THE NEW SOLUTION FOR THE COMPLETE INSPECTION OF CAPSULES 

Based on a project jointly developed with IMA Conta Series, world leader in the sector of pharmaceutical packaging, TCI allows a 100% inspection of the capsule surface before the start of the packaging process:

• Foreign objects on the surface, like particles of glass or biologic material
• Unacceptable visible marks and flaws
• Fibers
• Bubbles
• Deformation
• Dust between capsule body and cap
• Breaks or pinholes
• Buckling and scratches
• Print defects
• Color defects
• Lack of body and/or cap

Since defects might be found anywhere on the surface, every single capsule is rotated at high speed whilst 3 high resolution color cameras take a series of photos. These images, once put back together again, will enable the inspection of the capsule’s entire development. One camera is dedicated to inspect the whole lateral surface, the second and third respectively the top and the bottom of the capsule.

The inspection accurancy is 0.05 mm, sufficient to detect any minimum defect or imperfection.

The inspection device is made up of 5 main sections:

1. Capsule-feeding system, mainly made up of a vibrating bowl fitted with chutes to guide and correctly positioning the capsules
2. Capsule-handling system using a combination of horizontal & rotary motion.
3. Camera control system, made up of 3 intelligent high-resolution cameras for each row of capsules.
4. Suction based ejection system for defective capsules.
5. Unloading system for the non-defective capsules.

The system complies with 21 CFR Part 11. The maximum control speed is 300 capsules/minute (with a flow of capsules on 2 rows in parallel).

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