System for filling filling material into containers with fill level monitoring

Abstract

The invention relates to a system (1) for filling filling material (4) into containers (2), having at least one electrical monitoring device (5, 9) for determining at least one electrical property of the container (2) and / or of a filling material (4) contained in the container (2), which electrical property allows the fill level of the filling material (4) in the container (2) to be estimated, the monitoring device (5, 9) having at least one measuring cell (6), each of which is designed to determine electrical properties of a container (2), the at least one measuring cell (6) of the monitoring device (5, 9) being integrated into a driver element (3) which is designed to convey containers (2) in the system (1), the system (1) further having an evaluation means (7) with which, based on electrical properties of a container (2) that are identified by a measuring cell (6), a fill level of the filling material (4) in the container (2) can be determined.

Description

[0001] System for filling goods into containers with level monitoring

[0002] The invention relates to a system for filling a product into containers, for example, vials, phials, cartridges, and / or syringes. The liquid product is, in particular, a liquid pharmaceutical.

[0003] Especially with liquid pharmaceuticals, it is often very important that the product is dosed with high precision during filling. Random checks of the filling process's accuracy are often insufficient. Rather, in many cases, it is desirable to monitor every single filling process into every single container.

[0004] Liquid pharmaceutical filling systems regularly operate at very high throughput rates. For example, it's common for more than 500 filling processes to be performed per minute, meaning a single filling system can perform more than 500 high-precision filling processes per minute.

[0005] Continuous, non-cyclical operation of such systems is generally advantageous for rapid processing of containers during filling. It is particularly preferred that each container be moved through the system in a single, continuous motion. This also means that each processing step in the system must be carried out while the container is moving. It is particularly preferred that during the processing of containers, groups of containers be formed in the system, which then have to be brought to a resting position as a group for processing. Such a procedure has previously often been necessary to weigh containers before and / or after filling. Fundamentally, continuous, non-cyclical operation opens up opportunities for faster processing of containers in such a system for filling / during filling.The continuous processing of containers in such a facility presents a challenge, especially when weighing each individual container accurately. During the weighing process, it is often necessary for the container to be temporarily at rest, particularly to reduce the influence of the container's mass (inertia).

[0006] The need to weigh containers therefore requires special container guidance, which may necessitate continuous operation or, at least in part, cyclical operation of the system. Such requirements require additional installation space and longer product runtimes. Systems for filling liquid products therefore become slower, larger, and more complex.

[0007] The object of the present invention is to at least partially solve the problems described with reference to the prior art. In particular, it proposes a system for filling a liquid product into containers with a fill level monitoring system that is advantageous in terms of the weighing effort.

[0008] This object is achieved by the invention according to the features of the independent patent claims. Further advantageous embodiments are specified in the dependent 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 can combine the individual features in a technologically expedient manner and thus arrive at further embodiments of the invention.

[0009] What is proposed here is a system for filling filling material into containers, comprising at least one electrical monitoring device for determining at least one electrical property of the container and / or of a filling material contained in the container, which monitoring device enables the fill level of a filling material in the container to be estimated, wherein the monitoring device has at least one measuring cell which is designed to determine electrical properties of a container, wherein the at least one measuring cell of the monitoring device is integrated into a carrier element which is designed to convey containers in the system, wherein the system further has an evaluation device with which a fill level of the filling material in the container can be determined based on electrical properties of a container detected by a measuring cell.

[0010] The system is particularly suitable for processing or filling liquid products. In principle, however, the system can also be used to fill non-liquid products that behave similarly to liquids during filling. For example, the system is also suitable for filling free-flowing products. When reference is made to liquid products in the following, this also includes other products.

[0011] Preferably, the system has a filling station for filling the liquid filling material into the containers.

[0012] The electrical monitoring device makes it possible, in particular, to monitor whether the quantity of liquid product filled at the filling station corresponds to a specified quantity. Preferably, the system or the filling station and / or the monitoring device and the evaluation device are designed to enable complete monitoring of the filling of liquid product into each individual container. The evaluation device is preferably configured to determine a parameter for each individual container filled by the system, which parameter describes the correctness or, in particular, the accuracy of the filling of the container with the liquid product.

[0013] The electrical monitoring device and the evaluation unit are preferably used to determine a fill level. The fill level describes, in particular, the quantity or fill volume of the product in the container. The terms fill volume / fill level and fill volume are sometimes used synonymously below. Since the system describes the processing of liquid products, the term fill level is preferred here, because the fill volume of a liquid product in a container regularly results in a level of the product in the container.

[0014] In the system described here, the fill level is regularly detected, preferably at least partially, independently of the level of the liquid filling material in the container. The electrical properties of the liquid filling material are preferably determined by the monitoring device independently of the position of the filling material in the container. Depending on how much liquid filling material is present in the container, the monitoring device determines certain electrical properties that enable the determination of a filling quantity. A specific filling quantity preferably corresponds to a specific fill level in the container. A fill level is therefore preferably determined indirectly by determining a filling quantity. In other words: a specific fill level corresponds to a specific filling quantity and vice versa.

[0015] The liquid filling material is, in particular, a liquid pharmaceutical. The liquid filling material can be a filling material for which very precise dosing is important. The containers can be any type of container into which such liquid filling materials are filled. The system has, in particular, a barrier system (e.g., a clean room) in which the filling takes place. The system is preferably configured such that the empty (not yet filled) containers are fed into the clean room or the system, preferably through a designated input system (in particular, a lock system). Preferably, the system is further configured such that the filled containers leave the system again through a designated output system (in particular, also a lock system).Electrical properties that can be monitored with the monitoring device are preferably capacitive properties of the objects (containers and / or the contents in the containers) arranged in or on the monitoring device. When reference is made below to the electrical properties of the container, this refers to the electrical properties of the empty container or the (combined) electrical properties of the filled container, which are the sum of the electrical properties of the (empty) container and the contents contained therein.

[0016] Materials generally have a permittivity, which is also called dielectric conductivity or dielectricity. The permittivity or dielectricity of a material can be described, for example, by the so-called dielectric constant, which describes the relative permittivity in relation to a perfect vacuum. The dielectric constant of water, for example, is approximately 80, while the dielectric constant of air is in the range of 1. For filling materials processed with the system, a dielectric constant can preferably be determined, which can be made available by the monitoring device to an evaluation device for evaluating electrical properties.The monitoring device preferably checks for the presence of the product based on its electrical properties, and determines electrical properties / measured values ​​that describe the electrical properties of the product. The evaluation device is preferably configured to calculate a quantity of product using this information / measured values, preferably taking into account additional parameters, in particular at least one dielectric constant of the product.

[0017] If, as is preferably provided, the electrical properties are capacitive, the monitoring device is a passive monitoring device and a measuring method carried out therewith is a passive measuring method in which there is no need to actively apply pressure to the container and / or the filling material to generate a response. In contrast, the permittivity of the container and / or the filling material causes a change in the electrical capacitance without the container and / or the filling material being excited by a signal. Thus, such a preferably used monitoring device differs fromSuch a preferred measuring method, for example, of monitoring devices and measuring methods in which the container and / or the filling material is subjected to a signal, in particular an electromagnetic wave, in order to then measure a response signal emitted by the container and / or the filling material.

[0018] At least one measuring cell is integrated into a carrier element. Carrier elements for transporting the containers through the system are in contact with the containers to transport the containers through the system. It has been shown that fill level determination can be carried out based on the electrical properties of the containers or the product being filled if measuring cells for determining electrical properties are integrated into such carrier elements. Since contact or interaction between carrier elements and containers already occurs in the system, fill level determination can be carried out particularly efficiently in this way.

[0019] Carrying elements are preferably part of a carrying device designed to transport containers through the system. Carrying elements can, for example, be wheels, each of which has holders for containers. By rotating such a wheel, a container can then be transported through the system. Carrying elements can also be formed, for example, on a continuously rotating conveyor chain that moves to transport containers through the system.

[0020] Preferably, carrier elements are designed with so-called format parts. Format parts are preferably integrated into the system in an interchangeable manner and adapted to the shape of the containers. To adapt a system to a different type of container, format parts can preferably be exchanged. The measuring cells are preferably (at least partially) integrated into such format parts. For example, in preferred embodiments, measuring cells have electrode arrangements that are integrated into format parts. When format parts are exchanged, and in particular when format parts with measuring cells are exchanged to adapt the system to other containers, it is usually also advantageous to make adjustments to the evaluation device in order to adapt the determination of fill levels to the changed conditions (changed format parts / measuring cells).

[0021] In preferred embodiments, the driving device is designed together with the driving elements and the measuring cell transport device is designed together with the measuring cells.

[0022] The at least one measuring cell is preferably configured to be moved synchronously with the container in the system or in the monitoring device. This movement occurs in particular while the electrical property is being determined. This means, in particular, that the measuring cell is moved together or parallel with the container in such a way that no relative movement occurs between the measuring cell and the container during the determination of the electrical property. In preferred embodiments, the monitoring device has a plurality of measuring cells, which are arranged one behind the other, in particular along a conveying path of the containers through the system. The measuring cells are preferably moved one behind the other, parallel to or synchronously with containers arranged one behind the other.The monitoring device is preferably designed such that a measuring cell interacts with each container in the nest to determine the electrical properties of the container and / or the product contained therein. Determining the electrical properties typically requires a certain amount of time; by arranging several measuring cells one behind the other, the determination of the electrical properties of several containers arranged one behind the other can be carried out with temporal overlap. The time period that is advantageous for determining the electrical properties of containers for fill level determination is, for example, approximately 10 ms [milliseconds]. This allows the conveying speed of containers through the system to be increased.

[0023] The measuring cell is preferably designed with at least one electrode, or particularly preferably with an electrode arrangement that can be brought close to the container in such a way that the measuring cell, together with the container or the filling material contained in the container, acts like a capacitor. The filling material preferably changes the capacitive properties of the measuring cell. These capacitive properties, and in particular the change in these capacitive properties, can be provided to the evaluation device as a measured value in order to determine a fill level or a filling quantity of the liquid filling material.

[0024] A monitoring device with such measuring cells for determining the electrical properties of each individual container is particularly well suited for checking the fill level of containers in a nest. Gravimetric level determination, in which containers are weighed gravimetrically to determine the fill level in the containers, has been widely used to date. Gravimetric level determination usually requires a direct force transfer from the container to a gravimetric measuring cell, while at the same time, other forces acting on the container must be minimized to enable a particularly precise weight determination based on the force transfer to the measuring cell. This is particularly difficult or impossible if the containers are in motion during the level determination.Movements of the containers regularly result in acceleration and inertia effects that interfere with gravimetric measurements.

[0025] There are also other effects that complicate gravimetric level determination and that do not occur with level determination based on electrical properties. These include, for example, the effects of air currents within the cleanroom. It has been shown that such air currents can distort gravimetric level determination. For example, air currents can exert pressure on the containers, which is transmitted as a force to a measuring cell and can thus distort the level determination. For this reason, level determination based on electrical properties can, under certain conditions, be more precise than level determination using gravimetric measuring methods.

[0026] Electrostatic forces can also influence level determination using gravimetric measurement methods. These can occur, for example, when components surrounding the level measurement device are made of plastic materials with antistatic properties. Electrostatic forces can then occur between the container and the nest and / or other components, which can distort the level measurement. Such effects also generally do not occur when using electrical properties for level determination, and for this reason, level determination based on electrical properties is more precise under certain conditions than level determination using gravimetric measurement methods.

[0027] In contrast, the fill level determination via electrical properties of the filling material with the monitoring device described here enables a fill level determination that can also be carried out while the containers are moving through the system or through the monitoring device.

[0028] It is particularly preferred if the at least one measuring cell of the at least one monitoring device has an electrode arrangement which at least partially encompasses at least one cylindrical section of a container.

[0029] A cylindrical section here refers to a shape that extends partially circumferentially around the circumference of a container. Preferably, the measuring cells or electrode arrangements do not completely enclose the containers in the circumferential direction during the determination of the electrical properties. Preferably, the measuring cells or electrode arrangements only encompass a circumferential section of the containers, so that the containers can be engaged with the measuring cells or electrode arrangement outside of this section.

[0030] It is particularly advantageous if the system is designed to process a continuous supply of containers, at least in the area of ​​the at least one electrical monitoring device.

[0031] The system and the monitoring device are particularly designed to ensure that no timing of containers takes place - preferably neither during filling nor during the determination of electrical properties for level determination.

[0032] A continuous supply line refers, in particular, to a continuous flow of containers that is fed to the monitoring device or that passes through the system for filling. In particular, the containers are constantly moving within the system. Particularly preferably, the containers are constantly moving, from a feed device for feeding empty containers to the system to a supply device for supplying containers filled with the filling material. Preferably, one moving container after another is passed through the monitoring device, and the electrical properties of the container are determined to determine the fill level.

[0033] It is also preferred if the driving element is designed as part of a driving device which is configured to at least partially encompass at least one container and to transmit forces to the container in order to achieve a conveying movement of the container. Such a driving device preferably simultaneously forms a measuring cell transport device which transports the measuring cells parallel or synchronously to the containers. In other embodiments, it is also possible for the driving device with the driving elements for transporting the containers and the measuring cell transport device for moving or transporting the measuring cells to be independent of one another (i.e. not directly mechanically coupled), but to be moved synchronously, so that a measuring cell is temporarily always guided synchronously or parallel to a container.

[0034] Furthermore, it is advantageous if a carrier device for conveying containers through the system and / or a measuring cell transport device comprises a circulation device on which a plurality of carrier elements or measuring cells are arranged and designed to circulate and to convey containers through the system in a carrier section of the circulation device, wherein carrier elements or the measuring cells are moved in the carrier section with containers along a conveying direction for containers in order to be transferred at one end of the carrier section into deflection regions and a return region of the circulation device and to be fed back to a start of the carrier section.

[0035] The carrier elements and / or the measuring cells are preferably arranged on a chain and / or a wheel which rotates and circulates during operation of the system and thereby guides the movement of the individual carrier elements or measuring cells through the carrier section as well as the deflection areas and the return area.

[0036] The at least one measuring cell is preferably configured to be moved synchronously with the container in the system or in the monitoring device. This movement occurs in particular while the electrical property is being determined. This means, in particular, that the measuring cell is moved together or parallel with the container in such a way that no relative movement occurs between the measuring cell and the container during the determination of the electrical property. In preferred embodiments, the monitoring device has a plurality of measuring cells, which are arranged one behind the other, in particular along a conveying path of the containers through the system. The measuring cells are preferably moved one behind the other, parallel to or synchronously with containers arranged one behind the other.Preferably, the monitoring device is designed such that a measuring cell interacts with each container in the nest to determine the electrical properties of the container and / or the product contained therein. Determining the electrical properties typically requires a certain amount of time; by arranging several measuring cells one behind the other, the determination of the electrical properties of several containers arranged one behind the other can be carried out with temporal overlap. The time period that is advantageous for determining the electrical properties of containers for fill level determination is, for example, approximately 10 ms [milliseconds]. This allows the conveying speed of containers through the system to be increased.

[0037] The above-described monitoring devices primarily involve the determination of electrical properties of the containers continuously, i.e. not in a timed manner.

[0038] The system described here can also be configured to perform synchronized container processing, particularly in the area of ​​the monitoring device. In further system variants, it is possible to provide the monitoring device in a section of the system where a transition from continuous conveying and processing of containers within the system to synchronized conveying and processing takes place.

[0039] In particular, the system can be configured to perform synchronized processing of a group of containers, at least in the area of ​​the at least one electrical monitoring device. In this context, it is particularly preferred if the carrier element is designed as a slider, into which the at least one measuring cell is integrated and which is configured to simultaneously feed a group of containers to a processing station.

[0040] Such a slide preferably has a fixed number of carrier elements, each of which can accommodate a container. Preferably, each of these carrier elements has a measuring cell for determining the electrical properties of a container.

[0041] Such a slide can, for example, be fed with a continuous stream or a continuous supply of containers, with the containers filling all of the slide's carrying elements one after the other. As soon as the slide's carrying elements are completely filled, the slide can be used to convey the containers further together. This is then a cyclical operation because a group of containers is always conveyed at the same time and then the conveying is interrupted. Such a change to a cyclical operation can occur, for example, in order to feed a group of containers (in cycles) to a filling device. It is particularly advantageous to provide the described monitoring device at a point within the system at which a change from continuous processing / conveying of containers to cyclical processing / conveying of containers takes place.At such a location, containers regularly remain attached to the carrier elements for a certain period of time. This period can be used particularly advantageously to record electrical properties for level determination.

[0042] As described above, carrier elements can be designed as format parts. It is particularly preferred if the carrier element has an exchangeable format part that can be adapted to containers filled by the system. The measuring cells are preferably (at least partially) integrated into such format parts. For example, in preferred embodiments, measuring cells have electrode arrangements that are integrated into format parts. When format parts are exchanged, and in particular when format parts with measuring cells are exchanged to adapt the system to other containers, it is generally also advantageous to make adjustments to the evaluation device in order to adapt the determination of fill levels to the changed conditions (changed format parts / measuring cells).

[0043] As already described, the system has a filling station for filling the liquid product into the containers.

[0044] Depending on the filling station design, the containers are processed continuously or intermittently. Filling materials are preferably moved synchronously with the containers in the filling station, or containers are fixed in position for the duration of the filling process.

[0045] It is preferred if the first monitoring device and the second monitoring device are connected to the evaluation device and the evaluation device is configured to determine a fill level of the filling material in the container for individual containers in the nest, wherein a difference in electrical properties of the container before and after filling with the filling material is taken into account.

[0046] In principle, it is also possible for the system to have a (single) monitoring device, with which electrical properties can be determined both before and after filling of the product. The system is then preferably configured to move containers to the filling station after a first determination of the electrical properties at or with the monitoring device. The system is further configured to transport containers back to the monitoring device after filling so that a second determination of the electrical properties can be performed there.

[0047] Using a first monitoring device in the conveying direction upstream of the filling station, a first electrical property can preferably be determined for each individual container before filling with filling material, while using the second monitoring device in the conveying direction downstream of the filling station, a second electrical property is determined after filling. The evaluation device is preferably configured to calculate a difference or a differential between the second electrical property and the first electrical property and to determine the fill level based thereon. Typically, the container itself as well as the respective measuring cell have electrical properties of their own which overlay the electrical properties of the liquid filling material when determining the second electrical property using the second monitoring device.By calculating the described difference and the differential to the first electrical property, the electrical properties of the container and the respective measuring cell can be eliminated.

[0048] Preferably, the specific designs of the first monitoring device and the second monitoring device largely correspond to one another, so that it is reasonably possible to offset measured values ​​from the two monitoring devices to calculate differences in the measured values ​​or to calculate a differential.

[0049] A similar procedure is also common with gravimetric measuring devices for level determination. With gravimetric measuring devices and methods, containers are typically first weighed empty and then reweighed after filling. This principle is applied here to level determination using electrical properties. Furthermore, it is advantageous if the containers are of at least one of the following types:

[0050] Vials;

[0051] - ampoules;

[0052] Carpules or

[0053] syringes;

[0054] Vials are also typically called phials. Vials are small containers shaped like small bottles with a bottom and a cylindrical wall.

[0055] Vials, ampoules, or carpules are preferably stored upright in carrier devices for transport through the system. The vials, ampoules, and carpules, in particular, have contact with their bases on a flat support surface of the carrier element. A flat section of the carrier element, on which the containers stand, is preferably located below the containers. The vials, ampoules, or carpules preferably have contact exclusively with the flat section or the flat support surface.

[0056] Syringes are preferably suspended in carrier devices for transporting syringes through the system. This means that syringes are preferably suspended by a flange arranged at the top of the syringe into provided receptacles on the carrier elements, and a syringe body extends downward from the receptacles. The syringes preferably only have contact with the receptacle via their cylindrical wall or a section of the cylindrical wall. In other words, the syringe only touches the carrier element with a section of the syringe body, which is preferably located in the region of the flange at the top of the syringe.

[0057] If the containers are vials, ampoules, or cartridges, the format parts described above are designed for upright storage. If the containers are syringes, the format parts are designed for hanging storage.

[0058] It is also advantageous if the evaluation device is designed to take into account electrical properties of other containers arranged adjacent to the container when determining a fill level of the filling material in the container.

[0059] As already described above, the individual fill level determination for each individual container is very important, especially when filling pharmaceuticals.

[0060] As already described, the system described here is specifically designed to test containers arranged one behind the other as they move along a conveyor path and to determine their fill levels. The electrical properties measured on one container may be influenced by the electrical properties of adjacent containers (or containers arranged in front of and behind it). In particular, it is possible to compensate for overfilled product in one container in front of or behind it by underfilled product in another container, and vice versa. This hinders the goal of determining the fill level individually for each container. Such cross-influences occur particularly when electrode arrangements do not completely enclose the respective container.

[0061] The evaluation device is preferably configured to take such cross-influences into account. Shields that minimize such cross-influences can preferably also be attached to format parts or carrier elements. The material of format parts or carrier elements is particularly preferably designed such that it minimizes cross-influences of the containers on one another when determining the electrical properties. It is also preferred if the system has at least one weighing device for carrying out a gravimetric fill level determination, wherein the weighing device is integrated into the system in such a way that, during operation of the system for filling the containers with conveyed material, a random check of the fill level determination is possible with the at least one monitoring device using the at least one weighing device.

[0062] Particularly preferably, both a first monitoring device upstream of a filling station and a second monitoring device downstream of a filling station each have a weighing device. Weighing containers with the weighing device typically takes significantly longer than checking the fill level with the monitoring device. For this reason, the weighing devices are preferably used only for random checks of the fill level determination with the monitoring devices.

[0063] Also to be described here is a method for filling liquid filling material into containers, comprising the following steps: a) determining first electrical properties of containers using a first carrier element for conveying the containers through the system; b) filling the filling material into the containers in a filling station of the system; c) determining second electrical properties of containers using a second carrier element for conveying the containers through the system; and d) individually determining the fill level for each container, taking into account the first electrical properties determined in step a) and the second electrical properties determined in step c), using an evaluation device.

[0064] It should be noted that the particular advantages and design features described in connection with the device described above are also applicable and transferable to the method described below.

[0065] The first and second carrier elements are two independent carrier elements. The first carrier element performs a determination before the product is filled into the containers, and the second carrier element performs a determination after filling. The determination of electrical properties before filling and the determination of electrical properties after filling are therefore not performed with the same carrier element, but with two separate carrier elements. Accordingly, the first carrier element and the second carrier element belong to independent monitoring devices, with the first monitoring device comprising the first carrier element and the second monitoring device comprising the second carrier element.

[0066] It is particularly preferred if the method is repeated for a plurality of nests with containers, wherein a fill level determination is regularly checked on the basis of electrical properties by carrying out a gravimetric fill level determination with a weighing device at least in step a) and / or in step c).

[0067] In the described method, the electrical properties are determined in steps a) and c) while the containers are being conveyed. This means, in particular, that the containers are in motion while the electrical properties are being determined.

[0068] The method is particularly preferred if it is carried out using a system as described.

[0069] 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:

[0070] Fig. 1: a schematic representation of an embodiment variant of a monitoring device for a described system;

[0071] Fig. 2: a three-dimensional representation of a detail of a monitoring device;

[0072] Fig. 3: a first embodiment of a described system; and

[0073] Fig. 4: a second embodiment of a described system.

[0074] Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of a monitoring device 5, 9 for a described system 1. The embodiment shown in Fig. 1 is only an example. The principle of the monitoring device 5, 9 can be applied to many other embodiments. A feed 21 can be seen, with which containers 2 are fed to a conveying device 12. This conveying device 12 is designed as a wheel 23 and has conveying elements 3 for transporting containers 2 with a conveying movement 22 in a conveying direction 10. The conveying device 12 has a conveying section 15, in which the conveying elements 3 convey containers 2, as well as a deflection area 16 or return area 17, in which the empty conveying elements 3 are returned. Such a wheel 23 can also be referred to as a circulating device 13.A carrier device 12 designed with a circulating device 13 can alternatively also be designed with a circulating chain that carries the carrier elements 3. The carrier device 12 designed as a wheel 23 conveys containers 2 with a continuous (non-clocked) conveying movement 22. This creates a continuous supply or a continuous flow of containers 2 to downstream components of the system. The containers 2 are fed by the carrier device 12 designed as a wheel 23 to a carrier device 12 designed as a slide 19. However, a continuous conveying movement is not carried out by the slide 19. The slide 19 preferably has a plurality of carrier elements 3, which are initially filled with containers 2. The containers 2 are temporarily stationary during this process.Subsequently, the slider 19 is preferably used to feed a group of containers 2 thus formed in a cycle to another processing station, for example, a filling station 8, in which the containers can be processed simultaneously. Such sliders 19 are regularly used in systems 1 to switch from a continuous conveying of containers 2 to a cyclic conveying of containers 2.

[0075] Fig. 1 shows, by way of example, that the monitoring device 5, 9 is arranged in the carrier device 12, which is designed as a slide 19. The monitoring device 5, 9 has a measuring cell 6 with an electrode arrangement 11 on each carrier element 3 of the carrier device 12, with which the electrical properties of the containers 2 or the product 4 contained therein can be recorded for fill level determination. Here, such an electrode arrangement is shown as an example only on one of the carrier elements 3.

[0076] The monitoring device 5, 9 or the measuring cells 6 and electrode assemblies 11 of the monitoring device 5, 9 could alternatively also be implemented in the carrier elements 3 of the carrier device 12 designed as a wheel 23. Such a variant is shown in three-dimensional form in Fig. 2. The carrier device 12 designed as a wheel 23 has carrier elements 3 in which measuring cells 6 or electrode assemblies 11 are arranged, which are connected to an evaluation device 7 for determining the fill level.

[0077] Regardless of how the carrier elements 3 with the measuring cells 6 and electrode arrangements 11 arranged therein are designed, it is advantageous if the carrier elements 3 are designed with exchangeable format parts 24 which can be exchanged in order to adapt the system 1 to different types of containers 2.

[0078] Fig. 3 shows a first embodiment of a described system 1 for filling a liquid product 4. The system 1 is configured in particular so that the fill level of containers 2 can be determined during a conveying movement 22 of the containers 2 through the system 1. The system 1 serves to fill the containers 2. Such a system 1 preferably has a series of processing stations arranged one behind the other, each of which is shown schematically here. The containers 2 are moved through the system 1 from one processing station to the next in the conveying direction 10.

[0079] First, containers 2 are provided. Subsequently, containers 2 are fed to the first monitoring device 5, wherein first electrical properties for each container 2 are determined using the first monitoring device 5. This corresponds to step a) of the described method. This is followed by a filling station 8, with which the filling material 4 is dosed from a filling material supply 20 into the containers 2. This corresponds to step b) of the described method. Next, the containers 2 are fed to the second monitoring device 9, wherein second electrical properties for each container 2 are determined using the second monitoring device 9. This corresponds to step c) of the described method.

[0080] The first electrical properties determined by the first monitoring device 5 and the second electrical properties determined by the second monitoring device 9 are fed together, preferably individually for each container 2, to the evaluation device 7, which then determines the fill level based on the electrical properties and, in particular, on a difference or differential between the second electrical properties and the first electrical properties. This corresponds to step d) of the described method. The embodiment of system 1 according to Fig. 4 essentially corresponds to the embodiment according to Fig. 3, so that reference is made here to the explanations for Fig. 3.In addition, there is a weighing device 18 on each of the first monitoring device 5 and the second monitoring device 9, with which a gravimetric level determination can be carried out on a random basis in order to regularly check the level determination carried out on the basis of the electrical properties determined by the first monitoring device 5 and the second monitoring device 9.

[0081] List of reference symbols

[0082] 1 system

[0083] 2 containers

[0084] 3 Driving element

[0085] 4 Filling material

[0086] 5 first monitoring device

[0087] 6 measuring cell

[0088] 7 Evaluation device

[0089] 8 filling stations

[0090] 9 second monitoring device

[0091] 10 Conveying direction

[0092] 11 Electrode arrangement

[0093] 12 Carrying device

[0094] 13 Circulation device

[0095] 14 cylindrical section

[0096] 15 Takeaway section

[0097] 16 Deflection area

[0098] 17 Return area

[0099] 18 Weighing device

[0100] 19 sliders

[0101] 20 Filling stock

[0102] 21 Feed

[0103] 22 Conveyor movement

[0104] 23 wheels

[0105] 24 Format part

[0106] 25 Conveyor element

Claims

Claims 1. System (1) for filling filling material (4) into containers (2), comprising at least one electrical monitoring device (5, 9) for determining at least one electrical property of the container (2) and / or of a filling material (4) contained in the container (2), which enables an estimation of the fill level of the filling material (4) in the container (2), wherein the monitoring device (5, 9) has at least one measuring cell (6) which is designed to determine electrical properties of a container (2), wherein the at least one measuring cell (6) of the monitoring device (5, 9) is integrated into a carrier element (3) which is designed to convey containers (2) in the system (1), wherein the system (1) further has an evaluation device (7) with which, based on electrical properties of a container (2) detected by a measuring cell (6), a determination of a fill level of the filling material (4) in the container (2).

2. System (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one measuring cell (6) of the at least one monitoring device (5, 9) has an electrode arrangement (11) which at least partially encompasses at least one cylindrical section (14) of a container (2).

3. System (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the driving element (3) is designed as part of a driving device (12) which is designed to at least partially encompass at least one container (2) and to transmit forces to the container (2) in order to achieve a conveying movement (22) of the container (2).

4. Plant (1) according to claim 3, wherein the driving device (12) comprises a circulating device (13) on which a plurality of driving elements (3) are arranged and adapted to rotate and in a carrying section (15) of the circulation device (13) convey containers (2) through the system (1), wherein carrying elements (3) in the carrying section (15) with containers (2) are moved along a conveying direction (10) for containers (2) in order to be transferred at one end of the carrying section (15) into deflection regions (16) and a return region (17) of the circulation device (13) and to be fed back to the beginning of the carrying section (15).

5. System (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the carrier element (3) is designed as a slider (19) in which the at least one measuring cell (6) is integrated and which is designed to feed a group of containers (2) simultaneously to a processing station.

6. System (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the carrier element (3) has an exchangeable format part which can be adapted to containers (2) filled with the system (1).

7. Plant (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a filling station (8) for filling the filling material (4) into the containers (2).

8. Plant (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a first monitoring device (5) which is arranged in a conveying direction (10) for containers (2) through the plant (1) upstream of a filling station (8) and further comprising a second monitoring device (9) which is arranged downstream of the filling station (8) in the conveying direction (10).

9. Plant (1) according to claim 8, wherein the first monitoring device (5) and the second monitoring device (9) are connected to the evaluation device (7) and the evaluation device (7) is designed to determine a filling level of the Filling material (4) in the container (2), taking into account a difference in electrical properties of the container (2) before and after filling with the filling material (4).

10. Plant (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the containers (2) are of at least one of the following types: Vials; - ampoules; Carpules; or syringes.

11. System (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one weighing device (18) for carrying out a gravimetric level determination, wherein the weighing device (18) is integrated into the system (1) in such a way that, during operation of the system (1) for filling conveyed material into the containers (2), a random check of the level determination with the at least one monitoring device (5, 9) with the at least one weighing device (18) is possible.

12. Method for filling filling material (4) into containers (2), comprising the following steps: a) determining first electrical properties of containers (2) with a first carrier element (3) for conveying the containers through the system (1); b) filling the filling material (4) into the containers (2) in a filling station (8) of the system (1); c) determining second electrical properties of containers (2) with a second carrier element (3) for conveying the containers (2) through the system (1); and d) individually determining the fill level for each container (2) taking into account the first electrical properties determined in step a). Properties and second electrical properties determined in step c) with an evaluation device (7).

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the method is repeated for a plurality of containers (2), wherein a fill level determination is randomly checked based on electrical properties by carrying out a gravimetric fill level determination with a weighing device (18) at least in step a) and / or in step c).

14. Method according to one of claims 12 or 13, wherein the method is carried out with a plant (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11.

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