APPARATUS FOR INSERTING INSERTS INTO DIES OF A TABLET PRESS

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an apparatus for inserting inserts into dies of a tablet press, said apparatus having a feed device with a transfer wheel which is provided with pockets for receiving singled-out inserts, having an insert unit for taking over inserts from the transfer wheel and for transferring the taken-over inserts into the dies of the tablet press downstream, as well as having means for transferring inserts to the pockets of the transfer wheel.

[0002] An apparatus of this type, as is known from EP 2 110 232 A2, is used in the case of tablet presses by means of which single-layer or multi-layered tablets are produced which include a core, a so-called insert, in their interior. Said cores or inserts, in this case, have to be supplied individually and in a centred manner to a die of the tablet press, after said die has already been filled in part with powder, from which the tablet is pressed. In the case of the apparatus known from EP 2 110 232 A2, the inserts are separated into singles initially for this purpose from a certain quantity by means of a feed device by, in each case, one single insert being moved in each case into one of several pockets which are situated on the circumference of a transfer wheel. For this purpose, the inserts are inserted into the pockets by means of a mechanism for separating the cores into singles.

[0003] The known apparatus cannot be used in this form for the purpose of processing small microchips as inserts which, according to more recent technical developments, can also be pressed as cores into tablets and, after consumption of the corresponding tablet by the patient, serve as an aid for remote diagnosis. These types of sensors, which are described, for example, in the journal "VDI news, 21^st September 2012, No. 38, Page 3", are usually packaged in strip-shaped supply ribbons, from which they then have to be removed and supplied for further processing. The processing of such strip-shaped supply ribbons is not possible using the known apparatus and it is the object of the invention to take remedial action in this respect.

[0004] JP S59 144598 discloses a similar apparatus of the type according to the preamble of claims 1 and 3, using several suctions arms, each being movable up and down and positioned on a wheel, which rotates in synchronous manner with the rotary disc of a tablet press.

[0005] WO 02 /067647 A2 discloses a bonder with a transfer device for transfering micro-electronic components to a bonding station where the micro-electronic component is bond to a prefabricated group. The transfer device uses a transfer wheel having a number of retainer arms with a recess for each micro-eletronic component and pick-up elements being movable up and down to transfer the micro-electronic component from a strip-shaped supply ribbon to the recess within the transfer wheel. The retainer arms protrude over the circumference of the transfer wheels in order to provide gaps between two neighboured recesses, which gaps are necessary in order to be able to take up the micro-electronic component from the take-up position on the ribbon below the transfer wheel to a transfer position above the wheel.

[0006] The object of the present invention is achieved with an apparatus for inserting inserts according to claim 1 and an apparatus for inserting inserts according to claim 3.

[0007] In a first aspect of the present invention, the means for transferring inserts include at least two grippers which , in a synchronous or alternating manner , take over inserts from the supply ribbon and transfer them into different pockets on the transfer wheel, as a result of which the apparatus according to the invention is able to make the inserts available sufficiently quickly even for a high-speed tablet press.

[0008] Each gripper is preferably provided in each case with a suction pipette by way of which the insert to be transferred can be sucked up and is held whilst the transfer movement is carried out. The suction pipette can also be actable upon with compressed air such that the insert transferred to the transfer position is able to be ejected in a targeted manner into the pocket provided for it by means of a blast of compressed air.

[0009] In an expedient manner, the supply ribbon can be conveyed from a supply roll to the take-over position by means of a ribbon conveying device which preferably operates in a clocked manner. It is additionally advantageous when at least two supply rolls with supply ribbons carrying inserts are provided with associated ribbon conveying devices which are activatable one after another for supplying inserts to the take-over position. As a result of said redundant arrangement, the apparatus can continue to operate without interruptions when a first supply roll of supply ribbon comes to the end, for then the ribbon conveying device for the supply ribbon of the second supply roll can be activated and the inserts are then removed out of said second supply ribbon, whilst the first supply roll is exchanged for a new, full roll.

[0010] In an advantageous further development of the invention , it is additionally provided that a comminution device for the supply ribbon which has been emptied of inserts is provided behind the take-over position in the conveying direction of each supply ribbon. Said comminution device comprises, for example, at least one cutting blade and one collecting container for ribbon portions which have been cut off by the cutting blade.

[0011] In a second aspect of the present invention the transfer wheel is associated with an air flow centring device which corrects the position of the inserts in the pockets and can extend over a circumferential portion of the transfer wheel and be provided with a compressed air connection and/or a negative pressure connection in order to generate an air flow which cent r es the inserts in the pockets which are acted upon.

[0012] In this way, the correct position of the inserts in the pockets of the transfer wheel is ensured and a reliable take-over of the inserts out of the pockets of the transfer wheel is guaranteed.

[0013] The insert unit preferably comprises a rotating gripper star which is synchronized with the transfer wheel and has several gripper pipettes which are provided with suction holder heads which can be moved up and down whilst the gripper star rotates. In this case, the gripper star preferably has associated therewith a centring device for aligning inserts which have been taken over out of the pockets of the transfer wheel by the suction holder heads , which centring device can comprise a centring disc which rotates with the gripper star and has centring openings, the number and position of which are adapted to the suction holder heads, the size of which openings is adapted to the size of the inserts, the suction holder heads, when moving up and down, conveying the taken-over inserts at least a little further into or through the centring openings. During said movement through the centring openings the inserts are aligned precisely by said centring openings.

[0014] The movement up and down of the suction holder heads can be controlled in a preferred manner by cams and/or pressure rollers. In an expedient manner, the arrangement is such that, during or at the end of a first downward movement, the suction holder heads in each case suck up one insert which is situated in a pocket on the transfer wheel and hold it as a result of negative pressure and during a following upward movement insert it into the associated centring opening or move it through said centring opening and during or at the end of a second downward movement transfer it into a die of the tablet press. In order to ensure the centring process in a reliable manner and also to prevent inserts impacting against an edge of the centring opening and being unintentionally stripped away from the suction holder head, the centring openings preferably comprise a conically tapering centring wall.

[0015] Further features and advantages of the invention are produced from the following description and the drawing, in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail by way of an example, and in which:

Fig. 1 shows a perspective representation of an overall view of an apparatus according to the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view obliquely from above of a detail of the apparatus according to Fig. 1 in the region of a device for transferring inserts to the transfer wheel;

Fig. 3 shows an enlarged representation in perspective of the transfer wheel of the apparatus according to Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 shows an enlarged representation in perspective of the insert unit of the apparatus according to Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 shows a cutout of the insert unit according to Fig. 4 in the region of a centring station; and

Fig. 6 shows a side view and partial section of an individual gripper pipette of the insert unit according to Fig. 4 and 5.

[0016] The apparatus designated overall by the reference 10 in Fig. 1 serves for the purpose of inserting very small microchips as inserts (cores) into the dies of a tablet press, by means of which the so-called 'intelligent pills' are to be produced. Tablets with microchips located therein, which can only be 1 mm² in size and 0.45 mm thick, can transmit a signal to a receiver outside the body of the patient confirming that the patient has consumed the tablet including the time at which it was consumed and, as a result, makes a monitoring process possible. The invention is not only suitable, however, for processing microchips of this kind, but is also suitable in general for the production of tablets which are provided with a core or insert in their interior.

[0017] The apparatus 10 comprises a feed device 11 with a transfer wheel 12 which is provided with pockets 13 which, in each case, serve for receiving one single microchip/insert 14. Downstream of the transfer wheel 12 is an insert unit 15, by means of which the inserts 14 are taken over from the transfer wheel 12 and transferred into the dies 16 of a tablet press connected downstream, of which just the die unit 17 with the die disc 18 is shown in the drawing for reasons of clarity, in the dies 16 of which tablet press the tablets are pressed from powder by means of punches (not shown) that can be moved up and down, as is known and is not to be explained here in any more detail.

[0018] In order to transfer the inserts 14 into the pockets 13 of the transfer wheel 12, the apparatus 10 is provided with means for transferring inserts to the pockets of the transfer wheel in the form of a taper unit which is designated overall by the reference 19. The taper unit 19 has a framework 20 with two receiving means 21, on which in each case a reel 22 with a supply ribbon 23 wound thereon is received so as to be exchangeable. The microchip inserts 14 are stored in the supply ribbon 23 in ribbon pockets (not visible) underneath a protective foil 24.

[0019] The taper unit 19 has two ribbon removal devices 26 which convey the ribbons from the two reels 22 optionally to a take-over position 25 and are arranged on the top of the framework 20. Each of the two ribbon removal devices 26 has associated therewith a take-up reel 27, by means of which, directly prior to the take-over position 25, the protective foil 24 is removed from the supply ribbon just processed and wound on in order, as a result, to open the ribbon pockets located in the supply ribbon and to expose the inserts 14 received therein. In the region of the take-over position 25 the taper unit 19 is provided with two grippers 28, by means of which two inserts from the just processed supply ribbon 23 are taken over either synchronously or one after the other at short intervals from the supply ribbon 23 at the take-over position 25 and by pivoting their gripper arm 29 are transferred to transfer positions 30 which are situated above the transfer wheel 12 on the graduated circle of the pockets 13 arranged therein , such that each gripper is able to insert an insert that it holds precisely into one of the pockets on the transfer wheel, when said pockets move past below the gripper arm pivoted to the transfer position.

[0020] Each of the grippers 28 is provided in each case with a suction pipette (not shown in any more detail), by way of which one insert in each case can always be sucked up from the supply ribbon in the take-over position 25 and by means of which the insert is held securely during the conveying movement from the take-over position to the transfer position. In order to support the ejecting of the insert in the transfer position, the suction pipette can be actable upon with compressed air, by means of which a short blast of compressed air at the desired moment suddenly eliminates the negative pressure, by means of which the insert is taken over from the supply ribbon and held during conveying.

[0021] As can be seen easily from the drawing, the two grippers 28 take over one insert in each case out of one and the same supply ribbon 23, whilst the second supply ribbon (on the left in Fig. 2) is situated in a waiting position. When the first supply ribbon (on the right in Fig. 2) nears its end, a switchover is made to removal of the inserts from the second supply ribbon which feeds from the left, the reel 22 at the right-hand receiving means 21 of the framework can then be exchanged for a new reel.

[0022] Not shown in detail in the drawing is a comminution device , which is arranged on the taper unit 19 in the region of the take-over position in the direction of movement of the supply ribbon directly behind the two grippers and by means of which the supply ribbon 23, which is emptied once the inserts have been taken over, is cut into short ribbon portions which are then transferred to a collecting container provided below the ribbon removal devices. The comminution machine has, for this purpose, at least one cutting blade which cuts said supply ribbon in a clocked manner into ribbon portions which are preferably uniform in size in a manner which is synchronized with the feed rate for the supply ribbon.

[0023] If we now turn to the detailed representation of the transfer wheel 12 in Fig. 3, it can be seen that at the transfer position 30 the microchips 14 are initially transferred into the pockets 13 in a non-centred position. The pockets 13 in the transfer wheel 12 have larger dimensions than the inserts 14 in order to ensure that the inserts are also deposited by the grippers in each case in a precise manner into a pocket and do not end up lying next to a pocket. In order to be able to correct the position of the inserts 14 in the pockets whilst the transfer wheel is rotating, an air flow centring device 31 is provided behind the transfer position 30 in the direction of rotation 32, said air flow centring device consisting of a lower centring segment 33 and an upper centring segment 34. The lower centring segment is provided with a vacuum connection 35 and on its top side which abuts sealingly against the bottom side of the transfer wheel 12 is equipped with an arcuate negative pressure channel 36 which lies on the graduated circle of the pockets 13 and is connected to the vacuum connection 35. In a similar manner, the upper centring segment has several air connections 37 in the form of bores which penetrate the upper centring segment from top to bottom. In addition, it can be seen that the pockets 13 in the transfer wheel 12 taper rearward somewhat in the direction of rotation 32 of the transfer wheel and in each case comprise at the rear end 38 a small bore 39, the dimension of which in every case is smaller than that of the insert 14 received in the pocket. When the transfer wheel 12 with the inserts then inserted into the pockets passes through the air flow centring device 31, compressed air or air from the surrounding area at atmospheric pressure flows through the air bores 37 into the pockets 13 moved past below the outlet openings 40 of said air flow centring device and through the small bores 39 provided at the rear ends of said pockets into the vacuum channel 36 on the lower centring segment 33, where it is sucked up again by means of the vacuum connection 35. Said positive flow causes the inserts to be moved by the flowing air in the pockets toward the rear end, where they then abut against the rear pocket edge and close the bore which is then under them and, when achieving said required position, interrupt a further flow of air at the rear edge. When the transfer wheel leaves the centring device 31, all the microchips are then situated in a precisely defined required position on the rear edge 38 of the pockets 13, as can be seen in Fig. 3 in the left-hand region of the drawing.

[0024] The insert unit 15, which is shown in more detail in Fig. 4 to 6, is situated behind the transfer wheel 12 in the direction of movement of the microchips/inserts 14. The insert unit 15 has a gripper star 45, which is synchronized with the transfer wheel 13, rotates in the opposite direction of rotation and includes several gripper pipettes 46 which are provided in each case on their radially outer ends with a suction holder head 47. The design and the method of operation of the gripper pipettes 46 with their suction holder heads 47 is similar to the case of the grippers 28 which remove inserts out of one of the supply ribbons 23 and transfer them to the transfer wheel 12. Each of the suction holder heads 47 is provided with an air connection 48, by means of which a negative pressure can be generated at the suction holder head. The gripper pipette with the suction holder head is situated at the radially outer end of a pipette holder 49 which is moved down or up by pressure rollers 50, 51, 52 at various positions during the rotation of the gripper star. The pressure roller 50, in this case, is situated in the region of a take-over station 53, at which one insert, by means of the gripper pipette moving past below the pressure roller 50, is taken over out of a pocket of the transfer wheel 12 which rotates below said pressure roller. To this end, the relevant gripper pipette is deflected downward by the pressure roller 50 which presses from above against the pipette holder 49 thereof, such that the suction holder head 47 sucks up the insert in the pocket of the transfer wheel moving past below it and is able to remove it when the pressure roller 50 leaves the transfer wheel. After approximately a quarter rotation of the gripper star 45, the relevant gripper pipette 46 then passes into the region of a centring station, in which the pipette holder 49 is acted upon downward by the pressure roller 51 and as a result is moved upward. A centring disc 54, which is provided with a plurality of centring openings 55, the number and position of which is adapted to the suction holder heads, rotates with the gripper star. The size of the centring openings 55 is adapted to the size of the inserts, which, when the pipette holders are raised by the pressure roller 51, are moved upward by the suction holder heads through the centring openings which are located directly under them and are centered during said upward movement by the edge of the centring openings. In order to make said centring operation easier, the centring openings have a centring wall which tapers upward in a conical manner and can be seen in Fig. 5 and 6 with the reference 58. Once they have passed through the centring station, after approximately a further quarter rotation, the pipette holders of the gripper star pass to a delivery station 60, where, by means of a further pressure roller 52, they are moved downward again above the dies 16 of the die disc 18 which are then moving past below them and the inserts situated at the suction holder heads 27, by means of a blast of compressed air introduced through the air connection 48, are ejected in a targeted manner into the die moving past below them, in which part of the powder for the tablet in which the insert is to be embedded is then already situated.

Claims

1. Apparatus for inserting inserts into dies of a tablet press, said apparatus having a feed device (11) with a transfer wheel (12) which is provided with pockets (13) for receiving singled-out inserts (14), having an insert unit (15) for taking over inserts (14) from the transfer wheel (12) and transferring the taken-over inserts (14) into the dies (16) of the tablet press, as well as having means for transferring inserts (14) to the pockets (13) of the transfer wheel, characterized by at least one strip-shaped supply ribbon (23) for supplying the inserts (14) to the apparatus (10), with the means for transferring inserts to the transfer wheel (12) comprise at least two grippers (28) which are movable by pivoting their gripper arms (29) back and forth between a take-over position (25) at the supply ribbon (23) and a transfer position (30) at a pocket (13) of the transfer wheel (12), and with which, in a synchronous or alternating manner, the inserts (14) are takeable over from the supply ribbon (23) and transferable by pivoting their gripper arms (29) into different pockets (13) on the transfer wheel (12).

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that the transfer wheel (12) has associated therewith an air flow centring device (31) for correcting the position of the inserts (14) in the pockets (13).

3. Apparatus for inserting inserts into dies of a tablet press, said apparatus having a feed device (11) with a transfer wheel (12) which is provided with pockets (13) for receiving singled-out inserts (14), having an insert unit (15) for taking over inserts (14) from the transfer wheel (12) and transferring the taken-over inserts (14) into the dies (16) of the tablet press, as well as having means for transferring inserts (14) to the pockets (13) of the transfer wheel, characterized in at least one strip-shaped supply ribbon (23) for supplying the inserts (14) to the apparatus (10), with the means for transferring inserts to the transfer wheel (12) comprise at least one gripper (28) which is movable back and forth between a take-over position (25) at the supply ribbon (23) and a transfer position (30) at a pocket (13) of the transfer wheel (12), wherein the transfer wheel (12) has associated therewith an air flow centring device (31) for correcting the position of the inserts (14) in the pockets (13).

4. Apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each gripper (28) is provided in each case with a suction pipette by way of which the insert (14) to be transferred is suckable up and being holdable whilst the transfer movement is carried out.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 4, characterized in that the suction pipette is actable upon with compressed air.

6. Apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the supply ribbon (23) is conveyable from a supply roll (22) to the take-over position (25) by means of a ribbon conveying device (26) which preferably operates in a clocked manner.

7. Apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that at least two supply rolls (22) with supply ribbons (23) carrying inserts (14) are provided with associated ribbon conveying devices (26) which are activatable one after another for supplying inserts to the take-over position.

8. Apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a comminution device for the supply ribbon (23) which has been emptied of inserts is provided behind the take-over position (25) in the conveying direction of each supply ribbon (23).

9. Apparatus according to Claim 8, characterized in that the comminution device comprises at least one cutting blade and one collecting container for ribbon portions which have been cut off by the cutting blade.

10. Apparatus according to Claim 2, or Claim 3 or any combination of claim 2 or Claim 3 with claims 4 to 9, characterized in that the air flow centring device (31) extends over a circumferential portion of the transfer wheel (12) and is provided with a compressed air connection (37) and/or a negative pressure connection (35) for generating an air flow centring those inserts (14) in the pockets (13) being acted upon.

11. Apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the insert unit (15) comprises a rotating gripper star (45) which is synchronized with the transfer wheel (12) and has several gripper pipettes (46) which are provided with suction holder heads (47) being movable up and down whilst the gripper star (45) rotates.

12. Apparatus according to Claim 11, characterized in that the gripper star (45) has associated therewith a centring device (51, 54, 55) for aligning inserts (14) which have been taken over out of the pockets (13) of the transfer wheel (12) by the suction holder heads (47).

13. Apparatus according to Claim 12, characterized in that the centring device comprises a centring disc (54) which is rotatable with the gripper star (45) and has centring openings (55), the number and position of which are adapted to the suction holder heads (47), the size of which openings is adapted to the size of the inserts (14) and in that the suction holder heads (47), when moving up and down, convey the taken-over inserts (14) at least a little further into or through the centring openings (55), wherein preferably, the movement up and down of the suction holder heads (47) is controllable or controlled by curves and/or pressure rollers.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that during or at the end of a first downward movement, the suction holder heads (47) in each case suck up one insert and hold it as a result of negative pressure and during a following upward movement insert it into the associated centring opening (55) or move it through said centring opening and during or at the end of a second downward movement transfer it into a die (16) of the tablet press.

15. Apparatus according to Claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the centring openings (55) comprise a conically tapering centring wall (58).

Ansprüche

1. Vorrichtung zum Einlegen von Einlegern in Matrizen einer Tablettenpresse, mit einer Zuführeinrichtung (11) mit einem Übergaberad (12), das mit Taschen (13) zur Aufnahme von vereinzelten Einlegern (14) versehen ist, mit einer Einlegeeinheit (15) zur Übernahme von Einlegern (14) von dem Übergaberad (12) und Übergabe der übernommenen Einleger (14) in die Matrizen (16) der nachgeschalteten Tablettenpresse, sowie mit Mitteln zur Überführung von Einlegern (14) zu den Taschen (13) des Übergaberads, gekennzeichnet durch mindestens ein streifenförmiges Vorratsband (23) zum Zuführen der Einleger (14) zu der Vorrichtung (10), wobei die Mittel zur Überführung von Einlegern zum Übergaberad (12) mindestens zwei Greifer (28) aufweisen, die durch Verschwenken ihrer Greiferarme (29) zwischen einer Übernahmeposition (25) am Vorratsband (23) und einer Übergabeposition (30) an einer Tasche (13) des Übergaberads (12) hin und her bewegbar sind, und mit denen, synchron oder abwechselnd, die Einleger (14) vom Vorratsband (23) übernehmbar und durch Verschwenken der Greiferarme (29) in verschiedene Taschen (13) am Übergaberad (12) übergebbar sind.

2. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass dem Übergaberad (12) eine Luftstrom-Zentrierungseinrichtung (31) zum Korrigieren der Position der Einleger (14) in den Taschen (13) zugeordnet ist.

3. Vorrichtung zum Einlegen von Einlegern in Matrizen einer Tablettenpresse, mit einer Zuführeinrichtung (11) mit einem Übergaberad (12), das mit Taschen (13) zur Aufnahme von vereinzelten Einlegern (14) versehen ist, mit einer Einlegeeinheit (15) zur Übernahme von Einlegern (14) von dem Übergaberad (12) und Übergabe der übernommenen Einleger (14) in die Matrizen (16) der nachgeschalteten Tablettenpresse, sowie mit Mitteln zur Überführung von Einlegern (14) zu den Taschen (13) des Übergaberads, gekennzeichnet durch mindestens ein streifenförmiges Vorratsband (23) zum Zuführen der Einleger (14) zu der Vorrichtung (10), wobei die Mittel zur Überführung von Einlegern zum Übergaberad (12) mindestens einen Greifer (28) aufweisen, der zwischen einer Übernahmeposition (25) am Vorratsband (23) und einer Übergabeposition (30) an einer Tasche (13) des Übergaberads (12) hin und her bewegbar ist, wobei dem Übergaberad (12) eine Luftstrom-Zentrierungseinrichtung (31) zum Korrigieren der Position der Einleger (14) in den Taschen (13) zugeordnet ist.

4. Vorrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass jeder Greifer (28) mit jeweils einer Saugpipette versehen ist, mit der der zu übergebende Einleger (14) ansaugbar ist und während der ausgeführten Überführungsbewegung gehalten wird.

5. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Saugpipette mit Druckluft beaufschlagbar ist.

6. Vorrichtung nach irgendeinem der Ansprüche 1 bis 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Vorratsband (23) mittels einer vorzugsweise getaktet arbeitenden Gurttransporteinrichtung (26) von einer Vorratsrolle (22) zur Übernahmeposition (25) transportierbar ist.

7. Vorrichtung nach irgendeinem der Ansprüche 1 bis 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass mindestens zwei Vorratsrollen (22) mit Einleger (14) tragenden Vorratsbändern (23) mit zugeordneten Gurttransporteinrichtungen (26) vorgesehen sind, die zur Zufuhr von Einlegern zur Übernahmeposition nacheinander aktivierbar sind.

8. Vorrichtung nach irgendeinem der Ansprüche 1 bis 7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass in Transportrichtung jedes Vorratsbands (23) hinter der Übernahmeposition (25) eine Zerkleinerungsvorrichtung für das von Einlegern entleerte Vorratsband (23) vorgesehen ist.

9. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Zerkleinerungsvorrichtung mindestens ein Schneidmesser und einen Sammelbehälter für vom Schneidmesser abgetrennte Gurtbandabschnitte aufweist.

10. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 2 oder Anspruch 3 oder einer Kombination von Anspruch 2 oder 3 mit Anspruch 4 bis 9, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass sich die Luftstrom-Zentrierungseinrichtung (31) über einen Umfangsabschnitt des Übergaberads (12) erstreckt und mit einem Druckluftanschluss (37) und/oder einem Unterdruckanschluss (35) versehen ist, um in den beaufschlagten Taschen (13) einen die Einleger (14) zentrierenden Luftstrom zu erzeugen.

11. Vorrichtung nach irgendeinem der Ansprüche 1 bis 10, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Einlegeeinheit (15) einen mit dem Übergaberad (12) synchronisierten, umlaufenden Greiferstern (45) mit mehreren Greiferpipetten (46) aufweist, die mit während des Umlaufs des Greifersterns (45) auf und ab bewegbaren Saughalterköpfen (47) versehen sind.

12. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 11, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass dem Greiferstern (45) eine Zentriervorrichtung (51, 54, 55) zur Ausrichtung von Einlegern (14), die von den Saughalterköpfen (47) aus den Taschen (13) des Übergaberads (12) übernommenen wurden, zugeordnet ist.

13. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 12, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Zentriervorrichtung eine mit dem Greiferstern (45) umlaufende Zentrierscheibe (54) mit Zentrieröffnungen (55) aufweist, deren Anzahl und Lage an die Saughalterköpfe (47) angepasst sind und deren Größe an die Größe der Einleger (14) angepasst ist, und dass die Saughalterköpfe (47) bei ihrer Auf- und Abbewegung die übernommenen Einleger (14) zumindest ein Stück weit in oder durch die Zentrieröffnungen (55) transportieren, wobei vorzugsweise die Auf- und Abbewegung der Saughalterköpfe (47) mittels Kurven und/oder Druckrollen steuerbar oder gesteuert ist.

14. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 13, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Saughalterköpfe (47) bei oder am Ende einer ersten Abbewegung jeweils einen Einleger ansaugen und durch Unterdruck halten und während einer sich anschließenden Aufwärtsbewegung in die zugeordnete Zentrieröffnung (55) einführen oder durch diese hindurch bewegen und bei oder am Ende einer zweiten Abbewegung in eine Matrize (16) der Tablettenpresse übergeben.

15. Vorrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 13 oder 14, dadurch gekenn zeichnet, dass die Zentrieröffnungen (55) eine sich konisch verjüngende Zentrierwandung (58) aufweisen.

Revendications

1. Appareil pour insérer des inserts dans des matrices d'une presse à comprimés, ledit appareil comportant un dispositif d'alimentation (11) avec une roue de transfert (12) qui est pourvue de cavités (13) destinées à recevoir des inserts individuels (14), comportant une unité d'insertion (15) destinée à prélever des inserts (14) à partir de la roue de transfert (12) et à transférer les inserts (14) prélevés dans les matrices (16) de la presse à comprimés, et comportant également des moyens pour le transfert d'inserts (14) aux cavités (13) de la roue de transfert, caractérisé par au moins un ruban d'approvisionnement (23) en forme de bandelette destiné à amener les inserts (14) à l'appareil (10), les moyens pour le transfert d'inserts à la roue de transfert (12) comprenant au moins deux dispositifs de préhension (28) qui sont déplaçables par pivotement de leurs bras de préhension (29) en va-et-vient entre une position de prélèvement (25) au niveau du ruban d'approvisionnement (23) et une position de transfert (30) au niveau d'une cavité (13) de la roue de transfert (12), et avec lesquels, de manière synchrone ou alternée, les inserts (14) peuvent être prélevés du ruban d'approvisionnement (23) et peuvent être transférés par pivotement des bras de préhension (29) dans différentes cavités (13) sur la roue de transfert (12).

2. Appareil selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que la roue de transfert (12) comporte un dispositif de centrage à flux d'air (31) associé à celle-ci et destiné à corriger la position des inserts (14) dans les cavités (13).

3. Appareil pour insérer des inserts dans des matrices d'une presse à comprimés, ledit appareil comportant un dispositif d'alimentation (11) avec une roue de transfert (12) qui est pourvue de cavités (13) destinées à recevoir des inserts individuels (14), comportant une unité d'insertion (15) destinée à prélever des inserts (14) à partir de la roue de transfert (12) et à transférer les inserts (14) prélevés dans les matrices (16) de la presse à comprimés, et comportant également des moyens pour le transfert d'inserts (14) aux cavités (13) de la roue de transfert, caractérisé par au moins un ruban d'approvisionnement (23) en forme de bandelette destiné à amener les inserts (14) à l'appareil (10), les moyens pour le transfert d'inserts à la roue de transfert (12) comprenant au moins un dispositif de préhension (28) qui est déplaçable en va-et-vient entre une position de prélèvement (25) au niveau du ruban d'approvisionnement (23) et une position de transfert (30) au niveau d'une cavité (13) de la roue de transfert (12), et la roue de transfert (12) comportant un dispositif de centrage à flux d'air (31) associé à celle-ci et destiné à corriger la position des inserts (14) dans les cavités (13).

4. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, caractérisé en ce que chaque dispositif de préhension (28) est respectivement pourvu d'une pipette d'aspiration au moyen de laquelle l'insert (14) à transférer peut être soulevé par aspiration et peut être maintenu tandis que le mouvement de transfert est exécuté.

5. Appareil selon la revendication 4, caractérisé en ce qu'il est possible d'agir sur la pipette d'aspiration au moyen d'air comprimé.

6. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5, caractérisé en ce que le ruban d'approvisionnement (23) peut être transporté d'un rouleau d'approvisionnement (22) à la position de prélèvement (25) au moyen d'un dispositif de transport de ruban (26) qui fonctionne, de préférence, de manière cadencée.

7. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 6, caractérisé en ce qu'au moins deux rouleaux d'approvisionnement (22) avec des rubans d'approvisionnement (23) portant des inserts (14) sont prévus, avec des dispositifs de transport de ruban (26) associés qui peuvent être activés l'un après l'autre pour amener des inserts (14) à la position de prélèvement.

8. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 7, caractérisé en ce qu'un dispositif de hachage pour le ruban d'approvisionnement (23) qui a été vidé de ses inserts est prévu derrière la position de prélèvement (25) dans la direction de transport de chaque ruban d'approvisionnement (23).

9. Appareil selon la revendication 8, caractérisé en ce que le dispositif de hachage comprend au moins une lame de coupe et un récipient de collecte pour les morceaux de ruban qui ont été coupés par la lame de coupe.

10. Appareil selon la revendication 2 ou la revendication 3 ou toute combinaison de la revendication 2 ou la revendication 3 avec les revendications 4 à 9, caractérisé en ce que le dispositif de centrage à flux d'air (31) s'étend sur une partie circonférentielle de la roue de transfert (12) et est pourvu d'un raccordement d'air comprimé (37) et/ou d'un raccordement de pression négative (35) destinés à générer un flux d'air centrant les inserts (14) se trouvant dans les cavités (13) sur lesquelles le dispositif agit.

11. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 10, caractérisé en ce que l'unité d'insertion (15) comprend une étoile de préhension rotative (45) qui est synchronisée avec la roue de transfert (12) et comporte plusieurs pipettes de préhension (46) qui sont pourvues de têtes de maintien à aspiration (47) déplaçables vers le haut et vers le bas tandis que l'étoile de préhension (45) tourne.

12. Appareil selon la revendication 11, caractérisé en ce que l'étoile de préhension (45) comporte un dispositif de centrage (51, 54, 55) associé à celle-ci et destiné à aligner les inserts (14) qui ont été prélevés à partir des cavités (13) de la roue de transfert (12) par les têtes de maintien à aspiration (47).

13. Appareil selon la revendication 12, caractérisé en ce que le dispositif de centrage comprend un disque de centrage (54) qui est rotatif avec l'étoile de préhension (45) et comporte des ouvertures de centrage (55), dont le nombre et la position sont adaptés aux têtes de maintien à aspiration (47), la taille desdites ouvertures étant adaptée à la taille des inserts (14) et en ce que les têtes de maintien à aspiration (47), lorsqu'elles se déplacent vers le haut et le bas, entraînent les inserts (14) prélevés au moins un peu plus loin dans ou à travers les ouvertures de centrage (55), le déplacement vers le haut et vers le bas des têtes de maintien à aspiration (47) pouvant être ou étant, de préférence, commandé par des courbes et/ou des galets presseurs.

14. Appareil selon la revendication 13, caractérisé en ce que, au cours ou à la fin d'un premier déplacement vers le bas, les têtes de maintien à aspiration (47) soulèvent par aspiration respectivement un insert et le maintiennent du fait de la pression négative et, au cours d'un déplacement suivant vers le haut, l'insèrent dans l'ouverture de centrage (55) associée ou le déplacent à travers ladite ouverture de centrage et, au cours ou à la fin d'un second déplacement vers le bas, le transfèrent dans une matrice (16) de la presse à comprimés.

15. Appareil selon la revendication 13 ou 14, caractérisé en ce que les ouvertures de centrage (55) comprennent une paroi de centrage fuselée de manière conique (58).

Drawing