Device for the Monitored Filling of Containers with Tablets

Abstract

A device for the monitored filling of containers with tablets which includes a feed device for feeding tablets to a free-fall section and a capacitive sensor for checking each falling tablet in the free-fell section. In addition, the device includes a separating device for separating the bad tablets from the good tablets, the separating device being located below or underneath the sensor in the free-fall section. A control unit is included which is connected to the separating device and which actuates the separating device on the basis of the values supplied by the capacitive sensor.

1 . A device for the monitored filling of containers with tablets, comprising
 a feed device for feeding tablets to a free-fall section,   a capacitive sensor for checking each falling tablet in the free-fall section,   a separating device for separating the bad tablets from the good tablets, the separating device being located below the sensor in the free-fall section, and   a control unit, which is connected to the separating device and is adapted to actuate the separating device on the basis of the values supplied by the sensor.   
   
   
       2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a voltage generator for a high-frequency alternating electrical field, two opposing, vertically oriented capacitor plates given opposite, rapidly reversing charges by the voltage generator, and an ammeter. 
   
   
       3 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein the alternating electrical field has a frequency in the range between approximately 500 kHz and approximately 10 MHz. 
   
   
       4 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is able to detect more than approximately 1,000 tablets per minute. 
   
   
       5 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is able to record the data of a tablet within a time window of less than approximately 100 ms. 
   
   
       6 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein the capacitor plates have a height of approximately 5 to approximately 20 mm, and the distance between them is in the range of approximately 5 to approximately 30 mm. 
   
   
       7 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a camera, which is positioned above the sensor and is connected to the control unit. 
   
   
       8 . The device according to  claim 7 , wherein the control unit is adapted to actuate the separating device on the basis of the information supplied by the camera. 
   
   
       9 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the separating device is designed as an air blast device, which aims a jet of air sideways against selected falling tablets. 
   
   
       10 . A method for the monitored filling of containers with tablets comprising the steps of:
 feeding tablets to a free-fall section;   checking each falling tablet in the free-fall section by means of a capacitive sensor;   separating, in a controlled manner, the bad tablets from the good tablets underneath the sensor in the free-fall section on the basis of the values supplied by the sensor.   
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the sensor records the data of a tablet within a time window of less than approximately 100 ms. 
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein a camera above the sensor records information on each tablet, and this information is used together with the values supplied by the sensor as a basis for controlled separation. 
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the separation step comprises the step of aiming a jet of air sideways against selected falling tablets.