Weighing apparatus and method for a filling line for filling containers of pharmaceutical, medical, food products and the like

1. A weighing apparatus for a filling line for filling containers of pharmaceutical, medical, food products, comprising:

at least one weighing unit including at least one weighing device including at least one container support and at least one sensor unit which detects a value of a weight force acting on the container support; and

at least one suction unit which generates a suction air flow that is directed and adjusted in such a way as to controllably affect the value of said weight force detected by said at least one sensor unit;

a container advancing device which moves the containers along an advancing direction and a container transferring device which transfers the containers between said container advancing device and said at least one weighing unit, respectively.

2. The weighing apparatus as defined in claim 1 , and further comprising

a covering and protecting structure which contains and protects said at least one weighing unit and said at least one suction unit; and

a laminar flow generating unit which generates a laminar air flow within said covering and protecting structure.

3. The weighing apparatus as defined in claim 2 , wherein said suction unit and said laminar flow generating unit are configured to cause the interaction of said suction air flow and said laminar air flow at least at said at least one weighing unit.

4. The weighing apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein said at least one weighing unit is positioned in an intermediate position between said container advancing device and said at least one suction unit.

5. The weighing apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein said at least one weighing unit comprises a plurality of weighing devices.

6. The weighing apparatus as defined in claim 1 , and further comprising a suction duct connected with said at least one suction unit, said suction duct including a suction mouth positioned below the container support.

7. The weighing apparatus as defined in claim 6 , wherein said at least one suction unit includes an adjusting valve to adjust the suction air flow exiting through the suction mouth.

8. The weighing apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein said at least one suction unit includes at least one suction member each of which is divided into a plurality of suction sectors which generate a respective suction air flow directed in such a way as to controllably affect the value of said weight force detected by a respective weighing device of said plurality of weighing devices, each of said suction sectors including an adjusting valve.

9. The weighing apparatus as defined in claim 4 , wherein two weighing units are positioned opposite to each other with respect to the advancing direction of said container advancing device.

10. A weighing apparatus for a filling line for filling containers of pharmaceutical, medical, food products, comprising:

at least one weighing unit including at least one weighing device including at least one container support and at least one sensor unit which detects a value of a weight force acting on the container support;

at least one suction unit which generates a suction air flow that is directed and adjusted in such a way as to controllably affect the value of said weight force detected by said at least one sensor unit;

and

a covering element to protect at least said at least one weighing unit and said at least one suction unit.

11. A filling line for filling containers, comprising

a weighing apparatus including

at least one weighing unit including at least one weighing device including at least one container support and at least one sensor unit which detects a value of a weight force acting on the container support; and

at least one suction unit which generates a suction air flow that is directed and adjusted in such a way as to controllably affect the value of said weight force detected by said at least one sensor unit;

a container filling apparatus;

a container closing apparatus; and

a covering and protecting structure protecting at least said weighing apparatus and including a laminar flow generating unit.

12. A weighing method for a filling line for filling containers of pharmaceutical, medical, food products, comprising the steps of

weighing the containers with at least one weighing unit each equipped with at least one weighing device; and

generating a suction air flow directed and adjusted to controllably affect the value of a weight detected by said at least one weighing device,

wherein said weighing step occurs within a covering and protecting structure that contains and protects said at least one weighing unit on which the containers to be weighed are placed, and further comprising the step of generating a laminar air flow in said covering and protecting structure, said suction air flow and said laminar air flow interacting at least at said at least one weighing unit.

13. The method as defined in claim 12 , and further comprising a preliminary step of calibrating said at least one weighing devices in the presence of said suction air flow and in the absence of containers in the at least one weighing unit by adjusting the suction air flow until all of the weighing devices provide the same weight measurement value.

14. The method as defined in claim 13 , and further comprising the step of processing a signal indicating the weight detected during weighing of the containers in accordance with said weight measurement value.

15. The method as defined in claim 12 , and further comprising a preliminary step of calibrating said at least one weighing devices in the presence of said suction air flow and in the absence of containers in the at least one weighing unit wherein all the weighing devices are set up to set the weight value detected by each weighing device equal to zero.

16. The method as defined in claim 12 , and further comprising a preliminary step of calibrating said at least one weighing devices in the presence of said laminar air flow and said suction air flow and in the absence of containers in the at least one weighing unit wherein all the weighing devices are set up to set the weight value detected by each weighing device equal to zero.

17. The method as defined in claim 12 , and further comprising the steps of

filling the containers before said weighing step;

closing the containers, and wherein at least said weighing step occurs within a covering and protecting structure that contains and protects said at least one weighing unit; and

generating a laminar air flow at least in said covering and protecting structure, said suction air flow and said laminar air flow interacting at least at said at least one weighing unit.