Patent Publication Number: US-9902512-B2

Title: Refined distributor unit

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention concerns refinements made to distributor units and to a relative refined distributor unit. The present invention is applied, in particular, but not only, to distributors of the compact type. 
     The distributors to which the invention refers are used industrially for the continuous distribution and the positioning of tablets or pills or other similar products of various shapes and sizes, in suitable alveoli or seatings predisposed in an advancing strip. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Distributor units are known, and also those of the compact type, which are used to position the distribution of tablets or pills in packets of the blister type, for example for the pharmaceutical or food sector, or other sector having similar needs. 
     Said distributor units use distributor discs suitably predisposed for the synchronized release of the tablets into a strip which advances and which has suitable seatings to accommodate said tablets. 
     In the following description, the term tablets shall also include pills, capsules and other products of similar or comparable type or size. 
     By distributor units of the compact type we mean units having a compact shape, as for example described in WO-A1-2009/115445. 
     These distributor units are studied and made so as to work a wide variety of types and shapes of tablets to guarantee a considerable production, in order to reduce the intervention times of ordinary maintenance, to make the tablets travel the smallest path possible thus generating less wear, and to reduce the bulk and consumption. 
     Precisely because of these characteristics, the basic adjustments must remain stable over time and the periodic adjustments (for example the periodical zero setting) have to be carried out without further controls and tuning, so as to affect the production cycle very little. 
     In the case of compact distributor units, the reduced spaces they entail are difficult to reconcile with fine-tuning interventions, adjustment and control, carried out in short times, if not programmed. 
     Compact distributor units, precisely because of their characteristics, therefore need a new way of conceiving and making the components in order to allow a correct functioning, to maintain the production advantage and to make a simple and quick start-up. 
     After a long period of trials and experiments with multiple new solutions, that is, solutions applied and conceived in a different way. Applicant has perfected the present inventive idea making a distributor unit that is functional, efficient and with reduced maintenance, as well as a constant high performance, while still keeping the easy disassembly, quick and safe replaceability of the distributor disk, without requiring particular zero setting controls. 
     In particular, the Applicant has found that the distributor disk has to be quick and easy to replace, at the same time guaranteeing, without particular attention or specific interventions, characteristics of planarity, vertical positioning, duration of the fine tuning, constancy in zero setting, as well as the constancy of response after every automatic zero reset. It should be noted that normally, although not always, in units such as these the zero reset is electric. 
     By zero reset we mean the coordination in time and position or the reciprocal initial positioning, of the distributor disk in relation to the other components with which it cooperates and coordinates. 
     A distributor disk of the type in question has a plurality of parallel rows, disposed circumferentially, of holes organized and suitably predisposed, having shapes and sizes coherent with the shape of the tablets which must be treated. The organized holes are disposed radially on the surface of the distributor disk. 
     In the case of electric zero setting, that is coordination in time and position by means of electric systems, the disk normally has, along one circumference, means which allow the detection of the temporal position of the disk: said means may be, for example, holes, ridges, wedges etc. 
     The zero setting means are provided in a precise geometric ratio with the organized holes for the temporary housing of the tablets. In this type of organization, therefore, the position of a zero setting hole determines the position of the organized radial sequence of, the holes temporarily housing the tablets. 
     The Applicant therefore set himself the task of achieving a system, connected to the distributor disk, which allows to assemble and disassemble the distributor disk quickly, without further setting and adjustments, except for the automatic zero resetting described above, which is normally carried out by the machine every time it starts. 
     The distributor disk is made to rotate by a motor member at a speed coordinated with the linear advance of the strip on which the seatings or alveoli are made, where the tablets must be put. 
     The strip is organized in sequential sections on which the alveoli, also called blisters, are disposed in a prefixed manner. 
     The coordination requires that, each time, the reciprocal position of the temporary seatings present in the distributor disk coincides with the alveoli present in the advancing strip. 
     Advantageously but not necessarily, the motor member also confers on the distributor disk a vibrating function, so that the distributor disk also contributes to the correct positioning of the tablets in the organized holes present in the distributor disk. Moreover, depending or not on the size of the tablets, the distributor disk must position itself in a precise, desired, coplanar and positioning, ratio, with respect to said strip containing the alveoli. 
     Furthermore, after the substitution of the distributor disk, the shaft which brings the motion has to be in a precise position with respect to the references which serve to achieve the zero reset. 
     This means the substitution of the distributor disk must always and in any case guarantee the correct positioning of the disk, on each occasion required, both with respect to the strip which contains the alveoli and with respect to the member which imparts the motion to the distributor disk. 
     The present invention proposes to solve all these problems, and others which will be described in the following description, and allow to obtain a rapid and precise substitution of the distributor disk, at the same time allowing the correct positioning thereof, which does not require further fine tuning, except for zero setting. 
     The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claims, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention or variants of the main inventive idea. 
     A refined distribution unit according to the present invention, whether of compact-type or not, is suitable to continuously transfer and position tablets, pills or similar in organized alveoli in an advancing strip. The advancing strip presents its alveoli on each occasion in correspondence with holes normally organized and positioned radially in a distributor disk. The distributor disk has zero setting means suitable for the coordination in time and position, or the reciprocal initial positioning, of the distributor disk in relation to the other components with which it cooperates and coordinates. 
     The distributor disk is made to rotate by means which supply the rotation motion thereto. Between said means which supply the rotation motion and the distributor disk there are intermediate connector, made in one or several parts which are separate from each other, and allow the rapid disassembly or reassembly of the distributor disk. 
     The intermediate connector are connected stably to the distributor disk and detachably to the means which supply the rotation motion. 
     According to the invention, as well as the usual attachment means, (for example screws), used to make the distributor disk solid with the intermediate connector, in the following also called intermediate means centering means are also provided. 
     The centering means enslave the distributor disk to the intermediate means in a desired and definite position, guaranteeing coaxiality of the distributor disk and the intermediate means, so that the motion imparted to the intermediate means by the means which supply the motion is coaxial to the distributor disk. 
     According to a variant, there are planar supporting or leveling means which guarantee that the distributor disk rotates on a plane orthogonal to the axis of rotation. 
     In particular the planar supporting or leveling means serve to guarantee that the axis around which the distributor disk rotates is perfectly orthogonal to the plane in which the distributor disk rotates. 
     A further variant provides positioning means which contribute to the correct positioning of the distributor disk with respect to the intermediate means. 
     The positioning means serve to guarantee the precise and constant reciprocal position of the distributor disk (radial position of the holes that temporarily contain the tablets) and intermediate means. 
     According to a variant, axial positioning assembly is also provided which guarantee that the disk is always in the desired and required vertical position with respect to the strip. 
     According to other variants, the planar supporting or leveling means can be associated to one or more of either positioning means, centering means and axial positioning assembly, guaranteeing that the disk rotates on a single plane orthogonal to the axis of rotation, that the distributor disk positions itself vertically in the desired and required position with respect to the strip containing the alveoli, that the distributor disk has the axis of rotation coinciding with the axis of rotation of the member which supplies the motion, and that an organized series of holes in the distributor disk is positioned in a desired geometrical manner with respect to the intermediate means. 
     According to the invention, the intermediate means connect to the means which supply the motion in a removable way, but using reference means which guarantee the reciprocal coaxiality, preventing lateral and/or angular listing and, cooperating with the planar supporting or leveling means, guaranteeing both the correct vertical position of the distributor disk and the coaxiality of the distributor disk with the means which supply the motion. 
     The intermediate means, according to a variant have vertical positioning means which guarantee that the distributor disk is in the desired and exact vertical position with respect to the strip which holds the alveoli. 
     According to a variant, the member which supplies the motion is an intermediate member between the motor means and the intermediate means. 
     In this case, the member which supplies the motion most connect to the motor means by means of means which guarantee exact coaxiality, as well as the vertical positioning of the connection means to the intermediate means. 
     This means that the means which guarantee the exact coaxiality must have support means and centering means which guarantee this condition. 
     According to a further variant, between the member which supplies the motion and the motor means angular reciprocal positioning means are provided, so that the chain of motion is geometrically positioned in order to guarantee the correctness of the automatic zero reset. 
     According to a further variant, the member which supplies the motion is advantageously connected to the intermediate means by means of screws or other rapid and easy replacement means. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other characteristics of the present invention will now be described in detail, with reference to a particular form of embodiment, given as an example, with the help of the attached drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  shows a compact distributor unit of the known type; 
         FIG. 2  shows schematically, according to a vertical section, part of the kinematic chain which supplies the motion to the distributor disk; 
         FIGS. 3 a , 3 b , 3 c    show three different types of reference means; 
         FIG. 4 a    shows a possible intermediate mean; 
         FIG. 4 b    a bottom plan view of the intermediate can of  FIG. 4   c;    
         FIG. 4 c    is a section of the intermediate mean of  FIGS. 4 a    and  4   b;    
         FIG. 5  shows a possible distributor disk. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERENTIAL FORM OF EMBODIMENT 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , a compact distributor unit  10  is shown comprising a distributor disk  23 , for example of the type shown and described in WO-A1-2009/115445. 
     In the following description the case of a compact distributor unit is shown, but what follows can also be referred to distributor units of the normal type. 
     The distributor disk  23  cooperates with a strip  21 , which has a plurality of alveoli  22  which, after the strip  21  has passed beyond the distributor disk  23 , according to the arrow A, are full with tablets  22   p.    
     As it is possible to see from  FIG. 1 , the unit  10  is extremely compact, so that the spaces are reduced and the travel of the tablets is minimized, so as to cause as little wear as possible to the tablets. The substitution of the distributor disk  23  is facilitated by suitable temporary positioning means P. 
       FIG. 2  shows schematically, and in vertical section, a strip guide  20 , on which the strip  21  is caused to slide in a known manner, according to arrow A. The distributor disk  23  has holes  24 , organized in rows, for the temporary housing of the tablets, and rotates in a coordinated manner with the advancement of the strip  21 , so that the radial seatings of holes  24  and the alveoli  22  periodically find themselves in desired reciprocal positions. In this way, the tablets can be positioned in the alveoli  22  which, downstream of the distributor disk  23 , are filled with the tablets  22   p.    
     Depending on the size and sequence of the alveoli  22 , the distributor disk  23  rotates at a lesser or greater speed. 
     The distributor disk  23  has zero setting means  41 , in this case holes, positioned circumferentially (see  FIG. 5 ), so as to detect the position of the distributor disk  23  and for coordination in time and position and zero setting. The zero setting means  41  can, however, be of any type. 
     The distributor disk  23  is made solid with intermediate connector  25  using normal screws (not shown), which cooperate with holes  44 . The intermediate connector  25  serve to removably connect the distributor disk  23  to the means which supply the rotator motion thereto, indicated in general by the number  30  in  FIG. 2 , and described in greater detail hereafter. 
     Although on the one hand they make the distributor disk  23  solid to the intermediate connector  25 , the normal screws on the other hand do not guarantee the correct and constant reciprocal positioning. 
     It should be noted that generally, even if not necessarily, the distributor disk  23  does not have a great thickness, which can even be in the range of ⅔ millimeters. 
     In order to guarantee a correct ratio of the distributor disk  23 /strip  21 , planar supporting or leveling means  26 ,  126  are provided, with a supporting surface, which guarantee that the lying and rotation plane of the distributor disk  23  is parallel to the plane on which the strip  21  slides, and therefore parallel to the strip  21 . 
     For the correct centering, reference means are provided in some embodiments to guarantee the reciprocal coaxiality between the intermediate connector  25  and the means which supply the rotation motion  30 . 
     In particular, in the embodiment of  FIG. 2  the reference means comprise two different centering means  27 . 
     In  FIGS. 4 a , 4 b , 4 c    there is a further variant, in which the reference means comprise centering and positioning means  134 . In this case, the centering and positioning means  134  incorporate the centering means  27 , circumferential positioner  28  and also axial positioning assembly  43 . 
     A first type of centering means, denoted with numeral reference  27  in  FIG. 2 , consists of a male/female coupling (which can be with the male part on the intermediate connector  25  or on the distributor disk  23 ) of between the intermediate connector  25  and the distributor disk  23 , in this case defined by the external edge  125  of the connection means which acts as female seating for an axial central ridge  123  of the distributor disk  23 . 
     The centering means guarantee coaxiality, but do not guarantee the correct and constant reciprocal positioning, in particular the correct angular positioning, of between the distributor disk  23  and the intermediate connector  25 , which correct and constant positioning is necessary for each coordination in time and position or zero setting. 
     In order to guarantee said constant reciprocal positioning it is possible to provide one or more circumferential positioner  28 , in this case of the precision key type, between the distributor disk  23  and the intermediate connector  25 . According to a variant, the circumferential positioner  28  are of the pin type, for example a pin de-centered with respect to the axis of rotation  29 . 
     In the case of pin-type circumferential positioner  28 , according to a variant, advantageously but not necessarily, there will be at least two and located as far as possible from the axis of rotation  29 , in order to guarantee the best precision possible, According to a variant, the pins can be also substitutions for the centering means  27 , and there may be only one, de-centered. 
     According to a further variant, there may be only one key, in the case of cooperation with the centering means  27  of the male/female type. 
     For the connection/disconnection of the intermediate connector  25  and the means which supply motion  30 , in order to substitute the distributor disk  23 , the coupling is provided by means of reciprocal support surfaces  31  which extend orthogonal to the distributor disk  23 . 
     The orthogonal position between support surfaces  31  and distributor disk  23  facilitates the operations of maintenance and disassembly. 
     However, other positions can also be assumed, such as angled, stepped, etc. 
     Advantageously, as in the case shown, the support surfaces  31  contain the axis of rotation  29 . The support surfaces  31  themselves do not guarantee either the correct lateral position or the angular position with respect to the support plane, or the correct coaxiality or the correct vertical position. 
     In order to guarantee this, in some forms of embodiments specific reference means  34 ,  134  are provided, of which  FIGS. 3 a , 3 b , 3 c  and 4 a , 4 b  and 4 c    show some examples of embodiments in order to clarify the spirit of the invention. 
     The distance between the reference means  34 ,  134  and the planar supporting or leveling means  26  (in this case) constitute the axial positioning assembly  43 . 
     In  FIG. 3 a    the reference means  34  have three pins  35 , respectively  35   a ,  35   b  and  35   c , located in a triangle with respect to each other, which guarantee the lateral positioning, coaxiality and vertical positioning, and prevent swiveling positions. 
     In  FIG. 3 b   , instead of the pins  35   a  and  35   b , the reference means  34  are provided with a calibrated key  36 , while in  FIG. 3 c    instead of the calibrated key  36  and the pin  35   c , the reference means are configured as centering and positioning means  34  that are provided in the shape of a T, defined by an elongated element  37  and by an intermediate orthogonal element defining the male element  137  (see also  FIG. 4 a   ). 
     The T shape of the centering and positioning means  34  guarantees coupling precision in a vertical direction, a lateral direction and also an angular direction. 
     This solution therefore allows to eliminate other positioning means in that in itself it guarantees precision on two axes and in angular terms. 
     This solution is therefore particularly advantageous in order to correctly position the distributor disk  23  with respect to the intermediate connection element  25  without having to provide the means  26 ,  28  or the external edge  125 . 
     The afore-mentioned centering and positioning means  134 , as can be best seen in  FIG. 4 b   , can be configured with a T shape as said reference means  34  with T shape of  FIGS. 3 c    and  4   a.    
     This also simplifies the workings in that the centering and positioning means  34  and the centering and positioning means  134  can be equal or similar. 
     In the distributor disk  23 , the female seating of the centering and positioning means  34  can be blind or through. 
     If it is through, the seating can cooperate with a shim portion where there is a tablet at the base having a low friction coefficient which serves to support, at least partly, the vertical weight. 
     Instead of the shim portion, in a male element  137  in the intermediate connector  25  a hole  132  can be provided, in which to place a tablet having a low friction coefficient which serves to at least partly support the weight. 
     In the case shown, movable attachment means  32  are provided to connect the intermediate connector  25  and an intermediate member  38 , the screwing seating of which is in axis with a pin  35   c , or with a lower extension defining the male element  137  of the T-shaped centering and positioning means  34 . The movable attachment means  32  are accessible by means of a removable cover  45 , which hides the movable attachment means  32  from sight during the normal functioning of the distributor unit. 
     According to a variant, in order to facilitate the assembly operations, the means which supply the motion  30  have an intermediate member  38  which connects stably (but in a removable manner) to the motor mean  39 . The motor mean  39  can be a motor reducer, or a motor coupled to a reducer. 
     Between the intermediate member  38  and the motor mean  39 , second centering means  40  are provided, for example of the male-female type, similar to the first centering means  27  between distributor disc  23  and intermediate connector  25 . The second centering means  40  have, in this case, respective angular positioning means  128  and correct vertical positioning means, 
     As far as regards the second centering means  40 , what has already been said for the first centering means  27  applies. 
     In order to guarantee the coaxiality between motor mean  39  and intermediate member  38 , second planar supporting or leveling means can be provided. 
     Modifications or variants may be made to the present invention, all of which shall come within the field of protection as defined by the following claims.