WO1996005485A1

WO1996005485A1 - Charging and measuring apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO1996005485A1
Application number: PCT/JP1995/001607
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hiroyuki Yano; Jotaro Kishimoto
Original assignee: Takeda Chemical Industries, Ltd.
Priority date: 1994-08-12
Filing date: 1995-08-11
Publication date: 1996-02-22
Also published as: AU3193295A

Abstract

It is an object of the present invention to eliminate the influence of static electricity when the weight of a container is measured and prevent droplets from being splashed out from the container when the supply of liquid is suspended in charging the liquid into the container. In a weight-measuring device, at least one portion of a star wheel (21) for feeding containers is coated with resin, and a metal plate (21c) is provided in the periphery of a container-holding pocket (21b) to offset positive static electricity and negative static electricity each other. In this manner, each of the containers is not subjected by the influence of the static electricity. In addition, inclined branch ducts (13a and 13b) are formed downwardly at portions proximate to the leading end of a main duct of a charging needle so as to cause droplets generated when the supply of liquid is suspended to collide with a wall surface of the container.

Description

DESCRIPTION CHARGING AND MEASURING APPARATUS Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic charging and measuring apparatus for charging material such as medicine consisting of mainly liquid into a container and more particularly to an automatic charging and measur¬ ing apparatus comprising a weight-measuring device for correctly measuring the weight of an empty container and a charged material container such as a vial or an ampule which is made of glass which is a dielectric material by removing static electricity to which the container is susceptible while it is being transported and a medicine- charging device, for charging liquid medicine into the container, preventing the liquid medicine from being splashed out from the container.

Background of the Invention Of the processes of manufacturing medicine, in a process of charging liquid or powder into containers such as vials or ampules made of glass, they are transported successively to a medicine-charging device, and the medi¬ cine-charging device charges the liquid or the powder thereinto sequentially. Before the medicine-charging process is performed, the weights of empty containers are measured by using a weight-measuring mechanism including an electronic balance. After the medicine is charged into the containers, the weights of the medicine-charged containers are measured. Then, the weight of each empty container is subtracted from the weight of the medicine-charged contain¬ er to check whether or not the amount of the medicine filled thereinto is equal to a predetermined amount. In charging the liquid or the powder into the containers at a high speed, the weights of all the containers are not measured, but a sample measurement is carried out.

It is necessary to provide the above-described weight-measuring mechanism with a feeding mechanism for intermittently supplying to-be-measured vials or the like onto a plate (weight-measuring base) of the weight-measur¬ ing mechanism. A star wheel having pockets into which a to-be-measured object is inserted formed on the periphery thereof is widely used as the feeding mechanism. The star wheel is horizontally disc-shaped as a whole and has a plurality of pockets formed along the peripheral surface thereof. The star wheel is intermittently rotated on a vertical center shaft such that the pockets pass over the plate of the weight-measuring mechanism. The to-be-mea- sured container is guided onto the plate of the weight- measuring mechanism by the rotation of the star wheel, with the container supported by a flat plate, the bottom surface of which is on a level with the plate of the weight-measur¬ ing mechanism so as to measure the weight of the container. A conveyor supplies containers sequentially to the pockets of the star wheel at predetermined positions. After the weights of the containers are measured, they are returned to the conveyor from the pockets.

Normally, the star wheel is made of metal such as stainless steel or aluminum. In order to protect the to- be-measured container from being damaged, the surface of the star wheel is coated with resin.

Because the container such as the vial or the ampule to be measured by the weight-measuring device are formed of a dielectric material including glass, the container is charged with positive static electricity before it arrives at the weight-measuring device during the transport thereof. The star wheel coated with resin is charged with positive static electricity due to the fric¬ tion between the star wheel and the container being fed and the friction between the star wheel and air because of the rotation of the star wheel. Accordingly, when the star wheel coated with resin is used, the to-be-measured con¬ tainer repel the star wheel due to the action of the static electricity which has charged the container and the star wheel in the same polarity. As a result, the container is pressed against the plate of the weight-measuring mecha¬ nism. Thus, owing the influence of the static electricity, it takes a considerable long time for the measured value of the container to reach its actual value stably. When a metal star wheel not coated with resin is used, there is a problem that the container is apt to be damaged if the container contacts the edge of the pocket in inserting the container thereinto from the conveyor or returning it to the conveyor from the pocket. Moreover, the metal star wheel is charged with negative static electricity. Thus, a force which attracts the container to the star wheel acts on the container due to the action of the static electricity which has charged the container and the star wheel in the different polarities. As a result, the container is lifted from the plate of the weight- measuring mechanism. Thus, it takes a considerable long time for the measured value of the container to reach its actual value stably.

According to an experiment, when a metal star wheel is used, a weight of the container measured at an early time during a weight measurement was smaller by several milligrams than a weight thereof measured in a value-stabilized state. When a star wheel coated with resin is used, a weight of the container measured at an early time during a weight measurement was greater by several milligrams than a weight thereof measured in a value-stabilized state. It was also clarified that it takes 10-20 seconds for the measured values of the con¬ tainer to reach its actual value reliably.

As described above, the conventional weight- measuring device has the problem that it is difficult to obtain the actual weight of the container stably in a short period of time due to the influence of static electricity. In particular, the conventional weight-measuring device has a serious problem of low productivity if a long period of time is spent in the weight-measuring process when it is necessary to charge liquid or powder into a large number of containers by feeding them at a high speed.

In a liquid medicine-charging device for sequen¬ tially charging liquid medicine into containers such as vials, a predetermined amount of liquid medicine supplied from a liquid supply source is introduced into a charging needle having one narrow passage formed at its center via a silicon tube or the like to jet the liquid medicine vertically into the containers from the leading end of the charging needle. The constructions of the liquid medicine-charging devices of this kind are diversified. Generally, the following charging operations are sequentially performed in unison with the operation for feeding containers: That is, a plurality of charging needles is connected with a liquid supply source; liquid is jetted from the charging needles at predetermined timings while the charging needles annularly positioned are rotating on the center shaft of a liquid medicine-charging device; the containers are moved upward and downward while they are being fed to follow the charging needles which are rotating on the center shaft so as to insert one of the charging needles into each contain- er; the liquid is jetted from the leading end of each charging needle to fill each container therewith; and the charging needle is removed from each container after the container is filled with the liquid. The charging needle of the liquid charging device consists of a straight pipe made of stainless steel or the like. As shown in Figs. 16A or 16B, the leading end of the charging needle is cut at a right angle with a liquid passage 70 or at a predetermined angle therewith. In the liquid charging device having the charging needle, it is necessary to jet liquid from the charging needle at a high speed if a high medicine-charging speed is desired. If the flow velocity of the liquid exceeds a certain value, a phenomenon that the liquid is splashed out from the container occurs.

The mechanism of the splash-out of the liquid from the container is as illustrated in Fig. 17. That is, as shown in Fig. 17A, the jetting of liquid (L) is started from the leading end of a charging needle 81; the supply of the liquid (L) is stopped when the charge of a predeter¬ mined amount of the liquid (L) into a container 82 is completed; and a droplet (d) is generated due to the surface tension of the liquid (L) as shown in Fig. 17B when the flow-out of the liquid (L) from the charging needle 81 is completed, i.e., when the supply of the liquid (L) is stopped. The droplet (d) collides with the surface of liquid charged in the container 82, as shown in Fig. 17C. As a result, a secondary droplet (d') is generated and jumps, as shown in Fig. 17D. If the flow velocity of the liquid (L) is fast, the energy of the droplet (d) is great. Consequently, the secondary droplet (d') generated as a result of the collision of the droplet (d) with the liquid surface jumps outside from the opening positioned at the upper end of the container, as shown in Fig. 17E.

As the conventional method of preventing the liquid from being splashed outside the container, the leading end of the charging needle 81 is immersed in the liquid charged in the container 82, upon completion of charge of the liquid. This method causes the liquid to be attached to the periphery of the charging needle 81. This is a serious problem, depending on the kind of liquid to be charged into the container 82. In particular, in the case of medicine, there is a possibility that the liquid medi¬ cine which has attached to the periphery of the charging needle 81 is dried and deposited as crystal. If the crystal enters the container, the ratio between components of the liquid medicine is changed, which is a serious problem.

The present invention has been developed to solve the above-described problems which occur in the convention- al apparatus for charging material such as medicine into containers and measuring the weight of the empty container and the material-charged container.

That is, a first object of the present invention is to allow measured values of containers such as vials or ampules made of glass to reach the actual weight thereof at a high speed by preventing them from being subjected to the influence of static electricity in measuring the weight thereof or the mass thereof while they are being succes¬ sively transported by using a star wheel. A second object of the present invention is to prevent liquid from being splashed from the opening of a container even though the liquid is jetted at a high speed from a charging needle of a liquid-charging device, without immersing the leading end of the charging needle in the liquid charged into the container.

Summary of the Invention In order to achieve the first object, as de¬ scribed in claim 1 of the present invention, an apparatus for charging material into a container and measuring the weight of the empty container and the material-charged container to measure the amount of the medicine comprises: a first feeding means for feeding empty contain¬ ers made to an automatic material-charging device and feeding out material-charged containers from the automatic material-charging device; a second feeding means for feeding the empty containers to a first weight-measuring device after taking out the empty containers from the first feeding means and returning the empty containers to the first feeding means after the weights of the empty containers are measured; and a third feeding means for feeding the material- charged containers to a second weight-measuring device after taking out material-charged containers, which has measured the weights of the empty containers, from the first feeding means and returning the material-charged containers to the first feeding means after the weights of the material-charged containers are measured.

In this construction, of the first and second weight-measuring devices, in at least the first weight- measuring device for measuring the weights of the empty containers, a star wheel is installed on a base plate in such a manner that the star wheel is rotatable intermit¬ tently on a center shaft; a container-accommodating pocket is provided on a peripheral surface of the star wheel; and a weight-measuring plate is mounted at a position through which the pocket passes when the pocket is rotating on the center shaft.

Further, at least an inner peripheral surface, of the pocket, to be brought into contact with the containers is coated with resin; and a metal plate is provided at a region positioned on an upper surface of the star wheel and surrounding the pocket.

The base plate on which the star wheel is in¬ stalled is made of metal; and the surface of the star wheel made of metal is coated with resin (claim 2) .

As described above, each pocket formed on the star wheel of the weight-measuring device is coated with resin at least at the inner peripheral surface thereof which is brought into contact with containers, and the metal plate is provided in a region located on the upper surface of the star wheel and surrounding the pocket. Preferably, the metal plate is projected upward from the star wheel so as to locally charge the star wheel with positive and negative static electricity. Owing to these constructions, repulsion and attraction which act on the container to be weight-measured can be offset each other, and hence, the weight of the container can be measured without being influenced by the static electricity.

That is, when at least one portion of the star wheel is formed of resin, or the star wheel is coated with resin, the star wheel is charged with positive static electricity due to the rotation thereof, while the metal plate installed in the periphery of the pocket of the star wheel is charged with negative static electricity during the rotation of the star wheel. A container made of glass which is a dielectric material is inserted into the pocket of the star wheel and guided onto the plate of the weight- measuring mechanism, with the container being charged with the positive static electricity so as to measure the weight of the container. At this time, the container is subjected to both the influence of the positive static electricity which has charged the resin-coated portion of the star wheel and that of the negative static electricity which has charged the metal plate mounted in the periphery of the pocket. As a result, repulsion and attraction acting on the container are offset each other. Therefore, the weight of the container can be allowed to reach a actual value at a high speed without being subjected to the influence of the static electricity acting on the container.

A plurality of pockets is formed on the peripher- al surface of the star wheel at predetermined intervals; the containers are transferred to the pockets at positions at which the pockets contact the second and third feeding means; and the weight-measured containers are fed out from the pockets of the star wheel to the second and third feeding means (claim 3) .

That is, the second and third feeding means have a construction that some containers are taken out from the first feeding means; the containers taken out are fed to the star wheel; the containers are returned to the first feeding means from the pockets of the star wheel after the weights thereof are measured. In this case, it is unneces- sary to make the number of the pockets formed on the star wheel equal to that of containers to be taken out from the first feeding means for weight measurement. Moreover, it is possible to from only one pocket on the star wheel if the following operations are successively performed: the operation for taking out containers from the first feeding means, the operation for measuring the weight thereof, and the operation for returning them to the first feeding means. The second and third feeding means comprise one conveyor, respectively serving as a go-and-return path or two conveyors, respectively, one of which serves as a go path and the other of which serves as a return path. The second and third feeding means are provided between the first feeding means and the star wheel and provided between the first feeding means and the star wheel (claims 4 and 5) .

The charging and measuring apparatus comprises a charging device for sequentially charging liquid or powder into the containers at a high speed (claim 6) .

For example, the charging and measuring apparatus comprises an auger charging device for charging a constant amount of powder into each of the containers which are intermittently fed below a discharge pipe of the auger charging device (claim 7) . In order to achieve the second object of the present invention, as described in claim 8, an apparatus for charging liquid into a container and measuring the weight of the empty container and material-charged contain- er comprising: a first feeding means for successively feeding empty containers to a liquid-charging device and feeding out liquid-charged containers from the liquid-charging device; a second feeding means for feeding the empty containers to a first weight-measuring device after taking out the empty containers from the first feeding means and returning the empty containers to the first feeding means after the weights of the empty containers are measured; and a third feeding means for feeding the liquid- charged containers to a second weight-measuring device after taking out liquid-charged containers from the first feeding means which has measured the weights of the empty containers and returning the liquid-charged containers to the first feeding means after the weights of the liquid- charged containers are measured.

In this construction, the liquid-charging device comprises a plurality of charging needles for downwardly discharging a constant amount of liquid supplied from a liquid supply source to each container; each charging needle is vertically extended and needle-shaped as a whole and has an introducing opening communicating with the liquid supply source; the introducing opening communicates with a main passage extending downwardly linearly; the main passage branches into a plurality of branch passages at a point proximate to the lower end thereof; a discharge opening is formed at an end of each branch passage; and the angle of the center line of each branch passage extending downward with respect to the center line of the main passage is acute. In the liquid charging device, liquid supplied from the liquid supply source to the main passage of the charging needle is jetted not vertically downwardly, but through a plurality of branch passages branched off from the main passage at a point proximate to the lower end thereof. The branch passages form a required acute angle θ , respectively with a vertical line. Accordingly, drop¬ lets generated when the supply of the liquid has been stopped do not collide with the liquid surface in the container but with the wall surface thereof. In this manner, the generation of secondary droplets can be pre¬ vented.

The angle of the center line of each branch passage extending downward with respect to the center line of the main passage is 30°-60° (claim 9) . The angle θ of each branch passage relative to the center line (C) of the main passage 12 should be set appropriately according to the inner diameter of a contain¬ er to be used and the position relationship between the leading end of the charging needle and the liquid surface in the container at the time when the supply of liquid into the container is stopped. When container to be used is a vial to which liquid medicine is charged, preferably, angle θ is 30°-60°. If the angle θ is less than 30°, there is a possibility that a droplet (d) generated when the supply of liquid has been stopped collides with the liquid surface in the container. If the angle θ is more than 60°, the distance between the leading end of the charging needle and the wall surface of the container becomes short. In this case, when liquid is steadily supplied to the charging needle, the liquid collides with the wall surface and is reflected on the wall surface at a high speed.

The sectional area of each of the branch passages is set to be smaller than that of the main passage; and the total of the sectional areas of the branch passages is set to be greater than the sectional area of the main passage (claim 10) .

That is, the kinetic energy of a droplet generat¬ ed when the supply of the liquid is stopped is greatly influenced by the flow velocity of liquid, and the size of each droplet has a positive correlation with the sectional area of the discharge opening of the charging needle. In consideration of this, the size of each droplet generated when the supply of the liquid is stopped is reduced by setting the sectional area of each of the branch passages to be smaller than that of the main passage. Further, the total of the sectional areas of the branch passages is set to be greater than the sectional area of the main passage. In this manner, the flow velocity of the liquid can be enabled to be lower than that of the liquid jetted directly from the main passage, supposing that the liquid is charged into the container at a constant speed. Further, the end surface of the charging needle on which a discharge opening of each branch passage is formed is spherical, conic or formed of a plurality of inclined surfaces formed in correspondence to the number of the branch passages so that each passage is directed along a tangent at the end surface (claim 11) .

In the automatic liquid charging device having the charging needle, a setting table for placing the containers thereon one by one at regular intervals and vertically moving the containers one by one is installed on a peripheral surface of a disc-shaped base which rotates on a center shaft; the liquid supply source is installed at an end of the center shaft via a supporting plate projecting from the center shaft; each charging needle is supported by and installed on the supporting plate in correspondence to each setting base such that the charging needle is located above each setting base; each charging needle and the liquid supply source are connected with each other via a liquid feeding tube; and each charging needle is rotated on the center shaft in unison with the rotation of each container to charge a constant amount of liquid thereinto per rotation thereof,

In this construction, in charging the liquid into each container from each charging needle, each setting base is moved upward; a lower portion of each charging needle is inserted into each container from an opening positioned at the upper end of the container; and each setting base is moved downward after the constant amount of liquid is charged into each container (claim 12) .

Of the first and second weight-measuring devices positioned on both sides of the liquid charging device, in at least the first weight-measuring device for measuring the weights of the empty containers, a star wheel is installed on a base plate in such a manner that the star wheel is rotatable intermittently on a center shaft; a container-accommodating pocket is provided on a peripheral surface of the star wheel; a weight-measuring plate is mounted at a position through which the pocket passes when the pocket is rotating on the center shaft; at least an inner peripheral surface, of the pocket, to be brought into contact with the container is coated with resin; and a metal plate is provided at a region positioned on an upper surface of the star wheel and surrounding the pocket (claim 13) .

Brief Description of the Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view showing the entire construction of an apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2A is a plan view showing a weight-measuring apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 2B is a sectional view showing a principal portion of the weight-measuring apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Figs. 2C and 2D are perspective views each showing a modification of the principal portion shown in Fig. 2B;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a star wheel shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an operation-explanatory view showing a state in which the weight of a vial is measured;

Fig. 5A is a side view showing a transfer means shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 5B is a side view showing the transfer means at a moved position;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing principal portions of a liquid charging device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view showing the liquid charging device shown in Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a sectional view showing a charging needle shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is an operation-explanatory view showing the charging needle shown in Fig. 6; Fig. 10 is an operation-explanatory view for describing a droplet which remains at the proximity of a discharge opening of a charging needle by using comparison examples;

Fig. 11 is an explanatory view showing a size relationship between a charging needle and a vial;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view showing the proxim¬ ity of a lower end surface 16 of a modified charging needle;

Fig. 13 is a perspective view showing the proxim- ity of a lower end surface 16 of a modified charging needle;

Fig. 14 is a sectional view showing a powder- charging device according to a second embodiment;

Fig. 15 is a schematic plan view showing a modification of the present invention;

Fig. 16 is a sectional view showing the proximity of an end portion of a conventional charging needle; and

Fig. 17 is an explanatory view showing a mecha¬ nism of liquid which is splashed outside a container in charging the liquid thereinto by using a conventional charging needle. Detailed Description of the Invention

A charging and measuring apparatus for charging material such as liquid type or powder type medicine into a container and measuring the weight of the empty container and material-charged container according to an embodiment of the present invention is described below in detail with reference to drawings.

Figs. 1 through 12 show a charging and measuring apparatus, according to a first embodiment, for charging liquid (medicine) into a container such as a vial made of glass and measuring the weight thereof.

In Fig. 1, reference numeral 50 denotes a liquid- charging device, and 51 denotes a first conveyor constitut¬ ing a first feeding means for transporting vials 10, made of glass, in a row. The first conveyor comprises a feed-in side conveyor 51A for feeding the vials 10 to the liquid- charging device 50 from a vial take-out table (not shown) ; and a feed-out side conveyor 51B for feeding out the vials 10 into which liquid has been filled by the liquid-charging device 50.

Reference numeral 52 denotes a conveyor for feeding an empty container and the conveyor 52 is consti¬ tuted a second feeding means arranged in parallel with the feed-in side conveyor 51A. Reference numeral 53 denotes a conveyor for feeding a charged container and the conveyor 53 is constituted a third feeding means arranged in paral- lei with the feed-out side conveyor 51B. Transfer means 54A and 54B (shown in detail in Fig. 5) transfer the vials 10 between the conveyor 51A and the conveyor 52 and between the conveyor 5IB and the conveyor 53. Reference numeral 55 denotes an empty container measuring device for measuring the weight of the vial 10 before medicine is charged thereinto. The empty container- measuring device 55 is positioned continuously with the leading end of the conveyor 52. Reference numeral 56 denotes a charged container measuring device for measuring the weight of the vial 10 after medicine is charged thereinto. The measuring device 56 is positioned continu¬ ously with the leading end of the conveyor 53. At prede¬ termined intervals, the measuring device 55 takes out a predetermined number of vials 10 from those being fed at a high speed on the feed-in side conveyor 51A, thus measuring the weight of each of the sampled vials 10. After liquid medicine is charged into the empty vials 10, the weights of which have been measured vials 10, the measuring device 56 measures the weight of each vial 10 containing the liquid medicine. The amount of the liquid medicine charged into each vial 10 is calculated by subtracting the weight of each empty vial 10 from the weight of the vial 10 contain¬ ing the liquid medicine. Whether or not a predetermined amount of the liquid medicine has been charged into the vial 10 is detected by comparing the calculated amount of the liquid medicine and the predetermined amount with each other. As necessary, the charging mechanism of the liquid- charging device is adjusted to allow the predetermined amount of liquid medicine to be charged into the vial 10. The construction of the transfer means 54A is the same as that of the transfer means 54B and similarly, the construction of the device 55 for measuring the empty container is the same as that of the device 56 for measur¬ ing the medicine-charged container. Thus, the construction of the side in which the empty container-measuring device 55 is positioned will be described below in detail.

The measuring device 55 has an electronic balance 1 comprising a plate 11 for placing the vial 10 thereon to measure the weight thereof. The plate 11 is positioned at an upper portion of the body of the measuring device 55. The empty container-measuring device 55 is so constructed that a feeding mechanism 2 supplies the vials 10 one by one intermittently onto the plate 11.

As shown in detail in Figs. 2 through 4, the feeding mechanism 2 comprises a star wheel 21 and a sup¬ porting plate 23 on which the star wheel 21 is rotatably mounted on the upper surface thereof.

On the star wheel 21, a plurality of approximate¬ ly J-shaped pockets 21b is formed by cutting out the periphery of a horizontal disc to be rotated in a direction shown by an arrow (A) on a vertical shaft 21a by a driving portion 2Id which will be described later. The star wheel 21 is made of metal such as stainless steel, and the entire surface thereof is coated with resin 6, as shown in Fig. 2B. As shown in Fig. 2C, only the peripheral surface

21f, (crosshatching portion in Fig. 2C) of each pocket 21b, to be brought into contact with the vial 10 may be coated with resin.

As shown in Fig. 2D, it is possible to coat on lower surface with the resin 6.

The vertical shaft 21a fixed to the center of the star wheel 21 is extended downward through a through-hole of the base plate 23 installed below the star wheel 21 and supported by the driving portion 2Id installed below the base plate 23. With the rotation of the star wheel 21, each pocket 21b forms a circular locus on the vertical shaft 21a. The plate 11 of the electronic balance 1 is positioned on the locus. The upper surface of the plate 11 is almost on a level with that of the base plate 23. At the position in which the plate 11 is installed, the base plate 23 is cut, with a slight gap formed between the base plate 23 and the periphery of the plate 11. The base plate 23 is made of metal such as stainless steel and is ground¬ ed. A guide 24 projecting upward and surrounding the periphery of the star wheel 21 is provided on the upper surface of the base plate 23 except in the region on which the plate 11 of the electronic balance 1 and the conveyor 52 are provided. The guide 24 is made of resin.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, a metal plate 21c made of metal are secured to the upper surface of the star wheel 21 in correspondence to each pocket 21b. Each metal plate 21c projects upward from the upper surface of the star wheel 21 in such a manner that the metal plate 21c sur¬ rounds the periphery of the cut-out portion which forms each pocket 21b. As the material of the metal plate 21c, metal which is a conductive material can be used. For example, aluminum or stainless steel can be used.

The leading end of the feeding conveyor 52 is located at a position substantially opposite to the posi- tion of the electronic balance 1, with the vertical shaft 21a of the star wheel 21 interposed therebetween. The feeding surface of the feeding conveyor 52 is almost on a level with the upper surface of the base plate 23. A portion of the base plate 23 is cut off to prevent the base plate 23 from interfering with the leading end of the feeding conveyor 52. As shown by arrows (B) and (C) in Fig. 2, the feeding conveyor 52 is moved in forward and backward directions. In the movement of the feeding conveyor 52 in the direction shown by the arrow (B) , the feeding conveyor 52 supplies the vial 10 to the pockets 21b of the star wheel 21 from its feeding surface, while in the movement thereof in the direction shown by the arrow (C) , it feeds the vials 10 inserted into the pockets 21b to the outside. That is, in the embodiment, after the feeding conveyor 52 supplies eight vials 10 to eight pockets 21b of the star wheel, the weight-measured vials 10 are sequen¬ tially returned to the feeding conveyor 52.

The star wheel 21, the feeding conveyor 52, and the electronic balance 1 are connected with a control device (not shown) . In unison with the transfer means 54A which will be described later, the control section has a function of driving the feeding conveyor 52 alternately in the directions shown by the arrows (B) and (C) at a timing which will be described later and rotating the star wheel 21 intermittently, synchronously with the alternate nove¬ ment of the feeding conveyor 52. After a signal indicating a measured value outputted from the electronic balance 1 becomes stable, the control device receives and stores the signal. After the measured value becomes stable, the star wheel 21 is rotated. The transfer means 54A has a construction shown in Figs. 5A and 5B and comprises guide frames 31 and 32 provided along the periphery of the conveyors 51A and 52 arranged in parallel with each other and extending in the direction in which the conveyors 51A and 52 extend. Both ends of the guide frames 31 and 32 and the center thereof in lengthwise direction thereof are connected with connec- tion arms 33, 34, and 35 in such a manner that the connec¬ tion arms 33, 34, and 35 stride over the vials 10. The transfer means 54A further comprises a spacer 36 positioned between the feeding conveyors 51A and 52 so that in a state shown in Fig. 5A, the vial 10 on the conveyor 51A is sandwiched between the spacer 36 and the guide frame 31, while the vial 10 on the conveyor 52 is sandwiched between the spacer 36 and the guide frame 32. The center of each of the connection arms 33, 34, and 35 is fixed to the spacer 36 to secure the guide frame 31 and 32, the connec¬ tion arms 33, 34, and 35, and the spacer 36 to each other. A temporary-placing base 37 is mounted outside the conveyor 51A opposed to the conveyor 52. The upper surface of the temporary-placing base 37 is on a level with the conveyors 51A and 52.

A frame 38 to be moved by a driving means (not shown) in directions shown by arrows Zl and Z2 is connected with the guide frame 32 positioned outside the conveyor 51A. Fig. 5A shows a state in which the guide frame 32 is moved in the direction shown by the arrow Zl to transfer the vial 10 being fed on the conveyor 51A onto the conveyor 52. At this point, the vial 10 transferred from the conveyor 51A to the conveyor 52 is stored by the control device. In this state, the conveyor 51A is moving in the direction shown by an arrow (X) (shown in Fig. 1) , thus feeding a vial 10-1 placed thereon to the liquid charging device 50. As described previously, after the vial 10 is transferred from the conveyor 51A to the conveyor 52, the conveyor 52 moves in the direction shown by the arrow (B) to transfer the vial 10 to the star wheel 21, and then, moves in the direction shown by the arrow (C) to return the vial 10 from the star wheel 21 to the conveyor 52. A stopper 39 is projected at the end of the conveyor 52 at the return side thereof. All weight-measured vials 10-2 are returned from the star wheel 21 to the conveyor 52. Then, the frame 38 is moved in the direction shown by the arrow Z2 in Fig. 5B so as to return the weight-measured vials 10-2 to the conveyor 51A and transfer vials 10-3 being fed by the conveyor 51A to the temporary-placing base 37.

The weight-measured vials placed on the conveyor 51A are fed to the liquid charging device 50. The vials 10-3 transferred to the temporary-placing base 37 are then moved in the direction shown by the arrow Z2 of Fig. 5B, thus being returned to the conveyor 51A when the vials on the conveyor 51A are transferred to the conveyor 52 in a subsequent weight measurement.

As described above, a predetermined number (eight in this embodiment) of vials 10 is taken out from those being fed by the conveyor 51A and fed to the empty contain- er-measuring device 55. After the weights thereof are measured, they are returned to the conveyor 51A.

As shown in Fig. 1, the vials 10 to be fed to the liquid charging device 50 by the feed-in side conveyor 51A are sequentially fed thereto via a feed-in side star wheel 41. The vial 10 filled with liquid medicine by the liquid charging device 50 is fed from a feed-out side star wheel 42 to the feed-out side conveyor 51B.

The liquid charging device 50 has a construction shown in Figs. 6 and 7. That is, a disc-shaped base 45 is fixed to a lower portion of a center shaft 44 extending vertically and driven by a rotary driving mechanism 60. A plurality of setting bases 46 for vertically moving one vial placed thereon is installed at regular intervals along the periphery of the base 45. In this embodiment, 24 setting bases 46 are provided. Two of the 24 setting bases 46 are connected with each other to make 12 pairs, and the connected two setting bases 46 making a pair are simulta¬ neously moved upwardly or downwardly. That is, as shown in Fig. 7, the two setting bases 46 making a pair are moved upwardly or downwardly, with the two setting bases 46 fixed to the upper end of a driving rod 47a of a driving means 47 consisting of such as a cylinder mounted on the base 45. The setting bases 46 are at a lower limit (in the left in Fig. 7) when they are at a position PI (shown in Fig. 1) at which the vial 10 is brought into contact with the star wheel 41. After the vial 10 is set on the setting base 46 at the lower limit, the setting base 46 is rotated in a direction shown by an arrow in Fig. 6, and the setting base 46 is moved upwardly to an upper limit. At the upper limit (in the right in Fig. 7) , liquid medicine is charged into the vial 10 as will be described later. Thereafter, the setting base 46 is moved downwardly. The setting base 46 is at the lower limit when it is at a position P2 at which it is brought into contact with the star wheel 42. A medicine distributor 66 is installed at the upper end of the center shaft 44. A medicine tank 49 is connected with the medicine distributor 66 via a supply pipe 65. Medicine is compressedly fed to the medicine distributor 31 by opening an electromagnetic valve 63 mounted on the supply pipe 65. A charging needle 5 is vertically supported by and hung from a supporting plate 48 projecting from the center shaft 44 in correspondence to the position of each setting base 46. The charging needle 5 and the medicine distributor 66 are connected with each other via a liquid feeding tube 67 made of silicon rubber. A pinch valve 68 is installed on each liquid feeding tube 67 to control the supply of liquid medicine to be charged into the charging needle 5.

The internal pressure of the medicine distributor 66 is controlled so that the internal pressure is kept to be constant to allow liquid medicine contained in the medicine distributor 66 to be flowed out at a constant flow velocity. So long as the pinch valve 68 is open, the liquid medicine contained in the medicine distributor 66 is jetted from discharge openings 14a and 14b formed at the lower end of the charging needle 5. The pinch valve 68 is driven in unison with the movement of the setting base 46 of the liquid charging device 50.

That is, in charging the liquid medicine into the vial 10 via the charging needle 5 by rotating the charging needle 5 on the center shaft 44 in unison with the rotation of the vial 10 on the center shaft 44, the setting base 46 is moved upward, and the lower portion of the charging needle 5 is inserted into the vial 10 from the opening positioned at upper end thereof. After a predetermined amount of liquid medicine is charged into each vial 10, the setting base 46 is moved downward. The predetermined amount of the liquid medicine is charged into the vial 10 per rotation of the base 45. After the vial 10 is fed below the charging needle 5, and the lower end of the charging needle 5 inserts into the vial 10, the pinch valve 68 is opened, the lower end of the charging needle 5. The pinch valve 68 is closed in a predetermined period of time. In this manner, the predetermined of amount of liquid medicine contained in the medicine distributor 66 is charged into each vial 10. Thereafter, the vial 10 is moved downwardly together with the setting base 46 to prevent the vial 10 from interfering with the charging needle 5.

The charging needle 5 has a construction shown in Fig. 8. The upper root portion of the charging needle 5 has a large diameter in a predetermined length for connect¬ ing the tube 67. A liquid introducing opening 17 is formed at the end surface of the root portion of the charging needle 5. The liquid introducing opening 17 communicates with a main passage 12 extending linearly along the axis of the charging needle 5 and branches into two branch passages 13a and 13b at a portion proximity to the lower end of the charging needle 5.

In this embodiment, the angle θ of the center line Ca of the branch passage 13a with respect to the center line C of the main passage 12 and the angle θ of the center line Cb of the branch passage 13b with respect thereto are both 45°. The branch passages 13a and 13b are opened at the lower end surface 16 of the charging needle 5, thus forming discharge openings 14a and 14b, respective- ly. The lower end surface 16 of the charging needle 5 is spherical, and each of the branch passages 13a and 13b extends along the direction of a tangent at the lower end surface 16.

In this embodiment, the diameter of each of the branch passages 13a and 13b, namely, the diameter of each of the discharge openings 14a and 14b is 1.5mm, while the diameter of the main passage 12 is 2mm. Thus, the section¬ al area of each of the branch passages 13a and 13b is approximately 1.766mm² and hence, the total sectional area of the branch passages 13a and 13b is approximately 3.53mm², whereas the sectional area of the main passage 12 is 3.14mm².

After the liquid medicine is charged into the vial 10 by the liquid charging device 50, the vial 10 is fed out by the feed-out side conveyor 51B. In examining the charged amount of the liquid medicine, after the liquid medicine is charged into the empty vial 10, the weight of which has been measured by the empty container-measuring device 55. Then, the vial 10 is taken out by the transfer means 54B, and the weight of the vial 10 is measured by the medicine-charged container-measuring device 56. Because the construction of the transfer means 54B, the third feeding means 53, and the measuring device 56 are the same as that of each of the transfer means 54A, the second feeding means 52, and the measuring device 55, the descrip- tion of the construction of the transfer means 54B, the third feeding means 53, and the measuring device 56 is omitted herein.

The measuring operation and the medicine charging operation to be performed by the devices in examining the charged amount of medicine are described below. First, the operation for measuring the weight of an empty vial is described below in detail.

The vial 10 being fed on the conveyor 51A is taken out therefrom by the transfer means 54A and trans- ferred to the feeding conveyor 52. Then, the vial 10 is supplied from the conveyor 52 to the pocket 21b of the star wheel 21 by moving the conveyor 52 in the direction shown by the arrow (B) . After the star wheel 21 rotates by the amount corresponding to the pitch between the adjacent pockets 21b, it stops to supply the vial 10 in the pocket 21b to the plate 11 of the electronic balance 1. At this time, the star wheel 21 rotates backward by an appropriate angle without contacting the vials 10 and stops.

After the weight of the empty vial 10 is mea- sured, and the signal indicating weight of the vial 10 measured by the electronic balance 1 has become stable. The star wheel 21 is rotated forward again by a predeter¬ mined amount. The weight of a plurality of the empty vials 10 can be automatically successively measured by repeating these operations. Needless to say, while these operations are being performed, the liquid medicine is continuously charged into the vials 10.

In the above-described weight-measuring operation process, because the vial 10 is made of glass which is a dielectric material, the vial 10 is charged positively in static electricity in the feeding operation performed by the conveyor 52. In the star wheel 21, the resin-coated portion of the star wheel 21 is charged positively with static electricity, whereas each metal plate 21c is charged negatively with static electricity due to the friction between the star wheel 21 and the vial 10 being fed and the friction between the star wheel 21 and air during the rotation of the star wheel 21.

As shown in Fig. 4, the vial 10 is inserted into the pocket 21b of the star wheel 21 and placed on the plate 11A of the electronic balance 1A with the vial 10 surround¬ ed with the metal plate 21c mounted on the star wheel 21. In this state, the vial 10 is subjected to both the influ¬ ence of the positive static electricity which has charged the resin-coated portion of the star wheel 21 and that of the negative static electricity which has charged the metal plate 21c mounted on the star wheel 21 and surrounding the vial 10. As a result, the influence given by the positive static electricity and that given by the negative static electricity are offset each other. Therefore, the weight of the vial 10 can be measured without being affected by the influence of the static electricity.

Table l shows experimental results obtained by measuring the weight of the same vial by using the appara¬ tus of the embodiment of the present invention and an apparatus of a comparison example. In a comparison example 1, the surface of metal composing the star wheel was coated with resin, i.e., the plate 21c made of metal was removed from the star wheel 21 of the embodiment of the present invention. In a second comparison example 2, a metal star wheel not coated with resin was used. In the experiment, in the same condition, vials were fed to the star wheel, and the star wheel was driven to guide each vial onto the electronic balance so as to measure the weights of the vials at an early time in the weight measurement and measure time periods required for the measured weights to become stable. Values of static electricity which has charged the vials were also measured.

Table 1

Compari¬ Static Value mea¬ Value in Time pe¬ son 1 electrici¬ sured in stabilized riod for ty charged early time time stabili¬ on vial zation

+ 2.0 kV 24.165g 24.161g 11 sec.

+ 2.5 kV 24.168g 24.161g 15 sec.

+ 2.5 kV 24.169g 24.161g 20 sec.

Compari¬ + 2.0 kV 24.157g 24.161g 15 sec. son 2

+ 2.0 kV 24.158g 24.161g 20 sec.

+ 2.0 kV 24.158g 24.162 10 sec.

Embodi¬ + 2.0 kV 24.161g 24.161g 0 sec, ment

+ 2.0 kv 24.158g 24.161g 3 sec.

+ 2.5 24.159g 24.162 3 sec.

As apparent from table 1, in comparison example 1 in which the star wheel coated with resin was used, the weight of the vial at an early time in the weight measure¬ ment was greater by several milligrams than a weight measured at a value-stabilized time. In comparison example 2 in which the star wheel made of metal was used, the weight of the vial at the early time in the weight measure¬ ment was smaller by several milligrams than a weight measured at the value-stabilized time. In both comparison examples, the time required for the measured values to become stable and indicate real values was 10-20 seconds. The difference between a measured value at the early time in the weight measurement and that in the value-stabilized time in the embodiment of the present invention was smaller than the difference between the measured value at the early time in the weight measurement and that in the measurement- stabilized time in comparison examples 1 and 2. Further, the time period required for the measured value in the embodiment to become stable was 0-3 seconds which was much shorter than that in comparison examples 1 and 2.

In the above-described embodiment, a plurality of pockets 21b is formed on the star wheel 21, but needless to say, only one pocket 21b formed thereon has operation and effect equivalent to those of the above-described embodi¬ ment.

In the embodiment, the base material of the star wheel 21 is made of metal and the surface thereof is coated with resin. Considering that the polarity of the static electricity which charges the star wheel 21 is determined by the material to compose the surface of the star wheel 21, the same operation and effect to those of the above- described embodiment can be obtained owing to the mounting of the metal plate 21c on the star wheel 21, even though the star wheel 21 is formed of resin. The material of the resin to coat the star wheel and compose the entire star wheel is not limited to a specific one, but any desired resin can be used. Further, metal to compose the base plate 23 and the plate 21c is not limited to a specific, either.

Further, the size of the metal plate 21c is not limited to a specific one, but it is preferable to select an optimum size by experiments or the like according to the size of the star wheel 21, an environment in which the star wheel 21 is used or the electrical charge situation of the vial, the weight of which is to be measured. Thus, the metal plate 21c is not limited to being projected although it is projected in the embodiment, as shown in Figs. 2A, 2B, 2C, 3, and 4.

In the case of a container which can be used even though it is injured, a star wheel made of metal and a star wheel made of resin may be bonded with each other on condition that the metal wheel is covered on upper surface of the resin wheel or the resin wheel is covered on upper surface of the metal wheel. In the case of the star wheel made of metal, a plate made of resin may be provided on a container-accommodating portion thereof.

The medicine-charging operation to be performed by the charging needle 5 of the liquid charging device 50 is described below in detail.

As described above, liquid medicine is charged into the vial 10 set on the setting base 46 of the liquid charging device 50 by means of the charging needle 5 positioned above each vial 10. In this charging operation, in the state in which the liquid medicine is charged into the vial 10 via the charging needle 5 by opening the pinch valve 68, the liquid medicine is jetted from the two discharge openings 14a and 14b of the charging needle 5, as shown by solid lines of Fig. 9. The jetting angle of the liquid medicine is almost equal to the angle θ of the branch passage 13a with respect to the center line C of the main passage 12 and the angle θ of the branch passage 13b with respect thereto. In this embodiment, the liquid medicine is jetted downstream at an angle 45° with respect to the center line C of the main passage 12, namely, the center line of the charging needle 5, thus colliding with the wall inner surface of the vial 10. After the vial 10 is filled with the predetermined amount of liquid medicine in this state, the pinch valve 68 is closed. When the pinch valve 68 is closed, the flow of the liquid medicine is cut off, and as a result, droplets (d) are generated at the discharge openings 14a and 14b. As shown by broken lines of Fig. 9, the droplets (d) are jetted from the discharge openings 14a and 14b through a locus a little inward from the locus of the liquid medicine jetted therefrom when the pinch valve 68 is open, namely, a locus of 40 - 43° with respect to the center line (C) , thus colliding with the wall surface of the vial 10. Accordingly, secondary droplets (d') are not generated because the droplets (d) do not collide with the liquid surface in the vial 10, and hence, the liquid medicine is not splashed out from the vial 10.

That is, in the state in which the liquid medi¬ cine is supplied steadily, as shown by the solid lines of Fig. 9, the liquid medicine which has flowed into the branch passages 13a and 13b is jetted from the discharge openings 14a and 14b, respectively at an angle approximate¬ ly θ . Under the influence of the horizontal component of the flow velocity which the liquid has in the steady supply of the liquid, the droplets (d) generated when the flow of the liquid medicine is cut off collide with the wall inner surface of the vial 10 without colliding the liquid surface through the locus a little (2-5°) smaller than the angle θ shown by the broken lines in Fig. 9.

In this kind of liquid charging device 50, when the liquid medicine is charged into the vial 10, vapor sterilization treatment is appropriately performed. The vapor sterilization treatment is performed by jetting vapor from the medicine distributor 66. The angle θ of the branch passages 13a and 13b made with respect to the center line (C) of the main passage 12 is acute and no lands are present at the branch point of the branch passages 13a and 13b. Thus, water-stay portions are not present substan¬ tially and hence, the sterilizing vapor is allowed to flow smoothly in the charging needle 5, thus heating all passag¬ es uniformly. The sectional area of each of the branch passages

13a and 13b is set to be smaller than that of the main passage 12, and the total of the sectional area of the branch passages 13a and 13b is set to be greater than that of the main passage 12. More specifically, supposing that sectional area of the main duct 12 is SI and that of each of the branch passages 13a and 13b is S2, preferably, the relationship between SI and S2 is established as follows:

S2 < SI < 5 x S2 When the relationship is established, the droplet (d) generated at the discharge openings 14a and 14b is small and moreover, the flow velocity of the liquid becomes comparatively small. Consequently, the kinetic energy of each droplet (d) is small, and thus the effect of prevent¬ ing the liquid from being splashed can be improved. That is, generally, the size of the droplet (d) has a positive correlation with the sectional area of the discharge opening when the flow of the liquid is cut off. Further, the lower the flow velocity of the liquid jetted from the discharge opening is, the smaller the kinetic energy of each droplet (d) is. Thus, by setting the sectional area of the branch passages 13a and 13b and that of the main passage 12 to the above-described relationship, the size of the droplet (d) generated at the discharge openings 14a and 14b and kinetic energy thereof are smaller than the size and kinetic energy of the liquid jetted directly from the main passage 12.

Further, the lower end surface 16 of the charging needle 5 is spherical, and each of the branch passages 13a and 13b making the angle θ with the center line of the main passage 12 is directed along the tangent at the lower end surface 16. Therefore, there is little possibility that droplets remain in and adhere to the proximity of the discharge openings 14a and 14b, and hence there is no possibility that droplets fall outside the vial 10.

If the lower end surface (S) of the charging needle is not perpendicular to a liquid passage (branch passage) , as shown in Figs. 10A or 10B, the contact ratio of the liquid is varied depending on points on the inner surface of the liquid passage. Consequently, while the liquid-charging operation is repeatedly performed, in the proximity of the discharge opening, droplets adhere to a side, of the liquid passage, having a larger contact ratio. There is a possibility that the droplets fall outside the vial during a series of the liquid-charging operations, thus polluting the environment. When each of the branch passages 13a and 13b extend in the direction of the tangent at the lower end surface 16 as described previously, i.e, when each of the branch passages 13a and 13b is perpendicu¬ lar to the lower end surface 16, such droplets are hardly generated.

In the embodiment, the two branch passages 13a and 13b branch off from the main passage 12, but three or more branch passages may be branched off therefrom.

The angle θ of each branch passage relative to the center line (C) of the main passage 12 is not limited to 45°, but should be set appropriately according to the inner diameter of a container such as a vial to which liquid medicine is charged and according to the position relationship between the liquid surface in the container and the lower end of the charging needle at the time when the charge of the liquid medicine into the container is completed. That is, the angle θ of each branch passage relative to the center line (C) of the main duct 12 can be set to any desired angles in a range from the smallest angle which the droplet (d) generated when the flow of liquid is cut off forms with the wall inner surface of the container without colliding with the liquid surface in the container and to the largest angle formed by the droplet (d) with the wall inner surface of the container when it is reflected on the wall inner surface and returned to the charging needle after it collides therewith at a high speed in a steady liquid-supply state. More specifically, referring to Fig. 11, suppos¬ ing that the angle of the downstream branch passage formed with respect to the center line of the charging needle 5 is θ , the inner diameter of the vial 10 is D, the height (distance between discharge opening and liquid surface) of the charging needle 5 is H, the distance between the liquid surface and a point, on the inner surface of the vertical wall of the vial 10, at which liquid jetted from the discharge opening collides therewith is hi, and the dis¬ tance between the liquid surface and the lower end of the neck 10a of the vial 10 is h2, θ and D are in the following range:

30° < θ < 60° 2/V3 x H < D < 2/V3 In the above equation, it is dispensable that the liquid collides with the cylindrical portion 10b of the vial 10 with hi < h2.

The lower end surface 16 of the charging needle 5 is not limited to a spherical configuration, but may be conic as shown in Fig. 12 or may have a plurality of inclined surfaces 16a and 16b perpendicular to each of the branch passages 13a and 13b, as shown in Fig. 13. These configurations also allow each of the branch passages 13a and 13b to be directed along the tangent at the lower end surface 16.

Needless to say, in addition to installing the charging needle 5 on the liquid supply device shown in Figs. 6 and 7, it is also effective to install the charging needle 5 on a liquid supply device which adopts a system of supplying a constant amount of liquid by driving a piston or install it on a liquid supply device of any desired type.

Fig. 14 shows a material-charging apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In this apparatus, instead of the liquid-charging appara¬ tus, a powder-charging device 100 comprising an auger charging device is used. That is, vials 10 are sequential¬ ly supplied to pockets 101a formed on the periphery of a star wheel 101 to be rotated intermittently, and an auger charging device 102 is provided above the passing position of the pockets 101a so as to supply a predetermined amount of powder to each vial 10. As the auger charging device 102, the auger charging device proposed by the present applicant and disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 63-125310 can be preferably used.

Supposing that the powder-charging device 100 is mounted on the apparatus, according to the first embodi¬ ment, shown in Fig. 1, the powder-charging device 100 is located at the position of the liquid-charging device 50. In measuring the weight of the vial 10, as in the case of the liquid medicine, a predetermined number of vials 100 are taken out from those being transported to the powder- charging device 100 to measure the weight thereof by the empty container-measuring device 55 and measure the weight thereof by the medicine-charged container-measuring device 56 after powder is charged thereinto.

When the liquid-charging device 50 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is used, the medicine-charged container-measuring device 56 does not necessarily require the metal plate 21c mounted on the star wheel 21 of the empty container-measuring device 55, because the vial 10 containing liquid medicine is charged with a small amount of static electricity. However, in the case of the powder-charging device 100 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, it is prefera¬ ble that in the medicine-charged container-measuring device 56, the metal plate 21c is formed on the star wheel 21 as in the case of the empty container-measuring device 55, because the vial 10 containing powder medicine is charged with a great amount static electricity.

The apparatus according to the first and second embodiments is used to charge liquid medicine or powder medicine into the vial. In addition, the apparatus accord¬ ing to the first and second embodiments may be used to measure the weight of a container made of a dielectric material easily charged with static electricity or charge liquid or powder thereinto.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the second feeding means connecting the empty container-measuring device 55 and the feed-in side conveyor 51A (first feeding means) with each other and the third feeding means connect¬ ing the medicine-charged container-measuring device 56 and the feed-out side conveyor 5IB with each other are composed of one conveyor, respectively serving as a reciprocating feeding means. But as shown in Fig. 15, it is possible to provide a go path 52a for feeding a container from the feed-in side conveyor 51A to the empty container-measuring device 55 and a return path 52b for feeding the weight- measured container from the empty container-measuring device 55 to the feed-out side conveyor 51B. Similarly, it is possible to provide the medicine-charged container- measuring device 56 with a go path 53a and a return path 53b. The provision of the go paths and the return paths allows the following operations to be successively per¬ formed even though only one pocket is formed on the star wheel: The operation for taking out some containers from those being fed by the feed-in side conveyor and transfer¬ ring them to the weight-measuring device, the operation for measuring the weight thereof, and the operation for return- ing the containers to the feed-out side conveyor after the weights thereof are measured.

As apparent from the foregoing description, according to the present invention, in the weight-measuring device for measuring the weight of a glass container such as a vial or an ampule composed of a dielectric material, because the metal plate is mounted in the periphery of each pocket of the star wheel coated with resin, the metal plate is charged with static electricity in a polarity opposite to that of static electricity which charges the resin- coated portion of the star wheel due to the rotation of the star wheel. Therefore, the static electricity of opposite polarities are offset each other, and hence, the degree of the force acting on the container electrostatically charged while it is being transported in the case of the star wheel according to the present invention is smaller than that acting thereon in the case of the conventional star wheel. Accordingly, the time period required for the weight of the container measured by the weight-measuring mechanism comprising the electronic balance to be stabilized can be greatly reduced and thus, the weight thereof can be mea¬ sured with a high efficiency and accuracy.

In particular, production speed can be increased and productivity can be enhanced by the apparatus in which by feeding a plurality of containers at a high speed, the weight of sample empty container is measured, medicine or powder is charged thereinto, and the weight thereof is measured after the medicine or the powder is charged thereinto.

Further, the use of the charging needle according to the present invention in the liquid-charging device prevents droplets generated when the supply of liquid is stopped from colliding with the surface of the liquid charged in the container and allows the liquid to collide with the inner surface of the container wall at a predeter- mined angle through a plurality of branch passages branched off from the main passage. Therefore, even when the liquid is charged into a plurality of containers at a high speed, without immersing the charging needle in the liquid charged in the container, the charging needle prevents the liquid from being splashed out from each container when droplets generated as a result of the suspension in the supply of the liquid collide with the surface of the liquid charged in the container.

The above-described effect of preventing the splash-out of the liquid can be improved more by setting the sectional area of each of the branch passages to be smaller than that of the main passage and setting the total of the sectional areas of the branch passages to be greater than the sectional area of the main passage. Further, the end surface of the charging needle is spherical, conic or formed of a plurality of inclined surfaces so that the direction of each branch passage coincides with a tangent at the end surface of the charging needle. These configurations prevent droplets from staying at a portion proximate to the liquid-discharge opening and the liquid from being splashed out from the container.

Claims

Claims 1. An apparatus for charging material into a con¬ tainer and measuring the weight of empty container and the material-charged container comprising: a first feeding means for feeding empty contain- ers made to an automatic material-charging device and feeding out material-charged containers from the automatic material-charging device; a second feeding means for feeding the empty containers to a first weight-measuring device after taking out the empty containers from the first feeding means and returning the empty containers to the first feeding means after the weights of the empty containers are measured; and a third feeding means for feeding the material- charged containers to a second weight-measuring device after taking out material-charged containers, which has measured the weights of the empty containers, from the first feeding means and returning the material-charged containers to the first feeding means after the weights of the material-charged containers are measured, wherein of the first and second weight-measuring devices, in at least the first weight-measuring device for measuring the weights of the empty containers, a star wheel is installed on a base plate in such a manner that the star wheel is rotatable intermittently on a center shaft; a container-accommodating pocket is provided on a peripheral surface of the star wheel; and a weight-measuring plate is mounted at a position through which the pocket passes when the pocket is rotating on the center shaft; and at least an inner peripheral surface of the pocket, to be brought into contact with the containers is coated with resin; and a metal plate is provided at a region positioned on an upper surface of the star wheel and surrounding the pocket.

2. The charging and measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the base plate on which the star wheel is installed is made of metal; and the surface of the star wheel made of metal is coated with resin.

3. The charging and measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of pockets is formed on the peripheral surface of the star wheel at predetermined intervals; the containers are transferred to the pockets at positions at which the pockets contact the second and third feeding means; and the weight-measured containers are fed out from the pockets of the star wheel to the second and third feeding means.

4. The charging and measuring apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the second and third feeding means com¬ prise one conveyor, respectively serving as a go-and-return path and are provided between the first feeding means and the star wheel.

5. The charging and measuring apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the second and third feeding means com¬ prise two conveyors, respectively, one of which serves as a go path and the other of which serves as a return path and are provided between the first feeding means and the star wheel.

6. The charging and measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the material charged into the containers is liquid or powder, and the material is sequentially charged into the containers at a high speed.

7. The charging and measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the charging device is an auger charging device for charging a constant amount of powder into each of the containers which are intermittently fed below a discharge pipe of the auger charging device, and both the first and second weight-measuring devices, a star wheel is installed on a base plate in such a manner that the star wheel is rotatable intermittently on a center shaft; a container-accommodating pocket is provided on a peripheral surface of the star wheel; and a weight-measuring plate is mounted at a position through which the pocket passes when the pocket is rotating on the center shaft; and at least an inner peripheral surface, of the pocket, to be brought into contact with the containers is coated with resin; and a metal plate is provided at a region positioned on an upper surface of the star wheel and surrounding the pocket.

8. An apparatus for charging liquid into a container and measuring the weight of the empty container and liquid- charged container comprising: a first feeding means for feeding empty contain- ers to a liquid-charging device and feeding out liquid- charged containers from the liquid-charging device; a second feeding means for feeding the empty containers to a first weight-measuring device after taking out the empty containers from the first feeding means and returning the empty containers to the first feeding means after the weights of the empty containers are measured; and a third feeding means for feeding the liquid- charged containers to a second weight-measuring device after taking out liquid-charged containers, which has measured the weights of the empty containers, from the first feeding means and returning the liquid-charged containers to the first feeding means after the weights of the liquid-charged containers are measured, wherein the liquid-charging device comprises a plurality of charging needles for downwardly discharging a constant amount of liquid supplied from a liquid supply source to each container; each charging needle is vertical¬ ly extended and needle-shaped as a whole and has an intro¬ ducing opening communicating with the liquid supply source; the introducing opening communicates with a main passage extending downwardly linearly; the passage duct branches into a plurality of branch passages at a point proximate to the lower end thereof; a discharge opening is formed at an end of each branch circuit; and the angle of the center line of each branch passage with respect to the center line of the main passage is acute.

9. The charging and measuring apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the angle of the center line of each branch passage with respect to the center line of the main duct is 30°-60°.

10. The charging and measuring apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the sectional area of each of the branch passages is smaller than that of the main passage; and the total of the sectional areas of the branch passages is greater than the sectional area of the main passage.

11. The charging and measuring apparatus according to claim 8, wherein an end surface on which a discharge opening of each branch passage is formed is spherical, conic or formed of a plurality of inclined surfaces corre- sponding to each branch passage so that each branch passage is directed along a tangent at the end surface.

12. The charging and measuring apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a setting table for placing the containers thereon one by one at regular intervals and vertically moving the containers one by one is installed on a periph- eral surface of a disc-shaped base which rotates on a center shaft; the liquid supply source is installed at an end of the center shaft via a supporting plate projecting from the center shaft; each charging needle is supported by and installed on the supporting plate in correspondence to each setting base such that the charging needle is located above each setting base; each charging needle and the liquid supply source are connected with each other via a liquid feeding tube; and each charging needle is rotated in unison with each container to charge a constant amount of liquid thereinto per rotation thereof, wherein in charging the liquid into each contain¬ er from each charging needle, each setting base is moved upward; a lower portion of each charging needle is inserted into each container from an opening positioned at the upper end of the container; and each setting base is moved downward after the constant amount of liquid is charged into each container.

13. The charging and measuring apparatus according to claim 8, wherein of the first and second weight-measuring devices, in at least the first weight-measuring device for measuring the weights of the empty containers, a star wheel is installed on a base plate in such a manner that the star wheel is rotatable intermittently on a center shaft; a container-accommodating pocket is provided on a peripheral surface of the star wheel; and a weight-measuring plate is mounted at a position through which the pocket passes when the pocket is rotating on the center shaft; and at least an inner peripheral surface, of the pocket, to be brought into contact with the containers is coated with resin; and a metal plate is provided at a region positioned on an upper surface of the star wheel and surrounding the pocket.