Additional info: Capsule Filling Machine is a kind of new-type medical packing machine with novel structure and beautiful appearance. Adopting electro-pneumatic combination control and being equipped with electronic automatic counting device and computer speed regulating device, this machine can separately finish such actions as locating, separating filling and locking of the machine etc. and can also take place of manual filling, reduce intensity of labor and improve production efficiency. It has accurate filling dose and meets the requirements of pharmaceutical hygiene.
This machine is composed of capsule-feeding direction-changing and separating mechanism, drug filling mechanism, locking mechanism. Electronic speed regulating and shifting mechanism. Pneumatic control and electrical control system, protective device, vacuum pump and air pump accessories etc.
It is suitable for filling the capsules made by domestic or imported machine and has a finished product ratio of 97% or more.1. Capsule Sowing Mechanism
The function of this mechanism is to take hollow capsules out from the bunker to the capsule sowing tube under which there is a leaf switch. When the capsule sowing tube is driven by the sector gear and drops to the bottom. The switch will send out a row of capsules (7 pieces per row of 1#, 2# capsules, 6 pieces per row of 0# capsules). When the capsule-sowing tube rises upwards, the switch will close the capsule-sowing tube. The capsules which have dropped on the capsule comb will be pushed forward to the position of direction-changing under the action of the capsule-pushing board and the capsules will change direction (the body downwards and the cap upwards) when they are pushed and pressed downwards by the capsule-pressing head. There is negative pressure air current at the bottom of the mould, when the capsules are pressed down by the capsule-pressing head and leave the capsule comb; they will be absorbed into the mould under the action of the air current in the mould holes. Because a small step in the hole of the upper mould stops the capsule cap and keeps it in the upper mould, but the capsule body goes on gliding into the hole of the lower mould under the action of vacuum, this mechanism finishes arranging, direction-changing and separating of the capsules.
The individual stepless speed regulating motor drives the cam, rocking bar and pawl mechanism to make this mechanism run. The cam rotates each circle, the pawl will also push on a tooth (That is making the mould push on a raw hole), and meanwhile the cam will drive the rocking bar to make the sector gear run for one cycle.
This mechanism has a function of automatic counting control, so when the mould is filled with capsules, this mechanism will stop automatically, and it also can stop halfway manually when it needs stopping. The speed of this machine can be regulated through the knob on the console and can be displayed on the equipped meter.
If some capsules separate incompletely, you can stir the mould with hand 2~3 revolutions so as to make them separate completely under vac-sorb. This machine has a mould with it when leaving factory, user can choose and order another mould according to the catalogue of parts.
Difference: 0# device 6 holes each row, the mould of capsule 6×60=360 holes, the thimble disk 360 needles, and correspondingly capsule-pressing head, capsule head, capsule-pushing board, capsule comb, switch and direction-changing device are all 6 rows.
1#,2#,3# device 7 holes each row, the mould of capsule 7×60=420 holes, the thimble disk 420 needles, and correspondingly all the parts are 7 rows.
Replacement: If you use capsule of different model, you should use corresponding mould of capsule and capsule-feeding device (Figure 2). Adjustment of capsule-feeding switch: The capsules of 0# sent out at every turn from the direction-changing groove are 6 pieces; the capsules of 1#, 2#, 3# are 7 pieces. If you find the capsules sent out from some direction-changing groove are one piece more or less, you can adjust it with type J wrench or nipper pliers (Figure 3).
When adjusting the position of the capsule-pushing board, firstly loosen its connecting screw, and then move the capsule-pushing board, adjust it to a position where the cutting edge of the capsule-pressing head just presses at one half of the total length of the capsule, and then tighten the connecting screw.(Figure 4)
2. Filling Mechanism:
The function of this mechanism is to fill the drug into the empty capsule on the mould of capsule automatically and in proper order. With a stepless speed regulating motor (its rotational speed is displayed on the meter) fixed on the bunker drives the propeller to force the drug on be filled into the empty capsule. The lower turntable drives the mould to rotate, the lower turntable is also driven to rotate by a stepless speed regulating motor. The lower turntables make the mould rotate a circle under the feeding mouth, which is controlled by photoelectric counting control (the counter is set at 30 timers). When the filling starting button is pressed down, the bunker will be pushed to the mould by the cylinder. After the bunker is in its place, the turntable motor and the bunker motor will automatically start, and they will automatically stop after the mould rotates a circle, and meanwhile the cylinder will pull the bunker and make it withdraw from the mould.
If the advancing and backing speed of the bunker are too high or too low, you can adjust the two one-way throttle valves at the junction of the electromagnetic valve to adjust the speed. If the motor begins to start when the bunker enters but isn’t in its place or the motor begins to start when the bunker enters but isn’t in its place or the motor can’t start for a long time after the bunker is in its place, you can adjust the time relay on the electric control box to make it start within one second after it is in its place.
Adjustment of filling volume: You can adjust the speed of the bunker motor and the speed of the turntable motor according to the filling volume and the flow characteristics of the drug. If the drug is difficult to fill, you can adjust the set value of counter at 60 or 90, but it is set at 30 before the machine leaves factory.
3. Locking Mechanism:
The function of this mechanism is to lock the capsule which is filled with drug (namely close the upper mould and the lower mould). Make the capsule-sustaining cylinder move through the pedal valve, and then push the mould of capsule with hand to make the thimble reset, push the capsule out and make it flow into the capsule-collecting box.
4. Air Control System:(Figure 5)
The pressure used in this system is 0.4~0.7MPa, the compressed air from the air pump will be carried to the pedal valve and the electromagnetic valve after treated by the triplet part.
4.1 The first step of the triplet part is air filtering, the second step is press use regulating, and the third step is lubrication of gasified oil mist supply gas circuit system, the oil spout regulating can generally spout a drop of oil every 1~3minutes(so can the ordinary machine oil).
4.2 The pedal valve controls the action of the locking cylinder. When you step on the pedal valve, the locking cylinder will push out to lock the capsule. When you loosen the pedal valve, the cylinder piston will draw back.
4.3 The electromagnetic valve is commanded by the electrical system and is used for controlling the action of the filling bunker. There are two one-way throttle valves at the outlet of the electromagnetic valve, which are used for controlling the running speed of the cylinder.
5. Electric Control System
5.1 Brief Introduction:
This machine adopts 380v50Hz three-phase four-wire system and a wire for ground protection. User must be sure to connect the ground protecting wire before switching on power. This machine adopts three stepless speed regulating motors to drive the respective driving part for operation and make maintenance easy.
The control power is 220V and the power of the signal lamp is 6V.
5.2 Schematic Instruction of Electric Control System(Figure 6)
5.2.1 Starting and stopping of the vacuum pump are instructed by a pair of staring and stopping buttons on the panel, which are interlocked with an A.C. contactor in the box. When the button (2QA) is pressed down, the vacuum pump or dust collector will start and self-lock running. When the button (1TA) is pressed down, the vacuum pump or dust collector will stop running (there is a cylinder filter in the vacuum pipeline system so as to prevent bits and dust of the capsule from entering the vacuum pump. The upper cover of the cylinder is equipped with a vacuum meter for displaying the system pressure and a throttle valve for adjusting the system pressure).
5.2.2 Starting and stopping of the air pump (has the same principle as the vacuum pump system). Press (1QA) to start and press (1TA) to stop.
5.2.3 Starting and stopping of capsule-sowing
The capsule-sowing mechanism takes the individual stepless speed regulating motor as power and the capsule-sowing speed is displayed on the revolution meter and regulated through the knob(3). When (3QA) is pressed down, the capsule-sowing mechanism will start. When (3TA) is pressed down, the capsule-sowing mechanism will stop. After starting the capsule-sowing mechanism will automatically run in a circuit (namely 60 times). The counter will be set at 60 times of control before automatically stopping the machine.
5.2.4 Starting and stopping of filling
The filling mechanism adopts two stepless speed regulating motors to separately drive the bunker part and the turntable part, and has the cylinder. The electromagnetic valve and the counter to match its running cycle law. The running speeds of the bunker and the turntable will be displayed on the revolution meter separately.
When the button (4QA) is pressed down, the electromagnetic valve will attract and open the gas circuit to provide the cylinder with air and the cylinder will push the bunker into the turntable. When the cylinder moves, the time delay unit will time for it (the time delay unit is set at 3 seconds before it leaves factory). After the bunker is in its place, the time delay unit will finish timing, namely instruct the turntable motor and the bunker motor to start running. At this moment, the counter will start counting for the turntable. After the turntable rotates to the set place (it is set at 30 times before the machine leaves factory, namely the turntable runs a cycle), the turntable motor and bunker motor will stop rotating at the same time and the electromagnetic valve will return to its place to make cylinder move and draw the bunker backer backwards to make it return to its place.
5.2.5 Protective Device:
This protective device is used for preventing hands or hard matters from entering the capsule-sowing head mechanism on running. The structure is that a protective door covers the working surface of the capsule-sowing head and a micro-limit switch interlocked with the capsule-sowing control circuit is fixed at the bottom of the door shaft (in the machine body). When the door is opened, the capsule-sowing motor will stop at once.
Ⅳ Debugging and Operation of Filling Machine
1. Before debugging the machine, the operator should be familiar with the contents of this operation manual and understand the working performance of every part of this machine and the function of every button on the control panel (Figure 7).
2. Preparation Work before Debugging of Machine:
This machine adopts A.C. power supply of three-phase four-wire 380V50Hz and should be grounded or connected to neutral reliably according to the requirements of the rules made out by the local power-supply system.
Check every part of the machine whether it is in good condition or not and oil every lubricating part according to the rules.
Switch on power and turn the air switch on the electric control box to “Close”. When the red button indicator lamp on the control panel shines, press the vacuum start button(2QA) and check the rotational direction of the vacuum pump motor whether it is the same as the direction indicated by the arrow.
Press the air pump button (1QA) and check the rotational direction of the air pump motor whether it is the same as the direction indicated by the arrow.
3. Debugging and Operation:
①Start the vacuum pump and the air pump. Its rotational direction should be the same as the direction of the arrow. Turn the knob ①②③ to the lower position. And then start the capsule-sowing motor. Press (3QA) and turn the knob ③ to raise the speed of capsule-sowing mechanism gradually to the maximum speed, there should be no phenomenon of seizing-up and abnormal noise, and then pour the empty capsules in the bunker, try to sow capsules at lower speed and raise the speed gradually under normal condition. Determine the running speed according to the quality of empty capsules bought by your factory (company). If the capsules are of good quality, the speed of sowing capsules will be higher; otherwise the speed of sowing capsules will be lower.
② Cover the lower mould plate on the turntable and pour drug into the bunker, then press (4QA) and the bunker will fill the capsules with drug immediately.
③ Cover the upper mould onto the lower mould plate filled with drug, and meanwhile move them to the locking station to make the thimble just insert into the mould hole and make the locking board turn to the bottom and step on the pedal valve gently with foot to make the capsules be locked and flow into the capsule-collecting box.
Please read the above chapters concerned for realizing performance and method of machine adjusting.

Video 1