Capsule filling machine

1. A capsule filling machine for filling capsules ( 20 ), the capsules each having an upper capsule part ( 21 ) and a lower capsule part ( 22 ), said capsule filling machine comprising:

a plurality of separate stations for handling the capsules ( 20 ), and

a capsule separation device ( 30 ) and a capsule presence device ( 40 ),

the capsule separation device ( 30 ) and the capsule presence device ( 40 ) being located together at one of the stations ( 2 , 25 );

wherein the capsule separation device ( 30 ) includes an upper capsule part receptacle ( 31 ), a lower capsule part receptacle ( 32 ), a vacuum generator ( 33 ) connected to the lower capsule part receptacle ( 32 ), and a separating pin ( 34 ) disposed below the lower capsule part receptacle ( 32 );

wherein the capsule presence device ( 40 ) includes a sensor ( 41 ) for detecting a presence of a capsule in the lower capsule part receptacle ( 32 ), wherein the sensor ( 41 ) is disposed at an end of the separating pin ( 34 ) that is oriented toward the lower capsule part receptacle ( 32 ), wherein the separating pin ( 34 ) and the sensor ( 41 ) are configured to be placed in proximity to the lower capsule part ( 22 ) prior to use of the vacuum generator ( 33 ), and are configured to be retracted away from the lower capsule part ( 22 ) after the vacuum generator ( 33 ) has generated a vacuum to pull the lower capsule part ( 22 ) away from the upper capsule part ( 21 ).

2. The capsule filling machine according to claim 1 , characterized in that the sensor ( 41 ) is a capacitive sensor.

3. The capsule filling machine according to claim 1 , characterized in that the separating pin ( 34 ) is configured to move linearly.

4. The capsule filling machine according to claim 1 , further comprising a rotary plate ( 101 ), wherein the plurality of stations are disposed along a circumference of the rotary plate ( 101 ).

5. The capsule filling machine according to claim 4 , characterized in that the separating pin is configured to be moved linearly relative to the lower capsule part receptacle ( 32 ).

6. The capsule filling machine according to claim 5 , characterized in that the sensor ( 41 ) is a capacitive proximity sensor.

7. The capsule filling machine according to claim 1 , wherein the upper capsule part ( 21 ) of one of the capsules ( 20 ) is configured to be disposed within the upper capsule part receptacle ( 31 ) and the lower capsule part ( 22 ) of the one of the capsules ( 20 ) is configured to be disposed in the lower capsule part receptacle ( 32 ) prior to activation of the vacuum generator ( 33 ).

8. The capsule filling machine according to claim 7 , wherein the lower capsule part receptacle ( 32 ) is disposed between the vacuum generator ( 33 ) and the upper capsule part receptacle ( 31 ).

9. The capsule filling machine according to claim 7 , wherein the separating pin ( 34 ) is positioned such that the sensor ( 41 ) is disposed at an end of the vacuum generator ( 33 ) prior to activation of the vacuum generator ( 33 ).

10. The capsule filling machine according to claim 9 , wherein the separating pin ( 34 ) is configured to be driven linearly such that the sensor ( 41 ) is moved out of the vacuum generator ( 33 ) and into the lower capsule part receptacle ( 32 ) so as to detect the lower capsule part ( 21 ).

11. The capsule filling machine according to claim 7 , wherein the lower capsule part ( 22 ) of the one of the capsules ( 20 ) is configured to be disposed partially in both the lower capsule part receptacle ( 32 ) as well as the upper capsule part receptacle ( 31 ) prior to activation of the vacuum generator ( 33 ), and is configured to be disposed entirely within the lower capsule part receptacle ( 32 ) upon activation of the vacuum generator ( 33 ).

12. A method of operating a capsule filling machine of claim 1 , the method comprising:

providing the capsule filling machine of claim 1 ;

positioning one of the capsules such that the upper capsule part ( 21 ) is disposed in the upper capsule part receptacle ( 31 ) and the lower capsule part ( 22 ) is disposed in the lower capsule part receptacle ( 32 );

linearly moving the separating pin ( 34 ) until the sensor ( 41 ) is moved into the lower capsule part receptacle ( 32 ) and the lower capsule part ( 22 ) is detected;

activating the vacuum generator ( 33 ) to pull the lower capsule part ( 22 ) linearly away from the upper capsule part ( 21 ); and

after activating the vacuum generator, retracting the separating pin ( 34 ) away from the lower capsule part ( 22 ).

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the separating pin ( 34 ) is positioned such that the sensor ( 41 ) is disposed at an end of the vacuum generator ( 33 ) prior to activating the vacuum generator ( 33 ).

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the lower capsule part ( 22 ) of the one of the capsules ( 20 ) is disposed partially in both the lower capsule part receptacle ( 32 ) as well as the upper capsule part receptacle ( 31 ) prior to activation of the vacuum generator ( 33 ), and is disposed entirely within the lower capsule part receptacle ( 32 ) after activating the vacuum generator ( 33 ).