Capsule sealing machine
First Claim
1. In a capsule sealing machine having a supply source for capsules to be sealed, a horizontally disposed rotating capsule transport plate or sealing table with a plurality of elongate, spaced apart capsule-receiving pockets in a stop surface thereof for receiving and supporting capsules therein, said pockets being oriented with their respective longitudinal axes parallel to the plane of the table whereby the capsules are supported on their side, capsule feed and guide means for guiding and conveying capsules from the source to the table, and means associated with the table for sealing capsules carried in the pockets, the improvement comprising:
- said capsule feed and guide means having means for guiding and conveying capsules from the source to the table and depositing the capsules on their side into the pockets in the table, said guide means comprising a first substantially horizontally disposed plate means having a plurality of elongate, parallel guide slots in the upper surface thereof and having an inlet end and an outlet end; and
a second plate means having a plurality of elongate, parallel guide slots therein and having an inlet end and an outlet end, said inlet end being positioned to receive capsules from the outlet end of the first plate means, and the outlet end of the second plate means being disposed adjacent said table and being configured and arranged to deposit said capsules on their side in said pockets.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A capsule sealing machine (10) in which capsules (C) are fed from a supply hopper (16) to a rotating sealing table (12) for banding or sealing the capsules as they pass over a set of sealing wheels (13). The sealing machine has an improved capsule guide (22) for feeding the capsules from the hopper to the table, thereby reducing the cost and complexity of the machine while at the same time enabling a greater number of capsules to be sealed or banded in a given amount of time and space. The capsule guide comprises slotted magazine sections (23, 28 and 30) which are caused to vibrate by a vibrator (48) to promote discharge of capsules from the hopper and to advance the capsules along the slots. In one form of the invention, a capsule orienting device (51) is disposed in alignment with the magazine to orient the capsules in a desired end-for-end relationship before they are discharged onto the table. An improved drive (59) for the capsule transport assembly (15) is also disclosed, in which the drive is automatically disengaged upon jamming or other malfunction in the transport to thereby prevent damage to the machine and/or other adverse consequences.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. In a capsule sealing machine having a supply source for capsules to be sealed, a horizontally disposed rotating capsule transport plate or sealing table with a plurality of elongate, spaced apart capsule-receiving pockets in a stop surface thereof for receiving and supporting capsules therein, said pockets being oriented with their respective longitudinal axes parallel to the plane of the table whereby the capsules are supported on their side, capsule feed and guide means for guiding and conveying capsules from the source to the table, and means associated with the table for sealing capsules carried in the pockets, the improvement comprising:
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said capsule feed and guide means having means for guiding and conveying capsules from the source to the table and depositing the capsules on their side into the pockets in the table, said guide means comprising a first substantially horizontally disposed plate means having a plurality of elongate, parallel guide slots in the upper surface thereof and having an inlet end and an outlet end; and a second plate means having a plurality of elongate, parallel guide slots therein and having an inlet end and an outlet end, said inlet end being positioned to receive capsules from the outlet end of the first plate means, and the outlet end of the second plate means being disposed adjacent said table and being configured and arranged to deposit said capsules on their side in said pockets. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. ln a capsule sealing machine having a supply source for capsules to be sealed, said capsules having a body portion and a cap with a greater diameter than the body, a rotating capsule transport plate or sealing table, means associated with the table for sealing capsules carried thereby, and capsule guide means extending between the supply source and the table for conveying and guiding capsules from the source to the table, the improvement comprising:
a capsule orienting device associated with the guide means so that all capsules conveyed by the guide means must pass through the orienting device, said orienting device comprising an elongate bar having a plurality of shaped slots extending transversely across an upper surface thereof, said shaped slots being defined by opposed side walls each having an upwardly facing shoulder formed thereon between a top and bottom of the respective wall, the dimensional relationship of the shoulders, side walls and capsule cap being such that the cap is supported on the shoulders while the body portion of a capsule is suspended between the side walls, thereby automatically orienting a capsule in a cap-end-up relationship. - View Dependent Claims (15)
Specification