EP4098569A1 - Filling method and filling system for its implementation - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for filling a storage bag (40) of a liquid storage (10) of a pharmaceutical or cosmetic dispenser is proposed. It is provided here that the storage bag (40) is initially converted from a first compact state into a first expanded state by internal overpressure application with a gas and/or external negative pressure application. The storage bag (40) is then compressed again by applying negative pressure on the inside and/or by applying excess pressure on the outside with a gas and transferred to a second compact state. Only then is the storage bag (40) filled with liquid, with the storage bag (40) being converted into a second expanded state.

Description

FIELD OF APPLICATION AND PRIOR ART

The invention relates to a method for filling a storage bag of a liquid reservoir of a pharmaceutical or cosmetic dispenser and a filling system provided for this purpose.

It is known that liquid dispensers for liquids are provided with a storage bag. This storage bag is placed within a rigid outer container. The wall of the storage bag isolates it from the air between the storage bag and the outer container. If liquid is discharged from the liquid reservoir, its volume changes and air flows into the outer container. This avoids contact between the liquid and the compensating air entering the liquid reservoir and the associated deterioration in the quality of the liquid.

Such storage bags are usually filled after they have already been placed in the outer container. In order to be able to insert them through an opening in the outer container, the storage bags are in a compact state at this point in time, in particular folded or rolled up and possibly provided with a detachable securing band to secure the compact state.

When filling, the storage bag expands. However, as soon as the filling process is completed and a filling head provided for this purpose is removed from the liquid storage, it can happen that liquid escapes from the storage bag and contaminates the filling system.

TASK AND SOLUTION

The object of the invention is to provide a filling method and a corresponding filling system, by means of which the filling can be carried out with little risk of the system becoming soiled.

For this purpose, a filling method is primarily proposed in which it is provided that initially the storage bag is converted from a first compact state into a first expanded state by the internal application of excess pressure with a gas and/or by the external application of negative pressure by generating a vacuum or negative pressure.

A second compact state of the storage bag, which differs from the first compact state, is then produced by now applying negative pressure on the inside and/or by applying excess pressure on the outside with a gas.

Only when the storage bag has been expanded in this way and then contracted again, starting from the second compact state, is the storage bag filled with liquid. Here, the storage bag again assumes an expanded state. Depending on the application, it can be filled with a cosmetic or pharmaceutical liquid or with a technical liquid such as paint or oil or with a food liquid.

The proposed method has the effect that the storage bag, after being filled with liquid, only shows a slight tendency to contract again in the direction of its first compact state and in the process to press out liquid through the removal opening of the liquid storage device.

This tendency has hitherto been observed, for example in storage bags whose wall in the first compact state was folded along at least one fold edge or was provided in the form of a roll. If such bags are not first expanded and brought back into a compact state in the manner according to the invention before filling, the tendency to rebound in the area of the folded edges or the wall curvatures ensures the described effect that liquid after filling is pressed through the removal opening to the outside when the storage bag is reshapes slightly towards its original first compact state after being filled with liquid.

Due to the transfer of the storage bag into the second compact state, the walls of the storage bag are contracted in a different form than in the first compact state. The recovery tendency described is thereby largely overcome.

The transfer of the storage bag into the gas-expanded state and subsequently into the second compact state preferably takes place by means of inside or outside overpressurization. Although the application of a vacuum or negative pressure by a vacuum pump is also possible, the generation of the positive pressure is technically simpler. In addition, there is no risk here that liquid can reach the pressure source, while there is such a risk when using a vacuum pump and should be reduced, for example, by filtration.

In particular, the expansion of the storage bag takes place in that gas and in particular in that air is fed into the storage bag. The subsequent conversion to the second compact state can take place by evacuating the interior of the storage bag using a vacuum pump. However, as described above, this is technically complex, so that it is preferable for the pressure in a pressure chamber surrounding the storage bag to be increased in order to convert the storage bag into the second compact state. This increase in pressure causes the gas previously contained in the storage bag to be pushed out again through the extraction opening.

Preferably, the transfer of the storage bag from the first compact state to the expanded state and then to the second compact state takes place while the storage bag is already within an outer container of the liquid reservoir. This is expedient since otherwise it is difficult to insert the storage bag, which is already in the second compact state, into the outer container.

The arrangement of the storage bag in the outer container during the transfer to the second compact state also offers the advantage that an intermediate area between the outside of the storage bag and an inside of the outer container can be used as a pressure space to generate an overpressure for the purpose of achieving the second compact state .

If the transition into the expanded state is achieved by supplying gas into the storage bag and the subsequent transition into the second compact state by supplying gas in an area surrounding the storage bag, in particular into the pressure chamber formed by the outer container, it is advantageous if a common overpressure source is used for both pressure increases. This overpressure source can be in the form of a pump, for example.

In this case, a valve control device is preferably used, which can be switched between supplying the interior of the storage bag and an area surrounding the storage bag.

Depending on the type of liquid to be filled, it can be advantageous if there is still overpressure in the vicinity of the storage bag and in particular in the pressure chamber formed by the outer container while the storage bag is being filled with liquid. The pressurization of the storage bag from the outside generated in this way is then subsequently eliminated before the filling head used is separated from the storage bag. This further reduces the risk of liquid escaping through the removal opening after the filling head has been separated from the storage bag and contaminating the filling system.

If the bag opening of the storage bag is assigned a valve, it is provided that this is opened during filling, for example by a lance provided at the filling station, which mechanically forces the valve to open when the filling head of the filling station is coupled to the liquid storage. The valve reduces the risk of liquid spillage when the storage bag is uncoupled from a fill port.

In addition to the filling method, the invention also relates to a filling system for filling a liquid reservoir using in particular the method described.

Such a system according to the invention has a filling station which is designed to accommodate a liquid reservoir with a storage bag. In particular, the filling station is designed to accommodate a liquid reservoir, which comprises an outer container and a storage bag already inserted therein. During operation, such a liquid reservoir is positioned at the filling station. The filling station can preferably be moved along a conveyor line together with other filling stations, so that the liquid reservoirs positioned here can be filled one after the other.

To fill the storage bag, the system has a filling head which is designed to be relatively displaceable relative to the filling station and the storage bag placed there for the purpose of coupling to the storage bag or to the liquid storage with outer container and inserted storage bag.

This filling head is preferably connected to a liquid supply, in particular to a liquid reservoir, from which liquid can be conveyed to the filling head by means of a pump.

In order to be able to transfer the storage bag from the first compact state to the expanded state in the manner described, the filling head is connected to an overpressure source, for example to a pump device, by means of which gas, in particular air, can be introduced into the storage bag coupled to the filling head.

If the filling head is coupled to the storage bag, gas can first be fed into the storage bag via the removal opening of the liquid storage unit in order to achieve the expanded state. The storage bag can then be evacuated by a vacuum pump of the filling system generating a negative pressure, which removes the gas from the storage bag again. However, this evacuation preferably takes place in the manner already described above by supplying gas to an area surrounding the liquid bag and thereby generating an overpressure which compresses the storage bag again and thus produces the second compact state. This environment is particularly preferably formed by an interior space of the outer container, with the filling head in this case being designed to be able to pressurize this interior space of the outer container, which acts as a pressure chamber, in an isolated manner.

For this purpose, the filling head can in particular have a coupling contour on the filling head, which is in contact with the liquid reservoir and is suitable for defining two isolated pressure areas together with the liquid reservoir. For this purpose, the coupling contour particularly preferably has two circumferential and preferably concentric sealing surfaces, with an area between the circumferential sealing surfaces defining a pressure area which is connected to the outer container in a communicating manner, and with an area inside the inner of the two sealing surfaces defining a second pressure area which is connected to the Storage bag is communicatively connected.

If both the conversion into the expanded state and the conversion into the second compact state take place by means of gas supply and the resulting excess pressure, it is advantageous if a common excess pressure source is used for both partial steps.

In order to make this possible, provision can be made in particular for the overpressure source to be assigned a switching valve device. This switching valve device allows switching between a first switching state, in which the overpressure source is connected to the storage bag, and a second switching state, in which the overpressure source is connected to the storage bag surrounding pressure space is connected. Thus, an overpressure source, for example in the form of a pump device, can continuously provide a gas supply that first expands the storage bag and then compresses it again.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

• Fig. 1 bis 8 zeigen dabei exemplarisch den Ablauf des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens zur Befüllung von Flüssigkeitsspeichern.
• Fig. 9 zeigen im Stadium der Fig. 1 einen alternativen Flüssigkeitsspeicher sowie die entsprechende angepasste Gestaltung der Anlage.

Further advantages and aspects of the invention result from the claims and from the following description of two preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention, which are explained below with reference to the figures.

• Figures 1 to 8 show an example of the sequence of the method according to the invention for filling liquid reservoirs.
• 9 show at the stage of 1 an alternative liquid reservoir and the corresponding adapted design of the system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Figures 1 to 8 show an example of the sequence of the method according to the invention for filling liquid reservoirs. The main components of the filling system used for this purpose and the liquid reservoir to be filled are based on the 1 explained.

The liquid reservoir 10 to be filled for this purpose is intended to be connected to a discharge head in the filled state and to form a liquid dispenser together with this discharge head. Such a discharge head can in particular have a pump device, by means of which the liquid is conveyed to a discharge opening. The liquid reservoir can also be designed as a pressure reservoir, in the outer container of which a pressurized gas or a propellant is arranged. In this case, the discharge head or the liquid reservoir can have an outlet valve, which is opened for the purpose of discharge, instead of a pump device.

The liquid reservoir has a rigid outer container 30 made of plastic or metal. This has an opening flange 32 into which an insert 34 with a removal opening 36 is inserted. A storage bag 40 is arranged in the outer container 30 to hold the liquid. This is connected to the removal opening 36 . An intermediate area between the outer container and The storage bag 40 is connected to an ambient atmosphere via ventilation openings 38 in the insert 34 during operation of the liquid dispenser.

The use of the storage bag prevents the liquid from coming into contact with air before it is discharged.

The method according to the invention starts from an initial state in which the storage bag 40 is initially in a first compact state, for example wound or folded along fold edges 46 . In this first compact state, the introduction of the storage bag 40 through the opening flange 32 of the outer container 30 is possible without any problems.

The liquid reservoir 10 with the storage bag 40 in its first compact state is positioned below a fill head 120 .

This filling head 120 has a coupling piece 130 whose shape is adapted to the liquid reservoir 10 . This coupling piece 130 has an outer contact ring 131 and an inner contact ring 132 for sealing contact with the liquid reservoir 10 . A region between the abutment rings 131, 132 is connected to a first gas connection 134 of the filling head 120. The inner contact ring 132 forms a connection for coupling to the removal opening 36 and thus to the storage bag 40. This connection is connected to a second gas connection 136 of the filling head 120 and via a line 182 to a liquid reservoir 180. The second gas connection 134 can be closed with respect to the connection by means of a slide valve 126 . The slide valve 126 is closed against the force of a return spring 124 by displacement of the filling head 120 with respect to a carrier 122 .

The filling system has an overpressure source 140 in the form of a gas cylinder, by means of which gas, in particular air, is placed under overpressure in a pressure chamber 144 by a piston 142 . The pressure chamber 144 has an inlet and an outlet which are provided with check valves 146, 148, respectively. A gas line 152 leading to a valve device 150 is connected to the outlet. The valve device 150 is connected to the gas connections 134, 136 of the filling head 120 by means of two gas lines 154, 156. In addition, an outlet 158 is provided on the valve device 150 .

The valve device 150 makes it possible to selectively couple the gas line 154 and thus the gas connection 134 or the gas line 156 and thus the gas connection 136 to the overpressure source 140 .

The outlet 158 is in each case connected to the other gas line and the other gas connection.

1 shows the initial state in which the liquid reservoir 10 is positioned below the filling head 120.

Based on this, in the in 2 shown manner exerted by means of an actuator 160, a force in the direction of arrow 1 on a piston rod of the piston 142. This initially does not lead to a reduction in the pressure chamber 144, but rather moves the gas cylinder 140 together with a carrier 122 and the filling head 120 downwards, so that the coupling piece 130 couples to the opening flange 32 and the insert 34 of the liquid reservoir 10.

As a result, the gas connection 134 is connected via the ventilation openings 38 in the insert 34 to the intermediate space 60 between the inside of the outer container 30 on the one hand and the outside of the storage bag 40 . The gas port 136 is connected to the interior of the storage bag 40 .

Continuing to depress the piston rod of piston 142 results in FIG 3 shown manner to the fact that the piston 142 is displaced in the gas cylinder 140 and the air in the pressure chamber 144 is pressurized. The air flows according to the arrows 2, 3 through the line 152 and 156 to the gas connection 136 and into the storage bag 40. This is thereby converted into a first expanded state. In this case, a gas volume is preferably fed into the storage bag 40 which corresponds to at least 50% of its maximum volume, particularly preferably at least 80% of the maximum volume. As a result, the wall of the storage bag 40 is stretched, particularly in the area of the folded edges 46 . Air outside the storage bag 40 is discharged following the arrows 4, 5 while the storage bag 40 is being filled with gas.

The valve device 150 is then switched so that the line 154 is now connected to the line 152 and the gas cylinder 140 . In contrast, the line 156 is connected to the outlet 158 .

The continued reduction in size of the pressure chamber 144 now leads to air being conducted into the pressure space 60 on the outside of the storage bag 40 , as illustrated by arrow 7 . The storage bag 40 is thereby in the in 4 compressed again in the manner shown, with the air in the way indicated by arrow 6 escapes. The storage bag does not return to the original folded state 1 back, but in a second compact state. In this second compact state, the original folded edges 46 are no longer in the same position relative to one another as they were in the original first compact state. The fold edges lose part of their tendency to recover as a result of the stretching during the expansion and the changed relative position in the second compact state.

After the piston 142 has reduced the pressure chamber 144 to a maximum, the continued application of force to the piston rod causes the entire gas cylinder 140 together with the carrier 122 to be displaced downwards against the force of the return spring 124, so that the gas connection 136 is isolated.

Starting from this in figure 5 In the state shown, the actual filling of the storage bag 40 with liquid can now take place. As illustrated by arrow 8, the liquid from the liquid reservoir 180 is supplied to the filling head 120 and the storage bag 40 by means of a pump 184. this is in 6 shown. During the filling, it can be advantageous to maintain a slight excess pressure in the pressure chamber 60.

When the filling is complete, the piston 142 is moved upwards again like the piston rod, as illustrated by arrow 9 . In this case, the slide valve 126 of the filling head 120 first opens again and the pressure chamber 144 is enlarged again while air is sucked in. If an overpressure still existed in the pressure chamber 60, it is reduced in this phase.

As in 8 shown, the filling head 120 is then lifted again from the now filled liquid reservoir, so that the next liquid reservoir 10 can then be placed under the filling head 120 for filling.

In the exemplary embodiment described, it is provided that a single actuator 160 is able to bring about the respectively required relative movements of piston 142 and gas cylinder 140 as well as carrier 122 and filling head 120 .

However, this is only to be understood as an example. It could also be provided, for example, that the actuator merely moves the filling head 120 while the valve 126 is opened and closed by means of a separate actuator and/or while another actuator is also used to generate pressure from the overpressure source 140 . It would also be possible to provide only one actuator which drives a plurality of filling heads 120, for example in the manner of a linear or rotary drive, by means of which a plurality of piston rods of pistons 142 are displaced along a cam which causes the displacement described.

In 9 a different variant of the liquid reservoir 10 is shown, which differs from the variant of Figures 1 to 8 differs in that the removal opening 36 of the liquid reservoir 10 is provided with a valve 37 which closes in the event of excess pressure in the liquid reservoir and thus prevents discharge as long as it is not opened mechanically. During filling, the valve is automatically opened mechanically by a hollow lance 137 when the filling head 120 couples to the liquid reservoir 10. It closes again when the filling head moves away from the liquid reservoir 10 . In the variant shown, the hollow lance 137 is fixed in place on the slide valve 126 of the carrier. This allows the lance 137 to be pulled out of the valve 37 again at the end of the filling process and to close the valve before the contact ring 132 loses contact with the liquid reservoir 10 . As a result, an unintentional escape of liquid during decoupling is limited to a narrow area.

Otherwise, the process of filling the liquid reservoir 10 takes place in FIG 9 according to the Figures 1 to 8 .

Claims (15)

Method for filling a storage bag (40) of a liquid storage (10) of a pharmaceutical or cosmetic dispenser with the following features: a. the storage bag (40) has a bag opening (42) for filling and for removing liquid, and b. the storage bag (40) is converted from a first compact state into a first expanded state by internal positive pressurization with a gas and/or external negative pressure, and c. the storage bag (40) is then converted into a second compact state by applying negative pressure on the inside and/or by applying excess pressure on the outside with a gas, and i.e. Starting from the second compact state, the storage bag (40) is filled with liquid, the storage bag (40) being converted into a second expanded state. Method according to claim 1 with the following additional features: a. in the first compact state, a wall of the storage bag (40) is folded along at least one fold edge (46), preferably folded along at least two fold edges (46), with at least one fold edge (46) preferably being aligned parallel or aligned with the orientation of the bag opening, or b. in the first compact state, a wall of the storage bag (40) is provided in the form of a roll. Method according to claim 1 or 2 with the following additional features: a. the bag opening (42) is assigned an outlet valve (37) which is designed for mechanical opening from the outside, and b. during the transition of the storage bag (40) to the first expanded condition, to the second compacted condition and/or to the second expanded condition, the outlet valve (37) is opened by a lance (137). Method according to one of the preceding claims with the following additional feature: a. during the transformation of the storage bag (40) into the first and/or second expanded state, the storage bag (40) is arranged inside an outer container (30) of the liquid reservoir (10). Method according to one of the preceding claims with the following additional feature: a. to convert the storage bag (40) into the second compact state, the pressure in a pressure chamber (60) surrounding the storage bag (40) is increased. Method according to claim 5 with the following additional feature: a. the pressure chamber (60) is formed at least in part by an interior of the outer container (30). Method according to one of the preceding claims with the following additional feature: a. during the filling of the storage bag (40) there is an overpressure in a pressure chamber (60) surrounding the storage bag (40). Method according to one of the preceding claims with the following additional feature: a. the transfer of the storage bag (40) into the first expanded state and into the second compact state takes place by means of a common overpressure source (140), which for this purpose is connected in phases with an interior of the storage bag (40) and in phases with a pressure chamber (40) surrounding the storage bag (40). 60) is connected. Method according to one of the preceding claims with at least one of the following additional features: a. the overpressure is generated by means of air as the gas used, and/or b. the liquid filled in the storage bag (40) is a cosmetic liquid or a pharmaceutical liquid. System (100) for filling a liquid reservoir (10) with the following features: a. the system has a filling station (110) which is designed to accommodate a liquid reservoir (10) with a storage bag (40), and b. the system has a filling head (120) which is connected to a liquid source (180) and to an overpressure source (140) and is designed to be coupled to a bag opening (42) of the storage bag (40), and c. the filling head (120) can be displaced relative to the filling station (110) by means of an actuator (160). System according to claim 10 with the following additional features: a. a liquid reservoir (10) for filling is arranged at the filling station (110), and b. the liquid reservoir (10) has a storage bag (40). Plant according to claim 11 with the following additional feature: a. the liquid reservoir (10) has an outer container (30) inside which the storage bag (40) is arranged. Plant according to one of claims 10 to 12 with the following additional features: a. the overpressure source (140) is assigned a switching valve device (150), and b. the switching valve device allows switching between a first switching state, in which the overpressure source is connected to the storage bag (40), and a second switching state, in which the overpressure source is connected to a pressure chamber (60) surrounding the storage bag (40). Plant according to one of claims 10 to 13 with the following additional features: a. the filling head (120) has a coupling contour (131, 132) for coupling to the liquid reservoir (10), and b. the coupling contour (131, 132) is suitable for defining two mutually isolated pressure areas together with the liquid reservoir (10). Plant according to one of claims 10 to 14 with the following additional feature: a. the system has a common actuator (160), by means of which both a displacement of the filling head (120) relative to the liquid reservoir (10) and a pressurization of a gas to generate an overpressure is effected.

Images