Single-Use Isolator Filling With External Reservoir Weighing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing filling devices struggle with accurate and reliable metering of filling quantities due to interference from the isolator film wall during weighing, leading to inaccurate in-process control, and existing solutions with weighing units inside disposable isolators are impractical.
Innovation Solution
A filling device with a weighing unit outside the disposable isolator, using a peristaltic pump to dispense material from a supply container, controlled by a weighing device to achieve precise dose setting without contaminating components, and incorporating a control device for in-process monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a weighing device is positioned inside the disposable isolator to enable accurate weighing of fill-dose containers, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and contamination risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The weighing device is extracted from inside the disposable isolator and positioned outside it. The isolator wall is transparent in the weighing area, allowing the weighing device to measure fill-dose containers through the wall without being contaminated by the filling material. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining measurement precision while eliminating contamination risk and device complexity.
2Measurement precision
If a weighing pan is detachably connected inside the isolator to reduce film wall interference, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to cleaning or disposal requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The weighing pan is completely extracted from inside the isolator and positioned outside. The isolator wall remains intact and transparent in the weighing area, eliminating the need for detachable connections and subsequent cleaning or disposal operations. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining measurement precision while significantly improving ease of operation.
3Ease of operation
If the weighing device remains inside the isolator throughout the filling process, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to film wall interference and contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The weighing device is extracted from inside the isolator and positioned outside, where it is not subject to film wall interference or contamination from filling material. The transparent isolator wall allows continuous weighing during the filling process, maintaining both ease of operation and reliability.
4Manufacturing precision
If a peristaltic pump is used to dispense material without direct contact, then purity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A peristaltic pump is introduced as an intermediary device to dispense filling material through a flexible hose without direct contact between the pump and the material. The pump compresses the hose to propel the material, ensuring purity while the modular design keeps device complexity manageable.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables precise and contamination-free metering of filling quantities with simple means, eliminating the need for thorough cleaning or disposal of weighing devices after each process and allowing continuous quality control.
Implementation Method 1
A controllable peristaltic pump preferably serves as the material dispensing device. This pump applies pressure to a section of the pipe assembly designed as a pinch tube, thereby displacing the material within the tube in the desired flow direction.
Implementation Method 2
a weighing device with means for holding and weighing the filling material storage container with contents outside the disposable isolator
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a filling device for filling fluid material (10) from a storage container (7) into a material dose receiving container (5) in a single-use isolator (1). A weighing device (21) with means (23) for holding and weighing the storage container (7) with its contents is provided outside of the single-use isolator (1) in order to weigh the material storage container (7), and a controllable material removal device (17) is provided outside of the isolator for removing the material from the storage container (7) in doses. A material dispensing device (13) is located within the isolator (1) and is connected to the storage container (7) via a line assembly (11). A controller (19) controls the material removal device (17) on the basis of information from the weighing device (21) such that the controller monitors the weight reduction of the material storage container (7) and compares each weight reduction with the target dose weight in order to control the filling process.