Device for administering solid particulate materials - Patents.com

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dosing device, a DOSDEV, for dosing solid particulate material into a receptacle, preferably into a capsule, the DOSDEV having a dosing element having a tubular shape that can be filled with solid particulate material by sucking the solid particulate material in using a vacuum, and excess solid particulate material adhering to the inlet of the DOSDEV is blown off with a gas.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a dosing device, a DOSDEV, for dosing solid particulate material into a receptacle, preferably into a capsule, the DOSDEV having a dosing element having a tubular shape that can be filled with solid particulate material by sucking the solid particulate material in using a vacuum, and excess solid particulate material adhering to the inlet of the DOSDEV is blown off with a gas. [Background technology]

[0002] EP 3 295 920 A1 discloses a capsule filler comprising a transfer turret arranged to transport the capsules through successive operating stations with at least one dosing station arranged to fill capsule bodies of the capsules with a product (P), the dosing turret and a first dosing unit mounted on the dosing turret, the first dosing unit comprising a dosing cylinder and a piston movable between at least a first internal position (D) in the dosing cylinder forming a dosing chamber for holding a product dose (P1) in the dosing cylinder and a release position (E) for expelling the product dose (P1) from the dosing cylinder into the respective capsule body.

[0003] US10,835,451B2 discloses a device for dispensing a solid particulate material into one or more receptacles, the device comprising a dispensing unit including a reservoir for containing a quantity of solid particulate material, a dose collection position for collecting a predetermined dose of the solid particulate material from the reservoir, and a dose release position for releasing the solid particulate material into one or more receptacles, the dispensing unit comprising a dispensing chamber having an opening that is immersed in the solid particulate material, during immersion in the solid particulate material, a predetermined amount of the solid particulate material is sucked through the opening into the dispensing chamber by means of a vacuum and is held in the dispensing chamber by means of the vacuum, the dispensing chamber having the opening emerges from the solid particulate material after sucking in the predetermined amount of the solid particulate material. Upon emerging from the solid particulate material, excess solid particulate material may still adhere to the outer surface of the dispensing chamber around or near the opening. The device comprises a dispensing chamber leveller, also called a scraper, arranged to remove such excess solid particulate material that adheres to the outer surface of the dispensing chamber around or near the opening. A scraper is used to scrape the dosing chamber to improve dosing accuracy by more completely removing excess solid particulate material residue that may adhere to the exterior surface of the dosing chamber around or proximate the opening.

[0004] The scraper is cantilevered from a portion of the reservoir and / or dosage unit, etc., and has a protruding surface proximal to its apex, forming a shape, such as a semicircular or straight line.

[0005] If the dosing unit comprises multiple dosing chambers and the device comprises multiple scrapers respectively, the scrapers need to be very precisely adjusted with respect to the position of the dosing chambers, for example so that the distance between the opening of the dosing chamber and the respective scraper is exactly the same, with small variations already resulting in undesirable dispersion of the dose. Such precise adjustment requires time and extra effort. Furthermore, there is a risk that one or more of the scarpers will break during operation, which may result in scraper fragments being attributed to the solid particle material in the dose. If the solid particle material is a drug substance or nutrient, such contamination by scraper fragments must be avoided under all circumstances.

[0006] There is a need for a dosing chamber for solid particulate material that allows for improved dosage accuracy and reproducibility by controlled removal of excess solid particulate material that extends over the opening to the outside of the chamber and / or that is attached to the outside of the dosing chamber. The effort of time-consuming adjustment of the position of the scraper relative to the opening of the dosing chamber should be reduced or even avoided, and another object is that the risk of scraper debris getting into the dosage should be minimized or even avoided.

[0007] This problem has been solved by using a dosing chamber which allows such excess solid particulate material to be removed by a gas jet.

[0008] Several advantages can be achieved by the invention: in particular, the provision of a slit makes it possible to reliably remove particles from the dispensing opening of the DOSDEV without mechanical scraping elements. Summary of the Invention

[0009] The subject of the present invention is a dosing device, DOSDEV, for dosing a solid particulate material into a receptacle, comprising: the DOSDEV comprises a dosing element consisting of two parts, an inner tubular extension and an outer tubular extension, both extensions projecting downwards on the underside of the DOSDEV, the inner tubular extension and the outer tubular extension are coaxially aligned with respect to each other; an inner tubular extension located within the outer tubular extension; an outer diameter of the inner tubular extension is smaller than an inner diameter of the outer tubular extension, whereby a space is formed between the outer tubular extension and the inner tubular extension, the space extending circumferentially around the inner tubular extension; the inside of the inner tubular extension forms a dosing chamber; an opening at the lower end of the inner tubular extension forms the opening of the dosing chamber at its lower end; the wall of the outer tubular extension extends axially beyond the edge of the end of the wall of the inner tubular extension and has a bend, BEND, axially adjacent to the end of the wall of the inner tubular extension, whereby the wall of the outer tubular extension extends radially inwardly at least partially around the end of the inner tubular extension; the outer tubular extension terminates axially above the BEND in an opening having a diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the outer tubular extension; a SPACE extends over the inner surface of the BEND and further over an edge of the end of the wall of the outer tubular extension, thereby extending radially inwardly from the BEND, the SPACE terminating in an open slit, SLIT, between the end of the inner tubular extension and the end of the outer tubular extension; A dosing device, DOSDEV, in which the edge of the end of the wall of the outer tubular extension does not extend radially inwardly beyond the inner diameter of the end of the wall of the inner tubular extension.

[0010] Several advantages can be achieved by the invention: in particular, the provision of a slit makes it possible to reliably remove particles from the dispensing opening of the DOSDEV without mechanical scraping elements.

[0011] Abbreviation ANGLE The angle of the end of the wall of the outer tubular extension introduced by BEND with respect to the axial direction of the outer tubular extension. BEND A bend in the wall of the outer tubular extension located axially adjacent to the end of the wall of the inner tubular extension, bending the wall of the outer tubular extension at least partially radially inwardly around the end of the inner tubular extension. DOSDEV - A device for dosing solid particulate material into a receptacle. D50 mass median diameter (MMD), mass average particle diameter FWHM Full width at half maximum IDR: The inside diameter of the upper edge of the lower tube, i.e. the inside diameter of the upper edge of the upper section of the lower tube NUM-DE The number of dose elements contained in DOSDEV. NUM-DE-CONNECTED is the number of administration elements that are actually connected to the DOSDEV. NUM-DE-SODE Number of dose elements in SODE POS-DE Number of positions of the administration element Sigma: Relative standard deviation or polydispersity SLIT A slit between the end of the inner tubular extension and the end of the outer tubular extension. SLIDE A slide formed when the upper channel is a straight channel whose TRANSDEV direction is not parallel to the vertical and whose angle with respect to the vertical is greater than 0 and less than 90°. A set of dosing elements, in which the inner diameter of the inner tubular extension of any one of the dosing elements in the set is different from the inner diameter of any other of the dosing elements in the set, such that all of the inner diameters of the inner tubular extensions are different. SOLT is a set of lower tubes, each of which has a different diameter of discharge opening than any other, so that all of the diameters of the discharge openings of the lower tubes are different SPACE - the space between the outer tubular extension and the inner tubular extension, which extends circumferentially around the inner tubular extension SPACECAV The space cavity where each SPACE of each administration element is connected

[0012] [Mode for carrying out the invention] The receptacle into which the solid particulate material is administered may be a two-piece hard capsule. Two-piece hard capsules are used for medical and nutritional applications, e.g., to administer medicines or dietary supplements to humans. Standard sizes of such commercially available two-piece hard capsules are known to those skilled in the art and are cited, for example, in the "Technical Reference File Hard Gelatin Capsules" in the Capsugel Library, 2nd Edition, now Lonza, Inc., at www.capsugel.com.

[0013] The wall thickness can range from 80 to 120 micrometers, with a typical value being 100 micrometers. The terms "capsule" and "capsule shell" are often used synonymously and, in the present invention, for example in prior art publications, may be distinguished; moreover, the term "capsule shell" usually refers to an empty capsule and the term "capsule" refers to a capsule filled with a medicinal product or some other substance.

[0014] Two-piece hard capsules, which may also be called bipartite hard capsules, consist of two parts, a cap and a body. Typical sizes of two-piece hard capsule bodies are shown in Table 1 for both extremes of hard gelatin capsule sizes 000 and 5. [Table 1]

[0015] In the capsule filler, the body is filled with the desired contents of the capsule, and in the present case, the desired solid particulate material is filled into the body. Thus, more specifically, when a receptacle is said to be a two-piece hard capsule, the receptacle into which the solid particulate material is administered is the body of the two-piece hard capsule. The capsule can be filled with only the desired solid particulate material, or it can be filled with the desired solid particulate material and any other material, which may be solid or liquid, and which may be filled before or after the solid particulate material is filled with the DOSDEV.

[0016] Thus, the DOSDEV is adapted for filling receptacles, which are two-piece hard capsules used for medical and nutritional applications, e.g. the size of the DOSDEV is adapted to a typical size of a two-piece hard capsule, such as the volume of the DOSDEV being adapted to a typical volume of the body of a two-piece hard capsule. In particular, the volume of the dosing chamber may be adapted to the volume of the body of the two-piece hard capsule and / or the size of the outer diameter of the dosing element may be adapted, i.e. it may be equal to or less than the inner diameter of the body, preferably less than the inner diameter.

[0017] The term "inner surface of the cap or body" means "inner surface of the wall of the cap or body" and is used interchangeably unless expressly stated otherwise.

[0018] A typical cap for a capsule includes two portions: a closed end, which is often dome-shaped, and a usually cylindrical portion adjacent the closed end and terminating in the open end of the cap, which is a rim that surrounds the opening of the cap and may also be referred to as the edge of the open end of the cap. Similarly, a typical body of a capsule includes two similar portions: a closed end, which is often dome-shaped, and a usually cylindrical portion adjacent the closed end and terminating at the open end of the body, which is a rim that surrounds the opening of the body and may also be referred to as the rim of the open end of the body.

[0019] Telescopic engagement in the sense of the present invention means at least partial contact of the inner wall of the cap with the outer wall of the body. It also means that the cap and the body show at least partial mating of their configurations when they overlap in the closed capsule and overlap in the closed position. The telescopic engagement of the cap and the body can be achieved by sliding the cap over the body, in other words by inserting the body into the cavity of the cap. The body is first slid with its open end into the cavity of the cap. Thus, the cap and the body are matingly connected or engaged in at least a partial configuration. Telescopic engagement therefore means mating engagement of the cap and the body in at least a partial configuration. The outer diameter of the cylindrical portion of the body is equal to or slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the cylindrical portion of the cap. When the capsule is closed by telescopic engagement of the cap and the body, at least a portion of the preferably cylindrical portion of the cap slides over at least a portion of the preferably cylindrical portion of the body, thereby defining an overlapping region where at least a portion of the wall of the preferably cylindrical portion of the cap overlaps with at least a portion of the wall of the preferably cylindrical portion of the cap. The closed capsule shell may have essentially a hollow cylindrical shape.

[0020] When directional terms such as downward or upward, and terms such as lower or upper, are used, these terms refer to a vertical direction. When referring to the horizontal direction in this specification, it means the direction perpendicular to the vertical direction. Unless otherwise stated, the directions are relative to the DOSDEV and dosing elements in their operative state.

[0021] The inner and outer tubular extensions have an axial direction and a radial direction, the axial direction being parallel to the axis of the tubular extension and the radial direction being in the direction of a radius of the tubular extension.

[0022] Preferably, the inner tubular extension is located centrally of the outer tubular extension.

[0023] The inner tubular extension may be a part that is separable from the outer tubular extension and from any other part of the DOSDEV, or it may be an integral part of the outer tubular extension or the DOSDEV.

[0024] The outer tubular extension may be a part that is separable from the inner tubular extension and from any other part of the DOSDEV, or it may be an integral part of the inner tubular extension or the DOSDEV.

[0025] The administration element may be a part that is separable from any other part of the DOSDEV or may be an integral part of the DOSDEV.

[0026] In a preferred embodiment, the inner and outer tubular shaped extensions are two parts that are separable from each other and from any other part of the DOSDEV.

[0027] When the DOSDEV comprises an administration element as a part that is separable from any other part of the DOSDEV, the DOSDEV comprises at least two parts, the administration element and a body of the DOSDEV having a location on the administration element where the administration element can be connected to the body of the DOSDEV.

[0028] Maintenance such as replacement and cleaning of the filter elements described herein is facilitated when at least one portion, or preferably both portions, of the dosing element are separable from any other portion of the DOSDEV and from each other, respectively.

[0029] The dosing element, and in this specification also the inner tubular shaped extension and the outer tubular shaped extension, may have two sections, an upper section and a lower section, the lower section being the protruding section of the dosing element, i.e. the protruding section of the inner tubular shaped extension and the protruding section of the outer tubular shaped extension, respectively, while the upper section is located within the other part of the DOSDEV.

[0030] The lower section of the dosing element comprises a lower section of an inner tubular extension and a lower section of an outer tubular extension.

[0031] The upper section of the dosing element comprises an upper section of an inner tubular extension and an upper section of an outer tubular extension.

[0032] Preferably, at least the protruding section of the inner tubular extension has the shape of a tube, more preferably the protruding part of the inner tubular extension has the shape of a tube with a constant inner diameter over the axial extension of said tubular lower section, which means that the inner diameter of the lower section of the inner tubular extension and the diameter of the opening of the dosing chamber are identical, At least the protruding section of the outer tubular extension has a tubular shape.

[0033] The lower section of the dosing element, i.e. the protruding section of the dosing element, therefore has the shape of a tube.

[0034] The DOSDEV and the body of the DOSDEV may each be described as having an upper and lower section. Preferably, the inner and outer tubular extensions are located in the lower section of the DOSDEV. Preferably, the inner tubular shaped extension and the outer tubular shaped extension are two parts located in the lower section of the DOSDEV and separable from any other part of the DOSDEV and from each other, more preferably, the inner tubular shaped extension and the outer tubular shaped extension are two parts forming the lower section of the DOSDEV and separable from any other part of the DOSDEV and from each other, respectively.

[0035] The lower section of the dosing element, and thus of both the inner and the outer tubular shaped extension, projects axially downwards, preferably vertically downwards. Since the dosing element is part of the DOSDEV, such convex part of the dosing element is the bottom of the DOSDEV and the lower end of the dosing element, i.e. the lower end of the outer tubular shaped extension, is the lower end of the DOSDEV. Preferably, the projection of the outer tubular extension projects axially downwards with an axial length of 5 to 30 mm, more preferably 5 to 20 mm, more preferably 5 to 18 mm, even more preferably 8 to 18 mm, especially 10 to 16 mm. A typical axial length may be 13 mm.

[0036] The DOSDEV may be a device comprising two or more administration elements, The DOSDEV and administration elements are as described herein and all embodiments thereof are also envisaged.

[0037] Preferably, when the DOSDEV is a device comprising two or more administration elements, all the administration elements are identical to one another.

[0038] When the DOSDEV comprises two or more administration elements, the administration elements may be in two parts that are separable from each other and from any other parts of the DOSDEV, and preferably all administration elements of the DOSDEV are in parts that are separable from each other and from any other parts of the DOSDEV.

[0039] When the DOSDEV comprises two or more administration elements that are parts that are separable from one another and from any other parts of the DOSDEV, the DOSDEV comprises a body of the DOSDEV that includes several positions, POS-DE, of the administration elements at which the administration elements can be connected to the DOSDEV.

[0040] NUM-DE is the number of dose elements contained in DOSDEV. NUM-DE and POS-DE are both integer values, NUM-DE-CONNECTED is the number of administration elements actually connected to DOSDEV, and NUM-DE-CONNECTED=1 for POS-DE; If all administration elements contained in the DOSDEV are inseparable from the DOSDEV and are an integral part of the DOSDEV, then NUM-DE-CONNECTED is equal to POS-DE. If at least one of the administration elements included in the DOSDEV is a part that is separable from any other part of the DOSDEV, NUM-DE-CONNECTED may be less than or equal to POS-DE; If the DOSDEV comprises two or more administration elements that are parts that are separable from each other and from any other parts of the DOSDEV, then NUM-DE is equal to POS-DE and NUM-DE-CONNECTED may be less than or equal to NUM-DE.

[0041] For ease of reading, even if at least one administration element is a part that is separable from any other part of the DOSDEV, for the purposes of this description it is nevertheless assumed that all administration elements are connected in the DOSDEV such that POS-DE, NUM-DE, and NUM-DE-CONNECTED are the same, although one skilled in the art will recognize that administration operations can be performed in such a DOSDEV where NUM-DE-INSTALLED is less than POS-DE.

[0042] For example, NUM-DE or POS-DE may be equal to the number, or a fraction of the number, of capsule positions per capsule holder on a commercially available capsule filler, respectively. NUM-DE or POS-DE may be 1 to 48, preferably 1 to 40, more preferably 1 to 25, even more preferably 1 to 20, in particular 1 to 15, more in particular 1 to 10, respectively, with a standard value of NUM-DE or POS-DE, respectively, being 9.

[0043] If NUM-DE or POS-DE is greater than 1, i.e. if the DOSDEV is a device comprising two or more administration elements, preferably all administration elements comprised in the DOSDEV protrude axially with the same axial length and all lower ends of the administration elements of the DOSDEV, i.e. all lower ends of the outer tubular shaped extensions, are horizontally aligned with each other with respect to their vertical positions in the DOSDEV. Preferably, when the DOSDEV comprises two or more administration elements, the protrusions of any administration element are not connected or in contact with the protrusions of any other administration element, but are spaced or offset from the protrusions of any respective other administration element.

[0044] A SPACE is provided in which the outer tubular extension does not contact the inner tubular extension, i.e. the inner wall of the outer tubular extension does not contact the outer wall of the inner tubular extension. The SPACE terminates downwards in a SLIT. The SLIT extends circumferentially around the opening of the dosing chamber. The SPACE extends circumferentially around the end of the inner tubular extension. From its starting point at the axial top of the BEND, the SPACE extends over the inner surface of the BEND and further over the edge of the end of the wall of the outer tubular extension, i.e. into the SLIT. The lower end of the SPACE is therefore the SLIT. In the axial upward direction starting from the SLIT, the SPACE extends at least over the BEND. Preferably, the SPACE extends axially upwards from the BEND for at least a certain length along the outer wall of the inner tubular extension, preferably this certain length is equal to or less than the length of the inner tubular extension.

[0045] By the axially close BEND of the end of the wall of the inner tubular extension, i.e. after the radially inward BEND towards the end of the outer tubular extension, the wall of the outer tubular extension terminates radially inward at an angle, ANGLE, relative to the axial direction of the outer tubular extension, which ANGLE is between 45 and 90°, preferably between 60 and 90°, more preferably between 70 and 90°, even more preferably between 80 and 90°, in particular 90°. ANGLE 90° means that, when the axis of the outer tubular extension is arranged vertically, the wall of the outer tubular extension terminates radially inward in a horizontal direction. The BEND causes any gas exiting the SPACE through the SLIT to no longer exit in an axial, or particularly vertical, direction, but rather exits the SPACE through the SLIT in a radially inward ANGLE direction.

[0046] The requirement that the edge of the end wall of the outer tubular extension does not extend radially beyond the inner diameter of the end wall of the inner tubular extension means that the diameter of the opening of the outer tubular extension is equal to or greater than the diameter of its inner diameter at the lower end of the inner tubular extension forming the opening of the dosing chamber.

[0047] The edge of the end of the wall of the inner tubular extension actually has two edges and extends between these two edges, an inner edge and an outer edge, the inner edge being the edge of the inner surface of the wall of the inner tubular extension and the outer edge being the edge of the outer surface of the wall of the inner tubular extension. Preferably, the end of the wall of the outer tubular extension extends at least radially inwards such that the end of the wall of the outer tubular extension terminates in an edge that is axially aligned with the outer edge of the edge of the end of the wall of the inner tubular extension, which means that it is axially aligned with the outer surface of the inner tubular extension, which means that the diameter of the opening of the outer tube is less than or equal to the outer diameter of the inner tubular extension.

[0048] Preferably, the outer tubular extension terminates axially upwardly before the BEND in an opening of a diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the outer tubular extension, and preferably terminates in an opening of a diameter equal to or smaller than the outer diameter of the inner tubular extension and equal to or larger than the inner diameter of the inner tubular extension.

[0049] Even more preferably, the ANGLE is 90° and the end of the wall of the outer tubular extension terminates in an edge that is vertically aligned with the inner surface of the inner tubular extension. This means that the diameter of the opening of the outer tube is equal to the inner diameter of the lower end of the inner tubular extension, and also means that the diameter of the opening of the outer tubular extension is equal to the opening of the dosing chamber. Thus, any gas that exits the SPACE through the SLIT exits radially inward in a horizontal direction.

[0050] Preferably, the width of the SLIT is 0.1 to 1 mm, more preferably 0.1 to 0.75 mm, even more preferably 0.1 to 0.5 mm, particularly 0.2 to 0.4 mm, and more particularly 0.25 to 0.35 mm. A standard value for the width of the SLIT may be 0.3 mm.

[0051] Preferably, the inner diameter of the lower section of the inner tubular extension is between 3 and 10 mm, more preferably between 4 and 9 mm, typical inner diameters can be 4 mm, 5 mm, 6 mm and 8 mm. This inner diameter of the inner tubular extension is the diameter of the opening of the dosing chamber.

[0052] Preferably, the wall thickness of the lower section of the inner tubular extension is 0.2 to 5 mm, more preferably 0.2 to 3 mm, even more preferably 0.2 to 2 mm, in particular 0.3 to 1.5 mm, more in particular 0.3 to 1 mm, a typical thickness may be 0.5 mm.

[0053] Typical outer diameters of the lower section of the inner tubular extension can be 5mm, 6mm, 7mm and 9mm.

[0054] Preferably, the radial width of the SPACE of the lower section of the dosing element axially upward from the BEND is 0.1 to 3 mm, more preferably 0.25 to 2 mm, even more preferably 0.25 to 1.5 mm, in particular 0.25 to 1 mm, and a typical width of the SPACE of the lower section of the dosing element axially upward from the BEND may be 0.5 mm.

[0055] Typical inside diameters of the lower section of the outer tubular extension axially upward from the BEND can be 6 mm, 7 mm, 8 mm and 10 mm.

[0056] Preferably, the wall thickness of the lower section of the outer tubular extension axially upward from the BEND is between 0.2 and 5 mm, more preferably between 0.2 and 3 mm, even more preferably between 0.2 and 2 mm, in particular between 0.3 and 1.5 mm, more in particular between 0.3 and 1 mm, a typical thickness may be 0.5 mm.

[0057] Typical outside diameters of the lower section of the outer tubular extension axially upward from the BEND can be 7 mm, 8 mm, 9 mm and 11 mm.

[0058] Preferably, the inner diameter of the end of the outer tubular extension is between 3 and 11 mm, more preferably between 3.5 and 9.5 mm, with typical inner diameters being 4 mm, 5 mm, 6 mm and 8 mm.

[0059] The standard values ​​for the four dosing elements DE1, DE2, DE3 and DE4 may be according to Table 2. [Table 2]

[0060] Preferably, in DE1, DE2, DE3 and DE4: The wall thickness of the inner tube extension is 0.5mm. The radial width of the SPACE is 0.5 mm. The wall thickness of the outer tube extension is 0.5mm. The width of the SLIT is 0.3mm.

[0061] The diameter of the dosing chamber opening and the diameter of the dosing chamber are selected according to the particle size of the solid particulate material, for example a fine solid particulate material with a particle size of about 0.1 mm can be dosed with a dosing element with a dosing chamber opening diameter of 4 mm, while a solid particulate material with a particle size of about 2 mm is rather dosed with a dosing element with a dosing chamber opening diameter of 8 mm. The diameter may also be adjusted to the amount to be dosed.

[0062] The dosing chamber is inside the inner tubular extension. The lower side of the dosing chamber is the opening of the dosing chamber, i.e. the opening of the inner tubular extension. The upper side of the dosing chamber is limited by a radial wall, preferably a horizontal wall, which comprises a filter element, which comprises a filter. Thus, the DOSDEV further comprises a filter element.

[0063] The filter serves to retain the solid particulate material within the dosing chamber, and the filter allows for the application of either a vacuum or an air blow through the filter to the dosing chamber.

[0064] The inner tubular extension may terminate axially upwards at a radial wall limiting the dosing chamber, or the inner tubular extension may extend beyond the radial wall.

[0065] Preferably, the filter is located centrally in a radial wall that defines the boundary of the dosing chamber.

[0066] Preferably, the filter element and the filter have a rounded, flat shape.

[0067] In one embodiment, the filter element is a disk containing a filter, which is preferably realized in the form of a flat ring containing a filter.

[0068] In another embodiment, the filter element is a filter.

[0069] In another embodiment, the radial wall is a filter element, and the filter element is a filter, so that the radial wall is a filter.

[0070] In another embodiment, the radial wall defining the boundary of the dosing chamber is a filter element, more preferably the filter element is a ring containing a filter or is a filter.

[0071] The underside of each of the filter element and the filter faces the dosing chamber.

[0072] The filter of the filter element has a mesh size smaller than the average particle size of the solid particulate material being dosed by the DOSDEV. Thus, any suction of the solid particulate material from the dosing chamber through the filter is prevented. Thus, the filter effectively holds the solid particulate material within the dosing chamber while allowing a vacuum to be applied to the dosing chamber to draw the solid particulate material into the dosing chamber. This mesh size may also be referred to as pore size or opening size or aperture size.

[0073] The mesh size of the filter may be selected to suit the particle size of the solid particulate material to be administered, for example for particle sizes between 80 micrometers and 2 mm a mesh size of 35 to 45 micrometers, preferably 40 to 45 micrometers, may conveniently be used, a typical mesh size may be 43 micrometers.

[0074] For mesh sizes between 35 and 45 micrometers, the typical open passable area of ​​the filter may be between 8 and 15% of the area of ​​the filter.

[0075] Preferably, the area of ​​the filter is at least 10%, more preferably at least 15%, of the area of ​​the radial wall that bounds the upper end of the inner tubular extension, with a typical area being 20-60%.

[0076] The dosing chamber extends in the inner tube-shaped extension from the opening of the dosing chamber axially upwards to the radial wall containing the filter element. Preferably, the dosing chamber has a cylindrical shape, the axial wall of the cylinder forming the dosing chamber is formed by the inner tube-shaped extension, the lower end of the cylinder forming the dosing chamber is the opening of the inner tube-shaped extension, i.e. the opening of the dosing chamber, and the upper end of the cylinder forming the dosing chamber is bounded by the radial wall containing the filter element. The opening of the dosing chamber and the dosing chamber are fluidly connected through the filter with a channel starting from the upper side of the filter and extending at least through the upper part of the DOSDEV, which channel may be connected to a vacuum supply, referred to herein as the vacuum channel, and a vacuum may be applied to the dosing chamber through the vacuum channel and used to suck the solid particulate material into the dosing chamber through the opening of the dosing chamber. The dosing chamber may also be fluidly connected through the filter and through the vacuum channel with a gas supply for applying an air blow to the dosing chamber through the vacuum channel and through the filter. Thus, both alternatives, air blow or suction, can be applied to the dosing chamber via the vacuum channel and through the filter.

[0077] Preferably, the inner diameter of the dosing chamber is constant from its lower end, i.e. from the opening of the dosing chamber to the radial wall that defines the boundary of the dosing chamber at its upper end. That means that the inner tubular extension preferably has a constant inner diameter over its entire length. Preferably, at least the section of the inner tubular extension that is the axial wall of the dosing chamber is a tube, and the axial wall of the dosing chamber is an axially straight tubular, i.e. cylindrical wall.

[0078] Preferably, the radial wall with the filter element is movable in the axial direction of the dosing chamber between an upper position and a lower position. The upper position can also be referred to as the vacuum position of the radial wall with the filter element, i.e. the vacuum position of the filter element, and the lower position can also be referred to as the ejection position of the filter element. Preferably, the ejection position is axially close to the end of the inner tubular extension or is further aligned with the end of the inner tubular extension. More preferably, the ejection position is axially close to the end of the inner tubular extension or is further aligned with the end of the inner tubular extension and does not extend axially beyond the edge of the end of the wall of the inner tubular extension, i.e. does not extend axially into the slit. Preferably, the radial wall with the filter element is attached at its upper side to the lower end of a tube, referred to herein as a filter tube, which preferably has an outer diameter that is equal to or smaller than the inner diameter of the dosing chamber, such that if the radial wall is a filter element and the filter is attached, for example by welding, to said lower end of the filter tube. The lower end of the filter tube can be part of the radial wall containing the filter element. The circumference of the radial wall containing the filter element has the same shape as the circumference of the dosing chamber, preferably both shapes are circular, the dosing chamber being inside a cylinder, i.e. inside a tube, and the radial wall fits snugly into the dosing chamber. The axial location of the vacuum position, i.e. the axial location of the radial wall with the filter element, determines the size of the dosing chamber, and the axial location of the vacuum position, or in short the vacuum position, can be selected and adjusted for one dosing operation, thereby setting the size of the dosing chamber, which resets the size of the single dose of solid particulate material sucked into the dosing chamber. The vacuum position can also be referred to as the fill height of the dosing chamber.

[0079] When the DOSDEV comprises two or more dosing elements, preferably all individual vacuum channels originating from each dosing element are still connected within the DOSDEV to one combined vacuum channel which is then connected to a vacuum source. Thus, only one vacuum source is needed to simultaneously apply vacuum to all openings of the dosing chambers of the DOSDEV. Thus, the siphoning of solid particulate material is less complicated and more reproducible, since it is not necessary to set and control the strength of the vacuum for a given time for each dosing chamber individually to siphon the desired amount of solid particulate material into each dosing element, and is equal for each and every dosing chamber, but it is necessary to set and control only a given strength of the vacuum for a given time for siphoning the same desired amount of solid particulate material into each dosing chamber simultaneously.

[0080] The SPACE may be connected to a gas supply at its end opposite the SLIT. The SPACE starts from the SLIT at its lower end, extends through the space between the inner and outer tube-shaped extensions of the dosing element, and then connects to one or more gas channels that extend further through the DOSDEV, preferably through the upper part of the DOSDEV. The SPACE may be connected to a gas supply via one or more gas channels, and the supplied gas flows from the gas supply through one or more gas channels into the SPACE of the DOSDEV and out of the SLIT.

[0081] If the DOSDEV comprises two or more dosing elements, each SPACE of each dosing element can be individually connected to a gas supply, for example through one or more gas channels through the DOSDEV, preferably through the top of the DOSDEV, or each SPACE of each dosing element can be optionally connected through one or more gas channels to a space cavity, SPACECAV, which is located in the DOSDEV, preferably at the top of the DOSDEV, and then the SPACECAV can be connected back to a gas supply, for example through a gas channel. Thus, each SLIT of each dosing element is fluidly connected through the SPACE, optionally through one or more gas channels and the SPACECAV, with each other SLIT of the other dosing elements, and each SLIT of each dosing element is fluidly connected to a gas supply through the SPACECAV. Thus, gas dosing is less complicated, more reproducible and equal for each dosing element since only one gas supply is required to simultaneously supply gas to all SPACES in each dosing element via the SPACECAV, and there is no need to set and control a predetermined gas pressure for a predetermined time individually for each dosing element, but only a predetermined gas pressure needs to be set and controlled for a predetermined time to simultaneously blow desired equal amounts of gas at desired equal rates of gas flows from each SLIT of each dosing element.

[0082] Preferably, the SPACECAV is located in the DOSDEV, preferably in the upper part of the DOSDEV, above the dosing element (preferably located in the lower section of the DOSDEV).

[0083] There can be one or more exits from a SPACECAV to a SPACE.

[0084] In one embodiment, the DOSDEV comprises a body of the DOSDEV having a location for a dosing element, the dosing element being a part separable from any other part of the DOSDEV, where the dosing element may be connected to the body of the DOSDEV; The DOSDEV is a kit of parts that comprises, in addition to the body of the DOSDEV, a set of dosing elements, SODEs, for the location of the dosing elements; The dosing elements of the SODE are parts that are separable from each other and from any other part of the DOSDEV; Within the SODE, the inner diameter of the inner tubular shaped extension of any one of the dosing elements contained in the SODE is different from the inner diameter of the inner tubular shaped extension of any other of the dosing elements contained in the SODE; DOSDEV and any administration elements are as defined herein and all embodiments thereof are also included.

[0085] The location of the dosage element in the DOSDEV may also be referred to as the seat of the dosage element.

[0086] Preferably, the number of dosage elements contained in a SODE, NUM-DE-SODE, is between 2 and 10, more preferably between 2 and 7, even more preferably between 2 and 5, with a typical SODE comprising four dosage elements DE1, DE2, DE3 and DE4.

[0087] Thus, if a DOSDEV has two or more locations of a dosing element where a dosing element that is a part that is separable from any other part of the DOSDEV can be connected to the body of the DOSDEV, the DOSDEV has as many SODEs as there are locations of the dosing element, and any one of these SODEs is identical to any other of these SODEs.

[0088] therefore If DOSDEV does not include SODE, then NUM-DE=POS-DE, but · If DOSDEV contains one SODE for each position of the dose element, then NUM-DE = NUM-DE-SODE * POS-DE.

[0089] For example, if a DOSDEV or a body of a DOSDEV includes nine positions for dosing elements and one SODE with four dosing elements for each position of the dosing elements, POS-DE is 9, NUM-DE36, NUM-DE-SODE=4, NUM-DE-CONNECTED=1~9.

[0090] A further subject of the invention is a transfer device, TRANSDEV, adapted for transferring solid particulate material from the DOSDEV to a receptacle. TRANSDEV has an upper side facing vertically upwards and a lower side facing vertically downwards; The TRANSDEV has a receiving opening on its upper side and a discharge opening on its lower side; the receiving opening and the discharge opening are connected by a channel; The receiving opening of the TRANSDEV corresponds to the dosing chamber of the DOSDEV; the discharge opening of the TRANSDEV is adapted to serve as an interface for interacting with the opening of the receptacle; DOSDEV is as defined herein with all its embodiments also entailed.

[0091] Thus, the receiving opening is the opening of a channel in the upper side of the TRANSDEV, and the exhaust opening is the opening of a channel in the lower side of the TRANSDEV. A channel passes through the TRANSDEV that connects the receiving opening with the exhaust opening.

[0092] TRANSDEV is a device that cooperates with DOSDEV and corresponds to DOSDEV; they are interrelated devices. The correspondence of the DOSDEV to the TRANSDEV, i.e. their cooperation and interrelationship, is evident in that the opening of the lower end of the inner tube-shaped extension of the DOSDEV, i.e. the opening of the dosing chamber, corresponds to the receiving opening on the TRANSDEV. Preferably, the shape of the opening of the dosing chamber corresponds to the shape of the receiving opening. The DOSDEV can be positioned above the TRANSDEV in such a way that the opening of the dosing chamber is vertically aligned with the receiving opening of the TRANSDEV, this position of the DOSDEV is also referred to as the position of vertical alignment of the DOSDEV and the TRANSDEV. The correspondence of said openings in the two devices means that when the DOSDEV is vertically aligned with the TRANSDEV, any solid particulate material discharged from the opening of the dosing chamber is introduced, e.g. enters or pours into, the corresponding receiving opening of the TRANSDEV. The correspondence of the two openings in the two devices is achieved by the correspondence of the size and / or shape of the two openings. The correspondence of the two openings is provided in such a way that losses of solid particulate material that may occur during transfer from the opening of the dosing chamber to the receiving opening are minimized or even zero, which means that at a minimum, and preferably all, of the solid particulate material discharged from the dosing chamber is deposited into the receiving opening of the TRANSDEV, which would otherwise mean losses of solid particulate material.

[0093] Preferably, when the DOSDEV is vertically aligned with the TRANSDEV, the centre of the opening of the dispensing chamber of the DOSDEV is vertically aligned with the centre of the receiving opening of the TRANSDEV.

[0094] The receiving opening of the TRANSDEV may have any shape corresponding to the shape of the opening of the dosing chamber, preferred shapes are circular or slot-shaped, in particular slot-shaped.

[0095] The width of the receiving opening corresponds to the diameter of the opening of the dosing chamber, the width of the receiving opening being equal to or greater than the diameter of the opening of the dosing chamber, preferably greater than it. Preferably, the width of the receiving opening is 3 to 15 mm, more preferably 3.1 to 15 mm, even more preferably 4 to 15 mm, particularly 4.1 to 15 mm, more particularly 8.1 to 15 mm, even more particularly 9 to 12 mm, a typical width may be 10.7 mm.

[0096] When solid particulate material is discharged from the DOSDEV through the TRANSDEV to the receptacle, the DOSDEV is vertically aligned with the TRANSDEV, i.e., any discharge openings in the TRANSDEV are vertically aligned with the respective openings in the receptacle. This means that when discharging solid particulate material from a DOSDEV to a receptacle via a TRANSDEV, the opening of the dosing chamber of the DOSDEV is vertically aligned with the respective receiving opening of the TRANSDEV, and the respective discharge openings of the TRANSDEVs connected to said receiving openings via their respective channels are vertically aligned with the respective openings of the receptacle, so that the solid particulate material is discharged from the dosing chamber of the DOSDEV to the receiving opening of the TRANSDEV, the solid particulate material then passes through the respective channels to the respective discharge openings of the TRANSDEV, and from the TRANSDEV to the respective openings of the receptacle. Such vertical alignment of the DOSDEV, TRANSDEV and receptacle provides for minimal, or even no, loss of solid particulate material during the dosing operation.

[0097] Preferably, the discharge opening of the TRANSDEV corresponds to the opening of a receptacle through which the solid particulate material is to be dispensed, more preferably the diameter of the discharge opening corresponds to the diameter of the opening of the receptacle, and even more preferably the diameter of the discharge opening is smaller than the diameter of the opening of the receptacle through which the solid particulate material is to be dispensed.

[0098] The TRANSDEV channel has two sections, an upper channel and a lower channel. The upper end of the upper channel is a receiving opening; The lower end of the lower channel is a discharge opening; Thus, the upper and lower channels are a pair forming a channel. The upper and / or lower channels may be bores of the TRANSDEV.

[0099] Preferably, the upper channel is a straight channel in which the direction of the TRANSDEV is not parallel to the vertical direction and the angle with respect to the vertical direction is greater than 0 to less than 90°, preferably 10 to 80°, more preferably 20 to 80°, even more preferably 20 to 75°, in particular 25 to 75°, more particularly 30 to 65°, thereby forming a slide, SLIDE; Typical angles relative to the vertical can be 30°, 40°, 45°, 50°, 60° and 65°, with preferred angles being 45° and 60°.

[0100] Preferably, the lower channel is a straight channel extending vertically in the TRANSDEV.

[0101] Both the upper and lower channels, and also their connections with each other, are realised in such a way that there is no impediment or hindrance to the solid particulate material passing through the TRANSDEV from the receiving opening to the discharge opening.

[0102] Preferably, the upper channel is the bore of the TRANSDEV.

[0103] Preferably, the lower channel is a part that is separable from any other part of the TRANSDEV, and thus in this preferred embodiment the TRANSDEV comprises at least two parts that are separable from each other and from any other part of the TRANSDEV. The two parts of the TRANSDEV are the body, referred to herein as the body of the TRANSDEV, and the lower channel. In this embodiment the upper channel is preferably a bore in the body of the TRANSDEV. Preferably, the lower channel, when it is a separable part, is a tube-shaped part, also referred to herein as the lower tube, and the body of the TRANSDEV has a vertical bore extending from the bottom of the body of the TRANSDEV upwardly into the body of the TRANSDEV and corresponding to the lower tube. The correspondence of the vertical bore and the lower tube preferably means that at least the upper end of the lower tube corresponds to the vertical bore, preferably the shape of at least the upper end of the lower tube corresponds to the shape of the vertical bore, and preferably at least the upper end of the lower tube can be connected to or inserted into the vertical bore. Thus, preferably the inner diameter of the vertical bore corresponds to at least the outer diameter of the upper end of the lower tube, preferably they are equal. Thus, preferably, the upper end of the lower tube fits into the vertical bore such that the upper end of the lower tube can be inserted into the vertical bore, the inner diameter of the vertical bore preferably being equal to the outer diameter of the upper end of the lower tube. The length of the vertical bore corresponds to the length of the lower tube and may be up to 1.5 times longer or up to 0.5 times shorter than the length of the lower tube.

[0104] The lower channel, when it is a separate part or a lower tube, can be fastened to the body of the TRANSDEV in the vertical bore. The fastening of the lower tube to the respective vertical bore of the TRANSDEV can be realized, for example, by a threaded connection, for which both the inner surface of the vertical bore and the outer surface of the lower tube can have respective threads that correspond to each other, or Preferably, the TRANSDEV comprises at least three parts, the TRANSDEV body, the base plate and the lower tube, which are separable from each other and from any other part of the TRANSDEV; The body of the TRANSDEV includes a vertical bore and an upper channel; The lower tube may be fastened to a vertical bore in the body of the TRANSDEV by a base plate, the base plate being fastened to the bottom of the body of the TRANSDEV; The base plate has a circular opening with a diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the lower tube so that the lower tube can be fixed to the TRANSDEV in the vertical bore.

[0105] Fastening the lower tube to the vertical bore of the body of the TRANSDEV by means of a base plate is possible, e.g. (a) This may be achieved by the diameter of the circular opening in the base plate being smaller than the outer diameter of the end of the lower tube and larger than the inner diameter of the end of the lower tube; Or, preferably, (b) the lower tube has an axial section in the form of an annular protrusion on its outer surface, the annular protrusion extending circumferentially around the outer surface of the lower tube having an axial extension of the lower tube that is less than a length of the lower tube, the annular protrusion being axially located on the lower tube at a distance from an upper end and another distance from a lower end of the lower tube; whereby the lower tube has at least three axial sections, an upper section, a middle section which is an annular projection, and a lower section, the outer diameters of the upper and lower sections being smaller than the outer diameter of the annular projection; the vertical bore begins at the bottom of the body of the TRANSDEV, with a circular recess having an inner diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the annular protrusion of the lower tube, and a vertical height corresponding to the length of the axial extension of the annular protrusion, this circular recess may be called the first section of the vertical bore; from the circular recess, i.e. from the first section of the vertical bore, the vertical bore continues upwardly through a second section of the vertical bore having an inner diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the upper section of the lower tube and having a length corresponding to the length of the upper section of the lower tube; The diameter of the circular opening in the base plate corresponds to the outside diameter of the lower section of the lower tube. Preferably, the outer diameters of the upper and lower sections of the hypotube are equal. Preferably, the vertical bore begins at the bottom of the body of the TRANSDEV, with a circular recess having an inside diameter equal to the outside diameter of the annular protrusion of the lower tube. Preferably, the vertical height of the circular recess, where the vertical bore begins at the bottom of the body of the TRANSDEV, has a vertical height equal to or slightly less than the length of the axial extension of the annular protrusion, more preferably very slightly less. Preferably, the diameter of the circular opening in the base plate is equal to the outside diameter of the lower section of the hypotube. Thus, the lower tube fits into a vertical bore having an annular protrusion that fits into the circular recess and an annular protrusion that abuts the upper end of the circular recess, the lower section of the lower tube extends into or even through the base plate, the upper section of the lower tube extends into the vertical bore above the circular recess, i.e. into the second section of the vertical bore, and the lower end of the annular protrusion abuts against the edge of the start of the vertical bore at the bottom of the body of the TRANSDEV or even protrudes very slightly from the edge of the start of the vertical bore at the bottom of the body of the TRANSDEV, i.e. from the lower edge of the circular recess, whereby the base plate of the TRANSDEV tightly fixes the lower tube in the vertical bore of the TRANSDEV.

[0106] The thickness of the base plate may be the same as or different from the length of the lower section of the lower tube, preferably the thickness of the base plate is less than or equal to the length of the lower section of the lower tube, and more preferably is equal to the length of the lower section of the lower tube.

[0107] Preferably, from the circular recess, i.e. from the first section of the vertical bore, the vertical bore continues upwardly with a second section of the vertical bore having an inner diameter equal to the outer diameter of the upper section of the lower tube and having a length greater than, and more preferably equal to, the length of the upper section of the lower tube. Preferably, the vertical bore continues upwardly from the location of the upper end of the upper section of the lower tube with a third section of the vertical bore, but with a diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the upper section of the lower tube, and preferably the diameter is equal to or smaller than the inner diameter of the edge of the end of the upper section of the lower tube, when the lower tube is inserted into the vertical bore. The vertical bore may therefore be described as comprising three sections, the lowest and first section of the vertical bore being a circular recess in the vertical bore, continuing upwardly from the first section of the vertical bore is the second section of the vertical bore, which is the section of the vertical bore in which the upper section of the lower tube is positioned, and continuing upwardly from the second section of the vertical bore is the third section of the vertical bore, which is a section of the vertical bore having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the second section of the vertical bore.

[0108] The lower opening of the upper channel opens into the vertical bore above the upper end of the upper section of the lower tube when the lower tube is inserted into the vertical bore, i.e., opens into the third section of the vertical bore. The width of the lower opening of the upper channel corresponds to the diameter of the third section of the vertical bore, where correspondence means that the transition from the lower end of the upper channel to the third section of the vertical bore does not cause any obstacle or obstruction to the passage of the solid particulate material, and therefore preferably the width of the lower end or lower opening of the upper channel is less than or equal to the diameter of the third section of the vertical bore. Essentially, the diameter of the lower opening of the upper channel, the diameter of the third section of the vertical bore, and the inner diameter of the lower tube correspond to one another such that any solid particulate material traveling from the receiving opening, through the TRANSDEV to the discharge opening is not impeded or blocked as it passes from the upper channel, then through the third section of the vertical bore, and further into the lower tube, but the solid particulate material passes smoothly from the lower opening of the upper channel down through the vertical bore and into the lower tube.

[0109] The outer diameter of the middle section of the lower tube, i.e., the annular protrusion of the lower tube, may be 1.05 to 1.4 times, preferably 1.1 to 1.3 times, more preferably 1.2 to 1.3 times, larger than the outer diameter of the upper section of the lower tube, for example, the outer diameter of the upper section of the lower tube may be 6 to 10 mm, preferably 7 to 9 mm, and the standard value of the outer diameter of the upper section of the lower tube may be 8 mm, for example, the outer diameter of the middle section of the lower tube may be 6.3 to 14 mm, preferably 8.5 to 10.5 mm, and the typical outer diameter of the middle section of the lower tube may be 9.8 mm, and preferably, the outer diameter of the upper section and the outer diameter of the lower section of the lower tube are equal.

[0110] The thickness of the base plate may be 2 to 5 mm, preferably 2 to 4 mm, and more preferably 3 mm.

[0111] The body of the TRANSDEV can be described as having two regions, an upper TRANSDEV region with an upper channel and a lower TRANSDEV region including a lower channel or tube. The body of the TRANSDEV can be realized in one part or in two vertical parts that are separable from each other, the upper part including the upper TRANSDEV region and the lower part including the lower TRANSDEV region, Preferably, the body of the TRANSDEV is realized in one piece, comprising an upper channel in the upper region of the body and a lower channel or lower tube in the lower region of the body; Upper channel, lower channel and lower tube are as defined herein and all embodiments thereof also apply. In the case of two separable parts, the upper and lower parts of the body of the TRANSDEV can be fastened together by connections known to those skilled in the art, such as threaded connections.

[0112] The inside diameter of the lower end of the lower tube is actually the diameter of the discharge opening. Preferably, the shape of the discharge opening corresponds to the shape of the opening of the receptacle; Preferably, the inner diameter of the lower end of the lower channel or lower tube, i.e. the diameter of the discharge opening, corresponds to the diameter of the opening of the receptacle through which the solid particulate material is to be dispensed; More preferably, the diameter of the discharge opening is smaller than the diameter of the opening of the receptacle through which the solid particulate material is to be dispensed. In the case where the receptacle is a two-piece hard capsule body, the diameter of the ejection opening corresponds to the diameter of the opening of the capsule body, i.e. the inner diameter of the capsule body, which depends on the size of the capsule, and typical sizes of the inner diameter of the capsule body are defined by the specifications of standard capsule sizes available on the market, such as sizes 000, 00el, 00, 0el, 0el*, 0, 1el, 1, 2el, 2, 3, 4el, 4 or 5, and preferably the diameter of the ejection opening is smaller than the inner diameter of the capsule body, and the inner diameters of various capsule sizes are known to the person skilled in the art. The diameter of the discharge opening may be 3 to 7 mm, preferably 3 to 6 mm. Standard values ​​for the diameter of the discharge opening are 3.5, 4, 4.5 and 5.5 mm. Table 1 shows typical diameters of the exit opening for several capsule sizes. [Table 3] (1) "Technical Reference File Hard Gelatin Capsules" from the Capsugel Library, 2nd Edition, Coni-Snap®. Typical wall thickness of the body can be 75 to 130 micrometers.

[0113] Preferably, the inside diameter of the lower section of the hypotube is the diameter of the discharge opening.

[0114] In one embodiment, the TRANSDEV is a kit of parts comprising a base plate, a body of the TRANSDEV having a channel with a vertical bore, and a set of upper channels and lower tubes, SOLT, for the vertical bore; In the SOLT, the diameter of the discharge opening of any one of the lower tubes included in the SOLT is different from the diameter of the discharge opening of any other of the lower tubes included in the SOLT; Each SOLT lower tube fits into a vertical bore, The lower tube and base plate of the SOLT are parts that are separable from each other and from any other parts of the TRANSDEV; The base plate, the body of the TRANSDEV, the vertical bore, the upper channel and any lower tubes are as defined herein and all embodiments thereof also apply.

[0115] Preferably, each diameter of the discharge opening of each lower tube in the SOLT corresponds to one of the various diameters of the opening of the receptacle.

[0116] If the TRANSDEV is a kit of parts including a SOLT, the number of undertubes in the SOLT may be 2 to 14, preferably 2 to 10, even more preferably 2 to 7, in particular 2 to 5, a typical number being 4; If the number of tubes in the SOLT is four, the standard values ​​of the four different diameters of the discharge openings of the four tubes in the SOLT may be 3.5, 4, 4.5 and 5.5 mm.

[0117] Where the lower tube is a part that is separable from any other part of the TRANSDEV, the upper section of the lower tube has a circumferential chamfer at its upper end which terminates in a circumferential chamfer on the inside of the lower tube, the chamfer at the upper end of the lower tube enlarging the inside diameter of the lower tube axially toward and to the edge of the end of the upper section of the lower tube, whereby the inside diameter, IDR, of the end edge of the upper section of the lower tube is greater axially downwardly than the inside diameter of the lower tube prior to the start of the chamfer. Preferably, this IDR corresponds to, and preferably is equal to or greater than, and more preferably is greater than, the inner diameter of the third section of the vertical bore that continues upwardly from the location of the upper end of the upper section of the lower tube when the lower tube is inserted into the vertical bore. Preferably, when TRANSDEV is a kit of parts and comprises SOLT: All edges of the ends of the upper sections of each lower tube in the SOLT have the same IDR, Preferably, the upper section of any lower tube in the SOLT has the same outer diameter as the upper section of any other lower tube in the SOLT, and the different diameters of the discharge openings of the lower tubes in the SOLT are realized by respectively different wall thicknesses, i.e., respectively different inner diameters of the lower sections of the lower tubes in the SOLT; Thereby, every lower tube in the SOLT fits into its own vertical bore.

[0118] A TRANSDEV may comprise two or more channels. Preferably, when the TRANSDEV comprises two or more channels, the vertical positions of the receiving openings relative to their vertical positions in the TRANSDEV are the same for all receiving openings, so that all receiving openings are vertically aligned with each other relative to their vertical positions in the TRANSDEV; That means that all of the upper ends of the upper channels of the TRANSDEV, ie all of the upper edges of the upper channels, are horizontally aligned with each other with respect to their vertical positions on the TRANSDEV.

[0119] Preferably, when a TRANSDEV comprises more than one channel, all the channels are identical.

[0120] Where the TRANSDEV comprises two or more channels, preferably the TRANSDEV comprises each channel in the form of a vertical bore, an upper channel and a lower tube, and preferably the vertical bore, upper channel and lower tube of each channel are identical for all channels.

[0121] The upper and lower channels of the channels form a pair, and the receiving and discharging openings connected by the channels also form a pair.

[0122] Thus, if a TRANSDEV has two or more channels and is a kit of parts with SOLTs, the TRANSDEV will have one SOLT for each vertical bore, and any one of these SOLTs will be identical to any other of these SOLTs.

[0123] When the DOSDEV comprises two or more administration elements: the TRANSDEV comprises the same number of channels, i.e. pairs of receiving and discharging openings, as the number of dosing elements in the DOSDEV; DOSDEV, TRANSDEV, receiving opening, discharge opening and channel are as defined herein and in all embodiments thereof; Thus, in other words, if the DOSDEV comprises two or more dosing elements, the TRANSDEV comprises the same number of pairs of upper and lower channels as the number of dosing elements in the DOSDEV; The upper and lower channels are as defined herein and all embodiments thereof are included. the vertical positions of the receiving openings of each channel relative to their vertical positions in the TRANSDEV are the same for all receiving openings, so that all receiving openings are vertically aligned with each other relative to their vertical positions in the TRANSDEV; In the release position of DOSDEV, DOSDEV is above TRANSDEV, the horizontal position of the receiving opening in the TRANSDEV corresponds to the horizontal position of the opening of the delivery chamber in the DOSDEV; So that each opening of the delivery chamber in the DOS DEV has a corresponding receiving opening in the TRANSDEV forming a corresponding pair; and the DOSDEV is positioned in such a way that each opening of the dosing chamber is positioned above the TRANSDEV in such a way that it is horizontally and vertically aligned with a corresponding receiving opening of the TRANSDEV; Preferably, the centre of each opening in the dispensing chamber is vertically aligned with the centre of a corresponding receiving opening in the TRANSDEV.

[0124] Preferably, when the DOSDEV comprises two or more dosing elements, the TRANSDEV comprises a base plate, the body of the TRANSDEV having a number of channels equal to the number of dosing elements in the DOSDEV, each channel comprising a respective vertical bore, an upper channel and a lower tube for the vertical bore; All lower tubes and base plates are separable parts from each other and from the body of the TRANSDEV; The base plate has one bore for each channel; All channels are identical to each other, More preferably, the TRANSDEV is a kit of parts with one SOLT for each channel; All SOLTs are identical to each other. The base plate, the body of the TRANSDEV, the dosing element, the DOSDEV, the vertical bore, the upper channel, the lower tube and the SOLT are as defined herein and all embodiments thereof also follow.

[0125] The SOLT for the channel allows a quick adaptation of the TRANSDEV to changes in the size of the receptacle, i.e. to changes in the diameter of the receptacle opening, such adaptation being simply performed by installing the respective lower tube from the SOLT with the desired diameter of the discharge opening. Such an exchange can be easily realized, for example, by unscrewing the base plate from the body of the TRANSDEV, removing the currently inserted lower tube with the incorrect internal diameter of the discharge opening and inserting the lower tube from the SOLT with the desired internal diameter of the discharge opening. The same advantage is obviously realized if the TRANSDEV comprises two or more channels and has a SOLT for each channel, the SOLTs being identical to each other, in that if the width of the receptacle opening changes, all the lower tubes with the appropriate diameter of the discharge opening from each SOLT are inserted into the vertical bore of the TRANSDEV and fixed simultaneously by the base plate.

[0126] As the solid particulate material is discharged from the opening of the dosing chamber, it enters the TRANSDEV through the receiving opening, travels through the channel, and exits the TRANSDEV through the discharge opening. The solid particulate material essentially falls from the dosing chamber into the TRANSDEV, travels through the TRANSDEV, and falls by gravity from the TRANSDEV into the receptacle.

[0127] A further subject of the invention is a dosing device, DOSAPP, comprising a DOSDEV, The DOSAPP is adapted to be connected to a gas supply and a vacuum source; If DOSAPP is connected to a gas supply, then SPACE is in fluid communication with the gas supply; When the DOSAPP is connected to a vacuum source, the dosing chamber is in fluid communication with the vacuum source; DOSDEV and SPACE are as defined herein and all embodiments thereof also apply.

[0128] When the DOSAPP is connected to a gas supply, the gas supply is thereby in fluid communication with the SLIT through the SPACE. Thus, any gas supplied from the gas supply passes through the SPACE and exits the SPACE through the SLIT. Thus, the gas supply with its fluid connection to the SLIT through the SPACE provides a gas jet from the SLIT when gas is forced into the SPACE from the gas supply at a predetermined pressure for a predetermined time.

[0129] DOSAPP is a reservoir for containing the solid particulate material, and · Interacting with a receptacle housed in a holding unit for holding the receptacle. The DOSAPP has an interface for interacting with a reservoir for containing a solid particulate material; The interface is formed by the lower end of the dosing chamber of the DOSDEV, ie, the opening of the dosing chamber.

[0130] In one embodiment, it is a reservoir for containing a solid particulate material; A DOSAPP having both a receptacle holding unit for holding a receptacle, In another embodiment, it comprises three components: DOSAPP and a reservoir for containing a solid particulate material; a receptacle holding unit for holding a receptacle, In yet another embodiment, which is also a preferred embodiment, it is, A DOSAPP comprising a reservoir for containing a solid particulate material, it is, DOSAPP and a receptacle holding unit for holding a receptacle, The DOSAPP interacts with a receptacle housed in a reservoir for containing solid particulate material.

[0131] DOSAPP has at least two locations for DOSDEV, a first location and a second location; the at least two locations of the DOSDEV are horizontally spaced apart; DOSAPP can displace DOSDEV back and forth between these positions.

[0132] Preferably, DOSAPP is capable of displacing DOSDEV at least one of said at least two positions that are horizontally spaced apart, and also displacing it back and forth between at least two vertical positions that are vertically spaced apart at each horizontal position.

[0133] Preferably, the DOSAPP has at least two positions for the DOSDEV, which are horizontally spaced apart; The second position is a position of the DOSDEV where the DOSDEV is located above the reservoir; the first position is referred to as a release position of the DOSDEV, in which the DOSDEV is positioned above the receptacle-holding unit and an opening of a dosing chamber of the DOSDEV is vertically aligned with a receiving opening of the receptacle for releasing a collected dose of solid particulate material from the dosing chamber into a receptacle held in the receptacle-holding unit; DOSAPP and DOSDEV are as defined herein and all embodiments thereof also follow.

[0134] Preferably, if the DOSAPP can displace the DOSDEV in at least one of the at least two positions that are both horizontally and vertically spaced apart, it is the second of the at least two positions in which the DOSAPP can displace the DOSDEV vertically; More preferably, DOSAPP is capable of vertically displacing DOSDEV between a position at the same vertical level as the released position and a position at a lower vertical level than the released position.

[0135] DOSAPP can move the DOSDEV back and forth between a position above the reservoir and a release position.

[0136] Preferably, when the DOSDEV is in a position above the reservoir, the DOSAPP is capable of displacing the DOSDEV and the reservoir back and forth relative to each other between two vertical positions, a collection position and a distance position; in the collection position, the lower end of the dosing chamber, i.e. the opening of the dosing chamber, is immersed in the solid particulate material when the solid particulate material is contained in the reservoir, the collection position being a position for collecting a predetermined dose of solid particulate material from the reservoir into the dosing chamber of the DOSDEV, in which the DOSDEV is located vertically closer to the reservoir, i.e. closer than the distance position, preferably the collection position is at a vertically lower level than the release position, In the distance position, the lower end of the dosing chamber, i.e. the opening of the dosing chamber, is outside and above the solid particulate material, the distance position is a position in which the DOSDEV is located vertically further away from the reservoir than in the collection position, preferably the distance position is at the same vertical level as the release position.

[0137] Preferably, when DOSAPP is capable of displacing DOSDEV at least one of the at least two horizontally spaced positions and also capable of displacing DOSDEV back and forth between at least two vertically spaced positions, one of the at least two vertically spaced positions is the collection position and the other is the distance position.

[0138] In one embodiment, when the DOSDEV is in a position above the reservoir, the DOSAPP can displace the DOSDEV back and forth relative to the reservoir between a collection position and a distance position while the reservoir remains in its vertical position at the same level, which means that the DOSDEV is not displaced vertically.

[0139] Therefore, the lower end of the dosing chamber, i.e., the opening of the dosing chamber, of the DOSDEV is: At the collection position, it interacts with a reservoir for containing solid particulate material; In the released position, it provides an interface for interacting with the opening of the receptacle, and if the DOSAPP does not comprise a TRANDEV or has a receiving opening of the TRANDEV, the opening of the dosing chamber is respectively adapted.

[0140] If the DOSAPP does not include a TRANSDEV but the solid particulate material is discharged directly from the dosing chamber of the DOSDEV into the opening of the receptacle, then in the released position the opening of the dosing chamber of the DOSDEV is vertically aligned with the opening of the receptacle.

[0141] Preferably, DOSAPP also includes TRANSDEV, In the release position, the DOSDEV is positioned above the TRANSDEV and the opening of the dosing chamber of the DOSDEV is vertically aligned with the receiving opening of the TRANSDEV for releasing a dose of solid particulate material collected from the dosing chamber into the receiving opening of the TRANSDEV. The TRANSDEV is positioned above the receptacle holding unit, and the discharge opening of the TRANSDEV is vertically aligned with the opening of the receptacle for releasing the collected dose of solid particulate material received from the dosing chamber into the receiving opening of the TRANSDEV. TRANSDEV is as defined herein with all its embodiments also included.

[0142] In the release position, the collected dose of solid particulate material is released from the dosing chamber into the receiving opening of the TRANSDEV, from which the solid particulate material is released into a receptacle, i.e., from the discharge opening of the TRANSDEV.

[0143] Both the collection position and the distance position are predetermined vertical positions of the DOSDEV and the reservoir in the DOSAPP. The collection position can be adjusted and predetermined according to the level of solid particulate material contained in the reservoir. The distance position can be adjusted and predetermined according to various needs, such as those arising from the need for optimal operating speed, the ability to swap the DOSDEV between a position above the reservoir and a release position. Also, the filling height of the solid particulate material in the reservoir can be predetermined and adjusted to allow optimal immersion of the lower end of the dosing chamber, i.e. the opening of the dosing chamber, with the collection location in the solid particulate material.

[0144] Vertical displacement of the DOSDEV and reservoir relative to one another is performed by the DOSAPP, which can displace the DOSDEV or the reservoir or both back and forth between collection and range positions. In one embodiment, the DOSAPP vertically displaces only the reservoir while the vertical position of the DOSDEV remains unchanged, whereby the DOSDEV and the reservoir are displaced between a collection position and a distance position relative to each other. In this embodiment, the reservoir is displaced between a lower position and an upper position, where when the reservoir is in the lower position, the DOSDEV and the reservoir are in the distance position relative to each other, and when the reservoir is in the upper position, the DOSDEV and the reservoir are in the collection position relative to each other.

[0145] Preferably, the reservoir is capable of providing a fluid state to the solid particulate material at least during the time that the dosing chamber is in contact with the solid particulate material, i.e., during a period that begins with placement of the dosing chamber on the solid particulate material, continues with collection of the solid particulate material in the dosing chamber of the DOSDEV at a collection position, and ends with removal of the dosing chamber from the solid particulate material.

[0146] The fluid state that the reservoir can impart to the solid particulate material is preferably achieved by a fluidized bed, with gas being injected into the solid particulate material, preferably from the bottom of the reservoir, to provide sufficient turbulence to keep the solid particulate material in a fluid state, i.e., free-flowing and non-agglomerated.

[0147] A DOSAPP may comprise two or more DOSDEVs, such as one, two, three or four DOSDEVs, preferably two. When the DOSAPP comprises two DOSDEVs, preferably one of the two DOSDEVs is positioned in a first position of at least two horizontally spaced positions that the DOSAPP has for the DOSDEV, i.e., a release position, and the other of the two DOSDEVs is positioned in a second position of at least two horizontally spaced positions that the DOSAPP has for the DOSDEV, i.e., a position above the reservoir, and the DOSAPP can exchange the two DOSDEVs between these two positions, and preferably the DOSAPP exchanges the two DOSDEVs between these two positions simultaneously.

[0148] Thus, a DOSDEV in a position above the reservoir can collect a dose of solid particulate material from the reservoir into a dosing chamber, while the other DOSDEV can release its collected dose of solid particulate material from its dosing chamber into a receptacle or TRANSDEV, which can alternate with each exchange by the DOSAPP of the two DOSDEVs between the two positions.

[0149] The reservoir can further interact with a supply container for supplying or depositing solid particulate material into the reservoir, which can be achieved via a slide. The reservoir can have a sensor for measuring its degree of filling, and the supply of solid particulate material from the supply container to the reservoir can be controlled and automated using the sensor.

[0150] The receptacle-holding unit is capable of holding two or more receptacles.

[0151] When the DOSDEV comprises two or more administration elements: the receptacle-holding unit of the DOSAPP has at least as many receptacles as the number of dosing elements in the DOSDEV; In the released position, each opening of the dosing chamber of the DOSDEV is vertically aligned with a respective opening of the receptacle; If the DOSAPP also comprises a TRANSDEV, in the released position, each opening of the dosing chamber of the DOS DEV is vertically aligned with a respective receiving opening of the TRANSDEV, and each discharge opening of the TRANSDEV is vertically aligned with a respective opening of the receptacle.

[0152] Preferably, the receptacle-holding unit holds at least as many receptacles as the number of dosing elements contained in the DOSDEV, and preferably more. Preferably, where the receptacle holding unit holds two or more receptacles, the receptacles are arranged in a circular arrangement within the receptacle unit. The receptacle holding unit may be of a rotating type having a rotating turret that holds receptacles, such as the body of a two-piece hard capsule, around its periphery. The receptacles are aligned in a circular ring around the rotating turret. The spatial alignment, in particular the horizontal alignment of the dosing elements and corresponding channels in the TRANSDEV, and therefore the horizontal alignment of the dosing elements in the DOSDEV, corresponds to the alignment of the receptacles in the receptacle holding unit, and if the receptacle holding unit is rotatable, the horizontal alignment of the channels in the TRANSDEV and the dosing elements in the DOSDEV corresponds to at least a portion of the ring shape of the rotational alignment of the receptacles in the receptacle holding unit.

[0153] The DOSAPP may also allow vertical displacement of the DOSDEV in the released position and / or of the TRANSDEV, if a TRANSDEV is included in the DOSAPP, to vertically adjust or set or optimize the vertical distance between the DOSDEV and the receptacle, between the DOSDEV and the TRANSDEV, or between the TRANSDEV and the receptacle, i.e., to vertically adjust the distance between the opening of the dosing chamber of the DOSDEV, the receiving and discharge openings of the TRANSDEV, and the opening of the receptacle, any such adjustments may be made before the start of the filling campaign or during the filling campaign. For the purpose of this vertical displacement, the DOSAPP may enable vertical movement of the DOSDEV and / or of the TRANSDEV in the released position. The optional capability of vertical displacement and / or vertical movement of the DOSDEV and / or TRANSDEV can be used to facilitate optimal release of the solid particulate material from the dosing chamber and ultimately to the receptacle, and to minimize or even avoid loss of the solid particulate material during passage of the solid particulate material from the dosing chamber to the receptacle.

[0154] The DOSAPP or filler may also allow a horizontal, e.g. circular, movement of the receptacle in the receptacle-holding unit relative to the horizontal position of the opening of the dosing chamber of the DOSDEV in the release position and / or relative to the horizontal position of the discharge opening of the TRANSDEV. Such horizontal movement may be used to exchange a filled receptacle for an empty one for the next filling step under the DOSDEV and / or under the TRANSDEV. In another embodiment, both the receptacle holding unit and the DOSAPP are each part of a filler, which provides any movement, such as horizontal or vertical, of the receptacle in the receptacle holding unit relative to the horizontal and vertical position of the opening of the dosing chamber of the DOSDEV in the released position and / or relative to the horizontal and vertical position of the discharge opening of the TRANSDEV.

[0155] DOSAPP may also provide for horizontal transfer of TRANSDEV.

[0156] The dosing of solid particulate material into the dosing chamber and the release of the solid particulate material from the dosing chamber and finally into the receptacle, by any of the possible movements of the DOSDEV, the TRANSDEV, the receptacle within the receptacle holding unit, the receptacle holding unit and the reservoir, can be optimized by providing vertical alignment relative to each other of any of the respective parts that correspond and interact with each other at various steps of the filling operation to avoid spillage or loss of solid particulate material in the process of depositing a dose of solid particulate material into the receptacle.

[0157] A further subject of the invention is a method for dosing a solid particulate material from a reservoir into a receptacle, characterized in that it is carried out with a device according to the invention.

[0158] Features and advantages described for the device also relate to the method, and vice versa, to the extent applicable, and therefore will only be described once.

[0159] A further subject of the invention is a method for dosing a solid particulate material from a reservoir containing said solid particulate material into a receptacle, preferably the receptacle being housed in a holding unit for holding the receptacle, the dosing device, DOSAPP, being as defined herein and also with all its embodiments, the reservoir contains a quantity of solid particulate material; The DOSAPP is connected to a gas supply and to a vacuum source. The SPACE is in fluid communication with a gas supply; the dispensing chamber is in fluid communication with a vacuum source; the second of the two positions that the DOSAPP has relative to the DOSDEV is the position of the DOSDEV above the reservoir; When the DOSDEV is in the second position, the DOSAPP can displace the DOSDEV and the reservoir back and forth relative to each other between two vertical positions, a collection position and a distance position; In the collection position, the lower end of the dosing chamber, i.e. the opening of the dosing chamber, is immersed in the solid particulate material when the solid particulate material is contained in the reservoir; In the distance position, the lower end of the dosing chamber, i.e. the opening of the dosing chamber, is outside and above the solid particulate material when the solid particulate material is contained in the reservoir; the TRANSDEV is positioned above the receptacle-holding unit, the discharge opening of the TRANSDEV being vertically aligned with the opening of the receptacle; The method has six steps, performed consecutively in their alphabetical order: step (A), step (B), step (C), step (D), step (E) and step (F). (A) displacing the DOSDEV and the reservoir relative to one another from a distance position to a collection position, thereby immersing a lower end of the dosing chamber in the solid particulate material; (B) applying a vacuum of a predetermined intensity to the dosing chamber, thereby drawing a predetermined dose of the solid particulate material into the dosing chamber; (C) displacing the DOSDEV and the reservoir relative to one another from a collection position to a distance position; (D) forcing gas from the gas supply into the SPACE at a predetermined pressure for a predetermined time to remove any excess solid particulate material adhering to the exterior of the lower end of the dosing element of the DOSDEV with a gas jet issuing from the SLIT of the dosing element; (E) displacing the DOSDEV from a distance position relative to the reservoir to a release position; (F) releasing the solid particles of the dose into the receptacle with the DOSDEV in the released position by reducing the intensity of the vacuum; DOSAPP, DOSDEV, reservoir, receptacle holding unit, reservoir up position, release position are as defined herein and with all embodiments thereof; The method starts with the construction of DOSAPP where DOSDEV is the distance location.

[0160] Step (D) can be performed while step (C) is still taking place, i.e. already from the point when the lower end of the dosing chamber is no longer immersed in the solid particulate material, to remove any excess solid particulate material.

[0161] The requirement that the edge of the end of the wall of the outer tubular extension does not extend radially beyond the inner diameter of the end of the wall of the inner tubular extension is in fact provided to avoid that the gas jet leaving the SLIT is directed into the dosing chamber, which would cause turbulence in the dosing chamber and expel solid particulate material from the dosing chamber, when in fact only any excess solid particulate material adhering to the outside of the lower end of the dosing element of the DOSDEV should be removed, and such undesirable expulsion of solid particulate material from inside the dosing chamber needs to be avoided. Therefore, with such a relationship between the diameter of the opening of the dosing chamber and the diameter of the edge of the end of the wall of the outer tubular extension, which means that the diameter of the opening of the outer tubular extension is equal to or greater than the diameter of the opening of the dosing chamber, it is defined that the gas jet exits the SLIT either radially, i.e. perpendicular to the axial direction of the dosing chamber, when said diameters are equal, or, in addition to such radial direction, exits in an axial direction only away from the dosing chamber, i.e. downwards, which may be the case when the diameter of the edge of the end of the wall of the outer tubular extension is greater than the diameter of the opening of the dosing chamber. Furthermore, this requirement prevents bridging or clogging of the solid particulate material, since if the edge of the end of the wall of the outer tubular extension extends radially beyond the inner diameter of the end of the wall of the inner tubular extension, a peripheral edge protruding radially inwards will be formed in the opening of the dosing chamber, which could interfere with the solid particulate material falling from the dosing chamber.

[0162] Preferably, step (F) is followed by a seventh step, step (G), in which DOSAPP displaces DOSDEV from the released position back to the distance position.

[0163] Preferably, step (F) is followed by a seventh step, step (G), in which DOSAPP displaces DOSDEV from the release position back to a distance position relative to the reservoir.

[0164] When more than one dose D(i) (i=1 to n, i and n being integers, meaning the i-th dose and n being the total number of doses) is administered using a DOSDEV with one administration element, the method comprises all seven steps (A) to (G), all seven steps (A) to (G) being performed for each administration, step (A)(i+1) for a subsequent dose D(i+1) being performed after step (G)(i) of the preceding dose D(i), and in any step (i) after step (F)(i) for D(i) and before step (F)(i+1) for the next dose D(i+1), the receptacle R(i) filled in step (F)(i) needs to be exchanged for the next dose D(i+1) under the DOSDEV or under the TRANSDEV, as the case may be. One of skill in the art will understand that when more than one dose is administered using a DOSDEV with one administration element, the method may begin with any of the seven steps for the first dose D(1), so long as step (F)(1) is performed for D(1), the steps following the initiation step are performed consecutively in their alphabetical order, and step (A) is performed after step (G), and the method ends after the last dose D(n) is loaded into the last receptacle R(n) of step (F)(n) and before any step (F)(n+1) is performed. In the case of a DOSDEV with two or more dosing elements, the doses of each dosing element in the DOSDEV are loaded simultaneously into their respective receptacles, and all doses in a DOSDEV containing two or more dosing elements may be referred to as a dose charge, and one skilled in the art will understand that what has been described for a single dose from a DOSDEV with one dosing element, with respect to the method steps and their initiation, sequence, and termination, applies equally to the administration of a dose charge from a DOSDEV containing two or more dosing elements.

[0165] If DOSAPP includes two DOSDEVs, then preferably DOSAPP performs the method on both DOSDEVs simultaneously, but the sequence of steps for each DOSDEV is shifted relative to the other DOSDEV in such a way that step (E) for one DOSDEV is performed simultaneously with step (G) for the other DOSDEV.

[0166] Even more than two DOSDEVs in a DOSAPP are possible, for example if a DOSAPP comprises seven DOSDEVs, each DOSDEV executes its successive method steps simultaneously, and all seven successive method steps are shifted by one step relative to each other DOSDEV.

[0167] The predetermined time for which gas is forcibly fed from the gas supply unit into the SPACE is 0.01 to 1 second, preferably 0.01 to 0.5 seconds, more preferably 0.01 to 0.3 seconds, and even more preferably 0.02 to 0.06 seconds, and the standard value may be 0.04 seconds. The predetermined pressure at which the gas is forced into the SPACE from the gas supply may be 0.01 to 5 bar, preferably 0.01 to 3 bar. A standard value may be 0.01 to 2 bar. Over time, the pressure can be predetermined and adjusted, and adapted to the unique characteristics of each solid particle material.

[0168] Since the SLIT is a peripheral slit around the opening of the dosing chamber, the gas jet coming out of the SLIT of the dosing element has the shape of a circle or a radial disk. Therefore, any excess solid particulate material that is attached to the outside of the lower end of the dosing element is effectively removed and falls off the lower end of the dosing element. Since the gas jet is applied while the DOSDEV is at a distance relative to the reservoir, the excess solid particulate material actually falls back into the reservoir, thereby not generating waste solid particulate material and also avoiding contamination of the outside of the DOSAPP and its surroundings by the excess solid particulate material. The intensity and duration of the gas jet can be adjusted by selecting and setting a predetermined pressure and a predetermined time for forcing gas from the gas supply into the SPACE, with the optimum values ​​obviously depending on the nature of the solid particulate material. The use of a gas jet to remove excess solid particulate material adhering to the outside of the lower end of the dosing chamber, instead of using a mechanical scraper, eliminates the risk of damaging the scraper, so that no broken parts of the scraper can subsequently actually get into the receptacle and become a source of contamination of the solid particulate material in the reservoir or a source of disturbance or failure of the DOSAPP, which must be avoided, and also eliminates the need for time-consuming adjustments of the spatial alignment of the scraper with the outside of the lower end of the dosing element, which is particularly time-consuming when the DOSDEV comprises two or more dosing elements and the scraper is realized in the form of a scraper unit that actually comprises two or more scrapers, in which case the spatial alignment requires not only a vertical alignment of each scraper with all the other scrapers, but also a horizontal alignment of the scraper unit, so that all scrapers contained in the scraper unit show the same vertical distance from all ends of the dosing element. The gas jet provides a more reproducible dosing of solid particulate material into the receptacle with less dispersion of the final amount of solid particulate material in the receptacle.

[0169] The gas is preferably air or an inert gas such as nitrogen gas.

[0170] Once the vacuum is applied in step (B) and the predefined dose of solid particulate material is drawn into the dosing chamber, the vacuum remains active until release of the solid particulate material in step (F).

[0171] The release of the solid particulate material from the dosing chamber in step (F) is effected or at least triggered by reducing the strength of the vacuum applied to suck the solid particulate material into the dosing chamber, preferably by removing the vacuum, whereby the dose of solid particulate material falls from the dosing chamber into a receptacle, optionally through a TRANSDEV if one is installed.

[0172] In addition to removing the vacuum applied to draw the solid particulate material into the dosing chamber, the release of the solid particulate material in step (F) may also be enhanced by applying a positive gas pressure through the vacuum channel, i.e., applying a gas blow through the vacuum channel and through a filter to the dosing chamber to expel the solid particulate material from the dosing chamber. This gas blow through the vacuum channel and through the filter is applied for a predetermined time and with a predetermined force or pressure to facilitate emptying the dose of solid particulate material from the dosing chamber. In one embodiment, the release of the solid particulate material from the dosing chamber in step (F) is step a): a) by at least reducing, and preferably removing, the vacuum applied to draw the solid particulate material into the dosing chamber; Step a) is followed by the following steps b), c) or successive steps b) and c): b) moving the radial wall including the filter element from a vacuum position to an exhaust position, thereby forcing any solid particulate material remaining in the dosing chamber after step a) out of the dosing chamber; c) A gas blow is applied into the dosing chamber through a filter. Preferably, all three steps a), b) and c) are performed in their alphabetical order. After steps a), b) and, optionally, c), the radial wall including the filter element is returned again from the discharge position to the vacuum position in step d), which may still be part of step (F), but it may also be performed in the subsequent step (G). Obviously, step d) must be performed before step (B), i.e. the radial wall including the filter element must be in the vacuum position before the solid particulate material is sucked from the reservoir by the vacuum. Constructing the radial wall comprising the filter element so as to be axially movable within the dosing chamber provides the possibility to perform step b) and / or step c), both of which improve the reproducibility of the dosing of the solid particulate material, and furthermore step b) provides for cleaning of the dosing chamber and furthermore step c) provides for cleaning of the dosing filter from any residual solid particulate material that may adhere to the filter.

[0173] The solid particulate material can be any kind of material, such as pharmaceuticals, medicines, chemicals, dietary supplements, etc. Different solid particulate materials to be administered can have different particle sizes and particle size distributions, which can be characterized, for example, by D50, sigma, and FWHM values. For different solid particulate materials with different particle sizes, a suitable filter can be selected with a mesh size that protects the retention of the solid particulate material in the dosing chamber and prevents the solid particulate material from being sucked through the filter into the vacuum channel and ultimately into the vacuum source.

[0174] The predetermined vacuum strength can be varied and adjusted and adapted to the requirements arising from drawing different types of solid particulate material into the dosing chamber and from drawing predefined doses of solid particulate material of different sizes into the dosing chamber.

[0175] The invention will now be described again with reference to the enclosed drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0176] [Figure 1]1 shows a vertical cross-sectional view of a dosing element. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a DOSDEV having nine dosing elements. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 shows a front view of a DOSDEV having nine dosing elements. [Figure 4A] In A, a front view of the DOSDEV is shown, the nine dosing elements shown in FIG. 3 are not detailed in A, in B, a side view of a vertical section of the DOSDEV taken along line AA in A, “Section AA”, the side view showing cross-sectional details of the dosing elements, and in B, a rectangular section of the DOSDEV, “Section Rectangle”, which is shown enlarged in FIG. 1, is also shown. [Figure 4B] In A, a front view of the DOSDEV is shown, the nine dosing elements shown in FIG. 3 are not detailed in A, in B, a side view of a vertical section of the DOSDEV taken along line AA in A, “Section AA”, the side view showing cross-sectional details of the dosing elements, and in B, a rectangular section of the DOSDEV, “Section Rectangle”, which is shown enlarged in FIG. 1, is also shown. [Diagram 5] A vertical cross-sectional view of the lower section of a DOSDEV having nine dosing elements is shown, the cross-section passing through the center of the first and last dosing elements. [Figure 6] Indicates a filter element. [Figure 7] 1 shows a partial perspective cross-sectional view of the upper part of a dosing element including a filter element. [Figure 8] 9 shows a front view of a DOSDEV having nine dosing elements, with a portion of the DOSDEV removed, approximately one-quarter of the DOSDEV along lines BB and CC, where lines BB and CC intersect at point indicated as D, and in FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of a portion of the inner surface of the DOSDEV exposed by the removal. [Figure 9]8 shows a perspective view of a portion of the inner surface of the DOSDEV, which has been exposed by removal of a portion, i.e., approximately one-quarter, of the DOSDEV, as shown in FIG. 8, in the area defined by lines BB and DD, and two respective cross cuts along the area defined by lines CC and DD, thereby showing a perspective view of a horizontal cross cut through the tops of five of the nine dosing elements located on the interior side of the DOSDEV. [Figure 10] 1 shows an exploded perspective view of a TRANSDEV having nine channels. [Figure 11] A bottom view of a TRANSDEV with nine discharge openings is shown. [Figure 12] Shown in DOSAPP are vertically aligned DOSDEV and TRANSDEV, where DOSDEV has nine dosing elements and TRANSDEV has nine channels, each channel of TRANSDEV corresponding to one of the dosing elements of DOSDEV. [Figure 13] A portion of the DOSAPP and a portion of the DOSDEV are shown, the DOSDEV being at a distance relative to the reservoir. [Figure 14] 1 shows a portion of a DOSAPP that includes two DOSDEVs and one TRANSDEV, one of which is in a distanced position relative to the reservoir and the other DOSDEV in an open position above the TRANSDEV. [Figure 15] A portion of a DOSAPP and a DOSDEV having nine dosing elements are shown, the DOSDEV being positioned at a distance relative to a reservoir. [Figure 16] 1 shows a portion of a DOSAPP and a DOSDEV having nine dosing elements, the DOSDEV and reservoir in a collection position relative to each other with the lower ends of the dosing elements immersed in the solid particulate material. [Figure 17] 1 shows a portion of a DOSAPP and a DOSDEV having nine dosing elements, the DOSDEV positioned at a distance relative to the reservoir, with excess solid particulate material adhering to the outside of the lower ends of the dosing elements. [Figure 18]Shown is a portion of a DOSAPP and a DOSDEV having nine dosing elements, the DOSDEV en route from a distance position relative to the reservoir to a release position (not shown) located on the opposite side of the DOSAPP from the side on which the upper portion of the reservoir is located, the DOSAPP having rotated the DOSDEV to a certain extent from the position above the reservoir to the release position about a vertical axis, and no excess material adhering to the outside of the lower ends of the dosing elements. [Figure 19] In TRANSDEV, a detail of the transition from the upper channel to the upper section of the lower tube through the third section of the vertical bore is shown. [Figure 20] The graph shows data for filling using the apparatus of US 10,835,451 B2 using nine scrapers. [Figure 21] 13 is a graph showing data for filling with the device of the present invention using gas jet blowing. [Figure 22] 1 shows the arrangement of nine scrapers across a reservoir in the device disclosed in US 10,835,451 B2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0177] The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which like components and arrangements are indicated by like reference numerals in the figures and their respective descriptions may be omitted to avoid redundancy, in which:

[0178] Figures 2-4 show diagrams of one embodiment of a DOSDEV (2) having nine dosing elements (1). Figure 4A shows a front view of the DOSDEV (2), the nine dosing elements (1) are not detailed in Figure 4A. Figure 4B shows a side view of a vertical cross section "Section AA" of the DOSDEV (2) along line AA shown in Figure 4A. This side view in Figure 4B shows a cross-sectional detail of one dosing element (1), and in Figure 4B the rectangular cross section "Section Rectangle" of the DOSDEV (2), which is shown enlarged in Figure 1, is also shown.

[0179] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a DOSDEV (2) having nine dosing elements (1).

[0180] FIG. 3 shows a front view of a DOSDEV (2) having nine dosing elements (1).

[0181] FIG. 1 shows an enlarged rectangular cross-section "rectangular cross-section" of the DOSDEV (2) shown in FIG. 4B, and a side view showing details of one embodiment of the dosing element (1). The dosing element (1) consists of an inner tubular extension (1-1) and an outer tubular extension (1-2), both of which project downwards below the DOSDEV (2); an inner tubular extension (1-1) and an outer tubular extension (1-2) are coaxially aligned with respect to each other; an inner tubular extension (1-1) located within an outer tubular extension (1-2); the outer diameter of the inner tubular extension (1-1) is smaller than the inner diameter of the outer tubular extension, whereby a space, SPACE (1-3), is formed between the outer tubular extension (1-2) and the inner tubular extension (1-1), the SPACE (1-3) extending circumferentially around the inner tubular extension (1-1); the inside of the inner tubular extension (1-1) forms a dosing chamber (1-4); an opening at the lower end of the inner tubular extension forms the opening (1-9) of the dosing chamber (1-4) at its lower end, the wall of the outer tubular extension (1-2) extends axially beyond the edge (1-7) of the end of the wall of the inner tubular extension (1-1) and has a bend (1-5) axially adjacent to the end of the wall of the inner tubular extension (1-1), by means of which the wall of the outer tubular extension (1-2) extends radially inwardly at least partially around the end of the inner tubular extension (1-1); the outer tubular extension (1-2) terminates in an opening axially proximal to the BEND (1-5) and having a diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the outer tubular extension (1-2); a SPACE (1-3) extending over the inner surface of the BEND (1-5) and further over the edge (1-6) of the end of the wall of the outer tubular shaped extension (1-2), thereby extending radially inwardly from the BEND (1-5), the SPACE (1-3) terminating in an open slit, SLIT (1-8), between the end of the inner tubular shaped extension (1-1) and the end of the outer tubular shaped extension (1-2); The edge (1-6) of the end wall of the outer tubular extension (1-2) does not extend radially inwards beyond the inner diameter of the end wall of the inner tubular extension (1-1). The dosing element (1) is a part that is separable from any other part of the DOSDEV (2), and the inner tubular shaped extension (1-1) and the outer tubular shaped extension (1-2) are two parts that are separable from each other and from any other part of the DOSDEV (2). The DOSDEV (2) comprises two parts, a dosing element (1) and a body of the DOSDEV (2) having a location on the dosing element (1) where the dosing element (1) can be connected to the body of the DOSDEV (2).

[0182] The dosing element (1) and the associated inner tubular extension (1-1) and outer tubular extension (1-2) have two sections, an upper section and a lower section, the lower section being the protruding section (1-12) of the dosing element, the protruding section (1-13) of the inner tubular extension and the protruding section (1-14) of the outer tubular extension, respectively, while the upper section is located within the other part of the DOSDEV (2). Depicted in Figures 1, 2 and 3 is the protruding section (1-12) of the dosing element (1), with Figure 1 showing the location of the upper section (1-15) of the dosing element (1), the upper section (1-16) of the inner tubular extension (1-1) and the upper section (1-17) of the outer tubular extension (1-2).

[0183] The lower section of the dosing element (1) comprises a lower section of an inner tubular-shaped extension (1-1) and a lower section of an outer tubular-shaped extension (1-2). The upper section (1-15) of the dosing element (1) comprises an upper section (1-16) of an inner tubular extension (1-1) and an upper section (1-17) of an outer tubular extension (1-2). the lower section of the dosing element (1), i.e. the protruding section (1-13) of the inner tubular extension (1-1) has the shape of a tube with a constant inner diameter over the axial extension of said tubular lower section, which means that the inner diameter of the lower section of the inner tubular extension (1-1) and the diameter of the opening (1-9) of the dosing chamber (1-4) are identical, The lower section of the dosing element (1), i.e. the protruding section (1-14) of the outer tubular shaped extension (1-2), has the shape of a tube. The lower section of the dosing element (1), i.e. the protruding section (1-12) of the dosing element (1), therefore has the shape of a tube.

[0184] The lower section of the dosing element (1) and therefore both the lower sections of the inner and outer tubular shaped extensions (1-2) project vertically downwards. Since the dosing element (1) is part of the DOSDEV (2), such a convex portion of the dosing element (1) is the bottom of the DOSDEV (2), and the lower end (1) of the dosing element, i.e., the lower end of the outer tubular extension (1-2), is the lower end of the DOSDEV (2). The protruding portion of the outer tubular extension (1-2) protrudes vertically downward with a vertical length of 13 mm.

[0185] The DOSDEV (2) is a device comprising nine administration elements (1), as depicted in Figures 2, 3, 5, 9, 15, 16 and 17.

[0186] All nine dosage elements (1) are identical to each other.

[0187] All nine administration elements (1) of the DOSDEV (2) are moieties that are separable from one another and from any other part of the DOSDEV (2).

[0188] DOSDEV(2) comprises a body of DOSDEV(2) including nine POS-DEs to which administration element(s) (1) can be connected, NUM-DE is nine, and NUM-DE-CONNECTED is nine, as depicted in Figures 2, 3, 5, 9, 15, 16 and 17.

[0189] All dosing elements (1) comprised in the DOSDEV (2) protrude axially with the same vertical length, and as depicted in Figures 2, 3, 5, 9, 15, 16 and 17, all lower ends of the dosing elements (1) of the DOSDEV (2), i.e. all lower ends of the outer tubular extensions (1-2), are horizontally aligned with each other relative to their vertical positions in the DOSDEV (2). The protrusions of any administration element (1) are not connected or in contact with the protrusions of any other administration element (1), but are separated from the protrusions of any other administration element (1), as depicted in FIG.

[0190] FIG. 1 shows that a SPACE (1-3) is provided in which the outer tubular extension (1-2) does not contact the inner tubular extension (1-1), i.e. the inner wall of the outer tubular extension (1-2) does not contact the outer wall of the inner tubular extension (1-1). The SPACE (1-3) terminates axially downwards in a SLIT (1-8). The SLIT (1-8) extends circumferentially around the opening (1-9) of the dosing chamber (1-4). The SPACE (1-3) extends circumferentially around the end of the inner tubular extension (1-1). From its axially upper origin of the BEND (1-5), the SPACE (1-3) extends over the inner surface of the BEND (1-5) and further over the end edge (1-6) of the wall of the outer tubular extension (1-2), i.e. up to the SLIT (1-8). Thus, the end of SPACE (1-3) in the axially downward direction is SLIT (1-8). In the axially upward direction starting from SLIT (1-8), SPACE (1-3) extends across BEND (1-5). SPACE (1-3) extends axially upward from BEND (1-5) for at least a certain length along the inner tubular extension (1-1). By the axially adjacent BEND (1-5) of the end of the wall of the inner tubular extension (1-1), i.e. after the radially inward BEND (1-5) towards the end of the outer tubular extension (1-2), the wall of the outer tubular extension (1-2) ends radially inward at an angle, ANGLE, of 90°, and the end edge (1-6) of the wall of the outer tubular extension (1-2) end is vertically aligned with the inner surface of the inner tubular extension (1-1). This means that the diameter of the opening of the outer tube is equal to the inner diameter of the lower end of the inner tubular extension (1-1) and also that the diameter of the opening of the outer tubular extension (1-2) is equal to the opening (1-9) of the dosing chamber (1-4).

[0191] The nine administration elements (1) depicted in Figures 2, 3, 5, 9, 15, 16 and 17 are one of the four administration elements (1) DE1, DE2, DE3 and DE4 described in Table 3. [Table 4]

[0192] In DE1, DE2, DE3 and DE4, The wall thickness of the inner tube-shaped extension (1-1) is 0.5 mm; The radial width of SPACE(1-3) is 0.5 mm. The wall thickness of the outer tube-shaped extension (1-2) is 0.5 mm; The width of the SLIT(1-8) is 0.3mm.

[0193] Figure 1 shows how the upper side of the dosing chamber (1-4) is limited by a filter element (2-8), which comprises a filter (2-8-1). Figures 5, 6 and 7 also show details of the filter element. Thus, the DOSDEV (2) further comprises a filter element (2-8), the filter element (2-8) and the filter (2-8-1) have a rounded flat shape, the radial wall (2-9) is the filter element (2-8), the filter element (2-8) is the filter (2-8-1) and thus the radial wall (2-9) is the filter (2-8-1). The underside of the filter (2-8-1) faces the dosing chamber (1-4). The mesh size of the filter (2-8-1) is 43 micrometers. The open and passable area of ​​the filter (2-8-1) is 8 to 15% of the area of ​​the filter (2-8-1).

[0194] FIG. 1 shows the filter element (2-8) in the vacuum position.

[0195] Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8 show further details. The dosing chamber (1-4) has a cylindrical shape, the axial wall of the cylinder forming the dosing chamber (1-4) is formed by the inner tube-shaped extension (1-1), the lower end of the cylinder forming the dosing chamber (1-4) is the opening of the inner tube-shaped extension (1-1), i.e. the opening (1-9) of the dosing chamber (1-4), and the upper end of the cylinder forming the dosing chamber (1-4) is bounded by a radial wall (2-9) containing a filter element (2-8). The opening (1-9) of the dosing chamber (1-4) and the dosing chamber (1-4) are in fluid communication through the filter (2-8-1) with a channel starting from the upper side of the filter (2-8-1) and extending through the top of the DOSDEV (2), this channel being connected to a vacuum supply and referred to as the vacuum channel (2-1), and a vacuum can be applied to the dosing chamber (1-4) through the vacuum channel (2-1). The dosing chamber (1-4) is also fluidly connected, through the filter (2-8-1) and through the vacuum channel (2-1), with a gas supply for applying an air blow to the dosing chamber (1-4) through the vacuum channel (2-1) and through the filter (2-8-1). Thus, both alternatives, an air blow or suction, are possible to be applied to the dosing chamber (1-4) through the vacuum channel 2-1 and through the filter (2-8-1).

[0196] The vacuum supply is not shown in any of the figures.

[0197] The inner diameter of the dosing chamber (1-4) is constant from its lower end, i.e. from the opening (1-9) of the dosing chamber (1-4) to the radial wall (2-9) that defines the boundary of the dosing chamber (1-4) at its upper end. That means that the inner tubular extension (1-1) has a constant inner diameter over its entire length. The section of the inner tubular extension (1-1) that is the axial wall of the dosing chamber (1-4) is a tube, and the axial wall of the dosing chamber (1-4) is an axially straight tubular, i.e. cylindrical, wall.

[0198] The radial wall (2-9) carrying the filter element (2-8) is movable axially in the dosing chamber (1-4) between an upper position, which is a vacuum position of the radial wall (2-9) including the filter element (2-8), and a lower position, which is an ejection position of the filter element (2-8), the ejection position being axially close to the end of the inner tubular extension (1-1), the ejection position not extending axially beyond the edge (1-7) of the end of the wall of the inner tubular extension, i.e. not extending axially into the SLIT (1-8). Figures 6 and 7 show further details of the filter, where the filter (2-8-1) is attached at its upper side by a weld (2-8-2) to the lower end of the filter tube (2-7). The filter tube (2-7) has an outer diameter equal to the inner diameter of the dosing chamber (1-4). The lower end of the filter tube (2-7) is part of the radial wall (2-9) containing the filter element (2-8). The circumference of the radial wall (2-9) containing the filter element (2-8) has the same shape as the circumference of the dosing chamber (1-4), both shapes are circular, the dosing chamber (1-4) is inside a cylinder, i.e. inside a tube, and the radial wall (2-9) fits snugly into the dosing chamber (1-4). The axial location of the vacuum position, i.e. the axial location of the radial wall (2-9) containing the filter element (2-8), determines the size of the dosing chamber (1-4).

[0199] At its end opposite the SLIT (1-8), the SPACE (1-3) is connected to a gas supply, which is not shown in the figures. The SPACE (1-3) starts at its lower end from the SLIT (1-8), extends through the space between the inner tube-shaped extension (1-2) and the outer tube-shaped extension (1-2) of the dosing element (1), and then connects to two or more gas channels which further extend through the top of the DOSDEV (2). The SPACE (1-3) is connected to a gas supply via two or more gas channels, and the supplied gas flows from the gas supply through the two or more gas channels into the SPACE (1-3) of the DOSDEV (2) and out of the SLIT (1-8).

[0200] Each SPACE (1-3) of each of the nine dosing elements (1) is connected through two or more gas channels to a space cavity, SPACECAV (2-2), which is located at the top of the DOSDEV (2), which in turn is connected again to a gas supply via gas channels. Some of these details are shown in Figures 4B and 9. Thus, each SLIT (1-8) of each of the nine dosing elements (1) is fluidly connected to each other SLIT (1-8) of each other dosing element (1) via its respective SPACE (1-3) and its respective two or more gas channels and SPACECAV (2-2), and each SLIT (1-8) of each of the nine dosing elements (1) is fluidly connected to a gas supply via a SPACECAV (2-2). Thus, only one gas supply is required to simultaneously supply gas to all SPACES (1-3) in each of the nine dosing elements (1) via the SPACECAV (2-2). The SPACECAV (2-2) is located in the upper part of the DOSDEV (2), above the dosing element (1) which is located in the lower section of the DOSDEV (2). There are two or more exits (2-3) leading from the SPACECAV (2-2) to the SPACE (1-3).

[0201] The DOSDEV (2) comprises a body of the DOSDEV (2), the dosing element (1) being a part of the body of the DOSDEV (2) that is separable from any other part of the DOSDEV (2), the body of the DOSDEV (2) having nine positions of the dosing element (1) that can be connected to the body of the DOSDEV (2); DOSDEV (2) is a kit of parts that includes nine sets of dosing elements (1), SODEs, one for each of the nine positions of the dosing elements (1). The dosing elements (1) of each of the nine SODEs are parts that are separable from each other and from any other parts of the DOSDEV (2), Within a SODE, the inner diameter of the inner tubular extension (1-1) of any dosing element (1) contained in the SODE is different from the inner diameter of the inner tubular extension (1-1) of any other dosing element (1) contained in the SODE; Any SODE is identical to any other SODE.

[0202] The number of dose elements (1) contained in a SODE, NUM-DE-SODE, is 4, and each SODE includes four dose elements (1), DE1, DE2, DE3 and DE4. POS-DE is 9, NUM-DE36, NUM-DE-SODE=4, NUM-DE-CONNECTED=1~9. The SODE is not shown in the figure.

[0203] FIG. 10 shows a transfer device, TRANSDEV (3), for transferring solid particulate material (4-1) from the DOSDEV (2) to a receptacle; TRANSDEV(3) has an upper side facing vertically upward and a lower side facing vertically downward; The TRANSDEV (3) has nine receiving openings (3-1) on its upper side and nine discharge openings (3-5) on its lower side; The nine receiving openings (3-1) and the nine discharge openings (3-5) are connected by nine respective channels, The nine receiving openings (3-1) of the TRANSDEV (3) correspond to the nine openings (1-9) of the dosing chamber (1-4) of the DOSDEV (2); The nine discharge openings (3-5) of the TRANSDEV correspond to openings in the receptacle.

[0204] Thus, each of the receiving openings (3-1) is the opening of a respective channel in the upper side of the TRANSDEV (3), and each of the exhaust openings (3-5) is the opening of a respective channel in the lower side of the TRANSDEV (3). Each channel passes through the TRANSDEV (3) connecting the receiving opening (3-1) with a respective exhaust opening (3-5).

[0205] TRANSDEV(3) is a device that cooperates with and corresponds to DOSDEV(2); they are interrelated devices. FIG. 12 shows the association of DOSDEV (2) to TRANSDEV (3), i.e. their cooperation and interrelationship, which is evident in that the openings at the lower ends of the nine inner tube-shaped extensions of DOSDEV (2), i.e. the openings (1-9) of the nine dosing chambers (1-4), correspond to the receiving openings (3-1) on TRANSDEV (3). The shape of the openings (1-9) of the dosing chambers (1-4) corresponds to the shape of the receiving openings (3-1). DOSDEV (2) is positioned above TRANSDEV (3) in such a way that the openings (1-9) of each of the nine dosing chambers (1-4) are vertically aligned with the respective receiving openings (3-1) of TRANSDEV (3); this position of DOSDEV (2) is also referred to as the position of vertical alignment of DOSDEV (2) and TRANSDEV (3). The correspondence of the openings in the two devices means that when the DOSDEV (2) is vertically aligned with the TRANSDEV (3), any solid particulate material (4-1) that is discharged from an opening (1-9) in the dosing chamber (1-4) is deposited, e.g., enters or pours into, the corresponding receiving opening (3-1) in the TRANSDEV (3). The correspondence of the two openings in the two devices is achieved by the correspondence of the size and / or shape of the two openings.

[0206] The centers of the openings (1-9) of the delivery chambers (1-4) of the DOSDEV (2) are vertically aligned with the centers of each of the receiving openings (3-1) of the TRANSDEV (3) when the DOSDEV (2) is vertically aligned with the TRANSDEV (3).

[0207] Each receiving opening (3-1) of the TRANSDEV (3) has the shape of a slot.

[0208] The width of the receiving opening (3-1) corresponds to the diameter of the opening (1-9) of the dosing chamber (1-4), the width of the receiving opening (3-1) being 10.7 mm.

[0209] When solid particulate material (4-1) is discharged from DOSDEV (2) through TRANSDEV (3) into the receptacle, DOSDEV (2) is vertically aligned with TRANSDEV (3) and TRANSDEV (3), i.e., the discharge opening (3-5) of TRANSDEV (3) is vertically aligned with the opening of the receptacle. The receptacle is not shown in the drawings. This means that when discharging solid particulate material (4-1) from DOSDEV (2) to the receptacle via TRANSDEV (3), the opening (1-9) of the dispensing chamber (1-4) of DOSDEV (2) is vertically aligned with the receiving opening (3-1) of TRANSDEV (3), and the discharge opening (3-5) of TRANSDEV (3), which is connected to said receiving opening (3-1) via a channel, is vertically aligned with the opening of the receptacle. Thus, solid particulate material (4-1) is discharged from the dispensing chamber (1-4) of DOSDEV (2) to the receiving opening (3-1) of TRANSDEV (3), and then the solid particulate material (4-1) moves through the channel to the discharge opening (3-5) of TRANSDEV (3) and is discharged from TRANSDEV (3) to the opening of the receptacle. Such vertical alignment of the DOSDEV (2), TRANSDEV (3) and receptacle provides for minimal or even no loss of the solid particulate material (4-1) during the dosing operation.

[0210] The diameter of the discharge opening (3-5) is smaller than the diameter of the opening of the receptacle through which the solid particulate material (4-1) is to be dispensed.

[0211] The channel comprises two sections, an upper channel (3-13) and a lower channel; The upper end of the upper channel (3-13) is a receiving opening (3-1); At the lower end of the lower channel is a discharge opening (3-5); Thus, the upper channel (3-13) and the lower channel are a pair forming a channel.

[0212] The tapper channel (3-13) is a straight channel with a TRANSDEV (3) orientation at an angle of 45° to the vertical, thereby forming a SLIDE (3-2), SLIDE (3-2).

[0213] The bottom channel is a straight channel with a vertical direction of TRANSDEV(3).

[0214] The lower channel is the part that is separable from any other part of the TRANSDEV (3) and is a tube-shaped part, also referred to herein as the lower tube (3-3). The body (3-12) of the TRANSDEV (3) has a vertical bore (3-6) that extends upwardly from the bottom of the body (3-12) of the TRANSDEV (3) and into the body (3-12) of the TRANSDEV (3) and corresponds to the lower tube (3-3).

[0215] the TRANSDEV (3) comprises at least three parts, a body (3-12) of the TRANSDEV (3), a base plate (3-4) and a lower tube (3-3), which are separable from each other and from any other parts of the TRANSDEV (3); The body (3-12) of the TRANSDEV (3) includes a vertical bore (3-6) and an upper channel (3-13); The lower tube (3-3) can be fastened to the body (3-12) of the transduction device (3) at the vertical bore (3-6) by a base plate (3-4), the base plate (3-4) being fastened to the bottom of the body (3-12) of the transduction device (3); The base plate (3-4) has a circular opening (3-7) with a diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the lower tube (3-3) so that the lower tube (3-3) can be fixed to the TRANSDEV (3) in the vertical bore (3-6).

[0216] 10 and 12 also show the following details: the lower tube (3-3) has an axial section in the form of an annular projection (3-9) on its outer surface, the annular projection extending circumferentially around the outer surface of the lower tube (3-3) with an axial extension of the lower tube (3-3) that is shorter than the length of the lower tube (3-3), the annular projection (3-9) being axially located on the lower tube (3-3) at a distance from the upper end and another distance from the lower end (3-11) of the lower tube (3-3); Thereby, the lower tube (3-3) has at least three axial sections, an upper section (3-8), a middle section (3-9) which is an annular convex portion (3-9), and a lower section (3-10), the outer diameters of the upper section (3-8) and the lower section (3-10) being smaller than the outer diameter of the annular convex portion (3-9); The vertical bore (3-6) starts at the bottom of the body (3-12) of the TRANSDEV (3), with a circular recess (3-14) having an inner diameter equal to the outer diameter of the annular projection (3-9) of the lower tube (3-3) and a vertical height very slightly less than the length of the axial extension of the annular projection (3-9), this circular recess (3-14) may be called the first section (3-14) of the vertical bore (3-6); From the circular recess (3-14), i.e. from the first section (3-14) of the vertical bore (3-6), the vertical bore (3-6) continues upwards through a second section (3-15) of the vertical bore (3-6) having an inner diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the upper section (3-7) of the lower tube (3-3) and having a length corresponding to the length of the upper section (3-7) of the lower tube (3-3); The diameter of the circular opening (3-7) in the base plate (3-4) is equal to the outside diameter of the lower section (3-10) of the lower tube (3-3). The outer diameters of the upper section (3-7) and the lower section (3-10) of the lower tube (3-3) are equal. Thus, the lower tube (3-3) fits into a vertical bore (3-6) having an annular protrusion (3-9) that fits into the circular recess (3-14) and an annular protrusion (3-9) that abuts the upper end of the circular recess (3-14), the lower section (3-10) of the lower tube (3-3) extends into or even through the base plate (3-4), and the upper section (3-7) of the lower tube (3-3) fits into the circular recess (3-14). The annular projection (3-9) extends into the upper vertical bore (3-15) of the base plate (3-14), i.e. into the second section (3-15) of the vertical bore (3-6), and the lower end of the annular projection (3-9) protrudes slightly beyond the edge of the start of the vertical bore at the bottom of the body (3-12) of the TRANSDEV (3), whereby the base plate (3-4) of the TRANSDEV (3) snugly fixes the lower tube (3-3) in the vertical bore (3-3) of the TRANSDEV (3).

[0217] The thickness of the base plate (3-4) is equal to the length of the lower section (3-10) of the lower tube (3-3).

[0218] From the circular recess (3-14), i.e. from the first section (3-14) of the vertical bore (3-6), the vertical bore (3-6) continues upwards with a second section (3-15) of the vertical bore (3-6) having an inner diameter equal to the outer diameter of the upper section (3-7) of the lower tube (3-3) and having a length equal to the length of the upper section (3-7) of the lower tube (3-3); The vertical bore (3-6) continues upwardly from the upper end of the upper section (3-7) of the lower tube (3-3) through a third section (3-16) of the vertical bore (3-6) when the lower tube (3-3) is inserted into the vertical bore (3-6), but with a diameter smaller than the inside diameter of the end lip (3-20) of the upper section (3-7) of the lower tube (3-3). The vertical bore (3-6) may therefore be described as comprising three sections, the lowest and first section (3-14) of the vertical bore (3-6) being the circular recess (3-14) of the vertical bore (3-6), continuing upwardly from the first section (3-14) of the vertical bore (3-6) is the second section (3-15) of the vertical bore (3-6), which is the section of the vertical bore (3-6) in which the upper section (3-7) of the lower tube (3-3) is positioned, and continuing upwardly from the second section (3-15) of the vertical bore (3-6) is the third section (3-16) of the vertical bore (3-6), which is the section of the vertical bore (3-6) having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the second section (3-15) of the vertical bore (3-6).

[0219] The lower opening of the upper channel (3-13) opens into the vertical bore (3-6) above the upper end of the upper section (3-7) of the lower tube (3-3) when the lower tube (3-3) is inserted into the vertical bore (3-6), i.e., opens into the third section (3-16) of the vertical bore. The width of the lower opening of the upper channel (3-13) corresponds to the diameter of the third section (3-16) of the vertical bore (3-6), and the width of the lower end or lower opening of the upper channel (3-13) is equal to the diameter of the third section (3-16) of the vertical bore (3-6).

[0220] The outer diameter of the upper section (3-7) of the lower tube (3-3) is 8 mm, the outer diameter of the middle section (3-9) of the lower tube (3-3) is 9.8 mm, and the outer diameters of the upper section (3-7) and of the lower section (3-10) of the lower tube (3-3) are equal.

[0221] The thickness of the base plate (3-4) is 3 mm.

[0222] The body (3-12) of the TRANSDEV (3) is described as having two regions, an upper region (3-17) of the TRANSDEV (3) with an upper channel (3-13) and a lower region (3-18) of the TRANSDEV (3) including a lower channel or lower tube (3-3). The body (3-12) of the TRANSDEV (3) is realized in one piece, including the upper channel in the upper region (3-17) of the body and the lower tube (3-3) in the lower region (3-18) of the body. The inside diameter of the lower end (3-11) of the lower tube (3-3) is the diameter of the discharge opening (3-5). The diameter of the discharge openings (3-5) is 3.5, 4, 4.5 or 5.5 mm. The inside diameter of the lower section (3-10) of the lower tube (3-3) is equal to the diameter of the discharge opening (3-5).

[0223] The TRANSDEV (3) is a kit of parts comprising a base plate (3-4), a body (3-12) of the TRANSDEV (3) having a channel with a vertical bore (3-6), and a set of upper channels (3-13) and lower tubes (3-3), SOLT, for the vertical bore (3-6); In the SOLT, the diameter of the discharge opening (3-5) of any one of the lower tubes (3-3) included in the SOLT is different from the diameter of any other discharge opening (3-5) of the lower tubes (3-3) included in the SOLT; Each lower tube (3-3) of the SOLT fits into a vertical bore (3-6), The lower tube (3-3) and the base plate (3-4) of the SOLT are parts that are separable from each other and from any other part of the TRANSDEV (3), Then the number of lower tubes (3-3) in the SOLT is four and the four different diameters of the discharge openings (3-5) of the four tubes in the SOLT are 3.5, 4, 4.5 and 5.5 mm.

[0224] SOLT is not shown in the figure.

[0225] FIG. 19 shows a detail of the transition from the upper channel to the upper section of the lower tube through the third section of the vertical bore in the TRANSDEV. The lower tube (3-3) is a part that is separable from the rest of the TRANSDEV (3), and then the upper section (3-7) of the lower tube (3-3) has at its upper end on the inside a circumferential chamfer (3-19) which terminates in a circumferential chamfer (3-19) which enlarges the inside diameter of the lower tube (3-3) in the axial direction towards and up to the end edge (3-20) of the upper section (3-7) of the lower tube (3-3), whereby the inside diameter, IDR, of the end edge (3-20) of the upper section (3-7) of the lower tube (3-3) is greater than the inside diameter of the lower tube (3-3) axially downwards, before the start of the chamfer (3-19). This IDR is larger than the inside diameter of the third section (3-16) of the vertical bore (3-6), which continues upwardly from the upper end of the upper section (3-7) of the lower tube (3-3) when the lower tube (3-3) is inserted into the vertical bore (3-6). All upper edges (3-20) of the upper section (3-7) of each lower tube (3-3) in the SOLT have the same IDR; the upper section (3-7) of any lower tube (3-3) in the SOLT has the same outer diameter as the upper section (3-7) of any other lower tube (3-3) in the SOLT, and the different diameters of the discharge openings (3-5) of the lower tubes (3-3) in the SOLT are achieved by the respective different wall thicknesses, i.e., the respective different inner diameters of the lower sections (3-10) of the lower tubes (3-3) in the SOLT; Thereby, every lower tube (3-3) in the SOLT fits into a respective vertical bore (3-6).

[0226] TRANSDEV(3) has nine channels, as shown in FIGS. the vertical positions of the receiving openings (3-1) relative to their vertical positions in the TRANSDEV (3) are the same for all receiving openings (3-1), so that all receiving openings (3-1) are vertically aligned with one another relative to their vertical positions in the TRANSDEV (3); That means that all the upper ends of the upper channels (3-13) of TRANSDEV(3), i.e. all the upper edges of the upper channels (3-13), are horizontally aligned with each other with respect to their vertical positions on TRANSDEV(3).

[0227] All channels are identical.

[0228] The TRANSDEV (3) comprises each channel in the form of a vertical bore (3-6), an upper channel (3-13) and a lower tube (3-3), the vertical bore (3-6), the upper channel (3-13) and the lower tube (3-3) of each channel being identical for all channels.

[0229] The upper channel (3-13) and the lower channel of the channels form a pair, and the receiving opening (3-1) and the discharge opening (3-5) connected by the channel also form a pair.

[0230] the TRANSDEV (3) has the same number of channels, i.e. pairs of receiving openings (3-1) and discharge openings (3-5) as the number of dosing elements (1) in the DOSDEV (2); In other words, the TRANSDEV (3) therefore comprises pairs of upper channels (3-13) and lower channels in the same number as the number of dosing elements (1) in the DOSDEV (2); the vertical positions of the receiving openings (3-1) of each channel relative to their vertical positions in the TRANSDEV (3) are the same for all receiving openings (3-1), such that all receiving openings (3-1) are vertically aligned with one another relative to their vertical positions in the TRANSDEV (3); the horizontal position of the receiving opening (3-1) in the TRANSDEV (3) corresponds to the horizontal position of the opening (1-9) of the delivery chamber (1-4) in the DOS DEV (2); Thus, each opening (1-9) of the delivery chamber (1-4) in the DOS DEV (2) has a corresponding receiving opening (3-1) in the TRANSDEV (3) that forms a corresponding pair, the DOSDEV (2) may be positioned above the TRANSDEV (3) in such a way that each opening (1-9) of the dosing chamber (1-4) is horizontally and vertically aligned with a corresponding receiving opening (3-1) in the TRANSDEV (3); The centre of each opening (1-9) of the dispense chamber (1-4) is vertically aligned with the centre of a corresponding receiving opening (3-1) of the TRANSDEV (3). FIG. 12 shows the DOSDEV aligned vertically above the TRANSDEV.

[0231] the TRANSDEV (3) comprises a base plate (3-4), the body (3-12) of the TRANSDEV (3) having a number of channels equal to the number of dosing elements (1) in the DOS DEV (2), each channel comprising a respective vertical bore (3-6), an upper channel (3-13) for the vertical bore (3-6) and a lower tube (3-3); All the lower tubes (3-3) and the base plate (3-4) are separable parts from each other and from the body (3-12) of the TRANSDEV (3), The base plate (3-4) has one bore for each channel, All channels are identical to each other, TRANSDEV(3) is a kit of parts with one SOLT for each channel, All SOLTs are identical to each other. FIG. 11 shows a bottom view of a TRANSDEV with nine exhaust openings.

[0232] FIG. 14 shows a dosing device, DOSAPP (5), comprising two DOSDEVs (2); Not shown in FIG. 14 is that the DOSAPP (5) is connected to a gas supply and a vacuum source. SPACE (1-3) is in fluid communication with a gas supply; The dosing chambers (1-4) are in fluid communication with a vacuum source. The vacuum source is not shown in the figure.

[0233] DOSAPP(5) is a reservoir (4) for containing a solid particulate material (4-1), and · Interacts with a receptacle holding unit, not shown in FIG. 14, for holding a receptacle.

[0234] DOSAPP(5) has two positions for DOSDEV(2), the position of the DOSDEV (2) above the reservoir (4); a release position (2-4) of the DOSDEV (2) above the receptacle holding unit for releasing a collected dose of solid particulate material (4-1) from the dosing chamber (1-4) into a receptacle held in the receptacle holding unit.

[0235] The DOSAPP (5) can move the DOSDEV (2) back and forth between a position above the reservoir (4) and a release position (2-4).

[0236] Preferably, when the DOSDEV (2) is in a position above the reservoir (4), the DOSAPP (5) is capable of displacing the DOSDEV (2) and the reservoir (4) back and forth relative to each other between two vertical positions: a collection position (2-6) and a distance position (2-5); in the collection position (2-6), the lower end of the dosing chamber (1-4), i.e. the opening (1-9) of the dosing chamber (1-4), is immersed in the solid particulate material (4-1) when the solid particulate material (4-1) is contained in the reservoir (4), the collection position (2-6) being a position for collecting a predetermined dose of the solid particulate material (4-1) from the reservoir (4) into the dosing chamber (1-4) of the DOSDEV (2), in which the DOSDEV (2) is located vertically closer to the reservoir (4), i.e. closer than the distance position (2-5); In the distance position (2-5), the lower end of the dosing chamber (1-4), i.e., the opening (1-9) of the dosing chamber (1-4), is outside and above the solid particulate material (4-1), and the distance position (2-5) is a position in which the DOSDEV (2) is located vertically farther to the reservoir (4) than in the collection position (2-6).

[0237] DOSAPP(5) also has TRANSDEV(3); In the release position (2-4), the DOSDEV (2) is positioned above the TRANSDEV (3) such that the opening (1-9) of the delivery chamber (1-4) of the DOSDEV (2) is vertically aligned with the receiving opening (3-1) of the TRANSDEV (3); The TRANSDEV (3) is positioned above a receptacle-holding unit not shown in FIG. 14, with the discharge opening (3-5) of the TRANSDEV (3) vertically aligned with the opening of the receptacle.

[0238] FIG. 14 shows a DOSAPP with two DOSDEVs and a TRANSDEV, one DOSDEV in an open position above the TRANSDEV and the other DOSDEV above the reservoir.

[0239] 15, 16 and 17 show the DOSDEV in a position above the reservoir, while in FIG. 18, the DOSAPP has displaced the DOSDEV a certain angle from the position above the reservoir towards the released position.

[0240] 15 and 17 show the DOSDEV in the range position, and FIG. 16 shows the DOSDEV in the acquisition position.

[0241] In the release position (2-4), the collected dose of solid particulate material (4-1) is released from the dosing chamber (1-4) into the receiving opening (3-1) of the TRANSDEV (3) and from the TRANSDEV (3), the solid particulate material (4-1) is released into a receptacle, i.e., from the discharge opening (3-5) of the TRANSDEV (3).

[0242] Vertical displacement of the DOSDEV (2) and reservoir (4) relative to each other is performed by DOSAPP (5), which can displace the DOSDEV (2) or the reservoir (4) or both back and forth between a collection position (2-6) and a distance position (2-5).

[0243] One of the two DOSDEVs (2) is positioned at a position above the reservoir (4) when the other of the two DOSDEVs (2) is positioned at the release position (2-4), and the DOSAPP (5) simultaneously exchanges the two DOSDEVs (2) between these two positions. Thus, a DOSDEV (2) in a position above the reservoir (4) can collect a dose of solid particulate material from the reservoir (4) in the dosing chamber (1-4), while the other DOSDEV (2) can release its collected dose of solid particulate material (4-1) from its dosing chamber (1-4) to the TRANSDEV (3), alternating with each exchange by the DOSAPP (5) of the two DOSDEVs (2) between the two positions.

[0244] The reservoir (4) further interacts with a supply container for supplying or depositing solid particulate material (4-1) into the reservoir (4), which is achieved via a slide (4-2). Figures 15, 16 and 17 show slides.

[0245] the receptacle-holding unit of the DOSAPP (5) has at least nine receptacles, the number of dosing elements (1) in the DOSDEV (2); In the release position (2-4), each opening (1-9) of the dosing chamber (1-4) of the DOSDEV (2) is vertically aligned with a respective receiving opening (3-1) of the TRANSDEV (3), and each discharge opening (3-5) of the TRANSDEV (3) is vertically aligned with a respective opening of the receptacle. The receptacle holding unit is not shown in the figures.

[0246] The receptacle holding unit is of a rotating type having a rotating turret around which the bodies of the two-piece hard capsules are held as receptacles. The receptacles are aligned in a circular pattern around the rotating turret. The spatial alignment, in particular the horizontal alignment of the dosing element (1) and the corresponding channel in the TRANSDEV (3), and therefore the horizontal alignment of the dosing element (1) in the DOSDEV (2), corresponds to the alignment of the receptacle in the receptacle holding unit, and the horizontal alignment of the channel in the TRANSDEV (3) and the dosing element (1) in the DOSDEV (2) corresponds to at least a portion of the ring shape of the rotational alignment of the receptacle in the receptacle holding unit. Figures 2, 9, 11 and 12 show that the dosing elements of the DOSDEV and the channels of the TRANSDEV are arranged in such portions of the ring shape that correspond to the rotational alignment of the receptacle in the receptacle-holding unit.

[0247] The filler also allows a circular movement of the receptacle in the receptacle holding unit relative to the horizontal position of the discharge opening (3-5) of the TRANSDEV (3). Such horizontal movement is used to exchange a filled receptacle for an empty receptacle for the next filling step under the TRANSDEV (3). Both the receptacle holding unit and the DOSAPP (5) are each part of the filler, which effects any movement, such as horizontal or vertical, of the receptacle within the receptacle holding unit relative to the horizontal and vertical position of the discharge opening (3-5) of the TRANSDEV (3). The filler is not shown in the figure.

[0248] A method for dispensing a solid particulate material (4-1) from a reservoir (4) containing the solid particulate material (4-1) into a receptacle by means of a dispensing device, DOSAPP (5), comprising: The reservoir (4) contains a quantity of solid particulate material (4-1); The receptacle holding unit includes a number of nine receptacles; The method has six steps, performed consecutively in their alphabetical order: step (A), step (B), step (C), step (D), step (E) and step (F). (A) displacing the DOSDEV (2) and the reservoir (4) relative to one another from a distance position (2-5) to a collection position (2-6), thereby immersing the lower end of the dosing chamber (1-4) in the solid particulate material (4-1); (B) applying a vacuum of a predetermined intensity to the dosing chamber (1-4), thereby drawing a predetermined dose of solid particulate material (4-1) into the dosing chamber (1-4); (C) displacing the DOSDEV (2) and the reservoir (4) relative to one another from a collection position (2-6) to a distance position (2-5); (D) forcing gas from a gas supply into the SPACE (1-3) at a predetermined pressure for a predetermined time, removing any excess (4-3) solid particulate material (4-1) adhering to the outside of the lower end of the dosing element (1) of the DOSDEV (2) with a gas jet issuing from the SLIT (1-8) of the dosing element (1); (E) displacing the DOSDEV (2) from a distance position (2-5) relative to the reservoir (4) to a release position (2-4); (F) Releasing the solid particles of the dose into the receptacle with the DOSDEV (2) in the release position (2-4) by reducing the strength of the vacuum.

[0249] FIG. 15 shows a portion of a DOSAPP and a DOSDEV having nine dosing elements, the DOSDEV being at a distance relative to the reservoir, which is the situation immediately prior to step (A). FIG. 16 shows a portion of a DOSAPP and a DOSDEV having nine dosing elements, with the DOSDEV and reservoir in a collection position relative to each other with the lower ends of the dosing elements immersed in the solid particulate material, which is the situation in step (B). FIG. 17 shows a portion of a DOSAPP and a DOSDEV having nine dosing elements, the DOSDEV being positioned at a distance from the reservoir and with excess solid particulate material adhering to the outside of the lower ends of the dosing elements, after step (C) and before step (D). FIG. 18 shows a portion of a DOSAPP and a DOSDEV having nine dosing elements, the DOSDEV en route from a distance position relative to the reservoir to a release position (not shown) located on the opposite side of the DOSAPP from the side on which the upper portion of the reservoir is located, the DOSAPP having rotated the DOSDEV to a certain extent from the position above the reservoir to the release position around the vertical axis, and no excess material is attached to the outside of the lower end of the dosing elements, which is the situation in step (E).

[0250] After step (F), a seventh step, step (G), is performed, which moves the DOSDEV (2) from the release position (2-4) back to the distance position (2-5) relative to the reservoir (4).

[0251] The doses of each of the nine dosing elements (1) in the DOSDEV (2) are loaded simultaneously into their respective receptacles.

[0252] DOSAPP(5) performs the method on both DOSDEV(2) simultaneously, but the sequence of steps for each DOSDEV(2) is shifted relative to the other DOSDEV(2) in such a way that step (E) for one DOSDEV(2) occurs simultaneously with step (G) for the other DOSDEV(2).

[0253] The predetermined pressure at which gas is forcibly fed from the gas supply unit into the SPACE (1-3) is 0.01 to 2 bar. The predetermined time for which gas is forced from the gas supply into SPACE(1-3) may be 0.04 seconds.

[0254] The gas is air.

[0255] Once the vacuum is applied in step (B) and a predefined dose of solid particulate material (4-1) is sucked into the dosing chamber (1-4), the vacuum remains active until the release of the solid particulate material (4-1) in step (F).

[0256] The release of the solid particulate material (4-1) from the dosing chamber (1-4) in step (F) is triggered by removing the vacuum that was applied to suck the solid particulate material (4-1) into the dosing chamber (1-4), causing a dose of solid particulate material (4-1) to fall from the dosing chamber (1-4), through the TRANSDEV (3) and into the receptacle.

[0257] The release of the solid particulate material (4-1) from the dosing chamber (1-4) in step (F) is step a), a) by removing the vacuum applied to draw the solid particulate material into the dosing chamber (1-4); After step a), the following successive steps b) and c) are performed: b) moving the radial wall (2-9) including the filter element (2-8) from a vacuum position to an exhaust position, thereby forcing any solid particulate material (4-1) remaining in the dosing chamber (1-4) after step a) out of the dosing chamber (1-4); c) A gas blow is applied into the dosing chamber (1-4) through a filter (2-8-1). All three steps a), b) and c) are performed in their alphabetical order. After steps a), b) and c), the radial wall (2-9) containing the filter element (2-8) is moved again from the exhaust position back to the vacuum position in step d), which is carried out before step (B).

[0258] Example of filling performance of the device with gas jet blow according to the present invention compared with that of the device with scraper The performance of the device disclosed in US10,835,451B2, which uses nine scrapers for scraping the nine dosing chambers after the solid particulate material has emerged therefrom in order to remove excess solid particulate material residues that may adhere to the outer surfaces of the nine dosing chambers around or proximal to the openings of the dosing chambers, was compared with the performance of a dosing device according to the present invention, in which excess solid particulate material residues that may adhere to the outer surfaces of the nine dosing chambers around or proximal to the openings of the dosing chambers are removed by a gas jet blow as described herein.

[0259] The DOSAPP (5) removes any excess (4-3) solid particulate material (4-1) adhering to the outside of the lower end of the dosing element (1) of the DOSDEV (2) with a gas jet blowing from the SLIT (1-8) of the dosing element (1). In the case of the dosing device according to the invention, the DOSAPP (5), the DOSAPP (5) has two DOSDEVs (2) and one TRANSDEV (3), each DOSDEV (2) having nine dosing elements (1), and the DOSAPP (5), DOSDEVs (2) and TRANSDEV (3) are as described in the Detailed Description of the Invention section of this specification.

[0260] In the case of the device disclosed in US 10,835,451 B2, which used nine scrapers (6-2) to scrape the nine dosing chambers of the DOSDEV of the device, one of the nine scrapers (6-2) scrapes each one of the nine dosing chambers of the DOSDEV of the device to remove excess solid particulate material residues that may adhere to the outer surface of the dosing chambers after the solid particulate material (6-3) contained in the respective reservoirs (6-1) emerges. FIG. 22 shows the arrangement of nine scrapers (6-2) across a reservoir (6-1) in the device disclosed in US Pat. No. 10,835,451 B2.

[0261] In both cases, size 0 gelatin capsules were filled with approximately 195 mg of microcrystalline cellulose microparticles, Celphere CP-203, available from Asahi Kasei, Japan, having the following: Bulk density: 0.87g / ml Particle size range: 150-300 micrometers ·Sphericity 1.1.

[0262] Table 4 shows the results of these two filling operations. [Table 5] N Number of capsules filled mean Average filling weight (mg) SD Standard deviation of filling min Minimum filling weight (mg) max Maximum filling weight (mg)

[0263] At comparable average fill weights, the standard deviation when using a scraper is noticeably greater than when using a gas jet blow, meaning that the device using a gas jet blow provides more accurate and reproducible dosing.

[0264] FIG. 20 graphically illustrates data from filling with the apparatus of US 10,835,451 B2 using nine scrapers (6-2); FIG. 21 graphically illustrates data for filling with the device of the present invention using gas jet blowing; The frequency n is the number of fillings with the respective filling weight (mg).

[0265] List of reference numbers 1. Administration elements 1-1 Inner tube shape extension 1-2 Outer tube shape extension 1-3 SPACE between the outer tube shape extension and the inner tube shape extension 1-4 Dosing chamber 1-5 BEND OF WALL OF OUTER TUBE SHAPE EXTENSION 1-6 Edge of the outer tube-shaped extension wall end 1-7 Edge of inner tube extension wall end 1-8 SLIT BETWEEN THE END OF THE INNER TUBE-SHAPED EXTENSION AND THE END OF THE OUTER TUBE-SHAPED EXTENSION 1-9 Dosing chamber opening 1-12 Protruding section of dosing element 1-13 Inner tube shape extension protruding section 1-14 Outer tube shape extension protruding section 1-15 Upper section of dosing element 1-16 Inner tube shape extension upper section 1-17 Upper section of outer tube extension 2 DOSDEV 2-1 Vacuum Channel 2-2 SPACECAV 2-3 An outlet from the SPACECAV, connecting the SPACECAV with a SPACE that terminates in a SLIT between the outer tubular extension and the inner tubular extension 2-4 DOSDEV in release position 2-5 DOSDEV and reservoir at a distance from each other 2-6 DOSDEV and reservoir in collection position relative to each other 2-7 Filter tube 2-8 Filter elements 2-8-1 Filter 2-8-2 Welding to attach a filter to the bottom end of the tube 2-9 Radial wall limiting the upper side of the dosing chamber 3 TRANSDEV 3-1 Receptive opening 3-2 SLIDE 3-3 Lower Tube 3-4 Base plate 3-5 Discharge opening 3-6 Vertical Bore 3-7 Circular opening in base plate 3-8 Upper section of lower tube 3-9 Lower tube annular projection, lower tube mid section 3-10 Lower section of lower tube 3-11 Bottom end of lower tube 3-12 TRANSDEV's main body 3-13 Upper Channel 3-14 Vertical bore circular recess, first section of vertical bore 3-15 Vertical bore second section 3-16 Vertical bore third section 3-17 TRANSDEV upper area 3-18 TRANSDEV Lower Area 3-19 Chamfering the top end of the lower tube 3-20 Edge of the end of the upper section of the lower tube 4. A reservoir for containing a quantity of solid particulate material 4-1 Solid particle materials 4-2 Slide for adding solid particulate material to the reservoir 4-3 Excessive solid particulate material 5 DOSAPP or part of DOSAPP 6-1 A reservoir for containing a quantity of solid particulate material of the device disclosed in US 10,835,451 B2 6-2 One of the nine scrapers 6-3 Solid particulate material contained in the reservoir (6-1)

Claims

1. A dosing device, DOSDEV (2), for dosing a solid particulate material (4-1) into a receptacle, comprising: the DOSDEV (2) is provided with a dosing element (1) consisting of an inner tubular extension (1-1) and an outer tubular extension (1-2), both extensions projecting downwards on the underside of the DOSDEV (2); the inner tubular extension (1-1) and the outer tubular extension (1-2) are coaxially aligned with respect to each other, The inner tubular extension (1-1) is located within the outer tubular extension (1-2), the outer diameter of the inner tubular extension (1-1) is smaller than the inner diameter of the outer tubular extension (1-2), whereby a space, SPACE (1-3), is formed between the outer tubular extension (1-2) and the inner tubular extension (1-1), the SPACE (1-3) extending circumferentially around the inner tubular extension (1-1); the inside of said inner tubular extension (1-1) forms a dosing chamber (1-4), an opening at the lower end of said inner tubular extension forming the opening (1-9) of said dosing chamber (1-4) at its lower end; the wall of the outer tubular extension (1-2) extends axially beyond the edge (1-7) of the end of the wall of the inner tubular extension (1-1) and has a bend (1-5) axially adjacent to the end of the wall of the inner tubular extension (1-1), by means of which the wall of the outer tubular extension (1-2) extends radially inward at least partially around the end of the inner tubular extension (1-1); the outer tubular extension (1-2) terminates in an opening axially before the bend (1-5) and having a diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the outer tubular extension (1-2); The SPACE (1-3) extends over the inner surface of the BEND (1-5) and further over the edge (1-6) of the end of the wall of the outer tubular extension (1-2), thereby extending radially inward from the BEND (1-5), and the SPACE (1-3) is in contact with the end of the inner tubular extension (1-1) and the outer tubular extension (1-2). between said ends of the long portion (1-2) and terminating in an open slit, SLIT (1-8), The edge (1-6) of the end of the wall of the outer tubular extension (1-2) does not extend radially inward beyond the inner diameter of the end of the wall of the inner tubular extension (1-1).

2. 10. The dispensing device, DOSDEV (2), of claim 1, wherein the DOSDEV (2) is adapted for filling said receptacle, which is a two-piece hard capsule used for medical and nutritional applications.

3. the inner tubular extension (1-1) is a part that is separable from the outer tubular extension (1-2) and from any other part of the DOSDEV (2), 2. A dispensing device, DOSDEV (2), according to claim 1, wherein said outer tubular extension (1-2) is a part that is separable from said inner tubular extension (1-1) and from any other part of said DOSDEV (2).

4. The DOSDEV (2) is a device comprising two or more administration elements (1), POS-DE-DOSDEV is the number of positions of the dosing element (1) in the DOSDEV; 2. The dispensing device, DOSDEV (2), of claim 1, wherein POS-DE-DOSDEV is 1-48.

5. 5. The dosing device, DOSDEV (2), according to claim 4, wherein all dosing elements (1) comprised in the DOSDEV (2) project axially with the same vertical length and the lower ends of all of the outer tubular extensions (1-2) are horizontally aligned with one another relative to their vertical positions in the DOSDEV (2).

6. 2. The dosing device according to claim 1, wherein after the radially inward bend towards the end of the outer tubular extension, the wall of the outer tubular extension terminates at an angle, ANGLE, relative to the axial direction of the outer tubular extension, wherein ANGLE is between 45 and 90 degrees.

7. 2. The administration device according to claim 1, wherein the outer tubular extension (1-2) terminates in an opening of a diameter equal to or smaller than the outer diameter of the inner tubular extension (1-1) and equal to or larger than the inner diameter of the inner tubular extension (1-1).

8. 7. The dosing device, DOSDEV (2), according to claim 6, wherein the angle is 90° and the end of the wall of the outer tubular extension (1-2) terminates in an edge (1-6) that is aligned perpendicularly with the inner surface of the inner tubular extension (1-1).

9. The dosing device (DOSDEV) (2) according to claim 1, wherein the width of said SLITs (1-8) is between 0.1 and 1 mm.

10. A dosing device (DOSDEV) (2) according to claim 1, wherein the inner diameter of the protruding part of said inner tubular extension (1-1) is between 3 and 10 mm.

11. 2. A dosing device (DOSDEV) (2) according to claim 1, wherein the upper side of the dosing chamber (1-4) is limited by a radial wall (2-9) provided with a filter element (2-8), the filter element (2-8) comprising a filter (2-8-1).

12. DOSDEV(2) is the main body of DOSDEV(2) and is responsible for the a body of a DOSDEV (2) having a location where an administration element (1) can be connected to said body of the DOSDEV (2), the administration element (1) being a part separable from other parts of the DOSDEV (2); a kit of parts, in which the DOSDEV (2) comprises a set of dosing elements (1), SODE, for said locations of the dosing elements (1); the dosing elements (1) of the SODE are parts that are separable from each other and from any other parts of the DOSDEV (2), In a SODE, the inner diameter of the inner tubular extension (1-1) of any administration element (1) contained in said SODE is different from the inner diameter of the inner tubular extension (1-1) of any other administration element (1) contained in said SODE; 2. The dispensing device of claim 1, wherein any SODE is identical to any other SODE.

13. A dosing device (2) according to claim 12, wherein the number of dosing elements (1) contained in the SODE, NUM-DE-SODE, is between 2 and 10.

14. A dosing device, DOSAPP (5), comprising a DOSDEV (2), the DOSAPP (5) is adapted to be connected to a gas supply and a vacuum source; When DOSAPP (5) is connected to the gas supply, the SPACE (1-3) is in fluid communication with the gas supply; When the DOSAPP (5) is connected to said vacuum source, the dosing chambers (1-4) are in fluid communication with said vacuum source; DOSAPP (5) has at least two locations for DOSDEV (2), a first location and a second location; These at least two locations of the DOSDEV (2) are horizontally spaced apart; DOSAPP(5) can displace DOSDEV(2) back and forth between these locations; DOSDEV(2) and SPACE(1-3) are as defined in claim 1; Preferably, the dosing device, DOSAPP(5), is capable of displacing the DOSDEV(2) in at least one of said at least two positions spaced apart horizontally, and also displacing it back and forth between at least two vertical positions spaced apart vertically in each horizontal position.

15. The DOSAPP (5) has an interface for interacting with a reservoir (4) for containing a solid particulate material (4-1); A dosing device, DOSAPP (5), according to claim 14, wherein said interface is formed by the lower end of said dosing chamber (1-4), i.e. by the opening (1-9) of said dosing chamber (1-4) of a DOSDEV (2).

16. a DOSAPP (5) comprising a transfer device TRANSDEV (3) adapted to transfer solid particulate material (4-1) from said DOSDEV (2) to a receptacle; TRANSDEV(3) has an upper side facing vertically upward and a lower side facing vertically downward; The TRANSDEV (3) has an intake opening (3-1) on its upper side and an exhaust opening (3-5) on its lower side; the receiving opening (3-1) and the discharge opening (3-5) are connected by a channel; The receiving opening (3-1) of the TRANSDEV (3) is connected to the receiving opening (3-1) of the DOSDEV (2). corresponding to said opening (1-9) of the given chamber (1-4), the discharge opening (3-5) of the TRANSDEV (3) is adapted to act as an interface for interacting with the opening of the receptacle; the first position of the at least two positions that the DOSAPP (5) has relative to the DOSDEV (2) is called a release position of the DOSDEV (2), in which the DOSDEV (2) is located above the TRANSDEV (3), and the openings (1-9) of the dosing chambers (1-4) of the DOSDEV (2) are vertically aligned with the receiving openings (3-1) of the TRANSDEV (3) for releasing the dose of the solid particulate material (4-1) collected from the dosing chambers (1-4) into the receiving openings (3-1) of the TRANSDEV (3); 15. The dosing device, DOSAPP (5), of claim 14, wherein if the DOSAPP (5) can displace the DOSDEV (2) in at least one of the at least two positions that are spaced apart both horizontally and vertically, it is the second of the at least two positions that the DOSAPP (5) has for the DOSDEV (2) in which the DOSAPP (5) can vertically displace the DOSDEV (2).

17. the channel comprises two sections, an upper channel (3-13) and a lower channel; The upper end of the upper channel (3-13) is the receiving opening (3-1), the lower end of the lower channel is the discharge opening (3-5); the upper channel (3-13) is a straight channel having a TRANSDEV (3) direction at an angle of greater than 0 to less than 90° relative to the vertical direction; 17. A dosing device, DOSAPP (5), according to claim 16, wherein the lower channel is a straight channel having a vertical direction of the TRANSDEV (3).

18. the TRANSDEV (3) comprises at least two parts, separable from each other and from any other part of the TRANSDEV (3), the main body (3-12) of the TRANSDEV (3) and said lower channel as a tube-shaped part called the lower tube (3-3); 18. The dosing device of claim 17, wherein the body (3-12) of the TRANSDEV (3) has a vertical bore (3-6) extending upward from a bottom of the body (3-12) of the TRANSDEV (3) into the body (3-12) of the TRANSDEV (3) and corresponding to the lower tube (3-3).

19. the TRANSDEV (3) comprises at least three parts, the body (3-12) of the TRANSDEV (3), a base plate (3-4), and the lower tube (3-3), which are separable from each other and from any other part of the TRANSDEV (3); the lower tube (3-3) is fastened to the body (3-12) of the TRANSDEV (3) at the vertical bore (3-6) by the base plate (3-4), and the base plate (3-4) is fastened to the bottom of the body (3-12) of the TRANSDEV (3); 19. A dosing device, DOSAPP (5), according to claim 18, wherein the base plate (3-4) has a circular opening (3-7) with a diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the lower tube (3-3) so that the lower tube (3-3) can be fixed to a TRANSDEV (3) in the vertical bore (3-6).

20. A kit of parts in which a TRANSDEV (3) comprises said base plate (3-4), said body (3-12) of the TRANSDEV (3) having said channel with said vertical bore (3-6), said upper channel (3-13) for said vertical bore (3-6) and a set of lower tubes (3-3), SOLT, In the SOLT, the diameter of the discharge opening (3-5) of any one of the lower tubes (3-3) included in the SOLT is different from the diameter of any other of the discharge openings (3-5) of the lower tubes (3-3) included in the SOLT, Each lower tube (3-3) of the SOLT fits into the vertical bore (3-6), 20. A dosing device, DOSAPP (5), according to claim 19, wherein the lower tube (3-3) and the base plate (3-4) of the SOLT are parts that are separable from each other and from any other part of the TRANSDEV (3).

21. A dosing device (DOSAPP) (5) according to claim 20, wherein the number of lower tubes (3-3) of the SOLT is between 2 and 14.

22. If the DOSDEV (2) comprises two or more administration elements (1), the TRANSDEV (3) has the same number of channels as the number of dispensing elements (1) of the DOSDEV (2); the vertical positions of the receiving openings (3-1) relative to their vertical positions on the TRANSDEV (3) are the same for all receiving openings (3-1), so that all receiving openings (3-1) are vertically aligned with one another relative to their vertical positions on the TRANSDEV (3); In the release position of DOSDEV(2), DOSDEV(2) is positioned above TRANSDEV(3) as follows: the horizontal positions of the receiving openings (3-1) in the TRANSDEV (3) correspond to the horizontal positions of the openings of the dosing chambers (1-4) in the DOSDEV (2), so that each opening of a dosing chamber (1-4) in the DOSDEV (2) has one corresponding receiving opening (3-1) in the TRANSDEV (3) that forms a corresponding pair; and - A dosing device, DOSAPP (5), according to claim 16, wherein the DOSDEV (2) is positioned in such a way that each opening of the dosing chamber (1-4) is positioned above the TRANSDEV (3) in such a way that it is horizontally and vertically aligned with the corresponding receiving opening (3-1) in the TRANSDEV (3).

23. 15. The dosing device of claim 14, wherein the DOSAPP (5) comprises two DOSDEVs (2), one of which is positioned in the first position of the at least two horizontally spaced positions that the DOSAPP (5) has relative to the DOSDEV (2) when the other of the two DOSDEVs (2) is positioned in the second position of the at least two horizontally spaced positions that the DOSAPP (5) has relative to the DOSDEV (2), and the DOSAPP (5) can exchange the two DOSDEVs (2) between these two positions.

24. 1. A method for dispensing a solid particulate material (4-1) from a reservoir (4) containing said solid particulate material (4-1) into a receptacle housed in a holding unit for holding the receptacle using said dispensing device, a DOSAPP (5), comprising: The reservoir (4) contains a quantity of solid particulate material (4-1), A DOSAPP (5) is connected to a gas supply and a vacuum source; the SPACE (1-3) is in fluid communication with the gas supply; the dispensing chamber (1-4) is in fluid communication with the vacuum source; the second of the two positions that the DOSAPP (5) has with respect to the DOSDEV (2) is a position of the DOSDEV (2) above the reservoir (4); When the DOSDEV (2) is in the second position, the DOSAPP (5) alternates the DOSDEV (2) and the reservoir (4) between two vertical positions: a collection position and a distance position. It can be displaced forward and backward relative to the in the collection position, the lower end of the dosing chamber (1-4), i.e. the opening (1-9) of the dosing chamber (1-4), is immersed in the solid particulate material (4-1) when the solid particulate material (4-1) is contained in the reservoir (4); in said distance position, the lower end of the dosing chamber (1-4), i.e. the opening (1-9) of the dosing chamber (1-4), is outside and above the solid particulate material (4-1) when the solid particulate material (4-1) is contained in the reservoir (4); a TRANSDEV (3) is positioned above the receptacle holding unit, and the discharge opening (3-5) of the TRANSDEV (3) is vertically aligned with the opening of the receptacle; The method comprises six steps, step (A), step (B), step (C), step (D), step (E) and step (F), performed consecutively in their alphabetical order; (A) displacing the DOSDEV (2) and the reservoir (4) relative to each other from the distance position to the collection position, thereby immersing the lower end of the dosing chamber (1-4) in the solid particulate material (4-1); (B) applying a vacuum of a predetermined intensity to said dosing chamber (1-4), thereby drawing a predetermined dose of solid particulate material (4-1) into said dosing chamber (1-4); (C) displacing the DOSDEV (2) and the reservoir (4) relative to each other from the collection position to the distance position; (D) forcing gas from the gas supply into the SPACE (1-3) at a predetermined pressure for a predetermined time, thereby removing any excess (4-3) solid particulate material (4-1) adhering to the outside of the lower end of the dosing element (1) of the DOSDEV (2) with a gas jet issuing from the SLIT (1-8) of the dosing element (1); (E) displacing the DOSDEV (2) from the distance position relative to the reservoir (4) to the release position; (F) releasing the dose of solid particles into the receptacle with the DOSDEV (2) in the release position by reducing the intensity of the vacuum; DOSDEV(2) is as defined in claim 1 herein; 15. The method of claim 14, wherein DOSAPP(5) is as defined in claim 14.

25. 25. The method for dispensing a solid particulate material (4-1) as set forth in claim 24, wherein step (F) is followed by a seventh step, step (G), in which the DOSAPP (5) displaces the DOSDEV (2) from the release position back to the distance position.

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