Device and method for ejecting at least one capsule from a capsule holder

• US 10,596,070 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2018
• Issued: 03/24/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harro Hoefliger Verpackungsmaschinen Gmbh
• Original Assignee: Harro Hoefliger Verpackungsmaschinen Gmbh
• Inventors: Wurst, Reiner, Kuehnert, Timo
• Primary Examiner(s): Kumar, Rakesh
• Application Number:
  US15/991,805
• Publication Number:
  US 20180271750A1
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• Field of Search: 1984711, 198397, 452 31, 221 10
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 3/074 Filling capsules; Related operations
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 5/103 for packaging pills or tablets
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 57/20 Applications of counting devices for controlling the feed of articles other applications B65B65/08
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 7/2807 Feeding closures

Abstract

A device is for ejecting at least one capsule from a capsule holder. The capsule holder has at least two capsule receptacles for, in each case, one capsule. The device comprises: at least two ejectors, each of the ejectors being configured to eject a respective one of the capsules from the corresponding one of the receptacles; a drive unit configured to actuate the at least two ejectors independently of each other in an ejection direction and in an opposite return direction; the drive unit having a pneumatic actuating cylinder for each ejector; the pneumatic actuating cylinders being individually actuatable as a drive for respective ones of the at least two ejectors; a limiter element which is provided jointly for a plurality of the at least two ejectors and which has a cyclical lifting drive; and, each ejector being assigned a stop acting in the return direction for the limiter element.

Claims

1. A method for ejecting at least one capsule from a capsule holder via a device;

wherein the capsule holder has at least two capsule receptacles for, in each case, one capsule;

wherein the device includes at least two ejectors, each of the at least two ejectors being configured to eject a respective one of the capsules from the corresponding one of the receptacles, a drive unit configured to actuate said at least two ejectors independently of each other in an ejection direction and in an opposite return direction, the drive unit having a pneumatic actuating cylinder for each ejector;

the pneumatic actuating cylinders being individually actuatable as a drive for respective ones of the at least two ejectors;

a limiter element which is provided jointly for a plurality of said at least two ejectors and which has a cyclical lifting drive; and

,

each of the ejectors being assigned a stop acting in the return direction for said limiter element, the method comprising the steps of;

constantly moving the limiter element to and fro relative to the pneumatic actuating cylinders via the cyclical lifting drive between a deployed position and a retracted position in the ejection direction and the return direction, respectively;

in dependence upon whether an individual capsule has been identified as acceptable or unacceptable, deploying the piston rod of the respectively associated actuating cylinder in the ejection direction in such a manner that the associated one of the stops comes to bear on the limiter element and thereby limits the movement of the ejector in the ejection direction; and

,

ejecting the associated capsule from the corresponding capsule receptacle with the ejector as a result of the ejector'"'"'s movement being limited in the ejection direction by the limiter element.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the return of the deployed ejector and of the associated actuating cylinder is effected via the limiter element.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein:

in regular operation, the return of the deployed ejector is effected pneumatically via the associated actuating cylinder; and

,

in the event of a malfunction, the return of the deployed ejector and of the associated actuating cylinder is effected via the limiter element.