Machine and process for filling capsules or similar

• US 7,694,497 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2005
• Issued: 04/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MG2 S.r.l. (HPF, Srl)
• Original Assignee: MG2 S.r.l. (HPF, Srl)
• Inventors: Minghetti, Mauro, Tagliavini, Antonio
• Primary Examiner(s): HARMON, CHRISTOPHER R
• Application Number:
  US11/663,562
• Publication Number:
  US 20080127609A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,660 Days
• Field of Search: 53452-454, 53467-468, 534/71, 534/73, 534/85, 53/52, 53/54, 53/55, 534/99, 535/02, 539/00
• US Class Current: 53/499
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2200/74 for weight
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 3/074 Filling capsules; Related operations
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 17/00 Apparatus for or methods of weighing material of special form or property determining weight by measuring volume G01F
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/3735 using a digital network
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 53/90 Capsules

Abstract

A machine (1000) for filling capsules (CS) or similar. The machine (1000) has a number of seat assemblies (10), each of which incorporates a capacitive transducer (14) and possibly other devices, such as an energy storage device (17) and a microprocessor (15), in addition to devices for external connection for power supply and/or communication.

Claims

1. A machine for filling capsules, the machine comprising:

conveying means for conveying at least one seat assembly;

loading means for loading an empty bottom shell inside said at least one seat assembly;

evaluating means for evaluating the weight of the empty bottom shell housed in said at least one seat assembly;

filling means for filling said bottom shell with at least one product;

evaluating means for evaluating the weight of a full bottom shell;

a capacitive transducer which determines the difference between the dielectric properties of said empty bottom shell and said full bottom shell after each filling step, to determine the actual quantity of product deposited in said full bottom shell;

means for applying a top shell to said full bottom shell; and

means for expelling from the machine any full capsules whose quantity of product does not fall within an acceptable range;

wherein said at least one seat assembly also incorporates mechanical and/or electronic devices for transmitting energy and/or data; and

wherein said at least one seat assembly incorporates at least one microprocessor.

2. A machine as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said at least one seat assembly also incorporates energy storage means.

3. A machine as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that said at least one seat assembly also comprises energy receiving means.

4. A machine as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that said energy receiving means receive energy with no contact with other means.

5. A machine as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that said energy receiving means receive energy by contact with other means.

6. A machine as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said exchanged data is optoelectronic data.

7. A machine as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that each seat assembly is assigned an address memorized permanently in a fixed on-machine electronic device.