Dispensing – Automatic control – Material level control
Patent
1998-05-18
2000-02-15
Douglas, Steven O.
Dispensing
Automatic control
Material level control
141 83, 141198, B67D 508
Patent
active
060242515
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
PRIOR ART
The invention relates to a device for decanting pressurized liquid into packaging containers, as has been disclosed, for example, by EP 0 430 897 B1. This device has a gas pressurized reservoir that is for a liquid and is connected via a supply line to a distributor that is in turn connected to filling valves associated with the packaging containers.
In order to prevent germs contained in the liquid from getting into the packaging containers, especially with pharmaceutical products, it is known to convey the liquid through a sterilizing filter before the decanting. So that no other germs can get into the liquid after it passes through the sterilizing filter, this filter is disposed as close as possible to the decanting mechanisms or the filling valves. For space and handling reasons, though, in most cases, it is not possible to dispose the sterilizing filter in the flow path between the distributor and the filling valves; it is more often situated directly upstream of the distributor.
The ceramic-containing sterilizing filters usually used, though, have the disadvantage that they have a shutoff action as soon as they are merely acted on with a gas pressure in the through flow direction, i.e. that there is no more liquid in the sterilizing filter. Only with a very much higher gas pressure, for which the operation of the device is not otherwise designed, is the shutoff action neutralized once more. With the above mentioned generic type of devices, which have a reservoir and a distributor and also have a sterilizing filter preceding them, this means that the reservoir can in fact be completely emptied, but that due to the above mentioned shutoff action of the sterilizing filter, however, liquid remains in the distributor, which can no longer be decanted due to the low liquid pressure still prevailing there. Particularly with expensive pharmaceutical products, this liquid remaining in the distributor represents a considerable cost factor, which encumbers the operation of the device and consequently the price of the end product.
ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION
The device according to the invention, for decanting a pressurized liquid, has the advantage over the prior art that even the liquid quantity remaining in the distributor when the reservoir is emptied can be used for decanting into the packaging containers. As a result, the operation of the device is less costly. This is achieved according to the invention by virtue of the fact that the distributor has a separate pressure connection so that the liquid disposed in the distributor is acted on by a second gas pressure that is independent of the pressure in the reservoir.
Other advantages and advantageous modifications of the device according to the invention that is for decanting a pressurized liquid ensue from the dependent claims and the description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
Two exemplary embodiments of the invention are represented in the drawing and will be explained in more detail in the description below.
FIG. 1 shows a first device for decanting a pressurized liquid in a schematic representation; and
FIG. 2 shows a second exemplary embodiment, likewise in a schematic representation.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
The device 10 for decanting a liquid 1 shown in FIG. 1 has a product container 11 for the liquid 1. The product container 11 is connected to a first pressure line 12 which is connected to a pressure source, not shown, and acts on the liquid 1 disposed in the product container 11 with a first gas pressure P1. A supply line 14 leads from the bottom 13 of the product container 11 and feeds into a distributor 15. A shutoff valve 17 and a sterilizing filter 18 are interposed in the supply line 14 in terms of the flow direction of the liquid 1, wherein the sterilizing filter 18 is disposed in the immediate vicinity upstream of the distributor 15.
The top side of the cylindrically embodied distributor 15 is fed by a second pressure line 19, via which the liquid 1 disposed in the distributor 15 is acted on with a sec
REFERENCES:
patent: 4450981 (1984-05-01), Haig
patent: 5148945 (1992-09-01), Geatz
patent: 5680960 (1997-10-01), Keyes et al.
patent: 5819816 (1998-10-01), Mayer
Ludwig Helmut
Mayer Werner
Douglas Steven O.
Greigg Edwin E.
Greigg Ronald E.
Robert & Bosch GmbH
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