Method and Device for Filling Containers

Abstract

A method and device for filling a container with tablets; the device has a conveyor for feeding the container through a number of filling stations, at each of which is located a respective dispenser unit for dropping a predetermined number of tablets from the bottom end of a stack of tablets into the container.

1 . A method of filling a container with articles, the method comprising a step of:
 feeding the container along a path through a first filling station where at least a first article is fed into the container through an opening of the container; and   feeding the container through at least a second filling station where at least a second article is fed into the container through the opening of the container,   wherein the first articles are fed to the first filling station successively, so as to define a first stack of the first articles and the second articles are fed to the second filling station successively, so as to define a second stack ( 36 ) of the second articles.   
   
   
       2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first article is detached from a relative end of the first stack, and then fed into the container. 
   
   
       3 . The method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the first article is fed downwards into the container. 
   
   
       4 . The method as claimed in  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a standby step, wherein the first article is maintained in a position over the path; and   a release step, wherein the first article is allowed to move downwards away from the first stack and into the container,   wherein in the course of the release step, the first stack being is maintained substantially fixed, and the container is positioned at the first filling station.   
   
   
       5 . The method as claimed in  claim 4 , further comprising a loading step, wherein the first stack is advanced until relative end of the first stack reaches the position over the path. 
   
   
       6 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first stack is fed downwards to the first filling station. 
   
   
       7 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second article is fed to the second filling station and into the container as defined for the first article. 
   
   
       8 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the container is conveyed along the path. 
   
   
       9 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the container is fed along the path through a third filling station downstream from the first filling station; the method further comprising a control step to determine whether the first article is fed into the container and, in the event the first article is not fed into the container, at least a third article is fed into the container through the opening of the container at the third filling station. 
   
   
       10 . The method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the third article is fed to the third filling station and into the container as defined for the first article. 
   
   
       11 . A device for filling a container, the device comprising:
 a conveyor assembly for feeding the container through a first filling station;   a first feed assembly located at the first filling station to feed at least a first article into the container through an opening of the container, wherein the conveyor assembly feeds the container through at least a second filling station;   a second feed assembly located at the second filling station to feed at least a second article into the container through the opening of the container, the first feed assembly feeding the first articles successively to the first filling station, so as to define a first stack of the first articles and the second feed assembly feeding the second articles successively to the second filling station, so as to define a second stack of the second articles.   
   
   
       12 . The device as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the first feed assembly comprises a dispenser unit for detaching the first article from an end of the first stack and feeding the first article into the container. 
   
   
       13 . The device as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the dispenser unit comprises:
 first retaining means for retaining the first article in a position over a path;   second retaining means for retaining the first stack directly over the position; and   control means for activating the first retaining means and simultaneously deactivating the second retaining means, the control means also activating the second retaining means and simultaneously deactivating the first retaining means to feed the first article downwards into the container.   
   
   
       14 . The device as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the first retaining means comprise a first supporting member for supporting the first article from underneath, and a first arm connected substantially integrally to the first supporting member and crosswise to the first supporting member; the second retaining means comprise a second supporting member for supporting the second stack from underneath, and a second arm connected substantially integrally to the second supporting member and crosswise to the second supporting member; and the control means comprises a connecting member connected integrally to the first and second arm, and mounted to oscillate about an axis crosswise to the first and second supporting member. 
   
   
       15 . The device as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the first feed assembly comprises a feed conduit for feeding the first articles, stacked one on top of another, downwards to the dispenser unit; and the feed conduit comprises an elastically deformable coiled sheath, inside which the first articles slide in use. 
   
   
       16 . The device as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the second feed assembly comprises a feed conduit for feeding the second articles, stacked one on top of another, downwards to the dispenser unit; and the feed conduit comprises an elastically deformable coiled sheath, inside which the second articles slide in use. 
   
   
       17 . The device as claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising at least a third feed assembly downstream from the first feed assembly and for feeding at least a third article into the container; detecting means for determining whether the first article is fed into the container; and a control unit for activating the third feed assembly on the basis of the findings of the detecting means. 
   
   
       18 . The device as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the third feed assembly comprises a feed conduit for feeding the third articles, stacked one on top of another, downwards to the dispenser unit; and the feed conduit comprises an elastically deformable coiled sheath, inside which the third articles slide in use. 
   
   
       19 . A method of filling a container with articles, the method comprising the step of:
 feeding the container along a path through a first filling station where at least a first article is fed into the container through an opening of the container, the container being fed through at least a second filling station; and   a control step to determine whether the first article is fed into the container; and, in the event the first article is not fed into the container, at least a second article is fed into the container through the opening of the container at the second filling station.   
   
   
       20 . The method as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the first articles are fed to the first filling station successively, so as to define a first stack of the first articles and the second articles are fed to the second filling station successively, so as to define a second stack of the second articles. 
   
   
       21 . A device for filling a container, the device comprising:
 a conveyor assembly for feeding the container through a first filling station;   a first feed assembly located at the first filling station to feed at least a first article into the container through an opening of the container;   at least a second feed assembly, located at a second filling station downstream from the first feed assembly, to feed at least a second article into the container;   detecting means for determining whether the first article is fed into the container; and   a control unit for activating the second feed assembly on the basis of the findings of the detecting means, wherein the conveyor assembly feeds the container through the second filling station.   
   
   
       22 . (canceled) 
   
   
       23 . The device as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the first feed assembly feeds the first articles successively to the first filling station, so as to define a first stack of the first articles and the second feed assembly feeds the second articles successively to the second filling station, so as to define a second stack of the second articles.