RECEPTACLE FOR FLEXIBLE BULK-MATERIAL PACKING DRUMS AS WELL AS FILLING MODULE FOR BULK MATERIAL CONTAINING THE RECEPTACLE

Abstract

A dimensionally stable receptacle for accommodating at least one flexible packing drum in an interior space of the receptacle comprises a bottom, a side wall at least one suction line leading into the interior space, at least one passage device, and at least one feed opening. At least one first docking coupling is located in or adjacent to the feed opening and/or forming the feed opening, for docking a first feeding conduit for bulk material such that, when a flexible packing drums located in the receptacle is coupled to the first docking coupling of the feed opening, the interior space may be sealed, in which a state of vacuum is obtainable through suction in the suction line. The invention further relates to a filling module and method for filling a flexible packing drum with bulk material.

Description

The present invention relates to a receptacle for flexible bulk-material packing drums as well as to a filling module for bulk material comprising this receptacle. The invention further relates to a method for filling flexible packing drums with bulk material as well as to the use of the inventive receptacle and of the filling module for filling flexible packing drums with bulk material.

Flexible packing drums, for example sacks or bags, have always been used for transporting various kinds of bulk material. Flexible packing drums are increasingly being used also for such bulk materials which preferably are to be transported or stored in an environmentally sealed manner, e.g. because these bulk materials must not be contaminated with substances from the environment or because the bulk materials could be harmful to the environment. This trend is not least to be attributed to the fact that coupling closure systems and docking devices are now available by means of which such flexible packing drums can be easily and reliably filled and emptied in an environmentally sealed manner for the first time. By way of example, we refer to coupling closures described in the following documents: WO 03/03 7717 A1, WO 2004/103816 A1, WO 2005/070776 A1, and WO 2006/053545 A1. It also can be inferred from the aforementioned documents that environmentally sealed docking devices can be obtained when using two coupling closures that correspond to each other. The advantage of such coupling closures and docking devices consists in the fact that neither during the coupling process (when a docking device is formed) nor during the decoupling process there is any contact between the environment and bulk material that is being transferred or, respectively, is to be transferred. Another advantage consists in the fact that it is easy to tightly connect the mentioned coupling closures to the material of the flexible packing drums.

In particular, the ability to ensure an environmentally sealed filling process is of priority importance also in the pharmaceutical sector. This does not only apply to the handling of basic materials and intermediate products, but also to end products that exist in the form of tablets, for example. Regularly, large numbers of finished tablets are supplied to corresponding transport packing drums via chutes or, respectively, pipelines at a speed that is not low. The abrasion inevitably occurring here results in the formation of dust and could strongly contaminate the environment if there were no appropriate precautions. One of these measures consists in sucking away the air above the transported tablets.

In the filling systems for bulk material (e.g. tablets) used up to now, complications during the process of filling material into another container or, respectively, during the filling process can never be precluded with sufficient reliability. Such complications regularly require interruptions of the filling process in order to be able to solve the occurred problem manually. These interruptions strongly disturb a process that is otherwise an essentially fully automated process. In order to be able to avoid complications in a sufficiently reliable manner and in order to be able to ensure the lowest possible level of contamination at the same time, preference is always given (in particular in the pharmaceutical sector, but also in the food sector) to constructions that require a lot of equipment and are therefore expensive.

Therefore, the object of the present invention was to provide an apparatus by means of which also flexible packing drums can be filled reliably, essentially without any complications and safely, and without an increased risk of contamination. In particular, the object of the present invention was to provide such apparatuses by means of which flexible packing drums can be filled with bulk material without any contamination and without any complications in an essentially automatic process.

According to one aspect, the object of the invention is achieved by a dimensionally stable receptacle for accommodating at least one flexible packing drum in an interior space with a receptacle bottom, a side wall, an upper part and at least one feed opening, said feed opening being particularly located in the upper part, comprising at least one passage device for inserting at least one flexible packing drum into the interior space of the receptacle and for removing said packing drum from the interior space of the receptacle, said passage device being capable of being reversibly opened and closed, at least one suction line leading into the interior space, at least one first docking coupling, being located in the and/or in the region of the feed opening and/or forming the feed opening, for docking a first feeding conduct for bulk material, in particular in an environmentally sealed manner, so that, when a flexible packing drum located in the receptacle is directly or indirectly coupled to the first docking coupling and/or the feed opening, an interior space results in which a vacuum (first vacuum) can be created via the suction line.

One embodiment may provide a receptacle, further comprising at least one second feeding conduct located in the interior space of the receptacle, with a first opening end and a second, in particular opposite, opening end, wherein the first opening end is connected to or can be connected to the feed opening and/or the first docking coupling in an environmentally sealed manner, and wherein a first coupling closure is located at the second opening end, said first coupling closure being suitable for coupling to a corresponding second coupling closure of a flexible packing drum in an environmentally sealed manner, wherein an environmentally sealed first docking device is formed, said flexible packing drum being located in the receptacle.

For example, the first feeding conduct may be directly connected to a tablet press and be designed as a chute for the tablets that are to be filled into a flexible packing drum. The dust developing during transport or during the production of the tablets may be removed via a suction line that is connected to the first and/or second feeding conduct.

According to a further aspect, the object of the invention is achieved by a dimensionally stable receptacle for accommodating at least one flexible packing drum in an interior space (in particular a receptacle as described above) with a receptacle bottom, a side wall, an upper part and at least one feed opening, said feed opening being particularly located in the upper part, comprising at least one passage device, in particular a passage closure, for inserting at least one flexible packing drum into the interior space of the receptacle and for removing said packing drum from the interior space of the receptacle, said passage device being capable of being reversibly opened and closed, at least one suction line leading into the interior space, at least one first docking coupling, being located in the and/or in the region of the feed opening and/or forming the feed opening, for docking a first feeding conduct for bulk material, in particular in an environmentally sealed manner, a second feeding conduct located at least in sections in the interior space of the receptacle, with a first opening end and a second, opposite opening end, wherein the first opening end is connected to or can be connected to the feed opening and/or the first docking coupling in an environmentally sealed manner, and wherein, in particular, a first coupling closure is located at the second opening end, said first coupling closure being suitable for coupling to a corresponding second coupling closure of a flexible packing drum in an environmentally sealed manner, wherein an environmentally sealed first docking device is formed, said flexible packing drum being insertable into or located in the receptacle, so that, when the second coupling closure of the flexible packing drum is coupled to the first coupling closure, an interior space results in which a vacuum (first vacuum) can be created via the suction line, further comprising at least one operating device for closing (closing mode) and opening (loading mode) the first and/or second coupling closure and/or the first docking device, which operating device is located at least in sections in the interior space and can be operated in particular outside the interior space.

The operating device is preferably designed in such a manner that the inlet of a flexible packing drum can be held as well as opened and closed in the region of the feed opening of the flexible packing drum or in the region of the second opening of the second feeding conduct. In a suitable realisation, these operating devices can be operated from outside, so that the inlet of the flexible packing drum can be opened and closed from outside, wherein the receptacle is otherwise closed. The operating device is preferably provided in the or adjacent to the feed opening.

For creating a sufficient vacuum in the interior space of the receptacle, a pump may be connected or connectable to the suction line. It is further possible to install a valve in the suction line or, respectively, in connection with the suction line, for example for improving the control of the vacuum to be set. Alternatively, the vacuum via the suction line can be created in that the suction line is connected or, respectively, may be connected, for example via a bypass connection, to a dedusting suction line or, respectively, to the pump used therefor. Also such a line may be equipped with a valve for the fine adjustment of the vacuum that is desired in the interior space.

For using the inventive receptacles, it is regularly sufficient to be able to set a vacuum in the interior space and to be able to maintain said vacuum at least for a certain period of time. In one version, for example, the interior space may be sealed in such a manner that the suction line is closed after creating a vacuum and the pump does not have to be used any longer. In a further embodiment, a vacuum in the interior space can be obtained during the process of filling the flexible packing drum located in the interior space by evacuating the interior space via the suction line by means of a pump, wherein air is continually sucked into the interior space via an aeration valve. It is also possible to set and to maintain a defined vacuum in the interior space by adjusting the suction power of the pump (finely adjusted by means of a valve, if necessary) to the intake capacity of the aeration valve. Suitably, the pressure in the interior space during the filling process is, at least temporarily, in a range of up to 100 mbar, preferably of up to 50 mbar, particularly preferably in a range from 5 to 50 mbar, in particular in a range from 5 to 30 mbar, for example in a range from 10 to 20 mbar.

Suitable receptacles are characterized in that the passage device or, respectively, the passage closure (regularly a door or flap) is located in the side wall and/or in the receptacle bottom, preferably in the side wall. In order to be able to maintain a vacuum in the interior space as easily as possible for a prolonged period of time, seals may be provided, for example in the passage closure.

In the inventive dimensionally stable receptacle, the interior space that is to be evacuated or, respectively, in which a vacuum is to be created is usually formed by that volume which is not filled by the flexible packing drum that is located in the receptacle and is or can be tightly connected to the feed opening.

A wide variety of materials may be used for the dimensionally stable receptacle, as long as it is ensured that the vacuum created in the interior space does not result in damages thereto or a substantial or irreversible deformation thereof. The receptacle may be made of metal parts and/or plastic parts, for example. Accordingly, a wide variety of materials may be used for the receptacle bottom, the side wall and the upper part of a receptacle. In a preferred embodiment, it is provided that the receptacle bottom and/or at least one side wall and/or the upper part is/are at least partially transparent or translucent. Since at least some elements of the receptacle are transparent or translucent, the filling process can be easily observed, so that not only the filling state, but also possible complications can always be recognized immediately.

Particularly preferred receptacles are also such receptacles in which the operating device interacts with the passage closure in such a way that the latter can only be opened when the operating device is in its closing mode. In this way it is ensured that bulk material to be transported is at no time, neither during the filling process nor thereafter, contaminated with substances from the environment. In this way, the inventive receptacle automatically ensures a very high degree of operating safety.

In a suitable embodiment, a first docking coupling is provided in the or, respectively, in the region of the feed opening, said first docking coupling (for example a tri-clamp connection) serving as a joining element for coupling, in particular in an environmentally sealed manner, to the first feeding conduct and/or for coupling to the second feeding conduct. Alternatively, coupling closures (also called third coupling closures), as described in WO 03/03 7717 A1, WO 2004/103816 A1, WO 2005/070776 A1 and WO 2006/053545 A1, may be used. Accordingly, in one embodiment, the first docking coupling may be designed in such a manner that both an environmentally sealed connection to the first feeding conduct located outside the receptacle and an environmentally sealed connection to the second feeding conduct located within the receptacle are obtained. Naturally, it is also possible to form the first docking coupling from combined joining elements, for example from two directly or indirectly adjacent tri-clamp connections. Therefore, two of such joining elements may be provided directly adjacent to each other in a preferred realisation, wherein the first joining element is provided for the connection, in particular in an environmentally sealed manner, to the first feeding conduct, whereas the second joining element is provided for the direct or indirect connection to the inlet of the flexible packing drum.

Here it may also be provided that the second feeding conduct extends as an essentially hose-shaped structure from the feed opening or the first docking coupling into the interior space, with a first end in the region of the feed opening and with an opposite second end, wherein a further, third joining element may be located at the second end, in particular an at least partially flexible coupling closure as a first coupling closure, said joining element or, respectively, coupling closure being suitable for forming and adapted to form an essentially environmentally sealed connection with a flexible packing drum.

An at least partially flexible coupling closure, called first coupling closure, is preferably used as a third joining element, said first coupling closure being suitable for forming and adapted to form an essentially environmentally sealed docking device (in the present case also called first docking device) with a corresponding coupling closure in the region of the inlet of the flexible packing drum, as described, for example, in WO 03/03 7717 A1, WO 2004/103816 A1, WO 2005/070776 A1 and WO 2006/053545 A1.

Accordingly, in one embodiment, suitable coupling closures are characterized in that they are elastically deformable at least in sections and have a top side that can be essentially tightly and, in particular, reversibly docked to a top side of a second coupling closure, wherein said coupling closure is closed in its normal state and can be reversibly opened by elastic deformation, in particular via at least one slit, so that a passage from the first to the second side of the coupling element exists. By using two of such corresponding coupling closures, a sealed docking device is obtained in which, for opening and closing, each coupling closure can be elastically deformed forming at least a partially overlapping passage gap or slit.

Particularly suitable coupling closures comprise at least one first closure band containing at least one cheek body with an inner side, with an outer side, with a top side and/or with a top edge and/or with a lower side and/or with a lower edge, said cheek body being elastic at least in sections, at least one first bearing element at the first end of the cheek body, in particular with a rounded, in particular radial, periphery or periphery section and/or with at least one first space for accommodating an articulated axle and/or in the form of a first hinge element, and at least one second bearing element at the second end of the cheek body, in particular with a rounded, in particular radial, periphery or periphery section and/or with at least one second space for accommodating an articulated axle and/or in the form of a second hinge element, said second end of the cheek body being located opposite the first end thereof, at least one second closure band containing at least one cheek body with an inner side, with an outer side, with a top side and/or with a top edge and/or with a lower side and/or with a lower edge, said cheek body being elastic at least in sections, at least one first bearing element at the first end of the cheek body, in particular with a rounded, in particular radial, periphery or periphery section and/or with at least one space for accommodating an articulated axle and/or in the form of a first hinge element, and with at least one second bearing element at the second end of the cheek body, in particular with a rounded, in particular radial, periphery or periphery section and/or with at least one space for accommodating an articulated axle and/or in the form of a first hinge element, said second end of the cheek body being located opposite the first end thereof;

wherein the inner sides of the cheek bodies of the first closure band and of the second closure band can be made to fit tightly to each other in a sealing manner at least in sections, wherein, on the one hand, the first bearing element of the first closure band and the second bearing element of the second closure band can be arranged adjacent to each other by making, at least in sections, the inner sides of the cheek bodies of the first closure band and of the second closure band fit tightly to each other and, on the other hand, the second bearing element of the first closure band and the first bearing element of the second closure band can be arranged adjacent to each other by making, at least in sections, the inner sides of the cheek bodies of the first closure band and of the second closure band fit tightly to each other, wherein a first and a second articulated body are formed, in particular comprising common outer surface portions, in particular cylinder surface portions. Particularly preferably, these coupling closures are further provided with at least one first flectionally elastic and/or extension-elastic element with opposing first and second ends, said element extending within these first and second ends at least between a first mounting, in particular at the or adjacent to the first end of the cheek body of the first closure band, and a second mounting, in particular at the or adjacent to the second end of the cheek body of the first closure band, and/or with at least one second flectionally elastic and/or extension-elastic element with opposing first and second ends, said element extending within these first and second ends at least between a first mounting, in particular at the or adjacent to the first end of the cheek body of the second closure band, and a second mounting, in particular at the or adjacent to the second end of the cheek body of the second closure band.

The coupling closures and docking devices specified above are, for example, disclosed in detail in WO 03/03 7717 A1, WO 2004/103816 A1 and WO 2006/053545 A1, which are referred to hereby.

Regularly, suitable inventive receptacles are also equipped with at least one aeration or, respectively, ventilating device for the interior space, for example in the form of a flap, which aeration or, respectively, ventilating device can be reversibly closed. For example, such a device enables the passage device or, respectively, the passage closure to be opened particularly quickly in order to be able to remove a filled packing drum. Furthermore it is possible to intervene particularly quickly in the event of a complication. In one version, the aeration or, respectively, ventilating device may be designed as an aeration or, respectively, ventilating valve. Naturally, such an aeration or, respectively, ventilating device may also be used for setting the most favourable vacuum in the interior space of the receptacle in each case. For example, this aeration or, respectively, ventilating device is also particularly suitable for setting a suitable vacuum in the interior space when the suction line is connected, via a bypass connection, to the suction pump of a dedusting chamber or a tablet press.

Preferably, suitable receptacles are provided with interior spaces whose dimensions essentially correspond to the dimensions of a flexible packing drum to be filled in the receptacle.

A particularly suitable embodiment of an inventive receptacle is further provided with at least one first detector that is suitable for determining and arranged to determine the filling level of a flexible packing drum in the interior space. Alternatively or additionally, at least one second detector may further be provided, said second detector being suitable for determining and arranged to determine whether bulk material is accumulating in the first and/or the second feeding conduct during a process of filling a flexible packing drum located in the receptacle. While the first detector may be particularly provided for continuously observing the bulk-material filling level of the flexible packing drum, it is regularly sufficient to be able to use the second detector for detecting bulk material as soon as the latter is accumulating in the first and/or the second feeding conduct. If the second detector is to serve to determine whether bulk material is accumulating in the second feeding conduct, it has turned out to be advantageous to position this second detector in the interior space of the receptacle, preferably adjacent to the second feeding conduct, in particular installed between the first and the second end of the second feeding conduct. If the second feeding conduct is located above the inlet of the flexible packing drum, it is at first regularly determined by means of the second detector that the intake capacity of the flexible packing drum has been exceeded under the given filling circumstances. If it is determined by means of the second detector that the second feeding conduct is filled, the filling process may be manually stopped by means of an interaction with a signal transmitter, for example. Alternatively, it is possible to stop the filling process automatically by connecting the first or the second detector to a control and/or adjustment unit, since only about 90 to 95% of the maximum intake capacity of the packing drum are regularly reached due to the fact that the flexible packing drum in the interior space is exposed to a vacuum during the filling process. Then it is regularly sufficient to reduce, after stopping the filling process, the vacuum in the interior space for a short period of time (for example a few seconds, for example 5 to 10 seconds) in order to enable the bulk material accumulated in the first and/or the second feeding conduct to sink into the flexible packing drum. In this way, the inlet of the packing drum is generally opened again in order to enable it to be closed afterwards. Moreover, this procedure enables the flexible packing drums to be filled up to the maximum level.

For example, suitable first and second detectors also represent optical sensors. Such detectors are unknown to a person having the ordinary skill in the art.

According to a further aspect, the object of the invention is achieved by a filling module for bulk material, comprising at least one inventive, dimensionally stable receptacle for flexible packing drums and at least one flexible packing drum containing at least one inlet that is or can be connected to the docking coupling, the feed opening and/or the second feeding conduct. In one embodiment, such a filling module comprises a dimensionally stable receptacle for flexible packing drums with a receptacle bottom, a side wall and an upper part, said receptacle enclosing an interior space in which a vacuum can be created, comprising a passage device, for example a passage closure, for inserting a flexible packing drum into the interior space of the receptacle and for removing said packing drum from the interior space of the receptacle, said passage device being capable of being reversibly opened and closed, at least one feed opening and at least one suction line leading into the interior space as well as at least one flexible packing drum containing at least one inlet.

The object of the invention is also achieved by such filling modules comprising the embodiments of inventive receptacles described in detail above as well as at least one flexible packing drum, in particular bulk-material packing drum, containing at least one inlet.

Thus it may be provided according to a preferred embodiment that the inlet of the flexible packing drum is equipped with a second coupling closure and that the second end of the second feeding conduct is equipped with a first coupling closure, wherein the first and the second coupling closure are or can be connected to each other in an environmentally sealed manner forming a first docking device.

The flexible packing drums are preferably based on gastight or, respectively, airtight materials and may be made, for example, of synthetic materials, such as polyethylene, polypropylene or polyvinyl chloride.

Flexible packing drums that are provided with at least one carrying or holding device (for example in the form of a hole or, respectively, aperture, for example in an edge of the flexible packing drum) are preferably used for the inventive filling modules, said carrying or holding device being located opposite the inlet. Since the flexible packing drums can, for example, be tightly closed by means of the used coupling closures after the filling process and, if necessary, be locked (for example by means of a separate locking unit or a locking unit located at the coupling closure), the filled packing drums may, for further filling processes, be hung on this carrying device or, respectively, transported as practicably as possible.

The inventive receptacles and filling modules are preferably designed and arranged in such a manner that, when a flexible packing drum located in the interior space is connected to the feed opening and/or the first docking coupling, an evacuatable interior space remains or, respectively, results, so that a vacuum can be created or, respectively, maintained via the suction line. Accordingly, the inventive receptacles do not necessarily have to be evacuatable before a flexible packing drum is inserted into the interior space thereof and connected to the feed opening.

In a further development of the inventive filling modules, said filling modules are further provided with at least one tablet press that, in particular, comprises a suction pump, wherein the outlet of the tablet press is connected to or can be connected to the feed opening via the first feeding conduct and/or the third feeding conduct. According to another further development, such filling modules are also provided, further comprising a dedusting chamber that interacts with the tablet press and/or the first and/or the third feeding conduct and is suitable for creating and arranged to create a second vacuum in the first, the second and/or the third feeding conduct as well as, if necessary, in the flexible packing drum and is suitable for preferably maintaining and arranged to preferably maintain said second vacuum.

Naturally, receptacles and filling modules in which several of these receptacles are integrated in a coherent unit may also be provided.

An inventive filling module may, for example, be provided with two, three, four, five or six inventive receptacles that are provided in a constructional unit, each of said inventive receptacles being equipped with a flexible packing drum. In a particularly suitable realisation, such a filling module comprising at least two receptacles may further have at least one diverting device that, for example, in a second position closes the first feeding conduct of the second receptacle while opening the first feeding conduct of the first receptacle.

In a further realisation, an inventive filling module is further provided with a control and/or adjustment unit. Such a control and/or adjustment unit may, for example, be connected to the first and/or the second detector and to the tablet press and/or the diverting device and, depending on the detected filling state, switch the tablet press on or, respectively, switch it off and/or cause the diverting device to be toggled from the first to the second position or, respectively, from the second to the first position.

The inventive receptacles and filling modules are particularly suitable for filling flexible packing drums with bulk material. Suitable bulk materials may be liquid or solid. The inventive devices are particularly suitable for filling flexible packing drums with particulate bulk material, in particular tablets.

According to a further aspect, the object of the invention is achieved by a method for filling a flexible packing drum, in particular a bulk-material packing drum, with bulk material comprising:

a) providing an inventive receptacle or an inventive filling module,

b) if necessary, providing a flexible packing drum comprising an inlet, in particular equipped with a, particularly at least partially flexible, reversibly closable second coupling closure, unless the packing drum is already or, respectively, has already been in the interior space,

c) if necessary, inserting the flexible packing drum into the interior space of the receptacle or of the filling module, in particular via a passage device, for example a passage closure, unless the packing drum is already or, respectively, has already been in the interior space,

d) if necessary, connecting of the inlet, in particular of the second coupling closure, of the flexible packing drum to the feed opening, the first docking coupling or to the second feeding conduct in such a way that the interior space that is not filled by the flexible bag and, as the case may be, by the second feeding conduct is sealed against the feed opening and can be exposed to a vacuum, unless this has already happened,

e) if necessary, closing the passage device or, respectively, the passage closure, unless the packing drum has already been in the interior space and the passage device is closed,

f) creating a first vacuum in the interior space via the suction line,

g) filling the flexible packing drum with bulk material via the feed opening,

h) removing the first vacuum in the interior space at least partially,

i) opening the receptacle via the passage device or, respectively, the passage closure, and

j) removing the filled flexible packing drum.

In a particularly suitable realisation, it may be provided that at least during the filling process according to step g), a second vacuum is at least temporarily set or, respectively, maintained in the flexible packing drum via the feed opening and/or the first feeding conduct. In a preferred realisation, during the filling process according to step g), the first vacuum, i.e. the vacuum in the interior space, approximately equals the second vacuum at least temporarily.

It is also particularly suitable if the first vacuum is at least temporarily lower than the second vacuum by an amount ΔP1 at least prior to filling step g) and/or at the beginning thereof. In this way, bulk material can be prevented from accumulating in the upper region or, respectively, the inlet of the packing drum at the beginning of the filling process and from not falling down to the bottom of the packing drum, for example due to its low own weight and/or due to the walls of the packing drum adhering to each other. In this way it can be ensured that the filling process does not have to be interrupted and that the receptacle does not have to be opened in order to, for example, manually cause the bulk material to fall down. According to a further realisation it may be provided that the first vacuum is at least temporarily higher than the second vacuum by an amount ΔP2 after finishing filling step g). In this way it can be particularly efficiently managed to ensure the optimal filling of the packing drum with bulk material as well as to prevent bulk material from preventing or affecting the safe and environmentally sealed, in particular automatic and/or tool-aided, closing of the packing drum in the region of the inlet. Here it may be preferably provided that the amount ΔP1 and/or that the amount ΔP2 are/is in a range from 20 Pa to 200 Pa, in particular in a range from 30 Pa to 100 Pa.

When using the inventive receptacle or, respectively, the inventive filling module, it can be particularly efficiently managed to preferably continuously fill flexible packing drums (for example, made of synthetic materials or of other flexible and preferably essentially airtight materials) with bulk material without any contamination and without any risk of complications. By creating a vacuum in the interior space it becomes possible to counteract the tendency of such flexible packing drums towards not opening or insufficiently opening under the own weight of the bulk material to be filled in, caused by a suction pump of a dedusting chamber that keeps the filling device dustfree. In this way, particulate bulk material that often carries small dust particles during transport can be filled into containers and transported without any contamination. There is no risk of such dust escaping into the environment, neither during the filling process nor during the replacement of the filled packing drums. Thus, the inventive receptacles and the inventive filling modules are also particularly suitable for being used in the pharmaceutical industry or, respectively, during the production and transport of intermediate and end products and the process of filling them into containers in the pharmaceutical sector and in the food sector.

The present invention was based on the surprising finding that also flexible packing drums are suitable for being filled with, in particular, sensitive bulk material, above all particulate bulk material, even if the air above the filling unit is sucked away. To this end, the flexible packing drums are to be inserted into receptacles in which a vacuum is created that is preferably also maintained during the filling process. Since one is no longer dependent on high-grade steel receptacles for collecting bulk material, such as tablets, the amount of rejects can be reduced, since the impact of, for example, tablets can be buffered when using flexible packing drums.

Further advantages, features and applications of the present invention can be inferred from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments in conjunction with the attached drawings in which

FIG. 1 shows a schematic sectional side view of an inventive filling module,

FIG. 2 shows a schematic sectional side view of the filling module according to FIG. 1, turned around its longitudinal axis by 90°,

FIG. 3 shows a schematic sectional side view of a further embodiment of an inventive filling module, and

FIG. 4 shows a schematic sectional side view of a further embodiment of an inventive filling module.

FIG. 1 shows an inventive filling module 100 comprising, in the embodiment shown, an inventive dimensionally stable receptacle 1 and a flexible packing drum 2. The inventive dimensionally stable receptacle 1 has an upper part 4, a side wall 6 and a receptacle bottom 8. In the embodiment shown, a feed opening 9 is located in the upper part 4 in a centred position. As shown in FIG. 1, a first docking coupling 10, for example in the form of a tri-clamp connection, may be located in the feed opening 9, to which first docking coupling 10 a first feeding conduct (see FIG. 4) can be docked or, respectively, coupled, in particular in an environmentally sealed manner, for the purpose of filling bulk material into the flexible packing drum 2. In the embodiment shown, the first docking coupling 10 is connected to the inlet 12 of the packing drum 2 via the second feeding conduct 14 in the form of a hose element. While the first end of the hose element 14 is connected to the first docking coupling 10, for example via a tri-clamp connection, the opposite second end 18 of the hose element 14 may have a first coupling closure 20. This coupling closure 20 is arranged and adapted to form an environmentally sealed first docking device 24 with a corresponding second coupling closure 22 located in the region of the inlet 12 of the flexible packing drum 2. For example, the systems disclosed in WO 03/03 7717 A1, WO 2004/103816 A1, WO 2005/070776 A1 and WO 2006/053545 A1 may be used for such coupling closures and docking devices. Suitable coupling closures can keep the inlet 12 or, respectively, the second end 18 of the hose element 14 in a closed state, both in the coupled mode and in the non-coupled mode.

As shown in FIG. 1, the dimensions of the flexible packing drum 2 may be adjusted to the dimensions of the interior space 26 of the receptacle 1. In the embodiment shown, the packing drum 2 is provided with an edge or, respectively, a band 27 on the lower side, said band 27 being provided with two carrying apertures 29. These apertures 29 enable the filled packing drum 2 to be transported in a practicable manner, said filled packing drum 2 being closed via the second coupling closure. By mounting the coupling element 10 flush with the feed opening 8 and connecting the coupling closures 20 and 22 of the hose element 14 and of the packing drum 2 thus forming a first docking device 24, an essentially sealed interior space 26 is obtained in which a vacuum can be created via the suction line 28. To this end, a pump 30, for example, may be connected to the suction line 28. A valve 32 may be used for closing and/or for the fine adjustment of the vacuum in the suction line 28.

The receptacle 1 further has an operating device 34 by means of which the first docking device 24 can be opened and closed. If each of the coupling closures 20 and 22 forming the docking device 24 is, for example, formed by two flexible bands that fit tightly to each other (as it is the case, for example, in the coupling closures disclosed in WO 2004/103816 A1 and WO 2006/053545), a passage aperture can be formed at the docking device by moving the locking arms 36 and 38 of the holding device 34 towards each other, through which passage aperture bulk material gets into the packing drum 2. When the filling process is completed, the locking arms can be moved back, whereby the docking device 24 is closed. To this end, the lever arrangement 40 shown in FIG. 1 may be used, for example. The lever arrangement 40 can be operated manually.

FIG. 2 shows the filling module 100 according to FIG. 1, turned around its longitudinal axis by 90°, also as a schematic sectional view. In the embodiment shown, the receptacle bottom 8 and the upper part 4 are transparent. This makes it possible to continuously monitor the filling process. Naturally, parts of the side wall 6 may also be transparent. FIG. 2 further shows a passage device or, respectively, a passage closure 38 in the form of a door. This door of the receptacle 1 essentially covers the entire surface of the side wall 34 of the receptacle 1 longitudinally. The door 38 is opened by means of the handle 40, which, in the embodiment shown, is only possible if the first docking device 34 or, respectively, the first and the second coupling closure 20 and 22 is or, respectively, are in the closed state. Furthermore, an aeration device 42, for example in the form of an aeration flap 42, is located in the passage closure 38. This aeration flap may, for example, be used for the speedy aeration of the evacuated interior space 26, in particular for speeding up the removal of the filled packing drum 2. Naturally, the aeration device may also be arranged in a different place of the receptacle.

FIG. 3 shows a further realisation of an inventive filling module 100 in which two inventive receptacles 1 and 1′ are combined with each other and provided with a common side wall 44. The version of an inventive filling module 100 shown in FIG. 3 makes a continuous filling process possible. When the filling of the flexible packing drum 2 in the receptacle 1 is completed, the diverting device 48 is toggled in the first feeding conduct 46, whereby the feeding-conduct section 50 leading to the first receptacle 1 is closed and, at the same time, the feeding-conduct section 52 leading to the second receptacle 1′ is opened. During the filling of the flexible packing drum 2′, the filled packing drum 2 can be removed from the receptacle 1 and replaced by an empty packing drum. Since it is possible to carry out this process easily and quickly, not least because of the coupling closures 20 and 22 and the docking devices 24 used (described above), it is often not necessary to switch off or throttle the pump that creates the vacuum (not shown), but it is sufficient to temporarily remove the vacuum via the aeration flap 42 in order to enable the receptacle 1 to be opened via the passage closure 38. Naturally, it is also possible to combine more than two receptacles 1 and 1′ with each other in one inventive filling module 100; three, four or more combined receptacles may be located in one filling module and be filled via one, two or more feeding conducts, for example.

In the embodiment of an inventive filling module 100 shown, each of the receptacles 1 and 1′ is equipped with a second detector 54 or, respectively, 54′ in the respective interior spaces 26 and 26′. The inner sides of each of these second detectors are mounted, level with the second feeding conducts 14 and 14′, on the dividing wall 44. These second detectors that may be optical sensors, for example, detect the filling state of the second feeding conducts 14 or, respectively, 14′ and may interact with a signal transmitter (not shown) and/or with a control and/or adjustment unit (not shown), which may interact with the diverting device 48. For example, if the detector 54 detects that bulk material is accumulating in the second feeding conduct 14, a signal may be transmitted to the control and/or adjustment unit, so that the diverting device 48 can be caused (for example, via an electric motor (not shown)) to close the feeding section 50 while opening the feeding section 52, so that the packing drum 2′ in the receptacle 1′ will be filled. During this filling process, the vacuum in the receptacle 1 can be reduced or removed (for example, via the aeration device 42) and the filled packing drum 2 (in the closed state) be removed and replaced by an empty packing drum.

Apparently, the inventive filling module exhibits a very high degree of operating facility and operating safety, because also hazardous bulk material can be filled into containers and transported in an environmentally sealed manner without the need to use, for example, high-grade steel receptacles.

FIG. 4 shows a further development of the inventive filling module 100. In addition to the features of the filling module 100 described in FIG. 1, the version shown in FIG. 4 is provided with a first feeding conduct 56 whose one end is connected, in an environmentally sealed manner, to the first docking coupling 10 in the region of the feed opening 9 of the receptacle 1 and whose other end is connected to the outlet of a schematically indicated tablet press 58. The tablets ejected by the tablet press therefore get into the flexible packing drum 2 via the first feeding conduct 56 and the second feeding conduct 14. The abraded particles of the transported tablets as well as other particulate components escaping from the tablet press 58 are separated by means of a dedusting chamber 58. The dedusting chamber 58 comprises a suction pump 60 as well as a connecting conduit 62 (third feeding conduct) that leads to the first feeding conduct 56. The suction pump 60 creates a vacuum in the sealed system that is essentially formed by the first feeding conduct, the second feeding conduct and the flexible packing drum. In particular, when the packing drum 2 is still empty, this vacuum regularly results in the inner sides of the packing drum 2 adhering to each other and in bulk material being unable to fall down to the bottom of the packing drum, but getting stuck in the region of the inlet already. By creating a vacuum in the interior space 26 via the suction line 28 and the pump 30, the process of filling the flexible packing drum 2, in particular also at the beginning thereof, can be considerably improved and carried out with fewer complications.

The features of the invention disclosed in the preceding description, in the claims as well as in the drawings may be essential, both individually and in any combination, for the realisation of the invention in its various embodiments.

Claims

1. A dimensionally stable receptacle for accommodating at least one flexible packing drum in an interior space of the receptacle, the receptacle comprising:

a bottom;

a side wall connected to the bottom and extending around the interior space of the receptacle;

at least one suction line leading into the interior space of the receptacle;

at least one passage device for inserting at least one flexible packing drum into the interior space of the receptacle and for removing the packing drum from the interior space of the receptacle, said passage device being capable of being reversibly opened and closed;

at least one feed opening, comprising at least one first docking coupling, located in or adjacent to the feed opening and/or forming the feed opening, the first docking coupling configured for docking a first feeding conduit for bulk material, such that, when a flexible packing drum located in the receptacle is coupled to the first docking coupling of the feed opening, the interior space of the receptacle is sealed, in which a state of vacuum in the interior space is obtainable through suction in the suction line.

2. The receptacle according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least one second feeding conduit located at least in sections in the interior space of the receptacle, having a first opening end and a second, opening end, wherein the first opening end is connectable to the feed opening and/or the first docking coupling in a sealed manner, and wherein, a first coupling closure is located at the second opening end, said first coupling closure being suitable for coupling to a corresponding second coupling closure of a flexible packing drum in a sealed manner, such that a sealed first docking device is formed, said flexible packing drum being insertable into the receptacle.

3. The receptacle according to claim 2, wherein the at least one passage device, includes a passage closure for inserting at least one flexible packing drum into the interior space of the receptacle and for removing said packing drum from the interior space of the receptacle,

wherein when the second coupling closure of the flexible packing drum is coupled to the first coupling closure, the interior space of the receptacle is sealed, in which a state of vacuum in the interior space is obtainable through suction in the suction line, and

wherein the receptacle further comprises at least one operating device for closing, in a closing mode, and opening, in a loading mode, the first coupling closure, the second coupling closure, and/or the first docking device, wherein the operating device is located at least in sections in the interior space and is operable outside the interior space.

4. The receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the first feeding conduit for bulk material is configured for connecting to the first docking coupling and/or the feed opening in a sealed manner, and further suitable for filling a flexible packing drum with bulk material, said flexible packing drum being insertable into said receptacle.

5. The receptacle according to claim 1, further comprising a pump connected to the suction line, and at least one valve interacting with the suction line.

6. The receptacle according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the passage device and the passage closure is located in at least one of the side wall and the receptacle bottom.

7. The receptacle according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the receptacle bottom the side wall, and an upper part is at least partially transparent or translucent.

8. The receptacle according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the passage device and the passage closure represents a vacuum-tight closable door or flap.

9. Receptacle according to claim 3, wherein the operating device interacts with at least one of the passage device and the passage closure in such a way that the passage device or the passage closure is openable when the operating device is in the closing mode.

10. The receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the first docking coupling comprises at least one of a tri-clamp connection and a third coupling closure.

11. The receptacle according to claim 1, further comprising at least one of an aeration and ventilating device for the interior space, wherein the aeration or ventilating device is capable of being reversibly closed.

12. The receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the dimensions of the interior space correspond to the dimensions of a flexible packing drum to be filled in the receptacle.

13. The receptacle according to claim 2, further comprising at least one first detector that is suitable for determining the filling level of a flexible packing drum in the interior space of the receptacle.

14. The receptacle according to claim 13, further comprising at least one second detector that is suitable for determining whether bulk material is accumulating in the second and/or the first feeding conduit during a process of filling a flexible packing drum located in the receptacle.

15. The receptacle according to claim 14, wherein at least one of the first detector and the second detector is located adjacent to the first feeding conduit and/or the second feeding conduit.

16. The receptacle according to claim 14, wherein at least one of the first detector and the second detector is arranged in the interior space in such a manner that allows for determining whether bulk material is accumulating in the second feeding conduit.

17. The receptacle according to claim 14, wherein at least one of the first and the second detector is an optical detector.

18. A filling module for bulk material, comprising at least one dimensionally stable receptacle for at least one flexible packing drum according to claim 2, and at least one flexible packing drum containing at least one inlet that is connectable to the first docking coupling, the feed opening, and/or the second feeding conduit.

19. The filling module according to claim 18, wherein the inlet of the flexible packing drum is equipped with a second coupling closure and the second opening end of the second feeding conduit is equipped with a first coupling closure, wherein the first coupling closure and the second coupling closure are connectable to each other in a sealed manner, forming the first docking device.

20. The filling module according to claim 18, wherein the flexible packing drum is constructed of essentially airtight material and is made of a synthetic material.

21. The filling module according to claim 18, wherein the flexible packing drum has at least one holding device, comprising a holding aperture, said holding device being located opposite the inlet.

22. The filling module according to claim 18, further comprising at least one tablet press that includes a suction pump, wherein an outlet of the tablet press is connected to the feed opening via the first feeding conduit and/or a third feeding conduit, and wherein the suction pump is configured to create a state of vacuum in the first, the second, and/or the third feeding conduit as well as, in the flexible packing drum and is configured to maintain said state of vacuum.

23. The filling module according to claim 22, further comprising a dedusting chamber that comprises the suction pump and interacts with the tablet press and the first and/or the third feeding conduit for creating the state of vacuum in the first, the second, and/or the third feeding conduit as well as in the flexible packing drum and for maintaining said state of vacuum.

24. The filling module according to claim 22, further comprising at least two receptacles according to claim 4 as well as at least one diverting device that, in a first position, closes the first feeding conduit of a first receptacle while opening the first feeding conduit of a second receptacle and that, in a second position, closes the first feeding conduit of the second receptacle while opening the first feeding conduit of the first receptacle.

25. The filling module according to claim 24, further comprising a first detector and a second detector according to claim 14, and further comprising a control or adjustment unit that interacts with the first detector, the second detector, the tablet press, and the diverting device and, depending on the detected filling state, switches the tablet press on or off and causes the diverting device to be toggled from the first to the second position or, respectively, from the second to the first position.

26. The filling module according to claim 18, wherein the flexible packing drum is filled with bulk material in a form of tablets.

27. A method for filling a flexible packing drum, with bulk material, comprising:

(a) providing a receptacle according to claim 2,

(b) providing a flexible packing drum comprising an inlet equipped with at least a partially flexible, reversibly closable second coupling closure,

(c) inserting the flexible packing drum into the interior space of the receptacle via the passage device,

(d) connecting the second coupling closure of the flexible packing drum to at least one of the feed opening, the first docking coupling, and the second feeding conduit in such a way that the interior space that is not filled by the flexible packing drum and by the second feeding conduit is sealed against the feed opening and is exposable to a state of vacuum,

(e) closing the passage device

(f) creating a first vacuum pressure in the interior space via the suction line,

(g) filling the flexible packing drum with bulk material via the feed opening,

(h) removing the first vacuum pressure from the interior space,

(i) opening the receptacle via the passage device, and

(j) removing the filled flexible packing drum.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein during the filling process according to step g), a second vacuum pressure is set in the flexible packing drum via the feed opening and the first feeding conduit.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein during the filling process according to step g), the first vacuum pressure approximately equals the second vacuum pressure.

30. The method according to claim 28, wherein the first vacuum pressure is lower than the second vacuum pressure by an amount ΔP1 prior to filling step (g) and at the beginning thereof.

31. The method according to claim 28, wherein the first vacuum pressure is higher than the second vacuum pressure by an amount ΔP2 after finishing filling step (g).

32. The method according to claim 31, wherein the amount ΔP1 and the amount ΔP2 are in a range from 20 Pa to 200 Pa.