing precision and reliability by accurately filling a predetermined number of microtablets or pellets into capsules, maintaining high operating speed and safety standards.
Implementation Method 1
roller means partly immersed in said mass of particles in the hopper; the roller means having a plurality of suction recesses for accommodating and retaining a predetermined number of the particles drawn from the hopper
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A capsule filling machine (10) for producing hard gelatin capsules (C) of the type with lid and body (3, 4) containing particles (12) of pharmaceutical material, in particular microtablets (12) or pellets comprises a rotary carousel (2) mounting a plurality of slide units (5) for holding and handling the capsules (C) in order to open and then close the capsules (C) by first separating and then pairing the capsule lids (3) and bodies (4) ; and means (11) for feeding the particles (12) to the carousel (2) for filling doses of the particles (12) into the respective capsule bodies (4); the feed means (11) comprise at least one hopper (13) containing a mass of these particles (12) , and roller means (14) partly immersed in said mass of particles (12) in the hopper (13) ; the roller means (14) having a plurality of suction recesses (15) for accommodating and retaining a predetermined number of the particles (12) drawn from the hopper (13) and then releasing the particles (12) into a series of hollow conduits (16) mounted on the carousel (2) .