Method and device for filling nesting containers

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device ( 2 ) for filling a plurality of containers ( 1 ) in a nest ( 10 ) comprising columns ( 101 ) and rows ( 102 ), in particular for filling nested ampoules or cartridges, wherein a plurality, in particular all, of the containers arranged in a column ( 101 ) are each simultaneously filled by way of a filling needle ( 200 ), wherein a sensor device ( 21 ) in each case detects when a defined fill level is reached during the filling operations of the containers ( 1 ), and wherein detection of the defined fill level being reached triggers a stop signal for the filling operation of the respective container ( 1 ).

1 . A method for filling a plurality of containers in a nest comprising columns and rows, in particular for filling nested ampoules or cartridges, wherein a container arranged in a column is filled by way of a filling needle, wherein a sensor device detects when a defined fill level is reached during the filling operation of the container, wherein detection of the defined fill level being reached triggers a stop signal for the filling operation of the container. 
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein detection of when the defined fill level of the container is reached is carried out in a plane transverse, in particular perpendicular, relative to a longitudinal axis of the container, wherein, for the filling operation of the container, a measurement signal from the sensor device is evaluated, and/or a run-on time and/or a run-on volume after triggering of the stop signal is established as a function of the position of the container relative to the sensor device, in particular as a function of the column of the container in the nest. 
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of containers arranged in different rows, in particular all the containers arranged in a column, are each simultaneously filled by way of a filling needle, wherein a sensor device in each case detects when a defined fill level is reached during the filling operations of the containers, and wherein detection of the defined fill level being reached triggers a stop signal for the filling operation of the respective container, wherein in particular the sensor devices are each associated with one row of the nest, wherein, for the filling operation of each container, a measurement signal from the sensor device is evaluated, and/or a run-on time and/or a run-on volume after triggering of the stop signal is established as a function of the position of the container relative to the sensor device, in particular as a function of the column of the container in the nest. 
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein detection of when the defined fill level is reached is carried out by way of an optical sensor device comprising a transmitter arranged adjacent to the nest and a receiver arranged adjacent to the nest. 
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein an opaque barrier is provided between the transmitter and the nest and/or between the receiver and the nest, which barrier provides at least a bottom limit for radiation emitted by the transmitter, wherein in particular the opaque barrier takes the form of a slit diaphragm. 
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a volumetric flow rate is continuously and/or discontinuously reduced during the filling operation as the defined fill level is approached, and/or in that the filling needle is moved relative to the container in the direction out of the container during the filling operation, wherein movement of the filling needle is stopped in a defined position at or before the end of the filling operation, wherein in particular the filling needles are moved as a group. 
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the containers to be filled of the column are lifted out of the nest before the filling operation, wherein in particular the filling needle is moved into the container on lifting, and/or wherein in particular in order to modify the defined fill level, to compensate for tolerances, and/or to compensate for a distance-dependent measurement signal from the sensor device, the containers of different columns and/or different rows are lifted by different strokes. 
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein prefilling, in particular volume-based prefilling, of the containers is carried out before the filling operation, wherein in particular containers in a nest are prefilled row by row, and/or the containers are closed, in particular the containers are vacuum-closed, after the filling operation, wherein in particular containers in a nest are closed row by row. 
     
     
         9 . A device for filling a plurality of containers in a nest comprising columns and rows, in particular for filling nested ampoules or cartridges, comprising a filling system with a filling needle, by way of which a container arranged in a column is fillable, wherein a sensor device is provided, wherein the sensor device is set up to detect when a defined fill level is reached during the filling operation of the container, wherein the sensor device is connected to a control unit of the filling system, and wherein the control unit is set up such that detection of the defined fill level being reached triggers a stop signal for the filling operation of the container. 
     
     
         10 . The device as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the measuring direction of the sensor device lies in a plane transverse, in particular perpendicular, relative to a longitudinal axis of the container, wherein, for the filling operation of the container, the control unit is set up to evaluate a measurement signal from the sensor device, and/or to establish a run-on time and/or a run-on volume after triggering of the stop signal as a function of a position, in particular of the column, of the container in the nest. 
     
     
         11 . The device as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the filling system has a plurality of filling needles by way of which a plurality of containers arranged in different rows, in particular all the containers arranged in a common column, are simultaneously fillable, wherein a plurality of sensor devices are provided, wherein the sensor devices are set up to detect when a defined fill level is in each case reached during the filling operations of the containers, wherein the sensor devices are connected to a control unit of the filling system, and wherein the control unit is set up such that detection of the defined fill level being reached triggers a stop signal for the filling operation of the respective container, wherein in particular the sensor devices are each associated with one row of the nest, wherein, for the filling operation of each container, the control unit is set up to evaluate a measurement signal from the sensor device, and/or to establish a run-on time and/or a run-on volume after triggering of the stop signal as a function of a position, in particular of the column, of the container in the nest. 
     
     
         12 . The device as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the sensor device takes the form of an optical sensor device comprising a transmitter arranged adjacent to the nest and a receiver arranged adjacent to the nest. 
     
     
         13 . The device as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein an opaque barrier is provided between the transmitter and the nest and/or between the receiver and the nest, which barrier provides at least a bottom limit for radiation emitted by the transmitter, wherein in particular the opaque barrier takes the form of a slit diaphragm. 
     
     
         14 . The device as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the control unit is set up to continuously and/or discontinuously reduce a volumetric flow rate during the filling operation as the defined fill level is approached, and/or in that the filling needle is movably mounted such that the filling needle is movable relative to the container in the direction out of the container during the filling operation, wherein the control unit is set up to stop a movement of the filling needle in a defined position at or before the end of the filling operation, wherein in particular a plurality of filling needles are mounted movably individually or as a group. 
     
     
         15 . The device as claimed in  claim 9 to 14 , wherein a lifting device is provided, by way of which the container to be filled of the column is liftable out of the nest before the filling operation, wherein, in order to modify the defined fill level, to compensate for tolerances, and/or to compensate for a distance-dependent measurement signal from the sensor device, the lifting device is in particular set up to lift the containers of different columns and/or different rows by different strokes, and/or wherein the lifting device has a limit stop. 
     
     
         16 . The device as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein a prefilling device is provided which can carry out prefilling, in particular volume-based prefilling, of the containers before the filling operation by way of the filling system, wherein the prefilling device is in particular set up to fill containers in a nest row by row, and/or in that a closing device is provided which can carry out closing of the containers, in particular vacuum closing of the containers, after the filling operation by way of the filling system, wherein the closing device is in particular set up to clos containers in a nest row by row.