Capsule filling machine and method for producing hard gelatin capsules

Abstract

A method for production of hard gelatin capsules (C) having a lid ( 3 ) and body ( 2 ) containing a quantity ( 1 ) of pharmaceutical material including feeding empty capsules along a handling line (L); separating the capsule bodies ( 2 ) from the lids ( 3 ) to form two separate rows of capsule bodies ( 2 ) and lids ( 3 ); feeding and dosing the quantities ( 1 ) of pharmaceutical material to be filled into the capsule bodies ( 2 ); and closing the capsules (C) by placing a lid ( 3 ) over each respective body ( 2 ). A mechanism ( 9 ) for detecting and volumetrically checking the quantity ( 1 ) of pharmaceutical material filled into each capsule body ( 2 ) is provided and includes a transducer ( 5 ) measuring the volume of the quantities ( 1 ) before they are filled into the capsule bodies ( 2 ).

1 . A method for producing hard gelatin capsules each including a lid and a body containing a quantity of pharmaceutical material, the method comprising: feeding closed empty capsules to an opening station where the capsule bodies are separated from the lids to form two separate rows of capsule bodies and lids; filling each capsule body with a predetermined quantity of pharmaceutical material; and closing the capsule bodies, filled with the quantities, by placing the lids over the respective bodies; the method further comprising measuring the height of the quantities placed inside dosing chambers by means of a volume transducer element generating a signal representative of the height of the quantity, the signal being elaborated by a control and processing unit configured to calculate a volume of the quantity of pharmaceutical material in the dosing chambers, the measuring being performed before each quantity of pharmaceutical material is inserted into the respective capsule body. 
   
   
       2 . A method as in  claim 1 , further comprising moving the dosing chambers to place each chamber in correspondence of the volume transducer element. 
   
   
       3 . A method as in  claim 2 , wherein the dosing chambers are provided in a dosing disc, the moving of the dosing chambers being performed by rotating the dosing disc. 
   
   
       4 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein the measuring of the height of the quantities placed inside dosing chambers comprises driving a sliding detecting element of the volume transducer element into the dosing chambers. 
   
   
       5 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein the filling of each capsule body comprises moving the capsule body from a first position away from the dosing chambers to a second position in which each capsule is positioned coaxially under a respective dosing chamber.