U.S. patent application number 11/913403 was filed with the patent office on 2008-08-14 for method for filing a cavity with a quantity of particulate material.
This patent application is currently assigned to ASTRAZENECA AB. Invention is credited to Vesna Akerberg, Lars Arvidsson, Orest Lastow.
Application Number | 20080190516 11/913403 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37308235 |
Filed Date | 2008-08-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080190516 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Arvidsson; Lars ; et
al. |
August 14, 2008 |
Method for Filing a Cavity with a Quantity of Particulate
Material
Abstract
A method for filling a cavity with a quantity of particulate
material, comprising the steps of filling a chamber with its open
side facing upwards with the quantity of particulate material,
positioning the opening of the cavity opposite the opening of the
filled chamber, and thereafter rotating the chamber and the cavity
so that the cavity is positioned with its open side facing upwards
and the chamber with its open side facing downwards, whereby the
quantity of particulate material is emptied into the cavity. A
corresponding device comprising a chamber, filling means for
filling the chamber with the quantity of particulate material,
operating means for positioning the opening of the cavity opposite
the opening of the chamber, and conveyor belt for rotating the
chamber and the cavity so that the cavity is positioned with its
open side facing upwards and the chamber is positioned with its
open side facing downwards.
Inventors: |
Arvidsson; Lars; (Lund,
SE) ; Lastow; Orest; (Lund, SE) ; Akerberg;
Vesna; (Lund, SE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FISH & RICHARDSON P.C.
P.O BOX 1022
MINNEAPOLIS
MN
55440-1022
US
|
Assignee: |
ASTRAZENECA AB
SE-151 85 Sodertalje
SE
|
Family ID: |
37308235 |
Appl. No.: |
11/913403 |
Filed: |
April 28, 2006 |
PCT Filed: |
April 28, 2006 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/SE2006/000519 |
371 Date: |
November 1, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
141/237 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 37/20 20130101;
B65B 7/162 20130101; B65B 1/36 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
141/237 |
International
Class: |
B65B 3/04 20060101
B65B003/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 2, 2005 |
SE |
0501011-1 |
Claims
1-24. (canceled)
25. A medicament filling station for filling a medicament pack that
defines a plurality of medicament cavities, each cavity defining an
opening at an outer surface of the pack, the medicament filling
station comprising: a transfer device with an upper surface
defining a plurality of chambers each having an opening at the
upper surface; a dosing device operable to deposit a portion of
powdered medicament on the upper surface of the transfer device;
and a scraping element that scrapes the deposited portion of
powdered medicament across the upper surface of the transfer device
and into the plurality of chambers to fill each chamber with a
respective dose of the deposited portion of powdered medicament;
wherein the filling station is operable to place the medicament
pack over the transfer device with the cavities of the medicament
pack aligned with the chambers of the transfer device and the outer
surface of the medicament pack against the upper surface of the
transfer device and to, while the transfer device and medicament
pack are held together, flip the medicament pack and transfer
device over to position the transfer device over the medicament
pack, such that the dose of powdered medicament in each of the
chambers of the transfer device is transferred to a respective one
of the cavities in the medicament pack.
26. The medicament filling station of claim 25, further comprising
a conveyor belt to which the transfer device is attached and that
moves and guides the transfer device between multiple process steps
and that flips the transfer device.
27. The medicament filling station of claim 25, further comprising:
a holding device connected to the transfer device and configured to
hold the medicament pack against the transfer device.
28. The medicament filling station of claim 25, further comprising:
a first monitor that scans the transfer device to confirm filling
prior to flipping of the transfer device; a cleaner that cleans
residual medicament from the transfer device after the medicament
is transferred to the medicament pack; and a second monitor that
scans the cleaned transfer device and confirms that the transfer
device has been cleaned.
29. The medicament filling station of claim 25, wherein each
chamber of the transfer device is of a smaller volume than a
respective cavity of the medicament pack.
30. The medicament filling station of claim 25 further comprising
an additional transfer device of a different chamber pattern, the
transfer devices being selectable for use with correspondingly
differing medicament pack cavity patterns.
31. A method of filling a medicament pack defining a plurality of
cavities in an outer surface of the pack, the method comprising:
depositing a portion of powdered medicament on a top surface of a
transfer device defining a plurality of chambers; filling the
chambers by dragging the deposited portion of powdered medicament
across the top surface of the transfer device; positioning the
medicament pack upside down on the transfer device, such that the
outer surface of the medicament pack is adjacent the top surface of
the transfer device and each cavity is aligned with a respective
chamber; flipping the transfer device together with the medicament
pack to place the medicament pack under the transfer device,
whereby the powdered medicament in the chambers is simultaneously
emptied into the respective cavities.
32. The method of claim 31 further comprising: holding the
medicament pack against the transfer device prior to and after
flipping the transfer device; and then releasing the medicament
pack from the transfer device after the medicament is transferred
to the medicament pack.
33. The method of claim 31, further comprising: scanning the
chambers of the transfer device to confirm that the chambers are
filled prior to positioning the medicament pack upside down on the
transfer device; cleaning the residual medicament from the transfer
device after the medicament is transferred to the medicament pack;
and then scanning the cleaned transfer device to confirm that the
transfer device has been cleaned.
34. The method of claim 31, further comprising: selecting the
transfer device to have a chamber pattern corresponding to a cavity
pattern of the medicament pack to be filled; and then attaching the
selected transfer device to a conveyor belt that moves and guides
the transfer device between multiple process steps.
35. A method of producing a medicament pack defining a plurality of
cavities at an outer surface of the pack, the method comprising:
depositing a portion of powdered medicament on a top surface of a
transfer device defining a plurality of chambers; filling the
chambers by dragging the deposited portion of powdered medicament
across the top surface of the transfer device; disposing of the
excess powder on the surface of the transfer device; positioning
the medicament pack upside down on the transfer device such that
the outer surface of the medicament pack is adjacent the top
surface of the transfer device and each cavity is aligned with a
respective chamber; flipping the transfer device together with the
medicament pack to place the medicament pack under the transfer
device, whereby the powdered medicament in the chambers is emptied
into the respective cavities; and then sealing the cavities with a
sealing sheet.
36. The method of claim 35, further comprising: holding the
medicament pack against the transfer device prior to flipping the
transfer device; and then removing the medicament pack from the
transfer device after the medicament is transferred to the
medicament pack.
37. The method of claim 35, further comprising: confirming that the
chambers of the transfer device are filled prior to positioning the
medicament pack upside down on the transfer device; cleaning, the
residual medicament from the transfer device after the medicament
is transferred to the medicament pack; and then confirming that the
transfer device has been cleaned.
38. The method of claim 35, further comprising: selecting the
transfer device to have a chamber pattern corresponding to a cavity
pattern of the medicament pack to be filled; and then attaching the
transfer device to a conveyor belt that moves and guides the
transfer device between multiple process steps.
39. An apparatus for producing a medicament pack that contains
multiple discrete doses of medicament and defines a plurality of
medicament cavities, each cavity defining an opening at an outer
surface of the pack, the apparatus comprising: a transfer device
with an upper surface defining a plurality of chambers each having
an opening at the upper surface; a dosing device operable to
deposit a portion of powdered medicament on the upper surface of
the transfer device; a scraping element that scrapes the deposited
portion of powdered medicament across the upper surface of the
transfer device and into the plurality of chambers to fill each
chamber with a respective dose of the deposited portion of powdered
medicament; and means for disposing of any excess powdered
medicament remaining on the upper surface of the transfer device;
wherein the apparatus is operable to place the medicament pack over
the transfer device with the cavities of the medicament pack
aligned with the chambers of the transfer device and the outer
surface of the medicament pack against the upper surface of the
transfer device and to, while the transfer device and medicament
pack are held together, flip the medicament pack and transfer
device over to position the transfer device over the medicament
pack, such that the dose of powdered medicament in each of the
chambers of the transfer device is transferred to a respective one
of the cavities in the medicament pack.
40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein each chamber of the transfer
device is of a smaller volume than a respective cavity of the
medicament pack.
41. The apparatus of claim 39, further comprising a conveyor belt
to which the transfer device is attached and that moves and guides
the transfer device between multiple process steps and that flips
the transfer device.
42. The apparatus of claim 39 further comprising an additional
transfer device of a different chamber pattern, the transfer
devices being selectable for use with correspondingly differing
medicament pack cavity patterns.
43. The apparatus of claim 39, further comprising a holding device
connected to the transfer device for holding the medicament pack
against the transfer device prior to and after flipping the
transfer device.
44. The apparatus of claim 43, further comprising: a first monitor
that scans the transfer device to confirm filling prior to flipping
of the transfer device; a cleaner that cleans residual medicament
from the transfer device after the medicament is transferred to the
medicament pack; and a second monitor that scans the cleaned
transfer device and confirms that the transfer device has been
cleaned.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a method and a device for
filling a cavity with a quantity of particulate material,
comprising the step of filling a chamber with its open side facing
at least partially upwards with the quantity of particulate
material. The method and device disclosed may be suitable for
filling packs containing doses of powdered medicament, the doses
being housed in cavities of the packs, which packs can be used in
inhalation devices.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Today supply and distribution of medicament is accomplished
in many different ways. Within health care more and more is focused
on the possibility to dose and distribute medicaments in the form
of powder directly to the lungs of a user by means of a dispensing
device, for example an inhalation device, to obtain an efficient
and user friendly administration of the specific medicament. In
most cases, some form of dosing process is used for preparing the
dose to be inhaled. Usually, the doses of medicament are provided
in packs having several cavities for housing a dose of medicament.
The cavities filled with a dose is subsequently sealed by a sealing
sheet, for example a foil of aluminium. These packs are loaded into
a dispensing device, in which the toil above the cavity is
penetrated and the dose of medicament is released for inhalation by
the user. By this sealing, the medicament is well protected before
inhalation. There are also other cases where it is suitable to
provide doses of medicament in packs having cavities for housing a
dose of medicament, which cavities are sealed by a foil. The packs
containing the doses of medicament can be in the form of blister
packs or injection moulded discs provided with blisters and
cavities, respectively, for housing the powdered medicament, the
packs can have various shapes, and the cavities can be distributed
in various patterns. The method for filling said cavities must
provide an accurate and changeable dosing into the cavities, to
provide packs containing accurate doses of medicament of different
sizes.
[0003] EP 1 354 795 A2 discloses a method and apparatus for the
metered transport of fine powders into receptacles. The apparatus
is provided with a hopper having an opening. The hopper is adapted
to receive fine powder. Further, the apparatus comprises a
vibrating element vibrating within the powder, and a rotatable
member provided with a plurality of chambers aligned about its
periphery. The rotatable member may be rotated to align the
chambers with said opening to allow powder to be transferred from
the hopper and into the chambers. The rotatable member is rotated
180.degree. to a dispensing position where the chambers are aligned
with said receptacles, and the receptacles are filled with the
powder.
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 5,187,921 A describes a method and apparatus
for filling a blind cavity with a quantity of powder, which
comprises urging the cavity, with its open side facing a least
partially downwards, into a reservoir of powder, withdrawing from
the cavity having the quantity of powder therein while the open
side continues to face at least partially downwards, and
subsequently applying a lid to cover the cavity having the powder
therein.
[0005] WO 03/066437 A1 discloses a method and apparatus for
introducing powder into a pocket having an open side, including
orientating the pocket with the open side facing at least partially
upward, providing the pocket with a volume of powder greater than
that of the pocket, compressing the volume of the powder to a
predetermined bulk density, and removing excess powder so as to
leave the pocket full of powder with the predetermined bulk
density.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 6,035,905 A describes a method for introducing
each of a plurality of doses of particulate material into a
respective compartment of a container, the method comprising the
steps of inserting a respective protuberance, preferably a conduit
through which said particle material is introduced into said
compartment, into each compartment so as to reduce the capacity
thereof, and filling each compartment with said particulate
material, with the respective protuberance inserted in said
compartment, and removing said protuberance, wherein the volume of
each dose of material is less than that of its respective
compartment.
[0007] However, above-mentioned solutions have several drawbacks.
Some of above-mentioned methods and apparatuses cannot distribute a
specified dose of powder having a smaller volume than the volume of
the cavity housing the dose, or cannot do this accurate enough. The
methods and apparatus which are adapted to distribute a dose of
powder having a smaller volume than that of the cavity are
complicated in construction and can only be used to fill cavities
in linear patterns or patterns consisting of several linear
patterns, e.g. a matrix pattern, and cannot fill cavities arranged
in various kinds of patterns of cavities, for example arbitrary and
non-linear patterns. None of the above mentioned methods or
apparatuses are able to simultaneously fill all cavities or
blisters in a disc or pack, but require several repetitive filling
operations.
SUMMARY
[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a method
and device for filling at least one cavity with a quantity of
particulate material, which can fill cavities or blisters arranged
in any kind of pattern in a pack or disc, for example arbitrary and
non-linear patterns, are uncomplicated and manage to fill cavities
with particulate material to a low cost, can distribute an accurate
dose of powder having a smaller volume than that of the cavity
housing the dose, are flexible and easy to adapt to new patterns of
cavities, and can simultaneously fill all cavities or blisters in a
disc or pack, thereby providing a high production capacity.
[0009] This may be achieved by positioning the opening of the
cavity opposite the opening of the filled chamber, and thereafter
rotating the chamber together with the cavity so that the cavity is
positioned with its open side facing at least partially upwards and
the chamber is positioned with its open side facing at least
partially downwards, whereby the quantity of particulate material
is emptied into the cavity, and by providing a device with
operating means for positioning the opening of the cavity opposite
the opening of the chamber, and guiding means for rotating the
chamber together with the cavity so that the cavity is positioned
with its open side facing at least partially upwards and the
chamber is positioned with its open side facing at least partially
downwards, whereby the quantity of particulate material is emptied
into the cavity.
[0010] This method and device may be used to fill cavities or
blisters arranged in any kind of pattern in a pack or disc, for
example arbitrary and non-linear patterns. The cavities can be
filled with an accurate dose of powder having a smaller volume than
that of the cavity housing the dose. All cavities or blisters in a
disc or pack can be tilled simultaneously thereby providing a high
production capacity. Some embodiments may result in substantially
no loss of excess formulation, and may provide a high operative
safety and a small physical size of the device. Some embodiments
may provide an uncomplicated filling and may manage to fill
cavities with particulate material to a low cost. Advantageously,
the chamber may be exchangeable to adapt to the size of the dose to
be dosed in said cavity.
[0011] The quantity of particulate material is emptied into the
cavity by the force of gravity, but the release of material from
the chamber can be enhanced by knocking or vibrating the chamber
when emptying the quantity of particulate material into the cavity,
or by subjecting the particulate material to additional forces in
the form of pressurized gas or vibrations, for example by way of
ultra-sonic waves. Correspondingly, the device can be equipped with
vibration means for vibrating the chamber when emptying the
quantity of particulate material into the cavity, or other
additional means for subjecting the particulate material to
additional forces in the form of pressurized gas or vibrations, for
example caused by ultra-sonic waves.
[0012] Some embodiments may be suitable for fill quantities above
one mg. The filling accuracy increases with the flow ability and
the weight of the particulate material. Further, some embodiments
may be suitable for free flowing or moderately free flowing
particulate material, e.g. carrier-based formulations. In one
embodiment, the filling method has been tested in a bench-top
set-up, where 8 mg of a carrier-based formulation was manually
scrape filled into 100 chambers. The filling accuracy was
established to 2.4% RSD.
[0013] Advantageously, the size and shape of the opening of the
chamber may be equal to the opening of the cavity, or the opening
of the chamber may be smaller than the opening of the cavity and
enclosed by the boundary of the opening of the cavity, when the
openings of the chamber and cavity are facing each other.
[0014] According to an advantageous embodiment, the cavity may be
detachably locked to the chamber before said rotation, and then
detached from said chamber when the cavity is filled.
[0015] According to a further advantageous embodiment the chamber
may be filled by way of scrape filling, achieved by at least one
rotating scraper.
[0016] According to another advantageous embodiment, the chamber
may be filled with a quantity of particulate material forming a
volume which is smaller than the volume of the cavity.
Advantageously, some embodiments may be used for particulate
material comprising powdered medicament.
[0017] According to an advantageous embodiment, the device may
include locking means for detachably locking the cavity to the
chamber before said rotation, and may include detaching means for
detaching the cavity from the chamber when the cavity is
filled.
[0018] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the filling
means includes scraper means for scrape filling the chamber, and
the scraper means may include at least one rotating scraper.
[0019] According to another advantageous embodiment, the volume of
the chamber may be smaller than the volume of the cavity. By this
embodiment, the cavity can be accurately and easily filled with a
quantity of particulate material having a volume smaller than the
volume of the cavity.
[0020] According to yet another advantageous embodiment, the device
may include at least one filling element provided with each
chamber, and the device may be adapted for at least one cavity
provided in a disc. Advantageously, the element may be
interchangeable with other elements having chambers of others sizes
and distributed in other patterns, to adapt to the other sizes of
doses and to other patterns of the cavities.
[0021] According to an advantageous embodiment, the filling element
may include several chambers, the amount of which is the same as
the amount of cavities, and the positions of the chambers
corresponding to the positions of the cavities in the disc, whereby
the opening of each chamber is facing an opening of a cavity when
the filling element is locked to a disc. Advantageously, the device
may include several filling elements.
[0022] According to another advantageous embodiment, the guiding
means may include a conveyor belt to which the element is attached.
Advantageously, the device may be adapted for a particulate
material comprising powdered medicament.
[0023] Further, some embodiments may provide a method for producing
packs containing doses of medicament.
[0024] Some embodiments also provide an apparatus for producing
packs containing doses of medicament.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0025] The invention will now be described, for exemplary purposes,
in more detail by way of embodiments and with reference to the
enclosed drawings.
[0026] FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of a circular drug disc
provided with cavities in a circular pattern.
[0027] FIG. 2 is a schematic top view of an embodiment of the
filling element, and an embodiment of the scraper means, which
filling element corresponds to the drug disc of FIG. 1.
[0028] FIG. 3a-3h are schematic partial side views of a filling
element applied to a disc having cavities, illustrating an
embodiment of the method.
[0029] FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of an embodiment of the
device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0030] FIG. 1 shows a top view of a circular drug disc 1 provided
with several cavities 2 for housing powdered medicament. The
cavities 2 are distributed in a circular pattern. This kind of disc
1 can for example be loaded into an inhalation device.
[0031] FIG. 2 shows a top view of an embodiment of the filling
element 3, adapted to the disc of FIG. 1. The filling element 3 is
provided with several chambers 4, the amount of which is the same
as the amount of cavities in said disc. The positions of the
chambers 4 correspond to the positions of the cavities in the disc,
whereby the opening of each chamber 4 is facing an opening of a
cavity when the filling element 3 is locked to the disc. Further.
FIG. 2 shows scraper means 5 for scrape filling the chambers 4, the
scraper means 5 comprising four rotating scrapers 6. A dosing
device (not shown) is arranged to dispense the powdered medicament
on the surface of the filling element 3. In FIG. 2 four portions 7
of powdered medicament have been dispensed onto the surface of the
filling element 3. In order to scrape fill all the chambers 4,
advantageously an amount of powder equalling at least two times the
total volume of all chambers 4 is used. The filling element 3 is
provided with a radial emptying slit 8 in which excess powder not
filled into the chambers 4 is collected during the rotation of the
rotating scrapers 6, and can be reused in the subsequent filling of
chambers. Means for disposal of excess powder may be through a slit
or opening in proximity of the chambers. In the case of circularly
arranged chambers, the slit may be radial, as shown in the figure,
or coaxial inside of the chambers or coaxial outside of the
chambers. Excess powder can also be disposed using suction,
brushing or adhesive surfaces.
[0032] FIGS. 3a to 3h show a disc having cavities and a filling
element adapted to said disc, illustrating an embodiment of the
method. Only two cavities and two chambers are shown in the
Figures. FIG. 3a shows two chambers 10.1, 10.2 provided in a
filling element 11, the open side of each chamber 10.1, 10.2 facing
substantially upwards. In this case, the volume of each chamber is
about 75-100% of the volume of the cavity to be filled, but the
filling element 11 can be interchanged by a filling element with
chambers having a different volume in order to adapt to the size of
the dose wanted in the cavities. In FIG. 3b the whole volume of
each chamber 10.1, 10.2 is scrape filled with a quantity 12.1, 12.2
of powdered medicament by means of rotating scrapers 13. In FIG.
3c, all chambers 10.1, 10.2 are filled with a quantity 12.1, 12.2
of powdered medicament and all excess powder has been removed. In
FIG. 3d, a disc 14 having several cavities 15.1, 15.2, the amount
of which being the same as the amount of chambers 10.1, 10.2 in
said filling element 11, and the positions of which corresponding
to the positions of the chambers 10.1, 10.2 in the filling element
11, is positioned on top of the filling element 11, so that the
opening of each cavity 15.1, 15.2 is positioned opposite and in
close proximity to the opening of a corresponding chamber 10.1,
10.2. The disc 14 is detachably locked to the filling element 11.
In FIG. 3e, the interlocked filling element 11 and disc 14 have
been rotated about 180.degree., whereby each chamber 10.1, 10.2 has
been rotated together with a corresponding cavity 15.1, 15.2, so
that each cavity 15.1, 15.2 is positioned with its open side facing
substantially upwards and each chamber 10.1, 10.2 is positioned
with its open side facing substantially downwards. In FIG. 3f, the
quantities 12.1, 12.2 of powdered medicament have and been emptied
into each cavity 15.1, 15.2, whereby each chamber 10.1, 10.2 is
cleared from powder. In FIG. 3g, the filling element 11 has been
detached from the disc 14, and the volume of each cavity 15.1, 15.2
is filled to 75-100% by powdered medicament. In FIG. 3h, the
cavities 15.1, 15.2, each filled with the quantity 12.1, 12.2 of
powdered medicament, are sealed by a sealing sheet 16 of
aluminium.
[0033] FIG. 4 shows a schematic side view of an embodiment of the
device for filling cavities with a quantity of particulate
material. The device comprises a conveyor belt 20 to which several
filling elements 21 are attached. The filling elements 21 can have
the same design as the filling element of FIG. 2, and be adapted to
fill cavities provided in discs having the same design as the disc
of FIG. 1. The device comprises filling means comprising a dosing
device 22, a first scraper means 23, and a second scraper means 24,
each scraper means 23, 24 comprising a plurality of scrapers 25, 26
rotating around an axis 27, 28. The dosing device 22 is arranged to
dispense a plurality of portions of powdered medicament onto the
surface of the filling element 21. The first scraper means 23 is
arranged to provide a first scrape filling of all chambers, when
each chamber has its open side facing substantially upwards,
through rotation of its scrapers 25, and the second scraper means
24 is arranged to provide a second scrape filling of the chambers
and also to remove excess powder into the emptying slit of the
filling element 21 (see FIG. 2). The emptying slit is closed during
the filling of the chambers and is only open during the action of
the second scraper means 24 when excess powder is to be removed.
The device comprises operating means 29 for positioning a disc 30
on top of the filling element 21 so that the opening of each cavity
is positioned opposite and in close proximity to a corresponding
opening of a chamber. Each filling element 21 is provided with
locking means 37 for detachably locking the disc 30 to the filling
element 21, whereby the opening of each chamber is locked in
position facing an opening of a cavity. The conveyor belt 20 to
which each filling element 21 is attached is arranged to guide each
filling element 21 between the different process steps and to
rotate the interlocked filling element 21 and disc 30 approximately
180.degree., whereby the filled chamber is rotated together with
the corresponding cavity, so that the cavity is positioned with its
open side facing substantially upwards and the chamber is
positioned with its open side facing substantially downwards,
whereby the quantity of particulate material is emptied from the
chambers of the filling element 21 into the corresponding cavities
of the disc 30. Further, the device comprises detaching means 31
for detaching the disc from the filling element 21 when each cavity
is filled. The device also comprises a first and second cleaning
unit 32, 33 arranged to clean the filling elements 21 after their
chambers have been cleared from the powdered medicament, by means
of pressurized air and suction. Further, the device is provided
with a first and a second monitoring unit 34, 35. The first
monitoring unit 34 is arranged to scan the chambers subsequent to
the filling means 22, 23, 24, to confirm complete filling, and the
second monitoring unit 35 is arranged to scan the filling element
21 subsequent to the first and second cleaning unit 32, 33, to
confirm complete cleaning of the filling element 21. The device can
optionally be provided with a third monitoring unit 36 arranged to
confirm complete filling of the disc 30.
* * * * *