JP-2022534225-A5 -

Dates

Publication Date

20230529

Application Date

20200522

Description

The suction device 20 is equipped with a chamber 21 in which low pressure is generated for each cartridge 1 placed in the capping station S3, and the piston 4 is pushed in by the pusher 19 and passed along the chamber 21. Secondly, the filling unit 11 efficiently and effectively discharges excess air trapped in the liquid inside the cartridge 1 through the action of the two suction devices 15 and 20, thereby accelerating the supply of the liquid product 5 to the filling station S1 without compromising the final quality of the cartridge 1 (and thus increasing the operating speed). Furthermore, compared to similar known filling units, the above-described filling unit 11 is simple and inexpensive to implement because it requires only a few additional components (two suction devices 15 and 20) formed from commercially available components. The following are embodiments of the present invention. [Aspect 1] A filling unit (11) for filling a container (1), particularly a cartridge (1), with a liquid product (5) for the pharmaceutical industry, wherein the filling unit (11) A dispensing head (12) is positioned within the filling station (S1) and is designed to supply a predetermined amount of product (5) into the container (1) from the open upper end of the container (1), The system comprises a capping device (18) located within a capping station (S3) and designed to insert a closing element into the container (1) from the open upper end of the container (1); The filling unit (11) is characterized by comprising a first suction device (15) located in a degassing station (S2) situated between the filling station (S1) and the capping station (S3), and being designed to engage the open upper end of the container (1) in a sealed manner, and to generate low pressure inside the container (1) in the upper portion not occupied by the product (5). [Aspect 2] The filling unit (11) according to embodiment 1, wherein the first suction device (15) is designed to generate low pressure in the upper part of the container (1) that is not occupied by the product (5) by sucking in only air. [Appearance 3] The filling unit (11) according to embodiment 2, wherein the first suction device (15) is designed to create low pressure by sucking only air from the upper part of the inside of the container (1) that is not occupied by the product (5), without sucking any part of the product (5) or any bubbles generated during the supply of the product (5). [Aspect 4] The first suction device (15) is designed to generate a low pressure that is sufficient to suction a portion of the air, but not entirely sufficient to suction a portion of the product (5) or any bubbles generated during the supply of the product (5). Filling unit (11) according to embodiment 1, 2, or 3. [Aspect 5] The filling unit (11) according to any one of embodiments 1 to 4, wherein the first suction device (15) is designed to generate a low pressure in the range of 1,000 to 10,000 Pascals inside the container (1) and is designed to maintain the low pressure for a time in the range of 0.4 to 3 seconds. [Pattern 6] The filling unit (11) according to any one embodiment of embodiments 1 to 5, wherein the first suction device (15) includes a first elastic cap (16) designed to engage with the open upper end of the container (1). [Appearance 7] A filling unit (11) according to any one of embodiments 1 to 6, comprising a second suction device (20) positioned in the capping station (S3), designed to engage the open upper end of the container (1) in a sealing manner, and designed to generate low pressure inside the container (1) in the upper portion not occupied by the product (5) when the closing element is inserted. [Patent 8] The filling unit (11) according to embodiment 7, wherein the second suction device (20) is designed to generate a low pressure in the upper part of the inside of the container (1) that is not occupied by the product (5) by sucking in only air. [Aspect 9] The filling unit (11) according to embodiment 8, wherein the second suction device (20) is designed to generate a low pressure in the upper part of the container (1) that is not occupied by the product (5), by sucking in only air, so as not to suck in any part of the product (5) or any bubbles generated during the supply of the product (5). [Aspect 10] The filling unit (11) according to embodiment 7, 8, or 9, wherein the second suction device (20) is designed to generate a low pressure sufficient to suction a portion of the air, but not entirely sufficient to suction any portion of the product (5) or any bubbles generated during the supply of the product (5). [Personalization 11] The filling unit (11) according to any one of embodiments 7 to 10, wherein the second suction device (20) includes a chamber (21) in which a low pressure is generated inside and along which a closing element passes. [Aspect 12] A filling unit (11) according to any one of embodiments 7 to 11, wherein the second suction device (20) is desig