Machine for filling containers with at least one powdered product

Abstract

In a continuous machine for filling containers with at least one powdered product, each container is fed along a path phased with a corresponding metering device, which transfers the product from a tank to the container, and has a cylinder and a piston axially movable under the bias of corresponding tappets engaged in corresponding cams; the cam of the piston having a horizontal segment, which keeps the piston on the upper surface of the product during the insertion of the cylinder into the product itself, and whose vertical position is selectively controlled according to a height of the product in the tank.

1 . A machine for filling containers ( 3 ), in particular capsules, with at least one powdered product, in particular a pharmaceutical product, the machine comprising conveying means ( 15 ) for continuously feeding each container ( 3 ) along a given path (P); a tank ( 17 ) for the product; at least one metering wheel ( 4 ) mounted to continuously rotate about a longitudinal axis thereof ( 6 ); a plurality of metering devices ( 19 ), each of which includes a corresponding cylinder ( 29 ) and a corresponding piston ( 38 ), and is fed by the metering wheel ( 4 ) firstly through a first withdrawal station ( 20 ) of a given amount of product from the tank ( 17 ) and then along a portion of the path (P) phased with a corresponding container ( 3 ) for transferring the product into the container ( 3 ) itself; and an actuating device for axially displacing each cylinder ( 29 ) and the corresponding piston ( 38 ) in a direction ( 26 ) parallel to said axis ( 6 ), the actuating device comprising a first cam ( 35 ) extending about said axis ( 6 ), a first tappet ( 34 ) carried by the piston ( 38 ) and engaged in the first cam ( 35 ) , a second cam ( 25 ) extending about said axis ( 6 ), and a second tappet ( 24 ) carried by the cylinder ( 29 ) and engaged in the second cam ( 25 ), the first cam ( 35 ) comprising a first segment substantially parallel to the second cam ( 25 ) and a substantially horizontal second segment ( 40 ), which is connected to the first segment, and is arranged at the withdrawal station ( 20 ) for keeping the piston ( 38 ) on the upper surface of the product contained in the tank ( 17 ) during the insertion of the cylinder ( 29 ) into the product itself; and being characterized in that it comprises a first adjustment device ( 51 ,  53 ) for selectively controlling the position of the second segment ( 40 ) in said direction ( 26 ) according to a height (h) of the product in said tank ( 17 ). 
   
   
       2 . A machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the second segment ( 40 ) is movable, with respect to the first segment, with a rotational-translational movement along and about said axis ( 6 ). 
   
   
       3 . A machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the second segment ( 40 ) has a substantially helical shape. 
   
   
       4 . A machine according to  claim 1  and further comprising a guiding channel ( 42 ), which is helically wound along and about said axis ( 6 ), and is slidingly engaged by said second segment ( 40 ). 
   
   
       5 . A machine according to  claim 1  and further comprising a second adjustment device ( 47 ) for selectively controlling the height (h) of the product in the tank ( 17 ). 
   
   
       6 . A machine according to  claim 5 , wherein said first and second adjustment devices ( 51 ,  53 ,  47 ) comprise corresponding actuating motors reciprocally interconnected and phased. 
   
   
       7 . A machine according to  claim 5 , wherein the second adjustment device ( 47 ) comprises a leveling member ( 46 ) movable in said direction ( 26 ) with respect to a bottom wall of the tank ( 17 ); said first and second adjustment devices ( 51 ,  53 ,  47 ) comprising a single actuating motor ( 51 ), a first drive assembly ( 53 ) for connecting together the actuating motor ( 51 ) and the second segment ( 40 ), and a second drive assembly ( 48 ,  49 ) for connecting together the drive motor ( 51 ) and the leveling member ( 46 ). 
   
   
       8 . A machine according to  claim 7 , wherein the first drive assembly ( 53 ) comprises a drive member ( 60 ) connected to said second segment ( 40 ) by means of a worm-helical wheel coupling. 
   
   
       9 . A machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the second segment ( 40 ) and the second cam ( 25 ) mutually cooperate to axially and reciprocally displace the cylinder ( 29 ) and the piston ( 38 ) in said direction ( 26 ) so as to define a metering chamber ( 43 ); the first and second cams ( 35 ,  25 ) being reciprocally movable in said direction ( 26 ) for selectively controlling a height (H) of the metering chamber ( 43 ).