EP0009943B1 - Apparat und Verfahren zum Füllen von Behältern mit körnigen Feststoffen - Google Patents

Apparat und Verfahren zum Füllen von Behältern mit körnigen Feststoffen Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0009943B1
EP0009943B1 EP79302044A EP79302044A EP0009943B1 EP 0009943 B1 EP0009943 B1 EP 0009943B1 EP 79302044 A EP79302044 A EP 79302044A EP 79302044 A EP79302044 A EP 79302044A EP 0009943 B1 EP0009943 B1 EP 0009943B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
passage
container
delivery passage
delivery
air
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
EP79302044A
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English (en)
French (fr)
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EP0009943A1 (de
Inventor
Ian Summers
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DRUGPACK MACHINES Ltd
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DRUGPACK MACHINES Ltd
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Priority to AT79302044T priority Critical patent/ATE804T1/de
Publication of EP0009943A1 publication Critical patent/EP0009943A1/de
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Publication of EP0009943B1 publication Critical patent/EP0009943B1/de
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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61J—CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
    • A61J3/00—Devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms
    • A61J3/07—Devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms into the form of capsules or similar small containers for oral use
    • A61J3/071—Devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms into the form of capsules or similar small containers for oral use into the form of telescopically engaged two-piece capsules
    • A61J3/074—Filling capsules; Related operations
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B1/00—Packaging fluent solid material, e.g. powders, granular or loose fibrous material, loose masses of small articles, in individual containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, or jars
    • B65B1/04—Methods of, or means for, filling the material into the containers or receptacles
    • B65B1/16—Methods of, or means for, filling the material into the containers or receptacles by pneumatic means, e.g. by suction
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B1/00—Packaging fluent solid material, e.g. powders, granular or loose fibrous material, loose masses of small articles, in individual containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, or jars
    • B65B1/30—Devices or methods for controlling or determining the quantity or quality or the material fed or filled
    • B65B1/40—Devices or methods for controlling or determining the quantity or quality or the material fed or filled by timing of filling operations
    • B65B1/42—Devices or methods for controlling or determining the quantity or quality or the material fed or filled by timing of filling operations and arresting flow by cut-off means

Definitions

  • Some known machines allow the discrete material to fall into a container under gravity from a hopper or other reservoir via a delivery passage until the passage exit is closed, e.g. by a shutter or valve, or by contact with material in or overflowing from the container.
  • Machines are also known in which the material to be dispensed is drawn into the container from a reservoir via a vertical delivery tube by aspirating air from the container while its mouth is air-tightly sealed around such tube and the aspirating passage (see United Kingdom specification No. 978799).
  • the aspiration can be regulated for varying the amount of material which is dispensed.
  • Filling machines operating such a vacuum-fill system are capable of high filling rates.
  • United States specification 3 693 672 is concerned with this problem and describes a vacuum-fill type machine having a second vacuum system which operates after termination of the filling vacuum to inhibit further flow of discrete material to the filling nozzle.
  • the filling tube has an air permeable wall portion which is located above its nozzle and is surrounded by a vacuum chamber.
  • a blast of air is delivered into the container to pack the discrete material in the container. This air blast is possibly also intended to prevent particles of dispensed material from being aspirated back into the filling tube by the second vacuum.
  • the known filling machines hereinbefore referred to are primarily if not exclusively intended for dispensing material in substantial unit quantities, e.g. for dispensing granular food materials and domestic powders, into cartons or jars.
  • Machines operating as above described would not be suitable for cleanly dispensing discrete solid material in very small doses, for example doses of the sizes in which pharmaceutical powders are customarily contained in capsules of gelatin or other orally acceptable material.
  • Even if the complication of a second vacuum system as described in the earlier patents above referred to were accepted, it would be difficult if not impossible to make the machine capable of dispensing the material in the required small doses with sufficient accuracy, and in a clean manner, i.e. without dropping of powder from the filling head.
  • Vacuum-type filling machines are known for filling pharmaceutical capsules, which utilise an indirect filling system according to which a predetermined measured quantity of the pharmaceutical material is drawn into a measuring tube and subsequently released from that tube into a capsule.
  • Direct vacuum filling would be simpler, but so far as is known, no direct vacuum filling machine is available which is capable of accurately and cleanly dispensing such very small quantities of material.
  • the principal object of the present invention is to provide a direct filling apparatus and method of vacuum-fill type in which discharge of material is controlled without resort to the use of a second vacuum system.
  • a secondary object of the invention fulfilled by preferred embodiments of the invention is to provide a vacuum-fill type apparatus and method which is capable of cleanly and accurately dispensing free-flowing discrete solid material in minute quantities directly into capsules or other small containers.
  • the vacuum-fill type apparatus is defined in claim 1 of this specification.
  • this apparatus at least part of the length of the delivery passage is so orientated relative to the vertical that in use the passage wall affords a degree of underlying support for material down to or close to the discharge end of the passage. There is no vertical flow path through the passage as a whole.
  • the invention also includes apparatus specifically for filling orally acceptable pharmaceutical capsules, as defined in claim 2.
  • This apparatus departs from the established convention of using a straight vertical delivery tube for conducting the discrete solid material from a hopper or other reservoir to the container to be filled.
  • the material delivery passage of apparatus according to the invention has a course in space such that the passage can afford some degree of underlying support for particles in at least part of the length of the passage. A quantity of material of appropriate flow characteristics will remain in the passage awaiting the incidence of suction to initiate its flow, whereas if the passage were a vertical passage of the same size that same material would fall or be liable to fall under gravity.
  • the spatial course of the delivery passage is one factor which in practice determines the flow characteristics which a discrete material should have in order to be satisfactorily dispensed by the apparatus. Another factor is the size and particularly the cross-sectional dimensions of the delivery passage. For a passage of a given size, the more the spatial course of the passage departs from the vertical, the more versatile is the apparatus because the more freely-flowing can be the discrete material.
  • the delivery passage should be at a substantial angle to the vertical over at least a part and preferably over at least the greater part of its length.
  • the spatial course of the delivery passage can easily be selected so that when handling discrete material of given flow characteristics none of the material or only a miniscule amount of the material will fall from the delivery passage when the container is moved away from filling position following a complete vacuum fill.
  • Apparatus according to the invention and having its material delivery passage arranged in that manner can be made to a size suitable for accurately dispensing small doses of discrete material, e.g. doses less than 1 gram in weight and even doses measured in milligrams. Such apparatus is very suitable for filling pharmaceutical capsules.
  • At least a lower end portion of the length of the delivery passage is downwardly inclined at an acute angle to the horizontal. This feature is advantageous for the purpose of avoiding fall of material from the exit end of the delivery channel under gravity.
  • the delivery passage is downwardly inclined at a constant acute angle to the horizontal over its entire length.
  • the value of the aforesaid acute angle should be selected having regard to the flow characteristics of the material or materials intended to be dispensed by the apparatus. The more free-flowing is the material, the smaller should that angle be. Preferably the said acute angle is less than 40°.
  • the invention can be embodied in apparatus of any size specifications selected according to the unit quantities of material to be dispensed, the invention is in practice particularly beneficial when using a delivery passage of small size.
  • the delivery passage has at all positions along its length a cross-sectional area of not more than .05 square inches (approximately 32 square millimetres) this being the approximate cross-sectional area of a circular bore i" (6.35mm) in diameter.
  • a passage can easily be kept closed by fine grained solid material within the passage but without causing blockage of the material flow under the filling vacuum.
  • Such closed condition of the delivery passage contributes to direct response of the discrete material to the aspirating force at the commencement of each filling operation, with continuous unidirectional flow of material towards the exit end of the passage over its entire cross-section.
  • the length of the delivery passage Preferably the length of the delivery passage of between 4 inch and 2 inches (i.e. between about 6.00 mm and 50 mm). Passages of that length have been found to be most convenient and satisfactory in operation. If the delivery passage is too long, blockage may occur.
  • a delivery passage of very small sizes can be. constituted very satisfactorily by a bore or channel within a solid body or combination of bodies e.g. within a solid plate or plate-like structure.
  • the delivery passage is defined by solid material forming a cover for covering the mouth of a container to be filled, such passage extending between opposed faces of such cover.
  • Apparatus according to the invention can incorporate any form of container support.
  • the support may in manner known per se be constructed to support a plurality of containers and be associated with mechanism for stepwise displacing such support to bring empty containers successively to a filling station. There may be means at such station for displacing the container or containers into sealing contact with the cover means preparatory to the creation of the filling vacuum.
  • the entry end of the delivery passage communicates with a vertical feedway for discrete solid material.
  • the area of the bottom end of such feedway is not more than four times the area of the entry end of said delivery passage.
  • the present invention also includes a method of dispensing discrete solid material into a container by placing the container in sealed communication with a material delivery passage through which material can flow from a supply, and with an air exhaust passage, and aspirating air from the container via said exhaust passage to draw material into the container, characterised by the step of providing a said delivery passage into which material can freely descend from said supply but which follows such a spatial course and has such cross-sectional dimensions that following restoration of atmospheric pressure at the exit end of said delivery passage it remains filled over at least part of its length by discrete solid material which has entered said passage and which is held thereby in static condition ready to be sucked into another container.
  • a method according to the invention can be used for complete or partial filling of a container.
  • Removal of the filled container causes the exit end of the delivery passage to be exposed to atmospheric pressure and the delivery passage therefore remains filled over at least part of its length by discrete material ready to be drawn into another container as above referred to.
  • the spatial course and cross-sectional dimensions of the delivery passage are such that on such removal of the filled container the delivery passage remained substantially entirely filled with material. None or substantially none of such retained material discharges under gravity.
  • material in the delivery passage may have a slight residual momentum following termination of the aspirating force and consequent restoration of atmospheric pressure in the container. Therefore a further quantum of material may leave the delivery passage, depending on the flow characteristics of the material and the spatial course of such passage. Such further quantum can be allowed for in setting the strength and duration of the suction force.
  • the dispensing apparatus shown in Fig. 1 comprises a cover plate 1 for covering the mouth of a container to be filled.
  • a cover plate 1 for covering the mouth of a container to be filled.
  • this plate there is an inclined delivery passage 2 extending from the top to the bottom face of the plate.
  • an air exhaust passage 3 comprising a short vertical section leading upwardly from the bottom face of the plate, and a horizontal section which extends to an edge face of the plate.
  • the plate 1 is surmounted by a hopper 4 which is charged with discrete solid material 5.
  • the points at which the passages 2 and 3 open into the bottom of the plate 1 are sufficiently close together to come within the mouth area of a container 6.
  • the container 6 is located in a recess 7 in a carrier 8 which is displaceable for carrying the container to the illustrated position and carrying it away from that position after a quantity of the discrete material has been dispensed into the container.
  • the bottom surface of plate 1 has an annular sealing ring 9. After arrival of the container 6 at the filling station a pin 10 is lifted so that the pin pushes the mouth of the container against such sealing ring.
  • the discrete material in the hopper 4 has free access into the delivery passage 2 from the feed path 4' defined by the bottom end portion of the hopper but given the cross-sectional size of the passage, its gradient is insufficient for the discrete material occupying the passage to slide, down the passage under gravity.
  • air is aspirated from the interior of the container via the exhaust passage 3 and a vacuum pipe 11 which communicates with that passage and is connected to a vacuum pump or other subatmospheric pressure source. In consequence discrete material is sucked into the container.
  • the amount of material which enters the container depends on the strength and duration of the suction force propagated into the container.
  • the vacuum system is adjusted to cause a predetermined quantity of material to be drawn into the container 6. The correct adjustment can be established on the basis of simple tests.
  • the vacuum system is set so that the aspirated material completely fills the container and forms a small surface heap which touches the bottom end of the delivery passage 2, any momentum of the material in the delivery passage 2 is thereby destroyed.
  • the passage 2 remains full of discrete material. A negligible number (if any) of grains fall from the lower end of passage 2 as the filled container is removed.
  • the vacuum system is set for only partially filling the container, there may be a slight discharge of material from delivery passage 2 after restoration of normal pressure in the upper part of the container 6 because of the residual momentum of material in the such passage but the amount of material thus discharged can be very small, particularly if the passage 2 has a shallow gradient and is of very small cross-section as hereinafter exemplified.
  • Such discharge by residual momentum can be allowed for in the setting of the vacuum system, if necessary.
  • the termination of suction forces on material in the delivery passage 2 at a predetermined moment can be assisted by abruptly opening a short path of communication between the interior of the container and atmosphere.
  • This can be achieved very conveniently by constructing the vacuum system so that the vacuum pipe 11 is unconnected with the cover plate 1 and moves out of registration with the air exhaust passage 3 at a predetermined moment so that the exhaust passage is instantly placed in communication with the ambient atmosphere.
  • the gradient of the delivery passage 2 is open to choice having regard to the minimum angle of friction between the material to be dispensed and the material supporting surface of the passage. It is preferable for the delivery passage to have a true and smooth surface.
  • a very satisfactory form of passage is one constituted by a bore in a body of stainless steel.
  • the delivery passage 2 may be at a steeper angle than that shown, for example at 60° to the horizontal, particularly if the passage is of very small cross-section and the material to be dispensed has a slight natural cohesion. In any case the delivery passage is arranged so that there is no vertical flow path through the passage from its entry end to its exit end.
  • the apparatus incorporates a straight inclined delivery passage as shown in Fig. 1, the passage being inclined at less than 40° to the horizontal.
  • FIGs. 2 and 3 in which parts identical with parts in Fig. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals, show alternative spatial configurations of the course of the material delivery passage.
  • a delivery passage 12 is shown which has a downwardly inclined upper portion, a horizontal medial portion and a very short vertical portion adjacent its exit end.
  • the horizontal portion of the delivery passage gives material in the passage a somewhat higher inertia resistance to flow under suction forces and also a slightly higher resistance to flow under residual momentum. However fall of grains from the bottom end portion of the passage under gravity may occur. With a very small bore any such gravity discharge will be slight.
  • a vacuum tube 13 is shown which is moveable out of registration with the air exhaust passage 3 for instantly placing that passage into communication with atmosphere to terminate filling. There is a slight clearance between the vacuum tube 13 and the plate 1 to avoid problems associated with relatively sliding surfaces.
  • the apparatus shown in Fig. 3 corresponds with that shown in Fig. 2 except that its material delivery passage 14, has a substantially vertical portion at its upper end and the remainder of the passage is downwardly inclined at an acute angle to the horizontal.
  • the vertical orientation of the top portion of the passage can facilitate smooth entry of material into the passage from the superimposed hopper.
  • Figs. 4 to 8. These figures relate to a machine for automatically filling pharmaceutical capsules.
  • the machine embodies dispensing apparatus according to the invention and utilises the new dispensing method herein claimed.
  • the capsule filling machine has capsule handling mechanism operative to open the capsules to be filled and to re-unite the capsule parts (the charge-receiving parts and the closure parts) in the same pairs after filling the charge-receiving parts with a pharmaceutical powder.
  • This mechanism comprises a first rotatable carrier 15 in the form of a turntable having a plurality of groups of capsule-receiving apertures 16 arranged at intervals in the margin thereof. In the embodiments shown in the drawing there are four apertures in each group and there are' twenty four groups but the number of groups and apertures in a group may be varied if desired.
  • Each of the apertures extends through the carrier 15, the lower part 17 of each aperture being of reduced dimensions so as to form an annular shoulder 18.
  • the carrier 15 is disposed horizontally and is rotatable about a vertical axis 19.
  • a second rotatable carrier 20 also in the form of a turntable, is located adjacent and partly below the first carrier 15, the second carrier also being rotatable about a vertical axis 21 parallel with the axis 19.
  • a series of circular openings 22, are provided in the carrier 20 at spaced intervals in the margin thereof and each opening 22 accommodates a disc 23 which is rotatable in its associated opening relative to the carrier 20.
  • Each disc has four apertures 24 formed therein, that is the same number of apertures as are provided in each group in carrier 15, and each of the apertures 24 is adapted to receive the lower half (the charge-receiving part) of a capsule.
  • a cam 25 is located below the carrier 20 but is not rotatable therewith.
  • Cam followers 26 are provided on and below each disc, each cam follower having two oppositely disposed concave surfaces 27, 28 for co-operating with cam 25 and two oppositely disposed pins 29, 30 for co-operating with a cam 31 which is bolted to the cam 25.
  • a pillar 32 supports a cantilever arm 33.
  • the free end of this arm supports a filling and vacuum head (to be described in detail with reference to Figs. 6 to 8) in a position for filling the charge-receiving parts of the capsules on their arrival at a filling station FS.
  • the capsule handling mechanism operates as follows:
  • the two carriers are then moved clockwise through a further step so that the next group of capsules in carrier 15 moves over carrier 20 and into registration with the apertures in the next disc 23 in carrier 20, at station OS.
  • each disc 23 relative to carrier 20 is to ensure that when a group of charged capsule parts carried by the disc arrives at the capsule closing station CS each charged capsule part will be in register with the particular closure part from which it was separated at the capsule opening station. Moreover the two capsule parts will be in their original relative orientations about the capsule axis. The preservation of the capsule parts in their original pairs in the same relative orientation is of importance if there may be slight differences between the forms or dimensions of different capsules.
  • each capsule At the closing station CS, the two halves of each capsule are reunited by upward displacement of plungers (not shown) to cause the charged capsule parts to be pushed upwardly) into mating relationship with their closure parts on the carrier 15.
  • Angular adjustment of the carriers 15 and 20 may be effected by pin and a slot means 34, 35.
  • An inner series of groups of holes 36 may be provided in the carrier 15 at positions such that each such group moves into register with the apertures in a disc 23 after removal of the charged capsules therefrom so that such apertures can be cleaned by means of air-blasts or the like delivered via the said holes.
  • the loading of closed empty capsules onto the carrier 15 in correct orientation can be achieved automatically by loading mechanism known per se.
  • An aperture 37 is present near the free end of the arm 33. This aperture accommodates the outlet end portion of a hopper 38 and a funnel block 39 in which there are four feedways 40 for the discrete material which descends from the hopper.
  • the outlet end of the hopper is in threaded engagement with a surrounding plate 41 which is secured to the top face of the arm by bolts 42.
  • the funnel block 39 is clamped between the outlet mouth of the hopper and a funnel supporting plate 43 which is secured to the bottom face of the arm by bolts 44. Sealing rings 45 are interposed between the plate 43 and the funnel block to form seals around the feedways in the block.
  • a bottom plate 46 is secured to plate 43 by screws 70 (Fig. 8).
  • An end plate 47 is secured to one side edge face of the cantilever arm 33 by screws 48.
  • the bottom plate locates sealing rings 49 for making sealing contact with the mouth of the charge-receiving parts of the capsules when they are raised at the capsule filling station FS (Fig. 4) as hereinbefore described.
  • the sealing rings are secured e.g. glued, to a plate 50 (hereinafter called the "intervening" plate) which is between the funnel supporting plate 43 and the bottom plate 46.
  • the plates 43 and 50 are made of stainless steel and they together define the delivery passages for the discrete solid material and associated air exhaust passages of the vacuum system. More specifically: the funnel supporting plate 43 has four parallel rectangular section grooves in its lower face and the mouths of the grooves are closed by the intervening plate 50 to form passages 51. These passages extend obliquely across the width of the cantiliver arm 33 as appears from the under-plan view (Fig. 8).
  • Four branch passageways 52 one to each of the passageways 51, extend vertically from those passageways 51 to the bottom face of the intervening plate 50 at locations within the areas surrounded by the sealing rings 49.
  • Inclined delivery passages 53 extend through the two plates 43 and 50 for conducting discrete solid material from the feedways 40 in the funnel block 39 to positions also within the areas surrounded by the sealing rings 49.
  • the four delivery passages 53 are straight passages which are inclined at an acute angle to the horizontal.
  • the vertical planes containing the longitudinal axes of the passages are at an angle to the planes of Figs. 6 and 7 and therefore neither of those figures represents their gradient which is shallower than appears in those figures.
  • the side edge face of cantilever arm 33 opposite the end plate 47 and the corresponding side edge faces of the plates 43 and 50 are shaped as shown in Fig. 7 to conform to the cylindrical surface of a vacuum head 54.
  • This vacuum head is mounted for rotation about its horizontal axis.
  • the vacuum head has a central blind bore 55.
  • the end of the vacuum head through which the bore does not extend is connected to one end of a shaft 56 (Fig. 8) which is coupled to a rotary electric solenoid 57 which is also secured to the cantilever arm 33.
  • a vacuum pipe 58 from a vacuum source projects through a bracket 59 on the cantilever arm 33.
  • a tubular end fitting 60 the bore of which is co-axial with the bore 55 in the vacuum head.
  • the end fitting can be turned to adjust the size of an air gap between its free end and the adjacent end of the vacuum head and locked in position by a lock nut 61. The presence of the air gap avoids problems associated with relatively sliding surfaces.
  • the vacuum head 54 There are four radial passages 62 in the vacuum head 54 which extend from the bore 55 to the peripheral surface of the head.
  • the four passages 62 are located so that when the vacuum head occupies the position shown in Fig. 7 each of them registers with one of the air exhaust passages 51.
  • the solenoid 57 operates periodically to oscillate the vacuum head 54 about its axis so that the vacuum passages 62 in the head move into and out of that position of registration with the passages 51. It will be noted that there is a small clearance between the vacuum head 54 on the one hand and the cantilever arm 33 and plates 43 and 50 on the other hand, which avoids sliding friction and surface wear.
  • the end of the air exhaust passages 51 remote from the vacuum head communicate with holes 63 in the end plate 47.
  • the holes 63 are accurately formed to obtain the correct aspirating force in the individual exhaust passages 51. But if desired such holes can be partially closed by tapered grub screws which can be turned to adjust such aspirating forces.
  • the energising circuit of the solenoid 57 contains a switching device actuation of which is synchronised by cams with the stepwise movements of the capsule carriers 15 and 20 so that the vacuum head 54 moves into the extreme position shown in Fig. 7 determined by a stop (not shown), immediately the charge-receiving capsule parts are in position against the sealing rings 49.
  • the reverse movement of the vacuum head which is anti-clockwise in the aspect of Fig. 7, takes place after an interval of time determined by an adjustable timer.
  • the periphery of the vacuum head is shaped with a recess 64 so that this reverse movement of the vacuum head brings the exhaust passages 51 almost instantly into free communication with atmosphere.
  • the said reverse movement is through about 25° and is terminated by a second stop (not shown).
  • the vacuum passages 62 in the vacuum head are still close to the arcuate side edge face of the cantilever arm 33 and there is only a very restricted communication between those passages 62 and atmosphere.
  • the solenoid and associated components of the vacuum head control are of a conventional type and need no detailed description.
  • the machine was used for filling gelatin capsules with a pharmaceutical powder 95% by weight of which passes through an 80 mesh per inch (24.4 mm) sieve.
  • the powder had very free-flowing characteristics.
  • the inclined delivery passages 53 were cylindrical bores with a diameter of 1/16 inch (1.6 mm) and a length of t inch (12.7 mm) and they were inclined at 30° to the horizontal.
  • the machine was operated continuously over a period of 2 hours at a filling rate of 60 cycles per minute, corresponding with a filling rate of 240 capsules per minute.
  • the vacuum pipe 58 was connected to a vessel in which 2.5" (64 mm) water gauge vacuum was continuously maintained by means of a vacuum pump acting through a vacuum reservoir tank.
  • the vacuum system was pre-set by trial and error to cause as nearly as possible 260 milligrams of the powder to be drawn into each capsule.
  • the volume of such a dose of the powder is greater than the volume of one of the inclined delivery passages 53.
  • the powder was dispensed not only with a high degree of accuracy but also very cleanly.
  • the amount of powder spilled at the filling station during the said period of operation of the machine was negligible.
  • the accuracy of filling over the two hour period was assessed by standard calculations known in the pharmaceutical industry and based on weight variation tests on periodic samples of filled capsules.
  • the coefficient of variation was found to range from 2.142 to 0.932 and to average 1.354, which represents a very high dosage accuracy.
  • the same apparatus was also used for filling capsules at a similarly high rate with powder of 50 mesh 95% grain size. A coefficient of variation ranging from 1.46 to 0.85 and averaging 1.067 was achieved. This also represents a very high dosage accuracy.
  • Example 1 was repeated with however the modification that the vacuum system was adjusted to cause a smaller quantity of the powder to be dispensed into capsules of the same size. In consequence the capsules were only partially filled. Following termination of the aspirating force and removal of each group of containers from the filling station the delivery passages 53 remained full of grains. The amount of material falling from the passages under gravity between filling operations was negligible.

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Pharmacology & Pharmacy (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
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Claims (19)

1. Vakuumfüllvorrichtung zum Füllen von Behältern, mit einer Aufnahmevorrichtung (4, 38-39) zur Aufnahme von über eine Zufuhrleitung (2, 12, 14, 53) in einen behälter (6) zuzuführendem teilchenförmigen festen Material und mit einer mit einer Absaugleitung (3, 51-52) ausgestatteten Luftabsaugeinrichtung (11, 54) zum Absaugen von Luft aus dem Behälter zwecks Unterstützens des Zuflusses von Material in den Behälter, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Aufnahmevorrichtung (4, 38-39) einen Zufuhrweg (41, 40) mit größerem Querschnitt als dem Querschnitt der Zufuhrleitung (3, 51-52) bildet und über diesen Zufuhrweg teilchenförmiges Material unter der Wirkung der Schwerkraft frei in den gesamten Querschnitt des Zufuhrkanals (2, 12, 14, 53) eintreten kann und daß der räumliche Verlauf des Zufuhrkanals von seinem oberen Einlaßende bis zu seinem unteren Auslaßende ein solcher ist, daß kein vertikaler Strömungspfad durch diese Zufuhrleitung vorliegt und weiters ein solcher ist, daß zumindest ein das Austrittsende der Zufuhrleitung umfassender oder bis nahe dahin reichender Teil der zufuhrleitung von der Vertikalen abweichend gerichtet ist, so daß im Betrieb die Wandung der Zufuhrleitung bis zu einem gewissen Ausmaß eine abstützende Auflage für das in der Zufuhrleitung befindliche Material bildet.
2. Vorrichtung zum Abfüllen teilchenförmigen festen Materials in eine oral verträgliche pharmazeutische Kapsel, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Vorrichtung eine Einrichtung zum Abstützen eines oben offenen Behälterteils (6) einer Kapsel, einen mit der Öffnung dieses Behälterteils einen luftdichten Abschluß ergebenden Verschluß (1, 46 + 49), eine Luftabsaugleitung (3, 51-52) und eine sich durch den Verschluß hindurcherstreckende Zufuhrleitung (2, 12, 14, 53) für das Material aufweist, welche sich durch den Verschluß hindurcherstreckt und deren unten gelegene Austrittsöffnung dann, wenn sie sich relativ zum Verschluß in Füllstellung befindet, mit dem Inneren des Kapselteils (6) in Verbindung steht, wobei der Absaugleitung eine Luftabsaugeinrichtung (11, 54) zugeordnet ist, um im Behälter einen verringerten Druck aufbauen zu können, und eine einen Zufuhrweg (41, 40) großeren Querschnitts als desjenigen der Zufuhrleitung (2, 12, 14, 53) definierende Einrichtung (4, 38-39) vorgesehen ist und durch den Zufuhrweg teilchenförmiges festes Material unter der Wirkung der Schwerkraft frei in den gesamten Querschnitt der Zufuhrleitung eintreten kann, und wobei der räumliche Verlauf der Zufuhrleitung von ihrem Einlaßende bis zu ihrem Auslaßende ein solcher ist, daß die Achse der Zufuhrleitung über zumindest den größten Teil ihrer Länge von der Vertikalen abweicht, so daß im Betrieb in der Zufuhrleitung befindliches Material durch die Wandung der Zufuhrleitung abgestützt wird und durch die Zufuhrleitung kein vertikaler Strömungsweg führt.
2, Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß zumindest der untere Endabschnitt der Länge der Zufuhrleitung mit einem spitzen Winkel gegenüber der Horizontalen nach unten geneigt ist.
4. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Zufuhrleitung über ihre gesamte Länge mit einem gleichbleibenden spitzen Winkel gegenüber der Horizontalen geneigt ist.
5. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 3 oder 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Spitze Winkel kleiner ist als 40°.
6. Vorrichtung nach irgendeinem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Zufuhrleitung an allen Stellen über ihre Länge eine Querschnittsfläche von nicht mehr als 32 mm2 besitzt.
7. Vorrichtung nach irgendeinem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Länge der Zufuhrleitung zwischen 6 und 50 mm beträgt.
8. Vorrichtung nach irgendeinem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Zufuhrleitung in einem zum Abdecken der Öffnung des zu füllenden Behälters dienenden Verschluß (43 + 46 + 50) ausgebildet ist und sich zwischen einander gegenüberliegenden Seiten dieses Verschlusses erstreckt.
9. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß sich durch den Verschluß hindurch mehrere Materialzufuhrleitungen (53) und mehrere zugeordnete Luftabsaugleitungen (51-52) an verschiedenen Bereichen dieses Verschlusses erstrecken, so daß mehrere Behälter gleichzeitig gefüllt werden können.
10. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 9, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß zwei oder mehr Luftabsaugleitungen (51-52) zum Teil von einem im Verschluß vorgesehenen gemeinsamen Kanal (51) und zum Teil durch Abzweigungen (52) von diesem Kanal gebildet sind.
11. Vorrichtung nach irgendeinem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Luftabsaugeinrichtung einen Saugkopf (54) aufweist, der zumindest eine Saugleitung (62) aufweist, welche an eine Einrichtung zum Ausüben von Saugkräften anschließbar ist, und daß eine Einrichtung zum Verstellen des Saugkopfes während eines Arbeitszyklusses vorgesehen ist, innerhalb desselben die Saugleitung oder jede Saugleitung in eine sich mit der sich durch den Verschluß hindurcherstreckenden Luftabsaugleitung (51) deckende Lage und aus dieser Lage heraus bewegt wird.
12. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 11, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Saugkopf um eine feststehende Achse verschwenkbar angeordnet ist.
13. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 11 oder 12, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß zwischen dem Saugkopf und dem angrenzenden Ende der Saugleitung oder jeder der Saugleitungen ein Spalt vorgesehen ist.
14. Verfahren zum Abfüllen von teilchenförmigem festen Material in einen Behälter, bei welchem der Behälter (6) dicht mit einer Luftabsaugleitung (3, 51-52) und einer Materialzufuhrleitung (2, 12, 14, 53) verbunden wird, durch welche das Material aus einem Vorrat (5) fließen kann, und aus dem Behälter über die Luftabsauqleitung Luft abgesaugt wird, um teilchenförmiges Material in den Behälter zu ziehen, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß eine Matenaizufuhrieitung (2, 12, 14, 53) verwendet wird, in welche teilchenförmiges Material aus dem Vorrat (5) unter dem Einfluß der Schwerkraft ungehindert gelangen kann, welche jedoch über zumindest einen Teil ihrer Länge einen von der Vertikalen abweichenden räumlichen Verlauf besitzt und deren Querschnittsabmessungen solche, sind, daß nach dem anschließenden Wiederherstellen von Atmosphärendruck am Auslaßende dieser Materialzufuhrleitung die Zufuhrleitung mit in die Zufuhrleitung eingetretenem festen teilchenförmigen Material gefüllt oder im wesentlichen gefüllt bleibt, wobei das teilchenförmige Material in einem statischen zustand verbleibt und bereit ist in einen anderen Behälter abgesaugt zu werden.
15. Verfahren zum Abfüllen festen teilchenförmigen Materials in den Behälterabschnitt (6) einer oral annehmbaren pharmazeutischen Kapsel, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß dieser Kapselteil mit einer Materialzufuhrleitung (2, 12, 14, 53) dicht verbunden wird, in deren gesamten Querschnitt des oberen Einlaßendes das teilchenförmige Material unter der Wirkung der Schwerkraft ungehindert aus einem Zufuhrweg (41, 40) größerer Querschnittsfläche eintreten gelassen wird, und daß der Kapselteil (6) dicht mit einer Luftabsaugleitung (3, 51-52) verbunden wird und Luft aus diesem Kapselteil über die Luftabsaugleitung abgesaugt wird, um festes Material aus der Zufuhrleitung in diesen Kapselteil zu ziehen, wobei der räumliche Verlauf der Zufuhrleitung von ihrem Einlaßende bis zu ihrem Auslaßende und die Querschnittsabmessungen der Zufuhrleitung solche sind, daß nach Wiederherstellung von Atmosphärendruck am Auslaßende der Zufuhrleitung die Zufuhrleitung zumindest über den größten Teil der länge mit teilchenförmigem festen Material gefüllt bleibt, welches in die Zufuhrleitung gelangt ist und welches durch die Zufuhrleitung in einem statischen Zustand gehalten wird, um in einen anderen Kapselteil gesaugt zu werden.
16. Verfahren nach Anspruch 14 oder 15, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß Luft während einer Zeitspanne angesaugt wird, welche dazu ausreicht, daß das Material innerhalb des Behälters (6) das Auslaßende der Zufuhrleitung (2, 12, 14, 53) erreicht und verschließt.
17. Verfahren nach Anspruch 14 oder 15, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß Luft nur während einer Zeitspanne angesaugt wird, die ausreicht den Behälter (6) lediglich teilweise zu füllen, so daß die Füllhöhe des Materials innerhalb des Behälters mit Abstand unter dem Austrittsende der Zufuhrleitung (2, 12, 14, 53) liegt.
18. Verfahren nach irgendeinem der Ansprüche 14 bis 17, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die in den Behälter (6) abgefüllte Menge an Material kleiner ist als 1 g.
19. Verfahren nach irgendeinem der Ansprüche 14 bis 18, durchgeführt in einer Vorrichtung gemäß irgendeinem der Ansprüche 3 bis 13.
EP79302044A 1978-10-02 1979-09-28 Apparat und Verfahren zum Füllen von Behältern mit körnigen Feststoffen Expired EP0009943B1 (de)

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AT79302044T ATE804T1 (de) 1978-10-02 1979-09-28 Apparat und verfahren zum fuellen von behaeltern mit koernigen feststoffen.

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Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE4305879A1 (de) * 1993-02-26 1994-09-01 Pfeiffer Erich Gmbh & Co Kg Befüllvorrichtung zum Abfüllen in Magazinkammern

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3243772C2 (de) * 1982-11-26 1986-08-14 Wilkens Bremer Silberwaren Ag, 2800 Bremen Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Einbringen von Füll- oder Verankerungsmasse in einen hohlen Griff eines Besteckteils
AUPP260298A0 (en) * 1998-03-26 1998-04-23 Smith's Snackfood Company Limited, The Packaging method and apparatus
CN115367501A (zh) * 2022-10-24 2022-11-22 西安卓越蔚来氢能源科技股份有限公司 一种自动化投料器

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US3693672A (en) * 1970-12-16 1972-09-26 Avon Prod Inc Container filling system
GB1510634A (en) * 1975-09-11 1978-05-10 Albro Fillers & Eng Co Ltd Packaging

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE4305879A1 (de) * 1993-02-26 1994-09-01 Pfeiffer Erich Gmbh & Co Kg Befüllvorrichtung zum Abfüllen in Magazinkammern

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EP0009943A1 (de) 1980-04-16
DE2962397D1 (en) 1982-05-06
ES484564A1 (es) 1980-10-01
JPS55500816A (de) 1980-10-23
ATE804T1 (de) 1982-04-15
PT70250A (en) 1979-10-01

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