Rotary Capsule Packaging Machine with Interchangeable Moulds
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current machines for packaging hydro-soluble products into capsules for hot beverages face challenges in achieving high productivity, reliability, versatility in changing capsule formats and diaphragm structures, and the ability to seal capsules in a vacuum or controlled atmosphere.
Innovation Solution
A cylindrical packaging machine with interchangeable moulds for different capsule formats, equipped with vacuum and thermosealing capabilities to ensure hermetic and filtering diaphragm applications, allowing for efficient packaging in various environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the machine operates at very high production rhythms, then productivity is improved, but reliability and versatility to change capsule formats and diaphragm structures deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The machine employs a rotary indexing table with multiple workstations that can be dynamically reconfigured. The modular diaphragm application stations allow rapid changeover between different diaphragm types (filtering vs. hermetic) and capsule formats by simply repositioning or replacing tooling components, enabling high-speed operation while maintaining versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The packaging machine is divided into separate functional modules: capsule feeding station, filling station, diaphragm application station, sealing station, and discharge station. Each module operates independently on the rotary table, allowing individual optimization for speed while enabling easy reconfiguration of specific modules to handle different capsule types and diaphragm structures.
2Productivity
If the machine is designed for high productivity, then output is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functions are integrated into a single rotary indexing table platform, which simultaneously performs capsule positioning, filling, diaphragm application, and sealing operations. This consolidation reduces overall system complexity compared to having separate machines for each function, while maintaining high productivity through continuous rotational operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The machine is designed as a multi-functional system where a single device can handle various capsule formats, apply different types of diaphragms (filtering or hermetic), and operate in different atmospheric conditions (vacuum or controlled atmosphere). This universality reduces the need for multiple specialized machines, simplifying the overall production system.
3Reliability
If the machine adds vacuum and controlled atmosphere capabilities, then sealing quality is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
A bell-shaped chamber serves as an intermediary environment between the external atmosphere and the capsule sealing process. This chamber can be evacuated to create vacuum or filled with controlled atmosphere gases, providing the necessary environmental control for high-quality hermetic sealing without requiring complex integrated vacuum systems throughout the entire machine.
Solution Approach 2:
The machine incorporates a bell chamber that can be evacuated to vacuum or filled with inert/controlled atmosphere to prevent oxidation and contamination during the sealing process. This creates a protected environment for hermetic sealing, improving product quality while using a relatively simple bell-chamber-based approach rather than complex atmospheric control systems.
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 hourly productivity, reliability, and versatility in packaging capsules with both hermetic and filtering diaphragms, while ensuring sealed capsules can be packaged in vacuum or controlled atmosphere conditions.
Implementation Method 1
the bell provided with an pump equipment that makes the vacuum (VACUUM) inside the capsules (C′)
Implementation Method 2
the presence of a thermosealing vacuum device (T)
Data Source
AI summary
Machine for packaging in capsules, also in a vacuum and/or in a controlled atmosphere, characterized by the fact that a cylindrical wheel (G) with horizontal axis (R), peripherally provided with rows (S) of cavities (A), parallel to said axis (R) and angularly equally distanced by the step (P), preset to be interchangeably equipped with molds (F,-F′) having different formats and geometrically congruent to the format of the capsules to be used (C; C).