CN113859603A

CN113859603A - Device and method for filling a syringe

Info

Publication number: CN113859603A
Application number: CN202110588765.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: J·金; T·郑
Original assignee: Dow Corning Corp
Current assignee: Dow Silicones Corp
Priority date: 2020-06-30
Filing date: 2021-05-28
Publication date: 2021-12-31
Also published as: KR20220001595A

Abstract

The invention provides a device and a method for filling a syringe. The invention relates to a device for filling a syringe, comprising: a container for holding a flowable material, the container being hermetically sealed by a ram plate to discharge the material within the container from an outlet located on the container or ram plate by pressing the material; a conduit for delivering material discharged from the outlet; at least one injection port for connection with a syringe to fill material delivered through the conduit; a piston provided within the syringe to be linearly movable in a longitudinal direction of the syringe and sealing the injected material between the injection port and the piston; and a sensor rod coupled to the syringe so as to be movable between a spaced-apart position spaced apart from the piston and a contact position in which the piston is pressed against the piston by the weight of the sensor rod, wherein each injection port has a needle valve to open and close the injection port.

Description

Device and method for filling a syringe

Technical Field

The present invention relates to devices for filling syringes with flowable material, and methods of using such devices.

Background

A syringe for containing flowable material is formed with a dispensing nozzle at one end and a larger bore at the other end, where the dispensing nozzle may be blocked or sealed and the larger bore may be hermetically sealed by a piston. To discharge the material from the syringe, the dispensing nozzle is either not blocked or the seal broken and the piston is pushed into the syringe, thereby displacing the material from the syringe through the dispensing nozzle.

To produce syringes filled with flowable material, devices for filling the syringe or cartridge by means of a high-pressure pumping system are known.

For example, patent document 1 discloses a liquid filling apparatus including: a liquid pressing valve, a syringe, and a cylinder body having a cylinder rod, wherein the liquid pressing valve presses liquid supplied from a tank, a pump, and a cartridge to be discharged to the syringe, wherein the syringe may be filled with the liquid discharged from the liquid pressing valve in a constant capacity, and wherein the cylinder rod in the cylinder body presses the filled liquid inside the syringe at a constant pressure when the fluid discharged from the liquid pressing valve is lifted inside the syringe in a state in which the cylinder rod is inserted into a lower end of the syringe.

Patent document 2 discloses a hydraulic fluid charging device including: a base including a fluid reservoir and a hydraulic pressure supply motor; a liquid supply unit; and a liquid loading unit, wherein the liquid supply unit includes: a left hydraulic cylinder and a right hydraulic cylinder; a reservoir; a piston connecting rod; and a pressing piston, and wherein the liquid charging unit includes: a distributor valve; an injector; and an anti-discharge cylinder having a cylinder rod and supporting an inner cap of the syringe.

Patent document 3 discloses a liquid syringe filling device for removing bubbles and preventing the formation of bubbles, comprising: a storage container sealed by a cover, the storage container for storing a liquid to be pumped; a first pressurizing unit for pushing the liquid in the storage container to the outside; a pumping valve connected to the cover through a liquid inflow tube to mount the syringe to allow pumped liquid to fill the inside of the syringe; and a controller controlling a pressurizing pressure of the first pressurizing unit and an air pressure supplied to the pumping valve to control a pumping time difference for replacing the syringe, wherein the cover includes a vent installed on the cover to discharge bubbles contained in the liquid stored in the storage container.

However, these devices have the following problems: with the syringe, air bubbles are created in the flowable material, resulting in possible injection of excess or insufficient material, and inconsistent deposits upon release of pressure in the syringe. When the flowable material has a high viscosity, it is difficult to control the flow rate and the injection amount of the material under high pressure. If the pressure supplied from the container to the liquid filling apparatus is low, there is a problem in that the discharge is not correct when the high-viscosity liquid is discharged due to lack of discharge pressure. In addition, due to residual pressure, the flowable material is prone to leakage from the syringe filling nozzle.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: korean patent application publication No. 10-2012-

Patent document 2: korean patent application publication No. 10-2017-0125702A

Patent document 3: korean patent application publication No. 10-2019-0063236A

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problem

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for filling a syringe which enables a quick filling of flowable material and prevents bubble formation and material leakage. Further, it is another object of the present invention to provide a method for filling a syringe which is capable of rapidly filling a flowable material and preventing bubble formation and material leakage by using the device.

Solution to the problem

The device for filling a syringe of the invention comprises:

a container for holding a flowable material, the container being hermetically sealed by the ram plate to discharge the material within the container from an outlet located on the container or the ram plate by pressing the material;

a conduit for delivering material discharged from the outlet;

at least one injection port for connection with a syringe to fill material delivered through the conduit;

a piston provided within the syringe to be linearly movable in a longitudinal direction of the syringe and sealing the injected material between the injection port and the piston; and

a sensor rod coupled to the syringe so as to be movable between a spaced-apart position spaced apart from the piston and a contact position in which the piston is pressed against the piston by the weight of the sensor rod,

wherein each injection port has a needle valve to open and close the injection port.

In various embodiments, the ram plate is driven by a hydraulic system.

In various embodiments, the pipe is equipped with a mesh screen filter.

In various embodiments, the tubing is disassembled for cleaning.

In various embodiments, the injection port opens or closes depending on the position of the sensor rod.

In various embodiments, the injection port has a syringe filling nozzle.

The method for filling the syringe of the invention comprises the following steps:

discharging the flowable material held in the container from an outlet by pressing the material with a ram plate that hermetically seals the container, wherein the outlet is located on the container or the ram plate;

delivering material discharged from the outlet through the conduit;

filling a syringe connected to the injection port with a material delivered through a pipe, wherein a piston provided in the syringe is linearly movable in a longitudinal direction of the syringe and seals the injected material between the injection port and the piston, wherein a sensor rod is coupled to the syringe so as to be movable between a spaced-apart position spaced apart from the piston and a contact position in which the piston is pressed against the piston by a weight of the sensor rod, and wherein the injection port has a needle valve to open and close the injection port; and then

The injection port is closed to stop injecting the material.

In various embodiments, the ram plate is driven by a hydraulic system.

In various embodiments, the pipe is equipped with a mesh screen filter.

Effects of the invention

The device and method for filling a syringe of the present invention enables rapid filling of flowable materials and prevents bubble formation and material leakage.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is an overall view of the apparatus of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing the process of sealing flowable material within a container with a ram plate of a device according to the invention.

Fig. 3 is a side view of a pipe with a mesh screen filter according to the apparatus of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a side view showing the pipe of the apparatus according to the invention removed.

Fig. 5 is a schematic view illustrating a process of fixing a syringe on a sprue according to the apparatus of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a side view of a needle valve of the device according to the invention.

Fig. 7 is a schematic view showing a process of setting an injection port of the apparatus according to the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the position of the proximity sensor and the joint at each syringe size of the device according to the present aspect.

Fig. 9 is a view showing a pendulum member of the apparatus according to the present invention.

Fig. 10 is a side view showing the device of the present invention having multiple injection ports.

Definition of

The terms "comprising" or "containing" are used herein in their broadest sense to mean and encompass the concepts of "including," comprising, "" consisting essentially of … …, "and" consisting of … …. The use of "e.g.," such as, "for example," "such as," and "including" to list example examples is not meant to be limited to only the listed examples. Thus, "for example" or "such as" means "for example, but not limited to" or "such as, but not limited to" and encompasses other similar or equivalent examples.

The term "syringe" or "syringes" is used herein in its broadest sense to mean and encompass the concept of "a cylindrical container (such as a" cartridge ") formed with a dispensing nozzle at one end and a larger bore at the other end. The term "piston" or "pistons" is used herein in its broadest sense to mean and encompass the concept of "a material that hermetically seals the larger bore of a syringe or cartridge," such as "plunger. To discharge the material of the syringe, the dispensing nozzle is either not blocked or the seal is broken and the piston is pushed into the syringe, thereby displacing the material in the syringe through the dispensing nozzle.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present apparatus and method will be described in detail. The exemplary embodiments serve as examples to describe the implementation of the inventive apparatus and method without limiting the scope thereof.

Fig. 1 shows a general side view of the device for filling syringes of the invention and comprising:

a flowable material supply, the flowable material supply comprising: a container (1), a ram plate (3) and an outlet (6);

a flowable material delivery portion, the flowable material delivery portion comprising: a conduit (7), and optionally a valve (8) and a pressure sensor (9); and

a flowable material injection portion, the flowable material injection portion comprising: an injection port (10), a needle valve (13), a syringe fixing plate (15), and a sensor rod (14).

The container (1) is a cylindrical container having a closed bottom end and an open top end. The container (1) is filled with a flowable material (2) to be loaded into a syringe, cartridge or the like. The open top end of the container (1) is hermetically sealed by a ram plate (3). The ram plate (3) is accurately dimensioned to provide an airtight seal with the inner surface of the container (1) to ensure that no air can come into contact with the flowable material (2) within the container (1). Preferably, an O-ring (4) may be used to ensure a suitable airtight seal between the ram plate (3) and the container (1).

However, the flowable material 2 is not limited, but it is exemplified by a moisture curable material, a UV curable material, and a heat curable material, among which a moisture curable material is preferable. The viscosity at 25 ℃ is not limited, but is preferably not less than 1,000 mPas. This is because, when the viscosity is equal to or greater than the lower limit of the above range, the material is less likely to leak.

The ram plate (3) is provided with an air release valve (not shown) which can be opened to allow any air located between the flowable material (2) in the container (1) and the ram plate (3) to be evacuated when the ram plate (3) is lowered to the level of the flowable material (2) in the container (1).

Figure 2 shows a schematic of the process of sealing flowable material in a container with a ram plate. The hammer plate (3) can be moved up and down by means of a hydraulic cylinder (5). Once the ram plate (3) abuts the flowable material (2) within the container (1) and some of the flowable material (2) is forced out through the air release valve, the air release valve closes. The striker plate (3) is thus seated directly on the flowable material (2) in the container (1), no air being trapped in the container (1).

The bottom of the container (1) or the bottom of the ram plate (3) is formed with an outlet (6) to discharge the flowable material (2) within the container (1). Fig. 1 and 2 show the outlet at the bottom of the container (1), but the location of the outlet port is not limited.

In order to discharge the flowable material (2) held in the container (1) from the outlet (6), the flowable material (2) is pressed by means of the ram plate (3).

The flowable material discharged from the outlet (6) is delivered through a conduit (7). A conduit (7) is connected to the outlet (6). In the embodiment shown in fig. 1, a valve (8) and a pressure sensor (9) are provided, but they are optional. The pressure of the flowable material can be controlled by a pressure sensor 9 and a control panel (not shown). The pressure may be varied depending on the flowable material and the desired syringe fill rate.

Even if the flowable material (2) within the container (1) has been pre-filtered, impurities may enter the flowable material (2) during its delivery. In the embodiment shown in fig. 3, the introduction of the mesh screen filter (19) into the conduit (7) results in a reduction of impurities injected into the injector. The mesh size (i.e., openings per inch) of the mesh screen filter (19) depends on the size of the impurities and the viscosity of the flowable material, but is preferably in the range of 50 to 200. It may be positioned just prior to injecting flowable material 2 into syringe 10, but this position may vary. Generally, conventional devices for filling syringes do not have such a filtering function. Even though they have a filtering function, the supply line size is as small as 1/2 inches or less. Then, the filter is often clogged due to the small wire size.

Further, in the embodiment shown in fig. 4, it is desirable that the flowable material delivery portion is designed to be detachable. This is because it is easy to clean the disassembly part completely after use with any flowable material. This facilitates cross-contamination between flowable materials for small scale production of various products.

The flowable material delivered through the conduit (7) is injected into a syringe (11) fixed to the injection port (10). The syringe (11) used in the device of the invention may be of any size, but typically has a volume of 3cc, 5cc, 10cc, 30cc, 55cc, 100cc, 250cc or 500 cc. Fig. 5 is a schematic view showing a process of fixing the syringe (11) to the injection port (10). The injection port (10) is in contact with a dispensing nozzle of a syringe (11). The dispensing nozzle is hermetically sealed with respect to the injection opening (10). The flowable material is injected into the syringe (11) through a dispensing nozzle of the syringe.

In the inventive device, the injection opening (10) has a needle valve (13) for opening and closing the injection opening. In the prior art, it is difficult to accurately control the fill volume and leakage of flowable material from the dispensing nozzle of the syringe due to residual pressure. To solve this problem, the apparatus of the present invention is designed to fill the flowable material with a needle valve that directly opens and closes the injection port to prevent leakage of the flowable material caused by residual pressure. In fig. 5, the needle valve (13) is driven by means of a needle valve cylinder (18). In the embodiment shown in fig. 6, it is desirable that the needle valve be attached to the piston rod (20) of the needle valve cylinder (18). The flowable material is filled in the syringe (11) by the vertical reciprocating movement of the piston rod (20). The piston rod (20) is driven by compressed air supplied from an air compressor (not shown) through

air supply ports

21 and 22 of the needle valve cylinder (18). The needle valve cylinder (18) is called a cylinder using power to compress gas.

Meanwhile, in order to fix the syringe (11), a piston (12) is provided on the injection port (10), and a syringe fixing plate (15) is movable up and down by means of a syringe fixing cylinder (16). The syringe retaining plate (15) stops once the syringe retaining plate (15) abuts the larger aperture of the syringe (11). Therefore, the syringe fixing plate (15) can fix the syringe (11) on the injection port (10). At the same time, a sensor rod (14) is provided on the plunger (12) within the syringe (11) to detect the amount of flowable material injected.

A piston (12) is provided in the syringe (11) to move linearly in a longitudinal direction of the syringe, and when the flowable material is injected into the syringe through the injection port (10), the piston (12) hermetically seals the injected flowable material between the injection port and the piston inside the syringe. In particular, the piston (12) may be made of a flexible material. The piston (12) is substantially circular when viewed from the top along the longitudinal axis. The bottom surface of the plunger (12) may be flat or tapered with the lowest point in the middle of the bottom surface so that the bottom surface has the same inclination and may be in substantially uniform contact with the bottom inner surface of the syringe.

Furthermore, in the embodiment shown in fig. 7, the injection port (10) may have a syringe filling nozzle to fit the dispensing nozzle of the syringe (11) and operate semi-automatically to cover many different sized syringes. The sprue with the syringe fill nozzle moves up and down in the longitudinal direction of the syringe to help the syringe be precisely mounted horizontally on the fitting to avoid failure to fill the flowable material. The shape and size of the syringe filling nozzle may vary from syringe to syringe, but the shape is preferably nipple-like. The syringe fill nozzle may be made of stainless steel, but it may be made of other materials. Conventional devices for filling syringes are optimized only for mass production of individual products. Therefore, they are limited to different kinds of syringes having different sizes for various products. However, as shown in fig. 8, according to the present invention, the accuracy of filling the syringe with the flowable material can be improved.

The sensor rod (14) is movable between a spaced-apart position spaced from the piston (12) and a contact position in contact with the piston (12), and when the sensor rod (14) is in the contact position, the sensor rod (14) is in contact with the piston (12) and presses the piston (12) by the weight of the sensor rod (14). When the sensor rod (14) is inserted into the piston (12) within the syringe (11), the sensor rod (14) transfers the weight of the sensor rod (14) to the piston (12) along the longitudinal axis of the sensor rod (14), thereby pressing the piston (12) through the sensor rod (14). The piston (14) can move more stably and more linearly along the inner wall of the syringe. Therefore, when the flowable material is injected into the syringe (11) through the injection port (10), the plunger (12) can linearly move along the inner wall of the syringe (11) without twisting in the syringe barrel, thereby preventing overfilling or spillage of the fluid past the plunger (11). The sensor rod (14) is not fixed in size, but its diameter must be small enough to fit into the syringe (11), leaving some space between the sensor rod and the syringe inner wall, and must also fit inside the piston (12) as described further below. The length of the sensor rod (14) should be long enough relative to the support structure of the entire device so that it can be moved to fill the entire length of the syringe.

A proximity sensor (24) is placed on top of the sensor rod (14). As shown in fig. 8, the height of the proximity sensor (24) may be controlled by the proximity sensor position controller (17), and the volume of flowable material filled into the syringe is determined according to the height of the proximity sensor (24). The proximity sensor (24) may detect an end of the sensor rod (14), and if the proximity sensor (24) detects a specific position of the end of the sensor rod (14), the needle valve (13) of the injection port (10) closes and injection of the material stops.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 9, it is desirable that the balance weight (25) can be added to or removed from the sensor rod (14) depending on the viscosity of the flowable material filled into the syringe to prevent the piston from being lifted due to the low weight of the sensor rod (14). Too heavy a sensor rod can cause flowable material to overflow the plunger. The sensor lever (14) may include a pin for securing the pendulum (25) to an end of the sensor lever (14), and a user may secure the pendulum (25) to the sensor lever (14) using the pin. The sensor rod (14) and the pendulum (25) can be made of stainless steel, but they can be made of other materials.

After the sensor rod (14) is lowered, the injection port (10) is opened by the needle valve (13), and then the flowable material is filled into the syringe (11) connected to the injection port (10). When the sensor lever (14) is positioned proximate the proximity sensor (24), the injection port (10) is automatically or manually closed to stop the injection of the flowable material into the injector.

The device of the invention may have one or more injection ports. Each injection port may be connected to a syringe of the same or different size. In the embodiment shown in fig. 10, four separate syringes are positioned along the injection port (10). Each syringe is provided with a stop when empty, the stop being located in the syringe immediately adjacent to the injection port of the syringe. The filled syringe is then separated from the injection port for subsequent use. The device according to the invention according to fig. 10 is capable of filling four syringes simultaneously. The number of injection ports to be filled simultaneously can be controlled as desired. The syringe retaining plate and syringe sensor lever may be manually operated and the pressure of the supplied fluid material controlled, the syringe retaining plate and syringe sensor lever being semi-automatically operated. When the supply of flowable material (2) within the container (1) has been exhausted, the injection port (10) can be closed by a needle valve (13) to prevent bubble formation and leakage of flowable material.

In an embodiment of the device of the present invention, it may comprise an emergency button, a button for filling and 2 two-handed buttons. The syringe retaining plate and syringe sensor lever may be manually operated and the pressure at which the flowable material is supplied may be controlled, the syringe retaining plate and syringe sensor lever being semi-automatically operated. If the pressure supplied from the container (1) is high, a residual pressure may remain between the valve (8) and the needle valve (13). The primary emergency button can stop the injection of the flowable material into the syringe. The secondary emergency button may stop the injection into each syringe or cartridge. And two-handed buttons may be used to prevent finger stenosis that may occur on the device.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present apparatus and method enable rapid filling of flowable materials and prevent bubble formation and material leakage. Thus, the apparatus and method of the present invention are particularly useful for filling syringes with high viscosity flowable materials such as moisture curable materials, UV curable materials and heat curable materials, particularly moisture curable materials. Furthermore, the apparatus and method of the present invention can be used for large-scale production of a single product, or small-scale production of various products.

Reference numerals

1: a container, 2: flowable material, 3: ram, 4: o-ring, 5: hydraulic cylinder block, 6: outlet, 7: a pipe, 8: valve, 9: pressure sensor, 10: inlet, 11A, 11B: syringe, 12: piston, 13: needle valve, 14: sensor rod, 15: syringe fixing plate, 16: syringe fixing cylinder, 17: proximity sensor position controller, 18: needle valve cylinder, 19: mesh screen filter, 20: piston rod, 21, 22: air supply port, 23: syringe filling nozzle, 24: proximity sensor, 25: pendulum weight

Claims

1. A device for filling a syringe, the device comprising:

a container for holding a flowable material, the container hermetically sealed by a ram plate to discharge the material within the container from an outlet located on the container or the ram plate by pressing the material;

a conduit for delivering the material discharged from the outlet;

at least one injection port for connection with a syringe to fill the material delivered through the conduit;

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the ram plate is driven by a hydraulic system.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the conduit is equipped with a mesh screen filter.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the tubing is disassembled for cleaning.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the injection port opens or closes depending on the position of the sensor rod.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the injection port has a syringe fill nozzle.

7. A method for filling a syringe, the method comprising the steps of:

discharging a flowable material held within a container from an outlet by pressing the material with a ram plate that hermetically seals the container, wherein the outlet is located on the container or the ram plate;

delivering the material discharged from the outlet through a conduit;

filling a syringe connected to an injection port with the material delivered through the conduit, wherein a piston is disposed within the syringe to be linearly movable in a longitudinal direction of the syringe and seals the injected material between the injection port and the piston, wherein a sensor rod is coupled to the syringe to be movable between a spaced-apart position spaced apart from the piston and a contact position in which the piston is pressed against the piston by a weight of the sensor rod, and wherein the injection port has a needle-type valve to open and close the injection port; and then

The injection port is closed to stop injecting the material.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the ram plate is driven by a hydraulic system.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the pipe is equipped with a mesh screen filter.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the injection port is opened or closed depending on a position of the sensor rod.