Abstract:
An apparatus for filling pharmaceutical containers in a substantially sterile environment may include an upright wall dividing the apparatus into a substantially contamination free sterile zone and a non-sterile zone and an enclosure cooperating with the upright wall to define the sterile zone. The apparatus may also include a transfer apparatus that receives empty containers from a point outside the sterile zone and a transport at least partially disposed within the sterile zone that moves the containers through the sterile zone. The apparatus may include a filling apparatus that fills the containers with pharmaceuticals in the sterile zone as the containers are moved through the sterile zone. The filling apparatus may include at least one dispenser disposed within the sterile zone and a drive disposed in the non-sterile zone. The filling apparatus may extend through a sealed opening in the upright wall generally between the filling apparatus dispenser in the sterile zone and the drive in the non-sterile zone. The apparatus may also include a device movable with the at least one dispenser and configured and positioned to control flow of pharmaceuticals from the at least one dispenser. The at least one dispenser may be movable into and out of filling engagement with the containers.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of prior application Ser. No. 10/179,575, filed Jun. 25, 2002, which claims the right to priority based on Provisional Patent Application No. 60/311,823, filed Aug. 14, 2001, each of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     
       TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0002]    The invention relates generally to a filling apparatus and, more particularly, to an improved filling apparatus configured to fill containers, for example, vials, with liquid products, for example, pharmaceuticals and the like.  
         BACKGROUND  
         [0003]    In the pharmaceutical industry, many preparations, for example, injectable drugs and medicines, are packaged in containers such as vials, which are often small in size. In-line filling machines, or in-line fillers, are often used to package these pharmaceutical preparations to high standards of sterility.  
           [0004]    The in-line fillers may be “isolated” so as to maintain a high level of sterility. Isolated in-line fillers may define a clean and sterile area for packaging the preparations by coupling an enclosure to a horizontal or substantially horizontal table or by coupling an enclosure to a vertical wall. In the case of a table, components of the filling system are mounted to the table such that only the necessary components for packaging the preparation are located in the sterile area. The drive mechanisms and other components that are difficult to maintain to a high degree of sterility are below the table.  
           [0005]    In the case of a vertical wall filler, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,673,535, the components of the filling system are mounted to the wall such that only the necessary components for packaging the preparation are located in the sterile area. The drive mechanisms and other components that are difficult to maintain to a high degree of sterility are on an opposite side of the wall from the sterile area.  
           [0006]    Alternatively, in-line fillers could be used without an enclosure that defines a sterile zone. These types of fillers are kept in a “clean room” where the entire room is maintained to the necessary high degree of sterility. Optionally, in a clean room application, the filling system may include an enclosure for enclosing mechanical drives and other components, thereby confining these components to a non-sterile zone.  
           [0007]    Conventional fillers may include a filling system, for example, a pump-activated filling system or a time and pressure filling system. In a time and pressure system, a liquid product may be fed from a stationary pressurized manifold through a plurality of flexible supply lines to a corresponding plurality of dispensers, for example, filling needles, nozzles, or the like. A valve may be associated with each flexible supply line in either type of filling system.  
           [0008]    The quantity of liquid dispensed may be controlled by the valves. In order to dispense a desired quantity, the valves may be opened for a certain period of time dependent upon, among other things, the pressure and temperature of the liquid product. The valves may be configured as pinch valves that pinch the flexible supply line to stop the flow of liquid and lessen the pinch to start the flow. When the valves open, the liquid product may be dispensed from the dispensers into a corresponding plurality of vials.  
           [0009]    The dispensers may be associated with a structure that follows the motion of the vials as they progress along a conveyor system through the filling system. In the case of needle-type filling dispensers, the structure may be referred to as a needle bridge. Because the liquid supply lines are flexible, the dispensers may move while the product supply manifold remains stationary. Since the valves in conventional fillers are also stationary, the dispensers may move relative to their corresponding valves. This relative motion may cause the flexible supply lines to change shape, which in turn causes a change in internal volume. As a result, the accuracy of the filling system may be compromised.  
           [0010]    In addition, the measurement of temperature and pressure of the liquid product is conventionally performed in the product supply manifold. The measurement of temperature remote from the dispensers can introduce filling errors if the fluid flow properties are temperature sensitive.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0011]    According to one aspect of the invention, an improved apparatus is provided for filling pharmaceutical containers in a substantially clean and sterile environment. The apparatus may include an upright wall dividing the apparatus into a substantially contamination free sterile zone and a non-sterile zone and an enclosure cooperating with the upright wall to define the sterile zone or, alternatively, the non-sterile zone. The apparatus may also include a transfer apparatus that receives empty containers from a point outside the sterile zone and a transport at least partially disposed within the sterile zone that moves the containers through the sterile zone. The apparatus may include a filling apparatus that fills the containers with pharmaceuticals in the sterile zone as the containers are moved through the sterile zone. The filling apparatus may include at least one dispenser disposed within the sterile zone and a drive mechanism disposed in the non-sterile zone. The filling apparatus may extend through a sealed opening in the upright wall generally between the filling apparatus dispenser in the sterile zone and the drive mechanism in the non-sterile zone. The apparatus may also include a device movable with the at least one dispenser and configured and positioned to control flow of pharmaceuticals from the at least one dispenser. The at least one dispenser may be movable into and out of filling engagement with the containers.  
           [0012]    According to another aspect of the invention, an apparatus for filling containers in a substantially sterile environment may comprise a frame, an upright wall carried by the frame and dividing the apparatus into a substantially contamination free sterile zone and a non-sterile zone at least partially disposed in side-by-side relation, and an enclosure cooperating with the upright wall to define the sterile zone. The apparatus may also include a transfer apparatus that receives empty containers from a point outside the sterile zone, a transport at least partially disposed within the sterile zone that moves the containers through the sterile zone, and a filling station that fills containers with pharmaceuticals as they are moved through the sterile zone by the transport. The filling station may be disposed in the sterile zone. The apparatus may also include a drive mechanism in operable communication with the filling station and disposed within the non-sterile zone and connecting apparatus between the drive mechanism and the filling station. The connecting apparatus may extend through a sealed opening in the upright wall. The apparatus may include at least one dispenser associated with the filling station and a device configured and positioned to control flow of pharmaceuticals from the at least one dispenser. The device may be movable with the at least one dispenser, and the at least one dispenser being movable into and out of filling engagement with the containers.  
           [0013]    According to yet another aspect of the invention, an apparatus for filling containers in a substantially sterile environment may comprising frame means, upright wall means carried by the frame means and dividing the apparatus into a substantially contamination free sterile zone and a non-sterile zone at least partially disposed in side-by-side relation, and enclosure means carried by the frame means and cooperating with the upright wall means to define the sterile zone. The apparatus may include transport means at least partially disposed within the sterile zone for transporting containers through the sterile zone, container transfer means for transferring empty containers from a point outside the sterile zone to the transport means in the sterile zone, and means for filling containers with pharmaceuticals as they are moved through the sterile zone by the transport means. The means for filling containers may be disposed in the sterile zone. The apparatus may also include drive means disposed within the non-sterile zone for operating the means for filling containers and connection means for operably connecting the drive means with the means for filling containers. The connection means may extend through a sealed opening in the upright wall means. The apparatus may include at least one dispenser associated with the filling means and a device configured and positioned to control flow of pharmaceuticals from the at least one dispenser. The device may be movable with the at least one dispenser, and the at least one dispenser may be movable into and out of filling engagement with the containers.  
           [0014]    According to still another optional aspect of the invention, an apparatus for filling pharmaceutical containers in a substantially sterile environment may include an upright wall dividing the apparatus into a substantially contamination free sterile zone and a non-sterile zone. The zones may be at least partially disposed in side-by-side relation. The apparatus may also include an enclosure cooperating with the upright wall to define the sterile zone, a transfer apparatus that receives empty pharmaceutical containers from a point outside the sterile zone, and a plurality of operating apparatus disposed in sequential relation. Each of the operating apparatus may comprise at least a portion disposed within the sterile zone and a drive disposed within the non-sterile zone, wherein a given operation may be performed with respect to the pharmaceutical containers at each of the operating apparatus. Each of the operating apparatus may extend through a sealed opening in the upright wall generally between the portion in the sterile zone and the drive in the non-sterile zone. The apparatus may also include a transport at least partially disposed within the sterile zone that moves the pharmaceutical containers through the plurality of operating apparatus, at least one dispenser structured and arranged to direct flow of pharmaceuticals into the pharmaceutical containers, and a device configured and positioned to control flow of pharmaceuticals from the at least one dispenser. The device may be movable with the at least one dispenser, and the at least one dispenser may be movable into and out of filling engagement with the containers.  
           [0015]    It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings,  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a conventional container filling apparatus modified in accordance with some aspects of the present invention;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the modified container filling apparatus of FIG. 1;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 3 is a transverse section view of the modified container filling apparatus taken along line III-III of FIG. 2;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a filling apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the filling apparatus shown in FIG. 4;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of a known exemplary vertical container conveyor that could be used with the container filling apparatus in accordance with the invention;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of a known exemplary horizontal container conveyor that could be used with the container filling apparatus in accordance with the invention; and  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the exemplary horizontal container conveyor taken along line VIII-VIII of FIG. 7. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0025]    Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In accordance with the present invention, a filling apparatus is provided. The filling apparatus may be used, for example, to fill containers, for example, vials, with fluid.  
         [0026]    Referring to FIGS.  1 - 3 , a vial filling apparatus embodying the invention is represented generally by the numeral  41  and is disclosed generally in U.S. Pat. No. 5,673,535, except for the modifications and improvements discussed in detail herein. The apparatus  41  is intended for use in the sequential filling of continuously fed vials for injectable drugs, but the invention contemplates the filling of any type of container in a clean and sterile environment.  
         [0027]    With particular reference to FIG. 2, apparatus  41  includes a sterilized infeed enclosure  42  through which vials  14  pass on a conveyor  48 . Infeed enclosure  42  represents the inlet to a sterile zone, discussed below, and it is essential that the vials  14  entering at this point be in a sterilized condition. To that end, enclosure  42  is connected to a conventional vial washer/sterilizing tunnel  50  that receives unsterilized vials, performs a multiple step procedure that sterilizes the vials, generally including depyrogenization, and delivers sterilized vials to the conveyor  48  of sterilized infeed enclosure  42 . At this point, the sterilized vials are transferred to an oscillating belt infeed station  43  that moves the vials to a transfer star wheel  44 , which sequentially loads the vials  14  onto a principal container conveyor  45  or  45 ′. Although a vertical conveyor  45  is depicted in FIGS.  1 - 3 , an improved horizontal conveyor  45 ′, as shown and described with respect to FIGS. 7 and 8, may be used.  
         [0028]    Conveyor  45 ,  45 ′ sequentially moves the vials  14  to a pre-fill check weigh station  46  that randomly removes a vial to establish a reference pre-fill weight. The vials are then carried by conveyor  45 ,  45 ′ through a filling station  47  which comprises a filling device  414 , including a plurality of nozzles  49 , described in further detail below.  
         [0029]    After filling, the vials  14  are moved by conveyor  45 ,  45 ′ past a post-fill check weigh station  52 , which removes each of the randomly selected empty vials previously weighed at pre-fill check weigh station  46 . This comparative weighing ensures that the specific amount of pharmaceutical preparation has been metered and dispensed into each vial. The weigh stations may include contact or non-contact weighing devices.  
         [0030]    Conveyor  45 ,  45 ′ then moves the vials through a stoppering station  53  at which each of the filled vials is closed and sealed with a stopper. Vials  14  then move into an eject and outfeed station  54 , where the vials are removed from conveyor  45 ,  45 ′ and carried by means not shown to a packing station.  
         [0031]    With reference to FIG. 3, apparatus  41  comprises an elongated frame, certain components of which are shown in this transverse sectional view. These include vertical leg members  55 , a cross rail member  56 , a mounting plate  57  and a vertical frame support member  58  that extends between the cross rail member  56  and plate  57 , at an intermediate point between the vertical leg members  55 . It is will be understood that the various components  55 - 58  repeat over the length of the apparatus frame.  
         [0032]    A vertically disposed mounting plate  59  is secured to the several frame support members  58 , extending longitudinally over the length of the apparatus  41  (see also FIG. 2). A portion of vertical mounting plate  59  extends above the mounting plate  57 . A thin stainless steel sheet  61  corresponding in size to vertical mounting plate  59  is mounted thereto in spaced relation. The stainless steel sheet  61  defines the elongated barrier or back plate of a stainless steel cabinet bearing general reference numeral  63 , which in turn defines an internal sterile zone  64 . The area outside cabinet  63  (i.e., that portion on the left side of barrier plate  61  as viewed in FIG. 3) constitutes a non-sterile zone bearing the general reference numeral  70 .  
         [0033]    With continued reference to FIGS. 1 and 3, sterile cabinet  63  further comprises a front plate  65  that is shown as corresponding generally in size to the back plate  61  in the schematic representation of FIG. 1. However, and as shown in FIG. 2, the front plate  65  includes several outward steps to accommodate various of the components described above. Referring again to FIG. 1, a cabinet top  66  and cabinet bottom  67  interconnect the back plate  61  and front plate  65 , and the cabinet ends are enclosed by end plates  68 ,  69 .  
         [0034]    As shown in FIG. 2, the primary inlet to sterile zone  64  is the sterile tunnel  42  as discussed above. The stoppering station  53  also includes a stopper inlet or docking port  53   a  through which sterilized stoppers are admitted in a sterile manner as is known in the art. The sole outlet from sterile zone  64  is the eject and outfeed station  54 , which may, for example, comprise a plurality of conventional star wheels, the first of which is disposed within sterile zone  64  and the second of which is disposed outside the sterile zone  64 . Vials  14  are transferred between these first and second star wheels through a small opening in cabinet  63 . Sterile zone  64  may be maintained at a pressure higher than that of the ambient surroundings to cause an outflow of air through the vial outlet between the star wheels, thus resisting contaminant entry. The means for maintaining such pressure, which is not shown, is conventional and typically includes a supply of air that is filtered to remove contaminants.  
         [0035]    In an embodiment, cabinet  63  includes a plurality of conventional glove ports  80  or other conventional means for permitting sealed access to the sterile zone  64 . Preferably, glove ports  80  are disposed at spaced points to permit operators of the apparatus  41  to have access at all points along the line of vial movement.  
         [0036]    With reference to FIG. 1, a drain portion  71  of the cabinet  63  projects downwardly below the filling station  47 . The respective bottom portions  67  adjacent the drain portion  71  are inclined downwardly toward the drain portion  71 . The bottom of drain portion  71  defines a plurality collecting drain pans  71 A-C which respectively lead to drains  72 A-C. Each of the drains  72 A-C is connected through a sealed coupling  73  to a common drain pipe  74 . The purpose of these drain components is discussed in further detail below.  
         [0037]    Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the filling apparatus may include the filling station  47 , a product supply manifold  411 , at least one supply line  412 , and a filler configured to fill containers, for example, a vial filling device  414 . The product supply manifold may be positioned in the sterile zone  64  or in the non-sterile zone  70 . Each supply line  412  may be disposed between the product supply manifold  411  and the vial filling device  414 . Each supply line  412  may be configured as a conduit, at least a portion  413  of which may be elastically deformable. The vial filling device  414  may include at least one dispenser  49 . It should be appreciated that one supply line  412  may be provided for and associated with each dispenser  49 . The dispensers  49  may be configured, for example, as filling needles, nozzles, or the like. Optionally, the dispensers  49  may be provided with mechanical, electrical, or electro-mechanical out-of-position sensors  417 .  
         [0038]    The filling apparatus may further comprise at least one valve  418 . The valve  418  may comprise, for example, a pinch valve provided for and associated with each supply line  412  and dispenser  49 . Accordingly, there may be a one-to-one-to-one correspondence between the number of supply lines  412 , dispensers  49 , and valves  418 . A portion  420  of the supply line  412  between the valve  418  and the dispenser  49  may be rigid, or at least semi-rigid.  
         [0039]    The vial filling device  414  may further include a structure  426 , for example, a walking beam, with which the dispensers  49  and valves  418  are associated. The structure  426  may be configured to follow the motion of the vials  14  as they progress along the conveyor  45 ,  45 ′ through the vial filling device  414  during the filling process.  
         [0040]    The dispensers  49  and valves  418  may be associated with the structure  426  such that there is substantially no relative motion between the dispensers  49  and valves  418  as the structure  426  moves. In the case of needle-type filling dispensers, the structure  426  may be a needle bridge walking beam.  
         [0041]    The filling apparatus may include a drive  151  (FIG. 2), for example, a drive pulley, operatively connected to the vial filling device  414  via a mechanism  434  that passes from the non-aseptic zone  70  to the aseptic zone  64  via a sealed opening  436 . The mechanism  434  may carry the structure  426 , including a housing  438 . Referring to FIG. 5, the housing  438  may contain valve actuators  440 . The housing  438  may provide a seal between a surrounding aseptic zone  64  and an interior, non-sterile or non-aseptic zone  433 . The mechanism  434  may also be hollow to provide a non-sterile or non-aseptic zone  435 , including an enclosed path  442  communicating with the non-aseptic zone  70  for filler operation and/or drive utilities  150 , for example, the drive  151 , a power supply, motion and actuation control, and the like, that support the actuation and operation of the valves  418 . The valve actuators  440  may be separated from the valves  418  by a flexible diaphragm  444 , which provides a seal between aseptic and non-aseptic zones  64 ,  433 .  
         [0042]    Additionally, a temperature sensor  446  may be positioned at or proximate to the dispenser  49 . Thus, the temperature of the liquid product may be measured proximate the dispenser  49  rather than in a more distally-located product supply manifold  411 . As a result, filling errors associated with temperature-sensitive fluid flow properties of a product may be reduced.  
         [0043]    With reference to FIGS. 2, 3, and  6 , the vertical container conveyor  45  may include a conveyor belt  87  having a row of sprocket holes  88  disposed along each edge. Conveyor belt  87  may be endlessly driven by a pair of opposed sprocket wheels  89 ,  90  (only sprocket wheel  89  is shown in FIG. 6). The sprocket wheels  89 ,  90  may rotate about a horizontal axis as shown by reference numeral  91  in FIG. 3. For purposes of simplicity in FIG. 3, the horizontal shafts upon which drive sprocket wheels  89  rotate are not shown. Such shafts extend through appropriate seals in the stainless steel sheet  61  and mounting plate  59  and are driven as discussed below. With such a configuration, the width of conveyor  45  may be significantly reduced. Further, since the drive for conveyor  45  may be located outside sterile cabinet  63  as discussed below, cabinet  63  and sterile zone  64  may be significantly reduced in size from the standpoint of width.  
         [0044]    Referring now to FIG. 7, in a preferred embodiment, an improved horizontal container conveyor  45 ′ for transporting the vials may be configured with drive sprocket wheels or the like  89 ′ that rotate about vertical axes. For example, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the horizontal conveyor  45 ′ may include one or more conveyor belts  87 ′ configured to move upper container holders  800  and lower container holders  802  through a conveyor path. The lower container holders  802  may support the containers  14 , and the upper container holders  800  may separate the containers  14  from one another and hold them substantially still relative to one another. The distance between adjacent upper container holders  800  may be adjustable so as to accommodate different sized container  14 . With such a conveyor  45 ′, the containers may be carried to the side of a conveyor belt rather than above the belt  87  as discussed above. Therefore, although such an alternative configuration of the conveyor  45 ′ may increase the width of the cabinet  63  and sterile zone  64 , the conveyor belt  87 ′ may be less susceptible to contamination in the alternative configuration than in the configuration that carries the containers above the belt  87 .  
         [0045]    With reference to FIG. 2, each of the operating stations disposed within the sterile zone  64  may be driven by an actuating means, for example, a drive, that is disposed outside the sterile zone  64  (i.e., within the nonsterile zone  70 ). These various actuating means, although separate, may be interrelatably driven because the various operations performed within sterile zone  64  must be synchronous. An electric motor  131  serves as the primary drive means for the various actuating means. Separate servomotors are used for other actuating means as described below, which are operated in synchronous relation to primary drive motor  131 .  
         [0046]    The motor  131  includes a drive pulley  133  at at least one end. Drive pulley  133  is connected through a drive belt  136  to a driven pulley  137 , which in turn is mounted to a common drive shaft bearing the general reference numeral  138 . Drive shaft  138  comprises a plurality of interconnected drive shaft segments  138 A-E.  
         [0047]    Drive shaft segment  138 A is connected through a right angle gear drive  139  to a pulley/timing belt configuration. A drive connection  142  extends through a sealed opening  139  of the wall of cabinet  63 , connecting the pulley/timing belt  141  to the oscillating belt infeed station  43 .  
         [0048]    Drive shaft segment  138 A is connected to shaft segment  138 B through a right angle drive  144 . A right angle drive  145  is connected between drive shaft segments  138 B-C, the purpose of which is to drive the star wheel  44  through a pulley/belt configuration  146  and a drive connection  147 . Drive connection  147  extends through mounting plate  59  of cabinet  63  through a seal of the same type as seal  143 .  
         [0049]    Drive shaft segment  138 C is connected through a pulley/belt configuration  148  to a right gear drive  149  having a drive pulley  151  (see also FIG. 3). Drive pulley  151  is connected to drive the walking beam  426  through at least one actuator  86 , each of which extends through the mounting plate  59  through a seal similar to seal  143 .  
         [0050]    The pre-fill check weigh station  46  and post-fill check weigh station  52  may be separately driven by servomotors (not shown for purposes of clarity), which are operated in synchronous relation to the primary drive motor  131 . Pre-fill check weigh apparatus  46  includes a drive connection  152 , and post-fill check weigh apparatus  52  includes a drive connection  153 .  
         [0051]    Shaft drive segment  138 D is connected through a pulley/belt configuration  154  to a right angle gear drive  155  which in turn drives a pulley/belt configuration  156 . This, in turn, is connected to a drive connection  157  that actuates a portion of the stoppering station  53 . Other components of the stoppering station are driven by a separate variable speed motor.  
         [0052]    Shaft drive segment  138 D is also connected through a gear drive  158  that drives a pulley/belt configuration  159 . A drive connection  161  interconnects the configuration  159  through a seal, similar to seal  143 , to the eject and outfeed station  54 .  
         [0053]    Shaft drive segment  138 E is connected to a right angle gear drive  162  which in turn drives a pulley/belt configuration  163 . A drive connection  164  extends through a seal and mounting plate  59  and connects configuration  163  with drive sprocket wheel  89 . Sprocket wheel  90  is a driven wheel and does not include a direct drive.  
         [0054]    With particular reference to FIGS. 1 and 3, the sterile zone  64  within the sterile cabinet  63  can be periodically cleaned and sterilized by techniques utilizing steam and/or a disinfecting liquid wash with all of the internal components in place. As a result, clean zone  64  may be effectively sterilized and decontaminated on a periodic basis in a manner which is far easier than decontaminating an entire room or much larger zone. This also results in a significant decrease in the cost of operating and maintaining the apparatus  41 .  
         [0055]    In operation, a liquid product may be fed from a product supply manifold  411  located in the aseptic zone  64  through one or more supply lines  412  to corresponding dispensers  49 . The valves  418  may control the quantity of liquid dispensed from the dispensers  49 .  
         [0056]    In order to dispense a desired quantity, the valves  418  may be opened for a certain period of time dependent upon, for example, the pressure and temperature of the liquid product proximate the dispensers  49 . As shown in FIG. 5, the valves  418  may be configured as pinch valves that pinch an elastically-deformable portion  413  of the supply lines  412  to stop the flow of liquid and lessen the pinching force to start the flow. When the valves  418  open, the liquid product may be dispensed from the dispensers  49  into a corresponding plurality of vials.  
         [0057]    The conveyor  45  or  45 ′ transports vials  14  past the vial filling device  414 . The structure  426  may follow the motion of the vials  14  as they progress along the conveyor system  422  past the vial filling device  414 . Because the portion  413  of the supply lines  412  is flexible, the dispensers  49  may move to engage the vials  14 , such as by a combined translation and reciprocal movement, while the product supply manifold  411  remains stationary. Since the valves  418  and dispensers  49  may move with the structure  426 , the internal configuration or flow geometry of the portion  420  of the supply lines  412  between the dispensers  49  and the valves  418  remains substantially unchanged during movement of the structure  426  during the filling process. As a result, the accuracy of the filling apparatus may not be compromised.  
         [0058]    It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the filling apparatus without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only.