EP3814240B1 - Apparatus and method for feeding an object - Google Patents

Description

State of the art

The present invention relates to a device and a method for feeding an object, in particular an object arranged in a film bag, from one room into another room.

The foil bag is in particular a closed sterile packaging. WO 2018/019785 A1 discloses a device for feeding an object, in particular an object arranged in a film bag, from one space into another space separated by a partition wall, comprising a holding device for holding the film bag, the holding device being arranged in the space, at least one feed device, to feed the object to the further space, the feeding means also being arranged in the space.

Sterile items are used extensively, particularly in the medical field. Here, for example, sterile disposable syringes are stored and transported in a sterile transport container welded into a film. To fill such disposable syringes, they must be removed from the transport container as sterile as possible. The foil packaging of the transport container is usually a welded bag which has a protruding tab made of the foil material on the side. In order to open the foil packaging, the area of the foil packaging which has the tab is completely cut off or cut. A prior art arrangement for cutting sterile packaging shows the DE 10 2007 027 878 A1 .

From the DE 10 2011 080 289 A1 a device and a method for removing a sterile object from a foil bag are already known. A needle unit with a hollow needle for piercing the foil bag is provided, a gas connection on the needle unit for blowing gas into the foil bag via the needle, a cutting device for cutting open the foil bag, a holding device for holding the foil bag and a removal device to remove the object from the foil bag. It is the object of the present invention to specify a device and a method in which increased requirements with regard to sterility can be implemented. This object is solved by the features of the independent claims.

Disclosure of Invention

In contrast, the device according to the invention and the method according to the invention for supplying an object according to the features of the independent claims have the advantage that increased requirements in terms of sterility can be met. In particular, it can be ensured that further processing of the removed object can be carried out completely in a room, for example a clean room with a higher cleanliness class, while the object is pushed over completely in a room, preferably a clean room with a lower cleanliness class, in the course of removal can. This is possible according to the invention in that a feed device is arranged in the same space as the cutting device or holding device. The feeding device is provided in order to move the object in particular in the direction of the clean room with a higher cleanliness class. In order to transfer the object from the opened packaging, the feed device is preferably arranged in the room, in particular in a clean room with a lower cleanliness class. This makes it possible for a handling unit for receiving the supplied object to remain completely in the other room, in particular a clean room, preferably with a higher cleanliness class, without coming into contact with the room, in particular a clean room with a lower cleanliness class.

According to the invention, the transfer system is arranged on the feed system. This means that the entire system can be driven by just one drive component. This simplifies the operation of the device. Furthermore, it is ensured that the object remains in the sterile packaging, for example a foil bag, for as long as possible.

According to the invention, the feed device comprises at least one feed system and at least one transfer system, which are designed to be movable both together and relative to one another. This allows the overfeed movement to be integrated into the existing feed movement. It can thus be achieved that the object still in the foil bag is brought close to the spatial boundary, in particular the clean room boundary or sterile boundary, and is only pushed over there into the wider space. This improves the sterility of the overall system. According to the invention, the transfer system is arranged on the feed system. As a result, the drive mechanism can be simplified in that, particularly preferably, only one drive component can be used to move the two systems.

According to the invention, at least one coupling means, in particular a lever mechanism, is provided which connects or releases the feed system and the overfeed system and which interacts with an actuating means. It can thus be specifically ensured that, for example, the transfer system is only set in motion when the feed system is at a standstill. This also ensures that the item remains in the sterile foil bag for as long as possible. The actuating means is particularly preferably arranged in a fixed manner relative to the feed system, and the coupling means is arranged on the feed system. In this way, the coupling means can be actuated at the same time and the standstill of the feed system can also be ensured if there is the possibility of further movement by the transfer system. This simplifies the mechanical complexity for the realization of the two functions of actuating the coupling and ensuring that the feed system is at a standstill.

In an expedient development, the feed system is connected to the holding device. As a result, the film bag with the object in it can be moved, so that the object can remain in the film bag for as long as possible. Particularly expediently, the slide-over system has at least one slide-over slide, which can now move the object out of the film bag to the further space while the film bag is still held.

In an expedient development, at least one preferably closable opening is provided between the two clean rooms, through which the object can be guided. The sterility of the arrangement can thus be further increased. It is particularly expedient for the rooms to be designed as clean rooms with different clean room classes, with the clean room in which the feed device is arranged in particular having a lower clean room class than the other clean room in which a handling unit may be arranged, which controls the further movement sequences of the supplied object in the takes over another clean room. This can ensure that the handling unit in particular does not have to leave the further clean room, so that it does not come into contact with the clean room of a lower clean room class.

Further expedient developments result from further dependent claims and from the description.

drawing

Figur 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht auf die Anordnung der beiden Reinräume von oben,

Figur 2

eine weitere perspektivische Ansicht auf die Anordnung nach Figur 1,

Figur 3

eine perspektivische Ansicht auf die Zuführeinrichtung von oben,

Figur 4

eine perspektivische Ansicht auf die Zuführeinrichtung von unten sowie

Figur 5

eine Seitenansicht bzw. Teilschnitt der Zuführeinrichtung sowie einen daraus vergrößerten Ausschnitt.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawing is:

figure 1

a perspective view of the arrangement of the two clean rooms from above,

figure 2

another perspective view of the arrangement according to Figure 1,

figure 3

a perspective view of the feeder from above,

figure 4

a perspective view of the feeder from below and

figure 5

a side view or partial section of the feeder and an enlarged detail thereof.

Preferred embodiment of the invention

In the following, with reference to the Figures 1 to 5 describes a device and a method for feeding an object in detail. As in figure 1 shown, the device 1 for removing a sterile object 2 comprises a clamping device 4, a cutting device 5, a holding device 6 and a handling unit 7. The clamping device 4 clamps a first partial area of a film bag 3. This first partial area is an outwardly protruding tab of the film bag 3 The tab runs across the entire width of the foil bag 3. The clamping device 4 comprises a first clamping roller and a second clamping roller. The two clamping rollers can clamp the flap of the film bag 3 between them or release it again. The film bag 3 consists of a plastic film.

The cutting device 5 comprises a knife 5a which is directed downwards and is horizontally movable via a rail arrangement. The knife 5a is arranged in such a way that it can cut a slit in the film bag 3.

The holding device 6 comprises an essentially square frame which has a large number of suction cups at its lower end. Furthermore, stops for positioning the object 2 are arranged on the frame. The holding device 6 is adapted to the outer shape of the object 2 . In this embodiment, the object 2 is a rectangular container in which sterile syringes or other medical devices are placed. Since the container is surrounded by the film bag 3, the suction devices of the holding device 6 grip the outer area of the film bag 3, which is directed upwards.

The arrangement also includes a transport device 8, which in this exemplary embodiment includes a first and a second circulating transport belt. The transport device 8 serves to feed the packaged object 2 to the holding device 6.

In addition, a feed device 15 is provided. This serves to feed the object 2 into the detection area of a handling unit 7 . The feed unit 15 , which will be described in more detail later, has, for example, a direction of movement 20 transverse to the transport direction of the transport device 8 .

Certain components of the arrangement are arranged in a room 9, preferably a clean room 9 with a specific cleanliness class (e.g. clean room class C), namely the clamping device 4, the cutting device 5, the holding device 6, the feed device 15 and parts of the transport device 8. The feed of the sterile object 2 to be removed in the foil bag 3 to the clean room 9 is carried out by the transport device 8.

The handling unit 7 is located in a further room 10, in particular a clean room 10. The further room 10 is separated from the room 9 by a partition wall 11. The rooms 9, 10 designed as clean rooms 9, 10 preferably have different cleanliness classes. In the exemplary embodiment, the other clean room 10 has a higher cleanliness class (e.g. clean room class A) than the clean room 9.

An opening 13 is provided in the dividing wall 11 , which allows the sterile object 2 to be fed from the clean room 9 into the other clean room 10 . The opening 13 can be seen in the figure 2 take. The opening 13 could be designed to be closable.

After the film bag 3 has been opened, the feed device 15 feeds the sterile object 2 from the clean room 9 to the further clean room 10 . If necessary, the feed device 15 moves the sterile object 2 at least partially through the opening 13 or across the clean room boundary or sterile room boundary. In any case, the feed device 15 moves the sterile object 2 into the detection range of the handling unit 7. The feed device 15 particularly preferably moves the sterile object 2 at least partially into the further clean room 10, so that the handling unit 7 can take over the Item 2 does not have to leave the further clean room 10 . The feed device 15 is arranged in the clean room 9 (with a lower clean room class).

The handling unit 7 also includes a large number of suckers and can be moved back and forth in the horizontal direction. This can be done, for example, by means of a carriage or a rail arrangement or the like, as in FIGS figures 1 and 2 indicated.

In the further clean room 10, further processing steps take place with components that are not shown in detail. In this case, for example, the still closed object 2, in which, for example, containers to be filled are arranged in a sterile manner, could be opened. In this case, for example, the cover of the object 2, for example a so-called tub, is pulled off. Then, for example, pre-sterilized nested syringes, carpules or vials can be removed from object 2 . Further processing steps such as the filling of the containers located in the object 2, in particular with pharmaceuticals, and the subsequent sealing could also take place.

In the Figures 3-5 the feeder 15 is shown in more detail. The representation according to figure 3 shows a view of the feed device 15 from above. The feeder 15 comprises a feed system 12 and a transfer system 18. The transfer system 18 is attached to the feed system 12. The feed system 12 and the transfer system 18 can be moved both together and independently of one another. As soon as the feed system 12 has reached the end position, the transfer system 18 moves the object 2 out of the film bag 3. Furthermore, the transfer system 18 transfers the object 2 to the opening 13 or through the opening 13 into the further clean room 10.

The feed system 12 comprises the holding device 6, which acts from above on the object 2 located in the film bag 3, for example by means of suction devices. The holding device 6 is a driver 17 with a Carriage 23 of the feed system 12 connected. The carriage 23 of the feed system 12 is movably mounted. At least one guide 19 is provided for this purpose. In the exemplary embodiment, the guide 19 is in the form of at least one round rod, two in the exemplary embodiment. The guide 19 is oriented in such a way that when the carriage 23 of the feed system 12 is displaced, the holder 6 is moved in the direction of the opening 13 .

The transfer system 18 comprises a carriage 21. A transfer device 16 is arranged on the carriage 21 of the transfer system 18. The carriage 21 can be non-positively connected to the feed system 12 . In the exemplary embodiment, the carriage 21 of the transfer system 18 is connected to the carriage 23 of the feed system 12 for this purpose, in particular in a displaceable and fixable manner. In addition, the drive component 14 acts on the carriage 21 of the transfer system 18 or is connected to it. In the exemplary embodiment, the pusher 16 is designed as a rod. In this case, the rod is aligned parallel to the rear edge of the object 2 . Appropriate guides can also be provided on the carriage 23 of the feed system 12 to ensure a relative movement between the carriage 21 of the transfer system 18 and the carriage 23 of the feed system 12. The transfer system 18 is arranged in the clean room 9.

The drive component 14 is part of a linear drive used as an example in the exemplary embodiment. The drive component 14 first causes a displacement of the feed system 12 together with the transfer system 18. For this purpose, the drive component 14 first moves the carriage 21 of the transfer system 18, which in turn is fixed to the carriage 23 of the feed system 12. Thus, the holding device 6 and transfer device 16 are parallel to one another moves in the direction of movement 20, towards the opening 13. The carriage 21 of the transfer system 18 finally reaches the detection range of an actuating means 22. The actuating means 22 is designed to be stationary with respect to the carriage 23 of the feed system 12.

The operation of the actuating means 22 can be figure 5 take a closer look. The carriages 21 and 23 are moved together until the actuating means 22 comes into engagement with a coupling means 24. The coupling means 24 is arranged on the carriage 23 of the feed system 12. The coupling means 24 is designed, for example, as a movable lever that is provided with a bevel that interacts with an actuation surface of the actuation means 22 . The coupling means 24 is pushed upwards by the actuating means 22 . Here, the coupling mechanism of the coupling means 24 is released and unlocked. As a result, the two carriages 21, 23 are no longer mechanically coupled to one another. The drive component 14 moves the carriage 21 of the transfer system 18 further, while a movement of the carriage 23 of the feed system 12 is prevented by the interaction between the actuating means 22 and the coupling means 24 . Thus, there is now only a further movement of the transfer system 18 with the transfer device 16, while the holding device 6 is stationary. The holding device 6 continues to act on the film bag 3 that has been cut open, in that the holding device 6 holds the film bag 3 . Meanwhile, the pusher 16 pushes the object 2 out of the foil bag 3 in the direction of movement 20 . As a result, the object 2 is pushed over through the opening 13 in the direction of the further clean room 10 . The movement of only the transfer system 18 takes place until the carriage 21 of the transfer system 18 moves against a fixed stop. This completes the process of pushing only the object 2 over it. The sliding movement of the object 2 preferably takes place until the object 2 is in the detection range of the handling device 7 . However, the handling device 7 preferably does not leave the further clean room 10 in which it is arranged. In particular, the grippers of the handling device 7 are not moved through the opening 13 into the clean room 9 . Furthermore, the pushing-over movement of the object 2 is preferably designed in such a way that the pushing-over system 18 also does not leave the clean room 9 in which it is arranged. In particular, the slide 16 also does not pass through the opening 13 into the further clean room 10 . It can thus be ensured that the further clean room 10 does not come into contact with an unnecessarily large number of components which are arranged in the clean room 9 .

The function of the device according to the invention is as follows. An object 2 packaged in a sterile manner in the film bag 3 is fed to the removal position by means of the transport device 8 . In a first step, the tab protruding laterally from the film bag 3 is then clamped by means of the clamping device 4 . In a further step, the holding device 6 is lowered. The suckers of the holding device 6 suck the upper area of the film bag 3, which may be inflated. Thus, the film bag 3 is now clamped by means of the clamping device 4 in the area of the flap and held by the holding device 6 in the upper area of the film. In a next step, the cutting device 5 is moved on the rail arrangement in such a way that the knife 5a cuts a slit in the stretched area of the film. In a next step, the clamping device 4 is lowered with the clamped tab. At the same time or subsequently, the holding device 6 is moved slightly upwards. As a result, the widest possible opening in the area of the slit in the film bag 3 is achieved.

The drive component 14 then moves the feed system 12 and the transfer system 18, which are coupled to one another. In the process, the object 2 in the film bag 3 that has been cut open is moved together with the film bag 3 in the transport direction 20 towards the opening 13 . If the coupling means 24 reaches the detection range of the actuating means 22, the coupling mechanism of the coupling means 24 is released. The drive component 14 now only moves the transfer system 18. The feed system 12 with the holding device 6 stands still. The transfer system 18 is moved further in the transport direction 20 so that the pusher 16 presses against the back of the object 2 and moves it out of the opened foil bag 13 . Meanwhile, the film bag 3 is still being held by the stationary holding device 6 . The transfer system 18 moves the object 2 into the detection area of the handling unit 7. The handling unit 7 takes over the object 2. The front side of the object 2 is already in the further clean room 10. The handling unit 7 acts on this front side, for example by means of suction devices or grippers etc in without leaving the further clean room 10 . Then the drive component moves 14 the transfer system 18 in the opposite direction. The coupling means 24 is activated again. As a result, the transfer system 18 and the feed system 12 are coupled to one another again. The drive component 14 moves both systems back to the starting position. Then the next removal or Transfer process of the next located in the foil bag 3 object 2 done.

If necessary, further modifications of the exemplary embodiments could be provided without departing from the scope of the claims.

Although the exemplary embodiment has been described on the basis of clean rooms 9, 10, the invention is generally used for the supply of an object from one room into another room. In particular, these rooms can differ in terms of different requirements, particularly with regard to cleanliness classes.

The device described is preferably used in sterile or aseptic applications, such as in the filling of pharmaceuticals or food. However, the use is not limited to this.

Claims (10)

1. Device for feeding an object (2) arranged in a film bag from a room (9), in particular a cleanroom (9), into a further room (10) separated by a partition (11), in particular a further cleanroom (10), comprising at least one holding means (6) for holding the film bag, at least one cutting device (5) for cutting open the film bag, wherein the holding means (6) and/or the cutting device (5) are arranged in the room (9), with at least one feed means (15) in order to feed the object (2) to the further room (10), wherein the feed means (15) is also arranged in the room (9), wherein the feed means (15) comprises at least one advance system (12) and at least one transfer system (18) which are designed to be movable both together and also relative to one another, wherein the transfer system (18) is arranged on the advance system (12), wherein at least one coupling means (24) is provided which interconnects or disconnects the advance system (12) and the transfer system (18), and which interacts with an actuating means (22).
2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one coupling means (24) is a lever mechanism.
3. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating means (22) is arranged so as to be fixed in relation to the advance system (12) and the coupling means (24) is arranged on the advance system (12).
4. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coupling means (24) allows a movement of the transfer system (18) only when the advance system (12) is stationary.
5. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the advance system (12) is connected to the holding means (6), in particular for moving the film bag with the object (2) located therein.
6. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transfer system (18) comprises at least one pusher (16), in particular in order to move the object (2) from the film bag to the further cleanroom (10).
7. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one drive component (14) is provided which is designed to drive both the advance system (12) and the transfer system (18).
8. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one opening (13) through which the object (2) can be passed is provided in the partition (11) between the two rooms (9, 10).
9. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rooms are designed as cleanrooms (9, 10) of different cleanroom classes, with in particular the cleanroom (9) in which the feed means (15) is arranged having a lower cleanroom class, and/or in that at least one handling unit (7) is provided which takes over the object (2) fed by the feed means (15) in the further cleanroom (10).
10. Method for feeding an object (2) arranged in a film bag from a room (9) into a further room (10) separated by a partition (11), wherein at least one holding means (6) holds the film bag, wherein at least one cutting device (5) opens the film bag, wherein the holding means (6) and/or the cutting device (5) are arranged in the room (9), wherein at least one feed means (15) is arranged in the room (9) and feeds the object (2) to the further room (10), wherein the feed means (15) comprises at least one advance system (12) and at least one transfer system (18), wherein the advance system (12) and the transfer system (18) are initially moved together to feed the object (2) located in the film bag, wherein the transfer system (18) then moves the object (2) out of the film bag for feeding it into the further room (10), wherein a coupling means (24) which is located on the advance system (12) and interconnects or disconnects the advance system (12) and the transfer system (18) is actuated in order to allow a relative movement between the advance system (12) and the transfer system (18).

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