GB1214960A - Method and apparatus for ampoule transfer in automatic ampoule cleaning machine - Google Patents

Abstract

1,214,960. Washing ampoules. TANABE SEIYAKU CO. Ltd. 7 Aug., 1969 [7 Aug., 1968], No. 39595/69. Heading B8T. An automatic ampoule cleaning machine, in which ampoules a are carried and transferred in the machine by means of receiving and holding grooves A<SP>1</SP>, 6, 6<SP>1</SP> on the periphery of rotating wheels. Substantially the whole of the periphery of the conveying wheels is utilized for cleaning operations. Ampoules from a hopper and subsequently a supply wheel A are placed at the supply position in the holding grooves 6 on the conveying wheel B. The ampoules are prevented from falling from the wheel by annular rods 10 fixed by support arms 11. Needles 15 mounted on a cam-operated sliding carriage 18, arranged on a wheel F to rotate in sequence with the ampoules, enter into the ampoules as they arrive on the machine. The needles 15 are connected via flexible pipes 21, 30 with the passages 20, 28 for washing fluid and pressurized air respectively. These passages in the plate 13 of the rotating wheel abut on to the annular slide surface 14<SP>1</SP> of the fixed abutment member 14, in which surface are interrupted annular grooves 23, 27 connected to hot water, clean water and compressed air supplies which are controlled on rotation of the wheel F by the alignment of the passages 20, 28 with the grooves. At the start of the washing cycle hot water is forced into the ampoules through the needles 15 as the ampoules move round on the wheel and are immersed in a hot water cleaning bath H and subjected to ultrasonic vibrations. As they leave the bath, the hot water supply is discontinued and compressed air and clean water applied through the needles. Before the ampoules arrive back at the starting position the water supply is discontinued and the compressed air blows out the remaining water at which point ampoules become aligned with a hole 9 in a fixed plate 8 which divides the rotating wheel B into two parts. The ampoules are forced through the hole by the compressed air which is then switched off. The ampoules now held in the slots 6<SP>1</SP> of the wheel B are transferred by a wheel D into a drying wheel C similar in operation to that described above except that heated air is supplied to a continuous groove in the corresponding slide surface.