Method and apparatus for filling cartridges with a liquid

• US 6,786,246 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2003
• Issued: 09/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Novo Nordisk A/S
• Original Assignee: Novo Nordisk A/S
• Inventors: Kobbero, Preben, Manique, Flemming S. J., Ohms, Rene
• Primary Examiner(s): Huson, Gregory L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huynh, Khoa D.
• Application Number:
  US10/713,135
• Publication Number:
  US 20040094225A1
• Time in Patent Office: 298 Days
• Field of Search: 141/19, 141/2, 141/5, 141/94, 141/95, 141/198, 141/192, 732/90.R, 732/93
• US Class Current: 141/19
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 3/003 Filling medical containers such as ampoules, vials, syringes or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 3/12 mechanically, e.g. by pistons or pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 3/24 Topping-up containers or receptacles to ensure complete filling
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 39/12 movable towards or away from container or wrapper during filling or depositing

Abstract

An apparatus for filling a cartridge with a liquid comprises, a platform on which the cartridge is supported and which can be lifted relative to a stationary filling needle (5) so that this filling needle is moved into the cartridge (6), a pump (1) feeding liquid through the filling needle (5) into the cartridge (6), a sensor head (10) from which a beam of light is sent from one side of the cartridge to the other along a path immediately over an upper edge of the cartridge (6), and a reflector (11) reflecting the light beam back to the sensor head (10), which is connected to a sensor box (12) which produces a signal stopping the pump (1) and causing the needle (5) to be drawn out of the cartridge (6) when this cartridge is full and the liquid forms a droplet over the opening of the cartridge, which droplet deflects the light beam.

Claims

1. A method for filling a cartridge (6) with a liquid, characterised by the steps

a) lowering a filling needle (5) into the cartridge (6),

b) feeding liquid through the filling needle (5) into the cartridge (6),

c) detecting when the cartridge (6) is filled to its edge,

d) stopping the liquid flow when the cartridge (6) is detected as being full allowing an excessive amount of liquid to form a drop over at the edge of the cartridge (6), and

wherein c) the detection comprises the following two steps:

c1) sending a beam of light from one side of the cartridge (6) to the other along a path immediately over an upper edge of the cartridge (6), and

c2) reflecting the light beam back

e) lifting the filling needle (5) out of the cartridge (6).

2. A method according to claim 1, characterised in that the filling step comprises a prefilling step and a topping up step.

3. A method according to claim 2, characterised in that the lowering of the filling needles (5) and the prefilling step is so adjusted, that the needle tip is below the surface (17) of the liquid when the topping up step is started.

4. A method according to claim 1, characterised in that a full cartridge is detected by changes in a light beam passing immediately over the upper edge of the cartridge (6).

5. A method according to claim any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the topping up of the cartridge (6) is so adjusted that the amount of liquid exceeding the volume of the cartridge (6) and forming a drop over at the edge of the cartridge (6) corresponds to the amount of liquid displaced by the part of filling needle (5) projecting into the cartridge (6).

6. An apparatus for implementing the method for filling a cartridge (6) with a liquid, comprising

b) means for controlled feeding of liquid through the filling needle (5) into the cartridge (6),

c) means for detecting when the cartridge (6) is filled to its edge, and

d) means for stopping the liquid flow when the cartridge (6) is detected as being full, wherein the means allows an excessive amount of liquid to form a drop over at the edge of the cartridge,

characterised in that the apparatus further comprises

a) means for lowering a filling needle (5) into the cartridge (6), and

e) means for lifting the filling needle (5) out of the cartridge (6)

wherein c) the means for detection of a filled cartridge comprises a sensor head (10) from which a beam of light from a light source is sent from one side of the cartridge (6) to the other along a path immediately over an upper edge of the cartridge (6), and a reflector (11) reflecting the light beam back to the sensor head (10).

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, characterised in that the means for feeding liquid through the filling needle (5) into the cartridge (6) is a motor driven pump (1).

8. An apparatus according to claim 6, characterised in that the light source and a detector, which detects the light reflected from the reflector (11) back into the sensor head (10), are enclosed in a sensor box (12) and communicates with the sensor head (10) through light conductors.

9. An apparatus according to claim 6 characterised in that the motor (7) driving the pump (1) is energised from a control box (9) receiving signals from the sensor box (12).