Patent ID: 7418984

Claim:
A transfer wheel for transferring top shells ( 4 ) on a machine for filling capsules ( 2 ) with at least one pharmaceutical product; each capsule ( 2 ) comprising a bottom shell ( 3 ), and a top shell ( 4 ) for closing the bottom shell ( 3 ); the transfer wheel comprising at least one seat ( 23 ) for a relative top shell ( 4 ); a loading station ( 11 ) for picking up the top shell ( 4 ); an unloading station ( 12 ) for releasing the top shell ( 4 ), the transfer wheel being mounted to rotate continuously about a respective longitudinal axis ( 10 ) and feed said seat ( 23 ) through said loading and unloading stations ( 11 , 12 ); a suction device ( 34 ) normally connected to the seat ( 23 ) to pick up the relative top shell ( 4 ) at said loading station ( 11 ) and feed the top shell ( 4 ) along a given path (P 2 ) extending between the loading and unloading stations ( 11 , 12 ); and a blow device ( 56 ) connectable pneumatically to the seat ( 23 ) to release the relative top shell ( 4 ) at the unloading station ( 12 ) at the end of said path (P 2 ); and the transfer wheel being characterized by also comprising on-off means ( 57 ) for cutting off pneumatic connection between the suction device ( 34 ) and the seat ( 23 ) upstream from the loading station ( 11 ) in a travelling direction (A) of the transfer wheel about said axis ( 10 ).