Capsule Loading Sheet for Upright Manual Filling Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Manual capsule filling machines require significant manual intervention and are prone to errors due to the time-consuming process of aligning and loading capsule halves, which is inefficient and labor-intensive.

Innovation Solution

A thin plastic sheet with apertures configured to securely hold capsule caps or bodies using their locking rings, allowing for pre-loaded and upright orientation, facilitating simultaneous placement into a manual capsule filling machine.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual handling of capsules is used to load the machine, then flexibility and simplicity are maintained, but the process is time-consuming and labor-intensive

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesimplicityVSAvoidloading speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The capsule halves are pre-oriented and pre-positioned in the correct upright orientation within the tray holes before the filling process begins. This preliminary action eliminates the need for manual reorientation during loading, significantly reducing the time and effort required while maintaining operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

A sheet with apertures is introduced as an intermediary tool to hold and transport multiple capsule halves in the correct orientation. This mediator allows simultaneous placement of multiple capsules into the machine, bridging the gap between manual operation and improved productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If capsules are poured into the tray and shaken to self-orient, then manual intervention is reduced, but the process still requires considerable manual adjustment and is prone to errors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanual interventionVSAvoidalignment accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The capsule halves are pre-oriented in the correct upright position within the tray holes before filling begins. This preliminary orientation action ensures that capsules are correctly positioned from the start, eliminating the need for shaking and manual readjustment, thereby improving alignment accuracy while reducing manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The capsule design with its locking ring and the aperture design work together to enable self-orientation. When capsules are placed in the tray, they automatically orient themselves in the correct upright position through the interaction between the locking ring and aperture, eliminating the need for manual adjustment and ensuring precise alignment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If capsule orientation mechanisms are introduced to assist positioning, then manual adjustment is reduced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveloading efficiencyVSAvoidmechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A simple sheet with apertures is introduced as an intermediary tool to hold and transport multiple capsule halves in the correct orientation. This mediator enables simultaneous placement of multiple capsules into the machine, improving loading efficiency without introducing complex orientation mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The capsule design with its locking ring and the aperture design work together to enable self-orientation. When capsules are placed in the tray, they automatically orient themselves in the correct upright position through the interaction between the locking ring and aperture, improving loading efficiency without requiring complex external orientation mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Manufacturing precision

If transport sheets with separated capsule parts are used for automated machines, then filling precision is improved, but the sheets are not useful for manual machines as they require separate placement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefilling accuracyVSAvoidoperational simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The sheet with apertures is designed to be universally applicable to both manual and automated capsule filling machines. The same sheet structure that enables precise positioning for automated machines also works effectively for manual operations, allowing users to simply place the entire sheet into the machine and achieve accurate filling without requiring separate placement of capsule parts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12509264B2Capsule orientation and loading sheet for manual capsule filling machines

Publication Date: 2025.12.30 CASE PHILLIP J

AI summary

The present invention relates generally to a capsule placement system. The system comprises a capsule sheet (102, 202) configured to accommodate a plurality of capsule elements (106, 206), wherein the capsule sheet (102, 202) comprises a plurality of apertures (104, 204) arranged in a grid pattern, each of the plurality of apertures (104, 204) configured to securely hold and position a corresponding capsule element (106, 206) of the plurality of capsule elements (106, 206) in an upright orientation. This allows the user of a manual capsule filling machine to place all the required capsule elements i.e., capsule caps and capsule bodies into their capsule filling machine simultaneously, without having to individually place them or shake them into place.