Device for metering pourable or compressed products

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for a monitored metering of a compressed or pourable product (2) into a container (3), having a metering device (4), by means of which a defined quantity of the compressed or pourable product (2) can be provided, and comprising a measuring channel sleeve (5) with an inner surface (6) made of a non-electrically conductive material, said measuring channel sleeve enclosing a conveyor path (7) for conveying the defined quantity of the pourable product (2) from the metering device (4) into the container (3) such that the compressed or pourable product (2) enters the inner volume (9) of the measuring channel sleeve (4) through an inlet region (8) of the measuring channel sleeve (4) on the path from the metering device (4) into the container (3) and is subsequently guided into the container (3) at an outlet region (10) of the measuring channel sleeve (5). The measuring channel sleeve (5) is arranged within an electric measuring device (11), and the electric measuring device (11) is designed to detect electric properties of the compressed or pourable product (2) during the movement thereof along the conveyor path (7), wherein the device (1) has at least one flushing device which is designed to flush the inner volume (9) of the measuring channel sleeve (5) with compressed air in order to remove deposits of the compressed or pourable product (2) from the inner volume (9) of the measuring channel sleeve (5), and the flushing device (12) is connected to an additional compressed air supply (17) which draws air from the interior (18) of the device (1) and compresses same during the operation of the flushing device (12).

Description

[0001] Device for dosing free-flowing or compressed products

[0002] The described device and method relate to monitoring the dosing of free-flowing or compressed products – particularly products consisting of powder or pellets. Particularly noteworthy here are, for example, medicinal powders / pellets, or nutritional supplements presented as powders or pellets, which can be dosed using the described device. Such powders or pellets are administered in capsules into which the powder or pellets must be dosed. Dosing accuracy is particularly important for medicinal powders / pellets, so permanent monitoring of each individual dosing process into a capsule or other container is desired. This is the prerequisite for immediately detecting incorrect dosing and immediately sorting out incorrectly filled capsules / containers.

[0003] The dosage of pharmaceutical powder / pellets into capsules is preferably carried out by feeding a defined amount of the pharmaceutical powder / pellets through a measuring channel sleeve made of electrically non-conductive material, particularly plastic, into a capsule. Preferably, the defined amount or a specific portion falls through the measuring channel sleeve made of electrically non-conductive material, particularly plastic, into the capsule under the influence of gravity.

[0004] The portion is monitored, for example, by moving the portion through a capacitor during or before dosing. In particular, the pellets fall through the sleeve or through the capacitor surrounding the sleeve under the influence of gravity. The pellets have dielectric properties, so that the pellets cause a change in the electrical properties of the capacitor (in particular a change in the capacitance of the capacitor). This change in the electrical properties of the capacitor can be evaluated to determine the portion or quantity of powder / pellets. The capacitor for monitoring the portioning is preferably made of electrically non-conductive material, in particular plastic. When the portion of powder or pellets is moved or falls through the measuring channel sleeve, the capacitance of the capacitor changes temporarily. A measuring voltage is preferably applied to the capacitor.The change in capacitance generates electrical currents that can be measured as electrical signals. Suitably configured electronics can use these signals (possibly taking into account other parameters such as time, humidity, electrical properties of the pellets, etc.) to determine the quantity or mass of powder or pellets that have passed through the capacitor.

[0005] It has been discovered that product deposits form on the measuring channel sleeve. Flushing the measuring channel sleeve with dehumidified compressed air creates an electrostatic charge on the measuring channel sleeve. This electrostatic charge promotes the adhesion of the product to the measuring channel sleeve. As a result, undose product remains in the sleeve, which affects the electrical properties of the capacitor and further distorts signals used to determine the quantity or mass of the product.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to at least partially solve the problems described with reference to the prior art. It proposes measures that reduce the influence of deposits and electrostatic charging and thus increase the accuracy of the determination of dosed products, in particular pharmaceutical powders or pharmaceutical pellets.

[0007] This object is achieved by the invention according to the features of the independent patent claims. Further advantageous embodiments are specified in the dependently formulated patent claims as well as in the description and, in particular, in the description of the figures. It should be noted that the person skilled in the art will combine the individual features in a technologically expedient manner and thus arrive at further embodiments of the invention. The invention describes a device for the monitored dosing of a compressed or free-flowing product into a container, comprising a dosing device with which a defined amount of the compressed or free-flowing product can be provided, as well as a measuring channel sleeve with an inner surface made of non-electrically conductive material, which encloses a conveying path for the defined amount of the compressed or free-flowing product from the dosing device into the container.so that the compressed or free-flowing product, on its way from the dosing device into the container, enters an internal volume of the measuring channel sleeve through an inlet region of the measuring channel sleeve and is then guided into the container at an outlet region of the measuring channel sleeve, wherein the measuring channel sleeve is arranged within an electrical measuring device and the electrical measuring device is configured to record electrical properties of the compressed or free-flowing product as it moves along the conveying path, wherein the device has at least one flushing device configured to flush the internal volume of the measuring channel sleeve with compressed air in order to remove deposits of the compressed or free-flowing product from the internal volume of the measuring channel sleeve;

[0008] - wherein the flushing device is connected to an additional compressed air supply which takes air from an interior of the device and pressurises it to operate the flushing device.

[0009] The device is preferably part of a system with which the compressed or free-flowing product can be filled into containers or, in particular, into capsules. Optionally, the device as a whole forms this system. Such a system can also be referred to as a capsule filling system.

[0010] The dosing device is the part of this device or system that provides the amount of product to be filled into a single container or capsule. The dosing device is preferably configured to precisely extract the amount from a reservoir and prepare it for dosing. The measuring channel sleeve is a common component in such systems that guides the product from the dosing device to the capsule.

[0011] The product is particularly compressed or free-flowing. The term "compressed" in this context means that the product consists of particles that have been compressed, for example, through pressure to form an agglomerate. However, the agglomerate bond is usually not completely solid; particles can detach. The term "free-flowing" refers to the ability of bulk materials to flow vertically under defined conditions. The flowability of a bulk material is determined by its composition and the nature of its particles.

[0012] The measuring channel sleeves separate the externally arranged measuring device from the product, thus forming an indirect measuring system. Such measuring channel sleeves also ensure a defined guidance of the product or pellets through the measuring device, in particular, guidance along a defined path.

[0013] In principle, both capacitive and inductive methods can be used with the measuring device to acquire an electrical signal that allows conclusions to be drawn about the amount of pellets.

[0014] Measuring channel sleeves are also used, in particular, to mask a container into which the product is to be transported (for example, a capsule into which pellets are to be filled as a product). The term "masking" here refers to the fact that such sleeves form a channel through which the product or pellets are fed into the container or capsule, and which is adapted to the format of the container or capsules.

[0015] The measuring channel sleeve, and in particular the inner surface of the measuring channel sleeve, is preferably made of a non-electrically conductive material, in particular plastic. Preferably, the entire measuring channel sleeve is made of a non-electrically conductive material.

[0016] The inner surface of the measuring channel sleeves preferably has surface properties that cause low mechanical friction between the product and the inner surface. However, because the material is not electrically conductive, or even insulating, electrostatic charges can occur.

[0017] The use of non-electrically conductive material for the measuring channel sleeve is particularly advantageous for monitoring dosing with the help of the electrical measuring device. A measuring channel sleeve made of electrically conductive material would act like a Faraday cage around the product. This would complicate monitoring dosing with the measuring channel sleeve. Preferably, no electrically conductive, and in particular no metallic, material is located within the measuring chamber of the measuring device (in which the measuring channel sleeve is located).

[0018] The device described here features a flushing device with which the measuring channel sleeve or the inner volume of the measuring channel sleeve can be flushed with compressed air. This allows product deposits to be removed from the inner volume or removed from the inner surface of the measuring channel sleeve. Any product remaining in the measuring channel sleeve can be flushed out of the measuring channel sleeve with compressed air.

[0019] The purging device draws compressed air for purging the measuring channel sleeve from an auxiliary compressed air supply. The auxiliary compressed air supply draws air from the interior of the device, compresses it, and makes it available as compressed air.

[0020] The additional compressed air supply is therefore not a compressed air supply for such a device or system in the classic sense. By taking the air from the interior of the device, a type of recirculation of compressed air takes place within the device. In particular, no substances (in this case air) have to be transported from outside the device into the device. This considerably simplifies the fulfillment of approval requirements for the device. The additional compressed air supply is preferably arranged inside the device (particularly preferably in the interior of the device). The additional compressed air supply is preferably located entirely (i.e. with all its parts) inside the interior of the device.

[0021] The interior of the device is in particular an at least partially closed space separated from the environment by walls, in which the product is dosed using the device. The interior of the device can in particular be a clean room and / or a barrier system. Clean room conditions may prevail in a clean room. Such clean room conditions may be necessary or advantageous for processing the product. The clean room conditions of the interior of the device may ensure that no external contaminants can reach the product. If necessary, the interior of the device can also be designed as a barrier system, which ensures that no product escapes into the environment. This can be advantageous or necessary in particular for the processing / dosing of special pharmaceuticals (which may, for example, be highly toxic).The air is extracted from the interior of the device, preferably in the immediate vicinity of the dosing device and the measuring channel sleeve.

[0022] The additional compressed air supply therefore does not pump air from outside into the device. The additional compressed air supply supplies the flushing device with air from inside the device. This eliminates the need for additional air filtration. Above all, it does not require the compressed air to be dehumidified. There are requirements that compressed air pumped from outside into devices or systems for handling products such as pharmaceuticals must be dehumidified. Such dry air is generally not electrically conductive and leads to electrostatic charging of the measuring channel sleeves. The compressed air used here, which is taken from the interior of the device using the additional compressed air supply, is not completely dry but contains a moisture content. Due to this moisture content, this compressed air is somewhat conductive and does not build up any additional electrostatic charge on the measuring channel sleeves.In particular, it can help to reduce electrostatic charges from product particles and / or internal surfaces of the measuring channel sleeve.

[0023] As a result, the described flushing device with the additional compressed air supply can achieve significantly improved cleaning of the internal volume of the measuring channel sleeve.

[0024] It is particularly advantageous if the electrical measuring device has at least one electrical component which defines a measuring space, wherein the measuring channel sleeve is arranged within the measuring space in such a way that the conveying path runs through the measuring space.

[0025] The electrical measuring device is, in particular, a capacitor, and the measuring chamber is, in particular, a capacitor volume. Electrical properties of the product that cause a change in the electrical properties in the measuring chamber can be monitored with the electrical measuring device.

[0026] Particularly advantageously, the at least one flushing device is designed to flush compressed air into the inlet area of ​​the measuring channel sleeve.

[0027] The flushing device is particularly designed so that compressed air is flushed into the inlet area and deposits in the measuring channel sleeve or within the internal volume of the measuring channel sleeve are transported along the conveying path to the outlet of the measuring channel sleeve.

[0028] Furthermore, the at least one flushing device is preferably configured to flush compressed air into the outlet region of the measuring channel sleeve. This corresponds to flushing the measuring channel sleeve or the internal volume of the measuring channel sleeve back toward the inlet region, counter to the conveying direction.

[0029] The device is also advantageous if the compressed air provided by the additional compressed air supply has a humidity of more than 1.5 g / m 3(grams per cubic meter), especially more than 2 g / m 3 has.

[0030] The compressed air provided by the additional compressed air supply is, in particular, not compressed air as is commonly used in systems and devices for dosing products. The compressed air commonly used in such systems and devices is dehumidified and thus dry, or dry in the technical sense. Rather, the compressed air provided by the additional compressed air supply is room air. The humidity of the air is preferably > 10% of a saturation humidity and more preferably less than 20%, especially preferably up to 15%. The temperature of the air in the interior space, which is drawn in by the additional compressed air supply, is preferably between 18°C ​​and 25°C.

[0031] It has been found that such a humidity level in the compressed air is sufficient to achieve the advantageous electrical conductivity of the compressed air described above. Air taken from the interior of the device generally meets these conditions.

[0032] It is also advantageous if, in addition to the additional compressed air supply, there is another compressed air supply with which compressed air with a humidity of less than 1.5 g / m 3 (grams per cubic meter) is provided

[0033] Such an additional compressed air supply is, in particular, a main compressed air supply for the device and / or a system of which the device is a part. The additional compressed air supply supplies, for example, the other components of the device or system with compressed air. This includes, for example, a metering roller, which will be described in more detail below and which can form the metering device of the device. Such an additional compressed air supply is regularly supplied with air from outside. "External" here means that the compressed air is sucked in from outside the device or system, then filtered and treated, and finally injected into the device or system.

[0034] There are requirements that the compressed air supplied externally with such an additional compressed air supply must be dehumidified or dry. Dry compressed air is not suitable for providing the conductivity in the measuring channel sleeve that would prevent deposits on the measuring channel sleeve. For this reason, the additional compressed air supply is supplemented by the additional compressed air supply according to the device described here.

[0035] Particularly advantageously, the at least one flushing device comprises a nozzle with which air flowing into the measuring channel sleeve is accelerated.

[0036] During flushing, compressed air accelerated by a nozzle impinges on product deposits in the measuring channel sleeve, in the internal volume, and on the surface with a pulse. This helps to more effectively dissolve product deposits.

[0037] It is also advantageous if an inflow angle between an inflow direction with which compressed air exits the flushing device and an axis of the measuring channel sleeve is at least 30°.

[0038] Such an inflow angle allows for intensive friction of the compressed air against the inner surface of the measuring channel sleeve. This can improve the removal of product deposits on the inner surface.

[0039] It is also preferred if the inflow direction, with which the compressed air exits the flushing device, is oriented tangentially to an axis of the measuring channel sleeve, so that a spiral compressed air flow is generated in the cylindrical interior volume. It is particularly advantageous if the dosing device has at least one dosing roller with at least one dosing chamber, wherein a respective amount of the product to be dosed can be provided in each of the at least one dosing chambers.

[0040] A dosing roller is a cylindrical body with an outer roller surface and a roller axis. During the dosing process, the dosing roller rotates around its axis in one direction. Dosing chambers are evenly distributed in circumferential annular areas. The dosing roller, with the dosing chambers, conveys defined portions of the product from a product supply into a target container. A pick-up position and a discharge position refer to locations relative to the dosing roller. Preferably, the product is conveyed into the dosing chambers of the dosing roller at the pick-up position using negative pressure, and at the discharge position using positive pressure, from the dosing chambers into the measuring channel sleeve.

[0041] The size or volume of the dosing chambers in the dosing roller defines the amount of product to be dosed. With a dosing roller in the dosing device, the dosed amounts can be precisely adjusted. For this reason, it is particularly advantageous to use the device described here (which allows precise monitoring of the quantities) with a dosing roller in the dosing device.

[0042] In embodiments, the dosing device can be designed with at least one dosing slide with at least one movable dosing chamber, wherein a quantity of the product to be dosed can be provided by moving the dosing slide.

[0043] It is also advantageous if the product is provided in a reservoir and, in a first position of the at least one dosing slide, a first passage from the reservoir into the at least one dosing chamber is opened, and the dosing chamber is filled with product from the reservoir and, in a second position of the at least one dosing slide, a second passage from the dosing chamber into the inlet region of the measuring channel sleeve is opened and the product contained in the dosing chamber can pass into the measuring channel sleeve.

[0044] In this design variant, the size or volume of the dosing chambers in the dosing slide also defines the amount of product to be dosed.

[0045] It is particularly preferred if the product is a medicinal product.

[0046] The device is particularly preferably part of a capsule filling machine for filling pharmaceutical capsules with a pharmaceutical product that is compacted and / or free-flowing. Expensive pharmaceutical products and pharmaceutical products where dosage is particularly critical are often provided in capsules. The device described here is particularly suitable in connection with such pharmaceutical products, because monitoring the dosed quantities is particularly critical when dosing such pharmaceutical products.

[0047] It is also advantageous if the product comprises granulate particles and / or pellets.

[0048] Granule particles and / or pellets can, in particular, be pressed from a powdered starting product. When dosing granule particles and / or pellets, it is also preferable to dose a large number of individual particles, each of which has an average diameter in the micrometer range (e.g., between 50 and 500 pm).

[0049] The size distribution of such granulate particles and / or pellets around a mean diameter is preferably narrow. Particularly preferably, the size and, in particular, the shape of the granulate particles and / or pellets are uniform. This enables high dosing accuracy.

[0050] Pellets and / or granulate particles dispensed using the device described here can also be coated with talc or magnesium stearate, for example. It is further preferred if the product comprises a powder.

[0051] A powder, in particular, consists of finer particles than granules or pellets. Furthermore, the particle size distribution is preferably broader. In particular, a powder also contains very fine (possibly dust-like) particles.

[0052] With powdered products, there is an increased risk that finer powder particles in particular will stick to the inner surface of the measuring channel sleeve. By concentrating the powdered product in the central area of ​​the measuring channel sleeve, contact or friction of the product on the inner surface can be reduced, and less of the product sticks there. In addition, a compaction of the powdered product is achieved, which causes powder particles to stick to one another, thus reducing the tendency of the powder particles to move away from the central area of ​​the measuring channel sleeve towards the surface areas. So-called "free" powder combines with the main amount of the product and is transported through the measuring channel sleeve into the container together with the main amount.

[0053] Products or pellets whose dosing would have been difficult or even impossible to dose or measure without the measuring channel sleeves described here due to electrostatic charging can be dosed much more easily using the method and device described here. In particular, the measurability of the dosed quantities / portions is significantly improved.

[0054] The device is particularly preferred if the electrical measuring device comprises a capacitor with two electrodes, wherein the measuring channel sleeve is arranged within a capacitor volume between the two electrodes, and wherein dielectric properties of the product cause a measurable change in the capacitance of the capacitor. It is also advantageous if the evaluation circuit is configured to detect a time integral and / or maximum value and / or start / end difference of the capacitance of the electrical measuring device as an electrical signal and to evaluate it for determining the amount of dispensed product.

[0055] As the product moves through the measuring channel sleeve, the capacitance of the measuring device, which is designed as a capacitor, increases due to the product's dielectric properties. This increase in capacitance can be measured using a suitable evaluation circuit.

[0056] Alternatively or in addition to capacitive effects, which are detected with a measuring device configured as a capacitor, the measuring device can also measure other effects, such as inductive effects caused by the permeability of the product. In this context, the electrical measuring device can be designed as a coil surrounding the measuring channel sleeve. The inductance of this coil can be temporarily influenced by the movement of the product through the measuring channel sleeve.

[0057] The invention and the technical context of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the figures. The figures show preferred embodiments to which the invention is not limited. It should be noted in particular that the figures, and in particular the proportions depicted in the figures, are only schematic. They show:

[0058] Fig. 1 : a described system for filling a compacted and / or free-flowing product into capsules;

[0059] Fig. 2: a device according to the prior art with a dosing device with a dosing roller

[0060] Fig. 3: a device according to the prior art with a dosing device with a dosing slide Fig. 4 a first embodiment of a device described here;

[0061] Fig. 5 shows a second embodiment of a device described here; and

[0062] Fig. 6 shows a third embodiment of a device described here.

[0063] Fig. 1 shows a system 28 for filling a free-flowing, powdery and / or compacted product 2, which is designed here by way of example with a dosing roller 20 as the dosing device 4. The structure of the system 28 is only an example here to clarify the context. The system 28 has a turntable 31, which is rotated in a direction of rotation 34 and in this way travels to various stations 32, at each of which processing steps for containers 3 (in particular capsules that are to be filled) take place. Shown here by way of example are a filling station 29 at which the device 1 described here is implemented, a capsule loading station 30 and a capsule removal station 33. The filling station 29 or the device 1 is shown here by way of example with a dosing roller 20, which fills the product 2 into the containers 3. The filling station 29 orHowever, the device 1 can also be designed in any other way, for example with the dosing slide described below.

[0064] Fig. 2 shows one device 1 of the prior art with a dosing roller 20 as dosing device 4. The dosing roller 20 has dosing chambers 21, which are filled with product 2 from a reservoir 23 at the top and transferred to the measuring channel sleeve 5 at the bottom for dosing into the container 3. The dosing roller 20 rotates during dosing in a direction of rotation 34 in order to dose one amount of product after the other. At the top position, the product 2 is sucked into the dosing chamber 21 using negative pressure from a compressed air system 35. The size of the dosing chamber 21 defines the amount of product 2. At the bottom position, the product 2 is transferred into the measuring channel sleeve 5 using positive pressure from a compressed air system 35. The compressed air system 35 is supplied with compressed air by a compressed air supply 16, which draws in air from outside, from the environment of the device 1 or from outside an interior space 18 of the device and provides it as dry compressed air.This compressed air supply 16 is independent of the additional compressed air supply 17 described here, which is described further above and below.

[0065] The measuring channel sleeve 5 is surrounded by an electrical measuring device 11, shown schematically here, which is connected to an evaluation circuit 13 and can be monitored and evaluated with the electrical properties of the product 2 as it moves through the measuring channel sleeve 5 in order to determine the quantity of the product 2 moved through the measuring channel sleeve 5.

[0066] Fig. 3 shows a device 1 of the prior art with a dosing device 4 designed as a dosing slide 22. In a first position 24, a first passage 25 for product 2 from a reservoir 23 into a dosing chamber 21 in the dosing slide 22 is open, so that product 2 passes from the reservoir 23 into the dosing chamber 21. By moving the dosing slide 22, the passage 25 is closed and a defined amount of product 2, which is defined by the size of the dosing chamber 21, is separated from the reservoir 23. In a second position 26, a second passage 27 from the dosing chamber 21 to the measuring channel sleeve 5 is open, so that the defined amount of product 2 passes through the measuring channel sleeve 5 into the container 3.

[0067] Also shown here are the electrical measuring device 11 and the evaluation circuit 13, which are designed according to the illustration in Fig. 2.

[0068] 4, 5 and 6 show various embodiments of the device 1 described here, which is part of a system 28 for filling free-flowing and possibly compressed products - in particular a capsule filling system. The interior 18 of the device is shown here in each case. Located within the interior 18 is the dosing device 4, which, according to Figs. 4 and 5, is designed with a dosing roller 20 with dosing chambers 21 and, according to Fig. 6, with a dosing slide 22 with dosing chambers 21. Other variants of the dosing device 4 can be used. With regard to the details of the dosing device 4, reference is also made to Figs. 2 and 3 and the corresponding explanations thereto.

[0069] Dosing takes place along a conveying path 7 from the dosing device 4 into the container 3 through the internal volume 9 of a measuring channel sleeve 5. The product 2 enters the internal volume 9 of the measuring channel sleeve 5 at an inlet area 8 and then exits the measuring channel sleeve 5 again at an outlet area 10 to reach the container 3. Deposits of the product 2 can form on the internal surface 6 of the internal volume 9 of the measuring channel sleeve 5.

[0070] An additional compressed air supply 17 extracts air from the interior 18 and supplies this air as compressed air to the purging devices 12. The compressed air provided by the additional compressed air supply 17 has a certain humidity due to its extraction from the interior 18, which in most cases corresponds to the ambient humidity. As a result, this compressed air has a certain electrical conductivity.

[0071] 4, 5 and 6 show various arrangements of flushing devices 12 for flushing the internal volume 9 of the measuring channel sleeve 5 and for removing deposits of the product 2 on internal surfaces 6. According to Fig. 4, flushing takes place against the direction of the conveying path 7 with a flushing device 12 aligned in the outlet region 10 of the measuring channel sleeve 5. The flushing device 12 has nozzles 36 with which the compressed air is introduced into the measuring channel sleeve for flushing. According to Fig. 5, flushing takes place along the direction of the conveying path 7 with a flushing device 12 aligned in the inlet region 8 of the measuring channel sleeve 5.

[0072] Nozzle 36 of the flushing device 12. In Figs. 4 and 5 it is shown that an inflow angle 19 is set between an axis 38 of the measuring channel sleeve 5 and the orientation of the flushing device 12 or an inflow direction 37 of the nozzle 36 with which compressed air exits the flushing device 12. By means of such an inflow angle 19 it can be achieved that the compressed air hits the inner surface 6 of the inner volume 9 of the measuring channel sleeve 5 and causes deposits of the product 2 to be removed there. If necessary, the flushing device 12 or the nozzle 36 can also be aligned such that the inflow direction 37 is tangential to the axis 38 of the measuring channel sleeve 5. In this way, a spiral-shaped compressed air flow can be generated within the inner volume 9, which particularly effectively removes deposits of the product 2 on the inner surface 6.

[0073] Fig. 6 shows a further embodiment variant in which a plurality of flushing devices 12 are present, wherein at least a first flushing device 12 or nozzle 36 injects compressed air from above, parallel to the axis 38, into the measuring channel sleeve 5 or its internal volume 9. Further flushing devices 12 or nozzles 36 apply compressed air to the measuring channel sleeve 5 laterally via an upper side 39 of the measuring channel sleeve 5 towards the axis 38. By means of these laterally arranged flushing devices 12, deposits of the product 2 on the upper side 39 are conveyed into the measuring channel sleeve 5 or its internal volume 9. These deposits of the product 2 are then conveyed out of the measuring channel sleeve 5 or its internal volume 9 by means of the at least one first flushing device 12, starting from the inlet region 8 towards the outlet region 10.

[0074] As also shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the electrical measuring device 11 is provided with an electrical component 14 (in particular a capacitor) that defines a measuring chamber 15 in which the measuring channel sleeve 5 is located. The electrical evaluation circuit 13 serves to evaluate electrical signals that are detected by the electrical measuring device 11 when a quantity of the product 2 to be dosed is conveyed along the conveying path 2 through the measuring channel sleeve 5 or its internal volume 9, and to determine this quantity.List of reference symbols Device Product Container Dosing device Measuring channel sleeve Inner surface Conveyor path Inlet area Internal volume Outlet area Electrical measuring device Flushing device Evaluation circuit Electrical component Measuring chamber Compressed air supply Additional compressed air supply Interior Inflow angle Dosing roller Dosing chamber Dosing slide Storage first position first passage second position second passage System Filling station Capsule loading Turntable Station Capsule removal Direction of rotation Compressed air system Nozzle Inflow direction Axis Top.

Claims

Claims 1. Device (1) for the monitored dosing of a compressed or free-flowing product (2) into a container (3), comprising a dosing device (4) with which a defined amount of the compressed or free-flowing product (2) can be provided, and a measuring channel sleeve (5) with an inner surface (6) made of non-electrically conductive material, which comprises a conveying path (7) of the defined amount of the free-flowing product (2) from the dosing device (4) into the container (3), so that the compressed or free-flowing product (2) on the way from the dosing device (4) into the container (3) enters an inner volume (9) of the measuring channel sleeve (4) through an inlet region (8) of the measuring channel sleeve (4) and is then guided into the container (3) at an outlet region (10) of the measuring channel sleeve (5),wherein the measuring channel sleeve (5) is arranged within an electrical measuring device (11) and the electrical measuring device (11) is designed to detect electrical properties of the compressed or free-flowing product (2) as it moves along the conveying path (7), - wherein the device (1) has at least one flushing device (12) which is designed to flush the inner volume (9) of the measuring channel sleeve (5) with compressed air in order to remove deposits of the compressed or free-flowing product (2) from the inner volume (9) of the measuring channel sleeve (5); wherein the flushing device (12) is connected to an additional compressed air supply (17) which, for the operation of the flushing device (12), extracts and pressurizes air from an inner space (18) of the device (1).

2. Device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the electrical measuring device (11) has at least one electrical component (14) which spans a measuring space (15), wherein the measuring channel sleeve (5) is arranged within the measuring space (15) in such a way that the conveying path (7) runs through the measuring space (15).

3. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one flushing device (12) is designed to flush compressed air into the inlet region (8) of the measuring channel sleeve (5).

4. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one flushing device (12) is designed to flush compressed air into the outlet region (10) of the measuring channel sleeve (5).

5. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the compressed air provided by the additional compressed air supply (17) has a humidity of more than 1.5 g / m 3 (grams per cubic meter).

6. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in addition to the additional compressed air supply (17) there is a further compressed air supply (16) with which compressed air with a humidity of less than 1.5 g / m 3 (grams per cubic meter) is provided 7. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one flushing device (12) comprises a nozzle (36) with which air flowing into the measuring channel sleeve is accelerated.

8. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein an inflow angle (19) between an inflow direction (37) with which compressed air exits the flushing device (12) and an axis (38) of the measuring channel sleeve (5) is at least 30°.

9. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein an inflow direction (37) with which compressed air emerges from the flushing device (12) is aligned tangentially to an axis (38) of the measuring channel sleeve (5), so that a spiral-shaped compressed air flow is generated in the cylindrical inner volume (9).

10. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the dosing device (4) has at least one dosing roller (20) with at least one dosing chamber (21), wherein in each of the at least one dosing chamber (21) a quantity of the free-flowing product (2) to be dosed can be provided.

11. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the dosing device (4) has at least one dosing slide (22) with at least one displaceable dosing chamber (21), wherein a quantity of the free-flowing product (2) to be dosed can be provided by a displacement of the dosing slide (22).

12. Device (1) according to claim 11, wherein the compressed or free-flowing product (2) is provided in a reservoir (23) and, in a first position (24) of the at least one metering slide (22), a first passage (25) from the reservoir (23) into the at least one metering chamber (21) is opened, and the metering chamber (21) is filled with free-flowing product (2) from the reservoir (23), and, in a second position (26) of the at least one metering slide (22), a second passage (27) from the metering chamber (21) into the inlet region (8) of the measuring channel sleeve (5) is opened and the compressed or free-flowing product (2) contained in the metering chamber (21) can pass into the measuring channel sleeve (5).

13. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the compressed or free-flowing product (2) is a pharmaceutical product.

14. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the compressed or free-flowing product (2) comprises granulate particles and / or pellets.

15. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the compressed or free-flowing product (2) comprises a powder.

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