Capsule-filling machines
1 51 Apr. 15, 1975 CAPSULE-FILLING MACHINES [76] Inventor: Richard R. Alter, 608 McDowell St., Delavan, Wis. 53115 [22] Filed: Aug. 14, 1973 [21] App]. No.: 388,185  
 [52] US. Cl 53/328; 53/264 [51] Int. Cl B65b 7/28; B67b H04 [58] Field of Search 53/319, 328, 330, 287, 53/322, 323, 324, 326, 306, 307, 311, 143  
 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,714,761 8/1955 Wampole 53/284 X 2,795,909 6/l957 Ade 53/284 X Primary Examiner-Travis S. McGehee Assistant Examiner-Horace M. Culver Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Root &amp; OKeeffe 57 ABSTRACT A mechanism for inserting plugs in the ends of openings in capsules including plug-receiving members to be disposed at opposite sides of such a capsule, the plug-receiving members being rotatable between a plug-receiving position and a plug-inserting position, with means for feeding plugs, one at a time, into the plug-receiving members when the latter are disposed in plug-receiving position, and means, including two plungers disposed at opposite sides of the mechanism and movable into the plug-receiving members, when the latter are disposed in plug-inserting position, to  
 2,848,855 8/1958 Ervine et al. 53/143 push the plugs into respective ends of the opening in a et al. X capsule 3,534,523 10/1970 Davidson et al. 53/328 X 4 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 1 5197s 3. 877, 204 sum 1 m 2 &amp;w .ww k hm fl mfi G mg T 7 v mm Q I i n V I l MM h HQ mm mm mm lfllllll NM Q m% WW I. I: I1. I:  
 CAPSULE-FILLING MACHINES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to capsule-filling machines and, more particularly, to mechanisms for inserting plugs in capsules in such filling machines.  
  It is a primary object of the present invention to afford a novel mechanism for inserting plugs in capsules, and the like.  
  Another object of the present invention is to afford a novel plug-inserting mechanism for use in capsulefilling machines, and which may be constituted and arranged in a novel and expeditious manner in such machines as an integral part thereof.  
  Another object of the present invention is to afford a novel mechanism for simultaneously inserting plugs in the respective opposite ends of capsules of the type known in the trade as straws, and which embody openings extending longitudinally therethrough.  
  Yet another object of the present invention is to afford a novel mechanism for inserting elongated plugs longitudinally into openings in a capsule.  
  A further object of the present invention is to afford a novel plug-inserting mechanism for inserting plugs into capsules, and the like, wherein the plugs may be stored in stacked relation and automatically fed, sequentially, one at a time, into position to be inserted into such a capsule.  
  Another object of the present invention is to afford a novel plug-inserting mechanism for simultaneously inserting plugs into opposite ends of an opening extending through a capsule, which embodies mechanism which may be disposed at opposite ends of such a capsule, and which may be simultaneously actuated from a common drive shaft.  
  Another object of the present invention is to afford a novel plug-inserting mechanism of the aforementioned type which is practical and efficient in operation, and which may be readily and economically produced commercially.  
  Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show the preferred embodiment of the present invention and the principles thereof and what I now consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applying these principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.  
 DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:  
  FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a plug-inserting mechanism embodying the principles of the present invention;  
  FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the mechanism shown in FIG. 1;  
  FIG. 3 is a detail, sectional view taken substantially along the line 33 in FIG. 2;  
  FIG. 4 is a detail, sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 in FIG. 2;  
  FIGS. 5 and 6 are detail, sectional views, similar to FIG. 4, but showing parts thereof in different operative positions;  
  FIG. 7 is a detail, sectional view taken substantially along the line 7-7 in FIG. 1;  
  FIG. 8 is a detail, sectional view taken substantially along the line 88 in FIG. 3; and  
  FIG. 9 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of a filled capsule of the type with which the aforementioned mechanism is particularly well adapted for use.  
 DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT SHOWN HEREIN A plug-inserting mechanism 1, embodying the principles of the present invention, is shown in FIGS. 1-7 of the drawings to illustrate the presently preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
  The mechanism 1 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in position to insert plugs into a capsule 2 disposed in a plugreceiving position in a capsule-filling machine 3, which is shown only fragmentarily. The capsule 2 is of the type commonly known in the trade as a straw, and embodies an elongated, substantially straight, tubular member 4. In its completed form, the capsule 2 may be filled with any suitable product 5, such as, for example, semen, and the tubular member 4 is closed at both ends by suitable plugs 6, as illustrated in FIG. 9.  
  The tubular member 4 and the plugs 6 may be made of any suitable material, but preferable are made of a suitable plastic material, such as, for example, polypropylene, and the tubular member 4 may be of any suitable size, such as, for example, having a length of 2- /2 inches, a wall thickness of 0.020 inches and an inside diameter of 0.105 inches. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the capsule 2 is shown herein merely by way of illustration, and not by way of limitation, and other suitable sizes, types and shapes of capsules may be used without departing from the purview of the broader aspects of the present invention.  
  The capsule filling machine 3 embodies holding means 7, which are shown more or less diagrammatically, FIGS. 1 and 2, and which may be of any suitable type, for holding the tubular member 4 in the aforementioned plug-receiving position in the machine 3. The mechanism 1 embodies two sub-assemblies 8 and 9, FIGS. 1 and 2, disposed at opposite sides of such a tubular member 4, when the latter is disposed in the aforementioned plug-receiving position in the machine 3, the sub-assemblies 8 and 9 being operable to simultaneously insert plugs, such as the plugs 6, FIG. 9, into the respective opposite ends of such a positioned tubular member 4, as will be discussed in greater detail presently. The sub-assemblies 8 and 9 are identical in construction and mode of operation, except that the parts thereof are so disposed that they constitute reverse images of each other.  
  Each of the sub-assemblies 8 and 9 embodies a holding member or plug-receiving member 10 rotatably mounted in a respective block 11 supported by a suitable portion 12 of the machine 3. Each plug-receiving member 10 embodies an elongated shaft 13, which is circular in transverse cross section, and has a spur gear 14 mounted on one end thereof, in axial relation thereto, FIG. 7. A round opening or passageway 15 extends transversely through the shaft 13, FIGS. 4-7, for a purpose which will be discussed in greater detail presently.  
  Each of the blocks 11 has an opening 16 extending transversely therethrough, the opening 16 having a smaller portion 17 within which the shaft 13 is rotatably mounted with a snug, but freely rotatable fit, and an enlarged end portion 18 in which the gear 14 is disposed. A cover plate 19, FIG. 7, is mounted on the main body portion of each of the blocks 11 and releasably secured thereto by suitable means such as screws 20, FIG. 1, for retaining the plug-receiving member 10 in the respective block 11.  
 An opening 21 extends longitudinally through each of the blocks 11 in intersecting relation to the outer peripheral edge of the opening 18 therein, and an elongated rack 22, having teeth 23 on one end portion thereof, is slidably mounted in the opening 21 for longitudinal reciprocation therein. The teeth 23 are operative engaged with the gear 14, and extend along the rack 22 for such a distance that they are effective to rotate the plug-receiving member 10 through 90 of rotation upon longitudinal reciprocation of the rack 22, for a purpose which will be discussed in greater detail presently.  
  Each of the blocks 11 embodies an elongated passageway 26 extending longitudinally therethrough in diametrically intersecting relation to the end portion 17 of the opening 16, FIGS. 4-6. In addition, each of the blocks 11 includes an elongated passageway 27 extending laterally through one side thereof into intersecting relation to the outer periphery of the end portion 17 of the opening 16. The opening 27 is disposed in radially aligned relation to the end portion 17 of the opening 16, and in perpendicular relation to the passageway 26. The passageway s26 and 27 and the opening 15 are so disposed relative toeach other that when the opening 15 is disposed in vertically extending position, it is disposed in axial alignment with the passageway 27, FIG. 4, and when it is disposed in horizontally extending position, it is disposed in axial alignment with the passageway 26, FIGS. and 6.  
  Each of the sub-assemblies 8 and 9 includes a chute, in the form of a tubular member 28, mounted in the upper end portion of the passageway 27 in each of the blocks 11, and when the machine 3 is in operation, each tubular member 28 contains a plurality of plugs, such as theplugs 6 shown in the drawings, the plugs 6 being fed into the upper end portions of the chutes 28 from any suitable source of supply, not shown, and passing downwardly therethrough by gravity. The plugs 6 are preferably of the elongated type shown in the drawings, and the diameter of the end portion 13 of the plug-receiving member is such that when the latter is disposed in plug-receiving position, wherein the opening therein is disposed in vertical position, as shown in FIG. 4, it will accommodate one plug 6, so that one plug 6 can drop down from the chute 28 into the opening 15, and the next adjacent plug 6 is disposed in position wherein the plug-receiving member 10 may be rotated therebelow, the plugs 6 preferably having tapered, substantially frusto-conical shaped end portions 29, so as to facilitate such movement of the plugreceiving member 10 relative to the next adjacent plug.  
 After such a plug 6 has been disposed in the passageway 15 in each of the plug-receiving members 10, the  
 latter may be rotated 90 into position wherein the passageways 15 are disposed in axial alignment with the passageways 26 in the respective blocks 11, as illustrated in FIG. 5 with respect to the sub-assembly 9. The passageways 26 in the blocks 11 are so disposed that when a tubular member, such as the tubular member 4, is disposed in plug-receiving position, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, they are disposed inclosely adjacent, longitudinally aligned relation thereto. A plunger 30 is mounted in each of the passageways 26, and is longitudinally reciprocable therein for pushing a plug out of the respective plug-receiving member &#39;10 into a respective end portion of the tubular member 4, when the plug-receiving members 10 are disposed in pluginserting position, wherein the passageways 15 are disposed in axial alignment with the passageways 26, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, as will be discussed in greater detail presently.  
  Each of the plungers 30 has one end thereof pivotally secured by a suitable coupling member 31 to the upper end portion of a respective lever 32, which is pivotally mounted at its lower end on a supporting member 33 secured to a suitable portion 34 of the machine 3, FIG. 1. A cam-follower in the form of a roller 35 is rotatably mounted and projects laterally from the mid portion of each of the levers 32, and two cams 36, which are mounted on and secured to a common drive shaft 37, between the levers 32, are operatively engaged with respective ones of the cam followers 35, FIGS. 1 and 2.  
  Each of the sub-assemblies 8 and 9 also includes a tension coil spring 38 secured at one end to the upper end portion of a respective one of the levers 32, and, at the other end, to a bracket 39 projecting downwardly from the respective adjacent block 11, FIG. 1. The drive shaft 37 may be rotatably driven by any suitable means, such as, for example, an electric motor, not shown. Such rotation of the drive shaft 37 is effective to rotate the earns 36, which is operable to alternately press the cam followers 35, and, therefore, the levers 32, outwardly away from each other against the urging of the springs 38, and to permit the cam followers 35 and, therefore, the levers 32 to be moved inwardly toward each other by the springs 38, to thereby reciprocate the plungers 30 in the passageways 26.  
 Each of the passageways 26 has an end portion 40 which is smaller in transverse cross section than the other end portion 41 thereof. The end portions 40 are of the same transverse cross sectional size as that of the passageways l5 and 27, which preferably, are of such size that the plugs 6 may be received therein with a relatively snug, but freely slidable fit. Each of the plungers 30 preferably has a main body portion 42, which is of such cross sectional size and shape that it fits in the end portion 41 of the respective passageways 26 with a relatively snug, but freely slidable fit; and a smaller end portion 43, facing toward the holding means 7 of the machine 3, which is of such cross sectional size and shape as to fit in the passageway 15 and the end portion 40 of the passageway 26 with a relatively snug, but freely slidable fit. The extreme outer end 44 of each of the end portions 43 of the plungers 30, preferably, is substantially frostoconical in shape.  
  Each of the racks 22 is secured to the main body portion 42 of the plunger 30 in the respective sub-assembly 8 or 9 by a block 45 having one end portion disposed around the outer end portion of the rack 22 and frictionally secured thereby by holding means which includes a screw 46, a ball 46a and a compression coil spring 46b, the block 45, has nother end portion disposed around the respective adjacent plunger 30, and adjustably secured thereto in a positive. manner by suitable means such as a screw. 47, FIG. 2. As will be discussed in greater detail presently, reciprocation of the plungers 30, because of the levers 32 being actuated by the cams 36 and the springs 38, is effective to similarly reciprocate the racks 22, but through a shorter stroke than that of the plungers 30.  
  Each of the racks 22 has a depression 22a, FIG. 8, formed in the upper face thereof. The depression 22a are so disposed on the racks 22 that when the plungers 30 and racks 22 are disposed in their outermost positions the balls 46a in the racks 22 are frictionally held in the adjacent depression 22a by the springs 47a, which are disposed between the balls 114a andrespective screws 46 disposed in the blocks 45. This affords a frictional-drive connection between the plungers 30 and the adjacent rack 22.  
  As illustrated in FIG. 3 relative to the sub-assembly 9, each of the blocks 11 has a slot 21a projecting downwardly from the passageway 21 extending therethrough, and each of the racks 22 has a tongue 22b projecting downwardly into the adjacent slot 21a. When the spur gears 18 are in position to dispose the passageways in vertically extending, plug-receiving position, FIG. 4, the tongues 22b are disposed in abutting engagement with the outermost ends 21b of the adjacent slots 21a. Inward movement of the racks 22 fromthe aforementioned outermost position into position to engage the tongues 22b with the innermost ends21c of the respective adjacent slots 22 is effective to rotate the spear gears 18, and, therefore, the passageways 15 from the aforementioned plug-receiving position into horizontally extending, plug-discharging position,.  
 FIGS. 5 and 6.  
  In the operation of the plug-inserting mechanism 1, when the levers 32 are held in their outermost position relative to each other by the engagement of the cam follower 35 with-the respective cams 36, the plungers 30 are&#39;held thereby in their outermost position in the blocks 11, as&#39;shown in&#39;FlGS. 4 and 5, and the racks 22 are also disposed in their outermost position relative to the blocksll, as shown in FIG. 3, the balls 46a being disposed in the respective adjacent depressions 22a, as shown in FIG. 8. As the cams 36 rotate with the drive shaft 37, thecam follower-s38 ride inwardly from their engagement with the outer cam surfaces 48, FIG. 2, into engagement with the inner cam surfaces 49, to thereby permit the upper end portions of the levers 32 to be moved inwardly toward each other under the urging of the springs 38. This movement of the levers 32 inwardly toward each other is effective to move the plungers 30 inwardly toward each other through the passageways 26, and, therefore, frictionally drive the racks 22 inwardly toward each other through the passageways 21.  
  This movement of the racks 22 is effective, through the engagement of the teeth 23 thereon with spur gears 14, to rotate the plug-receiving members 10 in the subassemblies 8 and 9 in a counter-clockwise and clockwise direction, respectively, as viewed in FIG. 1. It will be remembered that when such inward movement of the racks 22 has been sufficient to rotate the plugreceiving members 10 from the plug-receiving position, shown in FIG. 4 to the plug-inserting position, shown in FIG. 5, the tongues 22b on the racks 22 abuttingly engage the innermost ends 210 of the adjacent respective slots 21 so that continued inward movement of the plungers 30 relative to each other is ineffective to further move the racks 22 inwardly toward each other, the racks 22 being stopped by the engagement of the tongues 2212 with the inner ends 21c of the slots 210. Thus, although the plungers 30 are free to move further inwardly toward each other, by reason of the frictional drive connection afforded by theballs46&#39;a and depressions 22a, the passageways 15 are stoppe&#39;dinhorizontally extending, plug-discharging position, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. j I  
  In the aforementioned outermost position of the levers 32 relative to each other, theplungers 30 are disposed outwardly relative to. the plug-receiving mem bers 10a sufficient distance that inward movement thereof with the levers 32 is ineffective to move the plungers 30 into engagement with the pl ugfreceiving members 10 until after the racks 22 havedisposedithe plug-receiving members 10 in the plug-inserting position, shown in FIG. 5. Thereafter, continued inward movement of the levers 32 toward each other is effective to move the plungers 30 through the passageways 15 and the end portions 40 of the passageways 26 into position wherein the outer extremities 44 thereof project into a respective end of the tubular member 4 disposed in plug-receiving position in the machine 3, to thereby move the plug 6, which was disposed in the respective plug-receiving member 10 into the adjacent end portion of the tubular member 4, as illustrated in FIG. 6 with respect to the sub-assembly 9. During the continued inward movement of the plungers 30, the blocks 45 slide inwardly alongthe racks 22.  
  In the preferred operation of a machine, such as the machine 3, in which the plug-inserting mechanism 1 is embodied, the drive shaft 37 is continuously rotating. In such operation, after the levers .32, the plungers 30 and the racks 22 have been moved inwardly toward each other to the aforementioned final plug-inserting position, continued rotation of the drive shaft v 3.7 will cause the cam followers 35 to again ride...back outwardly from&#39;their engagement with the. inner -camsurfaces 49 into engagement with the outer-cam surfaces 48, to thereby move the upper end portions of the levers 32 outwardly away from each other against the urging of the springs 38. Such outward movement of the levers 32 is effective to move the plungers 30 outwardly away from each other. During the initial stages of such outward movement of theplungers&#39;30,&#34;until the balls 46a again drop into thedepressions 22a, the blocks 45 slide along the racks 22. Thereafter outward movement of the plungers 30 is effective to move the racks 22 outwardly away from each other into the original position thereof, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Such outward movement of the racks 22 is effective to rotate the plug-receiving members in the sub-assemblies 8 and 9 in a clockwise and counter-clockwise direction, respectively, as viewed in FIG. 1, to thereby rotate the plug-receiving members 10 from their plug-inserting position, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, to their plugreceiving position, as shown in FIG. 4. During this period in the cycle of operation, the tubular member 4 which has previously been plugged may be removed and a new tubular member 4, which is to be plugged, may be disposed in the holding means 7 of the machine 3 by any suitable means, not shown.  
  When the plugfreceiving members 10 are thus returned to their plug-receiving positions, as shown in FIG. 4, the lowermost plug 6 in the chute 28 may drop downwardly into the respective passageways 15 in the plug-receiving members 10, so that the plug-inserting mechanism 1 is automatically rendered ready for a rep- 7 etition of the previously described plug-inserting cycle of operation.  
  From the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention affords a novel plug-inserting mechanism.  
  Also, it will be seen that the present invention affords a novel plug-inserting mechanism which is well adapted for use in automatic and semi-automatic capsule-filling machines, and the like.  
  In addition, it will be seen that the present invention affords a novel plug-inserting mechanism which is practical and efficient in operation and which may be readily and economically produced commercially.  
  Thus, while I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that this is capable of variation and modification, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.-  
 I claim:  
  1. In a capsule-filling machine embodying means for holding a capsule body portion having an opening therein in position to receive a plug in said opening,  
 a. a longitudinally stationary elongated holding member having another opening extending transversely therethrough,  
 b. means for rotating said member between 1. one position wherein said other opening faces in one direction, and  
 2. another position wherein said other opening therein is disposed in another position in which it is disposed in position to be in alignment with said first mentioned opening,  
 0. means for feeding an elongated plug into said other opening when the latter is disposed in said one position, and  
 d. means for feeding such an elongated plug outwardly through said other opening into position effective to insert said plug into said first mentioned opening in such a positioned body portion when said other opening is disposed in said other position,  
 c. said means for feeding a plug outwardly through said other opening comprising a plunger reciprocable through said other opening,  
 f. said other opening being disposed 1. in upstanding position when in said one position,  
 and  
 2. in substantially horizontally extending position when in said other position.  
 g. said means for feeding a plug comprising a chute for holding a plurality of such plugs disposed in longitudinally stacked relation therein,  
 h. said chute being disposed over said holding member in position to feed one of said plugs vertically into said other opening when said other opening is disposed in said one position,  
 i. said means for rotating said holding member comprising a rack l. operatively engaged therewith, and 2. reciprocable through a path of travel effective to oscillate said other opening between said one and other positions, and  
 j. said means for feeding a plug outwardly through said other opening comprising a plunger reciprocable with said rack in parallel relation thereto for reciprocation through said other opening. 2. The combination defined in claim 1, and in which a. said means for feeding a plug outwardly through said other opening includes 1. an elongated lever a. attached to said plunger for movement therewith, and b. pivotally mounted for oscillation through a path of movement effective to reciprocate said plunger through said other opening, and  
 2. means for oscillating said lever through said pathof movement. 7 3. The combination defined in claim 2, and in which a. said means for oscillating said lever comprises 1. cam means for moving said plunger away from said capsule body portion, and 2. spring means for yieldingly moving said plunger toward said capsule body portion. 4. The combination defined in claim 1, and in which a. said rack is frictionally secured to said plunger for reciprocation thereby upon reciprocation of said plunger.