Patent ID: 7637080
Filing Date: 2009-12-29
Classification: A61J

Abstract:
1. A capsule filling machine ( 10 ) for producing hard gelatin capsules (C) of the type with lid and body ( 3 , 4 ) containing particles ( 12 ) of pharmaceutical material, the machine ( 10 ) comprising a rotary carousel ( 2 ) mounting a plurality of slide units ( 5 ) for holding and handling the capsules (C) in order to open and then close the capsules (C) by first separating and then pairing the capsule lids ( 3 ) and bodies ( 4 ); and means ( 11 ) for feeding the particles ( 12 ) to the carousel ( 2 ) for filling doses of the particles ( 12 ) into the respective capsule bodies ( 4 ); the machine ( 10 ) being characterised in that the feed means ( 11 ) comprise at least one hopper ( 13 ) containing a mass of these particles ( 12 ), and roller means ( 14 ) partly immersed in said mass of particles ( 12 ) in the hopper ( 13 ); the roller means ( 14 ) having a plurality of suction recesses ( 15 ) for accommodating and retaining a predetermined number of the particles ( 12 ) drawn from the hopper ( 13 ) and then releasing the particles ( 12 ) into a series of hollow conduits ( 16 ) mounted on the carousel ( 2 ), the machine ( 10 ) further comprising detection means ( 20 ) effective to sense and determine whether the recesses ( 15 ) of the roller means ( 14 ) are properly filled with the predetermined number of particles ( 12 ), the machine ( 10 ) being effective, through operation of the detection means, to reject capsules that are not correctly filled.