IT201600099436A1 - PACKAGING MACHINE FOR EXAMPLE FOR PHARMACEUTICAL CLOSURES, AND SYSTEM INCLUDING THIS MACHINE. - Google Patents

Description

PACKAGING MACHINE FOR EXAMPLE FOR PHARMACEUTICAL CLOSURES, AND PLANT INCLUDING THIS MACHINE

Field of the invention

[1] The present invention relates to a packaging machine, possibly located in a clean room, particularly suitable for making pharmaceutical closures with automatic operation, for example at the outlet of a washing and / or sterilization process.

State of the art

[2] Machines for washing and / or sterilizing pharmaceutical closures such as rubber stoppers, metal ferrules, pipettes, gaskets, etc. are currently known.

[3] In particular, machines are known in which the objects to be treated are subjected to washing action by means of hot water and detergent, subsequent sterilization with clean saturated steam and drying by means of hot air.

[4] Examples of these known machines are described for example in the publications DE3841930 and US3853622 or in the Italian patent application n ° PN94A000017.

[5] It is currently known to pack a large quantity of objects to be treated in pre-formed bags, which are also previously sterilized, such as, for example, caps and ring nuts for pharmaceutical bottles previously washed and / or sterilized in a machine of the type in question.

[6] A first object of the present invention is to provide a packaging unit capable of sealing, or in any case closing, in bags or pouches the products treated in a sterilizing or washing machine, such as for example caps and rings for pharmaceutical bottles, that minimizes the risks of contaminating the products themselves.

[7] A second object of the present invention is to provide a packaging unit of the aforesaid type, which is less bulky and / or more ergonomic than known packaging units for currently known washing and / or sterilizing machines.

Summary of the invention

[8] This first object is achieved, in a first aspect of the present invention, with a packaging machine having the characteristics according to claim 1.

This second object is achieved, in a second aspect of the present invention, with a packaging machine having the characteristics according to claim 2.

[9] In a particular embodiment of the machine (1) according to claim 14, wherein the rotating drum (5) or other rotor is provided with a plurality of baskets or other compartments, each arranged to contain at least part of the objects to be treat (P) in the treatment or transition chamber (3).

[10] In a third aspect of the present invention, these objects are achieved with a plant having the characteristics according to claim 15.

Further characteristics of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[11] The advantages achievable with the present invention will become more evident to the skilled in the art from the following detailed description of a particular non-limiting example of embodiment, illustrated with reference to the following schematic figures.

List of Figures

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a portion of a packaging machine according to a particular embodiment of the invention;

Figure 1A shows a perspective view of the rotor and relative baskets 7 of the packaging machine of Figure 1.

Figure 2 shows a view of the packaging machine of Figure 1, according to an observation direction II parallel to the axis AR1;

Figure 3 shows a first perspective view of the packaging unit, in operating position, of the packaging machine of Figure 1;

Figure 4 shows a second perspective view of the packaging unit, in operating position, of the washing and / or sterilizing machine of Figure 1;

Figure 5 shows a third perspective view of the packaging unit, in operating position, of the packaging machine of Figure 1;

Figure 6 shows, in a fourth perspective view, a detail of the packaging unit, in operating position, of the packaging machine of Figure 1; Figure 7 shows an instant of operation of the packaging unit of the packaging machine of Figure 1;

Figure 8 shows a cross section, according to the section plane VIII-VIII, of the bag and of the auxiliary grippers at the instant of operation of Figure 7; Figure 9 shows a cross section of the bag and the jaws 31, according to the section plane IX-IX at the instant of operation of Figure 7.

Detailed description

[12] The expressions "horizontal" or "vertical" in this description, unless otherwise specified, are intended to refer to the machines or devices described in their condition of normal operation and refer to the direction of the force of gravity.

[13] The expressions "substantially horizontal" or "substantially vertical" in the present description indicate a direction which forms an angle of not more than 45 °, and for example of not more than 30 ° or not more than 15 °, with respect to a direction respectively perpendicular and parallel to the direction of gravity.

[14] Figures 1-9 relate to a washing or sterilizing machine according to a particular embodiment of the invention, indicated with the overall reference 1.

The machine 1 comprises a treatment or transition chamber 3 designed to accommodate one or more objects to be treated P.

[15] "Transition chamber" means a chamber in which no washing, cleaning, sterilization or other type of decontamination operation is carried out, and in which the objects to be treated P coming from a chamber in which they have undergone treatments pass. and directed towards a dirtier, more infected or in any case more contaminated environment.

[16] The treatment or transition chamber 3 can be obtained inside an external casing 4 with a more or less cylindrical shape with a substantially horizontal axis, and possibly contain inside a rotating drum 5 or other rotor placed inside internal of the external casing and arranged to rotate on itself around an axis, for example substantially horizontal (Figures 1, 1A, 2).

[17] Reference AR1 in Figure 1 indicates the longitudinal axis of the external casing in which the treatment or transition chamber is obtained, and a possible axis of rotation of the possible rotor 5.

[18] A plurality of baskets or other types of containers 7 can optionally be fixed to the rotor 5, each of which is designed to contain one or more one or more objects to be treated P.

[19] The objects to be treated P can be, for example, rubber stoppers, metal ferrules to close test tubes for analysis laboratories, single-use drug bottles, other types of pharmaceutical closures, surgical instruments or instruments for medical or biological laboratories, pipettes, seals and still other objects.

[20] The objects to be treated P may possibly have relatively small dimensions, for example diameters and overall length of a few centimeters or even less than one centimeter, and be made for example of plastic materials, rubbers, metals or combinations thereof; in this case each basket 7 can be arranged to contain several tens or even hundreds of objects to be treated P.

[21] The machine 1 can be set up to wash and / or sterilize the objects to be treated P by performing, for example, one or more of the following operations in the treatment or transition chamber 3:

- by spraying them or immersing them in water, aqueous solutions or other working fluids, sterilizing substances;

- subjecting them to particular overpressures or depressions with respect to the ambient conditions;

- subjecting them to particular temperatures and / or humidity conditions.

[22] For this purpose, the external casing 4 or in any case the internal walls of the treatment or transition chamber 3 can be made of metal sheet, for example in a suitable stainless steel, and have thicknesses and general sizing such as to withstand the pressures internal requests.

[23] Machine 1 also includes:

- an extraction mouth 9, through which the one or more objects to be treated P can be removed from the treatment or transition chamber 3;

- a packaging unit 11 designed to pack the products to be treated coming from the extraction mouth 9 into bags or pouches S.

[24] Figure 7 schematically shows an example of a bag S usable by the packaging unit 1: the bag S, obtained for example from a film of thermoplastic or plastic material, has a closed lower end, an open upper end which forms a mouth BS and substantially closed flanks extending between these two ends.

[25] The extraction mouth 9 can be for example the outlet of a hopper 13 or other duct in communication with, or in any case fed by, the treatment or transition chamber 3.

[26] According to an aspect of the invention, the packaging unit 11 in turn comprises:

-a gripping system 15, arranged to grip a bag or envelope S containing one or more objects P treated in or in any case coming from the treatment or transition chamber 3;

- a closing system 17, designed to close a bag or envelope S - for example preformed ones - and containing one or more products P treated in or in any case coming from a treatment or transition chamber 3; furthermore, the gripping system 15 is suitably designed to act only on the external surface of the preformed bag or bag S, without risk of contamination of the internal part of the same / a and of the product / s treated (Figures 7-9) .

[27] The gripping system 15 can for example grasp the bags or envelopes S so as to hold them and temporarily support them.

The closure system 17 can be arranged for example to hermetically seal the preformed bags or envelopes S, for example by gluing, heat sealing or ultrasonic welding.

[28] For this purpose, the closure system 17 can comprise for example a pair of jaws 19 on each of which a sealing bar 21 is mounted, designed to heat-seal bags or envelopes S of thermoplastic material by heating them by means of the Joule effect (Figure 4).

[29] As for example in the embodiment of Figure 4, the closure system 17 is provided with a mechanism for opening and closing the two jaws 19 so as to clamp between them two flaps of a bag or envelope S to be closed for then seal it or otherwise close it.

[30] For the translations during the opening and closing phases of the sack or envelope S, this mechanism may include, for example, two synchronous rack and pinion systems 23, suitably and externally placed and isolated from both the sack or envelope S and the objects P that will be contained in it, in order to avoid contamination.

[31] As for example in the embodiment of Figure 4, this mechanism can be arranged to open and close the jaws 19 by translating them along a substantially straight stroke (Arrow F2 in Figure 7).

[32] Clearly in other embodiments, not shown, the jaws 19 can be opened and closed, that is, moved away and approached one another, causing them to rotate or roto-translate with respect to each other.

[33] The gripping system 15 can comprise one or more suction openings 27 arranged to fasten and retain a wall of the bag or envelope S, generating a pneumatic depression (Figure 9).

[34] Preferably, the suction mouth or mouths 27 are arranged on both jaws 19, so as to fasten to and retain both flaps of the open side of the bags or envelopes S.

[35] As for example in the embodiment of Figure 5, a plurality of suction mouths 27 are arranged on each jaw 19.

[36] Each suction mouth 27 can generate the pneumatic depression, for example independent of the other mouths 27, for example because it is connected to an suction duct which is in turn connected to a dedicated fan / aspirator, or because it is part of a rubber suction cup or other flexible material.

[37] Advantageously, the gripping system 15 comprises one or more auxiliary grippers 29, each of which comprising two or more auxiliary jaws 31 (Figures 4-6), arranged to grip the outside of a flap of a bag or envelope S, for example in one or more areas of the sides of the bag or envelope S possibly close to the edges of the mouth BS of the bag or envelope S but not in correspondence with these edges, thus reducing the risk of contaminating the inside of the bag or envelope S and the its content (Figure 7).

[38] As in the embodiment of Figures 4-6, the auxiliary jaws 31 of each auxiliary gripper 29 are arranged to close with an approach direction F3 substantially parallel or in any case longitudinal to the clamping and opening stroke of the torque, or of at least one pair of jaws 19 (Figures 7-9).

[39] Advantageously, the gripping system 15 comprises a plurality of auxiliary grippers 29, for example two auxiliary grippers (Figures 4-6).

In this case, as shown in Figures 4-8, advantageously the pair of auxiliary grippers 29 is arranged to grip the sides of the bag or envelope S from two substantially opposite ends of the cross sections of the bag or envelope S.

Preferably, the whole is suitably sized to support the weight of the bag or envelope S including the treated content P.

[40] Advantageously, the pair of auxiliary pincers 29 is also arranged to stretch the side of the bag or envelope S which must then be hermetically sealed. It should be noted that the quality of the sealing is closely linked to the correct tension of the two flaps of the bag or envelope S to be sealed.

[41] For this purpose, as in the embodiment of Figure 5, 6 each auxiliary gripper 29 is mounted on a gripper holder head 35 in turn equipped with a spring tensioner, suitably sized to stretch the bag or envelope S managing any dimensional tolerances .

[42] As in the embodiment of Figure 5, 6 the two collet-holder heads 35 are arranged to approach and move away from each other by moving in a substantially orthogonal direction F3, or in any case transversal to the direction F2 of approaching the jaws 19, 31 (Figure 5 , 6).

[43] To accomplish this, each collet holder head 35 can for example be connected to the jaws 19 by means of one or more pairs of connecting rods 33. Each connecting rod 33 is fixed at one end to the collet holder head 35, and at the other end to a jaw 19 .

[44] The connecting rods 33 fixed to one jaw 19 are preferably oblique and misaligned with respect to the connecting rods 33 fixed to the other jaw 19 so that the reciprocal approaching and moving away of the jaws 19 causes the reciprocal approaching and moving away respectively and preferably synchronous of the two heads 35; this corresponds respectively to closing under tension and opening for filling the pouch or envelope gripped by the pincers 29 when the jaws 19 close, as will also be described hereinafter.

[45] As in the embodiment of Figure 5, 6 advantageously each collet holder head 35 is fixed to the jaws 19 by means of several pairs of connecting rods 33 so that more connecting rods 33 are parallel to each other and form substantially more articulated parallelograms, thus preventing the heads collet holder 35 to rotate.

[46] According to another aspect of the invention, the packaging unit 11 is arranged to pass reversibly from an operative position to a rest position by rotating or roto-translating around a substantially horizontal axis of rotation AR2.

[47] The axis of rotation or roto-translation AR2 can be for example parallel but not coincident with the axis of rotation AR1 of the rotor 5 (Figures 1, 2) or, in embodiments not shown, also coincident with the axis of rotation AR1.

[48] To allow the packaging unit 11 to rototranslate around the AR2 axis, clearly the AR2 axis in the transition between the operating position and the rest position can translate, for example parallel to itself, or even rototranslate and tilt relative to one's previous positions in space.

For this purpose, as shown in Figures 3-5, connecting rods or levers 37, 39 which form the one or more articulated quadrilaterals are arranged so as to make the axis AR2 translate or rototranslate.

[49] To pass from the operating position to the rest position or vice versa, the packaging unit 11 can be operated by hand, for example by an operator who grasps it by means of any handles 47 (Figure 3) or by electric motors, cylinders pneumatic or hydraulic or other suitable actuators, not shown.

[50] The packaging unit 11 may possibly be equipped with one or more gas springs, suitably sized, which, possibly acting as a weight zeroing device, allow any operator to lift the packaging unit manually and with little effort 11 to bring it to the rest position.

[51] In the operative position (Figures 3-5) the packaging unit 11 is in communication with the extraction mouth 9 and can receive from it one or more treated products coming from the treatment or transition chamber 3.

[52] In order to be in communication with the extraction mouth 9, the packaging unit 11 need not necessarily be fixed to the mouth 9 but can also be separated from it, as long as it is vertically, facing the mouth 9 or sufficiently close to it in such a way as to be able to receive from the mouth 9 the objects P coming from the treatment or transition chamber 3, for example by making them fall from the extraction mouth into the mouth BS of the bag or bag S as described below, or in any case by making the objects fall for example P from the treatment or transition chamber 3 towards the packaging unit 11.

[53] In the rest position the packaging unit 11 is not in communication with the extraction mouth and therefore cannot receive from it one or more treated products coming from the treatment or transition chamber 3.

[54] In Figure 2 the packaging unit 11 is drawn with a solid line in the operating position, and with a broken line in the rest position.

[55] As shown in Figures 2-5, the packaging unit 11 can have the overall shape of a flattened parallelepiped, which can lie in a substantially horizontal plane in the operating position, and in a substantially vertical plane in the position of rest.

[56] Still as in the embodiment of Figures 2-5, the closing and opening direction of the jaws 19 or the pair of jaws 19 themselves can lie for example in a substantially horizontal plane when the unit 11 is in the operating position, and in a substantially vertical plane when the unit 11 is in the rest position.

[57] As in the embodiment of Figures 2-6, the packaging unit 11 in order to rotate or rototranslate around the axis AR2 can be fixed to the rest of the machine 1 by means of connecting rods or levers 37, 39 hinged to the unit 11 and to the rest of the machine 1 so as to form one or more articulated quadrilaterals.

[58] This mechanism, unlike other systems equipped with simple rotation, makes it possible to considerably reduce the size of the area necessary for bagging operations and, in the rest position, offers the operator a particularly ergonomic position for the packing operation. bag or envelope housing S.

[59] Further the appropriate sizing of elements such as gas springs, assist in the change of position from rest to operational, preferably acting as weight zeroers.

[60] Once the washing and / or sterilization of the objects P has been completed, an operator or an appropriate automatism loads on the unit 11 an empty, already cleaned and / or sterilized bag or bag S, locking it by closing the pliers 31, while the jaws 19 are open.

The correct positioning of the bag or bag S is guaranteed by the centering elements 29.

[61] The same operator or an appropriate automatism causes the packaging unit 11 to rotate or roto-translate - for example by lowering it around the axis AR2, bringing it to the operating position below the extraction mouth 9.

[62] More specifically, by passing into the operative position the packaging unit 11 closes the jaws 19 and the grippers 31 and arranges them closed under the extraction mouth 9.

[63] Thereafter, the suction mouths 27 generate a pneumatic depression which sucks the walls of the bag or envelope S making them adhere to the mouths 27 themselves and to the jaws 19 which are still closed.

[64] Subsequently, while maintaining the suction, the unit 11 opens the pincers 31, opens the jaws 19 thus opening the bag or bag S, and closes the pincers 31.

This is to avoid damaging the bag or envelope S during its opening for subsequent filling.

[65] The upper mouth BS of the bag or envelope S is thus well opened allowing to unload easily and without errors the objects to be treated P unloaded from suitable containers with a capacity preferably not exceeding the maximum content of the bag or envelope S or in any case coming from the chamber of treatment or transition 3.

[66] After having filled the bag or envelope S with a suitable quantity of treated objects P, the jaws 19 are then closed by sliding in the direction F2 thus moving the two collet-holder heads 35 away from each other in the direction F3 and stretching a portion of the bag or envelope, until the jaws 19 press against each other, clamping the bag or envelope S between them.

[67] The sealing bars 21 are then activated so as to close the bag or envelope S at the top by heat sealing it and for example sealing it.

The jaws 19 and the grippers 31 reopen allowing an operator or a device to pick up and remove the filled bag or envelope S and for example set it aside in the cradle 49 possibly present.

[68] The packaging unit 11 is again rotated or rototranslated around the axis AR2, for example by lifting it, returning it to the rest position.

[69] The machine 1 can then perform a new unloading operation by filling and sealing a new bag or envelope S.

[70] By touching only the external surfaces but not the inside of the bag or bag S, the gripping system 15 described above reduces the risks of contaminating both the bag S and its contents.

[71] Furthermore, passing from the operating position to the rest position by means of a rotation or roto-translation around a substantially horizontal axis AR2, the packaging unit 11 requires a particularly limited work area as well as the various positions taken and the change system position are particularly ergonomic and easy.

[72] The previously described embodiments are susceptible to various modifications and variations without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention.

For example, a machine 1 according to the invention can serve not only to wash or sterilize, but also to carry out different treatments or processes, or simply to transport, manipulate or package the objects P.

[73] The jaws 19 of the closing system 17 can be arranged not only parallel to the rotation axis AR2 of the packaging unit 11 (Figures 2-6) but for example also perpendicular to it.

The jaws 19 of the closing system 17 can also be more than two.

[74] Any reference in this description to "an embodiment", "an embodiment example" means that a particular feature or structure described in connection with that embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention and in particularly in a particular variant of the invention as defined in a main claim.

[75] The fact that such expressions appear in various passages of the description does not imply that they necessarily refer only to the same embodiment. Furthermore, when a feature, element or structure is described in relation to a particular embodiment, it is observed that it is within the competence of the skilled person to apply that feature, element or structure to other embodiments.

[76] Numerical references that differ only for different quotes, eg 21 ', 21 ", 21 <III> when not otherwise specified indicate different variants of an element named in the same way.

[77] Furthermore, all the details can be replaced by technically equivalent elements. For example, the materials used, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to the technical requirements. It must be understood that an expression of the type "A includes B, C, D" or "A is formed by B, C, D" also includes and describes the particular case in which "A consists of B, C, D" . The expression "A includes an element B" unless otherwise specified is to be understood as "A includes one or more elements B". The examples and lists of possible variants of this application are intended as non-exhaustive lists.

Claims (15)

CLAIMS 1) Packaging machine (1) comprising a packaging unit (11) designed to pack one or more objects to be packaged in bags or envelopes (S), and in turn comprising: - a gripping system (15), designed to grip a bag or envelope (S) containing one or more objects to be packaged (P); - a closing system (17) designed to close a bag or envelope (S) containing one or more objects to be packaged (P) manipulated by the gripping system (15); and in which the gripping system (15) is arranged to grip and / or touch only the external surface of the bag or envelope (S). 2) Packaging machine comprising: - a packaging unit (11) designed to pack one or more objects to be packaged in bags or pouches (S) (P); - a dispenser designed to supply the packaging unit with one or more objects to be packaged (P); where the packaging unit (11) in turn includes: - a gripping system (15), designed to grip a bag or envelope (S) containing one or more objects to be packaged (P); - a closing system (17) designed to close a bag or envelope (S) containing one or more objects to be packaged (P); and in which, under normal conditions of operation and use: - the packaging unit (11) is arranged to pass reversibly from an operative position to a rest position by rotating or roto-translating around a substantially horizontal axis of rotation (AR2); -in the operative position the packaging unit (11) is in communication with the dispensing device (9) so as to be able to receive from it one or more objects to be packaged (P); -in the rest position the packaging unit (11) is not in communication with the dispensing device (9). 3) Machine (1) according to claim 2 and possibly 1, provided with a mechanism comprising one or more articulated quadrilaterals which fix the packaging unit (11) to the rest of the packaging machine (1) allowing the packaging unit (11 ) to pass reversibly from an operative position to a rest position by rotating or roto-translating. 4) Machine (1) according to claim 1 and possibly 2, in which the bag or envelope (S) forms a mouth (BS) and sides extending transversely to the mouth (BS), and the gripping system (15) it is designed to grip the sides of the bag or envelope (S) in at least two distinct areas and stretch it, tending to move the at least two distinct gripping areas away from each other. 5) Machine (1) according to claim 4, in which the gripping system (15) is provided with at least two auxiliary grippers (29), each of which is arranged to grip one of said distinct areas of the sides of the bag or envelope (BS ). 6) Machine (1) according to claim 1 and possibly 2, in which the packaging unit (11) is provided with at least two jaws (19) arranged to approach and move away reversibly one from the other so as to clamp a bag or envelope (S). 7) Machine (1) according to claim 1 and possibly 2, in which the packaging unit (11) is provided with at least two suction openings (27), each of which is designed to be fixed to a different area of the external wall of a bag or envelope (S) generating a pneumatic depression, and the at least two suction openings (27) are designed to approach and move away reversibly with respect to each other so as to open and close at least part of the bag or envelope (S ). 8) Machine (1) according to claim 7, wherein at least one of the suction mouths (27) is arranged on a jaw (19), and at least one other suction mouth (27) is arranged on another of the jaws (19). 9) Machine (1) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein: - the at least two suction openings (27) are arranged to approach and move away reversibly with respect to each other by moving along a first direction (F2); - the at least two auxiliary grippers (29) are arranged to grip the sides of the bag or envelope (S) in at least two distinct areas and stretch it, tending to move the at least two distinct gripping areas away from each other, moving away or tending to moving away from each other in a second direction (F3) perpendicular or in any case substantially transverse to the first direction (F2). 10) Machine (1) according to claim 5, wherein: - the gripping system (15) comprises at least two gripper-holder heads (35), on each of which at least one of the auxiliary grippers (29) is mounted; - the at least two gripper-holder heads are arranged to approach and move away from each other along said second direction (F3); - these movements of reciprocal removal and approach of the at least two gripper-holder heads (35) are operated by the closing and opening movements of the at least two jaws (19). 11) Machine (1) according to one or more claims 6, 8, 9, in which a system is mounted on at least one of the at least two jaws (19) to seal or in any case close the bag or envelope (S), system chosen for example from the following ensemble: a heat sealing bar, a glue dispensing nozzle, an ultrasonic welding head. 12) Machine (1) according to claim 1 and / or 2, comprising a treatment or transition chamber (3) designed to accommodate one or more objects to be packaged (P), and the dispenser comprises an extraction mouth (9) , through which the one or more objects to be packaged (P) can be removed from the treatment or transition chamber (3). 13) Machine (1) according to claims 2 and 12, wherein: -in the operative position the packaging unit (11) is in communication with the extraction mouth (9) and can receive from it one or more objects to be treated (P) coming from the treatment or transition chamber (3); - in the rest position the packaging unit (11) is not in communication with the extraction mouth (9). 14) Machine (1) according to claim 12 or 13, in which the treatment or transition chamber (3) contains a rotating drum (5) or other rotor designed to move the one or more objects to be packaged (P) during washing and / or sterilization. 15) Plant for washing and / or sterilizing objects to be packaged (P), comprising a washing or sterilizing machine (1) having the characteristics according to one or more preceding claims, and a clean room, and in which at least the packaging unit ( 11) is located in the clean room.