EP2110232B1 - Device for inserting inlays into the matrices of a rotary tablet press - Google Patents

Description

It is known to produce multi-layer tablets with rotary tablet presses. These usually consist of two or more layers which are pressed successively. For example, a corresponding number of filling devices with subsequent printing stations is arranged over the circumference of the rotor of the rotary tablet press.

It is also known to provide single or multi-layer tablets with a core, so-called depositors. These cores are fed individually to the matrices and pressed into a medium to be pressed, in particular powder, or encased by this. Crucial in such rotary tablet presses is that the cores are individually and defined each supplied to a die, so that they there in a desired position, which is advantageously centered in the die, can be introduced.

Out DE 38 19 821 C2 It is known to position such cores by means of a transfer star with rotating feed arms, wherein the cores are held on a holding portion of the supply arms by negative pressure, so that a drop by switching off the negative pressure is possible.

Furthermore, it is off DE 103 21 754 B4 Known to position the cores on an endless conveyor and carry the endless conveyor over a pitch circle of the rotor of the tablet press and push through the punches of the tablet press into the matrices. The entrainment of the cores over a pitch circle of the rotor leads to elaborate measures for the positioning of the cores and the synchronization of the movement of the cores and the dies.

From the one device with the features of the preamble of claim 1 disclosed, JP 59 144599 A and GB 845 033 A are known devices for inserting inserts in matrices of rotary tablet presses, in which the depositors are guided by acted upon by a vacuum suction arms.

DE 10 23 191 B and US 2,879,724 A show devices for inserting inserts in matrices of rotary tablet presses in which core distributors are coupled via gear to the rotor of the rotary tablet press.

The invention has for its object to provide a device of the generic type, by means of which in a simple manner, a safe and accurate delivery of inserts in matrices of rotary tablet presses is possible.

According to the invention the object is achieved by a device having the features mentioned in claim 1. Characterized in that the at least one Kernaufnehmer by compressed air pneumatically controllable gripping elements for receiving the depositors, centering the depositors, for transporting the depositors and ejecting the depositor includes and valves are controlled via a fixed cam of the core distributor is advantageously possible, the deposit individually to supply specifically to the matrices. A transfer or insertion of the inserts (cores) in the matrices takes place in a defined point within the range in which overlap the trajectories of Kernaufnehmer and the matrices. The device for inserting the inserts can thus be provided as an additional module for rotary tablet presses and is einjustieren once. For this purpose, the device is so far radially on the rotor of the rotary tablet press to move that the overlap of the trajectory of the at least one core and the matrices results in a defined point on the radial on which the device with respect to the rotor Rotary tablet press is aligned.

Characterized in that the Kernaufnehmer comprises gripping elements for receiving the depositors, for centering the depositors, for transporting the depositors and for ejecting the depositors, a very targeted and reliable supply of depositors to the matrices is possible. Due to the multifunctionality of the gripping elements, the construction of the feed device, in particular of the core distributor, is simple and robust.

Characterized in that the gripping elements are pneumatically controlled by means of compressed air, wherein preferably the core distributor comprises a pneumatic connection which is in operative connection with valves, which serve to control the gripping elements, a very reliable and robust control of the gripping elements is possible.

It is achieved on the one hand, that the control of the valves safely and reliably always takes place at the right time and on the selection of the cam on the supplied depositors (core) can be tuned.

Furthermore, it is provided in a preferred embodiment of the invention that each gripping element four valves are assigned, namely for opening or closing of grippers and for receiving and ejecting the depositors. By assigning each of the four valves a single function, the reliability of the feeder, in particular the core distributor is ensured.

In addition, it is provided in a preferred embodiment that the rotor of the core distributor by a controllable drive, preferably by a stepper motor is driven. This makes it possible to easily synchronize the speed of the core distributor and the speed of the rotor of the rotary tablet press. Thus, a very accurate positioning of the inserts (cores) in the matrices becomes possible.

Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the feed device comprises a core feed device which forms a feed chain for the inserts (cores) with a core separator and the core distributor. As a result, a continuous supply of inserts from a supply with an indefinite number of depositors to the matrices is possible.

It is preferably provided that the core feed device comprises a rotatable conveyor which individually feeds the cores to the core distributor, wherein preferably the conveyor has positioning pockets for self-positioning of the separated inserts (cores). This advantageously makes it possible to first isolate the inserts and bring them into a defined position, so that they can be accurately positioned by the core distributor, in particular by the gripping tongs of the gripping elements of the core distributor, so that it is ensured that exactly one insert is received and this one inserter is fed to the defined transfer position to the die.

Further preferred embodiment of the invention will become apparent from the remaining, mentioned in the dependent claims characteristics.

The present invention thus proposes to make the transfer of the cores, or generally the preferably solid depositors into the matrices by means of a so-called core distributor. This core distributor has a rotor over its circumference a desired number, for example 18, Kernaufnehmer comprises. The core distributor and the die table of the tablet press overlap in a partial circle so that the core receivers can be brought into a precisely definable position above the dies of the die table.

The Kernaufnehmer have gripping elements by means of which the cores can be accommodated at a receiving position, the cores can be transported and can be delivered at the dispensing position above the matrices. The grippers are preferably pneumatically driven, so that the functions of the grippers, namely picking up the cores, centering of the cores, transporting the cores and ejecting the cores are possible by controlling corresponding valves.

The rotor of the core distributor is preferably driven electrically, for example by means of a servomotor. Thus, in a simple manner, a rotational speed of the rotor of the core distributor can be synchronized with the rotational speed of the rotor or die table of the tablet press. Other drives are conceivable. For example, by means of incremental encoders provided here, a coordinated control can take place, so that the exact positioning of the cores to the matrices is possible and these can thus be very centered in the matrices.

Figur 1

eine schematische Perspektivansicht einer Zuführanrichtung von Kernen/Einlegern zu einer Tablettenpresse;

Figur 2

eine schematische Perspektivansicht eines Aufnahmebereichs des Kernverteilers und

Figuren 3 bis 7

verschiedene Ansichten des Kernverteilers.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

FIG. 1

a schematic perspective view of a feed device of cores / inserts to a tablet press;

FIG. 2

a schematic perspective view of a receiving region of the core distributor and

FIGS. 3 to 7

different views of the core distributor.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a generally designated 10 feed device for cores to a generally designated 12 rotary tablet press. Structure and function of rotary tablet presses are well known, so that in the context of the present description will not be discussed in detail.

The core and subject of the invention is in particular the feeding device 10, which can be combined with a rotary tablet press 12.

The feeder 10 comprises a core distributor 14, a core feeder 16 and a core separator 18.

The Kernvereinzeler 18 leads individually, for example via an endless conveyor, the cores from a reservoir of the feeder 10 to. The cores are then individually transferred to the Kernzuführeinrichtung 16. The core feeder 16 includes a rotatable conveyor 20 having openings 22 on a circumferential line. Below the conveyor 20 is a fixed guide surface 24, for example, a disc or arranged in the region of the opening 22 ring arranged. This results in through the openings 22 conveyor pockets, in which the cores are inserted through the Kernvereinzeler 18. In each of the openings 22 (pockets) exactly one core comes to rest. Due to the design of the openings 22 - seen in plan view - these are brought into a precisely defined position during the transport movement of the cores. The cores are almost pushed over the guide surface 24 and come on - viewed in the direction of rotation behind - end of the openings 22 to a positioning stop. The direction of rotation is indicated by an arrow.

The core distributor 14 comprises a rotor 26 which has gripping elements 28 over its circumference. The gripping elements 28 have pincer-like grippers, which are pneumatically controllable. Via a pneumatic connection 30 indicated here, a compressed air supply to the core distributor 14 takes place. Valves 32, which are arranged in the core distributor 14 and can be activated via control cams 34, actuate the gripping elements 28. Thus, during the rotation of the rotor 26, a defined driving of the valves 32 of the gripping elements 28 take place. For each gripper element 28, four control valves 32 are provided which on the one hand open, close the grippers (grippers 44, FIG. 4 ), or a recording and ejection of the cores allow.

The rotor 26 of the core distributor 14 can be driven by a controllable drive, not shown in detail. This makes it possible to synchronize the speed or the stepping speed with which the rotor 26 changes its position to the rotation of the rotor 36 of the rotary tablet press 12. The rotary tablet press 12 is known to comprise a die table 38 which has dies 40 arranged on a peripheral line. Each die 40 is a lower punch and an upper punch assigned, of which schematically three upper punch 42 are indicated. About curves, the lifting movement of the lower and upper punches is known to be realized, so that it comes to filling the matrices 40, for pressing the filled into the matrices 40 media and for ejecting the finished tablets.

The representation in FIG. 1 illustrates that the core distributor 14 engages the rotor 36, wherein this is arranged above the die table 38 and below the upper punch 42. As a result, the gripping elements 28 can be brought into coincidence with the matrices 40, without the rotational movement of the rotor 36 of the tablet press 12 or the rotational movement of the rotor 26 of the core distributor 14 being impaired.

• Die in die Matrizen einzulegenden Kerne werden über den Kernvereinzeler 18 der Kernzuführeinrichtung 16 zugeführt. Die Kerne werden hier einzeln in die Öffnungen 22 eingebracht und zu dem Kernverteiler 14 transportiert. Im Bereich des Kernverteilers 14 ist die Führungsfläche 24 unterbrochen, so dass die Kerne quasi nach unten durchfallen und hier von Greifzangen 44 der Greifelemente 28 aufgenommen werden können. Die Greifzangen 44 bilden einen Aufnahmebereich aus der an die Größe und Form der einzulegenden Kerne angepasst ist. Die Greifzangen 44 können austauschbar sein, so dass eine Umrüstung auf unterschiedliche Kerngrößen und Kernformen ohne Probleme möglich ist.

In the FIG. 1 The arrangement shown has the following function:

• The cores to be inserted into the matrices are fed to the core feeder 16 via the core singler 18. The cores are here introduced individually into the openings 22 and transported to the core distributor 14. In the region of the core distributor 14, the guide surface 24 is interrupted, so that the cores can practically fall through downwards and can be picked up by gripping tongs 44 of the gripper elements 28 here. The gripper tongs 44 form a receiving area from which is adapted to the size and shape of the cores to be inserted. The gripping tongs 44 can be exchangeable, so that conversion to different core sizes and core shapes without problems is possible.

FIG. 2 illustrates the transfer region between the Kernzuführeinrichtung 16 and the core distributor 14. The rotor 26 of the core distributor 14 has a fixed guide surface 46 perforated by the Kernzuführeinrichtung 16 at least in the transfer of the cores and can be acted upon by a negative pressure. As a result, the cores are sucked virtually to the guide surface 46 and held in position. The grippers 44 are then closed by operating the associated pneumatic control valves 32 via the cams 34, as shown in FIG FIG. 2 from the open position 44 and the closed position 44 'becomes clear. The gripper tongs 44 then transport the cores into the region of the rotor 36 of the tablet press 12. The receiving region of the gripper tongs 44 is hereby guided over in each case one die 40 that is just passing past it. If the receiving region of the gripping tongs 44 is located above a die 40, a plunger 48 located above the receiving region of the gripping tongs 44 is controlled via the pneumatic control of the core distributor 14. This pushes the core down from the tongs 44 out into the corresponding die 40. The plunger 48 is also driven via the cam 34.

It will be clear that the arrangement of the core distributor 14 enables a continuous supply of cores to the dies 40. The synchronized control of both the core distributor 14 and the Kernzuführeinrichtung 16 is the drive control of the rotor 36 of the rotary tablet press accurate and accurate feeding each core into a die 40 possible, in which case in particular a central, that is defined, placement of the Cores takes place.

In the FIGS. 3 to 7 different views of the core distributor 14 are shown. In particular, it becomes clear that a series of gripping elements 28, in this case 18 pieces, are arranged in a star shape over the circumference of the rotor 26. These are all controllable by a central compressed air port 30 by four associated compressed air valves. By means of fixed cams a simple pneumatic control of the gripping elements 28 can be realized. In particular, a defined uptake of the cores, a secure transport and a defined, the individual matrices 40 associated, delivery of the cores in a secure manner possible.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

feeding

12

Rotary tablet press

14

core distribution

16

core supply

18

Kernvereinzeler

20

rotatable conveyor

22

opening

24

fixed guide surface

26

Rotor of the core distributor 14

28

gripping elements

30

central compressed air connection

32

control valves

34

cams

36

rotor

38

die table

40

die

42

upper punch

44

tongs

44 '

closed position

46

guide surface

48

tappet

Claims (7)

1. A device for inserting inserts into the dies (40) of a rotary tablet press (12) comprising a feed device, by means of which separated inserts are moved into alignment with a die of the rotary tablet press, which feed device (10) comprises a core distributor (14), the core distributor (14) has a drivable rotor (26), which comprises at least one core receptacle over its circumference, and a movement path of the at least one core receptacle and a movement path of the dies (40) of the rotary tablet press intersect in a reference circle,
   characterised in that
   the at least one core receptacle comprises gripper elements (28) controlled pneumatically by compressed air for receiving the inserts, for centring the inserts, for transporting the inserts and for ejecting the inserts and in that the core distributor (14) comprises a pneumatic connection (30), which is in operative connection with valves (32), which are used for controlling the gripper elements (28) and wherein the valves (32) can be controlled by a stationary control cam (34) of the core distributor (14) for controlling the gripper elements.
2. The device according to any one of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   four valves (32) are assigned to each gripper element (28) for opening or closing gripper tongs (44) and for receiving and ejecting the inserts.
3. The device according to any one of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   the rotor (26) of the core distributor (14) can be driven by a controllable drive.
4. The device according to claim 3,
   characterised in that
   the rotor (26) can be driven by a stepping motor.
5. The device according to any one of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   the feed device (10) comprises a core feed device (16), which, with a core separator (18) and the core distributor (14), forms a feed chain for the inserts.
6. The device according to any one of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   the core feed device (16) comprises a rotatable conveyor (20), which supplies the inserts individually to the core distributor (14) in a defined manner.
7. The device according to claim 6,
   characterised in that
   the conveyor (20) comprises positioning pockets (22) for self-positioning of the separated inserts.

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