THE LIKE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to filling containers with powder productε and the like, in sterile environment.

BACKGROUND ART

It is known that, e.g. in pharmaceutical field, there is a need to fill containers like bottles and similar with batched quantities of powder products.

Batching devices are currently used that automatically define single batched quantities of product supplied by feeding means, and transfer the batches to containers.

In particular, there are known batching devices formed substantially by a cylindrical drum featuring a plurality of radial chambers or cavities, which define the above mentioned quantities of product.

This drum is rotated stepwise in the region of a series of working stations that basically load single predetermined quantities of the product in the above mentioned radial cavities and subsequently fill relative containers with these batched quantities .

It is evident that said steps of batching and filling of the containers must guarantee, particularly in case of pharmaceutical products, that the characteristics of these products will be

maintained.

This brings about the necessity, e.g. for injectable products, to work in sterile environment or to close the parts of the packaging machine in which the powder is handled in a controlled atmosphere facility.

Since scraping of mechanical parts moving one with respect to another could produce particleε that might mix with the product or provoke product alteration, the use of pneumatic means has been proposed, that creates positive and negative pressure inside the batching cavities for unloading and filling thereof.

In order to fulfil this purpose, the said cavities are set in communication with a suitable aspiration and compression duct, by means of a filter member of porous material, e.g. constituted by the bottom of the cavities.

Obviously, this results in the necessity of keeping this filter member clean to avoid obstructions that could influence positive or negative pressure in the said unloading and filling steps.

The product quantity of each batch is adjusted by changing the dimensions of the radial cavities that have movable bottoms.

This adjustment is generally made by a εingle centraliεed command that moves the bottom of all the cavities in the same time. Likewise, the depression of the batching cavities is adjusted simultaneously by a centralised command.

Nevertheless, a possible anomaly that occurs in one of the cavities, e.g. obstruction of the filter member, affects functioning of the whole batching device and leads to a stop of the production process.

Moreover, cleaning of the device is difficult and requires a considerable amount of time, as well as sterilisation of the device, that is necessary when e.g. the type of powder is changed or when it is requested by internal cleaning procedures .

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to propose a batching device that performs, in best way, filling of containers with adjustable amounts of powder products and the like.

Another object is to propose a device that requires simple adjustment procedures.

Another object is to propose a device shaped in such a way that cleaning and sterilisation steps of the parts that get in contact with the powders, are speeded up and, over all guaranteed. In particular risk of cross-contamination between different powders must be avoided.

Another object is to obtain bigger precision of the powder products batching.

Yet further object is to propose a batching device that reduces the number of parts scraping against each other.

The above mentioned objects are obtained, in accordance with the invention, by means of a batching device for filling containers with powder product and the like that includes an oscillating head provided with at least one batching chamber in which a depression condition alternates with a pressure condition, via a bottom of porous material, for respectively loading a predetermined quantity of product and then filling a related container.

The oscillating head is reciprocated between

a product loading position, in which the batching chamber communicates with means provided for feeding the product, and a container filling position, in which the batching chamber is in alignment with one of the containers.

The bottom of the batching chamber featureε a small piston that is made of porouε material and that is moved axially inside the batching chamber.

The piston is removably mounted on the end of a stem connected to adjustment means for changing the position of the small piston and define the predetermined quantity of product.

The device includes also a case featuring means for delivering the product and containing a first arc-like panel that swings between a rest position, in which the product is suspended, and an overturned position in which the product is discharged. A second arc-like panel rotates about the same rotation axis of the first panel for mixing the product.

The first panel, as seen from above, extends so as to obstruct the traversal section of the case when it is located in the rest position, with the concave turned upwards, and the second panel has radial dimensions smaller than those of the first panel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The characteristicε of the invention will be better understood from the following description, with particular reference to the attached drawings, in which: - Figure 1 shows a schematic front view of the batching device, being the subject of the present

invention;

- Figure 2 shows a vertical section of this batching device, taken along the plane II-II of Figure 1;

- Figures 2b, 2c and 2d show the same sectional view of the batching device, in subsequent working steps,*

Figure 3 showε the same sectional view, represented partially, of a working step of the means feeding the device with powderε;

- Figure 4a shows a schematic vertical section of a different embodiment of the feeding means,-

- Figures 4b and 4c show the same sectional view of this feeding means, in subsequent working steps;

- Figure 5 shows a transversal section taken along the plane V-V of the Figure 4a; - Figure 6 shows a plan view of a particular of the feeding means, taken along the same transversal section, with some parts removed in order to highlight others.

BEST MODES OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

With reference to the above mentioned figures the batching device 1 fills containers 2 with powder productε and the like. The batching device 1 features an oscillating cylindrical head 3 that rotates about a horizontal axiε and iε operated by known meanε, not shown.

The oscillating head 3 has at least one batching chamber 4, which extends radially, aimed at being filled with a predetermined quantity of product to be transferred to a relative container 2.

Preferably, aε seen in Figure 1, the oscillating head 3 features a plurality of these batching chambers 4, longitudinally lined up along its generatrix and aimed at filling each time a row

of containers 2.

The oscillating head 3 is designed to cooperate with a means 5, provided for feeding the product 6, fastened to a support fixed frame of the device.

This feeding means 5 basically includes a case 7, which features in its upper part a loading mouth 8 and which forms in itε lower part a circular εeat 9 that is turned outwards and has a shape complementary to the shape of the oscillating head 3, connected thereto.

In the region of this seat 9, the case 7 features a plurality of unloading openings 10, which correspond to the batching chambers 4 of the oscillating head 3.

Inside the case 7, there is mounted rotatingly a mixing member 11, equipped with radial plates 12 and smoothing elements 13, angularly staggered with respect to the radial plates 12; the smoothing elements 13 basically includes other plates, curved in shape, arranged tangential with respect to the internal surface of the case 7.

Each batching chamber 4 of the oscillating head 3 features thereinside a small piston 14 that form the bottom of the chamber 4. The piston is made of porous material

Thiε small piston can be integral with the relative stem 15. Alternatively, as shown in detail in the Patent Application No. B093U 000037 of the same Applicant, the piston can be removably fastened to the extremity of the εtem 15 that is slidably guided through a ring 16 provided for sealing the batching chamber 4.

A duct 17, opening near this ring 16, is set in communication alternatively with suction and blowing means, not shown in that they are known.

Outside the batching chamber 4, the stem 15 is fastened to an adjustment means 18 aimed at changing the position of the small piston 14 along the axis of the batching chamber 4. It is alεo posεible to εend a centraliεed command to thiε adjustment means 18 in order to carry out a rough adjustment first. Then single fine adjustments can be carried out by means connected in known way with the same adjustment means 18, or with single manual operations .

The device features also a smoothing element 19, situated inside a cavity 20 whose open front iε closed by the oscillating head 3.

The cavity 20 communicates with a duct 21 connected with a vacuum system and with a device collecting the remainders of the powders, not shown.

This smoothing element 19 basically includes a plate fastened to a shaft 22 and tangential thereto. The shaft 22 is parallel to the rotational axis of the oscillating head 3 and released when the position of the smoothing element is to be adjusted.

The smoothing element 19 is positioned in such a way as to skim the oscillating head, without touching it, so as to clean its surface out of the powder and, during the batching step, to prevent the container 2 from dirtying externally with powder.

A nozzle 23, situated inside the cavity 20, sends a stream of air or sterile nitrogen to detach possible remainderε of the product that are left inside the batching chamber 4; these remainders will be later expelled by a stream of air let out by the duct 17.

Operation of the batching device 1 will be now described, beginning with the step, in which a predetermined quantity of product is loaded in the batching chamber 4 of the oscillating head 3.

In this step, the oscillating head 3 is rotated in such a way that the batching chamber 4 is turned upwards, in alignment with the discharge opening 10 of the feeding means 5 (Fig. 2a) . Therefore, the product 6, mixed continuously by the radial plates 12 of the mixing member 11, enterε the batching chamber 4 that iε kept in depression through the duct 17, aε indicated by the arrow V. Obviously, this depression is possible due to the fact that the small piston 14, defining the bottom of the batching chamber 4, is made of porous material.

The filling of the chamber 4 with a predetermined quantity of the product 6 is helped by the action of the smoothing element 13, rotated by the mixing member 11 in the direction indicated by the arrow A.

This smoothing element 13 acts according to a direction tangential with respect to the surface of the oscillating head 3, with the combined effect of scraping and slight compression of the powders, in the region of the chamber .

Otherwise, the smoothing element 13 can move in a direction incident with respect to the above mentioned surface of the oscillating head 3, according the rotation direction A; or can move in an incident direction in a way opposite to the indicated one. in the firεt caεe the powderε εcraping action iε predominant and in the second caεe the powderε εlight compreεεion prevails.

After the batching chamber 4 has been loaded, the rotation of the oscillating head 3 is commanded in order to transfer the batched quantity of product, indicated with 60, to the container 2 (Fig.

2b) .

The batching chamber 4 is kept in depression, so as to hold thereinside the product . During this transferring step, the smoothing element 19, cooperating with the oscillating head 3, cleans the surface thereof in order to prevent the container 2, during batching, from getting dirty with the exceeding powder.

The oscillating head 3 rotates until the batching chamber 4 is a vertical position, turned downwards, in alignment with the container 2 to be filled (Fig. 2c) .

In this position, the pneumatic feeding of the duct 17 is commuted so as to set the batching chamber 4 in pressure through the small piston 14 of porous material, as indicated by the arrow P. The batched product is thus pushed inside the container 2.

Then, the return stroke of the oscillating head 3 is commanded, during which the batching chamber is cleaned when passing in correspondence to the cavity 20 (Fig. 2d) .

In fact, this cavity 20 is set in depression, while, at the same time, a stream of compressed air, let out by the duct 17, passes through the small piston 14 and strikes the batching chamber 4, as indicated by the arrows L.

As has been already said, in the cavity 20 there is also the nozzle 23, which sendε a stream of air or nitrogen for detaching poεεible remainderε of the product .

Baεically, during this step and according to the working order, first a stream of compressed air is let out by the duct 17 to clean the batching chamber 4. Then a stream is let out by the nozzle 23 to detach possible remainderε attached to the

chamber 4. Finally, another steam of compressed air is let out by the duct 17 to expel the above mentioned remainders.

The oscillating head 3 is εubsequently brought back to the position in which the batching chamber 4 is turned upwards and in alignment with the unloading opening 10 of the feeding meanε 5, in order to start another loading step. The feeding meanε 5 is periodically εupplied with the product to be transferred to the containers 2.

In particular, when a sensor 24 detects that the amount of product 6 inside the feeding means 5 goes below a predetermined level, a suitable amount of this product is introduced via an upper loading mouth 8 (Fig. 3) .

Figure 4a shows a different embodiment of the means 5 feeding the product 6. This feeding means features, over the mixing member 11, inside the case 7, a first curved panel 25 that can rotate about a horizontal axis that crosses a vertical central plane of the case 7.

In a preferred configuration, the case 7 has a rectangular section and forms in its lower part a kind of a hopper 27 that supplies the product 6 to the batching device below.

The mixing member 11 is mounted inside the hopper 27 and is rotated about a horizontal axis.

The first curved panel 25 includes a concave arc-like element that is basically a half of a cylindrical case having its centre on the rotation horizontal axis. Aε εeen from above, thiε concave element extendε so aε to obεtruct almost the entire traversal section of the case 7, when it is located in a rest position in which the concave is turned upwards.

The panel 25 is fastened, on opposite sides,

to a couple of radial arms 26 integral with respective rotation pins 28.

Moreover, the panel 25 features suitably, in the regionε of the opposite sideε, respective containing walls 29 having the same circular shape as the panel 25.

The panel 25 swings, in the way that is specified later, between a rest position, in which the concave part iε turned upwardε in order to keep εuspended the product to be fed to the hopper 27 below, and a overturned position, in which the above mentioned product 6 is discharged.

A second curved panel 30, concentric with the first panel 25, is carried and rotates on the same horizontal axis. The second panel has the task of mixing the product kept suspended by the first panel

25.

The second panel 30 is constituted by a concave arc-like element that is basically a half of a cylindrical case, with radial dimenεionε suitably smaller than those of the first panel 25.

The second panel 30 is fastened to a relative couple of radial arms 31, integral with respective rotation pins 32. Moreover, the second panel 30 featureε, on the concave side, a double serieε of finningε 33 εhaped like helix and εymmetrically convergent with reεpect to the centre plane of the εame panel 30 according to its rotation direction

(Fig. 5) . in the rest position, the first panel 25, with the concave part turned upwardε, substantially closes the transversal section of the case 7, so aε to keep εuspended the product 6 to be fed, while the second panel 30 rotates with continuous movement mixing the same product 6 (Fig. 4a) .

In particular, due to the helix-like finningε

33, the second panel 30 operates a continuous movement of the product 6 from the centre toward the sides of the case 7; this movement helps in keeping the powder soft. To intensify this effect, it is possible to equip the second panel 30 with similar finnings alεo on the convex εurface turned outwards .

It is alεo possible to provide the internal surface of the firεt panel 25 with a double series of helix-like finnings, indicated schematically with the broken lineε 34 in Fig. 6, symmetrically convergent with respect to the centre plane of the same panel 25 according to the discharge direction of the product 6. When the sensor 24 detects that the amount of the product 6 inside the hopper 27 goes below a predetermined level, the first panel 25 is operated and rotates to the overturned position, in which the product 6 is discharged (Fig. 4b) . At this point, the panel 25 discharges the product 6, previously kept suspended, into the hopper 27 below.

In this step, the continuous rotation of the second panel 30 is suitably stopped, and its concavity is turned upwards.

Then, the firεt panel 25 iε brought back to the initial position, with the concavity turned upwardε, to introduce in the case 7 new product 6 from the loading mouth 8 of the same case 7 (Fig. 4c) .

With thiε regard, it iε to be pointed out that the tranεversal section of the loading mouth 8 over the case 7 subεtantially coincideε with the flat surface covered by the second panel 30; therefore, the product 6 actually introduced through the mouth 8 is collected almost totally, in a first

stage, by the same second panel 30 and, subsequently, as a consequence of its action, is transferred, partially, to the first panel 25, during the mixing action performed by the same second panel 30.

The described feeding means allows to avoid compressing of the powder products, due to continuouε mixing action performed by the panel 30 in the product 6. Thiε product 6 iε kept suspended by the panel 25 up to the moment of supplying the hopper 27.

Therefore, inside the hopper 27, there is always contained a limited amount of powder product, kept in its turn in continuous movement due to the action of the mixing member 11.

Thus the subject batching device carries out in best way the filling of the containers 2 with batched quantities of the product 6.

These batched quantities can be adjusted by changing the axial position of the small pistons 14 that define the bottom of the batching chambers 4.

It is to be pointed out that, as already mentioned, a first rough adjustment is possible by means of a centralised command set to adjustment means 18 acting on all the small pistons 14, and then a εingle fine adjustment can be made on each of the same small piεtonε.

Likewise, it iε poεεible to adjuεt globally or singularly, for each of the batching chambers 4, the value of the negative and poεitive preεεure in the εtepε of loading the product 6, of filling the containers 2 and cleaning the batching chambers 4.

Therefore, it is possible to remedy possible anomalous situations resulting from adjustment and that occur in only one of the batching chambers 4 without operating on the whole batching device.

Moreover, in case of sterile products, each small piston 14 can be easily substituted, when necessary, instead of applying traditional cleaning and sterilisation operationε, therefore guaranteeing sterility by reduction of the necessary change-over operations and with lower costε.

It is to be noted that these replaceable pistonε 14 can be mounted without touching their part deεtined to contact the product, i.e. keeping its sterility.

This allows to substitute the conventional setting up of the batching device, including the steps of cleaning, assembling and sterilisation, with a cycle including cleaning, sterilisation and assembling, according to the users' needs.

Obviously, the possibility of single adjustment, for each of the batching chambers 4, of the value of the depression and the axial displacement of the piston 14 defining the bottom of the same batching chamber 4, allows to improve the batching precision.

The device allows also to obtain improved batching precision also in case of multiple batching, i.e. filling the container with more subsequent batches of the same product, due to the fact that there is one batching chamber for each container to be filled.

Another important feature of the subject batching device lies in its reduced dimensionε, in particular in tranεverεal direction.

Thiε allowε to intervene in the machine more eaεily, εpecially when the partε that are to handle the powders products are moved to a controlled atmosphere facility (isolators) . In the proposed batching device, when the machine (to which the device is connected) is

stopped, the batching chamber can be in axis with the container and the batch is acceptable; since only one batching chamber is provided, the product does not accumulate in the batching device, which is particularly advantageous for cleaning and sterilising operations of the device.

This advantage iε conεiderable when compared with known batching devices, in which, when the machine stops, batching chambers remains full of product before upstream of the chamber in axis with the container, bringing about many difficulties in cleaning and sterilisation.