Filling apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus for filling pharmaceutical containers in a substantially sterile environment may include an upright wall dividing the apparatus into a substantially contamination free sterile zone and a non-sterile zone and an enclosure cooperating with the upright wall to define the sterile zone. The apparatus may also include a transfer apparatus that receives empty containers from a point outside the sterile zone and a transport at least partially disposed within the sterile zone that moves the containers through the sterile zone. The apparatus may include a filling apparatus that fills the containers with pharmaceuticals in the sterile zone as the containers are moved through the sterile zone. The filling apparatus may include at least one dispenser disposed within the sterile zone and a drive disposed in the non-sterile zone. The filling apparatus may extend through a sealed opening in the upright wall generally between the filling apparatus dispenser in the sterile zone and the drive in the non-sterile zone. The apparatus may also include a device movable with the at least one dispenser and configured and positioned to control flow of pharmaceuticals from the at least one dispenser. The at least one dispenser may be movable into and out of filling engagement with the containers.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for filling containers in a substantially sterile environment, the apparatus comprising: 
 an upright wall dividing the apparatus into a substantially contamination free sterile zone and a non-sterile zone, said zones at least partially disposed in side-by-side relation;    an enclosure cooperating with said upright wall to define one of said sterile zone and said non-sterile zone;    a transfer apparatus that receives empty containers from a point outside said sterile zone;    a transport at least partially disposed within said sterile zone that moves the containers through said sterile zone;    a filling apparatus that fills the containers with pharmaceuticals in said sterile zone as the containers are moved through said sterile zone, said filling apparatus comprising at least one dispenser disposed within said sterile zone and comprising a drive disposed in said non-sterile zone, said filling apparatus extending through a sealed opening in said upright wall generally between said filling apparatus dispenser in said sterile zone and said drive in said non-sterile zone; and    a device configured and positioned to control flow of pharmaceuticals from said at least one dispenser, said device being movable with said at least one dispenser, and said at least one dispenser being reciprocally movable at least one of vertically and horizontally into and out of filling engagement with said containers.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus for filling containers according to  claim 1 , further comprising a transport that moves the containers through said sterile zone.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus for filling containers according to  claim 1 , further comprising a frame that supports said upright wall and said enclosure.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus for filling containers according to  claim 1 , further comprising connecting apparatus between said drive and said filling apparatus dispenser, said connecting apparatus extending through said sealed opening in said upright wall.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus for filling containers according to  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of operating apparatus, including said filling apparatus, disposed in sequential relation, each of said operating apparatus comprising at least a portion disposed within said sterile zone and a drive disposed within said non-sterile zone, a given operation being performed with respect to the containers at each of said operating apparatus; and each of said operating apparatus extending through said sealed opening in said upright wall generally between said portion in said sterile zone and said drive in said non-sterile zone.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus for filling containers according to  claim 5 , wherein said plurality of operating apparatus comprises a closure apparatus.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus for filling containers according to  claim 1 , wherein said enclosure comprises a bottom wall and a drain disposed within said bottom wall.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus for filling containers according to  claim 1 , wherein said upright wall comprises a substantially vertical wall member.  
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for filling containers in a substantially sterile environment, the apparatus comprising: 
 a frame;    an upright wall carried by said frame and dividing the apparatus into a substantially contamination free sterile zone and a non-sterile zone at least partially disposed in side-by-side relation;    an enclosure cooperating with said upright wall to define said sterile zone;    a transfer apparatus that receives empty containers from a point outside said sterile zone;    a transport at least partially disposed within said sterile zone that moves the containers through said sterile zone;    a filling station that fills containers with pharmaceuticals as they are moved through said sterile zone by said transport, said filling station being disposed in said sterile zone;    a drive in operable communication with said filling station, said drive being disposed within said non-sterile zone;    connecting apparatus between said drive and said filling station, said connecting apparatus extending through a sealed opening in said upright wall;    at least one dispenser associated with the filling station; and    a device configured and positioned to control flow of pharmaceuticals from said at least one dispenser, said device being movable with said at least one dispenser, and said at least one dispenser being movable into and out of filling engagement with said containers.    
     
     
         10 . The apparatus for filling containers according to  claim 9 , wherein said enclosure comprises a bottom wall and a drain disposed within said bottom wall.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus for filling containers according to  claim 9 , wherein said upright wall comprises a substantially vertical wall member.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus for filling containers according to  claim 11 , wherein said substantially vertical wall member and said enclosure comprise stainless steel.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus for filling containers according to  claim 9 , wherein said transport comprises: 
 first and second drive wheels disposed in opposed relation, each of said drive wheels being disposed for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis;    an endless conveyor belt encircling said first and second drive wheels and defining upper and lower flights; and    a plurality of container carrying members secured to the endless conveyor belt in spaced relation.    
     
     
         14 . The apparatus for filling containers according to  claim 13 , wherein each of said container carrying members is disposed in overlying relation to the outer face of the endless conveyor belt.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus for filling containers according to  claim 14 , wherein the width of each container carrying member substantially corresponds to the width of the endless conveyor belt.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus for filling containers according to  claim 15 , wherein each of said container carrying members defines a platform sized and configured to receive and supportably carry one of said containers.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus for filling containers according to  claim 16 , wherein each of said container carrying members further comprises a V-shaped laterally opening recess disposed over said platform for providing lateral support to containers of differing size.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus for filling containers according to  claim 9 , wherein said filling station comprises a plurality of dispensers disposed in a substantially linear relation.  
     
     
         19 . Apparatus for filling containers in a substantially sterile environment, comprising: 
 frame means;    upright wall means carried by the frame means and dividing the apparatus into a substantially contamination free sterile zone and a non-sterile zone at least partially disposed in side-by-side relation;    enclosure means carried by the frame means and cooperating with the upright wall means to define said sterile zone;    transport means at least partially disposed within said sterile zone for transporting containers through said sterile zone;    container transfer means for transferring empty containers from a point outside said sterile zone to said transport means in said sterile zone;    means for filling containers with pharmaceuticals as they are moved through the sterile zone by the transport means, the means for filling containers being disposed in said sterile zone;    drive means disposed within said non-sterile zone for actuating said means for filling containers;    connection means for operably connecting the drive means with the means for filling containers, the connection means extending through a sealed opening in said upright wall means;    at least one dispenser associated with said means for filling; and    a device configured and positioned to control flow of pharmaceuticals from said at least one dispenser, said device being movable with said at least one dispenser, and said at least one dispenser being movable into and out of filling engagement with said containers.    
     
     
         20 . An apparatus for filling pharmaceutical containers in a substantially sterile environment, the apparatus comprising: 
 an upright wall dividing the apparatus into a substantially contamination free sterile zone and a non-sterile zone, said zones being at least partially disposed in side-by-side relation;    an enclosure cooperating with said upright wall to define said sterile zone;    a transfer apparatus that receives empty pharmaceutical containers from a point outside said sterile zone;    a plurality of operating apparatus disposed in sequential relation, each of said operating apparatus comprising at least a portion disposed within said sterile zone and a drive disposed within said non-sterile zone, a given operation being performed with respect to the pharmaceutical containers at each of said operating apparatus, each of said operating apparatus extending through a sealed opening in said upright wall generally between said portion in said sterile zone and said drive in said non-sterile zone;    a transport at least partially disposed within said sterile zone that moves the pharmaceutical containers through said plurality of operating apparatus;    at least one dispenser structured and arranged to direct flow of pharmaceuticals into said pharmaceutical containers; and    a device configured and positioned to control flow of pharmaceuticals from said at least one dispenser, said device being movable with said at least one dispenser, and said at least one dispenser being movable into and out of filling engagement with said containers.    
     
     
         21 . The apparatus for filling containers according to  claim 20 , further comprising a transport that moves the containers through said sterile zone.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus for filling containers according to  claim 20 , further comprising a frame that supports said upright wall and said enclosure.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus for filling containers according to  claim 20 , further comprising a plurality of drives in operable communication with corresponding first portions of said plurality of operating apparatus, said drives being disposed within said non-sterile zone.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus for filling containers according to  claim 23 , further comprising a plurality of connecting apparatus between each of said plurality of drives and said corresponding first portions of said plurality of operating apparatus, said connecting apparatus extending through said sealed opening in said upright wall.  
     
     
         25 . The apparatus for filling containers according to  claim 20 , wherein said plurality of operating apparatus comprises a filling apparatus and a closure apparatus.  
     
     
         26 . The apparatus for filling containers according to  claim 20 , wherein said enclosure comprises a bottom wall and a drain disposed within said bottom wall.  
     
     
         27 . The apparatus for filling containers according to  claim 20 , wherein said upright wall comprises a substantially vertical wall member.  
     
     
         28 . The apparatus for filling containers according to  claim 20 , further comprising sealed access for intervention during operation of the apparatus from outside said sterile zone into said sterile zone.  
     
     
         29 . The apparatus for filling containers according to  claim 28 , wherein sealed access includes glove ports.