Batching device for tablets making compression machine

• US 5,762,978 A
• Filed: 01/29/1997
• Issued: 06/09/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IMA - Industria Macchine Automatiche SPA (Vacchi Family)
• Original Assignee: IMA - Industria Macchine Automatiche SPA (Vacchi Family)
• Inventors: Trebbi, Roberto
• Primary Examiner(s): Mackey, James P.
• Application Number:
  US08/776,363
• Time in Patent Office: 496 Days
• Field of Search: 425/345, 425/353, 425/447, 425/DIG. 5
• US Class Current: 425/345
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2043/3288 using cam drives
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2043/3618 plurality of counteracting elements
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2043/3689 on a support table, e.g. flat disk-like tables having moulds on the periphery
• CPC Class Codes: B30B 11/08 co-operating with moulds carried by a turntable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 425/005 Cammed

Abstract

The device can be applied to compression machines including a turret (1), rotating around a vertical axis and fitted with a series of die holes (3) aimed at being filled with powder of granular material; pairs of punches (5,6), upper and lower punches respectively, related to each die hole (3) and guided slidably in the turret (1), engage the die holes (3) with respective counterfacing working heads (5a,6a). The device features a driving cam (9) that drives at least one of the punches (5,6) and determines the reciprocal distance between the working heads (5a,6a) of each pair of punches, in the material batching step and in the material loading step; the driving cam (9) moves axially with respect to the turret (1) so as to adjust this distance. Further cams (11,12) are provided for completion of guiding structure (15) with variable profile, which facilitates entering in the driving cam (9). The cams (11,12) are mechanically linked to each other, so as to change the profile in accordance with adjusting position of the driving cam (9).

Claims

1. In a batching device for a tablet making compression machine including:

a rotary turret (1) driven into rotation around a vertical axis, said rotary turret having a periphery;

a series of die holes (3), spaced apart along said periphery of said turret, said series of die holes being fed with material in powder or granular form;

a respective pair of upper and lower punches (5,6) for each said die hole (3), each said punches having counterfacing respective working heads (5a,6a) and being smoothly guided in said turret (1) so that said working heads (5a,6b) engage said die holes (3), said working heads having a mutual distance therebetween;

driving means, connected with said punches (5,6) for adjusting said mutual distance between said working heads (5a,6a);

said driving means including;

a driving cam (9) for at least one of said punches (5,6) for defining said mutual distance between said working heads (5a,6a) during material batching and filling steps, said driving cam (9) being movable axially with respect to said turret (1) to adjust said mutual distance; and

filling operation cam means (11,12) which cooperate with each other to define linking path means (15), having a variable profile, for leading said punches into engagement with said driving cam (9), said filling operation cam means (11,12) being mechanically linked to each other for changing the variable profile of said linking path means (15) in accordance with any position of said driving cam (9).

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said filling operation cam means (11,12) comprise an inner cam and an outer cam with respect to said vertical axis for engagement with respective rollers (8) rotatably supported by said punches (5,6), said inner cam (11) and said outer cam (12) cooperating with each other for defining said linking path means, said linking path means (15) being, in a form of a channel having a variable profile and leading to said driving cam (9).

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said filling operation cam means (11,12) include an outer filling displacement cam (12) and an inner filling operation cam (11) with reference to said vertical axis, said outer filling displacement cam (12), being slidingly guided in a vertical direction with respect to the machine and said inner filling operation cam (11), being slidable angularly with respect to the machine, on a circular path concentric with said turret (1).

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein said outer filling displacement cam (12) includes a first section (12a) and a second section (12b), said first section (12a) being formed from a lower wall of said outer filling displacement cam (12) and inclined upwards, and said second section (12b), being forward from the same lower wall and being horizontal and straight, and two sections of an upper wall of said outer filling displacement cam (12) being horizontal and straight, but vertically staggered and linked to each other by an inclined section (12c) inclined upwards following in a direction of said turret as it rotates about said vertical axis, and said inclined sections determining a minimum difference of a level (h) for an axial translation of the punch.

5. The device according to claim 3, wherein said inner filling operation cam (11) includes a first section (11a) and a second section (11b), said first section (11a) being formed from an upper wall of said inner filling operation cam (11) and being horizontal and straight, and said second section (1lb) being formed from the same upper wall and being inclined upwards, said inner filling operation cam (11) having a lower wall including two sections which are horizontal and straight, but vertically staggered and linked to each other by means of an inclined section (11c), for defining a minimum difference level (h) for the punches.

6. The device according to claim 3, comprising means including an inclined plane for mechanically linking said filling operation cam means (11,12) to each other for determining angular movement of said inner filling operation cam (11) responsive to vertical movement of said outer filling displacement operation cam (12).

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein said inclined plane is formed by a tooth (23), inclined upwards, and fastened to said inner filling operation cam (11) and extending longitudinally thereto, and aimed at engaging a groove (24) defined by said outer filling displacement cam (12) and extending upwards.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein said filling operation cam means (11,12) lead to said driving cam (9) at a level over a lower guide wall of said driving cam (9), thus causing an additional displacement of the punch (5,6) with respect to a stroke defined by said driving cam (9) so as to increase feeding the die hole with material.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein said driving cam (9) and said filling operation cam means (11,12) operate said upper punch (5).

10. The device according to claim 4, comprising means including an inclined plane for mechanically linking said filling operation cam means (11,12) to each other for determining angular movement of said inner filling operation cam (11) responsive to the vertical movement of said outer filling displacement cam (12).

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein said inclined plane is formed by a tooth (23), inclined upwards, fastened to the said inner filling operation cam (11) and extending longitudinally thereto, and aimed at engaging a groove (24) defined by said outer filling displacement cam (12) and extending upwards.