JP2001000169A - Continuous automated ampule vacuum-sealer unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a continuous ampule vacuum sealer that automates the ampule-sealing operation under vacuum by using a combination burner of oxygen and gas. SOLUTION: A carrier that has one ampule inserted into the carrier is placed in a space formed from a disk 1 that has semicircular notches 2 on its outer periphery at a uniformly divided interval and the starting part of a receiving disk 3. When the disk 1 rotates and the carrier reaches a notched part of the receiving disk 3, the carrier falls down to the receiving disk to rotate an impeller 8 by a prescribed angle. When a blade sends the carrier to a platform, the blade is fixed with a magnet and vertically moves as it rotates in the same manner as that of the platform and starts burning of an ampule that is previously inserted into the carrier with a burner that is previously ignited. Then, the ampule is fused vertically after a time set with a timer and the top edge of the ampule is discarded by an arm.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the case of preserving microorganisms and strains for a long period of time, frozen preservation and dry preservation such as vacuum freeze drying or L drying are performed. -80 for frozen storage
It must be stored in a deep freezer or liquid nitrogen bath at a temperature of ℃ or less.On the other hand, in the case of dry storage, put it mainly in an ampoule and dry it. It is common practice to seal by hand. When the inside is sealed with a high vacuum, it can be stored at 5 to 10 ° C. Therefore, it is preferable to vacuum seal in ampules and store them.However, in the case of vacuum sealing ampules, if the tube wall is thick and the flame of the burner is not evenly applied at the time of sealing, the part that melts as soon as possible is Vacuum sealing of an ampoule requires experience and technology because the inside is a vacuum because the inside of the ampoule is sucked by suction and the tube wall at that portion becomes thin and causes failure. Until now, a convenient automatic ampoule vacuum sealing device has not been developed, so all operations are still performed manually.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Sealing an ampoule while maintaining a high vacuum is performed manually by using a co-firing burner of oxygen and gas. It takes 15 to 20 minutes for the sealing time, it is impossible to work unless the aseptically dried product is once exposed to the atmosphere, and a high vacuum in the ampoule cannot be obtained. It must be used only for a few reasons.

[0003]

An ampule used for a general chemical solution has a thin tube wall and is sealed in the atmosphere, so that it can be easily sealed with a gas burner, and the tip portion is rounded and swelled. On the other hand, when sealing the ampule in a vacuum state, the tube wall was thick enough to withstand the vacuum, and the flame of the burner had to be evenly applied. The part melts quickly and is sucked into the ampoule, and only that part becomes thin, causing failure. It is said that it is better to store the dried ampoule in a high vacuum in order to preserve microorganisms and strains for a long period of time. However, vacuum sealing of ampules still requires considerable experience. The present invention solves these problems and is automated so that the sealing operation can be performed easily and uniformly.

[0004]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an example of the apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view for explaining the same, and FIG. 3 is a vertical half view showing an ampule 9 inserted into a carrier 10. FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view showing a state in which the ampule and the carrier are held by the semi-circular portion 2 of the disk 1 and the rising portion 4 of the receiving disk 3, and FIG. 5 is the position of the notched portion 5 of the receiving disk 3. FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which the ampule and the carrier have fallen on the lower receiving plate 6. FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of an example in which the platform 14 is attached to the rotating shaft of the rotating motor 19. An object to be dried is dispensed into an ampule, preliminarily frozen, attached to a manifold of a vacuum freeze dryer via a rubber tube, and after completion of drying, a clip for closing the center of the rubber tube (registered 1987168).
3) With the internal vacuum kept closed, pull out the rubber tube from the manifold together, insert it into the carrier as shown in Fig. 3, and insert it into the semicircular portion 2 of the disk 1. Each time the disk 1 rotates one step, the ampoule and the carrier Is dropped on the lower receiving plate 6 at the cutout portion 5, and this state is shown in a longitudinal sectional view of FIG. Each time the rotation of the disk 1 is stopped by the operation of the relay, the blades of the impeller attached to the motor 18 rotate the ampule and the carrier in one step along the guide 7 and slide on the receiving plate 6 while moving the platform 14.
The motors 19 and 20 are started by the relay operation, and the ampoule moves up and down by the eccentric cam 23 while rotating, and is burned by the burner 26 ignited in advance. The sensor catches the state where the ampule has stopped at the position and the ampoule has started to soften, and the robot 27 operates and the arm picks up the tip of the ampule together with the rubber tube and the closing clip, and the ampule is blown up and down, the arm turns and the tip turns Discard. During this time, the burner rotates while burning the tip of the ampoule remaining on the platform, and the tip is automatically rounded and formed into a spire shape. The motor 19 stops rotating and the motor 18 rotates one step, and the blades of the impeller 8 push the ampoule and the carrier on the platform to the collecting port. Then automatically return to the start and repeat the series of work

[0005]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A continuous ampoule automatic vacuum sealing apparatus of the present invention dispenses ampoules for preserving microorganisms and strains for a long term, attaches them to a manifold of a vacuum freeze dryer, and removes the inside. It is an attempt to contribute to reducing labor costs and improving the completion rate by automating the current situation where a skilled person seals with a gas burner under vacuum and makes it a homogeneously sealed product. is there.

[0006]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an example of the apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view for explaining the same, FIG. 3 is a longitudinal half sectional view showing an ampule 9 inserted into a carrier 10, and FIG. Is disk 1
FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which the ampule and the carrier are held by the semi-circular portion 2 and the rising portion 4 of the saucer disk 3. FIG. FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a state where it has fallen onto the board 6.
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of an example in which the platform 14 is attached to a rotating shaft of a rotating motor 19. First, φ8x1t
0.5 ml of a substance to be dried (for example, a microorganism or a strain dissolved in a dispersion medium) is dispensed into an ampoule of x150 mm, preliminarily frozen, attached to a manifold of a vacuum freeze dryer through a rubber tube, and dried. Thereafter, the center of the rubber tube is closed with a closing clip (registered No. 1987168), the rubber tube is pulled out of the manifold together with the internal vacuum, and inserted into a carrier as shown in FIG. Make the required number of pieces Insert the half-circle portion 2 of the disk 1, adjust the position and the intensity of the flame according to the length of the ampoule that ignites and blows the gas burner 26. With the ampoule and the carrier standing at the notch 5,
This state is shown in a vertical sectional view of FIG. When the impeller blades attached to the motor 18 rotate in one step, the ampule and the carrier are slid along the guide 7 and sent on the platform 14 while sliding on the receiving plate 6. When the relay is actuated, the motors 19 and 20 are started and the ampule is started. Is moved up and down while rotating, burned by a burner that has been ignited, and the cam 23 and relay 2
4 stops the motor 20 and the ampoule fixed by magnets on the platform stops at the lowest position while rotating. The sensor catches the softening state, activates the robot 27, and the arm of the ampule moves to the tip of the ampoule. Lift the ampule up and down together with the rubber tube and the closing clip, melt the ampule up and down and turn the arm to discard the tip, while the ampule remaining on the platform while rotating is burned by a burner following its tip and automatically burned It is rounded and formed into a spire shape. The motor 19 stops rotating, and the motor 18 rotates one step to rotate the impeller 8.
Push the ampoule and carrier on the platform into the stacking port with the blades. Next, it automatically returns to the start and repeats a series of operations.

[0007]

According to the present invention, the vacuum sealing of ampoules, which has been conventionally performed by a skilled worker, is automated, so that not only labor costs can be reduced but also a uniform product can be obtained and sealing can be facilitated. In addition, since it is possible to directly seal with a straight tube without having to pre-neck the ampule, it is possible to save cost and time. In addition, since the ampoule is moved up and down to make the tip of the baking round with a certain width, annealing after baking can be performed, leaving no distortion and no cracking due to distortion at a later date.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view for explaining the external appearance of the present invention, where 1 is a rotating disk,
2 is a semicircular circle 3 on the outer circumference of the disk 1 is a saucer disk, 4 is a peripheral wall of the saucer disk 3, 5 is a cutout portion of the saucer disk 3, 6 is a receiver, 7 is a guide, 8 is an impeller, and 14 is Platform 26, burner 27 robot.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a front for explaining the appearance of the present invention;
Is a rotating motor of the rotating disk 1, 18 is a rotating motor of the impeller 8, 19 is a rotating motor of the platform 14, 20 is a motor for vertically driving the platform 14,
21 is a support case for the motor 19, 22 is a roller shaft for vertical drive, 23 is an eccentric cam, 24 is a relay, and 25 is a support case for the motor 20.

FIG. 3 shows a clip for closing a rubber tube (registered 1987).
No. 168), the ampule 9 is removed from the manifold of the dryer while keeping the vacuum inside, and the ampule 9 is inserted into the carrier 10. 11 is a magnetic metal, 12 is an air vent, 13 is an O-ring, 27 is a closing clip (registered No. 1987168), 28 is a rubber tube

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which the ampule 9 and the carrier 10 are held by the rising peripheral wall 4 of the receiving disk 3 fixed to the rotating disk 1 and the receiving disk 6;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which the ampule 9 and the carrier 10 are fed into the cutout portion 5 of the saucer disk 3 and fall on the receiver 6;

6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which the platform 14 is attached to a rotating shaft of a rotating motor 19, 14 is a platform, 15 is a magnet fitted into the platform 14, 16
Are screws for fixing the platform 14 to the motor shaft,
9 is a rotation motor

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 1 Disc having a plurality of semicircles on its outer circumference 2 Semicircle on the outer circumference of disc 1 3 Receiving disc 4 Peripheral wall of receiving disc 3 Notched portion of receiving disc 3 6 Receiving tray 7 Guide 8 Impeller 9 Ampoule 10 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Magnetic metal 12 Air release hole 13 O-ring 14 Platform 15 Magnet fitted in platform 14 Screw for fixing platform 14 to motor shaft 17 Rotary motor of rotating disk 1 18 Rotary motor of impeller 8 19 Rotary motor of platform 14 20 Platform 14 vertical drive motor 21 support case for motor 19 22 vertical drive roller shaft 23 eccentric cam 24 relay 25 support base for motor 20 burner 27 robot 28 closing clip (registered No. 1987168) 29 rubber tube 30 rack

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of semicircular circles 2 are formed around the outer periphery of a carrier 10 into which an ampule 9 whose inside is kept in a vacuum is inserted by using a rubber tube and a closing clip (registered No. 1987168). Disk having a motor shaft through hole and one portion 5 cut out from the position corresponding to the semicircular circle of the disk 1 to the outer periphery at the center combined with the lower surface of the disk 1 While the carrier 10 is standing and held by the rising peripheral wall 4 of the Petri dish-shaped receiving disk 3 fixed to 6, the carriers are sequentially fed with the rotation of the disk 1 and reach the notch portion 5 as the disk 1 rotates. In the state, it falls on the receiving tray 6 below and the disc 1
The impeller 8 having a plurality of blades attached to a motor 18 which stops rotating and starts step rotation in synchronism therewith is provided with a guide 7 on a platform 14 which moves up and down while rotating by a motor 19 and 20 around a fixed angle horizontally. The ampule fixed together with the carrier to the platform 14 which starts the rotation and the vertical movement by the operation of the relay by sending the carrier 10 along with the relay operates in the same manner as the platform and ignites in advance and sets the gas burner 26 whose position is set.
After a certain period of time, the platform rotates and stops its vertical movement at the lowest position, and the sensor detects when the ampoule has begun to melt and softens. The arm of the robot 27 burns off and separates and discards the upper half of the rubber tube. The ampoule 9 that has been sealed by the platform while the clip and the closing clip are pulled up and melted and discarded continues to rotate, the tip of the ampoule 9 is burned by the burner while continuing to turn, and the spire-shaped tip is automatically rounded. The rotation of the ampule is stopped by the relay and the sealed ampule is pushed out to the collecting port by the rotation of the impeller 8 while the carrier is still attached, and the rotation of the disk 1 starts again. Vacuum sealing device. 2. A carrier is used for each ampoule to automatically carry and seal the ampoule. FIG. 3 shows an example of the carrier and its use. 3. The carrier 10 is made of a non-magnetic metal or plastic having a cylindrical inside, a plurality of O-ring grooves for fixing an ampule, a magnetic metal fitted in the center of the bottom, and an air vent hole on the outer flat bottom surface or side surface. is there. 4. A platform 14 on which the carrier is placed and fixed, and which rotates and moves up and down is made of a non-magnetic metal or plastic in which a magnet 15 capable of holding the carrier with a constant force is fitted at the center of the upper surface. It is attached. 5. When the platform 14 attached to the rotating shaft of the motor 19 stops moving up and down, it stops at the lowest position while stopping or continuing rotation. 6. The sealed tip of the ampule is baked and melted by the burner 26 while rotating, and the spire-shaped tip automatically has a rounded finish.