WO2006092451A1

WO2006092451A1 - Installation and method for filling, assembling and sealing capsules and support element and capsule suitable for one such installation

Info

Publication number: WO2006092451A1
Application number: PCT/ES2005/000098
Authority: WO
Inventors: Juan Carlos Jimenez; Miguel Delgado
Original assignee: Discapa, Sl
Priority date: 2005-03-02
Filing date: 2005-03-02
Publication date: 2006-09-08
Also published as: WO2006092451A9

Abstract

The invention relates to an installation and method for filling, assembling and sealing capsules and to a support element and capsule suitable for one such installation. The inventive installation comprises: a conveyor (10) for conveying support elements (11) that are designed to support filled capsules (1) in a pre-determined position; several filling and assembly stations (12) which are attended by operators and which are used to fill and assemble capsules (1) from first and second shells (2, 3) and from articles and to position same on the conveyors (11); an automatic band-positioning unit (13) which is designed to position a sealing band (14) around each capsule (1) as the capsule is conveyed on the corresponding support (11) by the conveyor (10); a heating unit (15) which is used to heat-shrink the bands (14) on the capsules (1) as they are conveyed on the supports (11) by the conveyor (10); and an automatic discharge unit (16) which releases the filled, sealed capsules (1) from the supports (11) being carried along by the conveyor (10).

Description

INSTALLATION AND METHOD FOR FILLING. ASSEMBLED AND

SEALED CAPSULES. AND CARRYING ELEMENT AND CAPSULE

APPLICABLE TO SUCH INSTALLATION

Technical sector

The present invention concerns an installation and a method for filling, assembling and sealing capsules, applicable to capsules containing surprise articles, suitable for being sold by vending machines operated by coins or tokens. The present invention also concerns a carrier element and a capsule applicable to said installation.

State of the prior art

A type of vending machine for articles in the form of generally spherical or approximately spherical capsules containing a surprise article is well known. These machines comprise a structure that supports a deposit, transparent at least in part, to contain the items to be sold. At the base of said tank is a dispensing mechanism actuated by a drive mechanism coupled to a motor shaft controlled by a coin or token selector. Generally, said mechanism is manually operated by the user after having introduced one or two suitable coins or tokens to the selector, whereby the dispensing mechanism dispenses a predetermined number of said items from the deposit, generally only one, through a mouth of delivery located in a place of the structure easily accessible by the user. One of such vending machines is described in document ES-A-1036170 of the current applicant.

Document ES-A-1049802, also of the current applicant, discloses a capsule or globular container of the type described above. The capsule comprises two approximately equal shells that define an appropriate inner recess for storing the surprise article, and which are removably coupled by their respective mouth sectors. Generally the two shells are approximately hemispherical and are made of transparent and semi-rigid material. One of the two eggs comprises in its mouth region a recessed inner annular band delimited by a circumferential bead. The other shell includes an extension in its mouth region that defines an annular partition capable of engaging in engagement in said recessed band. Distributed along the outer surface of said annular partition are arranged a plurality of ribs in relief, perpendicular to the edge of the mouth, which provide temporary mutual retention between the two shells once filled and coupled enough to facilitate subsequent handling. until the placement of a seal in the coupling perimeter that strengthens the union between the two shells for commercialization. This seal consists of an adhesive tape applied by an automatic machine, and is easily removable by starting.

It is also known to apply a wrapping strip of heat shrinking material to the coupling perimeter between the two shells. The mentioned strip is initially cylindrical and, once arranged around the perimeter of coupling, is subjected to heat, so that the strip shrinks until it adapts to the shape of the capsule. The strip can have printed or printed information printed, and to open the capsule it is necessary to break the strip. This type of heat shrunk seal is known in the state of the art applied to multiple types of containers in the field of packaging.

US-A-6523328 describes an automatic line for filling containers with a liquid or pasty material. The line guides the containers and orders them in groups. The containers of each group are moved together and stopped in front of different stations in which the containers are simultaneously and successively filled, closed and sealed by means of a heat shrunk seal along a heating tunnel. However, there is no known installation or method for filling, assembling and sealing capsules, applicable to capsules containing surprise articles, which includes the placement of a heat shrunk seal to the capsule.

In the field of packaging it is known to use a plurality of carrier elements adapted to support unstable or unstable containers while being transported by a conveyor. However, I don't know It knows a carrier element adapted to support a first face-up shell or a complete capsule, filled in a predetermined stable position on a conveyor, and prepared to hold a heat shrinkable seal strip in position around the capsule before the strip The seal is heat shrunk and while the belt is heat shrunk. Nor is a capsule adapted to cooperate with a carrier element known to be maintained in a predetermined stable position while being transported by a conveyor.

Exhibition of the invention

According to a first aspect, the present invention provides an installation for filling, assembling and sealing capsules, each of said capsules being of the type comprising first and second shells adapted to be removably coupled to each other. The length of a coupling perimeter, jointly defining an interior space for at least one article. The installation of the present invention is characterized in that it comprises a conveyor adapted to move a plurality of carrier elements along a path, each of said carrier elements being adapted to support a capsule in a predetermined stable position. Several filling and assembly stations are located next to a section of said trajectory, each adapted to be attended by an operator, to fill and assemble capsules from first and second shells and articles of at least a first type, and place them on the carrier elements in said predetermined stable position while the carrier elements are moved by the conveyor. The conveyor passes through an automatic belt placement unit adapted to place a strip of seal around said coupling perimeter of each filled capsule while being transported by the conveyor on the corresponding carrier element, and by a heating unit adapted to apply heat to the aforementioned sealing belts in order to shrink them over the capsules covering said coupling perimeter while they are moved by the conveyor over the carrier elements. An automatic ejection unit is adapted to eject the capsules filled and sealed with the carrier elements moved by the conveyor.

The conveyor travels at a constant speed along a closed circuit, so that the carrier elements that have been released after the expulsion pass again through the section of the conveyor path next to which the work stations are arranged . All operations are carried out automatically except for the filling and assembly of the capsules, due to the difficulty of the automated handling of the husks and especially of the items to be placed inside the capsule because of their irregular shapes and nature. frequently changing them. The workstations have been designed with ergonomic criteria to achieve maximum efficiency with minimal fatigue of the operators, who have at their disposal in the work stations nozzles for collecting shells and items located at the exit of corresponding deposits of eggshells and items. The maintenance of the aforementioned shell and article deposits is carried out in a comfortable and rational manner from one side of them opposite to their collection mouths without interruption of the filling, assembly and sealing line of capsules. The operations of placing the strip of seal and applying heat to it to shrink it on the capsule are automatically performed in part thanks to the incorporation of a plurality of carrier elements that are also the subject of the present invention.

According to a second aspect, the present invention provides a carrier element applicable to an installation for filling, assembling and sealing capsules, each of said capsules being of the type comprising first and second shells adapted to be removably coupled. to each other along a coupling perimeter, jointly defining an interior space for at least one article, said carrier element being adapted to support a capsule in a predetermined stable position and to be transported by a conveyor along a trajectory. The carrier element of the present invention is characterized in that it comprises an adapted lift configuration to stably support said capsule, at least one positioning element adapted to cooperate with a configuration of the capsule to maintain the capsule in said predetermined stable position, and a support configuration adapted to support a heat shrinkable seal strip around said coupling perimeter of the capsule, before said seal strip is heat shrunk and while the seal strip is heat shrunk.

The usefulness of the carrying elements of the present invention is especially highlighted when the capsules to be handled are spherical (or approximately spherical), which is most common in capsules intended to be marketed by the popular coin-operated vending machines or records. The spherical capsules, due to the absence of accidents on their surface, tend to roll when left on a flat surface, and it would be practically impossible to keep them in a predetermined stable position on a conveyor if it were not by means of the carrier elements of the present invention . The said predetermined stable position of the capsule on the carrier element is such that the coupling perimeter of the two capsules of the capsule, generally located at an equator of said sphere, is in a horizontal position and at a predetermined height above a surface. of the carrier element that constitutes the aforementioned support configuration for the seal strip. This support configuration ensures that the strip of seal is placed on the capsule in a very regular and precise position, with a uniform width and equidistant edges and parallel to the perimeter of coupling, contrary to what happens with other manual placement procedures of seals.

According to a third aspect, the present invention provides a capsule, applicable to an installation for filling, assembling and sealing capsules, said capsule being the type comprising first and second shells adapted to be removably coupled to each other. another along a coupling perimeter, jointly defining an interior space for at least one article. The capsule of the present invention is characterized in that it comprises at least one configuration adapted to cooperate with a positioning element of a carrier element in order to be maintained in a predetermined stable position while being transported by a conveyor of said installation for filling, assembling and sealing capsules.

According to a fourth aspect, the present invention provides a method for filling, assembling and sealing capsules, each of said capsules being the type comprising first and second shells adapted to be removably coupled to each other. The length of a coupling perimeter, jointly defining an interior space for at least one article. The method of the present invention is characterized in that it comprises moving a plurality of carrier elements along a path by means of a conveyor, each of said carrier elements being adapted to support a capsule in a predetermined stable position. Then, in several filling and assembly stations, each one attended by an operator, fill and assemble capsules from first and second shells and articles of at least a first type in tanks available to the operator, and place the assembled capsules and filled on the carrier elements in said predetermined stable position in a section of said path. Then, by means of an automatic belt positioning unit, place a seal strip around said coupling perimeter of each filled capsule while being transported on the corresponding carrier element by the conveyor. Then heat shrink the said belts of seal on the capsules covering said coupling perimeter by means of a heating unit while the capsules are transferred on the carrier elements by the conveyor. Finally, eject the filled and sealed capsules of the carrier elements transferred by the conveyor by means of an automatic ejection unit.

The method of the present invention is suitable to be implemented by the installation of the present invention, and, in comparison with the known methods, in which both the filling and assembly of the capsules and the placement of the seal is carried out by means of totally manual operations , the method of the present invention provides high productivity thanks to the rationalization of manual filling operations and capsule assembly and to the complete automation of the operations of placing the seal belt.

Brief description of the drawings The foregoing and other advantages and features will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of some examples of embodiment with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an Installation for filling, assembling and sealing capsules according to an embodiment of a first aspect of the present invention, showing a side corresponding to the filling and assembly positions;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail of the view of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the installation of Fig. 1 showing the opposite side to the filling and assembly positions; Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail of the view of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a partial elevational view of filling and assembly posts of the installation;

Fig. 6 is a sectional profile view of a filling and assembly post of the installation; Fig. 7 is a profile view of an exemplary embodiment of an ejection unit of the installation;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of another embodiment of an ejection unit of the installation;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a carrier element according to an embodiment of a second aspect of the present invention;

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the carrier element of Fig. 9 supporting a capsule and a strip of seal before being heat shrunk;

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the two shells that, once assembled, make up the capsule according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 12 is an enlarged detail showing in cross section the coupling configurations of the two shells before being assembled;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged detail showing in cross section the coupling configurations of the two shells once assembled; Y

Fig. 14 is a side view of a capsule assembled and sealed with a strip of heat shrunk seal.

Detailed description of some embodiments

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 4 an example of embodiment of the installation for filling, assembling and sealing capsules according to the first aspect of the present invention, applied to capsules 1 is described. Capsules 1 constitute the third aspect of the present invention and comprise, each (see Figs. 11 to 14), first and second shells 2, 3 each of which has a hollow portion and a mouth.

The mentioned first and second shells 2, 3 are adapted to be removably coupled to each other by their openings along a coupling perimeter 4, so that they jointly define an interior space for at least one article. Subsequently, a strip of seal 14 applied on said coupling perimeter 4 keeps the two shells together, as shown in Fig. 14, until the seal is broken. The first and second shells 2, 3 are substantially hemispherical, so that the assembled capsules are substantially spherical, and are intended to be sold by coin operated or coin operated vending machines. The coupling perimeter 4 is located at the equator of said sphere and each of the first and second shells 2, 3 has a configuration 44 in the form of a hole or housing 44 located at a pole. The purpose of said configurations 44 is to cooperate with a positioning element 43 of a carrier element 11 intended to maintain the capsule 1 in a predetermined stable position while being transported by a conveyor 10 of said installation for filling, assembling and sealing. of capsules, as described below. Obviously, a single configuration 44 would be sufficient, although two of them make the task of positioning the capsules in the carrier elements easier and faster.

The coupling perimeter 4 includes coupling means provided to hold the first and second shells 2, 3 joined at least until the seal strip 14 is placed. These coupling means comprise (Figs. 12 and 13) a perimeter fin 55 which extends from the mouth of one of the first or second shells 2, 3 and which is introduced into the mouth of the other. Said perimeter fin 55 forms an external perimeter recess 54 in relation to the outer surface of the corresponding shell. On an outer surface of the perimeter fin 55 a perimeter regatta 53 is formed, and the other the first or second shells 2, 3 has an internal perimeter bead 52 adjacent to its mouth, which is adapted to fit in said perimeter regatta 53 , as shown in Fig. 13. A suitable material for the first and second shells 2, 3 is polypropylene. The seal strip 14 is made of a shrinkable, heat shrinkable plastic material, and preferably has printed or graphic information printed on it. The strip of seal 14 includes a final layer of a varnish of a low coefficient of friction adapted to facilitate the sliding of the balls from one another inside the tank of the vending machines operated by coins or tokens. Both the retractable plastic material and said varnish of the strip are adapted to withstand temperatures of up to 70 ° C, since, apart from the heat necessary to shrink the strip of seal 14 during its placement, sometimes the vending machine deposits are exposed to the solar radiation and in its interior the temperature can be raised significantly.

To facilitate the breakage of the seal strip 14 at the time of the opening of the capsule 1, the seal strip 14 incorporates a pair of weakened break lines 59 (Fig. 14), substantially parallel to each other and perpendicular to the perimeter of coupling 4, which cross the strip of seal 14 from side to side. Weakened 59 each line is formed by a suitable microperforations, regarding diameter and separation, to withstand the heat required for shrinkage (for example, up to 70 ⁰ C) and the own mechanical action shrinkage and adaptation to the capsule 1 without breaking . The method according to the fourth aspect of the present invention will be described at the same time as the installation in relation to the figures. The installation comprises a conveyor 10 adapted to move a plurality of carrier elements 11 (not shown in Figs. 1 and 3) along a path, each of said carrier elements 11 being adapted to support a first or second shell 2 , 3 face up or a capsule 1, assembled and filled, in a predetermined stable position. Preferably, the path followed by the conveyor 10 is a closed path. Several filling and assembly stations 12 are located next to a section of said trajectory, and each of said filling and assembly positions 12 is designed to be attended by an operator whose task will be to fill and assemble capsules 1, from first and second shells 2, 3 and articles of at least a first type, and placing the assembled and filled capsules 1 on the carrier elements 11, in said predetermined stable position.

Downstream of the filling and assembly stations 12 is located an automatic belt placement unit 13 adapted to place a seal strip 14 around said coupling perimeter 4 of each filled capsule 1 while being transported on the corresponding carrier element 11 by the conveyor 10. Next, downstream of the aforementioned automatic belt placement unit 13, there is a heating unit 15 adapted to apply heat at least on the areas where the sealing belts 14 are placed around the capsules 1 which are displaced on the carrier elements 11 by the conveyor 10. The purpose of such heat application is to heat shrink the seal belts 14 on the capsules 1 covering said coupling perimeter 4. Current downstream of said heating unit 15 and current above the filling and assembly stations 12 there is an automatic ex-unit drive 16 adapted to eject the filled and sealed capsules 1 of the carrier elements 11 transferred by the conveyor 10, so that the carrier elements 11, once free of said exit of said automatic ejection unit 16, are directed again towards the filling and assembly stations 12. The conveyor 10 travels at a constant speed through the filling and assembly stations 12, automatic belt placement unit 13, heating unit 15 and automatic ejection unit 16. The automatic belt placement unit 13 and the unit heating 15 can be of any of the different types well known in the art of the sector, for example, in the form of tunnels through which the conveyor 10 travels, and will not be described in greater detail.

The filling and assembly stations 12 are placed in a row on one side of a section of the conveyor 10. Each filling and assembly station 12 comprises a site for the operator, such as, for example, a chair 47 and a table 48 close to the conveyor 10. On the opposite side of the section of the conveyor 10 corresponding to the work stations 12, a plurality of first and second shell deposits 18, 20 are arranged in a row, respectively containing the first and second shells 2, 3 that make up the capsules 1, and a plurality of deposits of articles 22, 24, 26, containing the articles intended to fill the capsules 1. As best shown in Fig. 2, each of said first shell deposits 18 has a lower outlet in Ia which is located a first mouth of collection of shells 17 available to the operator, from where the operator can take the first shells 2. Similarly, each of said s second shell deposits 20 has a lower outlet in which a second shell collecting mouth 19 is located at the operator's disposal, from where the operator can take the second shell 3, and each item deposit 22, 24, 26 has a corresponding lower outlet in which an article collection mouth 21, 23, 25 is located from where the operator can take items of different types. Generally, these items of different types include toys and treats.

Advantageously, the first and second shell deposits 18, 20 are alternately arranged along said section of the conveyor 10, and, as best shown in Fig. 5, each filling and assembly station 12 shares said first collection mouth of shells 17 with the filling and assembly station 12 adjacent to one side thereof and sharing said second shell collecting mouth 19 with the filling station and assembled 12 adjacent to the other side, except, obviously, the two jobs 12 of the ends. The deposits of articles 22, 24, 26 are interspersed between the first and second deposits of shells 18, 20 so that each filling and assembly station 12 has its own mouths for collecting articles 21, 23, 25. In other words , The chair 47 of each filling and assembly station 12 is arranged in front of a group of article tanks 22, 24, 26, and each of the first and second shell deposits 18, 20 is arranged between two chairs 47. With this arrangement, the number of first and second shell deposits 18, 20 added is equal to the number of filling and assembly stations plus one. In the illustrated embodiment, there are six filling and assembly stations 12 and a total of seven first and second shell deposits 18, 20 (for example, four first shell deposits 18 and three second shell deposits 20). It should be noted that the number of article deposits 22, 24, 26 existing in each filling and assembly station depends on the number of types of articles that are going to fill each capsule. For example, if it were desired to fill each capsule with a single article of a first type, a single deposit of articles 22 would be sufficient for articles of said first type in front of each filling and assembly station 12. In the illustrated embodiment example, in Each filling and assembly station 12 provides two additional article tanks 24, 26 for articles of other types. Thus, with this arrangement, each capsule can be filled with one, two or three articles of different types respectively from each of the three deposits of articles 22, 24, 26, depending on the planned production. Obviously, in each filling and assembly station 12 any number of article deposits could be included, but one to three is considered sufficient.

To facilitate the exit of the shells 2, 3 and articles, each of said first and second deposits of shells 18, 20 and each of said deposits of articles 22, 24, 26 comprises an inclined bottom 27 as a hopper to direct in cooperation with gravity the corresponding first and second shells 2, 3 and articles of different types towards the corresponding first and second mouths for collecting shells 17, 19 and mouths for collecting articles 21, 23, 25. In Fig. 6 the arrangement of a filling and assembly station is shown in a sectioned profile view. Each of the first and second shell deposits 18, 20 (the first shell shell 18 in Fig. 6) comprises a fixed bottom container 28 and a replaceable top container 29. Said fixed bottom container 28 includes said inclined bottom 27 and the corresponding first and second shell collecting mouths 17, 19, and has an open upper face, while said replaceable upper container 29 is provided with a removable bottom 30 (shown partially removed in Fig. 4) adapted to be removed from the replaceable upper container 29 from one side thereof opposite the delivery nozzles 17, 19. The replaceable upper container 29 is adapted to be placed, when filled, on said open upper face of the fixed lower container 28, and to be replaced, when empty, with another replaceable top container 29 full. The replaceable top container 29, when full, has its removable bottom 30 positioned, so that it can be transported, handled, stored, etc. The removable bottom 30 is adapted to be removed once the full replaceable upper container 29 is placed on the open upper face of the fixed lower container 28. The replaceable upper container 29 includes inclined planes (not shown) next to the removable bottom 30 to help to direct the shells towards the open upper face of the fixed lower container 28. In a lower part of the fixed lower container 28 a gate 56 adapted to be opened is arranged in order to allow rapid emptying of the first and second shell deposits 18 , 20. This construction facilitates the maintenance of the first and second shell deposits 18, 20 from the side thereof opposite to where the operators are located and, consequently, without hindering their work. For the maintenance of the deposits of articles 22, 24, 26, the installation comprises a refillable article recharge unit 31, for example by guides, or by rolling, along the arrangement of first and second shell deposits 18 , 20 and deposits of articles 22, 24, 26, on the one hand of the same opposite to their corresponding collection mouths 17, 19, 21, 23, 25. The aforementioned article recharge unit 31 (better shown in Fig. 4) it comprises a lower loading hopper 33, a discharge port 34 and a higher lifting conveyor 32 adapted to lift items of the different types from said loading hopper 33 to said discharge port 34, which is adapted to direct the items of the different types, previously loaded to said loading hopper 33 and raised by said lifting conveyor 32, towards an open upper face of any of the corresponding article tanks 22, 24, 26. A displacement of the article recharge unit 31 it allows placing the discharge port 34 in relation to the open upper face of any of the article deposits 22, 24, 26. Thus, the articles of the different types can be loaded to their corresponding article deposits 22, 24, 26 by placing The item recharge unit 31 in the chosen place and pouring the contents of a box or other container of items to the loading hopper 33. With this, the maintenance of the deposits of articles 22, 24, 26 can be carried out from the side of the same opposite to where the operators are located and, consequently, without hindering their work.

The task of each operator in their filling and assembly station includes, in the case of including a single article in each capsule, taking a first shell 2 of the corresponding first shell collecting mouth 17 located at the exit of the first shell deposit 18 for first shells 2, then take an article of a first type of the corresponding article collection mouth 21 located at the exit of one of the article tanks 22 for articles of said first type, take a second shell 3 of Ia corresponding second shell collecting mouth 19 located at the exit of the second shell tank 20 for second shells 3, coupling the first and second shells 2, 3 to each other with the article or articles inside, and finally placing the capsule 1 on one of the carrier elements 11 that are displaced by the conveyor 10. In case you wish to include additional items in each capsule, The operation comprises, by said operator, taking articles of other types from one or more mouths for collecting articles 23, 25 located at the exit of one or more additional article deposits 24, 26 for said articles of other types, with in order to include articles of other types along with the article of the first type inside the capsule 1 before coupling the first and second shells 2, 3 to each other.

It should be noted that it is indifferent to first take the first or second shell 2, 3, as well as place the capsule 1 on the carrier element 11 with the first or second shell 2, 3 in the lower part.

In the installation according to the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the carrier elements 11 are supported on the conveyor 10 and distributed regularly along the entire aforementioned closed path. The total number of carrier elements 11 arranged along the conveyor is a multiple of the number of filling and assembly stations 12, and an aliquot of the carrier elements 11 is assigned to each filling and assembly station 12. Advantageously, the carrier elements 11 they include a distinctive signal from the filling and assembly station 12 to which they are assigned. An easy to identify signal can be, for example, a color associated with a part or the entire carrier element. Preferably, the carrier elements 11 assigned to the different filling and assembly stations 12 are alternated by sequential groups on the conveyor 10, that is, the carrier elements have a sequence of signals or colors that is repeated regularly along the conveyor. 10. Preferably, the carrier elements 11 are formed entirely of a plastic material of one of the different colors.

In relation to Figs. 7 and 8, some examples of embodiment of said automatic ejection unit 16 are described below. In the example of simple embodiment shown in FIG. 7, automatic ejection unit 16 comprises a mobile ejector member 35, actuated by an actuator 36 to push the capsules 1 by dropping them from the carrier elements 11 moved by the conveyor 10 towards a drop guide 37 adapted to direct the ejected capsules 1 to an inlet of an outlet container 38. The actuator 36 can be a cylinder assembly and pneumatic piston, as shown, or a motor organ of any other type deemed appropriate. In the most complex embodiment shown in Fig. 8, the automatic ejection unit 16 also comprises an ejector member 35 driven by an actuator 36 similar to that shown. in Fig. 7, counting means 39 adapted to count the number of capsules 1 ejected and distribution means 40 associated with said drop guide 37 to alternate the direction of the capsules 1 ejected between the entrances of two output containers 38 , 41 each time said counting means 39 count a predetermined number of capsules 1 ejected from the conveyor line 10. The counting means 39 can be based on an electromechanical detector, such as the microswitch 39 shown in Fig. 8, which is fixed to one of the drop guides 37, or in an optical detector or of any other type that even an expert in the matter could occur. Alternatively, the counting means could be based on the number of times the actuator 36 is operated. The distribution means 40 comprise, according to the embodiment shown, a pair of parallel guide bars 37, each articulated at its end 49 closest to the conveyor 10 with respect to a fixed support (not shown). The two guide rods 37 are linked to each other by an articulated link 50 so that they form an articulated parallelogram, and the rod of an actuator 51, such as, for example, a cylinder and pneumatic piston assembly, is connected to one of said guide bars 37. An extension or retraction of said actuator rod 51 changes the direction of the guide bars 37 towards one or the other of the output containers 38, 41. Other mechanisms will occur to a person skilled in the art, arrangements and / or actuators for the distribution means 40, even to alternate between more than two output containers, and, alternatively, the counting means could be based on the number of times the actuator 51 of the distribution means 40 is operated In relation to Figs. 9 and 10 the carrier element 11 which is part of the installation and which is the object of a second aspect of the present invention is described below. Each carrier element 11 is formed by a body of revolution comprising a base 57 adapted to support on the conveyor 10 and lift configuration 42 in the upper part, which, in the illustrated embodiment, includes a circular edge 42 perimetric, preferably bevelled, formed around a central recess 46 of said body. Optionally, the lift configuration 42 could include other configurations to stably support the capsule 1, such as, for example, three or more protrusions extended upwards or towards the center of the recess 46. The carrier element 11 further comprises a positioning element 43 adapted to cooperate with a configuration 44 of the capsule 1 to maintain the capsule 1 in said default stable position. In the illustrated embodiment, said positioning element 43 comprises a rod 43 that extends vertically from inside said hollow 46, and said configuration 44 of the capsule 1 comprises a hole or housing 44 formed in the capsule 1 and adapted to receive said rod 43 inserted or housed when the capsule 1 is supported on said circular edge 42 with the coupling perimeter 4 substantially horizontal. In the illustrated embodiment, the base 57 of the carrier element 11 is circular and includes parallel planes 58 provided to fit in configurations of the conveyor 10.

In fact, the first and second shells 2, 3 are identical, except in the configurations of their mouths, which are conjugated. Therefore, both the first shell 2 and the second shell 3 have a corresponding hole or housing 44, and the holes or housings 44 are located at the poles if we consider that the coupling perimeter is at the equator of the spherical capsule 1. With this construction, the capsule 1 can be placed on the carrier element 11 interchangeably with the first shell 2 or the second shell 3 in the lower part to insert the rod 43 in the corresponding hole or housing 44.

The carrier element 11 further comprises a support configuration 45 adapted to support the seal strip 14 around said coupling perimeter 4 of the capsule 1 when the seal strip 14 is automatically placed in an automatic belt placement unit 13, during the time before said seal strip 14 is heat shrunk and while the seal strip 14 is heat shrunk in the heating unit 15. This support configuration 45 comprises, in the illustrated embodiment, a flat surface 45 arranged around the gap 46. The diameter of the circular edge 42 is selected in conjunction with the diameter of the capsule 1 so that said flat surface 45 is at a height adapted to the position of the coupling perimeter 4 and to the width of the strip of seal 14 to ensure that the strip of seal 14 is centered in relation to the coupling perimeter 4 of the capsule 1. The ejector member 35 of the automatic ejection unit 16 is arranged to push the capsule 1 in an inclined direction below up (see Fig. 7) to facilitate that the rod 43 of the carrier 11 is cleanly removed from the hole or housing 44 of the capsule 1 when it is ejected from the line of the conveyor 10.

Fig. 11 shows a capsule 1 formed by the first and second shells 2, 3 assembled along the perimeter of coupling 4 and sealed by a strip of seal 14 heat shrunk on the perimeter of coupling 4 capable of being obtained by means of the installation and the method of the present invention with the cooperation of the carrier element 11 of the present invention.

One skilled in the art will be able to introduce variations and modifications in the examples of embodiment shown and described without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1.- Installation for filling, assembling and sealing capsules, each of said capsules (1) being of the type comprising first and second shells (2, 3) adapted to be removably coupled to one another. along a coupling perimeter (4), jointly defining an interior space for at least one article, characterized in that it comprises a conveyor (10) adapted to move a plurality of carrier elements (11) along a path, each being of said carrier elements (11) adapted to support a capsule (1) in a predetermined stable position; several filling and assembly stations (12) located next to a section of said path, each of said filling and assembly stations (12) being adapted to be attended by an operator to fill and assemble capsules (1), from first and second shells (2, 3) and articles of at least a first type in respective tanks available to the operator, and placing the capsules (1) assembled and filled on the carrier elements (11) in said predetermined stable position; an automatic belt placement unit (13) adapted to place a seal strip (14) around said coupling perimeter (4) of each filled capsule (1) while being transported on the corresponding carrier element (11) by the conveyor (10); a heating unit (15) adapted to heat shrink the said seal belts (14) placed on the capsules (1) covering said coupling perimeter (4) while being transported on the carrier elements (11) by the conveyor (10) ); and an automatic ejection unit (16) adapted to eject the capsules (1) filled and sealed from the carrier elements (11) moved by the conveyor (10).

2.- Installation, according to claim 1, characterized in that each filling and assembly station (12) comprises, available to the operator; a first shell collecting mouth (17) located at the exit of a first shell shell (18) for first shells (2), from where the operator can take first shells (2); a second shell collection mouth (19) located at the exit of a second shell deposit (20) for second shells (3), from where the operator can take second shells (3); and at least one article collection mouth (21) located at the exit of at least one article warehouse (22) for articles of a first type, from which the operator can take articles of said first type.

3. Installation, according to claim 2, characterized in that the filling and assembly stations (12) are arranged side by side along said section of the conveyor (10); the first and second shell deposits (18, 20) are arranged alternately along said section of the conveyor (10); and each filling and assembly station (12) shares said first shell collection mouth (17) with the filling and assembly station (12) adjacent to one side thereof and shares said second shell collection mouth (19) with the filling and assembly station (12) adjacent to the other side, except the two work stations (12) at the ends.

4.- Installation, according to claim 3, characterized in that said article deposits (22) are sandwiched between the first and second shell deposits (18, 20) and each filling and assembly station (12) has its own mouth for collecting items (21).

5.- Installation, according to claim 4, characterized in that it comprises one or more additional article deposits (24, 26) for articles of other types interspersed together with the first article deposit (22) between the first and second deposits of shells (18, 20), and at the exit of each of said additional article deposits (24, 26), a corresponding article collection mouth (23, 25) is located from where the operator of each filling and assembly station ( 12) You can take items of such other types.

6.- Installation, according to claim 5, characterized in that each of said first and second shell deposits (18, 20) and each of said article deposits (22, 24, 26) comprises an inclined bottom (27) as a hopper to direct in cooperation with gravity the corresponding first and second shells (2, 3) and articles of different types towards the corresponding first and second mouths for collecting eggs (17, 19) and mouths for collecting items (21, 23, 25).

7.- Installation, according to claim 6, characterized in that each of said first and second shell deposits (18, 20) comprises a fixed bottom container (28) including said inclined bottom (27), the corresponding first and second mouths for collecting eggs (17, 19), and an open upper face.

8. Installation, according to claim 7, characterized in that each of said first and second shell deposits (18, 20) comprises a replaceable upper container (29) provided with a removable bottom (30), said upper container being replaceable (29) adapted to be placed on said open upper face of said fixed lower container (28) and replaced, when empty, with another replaceable upper container (29) filled and with its removable bottom (30) placed, and said being Removable bottom (30) adapted to be removed once the replaceable upper container (29) filled is placed on the upper open face of the fixed lower container (28).

9.- Installation, according to claim 7, characterized in that each fixed bottom container (28) includes in a lower part a gate (56) adapted to be opened in order to allow rapid emptying of the first and second deposits of eggshells (18, 20).

10.- Installation, according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises an article recharge unit (31) movable along the arrangement of first and second shell deposits (18, 20) and article deposits (22, 24, 26), on the one hand opposite to their corresponding collection mouths (17, 19, 21, 23, 25).

11.- Installation, according to claim 10, characterized in that said article refill unit (31) comprises a lower loading hopper (33), an upper discharge port (34) and an adapted lifting conveyor (32) to raise items of the different types from said loading hopper (33) to said discharge port (34), which is adapted to direct the articles of the different types, previously loaded to said loading hopper (33) and lifted by said lifting conveyor (32), towards an open upper face of any of the corresponding article deposits (22, 24, 26) in relation to which the article recharge unit (31) has been placed.

12.- Installation, according to claim 1, characterized in that said first and second shells (2, 3) are identical, and because each filling and assembly station (12) comprises, available to the operator; at least a first shell collecting mouth (17) located at the exit of a shell shell for first and second shells (2, 3), from where the operator can take first and second shells (2,

3); and at least one article collection mouth (21) located at the exit of at least one article warehouse (22) for articles of a first type, from which the operator can take articles of said first type.

13.- Installation, according to claim 1, characterized in that said automatic ejection unit (16) comprises a mobile ejector member (35) actuated by an actuator (36) to push the capsules (1) by dropping them from the carrier elements (11) transferred by the conveyor (10) to a drop guide (37) adapted to direct the capsules (1) ejected to an inlet of at least one outlet container (38).

14.- Installation, according to claim 13, characterized in that the automatic ejection unit (16) comprises counting means (39) adapted to count the number of capsules (1) ejected and distribution means (40) associated with said drop guide (37) for alternating the direction of the capsules (1) ejected between said input of said output container (38) and an input of at least one other output container (41) each time said counting means (39 ) count a predetermined number of capsules (1) ejected.

15.- Installation, according to claim 1, characterized in that the path followed by the conveyor (10) is a closed path in which said automatic belt placement unit (13) is downstream of the filling and assembly stations (12) and commenting on said heating unit (15), and said automatic ejection unit (16) is downstream of the heating unit (15) and upstream of the filling stations and assembled (12).

16.- Installation, according to claim 15, characterized in that it comprises a number of carrier elements (11) multiple of the number of filling and assembly stations (12), said carrier elements (11) being arranged on the conveyor (10) and distributed regularly throughout the aforementioned closed path.

17.- Installation, according to claim 16, characterized in that an aliquot of the carrier elements (11) is assigned to each filling and assembly station (12), and the carrier elements (11) include a distinctive signal of the position filling and assembly (12) to which they are assigned.

18.- Installation, according to claim 17, characterized in that the carrier elements (11) assigned to the different filling and assembly stations (12) are alternated by sequential groups on the conveyor (10).

19.- Installation, according to claim 17, characterized in that said distinctive signal included in the carrier elements (11) is a color.

20.- Installation, according to claim 1, characterized in that each carrier element (11) comprises a lift configuration (42) adapted to support the capsule (1), at least one positioning element (43) adapted to cooperate with a configuration (44) of the capsule (1) to maintain the capsule (1) in said predetermined stable position, and a support configuration (45) adapted to support said seal strip (14) around the coupling perimeter (4) of The capsule (1) before the seal strip (14) is shrunk and while the seal strip (14) is heat shrunk in said heating unit (15).

21.- Carrier element applicable to an installation for filling, assembling and sealing capsules according to claim 1, each of said capsules (1) being of the type comprising first and second ones. shells (2, 3) adapted to be removably coupled to each other along a coupling perimeter (4), jointly defining an interior space for at least one article, said carrier element (11) being adapted to support a capsule (1) in a predetermined stable position and to be transported by a conveyor (10) along a path, characterized in that it comprises a lift configuration (42) adapted to stably support said capsule (1), when less a positioning element (43) adapted to cooperate with a configuration (44) of the capsule (1) to maintain the capsule (1) in said predetermined stable position, and a support configuration (45) adapted to support a belt of seal (14) heat shrinkable around said coupling perimeter (4) of the capsule (1) before said seal strip (14) is heat shrunk and while the seal strip (14) is shrunk to heat.

22.- Carrier element, according to claim 21, characterized in that said support configuration (42) comprises at least one perimeter circular edge (42) formed around a recess (46), said positioning element (43) comprises a rod (43) extending vertically from inside said hollow (46), and said configuration (44) of the capsule (1) comprises a hole (44) formed in the capsule (1) and adapted to receive said rod ( 43) when the capsule (1) is supported on said circular edge (42) with the coupling perimeter (4) substantially horizontal.

23.- Carrier element, according to claim 22, characterized in that said support configuration (45) comprises a flat surface (45) arranged around said recess (46) at a height adapted to the position of the coupling perimeter (4). ) and to the width of the seal strip (14).

24.- Carrier element, according to any one of claims 21 to 23, characterized in that it incorporates a distinctive signal from a filling and assembly station (12) to which it is assigned.

25.- Capsule, applicable to an installation for filling, assembling and sealing capsules according to claim 1, said capsule being (1) of the type comprising first and second shells (2, 3) adapted to be removably coupled to each other along a coupling perimeter (4), jointly defining an interior space for at least one article , characterized in that it comprises at least one configuration (44) adapted to cooperate in engagement with a positioning element (43) of a carrier element (11) in order to be maintained in a predetermined stable position while being transported by a conveyor (10) of said installation for filling, assembling and sealing capsules.

26.- Capsule, according to claim 25, characterized in that said first and second shells (2, 3) are substantially hemispherical and once assembled define a substantially spherical capsule (1) with said coupling perimeter (4) in the equator , each of the first and second shells (2, 3) including one of said configurations (44) in the form of a hole or housing (44) located in the pole.

27.- Capsule, according to claim 26, characterized in that the coupling perimeter (4) comprises an internal perimeter bead (52) adjacent to the mouth of one of the first or second shells (2, 3), and adapted for fit into an existing perimeter regatta (53) on an outer surface of an external perimeter recess (54) formed by a perimeter fin (55) that extends from the mouth of another of the first or second shells (2, 3).

28.- Capsule according to any one of claims 25 to 27, characterized in that said first and second shells (2, 3) are made of polypropylene.

29. - Capsule, according to any one of claims 25 to 27, characterized in that it includes a strip of seal (14) of a retractable plastic material, with printed or graphic printed information, a final layer of a varnish of a low coefficient of friction, and a pair of weakened break lines (59) to facilitate the breakage of said seal strip (14), said retractable plastic material, said varnish, and said break lines (59) adapted to withstand temperatures of up to 70 ⁰ C.

30.- Method for filling, assembling and sealing capsules, each of said capsules (1) being of the type comprising first and second shells (2, 3) adapted to be removably coupled to one another. along a coupling perimeter (4), jointly defining an interior space for at least one article, characterized in that it comprises: moving a plurality of carrier elements (11) along a path by means of a conveyor (10), each being of said carrier elements (11) adapted to support a capsule (1); fill and assemble capsules (1) manually from first and second shells (2, 3) and articles of at least one first type, in several filling and assembly stations (12), each served by an operator, and place the capsules (1) filled on the carrier elements (11) in a predetermined stable position; placing, by means of an automatic belt placement unit (13), a strip of seal (14) around said coupling perimeter (4) of each filled capsule (1) while being carried on the corresponding carrier element (11) by the conveyor (10); heat shrink the aforementioned seal belts (14) on the capsules (1) covering said coupling perimeter (4) by means of a heating unit (15) while the capsules (1) are transferred on the carrier elements (11) by the conveyor (10); and eject the filled and sealed capsules (1) of the carrier elements (11) transferred by the conveyor (10) by means of an automatic ejection unit (16).

31.- Method, according to claim 30, characterized in that said step of filling and assembling capsules (1) comprises repeatedly performing, by said operator in each filling and assembly station (12), the following operations, not necessarily in this order: take a first shell (2) of a first shell collection mouth (17) located at the exit of a first shell deposit (18) for first shell (2) and a second shell (3) of a second mouth of shell collecting (19) located at the exit of a second shell deposit (20) for second shells (3); take at least one article of at least a first type of at least one article collection mouth (21) located at the exit of at least one article warehouse (22) for articles of said first type; and couple the first and second shells (2, 3) to each other with the article or articles inside.

32.- Method, according to claim 31, characterized in that it comprises, by said operator, taking items of other types from one or more mouths for collecting items (23, 25) located at the exit of one or more deposits of additional articles (24, 26) for said articles of other types, in order to include articles of other types together with the article of the first type within the capsule (1) before coupling the first and second shells (2, 3) to each other.

33.- Method, according to claim 30, characterized in that said step of placing the filled capsules (1) on the carrier elements (11) comprises, by each operator, placing the capsules (1) only in one of the carrier elements (11) assigned to the respective filling and assembly station (12) and distinguished by a signal.