Machine for making capsules
AssigneeI.M.A. Industria Macchine
InventorsLorenzo Baldini, Sauro Rivola
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A machine for making capsules containing powder product which includes a plurality of processing stations, which are configured to perform respective processes for making capsules containing powder product in a respective predetermined processing time. The machine also includes movement means configured for conveying the capsules along a processing path extending through the plurality of processing stations. In particular, the movement means include a plurality of units each designed to each receive at least one capsule body, and at least one guide rail extending along the processing path and define with each unit a linear motor.
Claims15
A machine for producing capsules containing a powder product, comprising:
- a plurality of processing stations, each configured to perform a respective process in producing capsules containing powder product, each respective process having a corresponding predetermined processing time;
- a transport system configured to move said capsules along a processing path extending through the plurality of processing stations;
- a control unit operatively connected to the transport system;
- wherein said transport system comprises a plurality of transport units, each configured to magnetically interact with at least one guide rail extending along the processing path to define a linear motor arrangement,
- wherein each of the transport units is independently movable along the processing path relative to all others of the transport units;
- wherein said plurality of processing stations comprises a first processing station configured for dosing and filling a capsule body with the powder product, the dosing and filling requiring a first predetermined processing time, and a second processing station, positioned downstream of the first processing station and configured for sealing a lid onto the capsule body containing the powder product, the sealing requiring a second predetermined processing time longer than said first predetermined processing time,
- wherein said control unit is programmed to independently control movement of the transport units, such that a first predetermined number of said transport units is directed to said first processing station for the dosing and filing concurrently, and a second predetermined number of said transport units, greater than said first predetermined number, is directed to said second processing station for the sealing concurrently,
- wherein each of said transport units is configured to individually receive and support at least one capsule body, the at least one capsule body having a generally frustoconical, hollow shape.
A method for producing capsules containing powder product, comprising the steps of:
- conveying, in a mutually independent manner, a plurality of transport units along a processing path extending through a plurality of processing stations, wherein each of the transport units magnetically interacts with at least one guide rail to define a linear motor arrangement, and wherein each of the transport units is independently movable along the processing path relative to all other of the transport units;
- placing the at least one capsule body having a generally frustoconical, hollow shape onto each of the transport units;
- dosing and filling the capsule body with the powder product at a first processing station, the dosing and filling process requiring a first predetermined processing time;
- sealing a closing lid to the at least one capsule body filled with the powder product at a second processing station positioned downstream of the first processing station, the sealing process requiring a second predetermined processing time longer than the first predetermined processing time;
- controlling the conveyance of the transport units such that a greater number of transport units are directed to the dosing and filling station for the dosing and filing concurrently, than to the sealing station for the sealing concurrently.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.