Fluent material handling – with receiver or receiver coacting mea – Plural filling means – For plural receivers simultaneously filled
Patent
1994-12-21
1996-06-04
Jacyna, J. Casimer
Fluent material handling, with receiver or receiver coacting mea
Plural filling means
For plural receivers simultaneously filled
141177, 141178, 141237, B65B 300
Patent
active
055224393
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to apparatus for filling containers with liquid product. More specifically, the invention relates to apparatus for filling bottles with pharmaceutical preparation, such as a solution for intravenous administration. The invention also relates to filling containers with a liquid product with the aid of apparatus, and more specifically to filling bottles with a pharmaceutical preparation for intravenous administration.
When filling bottles and other types of container with pharmaceutical products, a complete filling process will include the following process stages:
During these various process stages, the containers are exposed to the risk of contamination by bacteria and other microorganisms, the greatest risk in this regard being in stage 3, in which the bottle are filled with liquid product. The risks are greater in this particular process stage, because product tends to splash as it is poured into the bottles and also during the subsequent transportation of the bottles to the stopper fitting section of the apparatus, i.e. the bottle stoppering unit, and also because of subsequent dripping of product from the filling nozzles used. This splashing and subsequent dripping of the liquid product generates the risk of a thin liquid film forming between the stopper and the glass surface at the bottle neck, and therewith form a culture substrate for bacterial growth, which can spread to the product in the bottle concerned. Such bacteria growth can also occur when a layer of liquid is formed between the stopper and the capsule placed around the stopper. The actual container-filling stage is therefore a highly critical stage of the complete process.
The development of machines for filling containers with solutions for parenteral administration, and then particularly for intravenous administration, began in the 1950s, although the use of low capacity apparatus began somewhat earlier. At the present time, apparatus capable of filling containers with intravenous solutions at a rate of 4,000-5,000.times.100 ml/h are commercially available.
In the majority of cases, these known machines are based on the use of electronic control and operating units and are complicated and less reliable in use than is desired. Because of the electronics, the apparatus is highly sensitive to the stresses and strains to which a filling machine is subjected under normal operating conditions. Spillage can occur during a firing operation, and it is often necessary to thoroughly clean the machine, using large quantities of water and/or steam in the process. This can readily cause malfunctioning of the electronic devices, resulting in interruptions in machine operation.
Another drawback is found in the transportation of a filled bottle to the downstream stoppering unit. More often than not, the bottles are stationary as they are filled, but must then be moved to a bottle stoppering unit. This bottle transfer often involves abrupt acceleration of bottle movement, so as to adapt movement of the bottles to the rate at which the bottles are transported in the bottle stoppering unit, which often operates at a relatively high speed. Such abrupt acceleration of the bottles presents considerable risk of product splashing from the bottles.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention eliminates the aforesaid drawbacks and provides a container-filling apparatus, and then particularly a bottle-filling apparatus, with which the risks of contamination by splashing and subsequent dripping of the liquid product is essentially eliminated. The apparatus is of simple construction and primarily utilizes vacuum and overpressure for the transportation of the liquid product, and only a minimum of electronic equipment. The apparatus also includes a filled container conveyor which is constructed so as to accelerate the containers gently from a stationary state to the transportation speed of the downstream stoppering unit.
As a result of its simple construction, the apparatus is also less expensive.
The in
REFERENCES:
patent: 650309 (1900-05-01), Denham
patent: 1360023 (1920-11-01), Risser
patent: 2791353 (1957-05-01), Dorn et al.
patent: 5105859 (1992-04-01), Bennett et al.
Hakansson Ivan
Petho Lajos
AB IMIA Development
Jacyna J. Casimer
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