Machine for producing capsules containing a product to be mixed with a liquid, in particular by means of a percolator device

A machine for producing capsules containing a product to be mixed with a liquid, in particular by means of a percolator device, each capsule comprising a shell for receiving the product, forming a peripheral upper rim, and a lid for closing the shell, connected to said rim;

• the machine comprises a module for dispensing the product and an application unit for applying lids on the shells of the capsules;
• wherein:
• the machine comprises a rotary plate having cavities regularly distributed over the circumference of the plate, each cavity being capable to receive the shell of a capsule and keep said shell in position on the plate;
• the cavities of the plate are arranged such that, when a first cavity is positioned opposite said unit for applying lids, a second cavity is situated opposite a delivery unit for delivering the shells of the capsules, comprised by the machine, a third cavity is situated opposite a filling unit for filling the shells with the product, and a fourth cavity is situated opposite a free sector of the plate, making it possible to remove the capsule present in this cavity of the plate;
• said delivery unit for delivering the shells of the capsules is situated upstream relative to the dispensing module in a direction of rotation of the plate;
• the delivery unit comprises a storage magazine for storing the shells stacked together one in another, and a subassembly for delivering shells one by one to the plate, by gravity, such that a single shell is delivered in the second cavity of the plate located below the storage magazine;
• the filling unit is situated opposite a trough for delivering product, comprised by the dispensing module;
• the filling unit comprises a funnel opposite which an empty shell placed in the third cavity of the plate is positioned by rotation of said plate, wherein the funnel has a lower tubular portion and a sleeve that engages around the lower tubular portion;
• each shell has an inside and the funnel of the filling unit has a bottom opening, and wherein the filling unit comprises a compacting member moving in a to-and-fro motion coaxially to the funnel, through the sleeve and the bottom opening of the funnel and to the inside of the shell situated below the funnel;
• the machine comprises a rotational driver that rotates the plate with cavities;
• and
• the machine comprises an automaton that coordinates with rotational driver with a subassembly driver that drives the delivery subassembly, the automaton includes a dispensing module controller, and a lid application controller that controls the application of the lids on the shells of the capsules, wherein the automaton is configured to:
• detect if a positioning of a cavity is opposite to said storage magazine such that said cavity is capable of receiving the shell delivered by said delivery subassembly;
• actuate the rotation of the plate until a cavity is positioned opposite the storage magazine if a cavity is not positioned opposite the storage magazine;
• and
• actuate said delivery subassembly so as to release the shell, which falls by gravity into a cavity situated below.