Claims:WE CLAIM:
1. A magazine assembly for capsules, the magazine assembly comprising:
a mounting block having a front side and a rear side;
a first plate fixedly adapted on the front side of the mounting block;
a second plate provided in a space apart relationship with the first plate, at-least one of the plates having plurality of tracks extending from a proximal end to a distal end, each track defining a passageway for the capsules, the second plate movable between a first position and a second position with respect to the first plate, in the first position, the area between the first plate and the second plate is such that capsules having a pre-determined size and/or shape pass through the tracks, thereby blocking/jamming any deformed capsules in one or more tracks, and in the second position an additional space is created such that deformed capsules jammed in any of the tracks is allow to slide towards the distal end;
a drive mechanism for shifting the second plate away from the first plate in case a deformed capsule is jammed in any of the tracks; and
an upper gate and a lower gate provided towards the distal end of each track, each of the gate individually operable for allowing one capsule at a time to exit from each track of the magazine assembly.

2. The magazine assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein a control system is provided, the control system is configured to determine the track having a deformed/jammed capsule; operate the drive mechanism for moving the second plate away from the first plate and operate the gates of the identified track having the deformed/jammed capsule to allow the jammed capsule to pass out of the magazine assembly.

3. The magazine assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism comprising:
a drive plate movably mounted on the rear side of the mounting block, the drive plate interconnected with the second plate such that movement of the drive plate causes the second plate to move;
a first member having a tapered profile fixedly adapted to the drive plate;
a second member having a tapered profile rotatably adapted to the mounting block, whereby the tapered profile of the first member and the second member mate one another in normal position; and
a pneumatic cylinder for rotating the second member, rotation of the second member separates the tapered surfaces creating a space, the space allows the first member and the drive plate to move forward causing the second plate to move.

4. The magazine assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the drive plate and the second plate are interconnected via pair of guide rods.
, Description:FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[001] The invention relates to a magazine assembly for capsules, more particularly to a magazine assembly for discarding/removing one or more deformed capsules.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[002] Inspecting products for size, shape, weight at different stages of manufacturing/packaging cycle is a standard and essential practice across various industries. Especially, in pharmaceutical industry it is essential that a capsule or a tablet being manufactured is of a pre-determined size, shape and weight. Any deviation in such pre-determined parameters is undesirable, and hence any capsules with deformities i.e. not having the predetermined parameters must be rejected. Thus various systems/processes are employed at various stages to inspect products being manufactured.
[003] One such system which is commonly used in the pharmaceutical industry is a checkweigher machine. The checkweigher machine comprises of a load-cell for measuring weight of capsules and sort capsules as per the measured weight. The capsules are transfered to the load-cell via a magazine assembly having plurality of tracks. The magazine assembly only passes capsules with a certain specification. Any capsule which may be deformed, may get stuck in one of the tracks of the magazine assembly rendering that particular track non-functional. To remove such capsule the entire magazine assembly is opened, and the entire lines of capsules in each of the tracks are removed, which is undesirable.
[004] Therefore, there is a need for a solution which addresses at-least the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[005] Accordingly, the present invention in one aspect provides a magazine assembly for capsules, the magazine assembly comprising a mounting block having a front side and a rear side; a first plate fixedly adapted on the front side of the mounting block; a second plate provided in a space apart relationship with the first plate, at-least one of the plates having plurality of tracks extending from a proximal end to a distal end, each track defining a passageway for the capsules, the second plate movable between a first position and a second position with respect to the first plate, in the first position, the area between the first plate and the second plate is such that capsules having a pre-determined size and/or shape pass through, thereby blocking/jamming any deformed capsules in one or more tracks, and in the second position an additional space is created such that deformed capsules jammed in any of the tracks is allow to slide towards the distal end; a drive mechanism for shifting the second plate away from the first plate in case a deformed capsule is jammed in any of the tracks; and an upper gate and a lower gate provided towards the distal end of each track, each of the gate individually operable for allowing one capsule at a time to exit from each track of the magazine assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[006] Reference will be made to embodiments of the invention, examples of which may be illustrated in accompanying figures. These figures are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Although the invention is generally described in context of these embodiments, it should be understood that it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to these particular embodiments.
Figure 1 shows a checkweigher machine in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 2 shows a sectional side-view of the checkweigher machine in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 3 shows an exploded rear-view of a magazine assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 4 shows a sectional view of a drive mechanism adapted with the magazine assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[007] The present invention is directed towards a magazine assembly for capsules. The magazine assembly is designed to remove one or more deformed capsules from the magazine assembly without having to remove other capsules which have a predetermined shape and/or size.
[008] Figures 1 shows a checkweigher machine 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The checkweigher machine comprises of a hopper 110, a magazine assembly 200, a load cell 130 and an exit chute 140.
[009] The hopper is loaded with plurality of pre-filled capsules which are to be weighed/verified by the checkweigher machine. The hopper has an opening provided towards its bottom. The opening is in communication with a top-end of the magazine assembly. Once loaded, the capsules are transferred to the magazine assembly which is provided below the hopper, and the capsules are thereafter provided to the load-cell. The load-cell comprises of plurality of weighing pans, each weighing pan capable of receiving a capsule each. The magazine assembly feeds the capsules one by one to the load-cell. In an embodiment of the invention, the magazine assembly discards/removes one or more deformed capsules from the magazine assembly. Deformed capsule means a capsule whose shape and/or size is greater than standard/pre-determined shape and/or size
[010] Further, as shown in figure 2 the exit chute is provided after the load-cell. The exit chute has at-least two exits – one accepted capsules bin 142 and one rejected capsules bin 144. In this regard, if the capsule is in accordance with the desired shape and/or size, the capsule is passed on to the accepted capsules bin, otherwise the deformed capsule is passed on to the rejected capsule bin, thereby preventing deformed capsules from being processed/packed further. Also, the load-cell measures the weight of each capsule and depending upon weight of the capsule transfers the capsule to the accepted capsule bin or the rejected capsule bin.
[011] Referring to figure 2, which shows a sectional side-view of the checkweigher machine. As shown, the magazine assembly comprises a mounting block 210, a first plate 220, a second plate 230, and a drive mechanism 240. The mounting block has a front-side and a rear-side. The first plate and the second plate are adapted on the front-side of the mounting block, whereas the drive mechanism is adapted on the rear-side of the mounting block. Providing the drive mechanism on the rear-side is advantageous, as the magazine assembly will be viewable and/or accessible by an operator from the front side.
[012] The first plate and the second plate are provided in a spaced-apart relationship. In an embodiment, at-least one of the first plate or the second plate has plurality of tracks extending from a proximal end to a distal end defining a passageway for the capsules. Each track is associated with a weighing pan of the load-cell, which as shown in the figures is provided downstream the magazine assembly. The number of tracks of the magazine assembly corresponds to the number of weighing pans of the load-cell. Thus, each track feeds/dispenses a capsule to its corresponding weighing pan. As shown, the magazine assembly is vertically oriented, and each capsule is vertically oriented and stacked one above the other.
[013] In an embodiment, the second plate is movable between a first position and a second position with respect to the first plate. In the first position, area or distance between the first plate and the second plate is such that capsules having a pre-determined size and/or shape pass through the tracks. In the second position, an additional area or distance is created between the first plate and the second plate such that deformed capsules having size and/or shape greater than the pre-determined size and/or shape are allowed to pass through. For example, the area or distance between the plates in first position is in the range of 0 to 4 mm (preferably 4mm), whereas the area between the plates in the second position is in the range of 0.1 to 4.5 mm (preferably 4.5mm). In this regard, it must be noted that in the first position, the magazine assembly allows standard or pre-determined sized capsules to pass through the tracks, whereas any deformed capsule gets jammed blocking the track of the magazine assembly. In such cases, the second plate is moved away from the first plate to the second position allowing such jammed capsule to slide towards the distal end.
[014] Figure 3 shows a rear perspective view of the magazine assembly. As mentioned hereinbefore, in case a deformed capsule is jammed in any of the tracks, the second plate is moved away from the first plate to allow the deformed capsule to slide towards the distal end. The drive mechanism is provided for shifting the second plate away from the first plate. Referring to figure 3 and 4 which show the drive mechanism. The drive mechanism comprises of a drive plate 242, a first member 244, a second member 246 and a pneumatic cylinder 248. The drive plate as shown is movably mounted on the rear side of the mounting block, and the drive plate interconnected with the second plate. The drive plate and the second plate are interconnected via pair of guide rods 250, whereby at one end the guide rod is connected with the drive plate, and at the other end with the second plate. In this regard, the mounting block has means for allowing the guide rod to pass and interconnect the drive plate with the second plate. Any movement of the drive plate causes the second plate to move. In this regard, displacement or movement of the second plate is proportional to the movement of the drive plate. The first member as shown is adapted to the drive plate, and the second member is adapted to the mounting block. The first member is fixedly adapted to the drive plate, whereas the second member is rotatably adapted to the mounting block via a hinge pin X. In an embodiment of the invention, the first member and the second member have tapered profiles – the tapered profile of the first member tapers upwards, whereas the tapered profile of the second member tapers downwards. Thus, the tapered profile of the first member and the second member mate one another in normal position. The pneumatic cylinder as shown in the figure is in communication with the second member to rotate the second member as per requirement. As and when, the second member is rotated about the hinge pin, the tapered surfaces separate, creating a space. For example, the space is the range of 0.1 to 0.5 mm. The space allows the first member and the drive plate to move forward. The forward movement of the drive plate causes the second plate interconnected with the drive plate via the guide rods to move forward, and thereby away from the first plate. The additional area created between the first plate and the second plate corresponds with the space created by the tapered profiles of the first member and the second member.
[015] Further, at the distal end of each track, an upper gate 202 and a lower gate 204 is provided. Each of the upper gate and lower gate is individually operable for dispensing one capsule at a time from each track of the magazine assembly. The upper gate and the lower gate are mechanically, hydraulically or pneumatically operated. Furthermore, a second lower gate is provided for each track. The second lower gate is configured to close each track when a deformed capsule is jammed in the magazine assembly. At this instant, the other lower gate is retracted. Once, all the tracks are closed via the second lower gate, the second lower gate of the track having the deformed capsule is opened to allow the deformed capsule to be removed from the magazine assembly.
[016] In an embodiment of the invention a control system is provided, wherein the control system is configured to determine a track having a jammed capsule, operate the drive mechanism for moving the second plate away from the first plate, and operate the upper gate and lower gate of the track having the jammed capsule to allow the jammed capsule to pass out of the magazine assembly. In an embodiment, track having the jammed capsule is determined by monitoring the load cell, wherein non-receipt of capsules on a particular weighing pan of the load cell would establish that the track corresponding to such weighing pan has the jammed capsule. Accordingly, after moving the second plate away, the gates of the identified track are operated. The gates are sequentially operated to allow the deformed capsule to exit the magazine assembly. Thereafter, the deformed capsule is directed to the rejection bin. The rejection bin has one or more gates which are operated to allow such deformed capsule to pass through.
[017] In a cycle of operation, the magazine assembly transfers the capsules from the hopper to the load cell. In case any deformed capsule is fed by the hopper to the magazine assembly, such deformed capsule will get jammed in one of the tracks of the magazine assembly. Accordingly, the corresponding weighing pan of the load-cell may not receive any capsules. The control system on determining such non-receipt of capsules will trigger the drive mechanism, whereby the second plate is moved away from the first plate. This creates an extra space between the plates, thereby allowing the deformed/jammed capsules to slide along the track. Also, the control system will now operate the gates of the respective track guiding the deformed/jammed capsule out of the magazine assembly. Thereafter, the deformed capsule is passed to the rejected capsules bin on the exit chute. The present invention, thus obviates the requirement of opening the whole magazine assembly for removing one deformed capsule. This is advantageous, at-least from an aspect that the down-time of the machine is reduced and also other normal capsules are not removed from the magazine assembly, which also reduces wastage.
[018] While the present invention has been described with respect to certain embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modification may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.