Capsule filling machine for filling a capsule and method for operating a capsule filling machine

A capsule filling machine (10) for filling a capsule (12) which has two capsule parts, namely a capsule upper part (14) and a capsule lower part (16), the capsule filling machine comprising:

• a conveying device (32) which has a capsule upper part receiver (44) for receiving a capsule upper part (14) and a capsule lower part receiver (46) for receiving a capsule lower part (16), wherein the capsule upper part receiver (44) and the capsule lower part receiver (46) can be arranged so as to be aligned with one another along a joining axis (26), wherein the conveying device (32) can be driven by a conveying drive (36) so as to be movable within a conveying region (42),
• at least one filling station (82) for filling the capsule lower part (16) with a filling material, and
• at least one station (86) for closing a filled capsule lower part (16) with a capsule upper part (14) and for transporting a filled and fully joined capsule (12), wherein the station (86) comprises a closing element (90) which can be moved along the joining axis (26) and which is driven by a closing drive (94), and which cooperates with a lower face (132) of the filled capsule lower part (16), and a counter holder (98) which cooperates with an upper face (130) of the capsule upper part (14),
• wherein
• the counter holder (98) is arranged, at least for a final part of a joining path (27) between the filled capsule lower part (16) and the capsule upper part (14), in a stop region (104) which, when viewed along the joining axis (26), is spaced apart from the conveying region (42) by interposition of a transport region (108), wherein a transport sleeve (106) which fixes and transports the filled and fully joined capsule (12) outside the conveying region (42) is arranged in the transport region (108),
• a transport element (110), including the transport sleeve (106), rotates about a transport element axis (116), and the conveying device (32), including the capsule upper and lower part receivers (44, 46), rotates about a conveying device axis of rotation (34), and
• the transport element axis (116) and the conveying device axis of rotation (34) are parallel and offset such that the transport sleeve (106) and the capsule upper and lower part receivers (44, 46) are rotatable to be aligned along the joining axis (26).