APPARATUS FOR SEALING AND DRYING CAPSULES, AND A METHOD FOR DISMANTLING CAPSULE CARRIERS

1 . An apparatus ( 10 ) for sealing and drying capsules ( 12 ) comprising:

a sealing device ( 14 ) for sealing capsules ( 12 ) and

a drying device ( 16 ) for drying capsules ( 12 ), wherein the drying device ( 16 ) comprises:

a plurality of capsule carriers ( 18 ), each capsule carrier ( 18 ) being elongated, having a first end ( 20 ), a second end ( 22 ), and a plurality of receptacles ( 24 ) for receiving capsules ( 12 ),

a first chain ( 26 ) and a second chain ( 28 ) for receiving and transporting the capsule carriers ( 18 ),

wherein the first end ( 20 ) of each capsule carrier ( 18 ) is coupled or couplable to the first chain ( 26 ) by a snap-fit connection ( 30 ),

wherein the second end ( 22 ) of each capsule carrier ( 18 ) is coupled or couplable to the second chain ( 28 ) by a snap-fit connection ( 30 ),

wherein the snap-fit connections ( 30 ) are configured such that the capsule carriers ( 18 ) can be rotated about an axis of rotation ( 31 ) when the snap-fit connections ( 30 ) are closed.

2 . The apparatus ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the first chain ( 26 ) and the second chain ( 28 ) each have a plurality of extensions ( 32 ),

wherein the first end ( 20 ) and the second end ( 22 ) of the capsule carrier ( 18 ) each have a clamp ( 34 ),

wherein in each case an extension ( 32 ) and a clamp ( 34 ) form a snap-fit connection ( 30 ).

3 . The apparatus ( 10 ) according to claim 2 , wherein each extension ( 32 ) has a stop ( 36 ),

wherein the stop ( 36 ), when the snap-fit connection ( 30 ) is closed, engages behind the corresponding clamp ( 34 ) of a capsule carrier ( 18 ), so that the capsule carriers ( 18 ) are fixed in a form-fitting manner between the first chain ( 26 ) and the second chain ( 28 ).

4 . The apparatus ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the drying device ( 16 ) comprises a plurality of gears ( 38 ),

wherein the gears ( 38 ) mesh with chain links of the first chain ( 26 ) and/or the second chain ( 28 ).

5 . The apparatus ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the

apparatus ( 10 ) comprises a feeding device ( 40 ) for feeding the capsules ( 12 ) into the sealing device ( 14 ).

6 . The apparatus ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the drying device ( 16 ) comprises an ejection device ( 42 ),

wherein the ejection device ( 42 ) is configured to remove capsules ( 12 ) from the receptacles ( 24 ) of the capsule carriers ( 18 ) and

wherein the ejection device ( 42 ) is configured to release the snap-fit connections ( 30 ) between the capsule carriers ( 18 ), the first chain ( 26 ), and the second chain ( 26 ).

7 . The apparatus ( 10 ) according to claim 6 , wherein the ejection device ( 42 ) comprises a shaft ( 44 ),

wherein the shaft ( 44 ) has a first gear ( 46 ) and a second gear ( 48 ),

wherein the first gear ( 46 ) and the second gear ( 48 ) are coupled to the shaft ( 44 ) in a rotationally fixed manner and mesh with chain links of the first chain ( 26 ) and the second chain ( 28 ),

wherein the shaft ( 44 ) comprises a first bearing surface ( 50 ) and a second bearing surface ( 52 ),

wherein each capsule carrier ( 18 ) has a contact surface ( 54 ) in a region of its first end ( 20 ) and in a region of its second end ( 22 ),

wherein, when a capsule carrier ( 18 ) is moved around the shaft ( 44 ), the capsule carrier ( 18 ) contacts, at least with a region of its contact surfaces ( 54 ), at least one region of the first bearing surface ( 50 ) and at least one region of the second bearing surface ( 52 ).

8 . The apparatus ( 10 ) according to claim 7 , wherein the shaft ( 44 ) comprises a sleeve ( 56 ), a first flange ( 58 ) and a second flange ( 60 ),

wherein the sleeve ( 56 ), the first flange ( 58 ), the second flange ( 60 ) and the shaft ( 44 ) are arranged coaxially,

wherein the sleeve ( 56 ) is arranged between the first flange ( 58 ) and the second flange ( 60 ),

wherein the sleeve ( 56 ), the first flange ( 58 ), and the second flange ( 60 ) are coupled to one another such that a rotation of the sleeve ( 56 ) relative to the shaft ( 44 ) causes an axial movement of the first flange ( 58 ) and the second flange ( 60 ) between a first position ( 62 ), in which the first flange ( 58 ) and the second flange ( 60 ) are at a minimum distance from one another, and a second position ( 64 ) in which the first flange ( 58 ) and the second flange ( 60 ) are at a maximum distance from one another,

wherein the shaft ( 44 ) comprises a plurality of flexible elements ( 66 ),

wherein the flexible elements ( 66 ), the first flange ( 58 ), and the second flange ( 60 ) are configured and arranged in such a way that a movement of the first flange ( 58 ) and the second flange ( 60 ) into the first position ( 62 ) causes a radial movement of the flexible elements ( 66 ) radially inwards, and that a movement of the first flange ( 58 ) and the second flange ( 60 ) into the second position ( 64 ) causes a radial movement of the flexible elements ( 66 ) radially outwards,

wherein the shaft ( 44 ) and the capsule carriers ( 18 ) are configured such that when the first flange ( 58 ) and the second flange ( 60 ) are arranged in the second position ( 64 ), the flexible elements ( 66 ) move the capsule carriers ( 18 ) radially outwards when the capsule carriers ( 18 ) are moved around the shaft ( 44 ), so that the snap-fit connections ( 30 ) are released.

9 . The apparatus ( 10 ) according to claim 8 , wherein the first flange ( 58 ) is coupled to the sleeve ( 56 ) by a screw connection ( 68 ), and

wherein the second flange ( 60 ) is coupled to the sleeve ( 56 ) by a screw connection ( 68 ).

10 . The apparatus ( 10 ) according to claim 6 , wherein the ejection device ( 42 ) comprises a deflector, wherein the deflector is configured such that the capsule carriers ( 18 ) can be detached from the first chain ( 26 ) and/or the second chain ( 28 ) by the deflector.

11 . The apparatus ( 10 ) according to claim 6 , wherein the ejection device ( 42 ) comprises at least one inflatable hollow ring, and/or at least one hub extension means, wherein the at least one inflatable hollow ring and/or the at least one hub extension means are set up such that they can increase a hub diameter of the shaft ( 44 ).

12 . The apparatus ( 10 ) according to claim 6 , wherein the ejection device ( 42 ) comprises a chute ( 70 ), wherein the chute ( 70 ) is configured to guide the capsules ( 12 ) removed from the receptacles ( 24 ) of the capsule carriers ( 18 ) out of the apparatus ( 10 ),

wherein the chute ( 70 ) is also configured to guide the capsule carriers ( 18 ) removed from the first chain ( 26 ) and the second chain ( 28 ) out of the apparatus ( 10 ).

13 . A method for dismantling capsule carriers ( 18 ) of an apparatus ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , the method comprising:

providing the apparatus ( 10 ), wherein the capsule carriers ( 18 ) are coupled to the first chain ( 26 ) and the second chain ( 28 ) by the snap-fit connections ( 30 ),

exerting a force on individual capsule carriers ( 18 ) to release the snap-fit connection ( 30 ) in each case and to release the capsule carriers ( 18 ) from the first chain ( 26 ) and the second chain ( 28 ).

14 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the method further comprises:

moving the capsule carriers ( 18 ) by the first chain ( 26 ) and the second chain ( 28 ) along a circular path or along a circular segment, and

exerting a force directed radially outwards from a center point of the circular path or of the circular segment on the capsule carriers to open the snap-fit connections ( 30 ) and release the capsule carriers ( 18 ) from the first chain ( 26 ) and the second chain ( 28 ).

15 . The method according to claim 14 , wherein the method further comprises:

fixing the capsule carriers ( 18 ) in such a way that rotation about the axis of rotation ( 31 ) due to gravity is prevented while the capsule carriers ( 18 ) are moved along the circular path or along the circular segment.

16 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the method further comprises:

guiding the capsule carriers ( 18 ) released from the first chain ( 26 ) and the second chain ( 28 ) out of the apparatus ( 10 ).

17 . The apparatus ( 10 ) according to claim 2 , wherein the plurality of extensions ( 32 ) are bolt-shaped.

18 . The apparatus ( 10 ) according to claim 7 , wherein the first bearing surface ( 50 ) adjoins the first gear ( 46 ), and wherein the second bearing surface ( 52 ) adjoins the second gear ( 48 ).

19 . The apparatus ( 10 ) according to claim 9 , wherein the first flange ( 58 ) and the second flange ( 60 ) are each coupled pneumatically, hydraulically, and/or electrically to the sleeve ( 56 ).

20 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the capsule carriers ( 18 ) released from the first chain ( 26 ) and the second chain ( 28 ) are guided out of the apparatus ( 10 ) by a chute ( 70 ).