Metering device for tablets and method for metering tablets

Abstract

The application relates to a metering device for tablets, in particular for micro tablets, as well as to an associated metering method. The metering device includes a fixed device part and a metering element which rotates in a plane of rotation having several tablet receiving elements. The plane of rotation lies at an angle of inclination of no more than 30° with respect to the weight force direction. The tablet receiving elements are open in at least one lateral direction with reference to the rotating plane. The fixed device part includes a feeder surface for the tablets which, with reference to the weight force direction, is arranged in the bottom region of metering element and at the side next to metering element, wherein the feeder surface borders on the metering element by way of a lead-in edge at the level of the tablet receiving elements.

1 . A metering device for metering tablets, said metering device comprising:
 a fixed device part,   a metering element, which rotates in a plane of rotation, having several tablet receiving elements, wherein a plane of rotation lies at an angle of inclination of no more than 30° with respect to the weight force direction, wherein the tablet receiving elements are open in at least one lateral direction with reference to the plane of rotation and the fixed device part,   a feeder surface for the tablets which, with reference to the weight force direction, is arranged in the bottom region of the metering element and at the side next to the metering element, wherein the feeder surface borders on the metering element by way of a lead-in edge at the level of the tablet receiving elements.   
     
     
         2 . The metering device according to  claim 1 , wherein the metering element is realized as a metering wheel which is rotatable about a rotational axis. 
     
     
         3 . The metering device according to  claim 1 , wherein the plane of rotation lies at an angle of inclination of no more than 15° with respect to the weight force direction. 
     
     
         4 . The metering device according to  claim 1 , wherein the plane of rotation lies parallel to the weight force direction. 
     
     
         5 . The metering device according to  claim 1 , wherein the metering element includes a basic body and entrainment elements which project from the basic body in a radial manner, wherein the entrainment elements lie spaced apart from one another in a direction of rotation and as a result in each case define between them a tablet receiving element. 
     
     
         6 . The metering device according to  claim 5 , wherein a separation gap, which, with reference to the weight force direction, is arranged in the bottom region as well as radially outside the metering element, is realized in the fixed device part, wherein the separation gap is defined radially inside by the lead-in edge of the feeder surface. 
     
     
         7 . The metering device according to  claim 6 , wherein the separation gap is connected to a suction device. 
     
     
         8 . The metering device according to  claim 5 , wherein the entrainment elements, radially outside, in each case comprise a tapered portion by way of which they project into the separation gap. 
     
     
         9 . The metering device according to  claim 5 , wherein the entrainment elements comprise a front entrainment face, with reference to the direction of rotation, wherein the entrainment faces lie in each case at a positive entrainment angle with reference to the radial direction. 
     
     
         10 . The metering device according to  claim 1 , wherein the feeder surface is inclined toward metering element at a surface angle of no more than 50° with respect to the horizontal direction. 
     
     
         11 . The metering device according to  claim 1 , wherein the feeder surface is inclined toward metering element at a surface angle of no more than 30° with respect to the horizontal direction. 
     
     
         12 . The metering device according to  claim 1 , wherein metering device comprises a tablet outlet with a counting device for the tablets. 
     
     
         13 . The metering device according to  claim 1 , where in the direction of rotation the metering element comprises a row of tablet receiving elements which, with reference to the plane of rotation, are open in only one lateral direction and closed in the opposite lateral direction. 
     
     
         14 . The metering device according to  claim 1 , wherein on the two opposite sides the metering element comprises tablet receiving elements which are open toward the lateral faces of the metering element and which are separated from one another by way of a central partition wall. 
     
     
         15 . The metering device according to  claim 1 , wherein several metering elements which are realized as metering wheels are combined to form one unit which is rotatable about a common rotational axis, wherein the metering wheels are provided with spokes and run through a common tablet store. 
     
     
         16 . The metering device according to  claim 15 , wherein the fixed device part comprises a fill level sensor which is directed through between the spokes onto the tablet store. 
     
     
         17 . The metering device according to  claim 16 , wherein the spokes are spaced apart from one another at irregular angular distances. 
     
     
         18 . A method for metering tablets using a metering device according to  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises:
 providing a tablet store with tablets in a bottom portion of the metering device with reference to the weight force direction;   rotating the metering element and supplying tablets from the tablet store laterally to the tablet receiving elements by way of the feeder surface;   receiving at least one tablet in each tablet receiving element;   transporting the tablets in the tablet receiving elements to the tablet outlet by way of the metering element;   counting the tablets and supplying said tablets in a counted number from the tablet receiving elements through the tablet outlet to a target container.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the tablet receiving elements receive precisely one tablet in each case. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the metering element rotates continually, wherein the tablet receiving elements continuously receive tablets. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20 , further comprising:
 forming contiguous rows of tablet receiving elements containing tablets in a desired, counted number as a result of ejecting tablets from their tablet receiving elements in a selective manner, wherein between the rows of tablet receiving elements with tablets further rows of tablet receiving elements without tablets are formed; and   repeating a cycle comprising the following steps:   (a) supplying through the tablet outlet to the target container the tablets in one of the contiguous rows to tablet receiving elements containing tablets, and   (b) changing the target container while a subsequent row of tablet receiving elements without tablets passes the tablet outlet.   
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 20 , further comprising:
 continuously guiding to the tablet outlet the tablet receiving elements which are continuously provided with tablets; and   repeating a cycle comprising the following steps:   (a) ejecting the tablets from their tablet receiving elements in the desired, counted number at the tablet outlet and supplying the tablets to the target container by way of the tablet outlet,   (b) guiding any following tablets past the tablet outlet and back to the tablet store, and   (c) changing the target container while the tablets are being returned.   
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the metering element comprises at least one continuing and defined row of consecutive tablet receiving elements, which correspond in their number to the desired, counted number of tablets, and which is followed by a segment without tablet receiving elements, wherein the method further comprises:
 repeating a cycle comprising the following steps:   (a) ejecting the tablets at the tablet outlet from the continuous, defined row of tablet receiving elements and supplying the tablets to the target container by way of the tablet outlet, and   (b) changing the target container while the following segment without any tablet receiving elements passes the tablet outlet.   
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 18 , further comprising:
 repeating a cycle comprising the following steps:   (a) rotating the metering element in a pulsed manner,   (b) moving a row of consecutive tablet receiving elements, which correspond in their number to the desired, counted number of tablets, within a metering pulse to the tablet outlet where the tablets are ejected from their respective tablet receiving elements and supplying the tablets to the target container by way of the tablet outlet,   (c) following the metering pulse with a rest pulse in which the metering element stands still, and   (d) changing the target container during the rest pulse.   
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the tablets which are supplied to the target container are counted in the tablet outlet by way of the counting device, and in the case of a lesser quantity being ascertained, the number of tablets missing is additionally supplied. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein unwanted part quantities of the tablet store such as tablet fragments or tablet dust are removed through the separation gap. 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein the unwanted part quantities are sucked out through the separation gap by way of the suction device.