EP0401103B1 - Device for the automatic control of filling failures in packaging machines - Google Patents
Device for the automatic control of filling failures in packaging machines Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0401103B1 EP0401103B1 EP90401420A EP90401420A EP0401103B1 EP 0401103 B1 EP0401103 B1 EP 0401103B1 EP 90401420 A EP90401420 A EP 90401420A EP 90401420 A EP90401420 A EP 90401420A EP 0401103 B1 EP0401103 B1 EP 0401103B1
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- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
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- equal
- film
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- 238000004806 packaging method and process Methods 0.000 title claims description 18
- 239000011159 matrix material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 21
- 238000011084 recovery Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 8
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 7
- 230000004888 barrier function Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 4
- 238000000605 extraction Methods 0.000 claims description 8
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000005520 cutting process Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 230000001413 cellular effect Effects 0.000 claims 6
- 208000031968 Cadaver Diseases 0.000 description 13
- 235000012431 wafers Nutrition 0.000 description 12
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 6
- 239000003814 drug Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000006870 function Effects 0.000 description 3
- 229910052782 aluminium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminium Chemical compound [Al] XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 230000002950 deficient Effects 0.000 description 2
- 229940079593 drug Drugs 0.000 description 2
- 230000008030 elimination Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000003379 elimination reaction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000002699 waste material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000003466 welding Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000004677 Nylon Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920005830 Polyurethane Foam Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000004809 Teflon Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920006362 Teflon® Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 241001080024 Telles Species 0.000 description 1
- 239000002775 capsule Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000009508 confectionery Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000006073 displacement reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000008298 dragée Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004811 fluoropolymer Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920002313 fluoropolymer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000012528 membrane Substances 0.000 description 1
- QSHDDOUJBYECFT-UHFFFAOYSA-N mercury Chemical compound [Hg] QSHDDOUJBYECFT-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910052753 mercury Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920001778 nylon Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 210000000056 organ Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 239000004417 polycarbonate Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920000515 polycarbonate Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000011496 polyurethane foam Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000035939 shock Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000003860 storage Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005303 weighing Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B57/00—Automatic control, checking, warning, or safety devices
- B65B57/10—Automatic control, checking, warning, or safety devices responsive to absence, presence, abnormal feed, or misplacement of articles or materials to be packaged
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B69/00—Unpacking of articles or materials, not otherwise provided for
Definitions
- the present invention relates to the automatic packaging of objects, the packaging of which is done by welding a flat film onto a matrix comprising cells previously filled with said objects.
- the invention relates to a device which can be inserted on an automatic packaging line, in particular in the pharmaceutical industry, and intended to eliminate and possibly recycle objects which have not been packaged according to the standards provided.
- a honeycomb matrix generally made of PVC, runs in the form of a continuous film between transport rollers.
- One or more distributors located above the film fill the cells corresponding to the content of successive plates, the number of cells per plate being determined at the start according to the desired packaging.
- a sealing film generally made of aluminum, sticks to said matrix, thus trapping the tablets.
- the various successive plates are then checked by a detection barrier, cut and packaged after elimination of the badly filled plates.
- German patent DE-A-1 955 359 describes a system for filling a wafer and controlling it by means of a fixed suction system.
- a device intended to automatically manage the incidents of filling of the wafers obtained by sealing a film on a honeycomb matrix filled with the products to be packaged which is interposed between the automatic barrier detecting the anomalies filling and sealing of the film, and which comprises the combination of a suction system A intended to completely empty the badly filled wafers and a system of recovery B connected to the suction system allowing the contents of the empty platelets to be collected under mild conditions and temporarily stored.
- Systems A and B cooperate together for the final result, which is the automatic management of filling incidents on a packaging line without reducing the production rate, without increasing the cost and with high reliability.
- This hopper shown in Figure 1, essentially comprises two zones 20 and 21 separated by a flexible wall 22 permeable to air, a drain flap 23, an inlet pipe 24 connected to the outlet pipe 19 of the device d 'suction described above by a pipe 25 and an outlet pipe 26 connected to a central vacuum (not shown in the figure).
- the device described above operates in the following manner: With the suction unit in operation, a vacuum is created through the assembly constituted by the recovery system B, the flexible pipe 25 and the suction system A, the air entering the device through the recess in the part 13 of the suction system.
- the flap 7 is in the low position.
- the air current created by the depression rushes through the passage 14 into the openings 6 and 8 which are coincidentally.
- the detector responsible for checking the contents of the wafers which can be a memory image analyzer, detects a filling anomaly, the signal taken in the step of the machine triggers a relay which actuates the jack 10.
- the shutter 7 then lifts; the slot 6 is closed by the lower part 9 of the flap 7.
- the air flow created by the depression then rushes through the passage 15 and the slot 4. All the tablets which are presented in line opposite the space 17 are sucked in by suction.
- the signal sent to the jack 10 is programmed and maintained so that all the tablets corresponding to a complete wafer are eliminated. The latter are conveyed through the flexible pipe 25 to the recovery hopper where their race ends after being damped on the flexible wall 22.
- the honeycomb matrix continues its advancement until the content of a new wafer be examined by the detector. If the new plate is correctly filled, the signal resulting from the control actuates the jack and causes the shutter 7 to descend. The packaging chain then resumes its normal operation.
- the honeycomb matrix is then closed by welding the aluminum flat film and then cut to the dimensions of the wafer.
- the reliability of the device which constitutes one of the main advantages of the system is ensured on the one hand by the very short response time of the jacks to the order of opening or closing of the flaps 7, on the other hand by the power that conditions the speed and quality of tablet extraction.
- cylinders with low response times are used, for example cylinders which can respond to stresses of the order of 600 strokes per minute (300 back and forth). Given the length of the plates (5 to 10 cm), such a rate corresponds to a scrolling of the honeycomb matrix from 25 to 50 cm / sec, which is much higher than the operating speed of current packaging machines.
- the suction power is a function of the characteristics of the tablets (weight, size, shape), the speed of travel of the blister matrix and the pressure drops in the device.
- a depression of 270 mm of mercury is sufficient to carry out a total extraction, reliably, when the rate of the machine is adjusted at 400 cells per minute on 8 front tracks.
- the device as described above in its organs and its functions constitutes the basis of the invention. It is likely to present particularities of execution which make its operation easier or its realization more economical. Thus, it is particularly interesting to choose the materials according to mechanical needs.
- the flaps 7 which must slide freely between the parts 1 and 5 are preferably made of a material which does not seize up, which does not erode under the conditions of use and which does not need to be lubricated in order to 'Avoid possible pollution of the tablets.
- These shutters can preferably be made of a material based on fluoropolymer such as Teflon (N.D. Dupont) or polycarbonate or nylon.
- the part 13 can be machined from a similar material, as can the lower part 3 of the body of the device. The use of these materials in particular facilitates the sliding of the tablets during extraction.
- the shape of the pieces can vary within wide limits, but it is It is obvious that a person skilled in the art will have every interest in getting as close as possible to the optimal conditions which govern the flow of fluids and solids.
- the angle formed by the base 3 of the body of the device with the horizontal plane can vary between 35 and 70 °, but it is preferably close to 45 °.
- the angle formed by the base of the part 13 with the horizontal plane can be variable, but it is preferably close to 25 °.
- the bar 16 preferably has a triangular profile as shown in FIG. 2 in order to facilitate the displacement of the suction air stream which flows either along the path 15 (extraction of the tablets) or along the path 14, 6, 8 and 4 (normal operation).
- the connection of the slot 4 of the body of the device with the extraction chamber 18 must be such that the tablets do not meet sharp angles but on the contrary curved surfaces which facilitate their smooth evacuation.
- the wall 22 must be such that the end of the stroke of the tablets is cushioned to avoid breaking them.
- This wall may consist, for example, of a stretched elastic membrane, pierced with holes large enough to allow air to pass and small enough to retain the tablets.
- this wall 22 can be rigid, for example a metal wall pierced with large holes to let air pass and covered with a flexible and porous mattress, for example a polyurethane foam or a similar material having the same function.
- the suction and recovery-storage system therefore makes it possible to automate the packaging chain and to obtain, without stopping the chain and without additional handling, i) correctly filled wafers which are packaged, ii) completely empty platelets which are discarded and burned; and iii) recovered tablets.
- the device according to the invention can be coupled to a sorting system which makes it possible to separate the good tablets from those which are broken or deteriorated.
- the sorting system can be constituted by any known device adapted to the nature and shape of the tablets or of the objects to be sorted. It can be a simple grid vibrator whose mesh size is calculated to allow the elimination of objects not having the required dimensions.
- the present invention is primarily suitable for packaging machines for medicines, but it is obvious that it can find application in other fields such as the packaging of foodstuffs such as confectionery or even the packaging of small objects used in hardware.
- the invention applies to any packaging using the principle of trapping objects between a honeycomb matrix and a film serving as a seal.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Basic Packing Technique (AREA)
- Injection Moulding Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)
- Auxiliary Devices For And Details Of Packaging Control (AREA)
- Financial Or Insurance-Related Operations Such As Payment And Settlement (AREA)
- Fittings On The Vehicle Exterior For Carrying Loads, And Devices For Holding Or Mounting Articles (AREA)
Abstract
Description
La présente invention se rapporte au conditionnement automatique d'objets dont l'emballage se fait par soudure d'un film plan sur une matrice comportant des alvéoles préalablement remplies avec lesdits objets.The present invention relates to the automatic packaging of objects, the packaging of which is done by welding a flat film onto a matrix comprising cells previously filled with said objects.
Plus particulièrement, l'invention concerne un dispositif pouvant s'intercaler sur une chaîne de conditionnement automatique, notamment dans l'industrie pharmaceutique, et destiné à éliminer et éventuellement à recycler les objets qui n'auraient pas été conditionnés selon les normes prévues.More particularly, the invention relates to a device which can be inserted on an automatic packaging line, in particular in the pharmaceutical industry, and intended to eliminate and possibly recycle objects which have not been packaged according to the standards provided.
On sait en effet que dans l'industrie pharmaceutique un certain nombre de formes galéniques telles que gellules, dragées, cachets, etc..., que nous désignerons par la suite du terme générique de "comprimés", sont conditionnés dans des plaquettes contenant plusieurs doses unitaires de médicament. Le remplissage de ces plaquettes s'effectue de la manière suivante: Une matrice alvéolée, généralement en PVC, défile sous forme de film continu entre des rouleaux transporteurs. Un ou plusieurs distributeurs situés au-dessus du film remplissent les alvéoles correspondant au contenu de plaquettes successives, le nombre d'alvéoles par plaquette étant déterminé au départ selon le conditionnement souhaité. La matrice alvéolée continuant à avancer, un film d'obturation, généralement en aluminium, vient se coller sur ladite matrice, emprisonnant ainsi les comprimés. Les différentes plaquettes successives sont ensuite vérifiées par une barrière de détection, découpées et empaquetées après élimination des plaquettes mal remplies. En effet, pour un certain nombre de raisons, des incidents relativement fréquents se produisent au niveau des distributeurs et font que certaines plaquettes sont incomplètement remplies, ce qui oblige, comme il vient d'être dit, à retirer ces plaquettes de la chaîne de conditionnement et, soit à recycler les comprimés après les avoir extraits des plaquettes défectueuses, manuellement ou avec une machine spéciale, soit à incinérer ces plaquettes, ce qui se traduit soit par une perte de temps soit par un gaspillage de médicament et, dans les deux cas, par une augmentation du prix de revient.It is known in fact that in the pharmaceutical industry a certain number of pharmaceutical forms such as capsules, dragees, cachets, etc ..., which we will designate below by the generic term of "tablets", are packaged in blister packs containing several unit doses of medication. These wafers are filled as follows: A honeycomb matrix, generally made of PVC, runs in the form of a continuous film between transport rollers. One or more distributors located above the film fill the cells corresponding to the content of successive plates, the number of cells per plate being determined at the start according to the desired packaging. As the honeycomb matrix continues to advance, a sealing film, generally made of aluminum, sticks to said matrix, thus trapping the tablets. The various successive plates are then checked by a detection barrier, cut and packaged after elimination of the badly filled plates. Indeed, for a number of reasons, relatively frequent incidents occur at the dispenser level and cause certain plates to be incompletely filled, which means, as has just been said, to remove these plates from the packaging line. and either to recycle the tablets after having extracted them from defective wafers, manually or with a special machine, or to incinerate these wafers, which results either in a waste of time or in a waste of medicine and, in both cases , by an increase in the cost price.
Dans le brevet allemand DE-A-1 955 359 est décrit un système pour le remplissage d'une plaquette et son contrôle au moyen d'un système d'aspiration fixe.German patent DE-A-1 955 359 describes a system for filling a wafer and controlling it by means of a fixed suction system.
Il a maintenant été trouvé un dispositif (représenté sur la figure 1) destiné à gérer automatiquement les incidents de remplissage des plaquettes obtenues par scellement d'un film sur une matrice alvéolée remplie des produits à conditionner qui est intercalé entre la barrière automatique détectant les anomalies de remplissage et le scellement du film, et qui comprend la combinaison d'un système d'aspiration A destiné à vider complètement les plaquettes mal remplies et d'un système de récupération B relié au système d'aspiration permettant de recueillir dans des conditions douces le contenu des plaquettes vidées et de le stocker provisoirement. Les systèmes A et B coopèrent ensemble en vue du résultat final qui est la gestion automatique des incidents de remplissage sur une chaîne de conditionnement sans diminution de la cadence de production, sans augmentation du coût et avec une grande fiabilité.A device has now been found (represented in FIG. 1) intended to automatically manage the incidents of filling of the wafers obtained by sealing a film on a honeycomb matrix filled with the products to be packaged which is interposed between the automatic barrier detecting the anomalies filling and sealing of the film, and which comprises the combination of a suction system A intended to completely empty the badly filled wafers and a system of recovery B connected to the suction system allowing the contents of the empty platelets to be collected under mild conditions and temporarily stored. Systems A and B cooperate together for the final result, which is the automatic management of filling incidents on a packaging line without reducing the production rate, without increasing the cost and with high reliability.
L'aspiration des comprimés s'effectue grâce au dispositif d'aspiration représenté schématiquement à la figure 2 et qui constitue la particularité essentielle de l'invention. Ce dispositif d'aspiration est caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend:
- i) un corps 1 monté sur la chaîne de conditionnement de telle manière que la matrice alvéolée 2 déjà remplie de comprimés défile librement dans le sens de défilement du film au contact de sa partie inférieure 3, ledit corps 1 présentant sur toute son épaisseur dans le sens de défilement du film à sa partie inférieure une
fente 4 ascendante à partir de la base du corps de longueur au moins égale à la largeur de la matrice alvéolée, - ii) une plaque 5 fixée au corps 1 et présentant une
fente 6 de longueur au moins égale à la largeur de la matrice alvéolée, - iii) un ou plusieurs volets 7 pouvant coulisser verticalement entre le corps 1 et la plaque 5, et présentant une
fente 8 de longueur au moins égale à la largeur d'une plaquette de comprimés après découpage, laditefente 8 étant située au-dessus d'une partie pleine 9, - iv) un ou plusieurs
vérins 10 dont latige 11 est assujettie aux différents volets 7 par des moyens defixation 12, lesdits vérins permettant aux volets 7 d'occuper deux positions : d'une part une position basse (représentée sur la figure 2) dans laquelle la base de la partie pleine 9 se trouve au même niveau que la base de la partie inférieure 3 du corps de l'appareil, les fentes étant alors en regard les unes des autres, et d'autre part une position haute dans laquelle un passage pour les produits est découvert entre labase 3 du corps de l'appareil et la base de la partie pleine 9 du volet qui vient en regard de lafente 6 de la plaque 5, - v) une
avancée 13 fixée au corps 1 par-dessus la plaque 5 et présentant intérieurement un évidement de longueur au moins égale à la largeur de la matrice alvéolée, ledit évidement étant séparé en deux zones superposées 14 et 15 par unebarre 16 située en regard de la partie inférieure de lafente 6 et sur toute sa longueur, la base de laditeavancée 13 étant au même niveau que la partie basse 3 du corps de l'appareil, l'avancée 13 et la partie inférieure ducorps 3 délimitant un espace libre 17 de longueur au moins égale à la largeur de la matrice alvéolée et de largeur égale à une alvéole, - vi) une chambre d'extraction creuse 18 solidaire du corps 1, présentant sur la surface en contact avec le corps 1 une fente de même dimension que la
fente 4 dudit corps 1, et débouchant à l'extérieur par une tubulure de sortie 19 (représentée sur la figure 2 en coupe sous forme cylindrique).
- i) a body 1 mounted on the packaging line so that the
blister matrix 2 already filled with tablets moves freely in the direction of travel of the film in contact with itslower part 3, said body 1 having over its entire thickness in the direction of travel of the film at its lower part anupward slit 4 from the base of the body of length at least equal to the width of the honeycomb matrix, - ii) a plate 5 fixed to the body 1 and having a
slot 6 of length at least equal to the width of the honeycomb matrix, - iii) one or more flaps 7 capable of sliding vertically between the body 1 and the plate 5, and having a
slot 8 of length at least equal to the width of a tablet plate after cutting, saidslot 8 being located above d 'afull game 9, - iv) one or
more cylinders 10, therod 11 of which is subject to the various flaps 7 by fixing means 12, said cylinders allowing the flaps 7 to occupy two positions: on the one hand, a low position (represented in FIG. 2) in which the base of thesolid part 9 is at the same level as the base of thelower part 3 of the body of the device, the slots then being opposite one another, and on the other hand a high position in which a passage for the products is discovered between thebase 3 of the body of the apparatus and the base of thesolid part 9 of the flap which comes opposite theslot 6 of the plate 5, - v) a
projection 13 fixed to the body 1 over the plate 5 and internally having a recess of length at least equal to the width of the honeycomb, said recess being separated into two 14 and 15 by asuperimposed zones bar 16 located in look at the lower part of theslot 6 and over its entire length, the base of saidprojection 13 being at the same level as thelower part 3 of the body of the device, theprojection 13 and the lower part of thebody 3 defining afree space 17 of length at least equal to the width of the honeycomb matrix and of width equal to a cell, - vi) a
hollow extraction chamber 18 integral with the body 1, having on the surface in contact with the body 1 a slot of the same dimension as theslot 4 of said body 1, and opening to the outside via an outlet pipe 19 ( shown in Figure 2 in section in cylindrical form).
La récupération des comprimés s'effectue au moyen d'une trémie qui constitue une autre caractéristique de l'invention. Cette trémie, représentée à la figure 1, comporte essentiellement deux zones 20 et 21 séparées par une paroi souple 22 perméable à l'air, une trappe de vidange 23, une tubulure d'entrée 24 reliée à la tubulure de sortie 19 du dispositif d'aspiration décrit précédemment par un tuyau 25 et une tubulure de sortie 26 reliée à une centrale d'aspiration (non représentée sur la figure).The recovery of the tablets is carried out by means of a hopper which constitutes another characteristic of the invention. This hopper, shown in Figure 1, essentially comprises two
Le dispositif décrit précédemment fonctionne de la manière suivante: La centrale d'aspiration étant en fonctionnement, une dépression est créée à travers l'ensemble constitué par le système de récupération B, le tuyau souple 25 et le système d'aspiration A, l'air entrant dans le dispositif par l'évidement pratiqué dans la pièce 13 du système d'aspiration. Le volet 7 est en position basse. Le courant d'air créé par la dépression s'engouffre par le passage 14 dans les ouvertures 6 et 8 qui se trouvent en coincidence. Lorsqu'à un moment du cycle de conditionnement, le détecteur chargé de vérifier le contenu des plaquettes, qui peut être un analyseur d'images à mémoire, décèle une anomalie de remplissage, le signal pris dans le pas de la machine déclenche un relai qui actionne le vérin 10. Le volet 7 se soulève alors; la fente 6 se trouve fermée par la partie inférieure 9 du volet 7. Le courant d'air créé par la dépression s'engouffre alors par le passage 15 et la fente 4. Tous les comprimés qui se présentent en ligne en regard de l'espace 17 se trouvent happés par aspiration. Le signal envoyé au vérin 10 est programmé et maintenu de manière que tous les comprimés correspondant à une plaquette complète se trouvent éliminés. Ces derniers sont véhiculés à travers le tuyau souple 25 jusqu'à la trémie de récupération où leur course se termine après avoir été amortie sur la paroi souple 22. La matrice alvéolée poursuit son avancement jusqu'à ce que le contenu d'une nouvelle plaquette soit examiné par le détecteur. Si la nouvelle plaquette est correctement remplie, le signal résultant du contrôle actionne le vérin et provoque la descente du volet 7. La chaîne de conditionnement reprend alors sa marche normale. La matrice alvéolée est ensuite fermée par soudure du film plan en aluminium puis découpée aux dimensions de la plaquette. Ainsi, après découpe, on obtient soit des plaquettes correctement remplies soit des plaquettes complètement vides. Celle-ci sont naturellement écartées de la chaîne de conditionnement et détruites. Les comprimés ainsi extraits des plaquettes défectueuses sont stockés dans le fond de la trémie de récupération. La trappe 23 permet de les reprendre et de les envoyer par exemple sur un dispositif de tri C afin de séparer éventuellement les comprimés cassés et recycler les comprimés intacts.The device described above operates in the following manner: With the suction unit in operation, a vacuum is created through the assembly constituted by the recovery system B, the
La fiabilité du dispositif qui constitue l'un des principaux avantages du système est assuré d'une part par le temps de réponse très court des vérins à l'ordre d'ouverture ou de fermeture des volets 7, d'autre part par la puissance d'aspiration qui conditionne la vitesse et la qualité d'extraction des comprimés.The reliability of the device which constitutes one of the main advantages of the system is ensured on the one hand by the very short response time of the jacks to the order of opening or closing of the flaps 7, on the other hand by the power that conditions the speed and quality of tablet extraction.
Dans la pratique, on utilise des vérins à faible temps de réponse, par exemple des vérins pouvant répondre à des sollicitations de l'ordre de 600 coups par minute (300 allers et retours). Compte tenu de la longueur des plaquettes (5 à 10 cm), une telle cadence correspond à un défilement de la matrice alvéolée de 25 à 50 cm/sec, ce qui est très supérieur à la vitesse de fonctionnement des machines à conditionnement courantes.In practice, cylinders with low response times are used, for example cylinders which can respond to stresses of the order of 600 strokes per minute (300 back and forth). Given the length of the plates (5 to 10 cm), such a rate corresponds to a scrolling of the honeycomb matrix from 25 to 50 cm / sec, which is much higher than the operating speed of current packaging machines.
La puissance d'aspiration est fonction des caractériques des comprimés (poids, taille, forme), de la vitesse de défilement de la matrice alvéolée et des pertes de charge dans le dispositif. Pour des comprimés circulaires de 14 mm de diamètre et de 4,5 mm d'épaisseur, pesant 76 mg, une dépression de 270 mm de mercure est suffisante pour effectuer une extraction totale, de manière fiable, lorsque la cadence de la machine est réglée à 400 alvéoles par minutes sur 8 voies de front.The suction power is a function of the characteristics of the tablets (weight, size, shape), the speed of travel of the blister matrix and the pressure drops in the device. For
Le dispositif tel que décrit précédement dans ses organes et ses fonctions constitue la base de l'invention. Il est susceptible de présenter des particularités d'exécution qui rendent son fonctionnement plus aisé ou sa réalisation plus économique. Ainsi, il est particulièrement intéressant de choisir les matériaux en fonction des nécessités mécaniques. Les volets 7 qui doivent coulisser librement entre les pièces 1 et 5 sont de préférence réalisés en un matériau qui ne grippe pas, qui ne s'érode pas dans les conditions d'emploi et qui n'ait pas besoin d'être lubrifié afin d'éviter la pollution éventuelle des comprimés. Ces volets peuvent être réalisés de préférence en un matériau à base de polymère fluoré tel que le Téflon (N.D. Dupont) ou de polycarbonate ou de nylon. Pour des facilités de réalisation, la pièce 13 pourra être usinée en un matériau similaire, de même que la partie inférieure 3 du corps de l'appareil. L'emploi de ces matériaux facilite notamment le glissement des comprimés lors de l'extraction.The device as described above in its organs and its functions constitutes the basis of the invention. It is likely to present particularities of execution which make its operation easier or its realization more economical. Thus, it is particularly interesting to choose the materials according to mechanical needs. The flaps 7 which must slide freely between the parts 1 and 5 are preferably made of a material which does not seize up, which does not erode under the conditions of use and which does not need to be lubricated in order to 'Avoid possible pollution of the tablets. These shutters can preferably be made of a material based on fluoropolymer such as Teflon (N.D. Dupont) or polycarbonate or nylon. For ease of production, the
La forme des pièces peut varier dans de larges mesures, mais il est évident que l'homme du métier aura tout intérêt à se rapprocher le plus possible des conditions optimales qui régissent l'écoulement des fluides et des solides. C'est ainsi que l'angle que forme la base 3 du corps de l'appareil avec le plan horizontal peut varier entre 35 et 70°, mais il est de préférence voisin de 45°. De même, l'angle que forme la base de la pièce 13 avec le plan horizontal peut être variable, mais il est de préférence voisin de 25°. La barre 16 a de préférence un profil triangulaire comme représenté sur la figure 2 afin de faciliter le déplacement du courant d'air d'aspiration qui s'écoule soit selon le trajet 15 (extraction des comprimés) soit selon le trajet 14, 6, 8 et 4 (marche normale).The shape of the pieces can vary within wide limits, but it is It is obvious that a person skilled in the art will have every interest in getting as close as possible to the optimal conditions which govern the flow of fluids and solids. Thus the angle formed by the
Si l'on veut non seulement extraire les comprimés des plaquettes mal remplies mais également pouvoir recycler ces comprimés, il est nécessaire que ceux-ci ne subissent pas en cours de transfert de chocs susceptibles de les briser ou de les endommager. Ainsi, le raccordement de la fente 4 du corps de l'appareil avec la chambre d'extraction 18 doit être tel que les comprimés ne rencontrent pas d'angles vifs mais au contraire des surfaces courbes qui facilitent leur évacuation en douceur. De même, et c'est ce qui fait la caractéristique principale de la trémie B, la paroi 22 doit être telle que la fin de la course des comprimés soit amortie pour éviter de les briser. Cette paroi peut être constituée par exemple d'une membrane élastique tendue, percée de trous suffisamment gros pour laisser passer l'air et suffisamment petits pour retenir les comprimés. Avantageusement, cette paroi 22 peut être rigide, par exemple une paroi métallique percée de gros trous pour laisser passer l'air et recouverte d'un matelas souple et poreux, par exemple une mousse de polyuréthane ou un matériau similaire ayant la même fonction.If one wants not only to extract the tablets from the badly filled plates but also to be able to recycle these tablets, it is necessary that they do not undergo during transfer of shocks likely to break or damage them. Thus, the connection of the
Selon l'invention, le système d'aspiration et de récupération-stockage permet donc d'automatiser la chaîne de conditionnement et d'obtenir sans arrêt de la chaîne et sans manipulations supplémentaires i) des plaquettes correctement remplies qui sont empaquetées, ii) des plaquettes complètement vides qui sont éliminées et brûlées et iii) des comprimés récupérés.According to the invention, the suction and recovery-storage system therefore makes it possible to automate the packaging chain and to obtain, without stopping the chain and without additional handling, i) correctly filled wafers which are packaged, ii) completely empty platelets which are discarded and burned; and iii) recovered tablets.
Si on le désire, le dispositif selon l'invention peut être couplé à un système de tri qui permet de séparer les bons comprimés de ceux qui sont cassés ou détériorés. Le système de tri peut être constitué par tout dispositif connu adapté à la nature et à la forme des comprimés ou des objets à trier. Ce peut être un simple vibreur à grille dont la grandeur de maille est calculée pour permettre l'élimination des objets n'ayant pas les dimensions requises.If desired, the device according to the invention can be coupled to a sorting system which makes it possible to separate the good tablets from those which are broken or deteriorated. The sorting system can be constituted by any known device adapted to the nature and shape of the tablets or of the objects to be sorted. It can be a simple grid vibrator whose mesh size is calculated to allow the elimination of objects not having the required dimensions.
La présente invention convient en tout premier lieu aux machines de conditionnement pour les médicaments, mais il est bien évident qu'elle peut trouver application dans d'autres domaines tels que l'emballage de denrées alimentaires comme la confiserie ou même l'emballage de petits objets utilisés en quincaillerie. D'une manière générale, l'invention s'applique à tout conditionnement utilisant le principe de l'emprisonnement des objets entre une matrice alvéolée et un film servant d'opercule.The present invention is primarily suitable for packaging machines for medicines, but it is obvious that it can find application in other fields such as the packaging of foodstuffs such as confectionery or even the packaging of small objects used in hardware. In general, the invention applies to any packaging using the principle of trapping objects between a honeycomb matrix and a film serving as a seal.
Claims (2)
- Device intended to control automatically the filling failures of packs obtained by sealing a film over a cellular matrix filled with products to be packed, which is interposed between an automatic barrier detecting anomalies of filling and sealing of the film, comprising the combination of a suction system intended completely to empty the poorly filled packs and of a recovery system connected to the suction system making it possible to collect the content of the emptied packs and store it temporarily, characterised in that the suction system comprises:i) a body (1) mounted on the packaging line so that the already-filled cellular matrix (2) progresses freely in the direction of progression of the film in contact with its lower part (3), the said body (1) having, over its entire thickness in the direction of progression of the film at its lower part, a slit (4) which rises up from the base of the body whose length is at least equal to the width of the cellular matrix,ii) a plate (5) fixed to the body (1) and having a slit (6) whose length is at least equal to the width of the cellular matrix,iii) one or more flaps (7) which can slide vertically between the body (1) and the plate (5) and having a slit (8) whose length is at least equal to the width of a pack of tablets after cutting, the said slit (8) being located above a solid part (9),iv) one or more thrust cylinders (10) whose rod (11) is rigidly attached to the various flaps (7) by fixing means (12), the said thrust cylinders allowing the flaps (7) to occupy two positions: on the one hand, a low position in which the base of the solid part (9) is at the same level as the base of the lower part (3) of the body of the appliance, the slits then being opposite one another, and, on the other hand, a high position in which a passage for the products is uncovered between the base (3) of the body of the appliance and the base of the solid part (9) of the flap which comes opposite the slit (6) of the plate (5),v) a leader (13) fixed to the body (1) above the plate (5) and internally having a recess whose length is at least equal to the width of the cellular matrix, the said recess being divided into two superimposed zones (14 and 15) by a bar (16) located opposite the lower part of the slit (6) and over its entire length, the base of the said leader (13) being at the same level as the bottom part (3) of the body of the appliance, the leader (13) and the lower part (3) of the body bounding a free space (17) whose length is at least equal to the width of the cellular matrix and whose width is equal to one cell,vi) a hollow extraction chamber (18) integral with the body (1), having, on the surface in contact with the body (1), a slit of the same size as the slit (4) of the said body (1), and opening up to the outside via an outlet connection (19).
- Device according to Claim 1, characterised in that the recovery system essentially includes two zones (20 and 21) divided by a flexible air-permeable wall (22), an emptying hatch (23), an inlet connection (24) connected to the outlet connection (19) of the suction system by a pipe (25) and an outlet connection (26) connected to a suction unit.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
AT90401420T ATE97870T1 (en) | 1989-05-30 | 1990-05-29 | DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC MANAGEMENT OF FILLING ERRORS IN PACKAGING MACHINES. |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
FR8907100 | 1989-05-30 | ||
FR8907100A FR2647750B1 (en) | 1989-05-30 | 1989-05-30 | DEVICE FOR THE AUTOMATIC MANAGEMENT OF FILLING INCIDENTS ON PACKAGING MACHINES |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0401103A1 EP0401103A1 (en) | 1990-12-05 |
EP0401103B1 true EP0401103B1 (en) | 1993-12-01 |
Family
ID=9382170
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP90401420A Expired - Lifetime EP0401103B1 (en) | 1989-05-30 | 1990-05-29 | Device for the automatic control of filling failures in packaging machines |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0401103B1 (en) |
AT (1) | ATE97870T1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE69004862T2 (en) |
FR (1) | FR2647750B1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5442892A (en) * | 1994-01-14 | 1995-08-22 | Glaxo Inc. | System for facilitate recycling goods from defective packages on a blister packaging machine |
FR2737468B1 (en) * | 1995-08-03 | 1997-12-26 | Chalmet Patrice | DEVICE FOR THE EXTRACTION OF THE CONTENTS OF THE CELLS FROM A PACKAGING PLATE IN A PACKAGING INSTALLATION |
Family Cites Families (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE1955359C3 (en) * | 1969-11-04 | 1980-01-17 | E. Th. Noack, Verpackungsmaschinen, 7500 Karlsruhe | Device for packaging tablets and the like |
-
1989
- 1989-05-30 FR FR8907100A patent/FR2647750B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1990
- 1990-05-29 DE DE90401420T patent/DE69004862T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1990-05-29 AT AT90401420T patent/ATE97870T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1990-05-29 EP EP90401420A patent/EP0401103B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DE69004862D1 (en) | 1994-01-13 |
FR2647750B1 (en) | 1991-09-06 |
EP0401103A1 (en) | 1990-12-05 |
DE69004862T2 (en) | 1994-04-28 |
ATE97870T1 (en) | 1993-12-15 |
FR2647750A1 (en) | 1990-12-07 |
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