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1361923 Feeding capsules to conveyers and orientating capsules ELI LILLY & CO 10 Jan 1972 [11 Jan 1971] 1030/72 Heading B8A [Also in Division G1] Capsules 5 (Fig. 10) are fed to an endless conveyer 20 from a hopper 18 (Figs. 2 and 7). They are orientated on the conveyer so that they all face cap forwards, and are fed to an inspection head 26. Each capsule is engaged between a pair of rotating rolls 182, 182 (Fig. 13), of the head 26, so that it is rotating when it reaches an inspection station 246. According to the result of the inspection it may be discharged or retained at a reject station 248. If retained, it is discharged at an accept station 250. Feed to the conveyer 20.-Suction is applied via a manifold 80, and apertures 96 in a plate 78 (Fig. 9) over which the conveyer runs, in this zone of conveyance. The conveyer comprises a roller chain, alternate links 38 of which are formed with open bottomed recesses 40. The recesses are filled from the hopper by the action of the suction and by the action of rotating rolls 88, 88 disposed longitudinally at each side of the exit slot of the hopper. Jamming &c. of the capsules is prevented by the action of a reciprocating member carrying pins 100, plates 106 and ribs 108, all having an agitating action. Orientation.-The width of the open bottom of each recess 40 is defined by ribs 44 which permit the body of the capsule (but not the cap) to fall through. Thus when each capsule located in a conveyer recess 40 reaches a shoulder 119 at the leading end of a slot 118 (Fig. 9) in the plate 78, the body of the capsule drops down into the slot (as at 5c, Fig. 10). Uncapped capsules 6a drop to a discharge 116. Orientation the correct way round is ensured by a rotating brush 22 and an endless belt 120. Transfer to the head 26.-The upper return wheel 24 of the conveyer 20 is formed with radial bores 156 (Fig. 11) opening out from a central vacuum chamber 168. Each bore 156 locates a plunger 154 having an inner end which is loaded by a spring 158 on to a fixed cam 160. When each plunger 154 bears on the low section of the cam, a passage 172 in the plunger connects a capsule-receiving seat on the plunger with the vacuum chamber 168, Thus as the conveyer brings a capsule up to the wheel 24, the capsule is retained on the seat of a plunger 154. When the plunger approaches the head 26 it rises up on the cam 160 and presents the capsule to a receiving groove formed between a pair of the rolls 182, 182 of the head 26 (Fig. 13). At this point, the lower end of the passage 172 is cut off at the junction of the bore 158 with the chamber 168. The capsule is thus released from its seat on the plunger 154. The inspection head 26 (Figs. 13 and 14).- The capsule is held between the rolls 182, 182 by the effect of vacuum acting through a radial passage 202 leading from a central vacuum chamber. Each roll 182 is rotated at speed by the provision of a respective pinion 194 which engages with the teeth of a ring gear 196 common to the pinions 194 of all the rolls 182. The head 26 is rotated step-by-step round to the inspection station 246 consisting of a light source 240 and photo-electric unit 246. At the reject station 248, a chamber 208 is selectively valued (290), (292), (Fig. 17, not shown) to a vacuum source or a compressed air source according to whether the capsule is to be accepted or rejected. At the accept station 250, compressed air from a chamber 210 causes discharge of the capsule to an "accept" bin (251) (Fig. 18, not shown).
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