Abstract: A granulator device (1) for the treatment of powdered material, in particular pharmaceutical powdered material, comprises a substantially cylindrical container (2), in which there is a chamber (4) for treatment of the powdered material using a fluid flow fed into the chamber (4); filtering means (5) for filtering the inside of the chamber (4), the filtering means (5) being located in the chamber (4) and comprising at least one filter (5) with a cylindrical metal mesh filtering wall (6); and means (P) for cleaning the filtering means (5) which can be activated during maintenance operations, the cleaning means comprising at least one element (7) rotating about each filter (5) and supporting diffuser means (8) designed to diffuse a service fluid on the cylindrical wall (6) in order to eliminate any impurities trapped in the filter (5) wall (6); the cleaning means (P) also comprise means (9) for temporarily opening at least one portion (10) of the filter (5) to allow the service fluid to flow out of the filter (5
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 7, 2006
Date of Patent:
April 12, 2011
Assignee:
I.M.A. Industria Macchine Automatiche S.p.A.
Inventors:
Salvatore Fabrizio Consoli, Andrea Nora, Roberto Trebbi
Abstract: A unit (100) for filling containers (2) with products (1), in particular pharmaceutical products (1), includes a hopper (3,3a) containing a mass of products (1) in bulk, conveying means (5,6) aimed at feeding the products (1) leaving the hopper (3) along a predetermined path (P) up to a station (SR), where the containers (2) are filled with the products (1). The containers (2) are fed to the filling station (SR) by transporting means (4,C). A checking station (SC) for checking the products (1) is situated along the path (P) upstream of the filling station (SR). The conveying means (5,6) include first means (51,52,53) consisting of vibrating planes and second conveying means (6). The second conveying means (6) are situated at the checking station (SC) between the conveying vibrating planes means (51,52,53) and the filling station (SR).
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 20, 2003
Date of Patent:
February 1, 2011
Assignee:
I.M.A. Industria Macchine Automatiche S.p.A.
Abstract: A unit for sterilizing and depyrogenating containers of the type including a conveying device suitable for receiving a plurality of containers through at least an inlet and supplying the containers in a set direction to a corresponding outlet of the unit. The unit has a sterilizing/depyrogenating unit defined by at least two sterilizing modules arranged consecutively in said direction and communicating through an intermediate passage and affected by the conveying device. The sterilizing modules are activatable independently of one another according to alternative operating modes for hot and/or cooling sterilizing the containers.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 11, 2006
Date of Patent:
October 12, 2010
Assignee:
I.M.A. Industria Macchine Automatiche S.p.A.
Abstract: A unit (100) for packaging articles (1) containing a product for infusion, preferably filter paper coffee pods (1), is of the type comprising at least one operating stacking station (8) for stacking the pods (1) in such a way as to form at least one stack (1a, 1b) of pods (1). The stacking station (8) comprises a device (9) for handling the pods (1) which guides and controls the stack (1a, 1b) of pods (1) as it is fed into a respective bag-like packet (11).
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 14, 2005
Date of Patent:
July 20, 2010
Assignee:
I.M.A. Industria Macchine Automatiche S.p.A.
Abstract: A method for production of hard gelatin capsules (C) having a lid (3) and body (2) containing a quantity (1) of pharmaceutical material including feeding empty capsules along a handling line (L); separating the capsule bodies (2) from the lids (3) to form two separate rows of capsule bodies (2) and lids (3); feeding and dosing the quantities (1) of pharmaceutical material to be filled into the capsule bodies (2); and closing the capsules (C) by placing a lid (3) over each respective body (2). A mechanism (9) for detecting and volumetrically checking the quantity (1) of pharmaceutical material filled into each capsule body (2) is provided and includes a transducer (5) measuring the volume of the quantities (1) before they are filled into the capsule bodies (2).
Type:
Application
Filed:
February 4, 2010
Publication date:
June 3, 2010
Applicant:
I.M.A. INDUSTRIA MACCHINE AUTOMATICHE S.p.A.
Abstract: A capsule filling machine (100) for the production of hard gelatin capsules (C) of the type with lid (3) and body (2) containing a quantity (1) of pharmaceutical material comprises a rotary turret or carousel (15) which defines at least one capsule (C) handling line (L) and on which the following are positioned, one after the other: at least one station (6) for feeding empty capsules (C); at least one opening station (20) where the capsule bodies (2) are separated from the lids (3) to form two separate rows of capsule bodies (2) and lids (3); at least one station (7) for feeding and dosing the quantities (1) of pharmaceutical material to be filled into the capsule bodies (2); and at least one station (8) for closing the capsules (C) by placing a lid (3) over each respective body (2); the machine (100) also comprises means (9) for detecting and volumetrically checking the quantity (1) of pharmaceutical material filled into each capsule body (2), the detecting and checking means (9) comprise transducer means (5
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 9, 2005
Date of Patent:
March 16, 2010
Assignee:
I.M.A. Industria Macchine Automatiche S.p.A.
Abstract: A device for dosing and forming pods (1) containing a product for infusion and comprising a piece of filter material containing a dose of the product for infusion. The device comprises: a station (2) for feeding the product into at least one forming impression (3) defining a single dose of the product and made in means (4) for forming a respective compressed disk (5) of the infusion product and releasing the compressed disk (5) from the impression (3) in the filter material to form the pod (1).
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 23, 2004
Date of Patent:
February 16, 2010
Assignee:
I.M.A. Industria Macchine Automatiche S.p.A.
Abstract: A capsule filling machine (10) for producing hard gelatin capsules (C) of the type with lid and body (3, 4) containing particles (12) of pharmaceutical material, in particular microtablets (12) or pellets comprises a rotary carousel (2) mounting a plurality of slide units (5) for holding and handling the capsules (C) in order to open and then close the capsules (C) by first separating and then pairing the capsule lids (3) and bodies (4); and means (11) for feeding the particles (12) to the carousel (2) for filling doses of the particles (12) into the respective capsule bodies (4); the feed means (11) comprise at least one hopper (13) containing a mass of these particles (12), and roller means (14) partly immersed in said mass of particles (12) in the hopper (13); the roller means (14) having a plurality of suction recesses (15) for accommodating and retaining a predetermined number of the particles (12) drawn from the hopper (13) and then releasing the particles (12) into a series of hollow conduits (16) moun
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 24, 2006
Date of Patent:
December 29, 2009
Assignee:
I.M.A. Industria Macchine Automatiche S.p.A.
Abstract: A granulator device (1) for the treatment of powdered material, in particular pharmaceutical powdered material, comprises a substantially cylindrical container (2), in which there is a chamber (4) for treatment of the powdered material using a fluid flow fed into the chamber (4); filtering means (5) for filtering the inside of the chamber (4), the filtering means (5) being located in the chamber (4) and comprising at least one filter (5) with a cylindrical metal mesh filtering wall (6); and means (P) for cleaning the filtering means (5) which can be activated during maintenance operations, the cleaning means comprising at least one element (7) rotating about each filter (5) and supporting diffuser means (8) designed to diffuse a service fluid on the cylindrical wall (6) in order to eliminate any impurities trapped in the filter (5) wall (6); the cleaning means (P) also comprise means (9) for temporarily opening at least one portion (10) of the filter (5) to allow the service fluid to flow out of the filter (5
Type:
Application
Filed:
April 7, 2006
Publication date:
November 26, 2009
Applicant:
I.M.A. INDUSTRIA MACCHINE AUTOMATICHE S.P.A.
Inventors:
Salvatore Fabrizio Consoli, Andrea Nora, Roberto Trebbi
Abstract: Described is a unit (1) for feeding powdered infusion material to a machine (M) producing packs (3) made from filter material (5). The machine (M) comprises a production line (2) for making such packs (3) and consists of a conveyor (4) with mobile recesses (7) moving in a feed direction (L) designed to be covered with filter material (5) and to form impressions (8) in the filter material (5); rotary feeders (10) fitted to the unit (1) designed to feed an amount or dose (C) of the powdered infusion material into the impressions (8), and rotary precompactors (14) mounted on the rotary feeders (10) acting together with rotary feeders (10) to distribute the doses (C) uniformly inside the impressions (8).
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 30, 2005
Date of Patent:
November 10, 2009
Assignee:
I.M.A. Industria Macchine Automatiche S.p.A.
Abstract: Described is an apparatus (5) for making pods (1) containing respective doses (4) of an infusion product. The apparatus comprises: revolving drum conveyor means (6) with pockets (7) uniformly distributed on it; a line (B) for feeding a first web (12) of filter material which feeds the first web (12) to the conveyor means (6) ; actuating means (8) for moving the first web (12) against the pockets (7) on the revolving drum conveyor means (6) to form on the first web (12) a series of impressions (L); and a second line (A) for feeding a second web (11) of filter material.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 23, 2004
Date of Patent:
July 14, 2009
Assignee:
I.M.A. Industria Macchine Automatiche S.p.A.
Abstract: A granulator device (101) for the treatment of powdered products comprises a closed container (102) forming a chamber (103) for treatment of the products, filter elements (104, 105) projecting into the treatment chamber (103), the filter elements comprising a multi-layer filtering wall (105) through which a fluid current can pass, and powder removing parts (106; 107, 108, 109, 110) designed to diffuse at least one service fluid directed towards at least the filtering wall (105); the powder removing parts (106; 107, 108, 109, 110) having at least first diffuser nozzles (107) and at least second diffuser nozzles (108) to diffuse the service fluid so as to free the filtering wall (105) of the powders trapped in it; there also being parts (140, 142, 147) for supporting and driving the filter elements (104, 105) which can change the angle of the filter elements (104, 105) from a first operating position, in which at least the first nozzles (107) act on the filtering wall (105), to a second operating position in wh
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 2, 2004
Date of Patent:
May 19, 2009
Assignee:
I.M.A. Industria Macchine Automatiche S.p.A.
Inventors:
Salvatore Fabrizio Consoli, Andrea Nora, Roberto Trebbi
Abstract: Described is a rotary pan (1) of the type comprising a central hollow cylindrical body (3) with end portions (4, 4?) shaped substantially like truncated cones, and mixing/deflecting means (7) attached to at least one inside surface of the pan (1) itself; the peripheral inside cylindrical surface (5) of the hollow body (3) comprises an extended zone (A) defined by a uniform distribution of through holes (6) and at least one zone (B) within the zone (A) forming an area by which the mixing/deflecting means (7) are attached or fixed to the peripheral surface (5).
Type:
Application
Filed:
April 7, 2006
Publication date:
October 30, 2008
Applicant:
I.M.A. INDUSTRIA MACCHINE AUTOMATICHE S.P.A.
Abstract: A capsule filling machine (10) for producing hard gelatin capsules (C) of the type with lid and body (3, 4) containing particles (12) of pharmaceutical material, in particular microtablets (12) or pellets comprises a rotary carousel (2) mounting a plurality of slide units (5) for holding and handling the capsules (C) in order to open and then close the capsules (C) by first separating and then pairing the capsule lids (3) and bodies (4); and means (11) for feeding the particles (12) to the carousel (2) for filling doses of the particles (12) into the respective capsule bodies (4); the feed means (11) comprise at least one hopper (13) containing a mass of these particles (12), and roller means (14) partly immersed in said mass of particles (12) in the hopper (13); the roller means (14) having a plurality of suction recesses (15) for accommodating and retaining a predetermined number of the particles (12) drawn from the hopper (13) and then releasing the particles (12) into a series of hollow conduits (16) moun
Type:
Application
Filed:
July 24, 2006
Publication date:
September 4, 2008
Applicant:
I.M.A. INDUSTRIA MACCHINE AUTOMATICHE S.P.A.
Abstract: Described is a unit (1) for feeding powdered infusion material to a machine (M) producing packs (3) made from filter material (5). The machine (M) comprises a production line (2) for making such packs (3) and consists of a conveyor (4) with mobile recesses (7) moving in a feed direction (L) designed to be covered with filter material (5) and to form impressions (8) in the filter material (5); rotary feeders (10) fitted to the unit (1) designed to feed an amount or dose (C) of the powdered infusion material into the impressions (8), and rotary precompactors (14) mounted on the rotary feeders (10) acting together with rotary feeders (10) to distribute the doses (C) uniformly inside the impressions (8).
Type:
Application
Filed:
June 30, 2005
Publication date:
August 21, 2008
Applicant:
I.M.A. INDUSTRIA MACCHINE AUTOMATICHE S.P.A.