CAPSULE FILLING MACHINE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A CAPSULE FILLING MACHINE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a capsule filling machine with the features according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a method for operating such a capsule filling machine.

[0002] Pharmaceutical products, dietary supplements, and similar items are often administered as a single dose in a capsule, typically made of hard gelatin. These capsules are delivered empty and filled with the desired contents on capsule filling machines. These machines are commonly rotary machines with a rotating table. The rotary table contains capsule segments, each with several capsule holders arranged in a row, each holding a single capsule. The rotary table rotates incrementally in a plane of rotation, allowing the capsule segments to sequentially pass through various processing stations.Typical steps performed at the individual processing stations include opening the empty, initially pre-sealed capsules, filling and sealing them, testing, rejecting defective capsules, and finally rejecting the capsules classified as satisfactory.

[0003] For critical filler products, particularly in the pharmaceutical sector, the precise dosage of the active ingredient in the capsules is of paramount importance. In such cases, the capsules undergo a 100% weighing process. First, the empty capsules are weighed to determine their tare weight. This is followed by the filling process, after which the filled capsules are again weighed 100% (verifying the gross weight). The difference between the gross and tare weights is used to determine the weight of the filled quantity.

[0004] In the arrangement according to DE 10 2009 028 372 A1, capsule bases are fed to a weighing table by means of a transport device. The transport device comprises a pivoting holder for a removable format insert, which in turn holds a capsule base. The respective format insert can be moved vertically relative to its holder and thus positioned freely on the weighing table.

[0005] It has been shown that the gross control described above does not adequately cover the filling of small doses, as weighing small masses, especially in relation to the capsule mass, is inherently inaccurate. Therefore, indirect control systems are widely used to supplement this. These can be so-called AMV systems (Advanced Mass Verification systems), in which the fill quantity entering each capsule is determined capacitively during the filling process. To calibrate such measuring systems, precise comparative measurements must be taken on a sample basis against the actual measured value (determination of the dose weight using scales). As an in-process control measure, these comparative measurements must be repeated randomly during production. Such sampling leads to a costly interruption of the regular production process.To make matters worse, the load cell used must be precisely adapted to the format of the capsule to be weighed, so that when a product change involves a format change, not only the capsule segments but also the load cell must be adapted.

[0006] Fill quantity control becomes even more complex when filling individual capsules with multiple components. In this process, individual product components are sequentially filled into their respective capsules separately at different filling stations. A gross check of the filled capsules does not provide reliable information about the individual quantities filled. Therefore, a gross check of the individual quantities must be performed, followed by adjustment of the respective automatic quantity measurement (APM) systems at the various filling stations, resulting in corresponding downtime for the regular production process.

[0007] Since the use of AMV systems or similar devices also requires verification via scales, the problem of determining small masses arises again. The limited volume of the capsules to be weighed and the associated total mass of a single capsule mean that, in the prior art, several capsules are filled and weighed to calibrate the measuring system and calculate an average value as a reference. The time required for such multiple weighings reduces the effective production time of the machine.

[0008] The invention is based on the objective of further developing a generic capsule filling machine in such a way that precise control of the filling quantity is possible with reduced influence on the regular filling operation.

[0009] This problem is solved by a capsule filling machine having the features of claim 1.

[0010] The invention further aims to provide a method for operating such a capsule filling machine in which the fill quantity control leads to reduced interruptions of the regular filling operation.

[0011] This problem is solved by a method having the features of claim 7.

[0012] According to the invention, a capsule filling machine is provided, comprising a rotary table with capsule segments for receiving capsules to be filled, at least one insertion station for inserting empty capsules into the capsule segments, and at least one filling station for filling the capsules. Each capsule segment has a segment base with capsule receptacles for the capsule bases. The capsule filling machine includes at least one test container designed for repeated use in the capsule filling machine, for placement on a capsule receptacle of the segment base, and a container weighing station with a load cell for weighing the test container.

[0013] In the method according to the invention, in a regular operating mode, capsule bases are inserted into capsule receptacles of a segment base at an insertion station. The capsule bases are then moved within the segment base to the at least one filling station by means of a rotary table and filled there with a product. In a testing mode, a test container is placed onto a capsule receptacle of a segment base. The test container is then moved on the segment base to the at least one filling station by means of a rotary table and filled there with the product. The filled test container is moved to the container weighing station and weighed there by means of a load cell.

[0014] The alternative filling of either capsule bases or test containers according to the invention allows for a significant separation of the test mode from the regular operating mode, such that a test procedure carried out as needed leads only to a minimal interruption of regular production.

[0015] Specifically, the filled test container is removed from the capsule holder of the segment base, after which the regular operating mode is resumed. Simultaneously, the filled test container is weighed by the load cell of the container weighing station during the ongoing filling process in regular operating mode. This can be done with the required accuracy without the time required resulting in waiting times in regular operating mode.

[0016] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the test container has an internal container volume that is a multiple of the internal volume of a capsule base to be filled. In the corresponding method, the test container is filled at the at least one filling station with a multiple of the quantity of product intended for one capsule filling. The test container filled in this way is weighed using the load cell of the container weighing station. From the weighed mass and the selected multiple of the intended quantity of product, an average mass of a single, actually dosed quantity of product is determined. In this way, even small individual masses can be determined with high accuracy, since weighing the significantly larger total mass is technically simpler and more reliable, and also leads to more pronounced differences from the interfering mass of the capsules weighed along with the total mass according to the prior art.

[0017] It may be advantageous to provide only a single test container or a limited number thereof. Preferably, the capsule filling machine is designed to accommodate one test container in each of several capsule holders, and in particular in each capsule holder of a single segment base. This allows filling at all filling stations of a filling station in a single pass, without having to visit that filling station multiple times. The time required is correspondingly short.

[0018] The container weighing station is ideally suited for the sequential weighing of individual test containers. This allows for highly accurate individual results. The previously mentioned separation of testing and operating modes means that the required time is not a disadvantage.

[0019] Several options are available for the mechanical design of the container weighing station. Advantageously, the container weighing station features a transport head pivotally mounted around a vertical pivot axis. Within the transport head, at least one telescopic arm with a gripper for a test container is guided radially to the pivot axis. The pivoting path of the transport head and the linear path of the telescopic arm are coordinated such that the gripper can be positioned within the area of ​​a capsule holder and within the area of ​​the load cell. With a simple mechanical design, good positioning accuracy and high operational reliability are achieved.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment, the container weighing station includes a cleaning device for the test container. Here, the weighed test quantities of the product can be reliably removed, so that clean test containers without any residual product are available for subsequent testing procedures.

[0021] It may be sufficient to use the device and method according to the invention for random sampling of the product quantities dispensed in regular operating mode, without, for example, performing a 100% inspection. Advantageously, the at least one filling station is equipped with an indirect mass measuring system for determining the dispensed product mass, whereby the indirect mass measuring system is then calibrated or readjusted by weighing the filled test container using the load cell of the container weighing station. In this way, 100% in-process control can be achieved over a long production period with only minimal interruption of the regular operating mode.

[0022] An embodiment of the invention is described in more detail below with reference to the drawing. The drawing shows: Fig. 1 shows a schematic top view of a capsule filling machine in the embodiment according to the invention with a rotary table, with capsule segments on the rotary table, and with a container weighing station for weighing test containers. Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the container weighing station of the capsule filling machine according to the invention. Fig. 1 with test containers in rest position during regular operating mode, Fig. 3 the arrangement according to Fig. 2 At the beginning of a test mode, when placing the test containers onto a segment base of a capsule segment, Fig. 4 shows an enlarged detail view of the segment base. Fig. 3 with test containers positioned above, Fig. 5 the arrangement according to Fig. 4 with test containers placed on the lower part of the segment, Fig. 6 the arrangement according to the Fig. 2 und 3 with filled test containers returned to the container weighing station, Fig. 7 the arrangement according to Fig. 6 with test containers lifted from the capsule segment and moved to a load cell, Fig. 8 the arrangement according to Fig. 7 with a weighing container placed on the load cell, and Fig. 9 in a rear perspective view the arrangement according to Fig. 8 with test containers transported to a cleaning device.

[0023] Fig. 1 Figure 1 shows a top view of the central part of a capsule filling machine 20 according to the invention for filling capsules with a filling material. The filling material can be in the form of a powder, granules, tablets, or the like. It can be a pharmaceutical preparation, a food supplement, or the like. The capsules are of conventional design and consist of a Fig. 4 the illustrated capsule base 10 and a capsule top not shown, which is attached to it, both of which are made of, for example, hard gelatin.

[0024] The capsule filling machine 20 after Fig. 1 The assembly comprises a rotary table 21, which can be driven to rotate about a vertical axis of rotation 24 in increments as indicated by arrow 25. A number of capsule segments 22 are arranged at uniform angular intervals on a circumferential area of ​​the rotary table 21. In the illustrated embodiment, a total of ten capsule segments 22 are provided. However, a different number may also be advantageous.

[0025] From the Fig. 1 It becomes clear that each capsule segment 22 consists of a segment lower part 28 fixedly attached to the circumference of the rotary table 21 and a segment upper part 29 pivotable relative to it. In the preferred embodiment shown, the segment lower parts 28 include a number of capsule receptacles 23 for receiving one capsule lower part 10 each ( Fig. 4 ), wherein the capsule receptacles 23 are each arranged in at least one linear, straight row. In the present case, each lower segment 28 has two rows of twelve capsule receptacles 23 each, i.e., a total of twenty-four capsule receptacles 23, although a different number may also be advantageous. The upper segments 29 are correspondingly provided with a corresponding number of receptacles for the upper capsules.

[0026] Several stationary machining stations 31 to 40, which do not rotate with the rotary table 21, are positioned around it. Some of these are shown only schematically and not in detail. The number and position of the machining stations 31 to 40 correspond to the number of capsule segments 22. In this case, a total of ten machining stations 31 to 40 are provided, so that in each rotational position of the rotary table 21, which is indexed in angular increments, each capsule segment 22 is within the reach of one of the machining stations 31 to 40.

[0027] In a regular operating mode, according to the preferred embodiment shown, starting with the first two processing stations, namely at insertion stations 30, 31, the capsule base 10, each consisting of a capsule lower part 10, is initially provisionally assembled. Fig. 4 Empty capsules consisting of a capsule top and a capsule upper are inserted into the series of capsule holders 23, whereby the attached capsule uppers are also separated from the capsule lowers 10. In the first insertion station 31, the empty capsules are inserted into the radially inner row of holders of the capsule segment 22, followed in the second processing station 32 by the insertion of the empty capsules into the radially outer row.

[0028] The next processing station is a dual-function station. Firstly, unopened empty capsules are rejected there. Secondly, it houses a container weighing station 33, the function of which will be described in detail below. During the transition from the second insertion and separation station 32 to the container weighing station 33, the upper segment 29, with the capsule tops held within it, is pivoted relative to the lower segment 28, so that the lower segment 28, with the capsule bottoms 10 held within it, is freely accessible from above. In this state, any unopened empty capsules present in the pivoted upper segment 29 are ejected and removed at this point.

[0029] Following the container weighing station 33 are three processing stations in the form of filling stations 34, 35, and 36, in which the capsule bases 10, held in the segmented lower sections 28, are sequentially filled with different proportions of the intended product in a multi-component filling process. It may also be sufficient to provide only one or two filling stations. Each filling station has its own indirect mass measurement system, which is known from the prior art and is only schematically indicated here. In this case, the indirect mass measurement system is an AMV system (Advanced Mass Verification System), in which the dosed quantity of product falls through a capacitive measuring section into the target container (capsule base 10 or test container 1) and thereby generates a capacitive measurement signal. With correct adjustment and calibration, the capacitive measurement signal provides a very accurate mass determination, even of very small fill quantities.

[0030] After passing through the last filling station 36, the segment upper part 29 is swung back into alignment with the segment lower part 28 at a pivoting station 37, according to the regular operating mode. At the subsequent closing station 38, the capsules are closed by sliding the previously removed or separated capsule upper parts back onto the filled capsule lower parts 10 and locking them into place. A control station 39 follows the closing station 38. At the control station 39, inspected capsules that have been found to be defective are rejected. In a subsequent final station, namely the ejection station 40, the remaining capsules that have been found to be satisfactory are rejected and sent to further process steps such as cleaning and packaging.

[0031] From the top view Fig. 1 Further details of container weighing station 33 can be gleaned. According to these details, container weighing station 33 includes a load cell 2 for weighing items further down in connection with the... Fig. 2 bis 9 test containers 1 as described in more detail, and a transport head 4 pivotally mounted and driven about a vertical pivot axis 3 according to a double arrow 11. In or on the transport head 4, at least one, here several, telescopic arms 5 are guided and driven approximately radially to the pivot axis 3 according to a double arrow 12. At their free ends, the telescopic arms 5 are each equipped with a gripper 6 ( Fig. 4, 5 ) for at least one, here for two test containers 1 each. A swivel path of the transport head 4 and a linear path of the telescopic arms 5 are coordinated such that all grippers 6 can be brought both into the area of ​​an associated capsule receptacle 23 of the segment base 28 located at the container weighing station 33 and into the area of ​​the load cell 2. In addition, it can be seen that the container weighing station 33 has a cleaning device 7, the function of which is described below in connection with Fig. 9 is described in more detail.

[0032] Fig. 2 shows the capsule filling machine 20 in a perspective view. Fig. 1 in the area of ​​container weighing station 33 during the aforementioned in connection with Fig. 1 The described regular operating mode. On its rear side, facing away from the rotary table 21, the container weighing station 33 has a cover 15, beneath which the test containers 1 are stored or parked during regular operating mode (not shown). In the present process step, a lower segment 28 is held in the intake area of ​​the container weighing station 33, while the associated upper segment 29, located above it in the vertical direction, has been swung away. In preparation for the subsequent test mode, the test containers 1 were retrieved from the parking position described above by means of the transport head 4. The transport head 4 is now in a pivoted position in which the telescopic arms 5, with the test containers 1 held at their ends, point towards the adjacent lower segment 28.The telescopic arms 5 are retracted to such an extent that the test containers 1 held by them are located on circular paths around the pivot axis 2, which lead into the intake area of ​​the load cell 2 and the cleaning device 7, without, however, covering the adjacent segment base 28 or otherwise affecting it during regular operating mode. In other words, the test containers 1 are in a standby position at this point during regular operating mode until they are used in a test mode described below. The parked test containers 1 were previously weighed empty using the weighing station in order to determine a tare weight for each test container.

[0033] Fig. 3 shows the arrangement according Fig. 2 At the beginning of the test mode now taking place, in which the regular operating mode described above is temporarily interrupted, the telescopic arms 5 are extended relative to the transport head 4 to such an extent that the test containers 1, held at their ends, are positioned above a capsule receptacle 23 of the segment base 28 and lowered onto it.

[0034] Fig. 4 shows an enlarged detail view of the lower part of segment 28. Fig. 3 with the test containers 1 positioned above it. For a better overview, only the free end of a single telescopic arm 5 with a gripper 6 and a pair of test containers 1 held in the gripper 6 is shown here in a longitudinal section. From the combination with Fig. 3 It follows that in the preferred embodiment shown, one test container 1 is provided for each individual capsule receptacle 23 of a single segment base 28. The number of telescopic arms 5 and grippers 6 corresponds to the number of capsule receptacles 23 within a linear row, meaning that in the embodiment shown, twelve telescopic arms 5 and twelve grippers 6 are provided. Each gripper is designed to simultaneously grasp a number of test containers 1 corresponding to the number of linear rows of capsule receptacles 23 of the segment base 28. Thus, in this case, each gripper 6 is designed to grasp two test containers 1, resulting in a total of twenty-four test containers 1 that can be handled according to the twenty-four capsule receptacles 23 of a single segment base 28. However, within the scope of the invention, it may also be advantageous not to provide one test container 1 for each capsule receptacle.For example, it is conceivable to provide a smaller number of test containers 1 or even just a single test container 1 and thus sequentially consider all capsule receptacles 23 or only a selection of them.

[0035] The test containers 1 show, according to the sectional view, that Fig. 4 The interior, open only at the top and otherwise closed, has a container volume Vc. Below this, the test containers 1 are equipped with a positioning collar 8, which allows them to be placed on projections 9 of the capsule receptacles 23 and positioned centrally.

[0036] For comparison with the test containers 1, a single capsule base 10 is shown schematically, one of which is inserted from above into each capsule receptacle 23 in regular operation, as indicated by arrow 13. Like the test containers 1, the capsule bases 10 each have an interior open only at the top, with such an interior having a capsule volume VK. The internal container volume Vc of the test container 1 is a multiple of the internal capsule volume VK of a single capsule base 10, so that a single test container can hold several individual quantities of the product intended for filling a single capsule base 10. The aforementioned multiple of the internal capsule volume VK is at least twice, preferably five to twenty times, and particularly eight to fifteen times the internal capsule volume VK.Accordingly, at least two, preferably five to twenty, and in particular eight to fifteen individual quantities of the product intended for filling a single capsule base 10 are advantageously filled into a single test container 1, whereupon the test containers 1 filled in this manner are then weighed in the manner described below.

[0037] Fig. 5 shows the arrangement according Fig. 4 with test containers 1 placed on the segment base 28 in test mode, which according to the condition Fig. 3 corresponds. For this purpose, the transport head 4 ( Fig. 3 The telescopic arms 5 were lowered downwards in the direction of arrow 14, as a result of which the test containers 1 were lowered onto the segment base 28. It can be seen that the test containers 1, with their respective positioning collars 8, enclose the projection 9 of the associated capsule receptacle 23, so that, in test mode, the test containers 1 are aligned or centered in the same position relative to the horizontal position as the capsule bases 10 are in regular operating mode.

[0038] Starting from this point, the segment base 28, thus equipped with test containers 1, is moved by means of the rotary table 21 to the at least one filling station, here to the first filling station 34, where corresponding quantities of product are then filled not into capsule bases 10, but instead into the test containers 1. It may be sufficient to fill only the individual quantity of the respective product intended for filling one capsule base 10. In the present preferred embodiment, however, several of the individual quantities intended for filling one capsule base 10, i.e., multiples thereof, are filled into each test container 1. The number of individual quantities and the associated measurement signals of the indirect mass measurement system 41 are recorded or stored and remain available for later evaluation.

[0039] In the next part of the test mode, the rotary table 21 is moved in the opposite direction to arrow 25. Fig. 1 turned back far enough that the lower segment 28 with the filled test containers 1 is again positioned within the intake area of ​​the container weighing station 33. This is in Fig. 6 shown, wherein the test containers 1 are gripped by the grippers 6 of the telescopic arms 5 ( Fig. 4, 5 ) were gripped again and lifted from the lower segment 28 in accordance with an arrow 15.

[0040] The next procedural step results from the representation according to Fig. 7 , according to which, starting from Fig. 6 The test containers 1 were moved into the area of ​​the load cell 1 as a result of a pivoting movement of the transport head 4. The telescopic arms 5 have retracted sufficiently so that the test containers 1, held at their free ends, are positioned on the surface described above in connection with Fig. 2 already described circular paths around the pivot axis 3.

[0041] As soon as the test containers 1 are removed from the intake area of ​​the adjacent segment lower part 28 by means of the transport head 4 according to the illustration Fig. 7 have been swung away, the above in connection with Fig. 1 The regular operating mode described above can be resumed with the filling of empty capsules. The weighing and calibration process described below can be carried out in parallel with the regular operating mode.

[0042] The test containers 1, which have been brought out of the intake area of ​​the adjacent segment base 28 and filled, are now weighed by means of the load cell 2. For this purpose, in the illustrated embodiment, the container weighing station 33 is designed for the sequential weighing of individual test containers 1. This is achieved here by means of a coordinated pivoting movement of the transport head and a coordinated linear movement of the telescopic arms 5, which places the test containers 1 one after the other individually onto the load cell 2 and weighs them individually, as shown in Fig. 8 This is recognizable. In this way, a gross weight of each individual filled test container 1 is determined. The difference between this and the previously determined tare weight mentioned above yields the weight of the respective fill quantity within each test container 1. The total weight of the fill determined in this way is then divided by the recorded number of individual fill quantities, resulting in an average mass of the individual product quantities actually dosed in the first filling station 34. From this and the corresponding measurement signals, which are also recorded, a calibration or readjustment of the indirect mass measurement system 41 of the first filling station 34 is performed, which can be carried out particularly within the framework of in-process control during the ongoing regular operating mode. Subsequently, a calibration or readjustment can also be performed sequentially in an analogous manner.Readjustment of the indirect mass measuring system 41 can also be carried out at the other filling stations 35, 36. The test containers 1 can be emptied beforehand and then refilled. However, it may also be advantageous to leave the fill quantity from the previous test weighing in the test container 1, in which case the previously determined total weight is used as the tare weight for the current test weighing.

[0043] As already mentioned, according to the invention, it may be sufficient to fill only a single quantity intended for filling a capsule base 10 into the test container 1 at the respective filling station 34, 35, 36 and to determine its mass in the manner described above using the load cell 2. However, by filling multiples of this quantity and subsequently averaging the total mass, even with very small individual fill quantities, the total mass is increased sufficiently to allow for more reliable weighing with a more accurate determination of the average value.

[0044] In another variant, it may be advantageous to first perform fillings at all filling stations 34, 35, 36 and only then to weigh the product. Furthermore, the invention can also be used without the context of an indirect mass measurement system 41 by using the weighing described above as a simple sampling check for the actual dispensed quantities.

[0045] Fig. 9 shows the arrangement in a rear perspective view. Fig. 8 , wherein the container weighing station 33 in this area is equipped with a cleaning device 7. After weighing according to Fig. 8 The transport head 4 was rotated further so that the test containers held on it were within the effective range of the cleaning device 7. There, the contents are blown out with compressed air and simultaneously extracted, so that empty test containers are available for re-tare and further weighing.

[0046] In regular operating mode, empty capsules are fed to the capsule filling machine 20 from the outside as described above and removed from the capsule filling machine 20 when filled. In contrast, the test containers 1 are part of the capsule filling machine 20. They are used repeatedly in a cycle, and in the illustrated embodiment, they remain in the capsule filling machine 20 as part of it.

Claims

1. Capsule filling machine (20), comprising a turntable (21) with capsule segments (22) for receiving capsules to be filled, at least one insertion station (31, 32) for inserting empty capsules into the capsule segments (22), and at least one filling station (34, 35, 36) for filling the capsules, wherein the capsule segments (22) each have a segment lower part (28) with capsule receptacles (23) for capsule lower parts (10) of the capsules, characterized in that the capsule filling machine (20) comprises at least one test container (1), which is provided for recurrent use in the capsule filling machine (20), for placing on a capsule receptacle (23) of the segment lower part (28), and in that the capsule filling machine (20) further comprises a container weighing station (33) with a weighing cell (2) for weighing the test container (1).

2. Capsule filling machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the test container (1) has an inner container volume (VC) which is a multiple of an inner capsule volume (VK) of a capsule lower part (10) to be filled.

3. Capsule filling machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the capsule filling machine (20) is designed for a respective test container (1) to be inserted into a plurality of capsule receptacles (23) and in particular into all the capsule receptacles (23) of an individual segment lower part (28).

4. Capsule filling machine according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the container weighing station (33) is designed for the sequential weighing of individual test containers (1).

5. Capsule filling machine according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the container weighing station (33) has a transport head (4) which is mounted so as to be pivotable about a vertical pivot axis (3), wherein at least one telescopic arm (5) with a gripper (6) for a test container (1) is guided radially with respect to the pivot axis (3) in the transport head (4), and wherein a pivoting travel of the transport head (4) and a linear travel of the telescopic arm (5) are tailored to one another in such a way that the gripper (6) can be moved into the region of a capsule receptacle (23) and into the region of the weighing cell (2).

6. Capsule filling machine according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the container weighing station (33) comprises a cleaning device (7) for the test container (1).

7. Method for operating a capsule filling machine according to one of claims 1 to 6, comprising the following method steps: - in a regular operating mode, capsule lower parts (10) are inserted into a respective capsule receptacle (23) of a segment lower part (28) in an insertion station (31, 32), after which the capsule lower parts (10) in the segment lower part (28) are moved by means of the turntable (21) to the at least one filling station (34, 35, 36) and filled there with a product; - in a testing mode, a test container (1) is placed on a capsule receptacle (23) of a segment lower part (28), after which the test container (1) on the segment lower part (28) is moved by means of the turntable (21) to the at least one filling station (34, 35, 36) and filled there with the product; - the filled test container (1) is moved to the container weighing station (33) and weighed there by means of the weighing cell.

8. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that the test container (1) is filled at the at least one filling station (34, 35, 36) with a multiple of the product quantity provided for a capsule filling, in that the test container (1) filled in such a way is weighed by means of the weighing cell (2) of the container weighing station (33), and in that an average mass of an individual actually dosed product quantity is determined therefrom.

9. Method according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the at least one filling station (34, 35, 36) is provided with an indirect mass measuring system (41) for determining the output product mass, and in that a calibration of the indirect mass measuring system (41) is carried out by weighing the filled test container (1) by means of the weighing cell (2) of the container weighing station (33).

10. Method according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the filled test container (1) is removed from the capsule receptacle (23) of the segment lower part (28), in that the regular operating mode is then resumed, and in that the filled test container (1) is weighed by means of the weighing cell (2) of the container weighing station (33) during the continuous filling operation in the regular operating mode.