High efficiency pharmaceutical filling line

Abstract

A method for improving the efficiency of a pharmaceutical filling line by running the filling line at an increased throughput rate is disclosed. The method involves using glass vials that have been strengthened and coated to reduce the coefficient of friction of the outer surface of the vials with a pharmaceutical filling line set at a rate greater than or equal to 600 vials per minute and running in an efficiency of at least 70%. In other embodiments of the invention, the pharmaceutical filling line may also be provided with a polymer chemical coating at points of contact with the glass vials, thereby further reducing the friction between the vials and the points of contact and the effects of impact of the vials with contact points of the pharmaceutical filling line.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.