Dental paste filling device and method

A dental paste filling device for filling dental paste in a container without entraining air bubbles, comprising:

• a paste supply stage serving as a supply source of the dental paste;
• a paste filling stage where the dental paste is filled in the container;
• and
• a supply flow passage connecting both of the stages,
• wherein the paste supply stage comprises:
• a storage chamber for storing the dental paste;
• a storage chamber depressurizing and defoaming device for depressurizing an inside of the storage chamber to defoam the dental paste within the storage chamber;
• and
• a storage chamber extruding device for extruding the dental paste within the storage chamber towards the supply flow passage,
• wherein the paste filling stage comprises:
• a filling chamber having an open/close mechanism;
• a holder for detachably holding the container inside the filling chamber;
• a filling chamber deaerating device for depressurizing an inside of the filling chamber to prevent entrainment of air bubbles into the dental paste;
• and
• a reception port for introducing the dental paste into the filling chamber,
• wherein the supply flow passage comprises:
• an upstream tube connected to the storage chamber;
• a downstream tube connected to the reception port of the filling chamber;
• and
• a discharge control valve disposed between the upstream tube and the downstream tube,
• wherein the holder comprises:
• a holding arm configured to detachably hold the container;
• and
• an arm drive mechanism for moving the holding arm move up and down between a top position and a bottom position,
• wherein the container is disconnected from the reception port when the holding arm is held at the top position, and the container is connected to the reception port when the holding arm is held at the bottom position, and
• wherein the dental paste is defoamed in the paste supply stage and entrainment of air bubbles in the dental paste is prevented in the paste filling stage.