# US 12,214,916 B2 · Machine arrangement and method for filling and sealing containers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,214,916 B2 - Document ID: US12214916B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/612,101 - Filed: 2020-03-31 - Published: 2022-07-07 - Granted: 2025-02-04 - Earliest claimed: 2019-05-18 - Assignees: Syntegon Technology GmbH - Applicants: Syntegon Technology GmbH - Inventors: Matthias Schwandt; Steffen Haefelein; Bjoern Krause; Christopher Klemm; Andreas Kuba; Sebastian Gran - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12214916B2 ## CPC - B65B 3/003: {Filling medical containers such as ampoules, vials, syringes or the like} - B65B 7/16: Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons - B65B 7/28: by applying separate preformed closures, e.g. lids, covers - B65B 65/006: {Multiple parallel packaging lines} - B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00) ## Abstract The present invention relates to a machine arrangement, in particular for processing pharmaceutical products, comprising a processing station (2) for filling and sealing containers, in particular with pharmaceutical products, a handling device (3) for feeding and removing the containers into the machine arrangement, wherein the handling device (3) is designed to feed and remove containers only from exactly one side of the machine arrangement into the machine arrangement, wherein the processing station (2) has at least one work region (4) for receiving an empty container, at which the empty container is filled and sealed, wherein the processing station (2) has at least one storage region (5) for the temporary storage of filled and sealed containers, and wherein the handling device (3) is designed to feed empty containers to the processing station (2) and remove filled and sealed containers from the storage region (5). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A machine arrangement, comprising a processing station (2) for filling and sealing containers, a handling device (3) for feeding containers into and removing containers from the machine arrangement, wherein the handling device (3) is designed to feed containers into the machine arrangement and remove containers from the machine arrangement on a same side of the machine arrangement, wherein the processing station (2) has at least one work region (4) for receiving an empty container, at which the empty container is filled and sealed, wherein the processing station (2) has at least one storage region (5) for the temporary storage of filled and sealed containers, the at least one storage region (5) being located within the machine arrangement, wherein the at least one storage region (5) and the at least one working region (4) are arranged in separate and different positions, and wherein the handling device (3) is designed to feed empty containers to the processing station (2) and remove filled and sealed containers from the storage region (5). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The machine arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the processing station (2) comprises a weighing station (7) for weighing empty and/or filled containers. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The machine arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the processing station (2) comprises an inspection device for checking the condition of the empty containers and/or the filled containers. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The machine arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising a format receptacle (6) with multiple receiving spaces (61, 62, 63, 64) for individual containers. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The machine arrangement according to claim 4, wherein a number of processing spaces in the processing station (2) is half as large as a number of receiving spaces in the format receptacle (6). ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The machine arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the handling device (3) has a plurality of individually controllable grippers (34), wherein the number of grippers (34) being equal to the number of processing spaces in the processing station (2). ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The machine arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the handling device (3) comprises a carriage (30) and/or comprises a robot (301, 302, 303). ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The machine arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising a turning station, wherein the turning station is arranged on the storage region (5). ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The machine arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising a closed housing (10) having at least one first sealable opening (11) which is configured to permit feeding of empty containers into the housing (10) via the first sealable opening (11) and which is configured to permit removing filled and sealed containers via the first sealable opening (11). ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The machine arrangement according to claim 9, further comprising a second sealable opening (12) which is configured to permit feeding of empty containers into the housing (10) via the second sealable opening (12) and which is configured to permit removing filled and sealed containers via the second sealable opening (12). ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The machine arrangement according to claim 10, further comprising a control device (100) configured to be operated in one of three operating modes depending on a type of container and/or a type of feed, wherein a first operating mode is configured to introduce empty containers into the housing (10) of the machine arrangement through the first sealable opening (11) and to discharge filled and sealed containers from the housing of the machine arrangement through the first sealable opening (11), and wherein a second operating mode is configured to introduce empty containers into the housing (10) of the machine arrangement through the second sealable opening (12) and to discharge filled and sealed containers from the housing of the machine arrangement through the second sealable opening (12), and wherein a third operating mode is configured to introduce empty containers into the housing (10) of the machine arrangement through one of the sealable openings (11, 12) and to discharge filled and sealed containers from the housing of the machine arrangement through the other of the sealable openings (11, 12). ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The machine arrangement according to claim 11, further comprising a first additional module (101) and a second additional module (102), wherein the first additional module (101) is arranged at the first sealable opening (11) and the second additional module (102) is arranged at the second sealable opening (12), wherein the first additional module (101) is configured to handle a format receptacle for receiving a plurality of containers and the second additional module (102) is configured to handle individual containers. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The machine arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the machine arrangement is for processing pharmaceutical products. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A method for filling and sealing containers in a processing station (2) using the machine arrangement claimed in claim 1, the method being able to be carried out in three operating modes including: a first operating mode is configured to introduce the empty containers into a housing (10) of the machine arrangement through a first sealable opening (11) and to discharge the filled and sealed containers again from the housing of the machine arrangement through the first sealable opening (11), a second operating mode is configured to introduce the empty containers into the housing (10) of the machine arrangement through a second sealable opening (12) and to discharge the filled and sealed containers from the housing of the machine arrangement through the second sealable opening (12), and a third operating mode is configured to introduce the empty containers into the housing (10) of the machine arrangement through the first sealable opening (11) and to discharge the filled and sealed containers from the housing (10) of the machine arrangement through the second sealable opening (12). ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein, after filling and closing the container, the container is temporarily stored in the at least one storage region (5). ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein the containers are filled with pharmaceutical products.