Dosator allows for customised handling of capsule powders

A new dosator powder filling system has been developed by Dott Bonapace for its In-Cap fully automatic benchtop capsule filling machine, to compliment the existing dosing disc filling system currently available.

As an R&D machine, the In-Cap is frequently used to formulate and refine products that are to be transferred to production units. This new system will enable powders to be developed for all types of production equipment as well as allow different types of product to be handled in the way best suited to their characteristics.

The unit has been designed so that not only can it be fitted to new machines but also installed on all existing Bonapace In-Cap units with a simple modification of the machine.

The system consists of two dosator tubes, each with an internal pin which forms the chamber. The length of this chamber is centrally adjustable to suit the filling requirements. The dosators are raised and lowered each cycle, while being rotated as the machine indexes. The tubes are lowered in the powder bed of the hopper, with an adjustable tamping facility if required for forming a slug of product. They run until located over the open body of the capsule when the dosator pin is used to push the powder out of the chamber and into the capsule.

The hopper consists of an annular ring, minimising the amount of product needed to allow the unit to run. The depth of the powder bed is adjustable while the residual product is agitated after the dosing station. A bulk hopper feeds powder to this device and has been designed to minimise the problems of bridging experienced with some products.

The dosator system is interchangeable with the existing tamping system so that, according to powder type, the customer can use the most suitable one for obtaining the best performance.

This new system marks a major step forward for the In-Cap machine, which has proved successful in many locations throughout the world.

Hall 6/Stand D30, interpack 2014, 8–14 May, Messe Düsseldorf, Germany.

Dott. Bonapace & C. srl, www.dottbonapace.com.