Filling containers with particulate material
First Claim
1. A method of introducing each of a plurality of doses of particulate material into a respective compartment of a container, the container comprising a plate having a plurality of apertures, each of which constitutes a respective compartment, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) inserting a respective protuberance into each compartment so as to reduce the capacity thereof;
b) filling each compartment with said particulate material, with the respective protuberance inserted in said compartment by positioning the plate on a porous bed with the apertures in communication with a reservoir of particulate material;
applying gaseous pressure to the reservoir so as to transfer particulate material from the reservoir to the apertures, the porosity of the bed being such as to allow the passage of gas but to prevent the particulate material from passing all the way through the apertures and escaping from the underside of the plate; and
c) removing said protuberances,wherein the volume of each dose of material is less than that of its respective compartment.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A multi-compartment container is charged with a plurality of doses of powdered medicament so that the volume of each dose is than that of the respective compartments in which it is contained. A respective protuberance is inserted into each respective compartment, which is then filled with medicament and the protuberance is then removed. The container may take the form of an apertured plate, in which case the filling step can be achieved by placing the container on a porous bed and in communication with a reservoir of particulate material, and then passing gas through the reservoir, the apertures in the container and the bed. There is also shown apparatus for performing the method, the apparatus comprising a reservoir for the particulate material and a conduit for relaying particulate material from the reservoir to the compartments, the conduit including protuberances which are insertable into the compartments to reduce the available volume of the latter. The size of the doses can be controlled by appropriate selection of protuberance dimensions, and a plate-type container, when filled by the method, can be relatively easily sealed by, for example, the application of laminated foil.
41 Citations
14 Claims
-
1. A method of introducing each of a plurality of doses of particulate material into a respective compartment of a container, the container comprising a plate having a plurality of apertures, each of which constitutes a respective compartment, the method comprising the steps of:
-
a) inserting a respective protuberance into each compartment so as to reduce the capacity thereof; b) filling each compartment with said particulate material, with the respective protuberance inserted in said compartment by positioning the plate on a porous bed with the apertures in communication with a reservoir of particulate material;
applying gaseous pressure to the reservoir so as to transfer particulate material from the reservoir to the apertures, the porosity of the bed being such as to allow the passage of gas but to prevent the particulate material from passing all the way through the apertures and escaping from the underside of the plate; andc) removing said protuberances, wherein the volume of each dose of material is less than that of its respective compartment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
Specification