Abstract:
A semi-automatic benchtop filling system that allows the user to switch between pump technologies while utilizing one base unit. The base unit is outfitted to accommodate peristaltic, lobe, gear, and piston pumps providing a maximum amount of flexibility and versatility in one unit. The base unit employs a computerized servo motor control system and docking hardware for driving any of the four different pump types. The system is designed to automate the filling of sample containers regardless of which pump is mounted by tare weighting, and the drive will adjust itself to dispense the correct weight. The pump drive includes appropriate reduction gearing and quick disconnect flexible couplings for each of the different pump types, a side-mounted adapter for connecting any of the peristaltic, gear and lobe pumps, and a separate piston drive assembly and dock-connector at the rear for a piston pump. The device includes a touch-screen interface with control software for user-setup, establishing different fill recipes, and run time.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application derives priority from provisional application 61/197,894 filed on Oct. 31, 2008 which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to liquid filling systems and, more specifically, to a semi-automated bench top filling system that allows a user to switch between different pump technologies while utilizing a single drive and control unit. 
     2. Description of the Background 
     The production container filling industry is faced with a need for filling a wide variety of different types and sizes of containers with different fluids and for running batches as small as only a few units to hundreds or more units. Further, each production run involves specific product requirements that are generally a function of fluid parameters including fill volume (ranging from microliters to liters), viscosity, entrained solids, output volume or other product parameters. These parameters often dictate the use of a particular type of positive displacement pump. The term “positive displacement pump” as used herein refers to any type of pump that forces a fluid to move by displacing a trapped volume of the fluid from a chamber. Examples of positive displacement pumps include, but are not limited to, gear, lobe, piston, and peristaltic pumps. 
     Conventional filling systems are generally pump-specific in as much as they drive, for example, only a piston pump or only a peristaltic pump. As a result, an entirely separate filling system must be employed when the fluid parameters of different batches call for the use a different type of positive displacement pump. For example, Watson-Marlow Flexicon, a leading manufacturer of peristaltic filling systems and capping equipment for the pharmaceutical, bio-technology, and diagnostic industries, sells a Disposable Filling Machine™. This machine is a table-top pump that provides fast, accurate dispensing of pharmaceutical and biotechnology serums and fluids, permits easy product changeover, eliminates the risk of cross contamination, and simplifies aseptic filling and cleaning validation. However, a single peristaltic pump is used so that the system is not suitable for filling applications commanding a gear, lobe, or piston pump such as for example pumping of fluids having included particulate matter. A separate system utilizing, for example, a lobe pump would be required to be swapped in. 
     Acquiring and maintaining multiple pumping systems to be swapped in and out entails a significant investment in equipment and overhead and engenders costly “downtime” when changing from one product (or batch) to another. Such costs are obviously to be avoided and attempts have been made in other contexts to develop equipment to do so, notably in the context of medical pumps where it is necessary to swap out dirty pump cartridges for clean ones. Notable examples include U.S. Pat. No. 5,308,320 to Safar et al. (University of Pittsburgh) issued May 3, 1994, which discloses a portable and modular cardiopulmonary bypass apparatus with a pump  76  mounted on a pump console  90  by means of an interchangeable pump base  91  that facilitates attachment of various pump heads. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,316,452 to Bogen et al. (Gilbert Corp) issued May 31, 1994, shows a dispensing assembly utilizing compressible cartridges containing liquid reagents that are interchanged often. Each cartridge pump includes a reagent reservoir that directly empties into a metering chamber. The dispensing assembly may be mounted on a moveable platform, and the interchangeable pump cartridges can be easily exchanged. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,800,069 to Lampropoulos et al. (Merit Medical Systems) issued Oct. 5, 2004, shows a modularized infusion pump that allows a user to modify the configuration with one or more interchangeable manual or automatic pumps to inflate a pressure infuser bag. The modular configuration of the pressure infuser apparatus permits the user to detach and reattach a motorized pump and/or a manual pump to the pressure infuser bag quickly, easily, and efficiently without decreasing the air pressure of the pressure infuser bag. 
     In a non-medical context, U.S. Pat. No. 4,485,941 to Frates et al. (Nordson Corporation) issued Dec. 4, 1984, shows an apparatus for melting and dispensing thermoplastic material using either a reciprocating piston or a rotary gear pump, the two being interchangeable. Apparently hot melt manufacturers need to suit one line of equipment using rotary gear pumps, and another line of equipment using reciprocating piston pumps. However, no user-guidance is given for the changeover, so this process remains burdensome. 
     It would thus be desirable to provide a filling system that is capable of docking a gear, lobe, piston, or peristaltic pump and that substantially automates the accurate filling of containers regardless of which pump is mounted by utilizing a user-interface-guided tare weighting procedure to adjust to and dispense the correct amount of fluid by weight. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a filling system capable of alternately docking a gear, lobe, piston or peristaltic pump. 
     It is another object to provide a filling system that substantially automates the filling of containers regardless of which type of pump is mounted. 
     It is another object to provide a filling system incorporating a user-interface-guided tare weighting procedure for setup with a gear, lobe, piston, or peristaltic pump, after which the system adjusts itself to dispense the correct fluid weight. 
     It is still another object to provide a filling system with adaptable pump drives including appropriate reduction gearing and quick disconnect flexible couplings for each of the different pump types, and adapters for connecting any of the pump types. 
     It is still another object to provide a filling system with software including a graphical user interface displayed on a touch-screen controller for convenient user-setup and establishing and storing various fill recipes and run times. 
     These and other objects are accomplished by a semi-automatic bench top filling system that allows the user to switch between different pump technologies while utilizing one base unit. The base unit is outfitted to accommodate peristaltic, lobe, gear, and piston pumps, providing maximum flexibility and versatility in one unit. The base unit employs a computerized servo motor control module and docking hardware for driving any of the four different pump types. The system is designed to automate the filling of sample containers regardless of which pump is mounted by tare weighting, and the drive will adjust itself to dispense the correct weight. The pump drive includes appropriate reduction gearing and quick disconnect flexible couplings for each of the different pump types, a side-mounted universal adapter for connecting a peristaltic, gear, or lobe pump, and a separate piston drive assembly and dock-connector at the rear for a piston pump. The device includes a touch-screen controller with control software for user-setup, establishing different fill recipes and run times. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and certain modifications thereof when taken together with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a right-side perspective view of a universal semi-automatic bench top filling system  2  according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a left-side perspective view of the semi-automatic bench top filling system  2  as in  FIG. 1 , with cover panel  32  removed. 
         FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view of the semi-automatic bench top filling system  2  as in  FIGS. 1-2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the bench top filling system  2  as in  FIGS. 1-3  illustrating the internal layout. 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of the reduction gearbox assembly with servo motor  40  coupled thereto. 
         FIG. 6  is a screen print of an exemplary operator interface user-menu presented on the touch-screen controller  12 . 
         FIGS. 7A through 7G  are an exemplary images of the operator interface displayed on the touch-screen controller to create or modify a liquid dispensing recipe. 
         FIG. 8  is an exemplary image of the operator interface displayed on the touch-screen controller to run a previously stored and currently loaded liquid dispensing recipe. 
         FIG. 9  is an exemplary image of the actual dispensed weight data entry screen displayed on the touch-screen controller 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The present invention is a semi-automatic bench top filling system  2  that allows the user to switch between pump technologies while utilizing a single drive and controller unit.  FIG. 1  is a right-side perspective view of a filling system  2  according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention that is equipped to alternately accommodate a peristaltic pump  6 , lobe pump  4 , gear pump  8 , or piston pump  3 . The base unit  10  houses an internal servo motor  40  ( FIG. 2 ), a computerized servo motor control module  100  ( FIG. 2 ), and docking mechanism for engaging and driving any of the four different pump types. The peristaltic pump  6 , lobe pump  4 , gear pump  8  alternately dock at the side of the base unit  10  as described below, while the piston pump  3  is supported on a rear mounting bracket  14  and coupled to a piston pump drive assembly  80  (also described below). The base unit  10  also includes a touch-screen controller interface  12  for user-setup and operation. The base unit  10  includes a removable cover panel  32  on a housing  30  with an aperture for seating a touch-screen controller  12 . 
       FIG. 2  is a left-side perspective view of the semi-automatic bench top filling system  2  as in  FIG. 1 , with cover panel  32  removed. As can now be seen in this preferred embodiment, the internal pump drive includes appropriate reduction gearing for each of the different pump types. The internal servo motor  40  is mounted to the left of touch-screen controller  12  while the servo motor control module  100  is seen to the right of the touch-screen controller  12 . The servo motor  40  drives a reduction gearbox assembly  50  (see also  FIGS. 4 and 5 ) that achieves a first order of reduction through gearbox  55 , thereby rotating a quick disconnect flexible coupling  60  at the external side of the base unit  10  in order to drive the peristaltic pump  6 , lobe pump  4 , or gear pump  8 . The reduction gearbox  55  is also coupled through a flexible coupling  53  to a supplemental reduction gearbox  56  (described below with regard to  FIG. 4 ) which achieves a second order of reduction (for combined greater reduction) in order to drive the piston pump  3 . The servo motor control module  100  drives the servo motor  40  for indexed rotation in either direction. Indexed rotation means that the motor control module  100  positively tracks angular rotation of the servo motor continuously or in very small steps or increments. Both may be commercial off-the-shelf components. 
       FIG. 4  is a top view of the bench top filling system  2  as in  FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrating the internal layout while  FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of the reduction gearbox assembly  50  with servo motor  40  coupled thereto. The internal pump drive includes servo motor  40  electrically connected to and controlled by servo-motor control module  100  providing pulse-width modulation speed control outputs to the servo motor  40 . Servo motor  40  is mechanically connected at a mounting flange  152  to gearbox  55  in order to transfer rotary input to the gearbox. First stage reduction gearbox  55  preferably provides approximately a 6:1 gear ration via a servo worm gear reducer and translates the rotary input 90 degrees. The entire reduction gearbox assembly  50  is attached to the side of the base unit  10  by a universal mount  155  which is defined by a central aperture. The rotary output of the first stage reduction gearbox  55  is transferred through the central aperture of the universal mount  155  (and the side of the base unit  10 ) by a quick disconnect flexible coupling  60 . The quick disconnect flexible coupling  60  includes a flexible coupling  158  connected to the output shaft of reduction gearbox  55 . 
     The peristaltic pump  6 , lobe pump  4 , and gear pump  8  are equipped with docking adapters  76 ,  74 , and  78 , respectively ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ). Adapters  76 ,  74 , and  78  each comprising a mounting plate with a central, circular aperture and four corner-mounted twist-lock bayonet pins  75 ,  79  for engaging corresponding holes in the side of base unit  10  and mounting any of the three pumps  6 ,  4 , or  8  to the side of the base unit  10 . The central, circular aperture of adapters  76 ,  74 , and  78  are occupied by a quick-connector  159  ( FIG. 1 ) complimentary to the flexible coupling  158  such that the mounted pump is driven by rotation of the servo motor  40  via the reduction gearbox assembly  50 . The flexible coupling/connector  158 ,  159  may be a commercially-available bellows coupling (16 mm o.d., 12 mm i.d.) and preferably includes a plurality of detent-bearings for snap-in receipt of the pump shaft. 
     A variety of commercially available servo motors  40  are suitable for the described application including for example the AKM12E manufactured by Danaher Motion in Radford, Va. The servo-motor control module  100  may be a 5200 Series Danaher Motion servo drive. The touch-screen controller  12  ( FIG. 1 ) utilized to manage the servo-motor control module  100 , as described below, may, for example, be a color touch-screen computer assembly from Maple Systems, such as their HMI5056T with a 6″ display, 320×234 pixel resolution, and 65,536 colors. 
     The rotary output of the first stage reduction gearbox  55  is also transferred (on the other side) through the second flexible coupling  53  to the supplemental reduction gearbox  56 . The second flexible coupling  53  may also be a commercially-available bellows coupling (16 mm o.d., 12 mm i.d.). The supplemental reduction gearbox  56  is attached inline with the first reduction gearbox  55  and, in the depicted embodiment, translates the rotary input 90 degrees to engage the piston pump drive assembly  80  at the rear of the base unit  10  via rotary shaft  83  ( FIG. 3 ). A commercial gearbox with a reduction ratio of 11.25:1 or thereabout is preferred. Component  57  is a cover that seals the base unit  10  for protection from contaminates in the rearward area. 
       FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view of the semi-automatic bench top filling system  2  as in  FIGS. 1-2  illustrating the piston mounting assembly  80  with a piston pump  3  mounted thereon. The safety guard  15  seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2  has been removed in  FIG. 3  for clarity. As can be seen in  FIG. 2 , the safety guard  15  is removably attached to the mounting bracket  14  by pin-in-groove mounts  151 , the pin protruding from the mounting bracket  14 . An interlock switch  92  ( FIG. 3 ) is provided proximate to the safety guard  15  and is electrically coupled to the controller  100 . The interlock switch  92  comprises a small detent switch that detects the absence/presence of the safety guard  15  to signal the controller  100  to remove power from the servo motor  40  thereby inhibiting operation of the piston drive assembly  80  and piston pump  3  whenever the safety guard  15  is removed. 
     Again with reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the illustrated piston pump  3  is, for example, a National Instruments™/FILAMATIC® FUS-60 model piston pump which is designed for dispensing free flowing liquids in a continuous controlled flow, ensuring a quick fill within a range from 6 mL to 60 mL and with a fill accuracy of 0.5%. The piston pump  3  is rearwardly mounted on the mounting assembly  80  which is supported on the mounting bracket  14 . A rotary shaft  83  protrudes rearwardly from base unit  10  through a flanged bearing attached to the wall of the mounting bracket  14 . The rotary shaft  83  is connected within the base unit  10  to the supplemental reduction gearbox  56  which is itself connected to reduction gearbox  55  as described above. Externally, an eccentric arm  84  is mounted on the rotary shaft  83  and is generally an elongated rectangular block bisected at one end by a notch leading to a mounting hole for insertion of the rotary shaft  83 . The eccentric arm  84  is tightened to rotary shaft  83  by compression of a bolt passing through the notched end. An offset lower pump post assembly  85  protrudes from eccentric arm  84  at an opposite end, and the plunger of the piston pump  3  is mounted to lower pump post assembly  85  where it is held captive by a setscrew  86  mounted on the lower swivel of piston pump  3 . The lower pump post assembly  85  includes a V-shaped grooved bearing placed over a bearing sleeve. In this way, as the supplemental reduction gearbox  56  rotates the rotary shaft  83  the eccentric arm  84  and lower pump post assembly  85  translate the rotary motion into the linear up and down motion of the piston pump  3  plunger. 
     The upper end of the piston pump  3  is held captive by a thumb screw  901  on the upper swivel  87  of the piston pump, which is in turn mounted to an upper pump post assembly  90 . The upper pump post assembly  90  is mounted to the mounting bracket  14  through the use of a mounting plate  88 . Mounting plate  88  provides a vertically-adjustable mount for upper pump post assembly  90  by an elongated vertical slot  89 . A fastener is mounted within the slot  89 , and the upper swivel  87  of piston pump  3  is secured to the distal end of the upper pump post  90 . The upper pump post  90  may use any suitable compression fitting, here shown as a hex-tightened bolt that may be adjusted along the slot  89  and tightened to secure it and the upper swivel  87  in place. In use, the vertically-adjustable mount for upper swivel  87  accommodates numerous types and sizes of commercially-available piston pumps of varying throw. 
     When operating the bench top filling system of the present invention, an operator selectively connects the peristaltic pump  6 , lobe pump  4 , gear pump  8 , or piston pump  3  to base unit  10 , and connects flexible tubing to the selected pump in preparation for container filling. The user turns the system  2  on using switch  16 , which boots up the software for the touch-screen controller  12 , and a menu appears on touch-screen controller  12  that allows a user to run a pre-defined fill recipe, modify a pre-defined recipe, or enter a diagnostic mode to use the automatic calibrate function to fine tune the fill weight. The calibration is a menu-guided setup procedure that includes tare weighing containers, filling the containers, weighing the filled containers, and calibrating the fill weight. Fill weights are entered via the touch-screen controller  12 , and the system control software automatically adjusts the servo motor control module  100  to dispense the correct fluid weight based on the calibration. 
       FIG. 6  is a screen print of an exemplary operator interface user-menu presented on the touch-screen controller  12 . The user-interface software allows simple and quick navigation between different modes through a simple touch of icons on the screen. The operator interface software allows a visual presentation of the overall state of the system, including the chosen mix recipe and defects in the recipe. With a secure access code, it is possible to use the touch screen to resolve any defects, coordinate the mix recipes, access modes for maintenance, adjust filling parameters, and manually operate the system. The user menu includes a “Loaded Now” window that display the pumping recipe currently loaded. Additionally, the menu allows the following menu selections:
         diagnostics, for self-test and calibration;   direct control, for direct manual control of the filling process;   performance, for displaying system data relating to motor loads, internal controller temperatures, etc.   model/serial, for entry of the selected pump model and unique serial number assigned to each unit   recipe  91 , for viewing, loading and deleting previously-defined recipes;   counter  93 , for counting the fills;   settings, for basic system settings (screen brightness, etc.); and   boot up, for initiating software boot up or reboot.       

     By these controls an operator can run a pre-loaded mix recipe, modify a pre-loaded recipe, or enter a diagnostic mode to use the automatic calibrate function to fine tune the fill weight. Each defined recipe includes the following data fields (where applicable) for the particular pump selected:
         pump type: selection of the particular pump type and size   tubing size (mm): the inside diameter of tubing for the peristaltic pump  6  attachment;   fill volume (ml): the fill volume of liquid desired per dose;   specific gravity: the specific gravity of fluid being filled;   accel (%): the acceleration of pump head from Off to Speed 1, Speed 1 to Speed 2 (if Speed 2 is higher than Speed 1), and Speed 2 to Speed 3 (if Speed 3 is higher than Speed 2);   decel (%): the deceleration of pump from Speed 1 to Speed 2 (if Speed 2 is lower than Speed 1), Speed 2 to Speed 3 (if Speed 3 is lower than Speed 2), and Speed 3 to Off;   speed 1 (rpm): the initial speed of pump head;   speed 2 (rpm): the second speed of pump head;   speed 3 (rpm): the third speed of pump head;   drawback speed (rpm): the drawback speed of pump head;   % fill @ speed 1: the percentage of fill volume to be dispensed at speed 1;   % fill @ speed 2: the percentage of fill volume to be dispensed at speed 2 (If % fill @ speed 1+% fill @ speed 2 is less than the total fill volume, then the left over percentage will be dispensed at speed 3); and   % drawback: the percentage of fill volume to be drawn back.       

     With reference to  FIG. 7A through 7G , the operator interface user-menu presented on the touch-screen controller  12  for creating or modifying a liquid dispensing recipe are recited. After turning the power on and waiting for the boot up process to complete the “Main” button  94  to is pressed to navigate to the main menu ( FIGS. 6 and 7B ). The “Recipes” button  91  is pressed and the “Load Recipe” screen ( FIG. 7C ) is presented. A recipe number is selected by using the left and right arrow buttons  95 . If creating a new recipe select a recipe number such that the “Selected” field  96  is blank. When the desired recipe number is displayed the “Load Recipe” button  97  is pressed to load the recipe. The “Loaded Now” field  98  will turn blank for a new recipe or display the name of the recipe selected. The “View Settings” button  99  is pressed to display the first of three “Fill Setup” screens ( FIG. 7D  is exemplary) to begin creating/modifying the recipe parameters. For a new recipe the “Name” field  110  is pressed to open the keypad screen ( FIG. 7E ) and enter the desired name of the recipe. Press each field successive field to enter the appropriate values by using the on screen number pad ( FIG. 7F ) and pressing the “Enter” button  101 . The fields for the first Fill Setup Screen are listed in Table 1. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Fill Settings Page 1 - Fields 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Min 
                 Max 
                   
               
               
                 Name 
                 Value 
                 Value 
                 Description 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Tubing Size (mm) 
                 0 
                 99 
                 Inside diameter of tubing. 
               
               
                 Fill Volume (ml) 
                 0 
                 1000 
                 Fill volume of liquid desired 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 per dose. 
               
               
                 Specific Gravity 
                 0.5 
                 1.5 
                 Specific gravity of fluid 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 being filled. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     After setting all values, press the “Next” button  102  to navigate to the next “Fill Setup” screen. The fields for the second Fill Setup Screen are listed in Table 2. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Fill Settings Page 2 - Fields 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Min 
                 Max 
                   
               
               
                 Name 
                 Value 
                 Value 
                 Description 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Accel (%) 
                 1 
                 100 
                 Acceleration of pump head from off 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 to Speed 1, Speed 1 to Speed 2 (if 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Speed 2 is higher than Speed 1), 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 and Speed 2 to Speed 3 (if Speed 3 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 is higher than Speed 2). 
               
               
                 Decel (%) 
                 1 
                 100 
                 Deceleration of pump from Speed 1 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 to Speed 2 (if Speed 2 is lower 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 than Speed 1), Speed 2 to Speed 3 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 (if Speed 3 is lower than Speed 2), 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 and Speed 3 to off. 
               
               
                 Speed 1 (rpm) 
                 1 
                 210 
                 Initial speed of pump head in 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 revolutions per minute. 
               
               
                 Speed 2 (rpm) 
                 1 
                 210 
                 Second speed of pump head in 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 revolutions per minute. 
               
               
                 Speed 3 (rpm) 
                 1 
                 210 
                 Third speed of pump head in 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 revolutions per minute. 
               
               
                 Drwbk Speed 
                 1 
                 210 
                 Draw back speed of pump head in 
               
               
                 (rpm) 
                   
                   
                 revolutions per minute. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     After setting all values, again press the “Next” button  102  to navigate to the next “Fill Setup” screen. The fields for the third Fill Setup Screen are listed in Table 3. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 3 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Fill Settings Page 3 - Fields 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Min 
                 Max 
                   
               
               
                 Name 
                 Value 
                 Value 
                 Description 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 % Fill @ 
                 1 
                 100 
                 Percentage of Fill Volume to be 
               
               
                 Speed 1 
                   
                   
                 dispensed at Speed 1. 
               
               
                 % Fill @ 
                 0 
                 100 
                 Percentage of Fill Volume to be 
               
               
                 Speed 2 
                   
                   
                 dispensed at Speed 2. (If % Fill 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 @ Speed 1 + % Fill @ Speed 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 2 is less than the total 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 fill volume, then the left over 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 percentage will be dispensed 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 at Speed 3) 
               
               
                 % Drawback 
                 0 
                 100 
                 Percentage of Fill Volume to be 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 drawn back. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     After completing the third “Fill Setup” screen, the “Save Recipe” screen will appear. The “Copy Current Settings” button  103  is pressed. The “Download” button  104  and the green “Ready” light  105  is lit when the recipe has been downloaded and/or validated at which point it can be saved by pressing the “Save Recipe”  106 . 
     To run an already loaded recipe displayed in the “Loaded Recipe” field  107  of the main menu ( FIG. 7A ), the “Counter” button  93  is selected to display the Counter Screen ( FIG. 8 ). The “Press For Dispense” button  108  is pressed to dispense a dose of the liquid according to the loaded recipe. To run an unloaded recipe, the Recipe button  91  on the main menu ( FIG. 6 ) is selected to reach the “Load Recipe” screen ( FIG. 7C ). A recipe number is selected by using the left and right arrow buttons  95  as described above and the “Load Recipe” button  97  is pressed when the desired recipe is displayed to load the recipe. The “Loaded Now” field  98  will display the name of the recipe selected. The Return button  109  is pressed to display the main menu and the Counter” button  93  is selected to display the Counter Screen ( FIG. 8 ). The “Press For Dispense” button  108  is pressed to dispense a dose of the liquid according to the loaded recipe. 
     When switching between pump types or even between individual pumps of the same type it is sometimes advisable to calibrate the filling system  2  to account for variations in individual units. The weight compensation feature includes an auto-guided calibration function by which a user can calibrate the fill weight and manually adjust the number of rotations (or partial rotations) to be made by the servo motor  40  and thus changing the precise fill volume. The procedure is generally conducted by first weighing samples of the containers to be filled in a particular batch to determine a tare weight. An operator then uses the system  2  to fill the sample containers and re weighs each sample container to determine a gross weight. The tare weight is then subtracted from gross weight for each sample container to determine actual dispensed weight of the fluid in each sample container. The actual weight and the expected or target fill weight are entered into the system  2  via keypad input screen ( FIG. 9 ) of the touch-screen controller  12 . The software will then automatically adjust the number of servo motor turns required to precisely dispense the correct weight. More specifically, the software will proportionally modify the number of pulses needed to drive the servo motor the number of turns required to achieve exactly the intended fill volume. An electronic signal is sensed many times for each revolution of the drive motor giving the controller precise control over the rotation of the motor and thus operation of the then attached pump. In some embodiments a target volume may be entered for liquids having a known specific gravity from which a target weight may be calculated. For example, if 10 ml of a product was selected and 12 grams of product was dispensed, the drive will adjust itself proportionately to dispense 10 grams on the next fill. After adjustment the operator should test fill one or more sample containers to verify the adjustment. 
     Having now fully set forth the preferred embodiment and certain modifications of the concept underlying the present invention, various other embodiments as well as certain variations and modifications of the embodiments herein shown and described will obviously occur to those skilled in the art upon becoming familiar with said underlying concept. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically set forth in the appended claims.