Patent · US Expired

Device for feeding hard-gelatin capsules to a capping machine

US6539686B1 · kind B1 · utility

6Cited by
7References
5Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJun 21, 2001
Grant dateApr 1, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 18, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S53/90
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Respective secondary thrusters (70, 71) are added to the primary horizontal thruster (7) and primary vertical thruster (12) of a guiding device of the known type and the guide channel (6) is provided with dimensions such that the steps of guiding and feeding the capsule (C) are performed with minor successive displacements of the said capsule (C). The primary vertical thruster (12) operates, in a position distant from the sleeve (13) of the capping machine so as to allow discarding and free removal of the defective capsules (C) which have a double lid (C2) or the capsule parts which reach this thruster. The last section (206) of the guide channel (6) inside which the secondary vertical thruster (71) operates, has a width slightly smaller than that of the upstream section (106) of the said channel so as to retain firmly the end of the defective capsule (C) having lids (C2) on opposite ends of a base (C1). Such a defective capsule (C), which is arranged horizontally or inclined by the primary horizontal thruster (7), is then acted on by the tip (112) of the primary vertical thruster (12) and by a face (171) of the secondary vertical thruster (71) which discard this defective capsule …

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.