GB2315483A - Material transfer system - Google Patents

Abstract

A material transfer system 1, particularly for the transfer of toxic and pharmaceutical powders between containers, comprises a transport container, preferably in the form of a flexible bag 2 and a substantially cuboid transfer interface. Attachment means 4 are adapted to allow the system to be attached to a glove box (60, fig. 6), an IBC or other container (70, fig. 7). The system further comprises a length of ribbon 5 installed on a cartridge 6 and forming part of the transfer interface. The ribbon 5, is formed with a series of repeating notches which indicate various stations on the ribbon. The stations, consisting of an adhesive container seal, a seal remover and an opening (53, 54, 55, fig. 5), allow the material to be transferred and allow the system to be resealed once the transfer is completed by manually advancing the ribbon from station to station. A cam is also included to make good the seal between the ribbon station, the container and the transfer interface when so aligned. Once used the system 1 is disposed of to avoid exposure and contamination.

Description

TRANSFER BAG This invention relates to a transfer bag for transferring material from one container to another, and particularly, but not exclusively, to a transfer bag for transferring toxic solid materials from an intermediate bulk container to a process container.

Many chemical and/or pharmaceutical substances are provided by a manufacturer in large drums. A company buying the substances from a manufacturer will require to either sub-divide the drums, discharge the drum contents directly into a process container, or dispense the substance(s) to a transport container of some kind.

In addition, the production of chemical pharmaceutical substances requires measured quantities of various different materials normally in powdered form to be transferred from suppliers bulk container into a process container in order to produce a chemical pharmaceutical substance having a desired composition.

The suppliers bulk container will generally be sealed with a lid and a clamp, and the contents of the drum may either be loose within the drum, or sealed within single/double tied drum liners.

Substances contained within such drums require to be transferred to handling containment drums/glove boxes or transport containers to allow safe handling. When the substance is highly toxic or is a pharmaceutical substance which may have other undesirable effects, it is of vital importance to protect the operators handling the material from exposure to the substance.

It is known to use a split butterfly valve for effecting such a transfer. The butterfly valve serves as a "moke or' break" device and is used to effect a "clean" powder transfer between a pre-weighed container and a vessel.

A disadvantage of the known butterfly valve is that it is expensive to manufacture. In addition, the butterfly valve has to be decontaminated each time that it is used on a different compound.

It is also known to use rapid transfer ports (RTP'S),to effect such a transfer. Such a system comprises pre-charged container having a rapid transfer port flange which is shaped to fit the receiving vessel or loading glove box rapid transfer port. The RTP flanged container is adapted to be docked to a dispensing glove box. With the RTP system it is necessary to use provide for operator hand access (via gloves) to allow for removal of the central doors of the rapid transfer port during connection of the transport container to the process container or vessel.

This allows powder to transfer from the container to the vessel or vice-versa.

Problems with this known method of transferring powder from an RTP flanged container to a process vessel are that the precision formed rapid transfer ports can be very expensive.

In addition the need for an intermediate glove box results in an unergonomic system. A further disadvantage is the necessity to use both the intermediate glove box and the container.

Finally, the intermediate glove box must be decontaminated each time a different compound is used.

According to the present invention there is provided a materials transfer system for transferring material from a first container to a second container, the first container comprising a first port and the second container comprising a second port, the transfer system comprising: containment means comprising a port control means and adapted to be sealingly attachable to both the first container and the second container, the containment means further comprising a third container comprising a third port; the port control means adapted to open the first port when the containment means is sealingly attached to the first container to allow transfer of material from the first container to the third container, and adapted to close both the first port and the third port after transfer has been effected; to open the second port when the containment means is sealingly attached to the second container to allow transfer of the material from the containment means to the second container and to close both the second port and the third port after transfer of material has occurred.

Thus by means of the -present invention material to be transferred from a first container to a second container is initially transferred to a third container forming part of the material transfer system of the present invention. The material contained within the third container is then subsequently transferred to the second container.

Preferably, the containment means comprises a cartridge containing a length of ribbon.

Advantageously, the length of ribbon is marked with a plurality of stations or markings appearing at regular spaced apart intervals.

Conveniently, a cam device is incorporated to force together both port faces to each side of the ribbon at a given process stage.

Preferably, the third container is in the form of a bag.

The invention will now be further described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figures 1 to 4 are schematic representations of a transfer system according to the present invention; Figure 5 is a schematic representation of the ribbon used in the transfer system of Figures 1 to 4; Figure 6 is a schematic representation of the transfer system shown in Figures 1 to 4 sealingly attached to a glove box; and Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the transfer system of Figures 1 to 4 sealingly attached to a process container.

Referring to the Figures, a transfer system according to the present invention is designated generally by the reference numeral 1. The system 1 comprises containment means 2 in the form of a flexible bag formed from, for example, low density polythene, and a housing 3 substantially cuboidal in shape.

The system 1 further comprises attachment means 4 for attaching the system 1 either to a glove box isolator for dispensing a bulk material, or to the infeed flange of a receiving container or IBC bin.

Referring to Figures 1 and 6, the bag 2 acts as a receiving bag, and the attachment means 4 is adapted to attach the containment means 2 to glove box isolator 60.

In Figure 6, the transfer system 1 is shown attached to a glove box 60. The glove box in turn is attached to an intermediate bulk container or other bulk drum 62 to allow powder from the bulk drum 62 to be transferred temporarily into the glove box 60.

The housing 3 contains both the neck of the bag 2 and one end of the attachment means 4.

The system further comprises a cam device retained in the housing 3 for compressing the port faces 2 and 4 against the ribbon strip in order to attach or detach the seal.

The system further comprises a length of ribbon 5 stored on a spool 6 in a manner similar to a cassette tape.

The ribbon 5 has been formed with a series of repeating notches or marks forming stations.

The markers are shown in more detail in Figure 5.

Station 1 designated by the reference numeral 5 comprises a high tack adhesive ring. The adhesive ring will be brought into contact with a sealing patch formed at the base of the dispensing glove box in the situation shown in Figure 1. When the glove box and the bag 2 are brought together by means of the system 1, pressure will be applied by the cam to the sealing patch of the glove box causing the adhesive ring 51 to stick to the sealing patch. The ribbon 5 will then be manually indexed forward to the next station 52. The relative movement of the adhesive ring 51 and the sealing patch on the base of the dispensing glove causes the sealing patch to be removed opening the port of the dispensing glove box. The cam is actuated again to seal both ports against the hole in the ribbon (station 52).

Station 52 is an open aperture which aligns with the now open port of the dispensing glove box. This opens the powder route between the glove box and the bag 2.

Typically the aperture 52 will be 60 to 70mm in diameter.

When the appropriate amount of powder has passed through the open route into bag 2, the cam is loosened and the ribbon is again manually indexed forward bringing stations 53 into alignment with the port of the dispensing glove box. Station 53 comprises a double sided low tack foil press. Upon application of the cam station 53 results in both the port of the dispensing glove box and the port of the bag 2 being covered with a sealing patch thus closing both ports. After sealing the cam is released.

The dispensing glove box may now be removed from the attachment means 4, and carried to a vessel or receiving process container 70 is subsequently attached to detachment means 4 as shown in Figure 7.

The ribbon is then indexed forward manually once more bringing station 54 into alignment with the ports of both the process container and the bag 2. The cam is actuated at station 54 which is a high tack adhesive ring similar to the one at station 51. The adhesive ring sticks to a sealing patch on the process container. The ribbon 5 will then be manually indexed forward to the next station 55. The relative movement of the adhesive ring 54 and the sealing patch on the base of the process container causes the sealing patch to be removed as the cam is released opening the port of the process container.

Station 55 is an open aperture which aligns with the now open port of the processed container. This opens the powder route between the bag 2 and the process container. Powder may thus transfer from the bag to the process container.

When all powder has been transferred from the bag 2 to the process container the ribbon is again manually indexed forward and the cam is actuated bringing station 56 into alignment with the ports. Station 56 comprises a double sided low tack foil disc which allows both the port of the bag and the port of the process container to be covered by a sealing patch thus closing both ports. The station 56 comprises a double sided foil patch which seals both the vessel and the top of bag when discharge is completed allowing disconnection of the bag from the container.

The system 1 may then be disposed of, thus obviating the need to clean and decontaminate the unit after use.

Although the invention has been described hereinabove in terms of containers, it is to be understood that the invention could also be used to transfer material from vessels or any other means for containing materials.

Claims (6)

1. A materials transfer system for transferring material from a first container to a second container, the first container comprising a first port and the second container comprising a second port, the transfer system comprising: containment means comprising a port control means and adapted to be sealingly attachable to both the first container and the second container, the containment means further comprising a third container comprising a third port; the port control means adapted to open the first port when the containment means is sealingly attached to the first container to allow transfer of material from the first container to the third container, and adapted to close both the first port and the third port after transfer has been effected; to open the second port when the containment means is sealingly attached to the second container to allow transfer of the material from the containment means to the second container and to close both the second port and the third port after transfer of material has occurred.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the containment means comprises a cartridge containing a length of ribbon.

3. A system according to claim 2 wherein the length of ribbon is marked with a plurality of stations or markings appearing at regular spaced apart intervals.

4. A system according to claim 2 or claim 3 further comprising a cam device which cam device is adapted to force together both port faces to each side of the ribbon at a given process stage.

5. A system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the third container is in the form of a bag.

6. A system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.