JP2002362516A - Continuous sterilizing system of medicine vessel - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a continuous sterilizing system of a medicine vessel capable of obtaining a desired sterilizing capacity by controlling the carrying speed of the medicine vessel such as an ampoule and the temperature of heating the medicine vessel in a relating manner to each other. SOLUTION: This continuous sterilizing system of the medicine vessel comprises a carrier for continuously carrying the ampoule 1, a halogen heater 6 provided in the middle of the line of the carrier 5, a motor control unit 7 for controlling the drive of the carrier 5, and a heater control unit 9 for controlling the temperature of the halogen heater 6, and sterilize the inside of the ampoule 1 by relating the motor control unit 7 and the heater control unit 9 to each other.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to sterilization (including sterilization) of a medicine container such as an ampule before filling with a chemical solution by irradiating light and heat with a halogen heater in a bottle manufacturing and pharmaceutical factory.
The present invention relates to a continuous sterilization apparatus for a drug container that performs processing and continuously performs the processing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An ampule is a small glass container that is filled with a drug solution in a single use unit. When the ampule is manufactured in a factory of a pharmaceutical company, foreign substances such as germs adhere to the inside of the ampule. Therefore, it is necessary to sterilize the medicine before filling it. The same applies to a glass vial containing a drug. Conventionally, as an apparatus for performing this sterilization, there is, for example, an ampule sterilization apparatus shown in FIG. In this apparatus, air flows between a sterilization chamber 19 of the ampule 1 and a heating chamber 18 heated by a heater 24 or the like.
A fan 21 for circulating air is provided in the middle of the pipe 20b on the suction side, and a filter 23 is provided in the sterilization chamber 19 near the air inlet.
This is a device that heats and sterilizes the ampoule 1 using heated air from which foreign matter has been removed by a filter.

[0003]

However, the above-mentioned sterilizing apparatus for the ampoule 1 has to be replaced when foreign matter adhered to the filter 23 accumulates, which has led to an increase in running cost. If the filter 23 is not replaced, the dirty air may circulate and adhere to the ampoule 1. In addition, such a structure in which air is circulated has a large energy loss during heat sterilization, such as a poor temperature distribution and the need to increase circulation to prevent this.

Therefore, the present inventor has started to develop a new device that solves these problems, and has invented a continuous sterilization device for a drug container such as an ampule according to the present invention through intensive studies. The prototype was completed.

According to the present invention which has been invented through such circumstances, the conveying speed of a medicine container such as an ampule and the heating temperature of a heating means for sterilizing the inside of the medicine container and the like are controlled in association with each other. It is an object of the present invention to provide a continuous sterilization apparatus for a medicine container, which can obtain a high sterilization processing ability by clean light heat of a halogen heater.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention proposes a transport section for continuously supporting a drug container such as an ampule and sending it out onto a transport line, and Transport means having a motor for operating a transport section; heating means comprising a halogen heater provided on the way of the transport line; a motor control section for controlling the rotation speed of the motor; and controlling the temperature of the heating means. A heater control unit is provided, and sterilization processing of the medicine container is performed by controlling the motor control unit and the heater control unit.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, even in a chemical solution container having a very narrow mouth, such as an ampule before filling with a chemical solution, the light heat of the halogen heater reaches the inside through the glass wall of the ampule. In addition, sterilization of various germs in the ampule can be easily performed. The sterilization was performed by using a halogen heater that uses almost invisible infrared light emitted from a halogen lamp as heat. This halogen heater is highly flexible and controllable, provides a clean, safe, compact and lightweight energy source, and has a very high efficiency energy source. It is known to be extremely superior to For this reason, sterilization can be performed based on control that is easy in temperature control, high-speed response, and high precision. In the present invention, sterilization (including sterilization) of a drug container such as an ampule can be performed while supporting the drug containers one by one and continuously transporting them on a line. For this reason, automation of sterilization processing and high processing capacity can be obtained. In addition, the control of the transport temperature can be performed in association with each other, so that a high sterilizing ability can be secured. According to the test by the present inventors, it was found that when the heating temperature by the halogen heater was increased to about 300 ° C., an extremely high sterilization ability was obtained almost instantaneously.

According to the present invention, in the above configuration, the temperature control by the heating means includes a control in which a detection signal of a temperature sensor provided at or near the transport line is fed back around a feedforward. The feature is that it is configured to be included.

With this configuration, the temperature can be controlled based on the value detected by the temperature sensor, and a high sterilization process can be performed while maintaining a substantially constant temperature, for example, a temperature of about 300 ° C.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in any one of the above-mentioned structures, the detection signal of the temperature sensor provided at or near the transport line is fed back around the feedforward in the transport speed control by the transport means. It is characterized in that it is configured to include the control to be performed.

[0011] With this configuration, since the transport speed can be controlled based on the value detected by the temperature sensor, a constant heating time (for example, several seconds) is secured, and as a result, a high sterilization process can always be performed. In particular, even when it is desired to increase the transport speed of the ampoule in order to increase the processing capacity, the sterilization capacity does not decrease. Further, high-precision control in which the detected value of the temperature sensor and the transport speed are associated with each other can be performed.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that in any one of the above structures, the heating temperature control and the transport speed control are performed by program control using a personal computer or microcomputer control.

With this configuration, each of the above-described controls is automated, and the control can be performed reliably and flexibly. Moreover, for example, when a program control is performed by a personal computer, the state of each control can be seen at a glance, desired control corresponding to each site can be performed, and the operation can be easily performed. It is more preferable to store the control pattern for each product type corresponding to the site in the personal computer.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The purpose and structure of the present invention are as described above. Next, a specific embodiment of the continuous sterilization apparatus for a medicine container according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Will be described. FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram schematically showing a continuous sterilization apparatus for a medicine container according to one embodiment of the present invention. A continuous sterilizing apparatus for a medicine container according to the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is configured by assembling a transport unit 3 including a transport belt 2 supporting an ampoule 1 and a motor 4 for driving the transport unit 3 to rotate. 5), four halogen heaters (heating means) 6 provided on the way of the transfer of the transfer device 5, a motor control unit 7 for controlling the rotation speed of the motor, and a circuit for driving the four halogen heaters 6 A unit 8, four heater controllers 9 for controlling the temperature of the four halogen heaters 6, four temperature sensors 10 provided near the exit of the heating process by each halogen heater 6, and a personal computer 11 are connected. Interface (for example, RS232C, RS
485 etc.).
Although not shown, a connection to a communication line such as a mobile phone may be made instead.

Next, the connection structure of the signal lines in the assembly will be described. On the transfer side, the motor 4 and the motor control unit 7 constituting the transfer means are connected, and further, the motor control unit 7 and the connector 12 are connected. On the heating side, each halogen heater 6 and each circuit unit 8 constituting the heating means are connected, each circuit unit 8 and the heater control unit 9 are connected, and the temperature sensor 10 is connected to the heater control unit 9 respectively. Further, each circuit unit 8 and the heater control unit 9 are connected to a connector 12.

In this embodiment, four heater controllers 9 are provided corresponding to the respective halogen heaters 6, but they may be integrated into one. Further, the structure of the transport unit 5 may be replaced with another structure.

With such a configuration, the ampules 1 are taken out one by one from the one end side of the transport section 5 and supported one by one, and transported on the transport line. Then, the ampules 1 reaching the terminal side of the transport section 5 are taken out in order. In this transporting process, the ampoule 1 sequentially enters a heating area where the halogen heater 6 is located, and is heated at a high temperature of about 300 ° C. by the light heat of the halogen heater 6 in this heating area to be sterilized.

In this embodiment, the heating control of the halogen heater 6 and the control of the transport speed of the transport unit 5 are performed by the temperature sensor 10.
Are controlled by a feedback combination method based on mutual feedforward based on the detection signal by the control of the personal computer 11 connected to the connector 12.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the positions of the four halogen heaters 6 prepared for the transport process as viewed from the transport direction. As shown in FIG. 2, the halogen heaters 6 are provided on the upper, lower, left and right sides of the ampoule 1. It is arranged so that the ampule 1 can be heated from all sides. By doing so, the ampoule 1 can be heated evenly, and a high sterilization treatment can be performed. Although not shown, the ampoule 1 may be heated from two or three sides.

Although not shown, when the transport unit 5 is formed of a long line, a sensor for detecting the presence or absence of an ampule is provided near the halogen heater in the middle thereof, and a detection signal from the sensor is provided. If there is, the halogen heater may be turned ON or reach nearly 300 ° C.

[0021]

According to the apparatus for continuously sterilizing a medicine container according to the first aspect of the present invention described above, sterilization treatment (including sterilization) of a medicine container such as an ampule can be performed in the process while being sequentially transported. In addition, since the transfer speed, the heating temperature, and the like can be controlled, the sterilization process can be automated, and a high processing capability can be obtained. In particular, halogen heaters are known to be more flexible and controllable in sterilization than ceramic heaters and quartz tubes, and to provide a clean, safe, small, lightweight, and highly efficient energy source. By using, high sterilization treatment can be performed. In addition, since the light source by the ceramic heater is located near the ampoule, there is almost no energy loss.

According to the continuous sterilizing apparatus for a medicine container according to the second aspect, since the temperature can be controlled based on the detection value of the temperature sensor, a substantially constant temperature, for example, 300.degree.
A high sterilization capacity which maintains the temperature before and after has come to be obtained.

According to the continuous sterilizing apparatus for a medicine container according to the third aspect of the present invention, the conveying speed can be controlled based on the value detected by the temperature sensor, so that a high sterilizing capacity can be maintained at all times. High-precision control that correlates the detected value of the temperature sensor with the transport speed can be performed.

According to the continuous sterilizing apparatus for a medicine container according to the fourth aspect, the above-mentioned respective controls are automated, and the control can be performed reliably and flexibly. In particular, when a program control is performed by a personal computer, the state of each control can be seen at a glance, and a desired control corresponding to each site can be performed by using a variety of control patterns stored in the personal computer. Has made it possible to simplify maintenance through online data collection and manage product quality using history.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic circuit diagram of an apparatus for continuously sterilizing a medicine container according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view of a position of a halogen heater 6 as viewed from a transport direction.

FIG. 3 is a simplified view of a conventional sterilizing apparatus for ampoules.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 ampoule 2 metal belt 3 transfer unit 4 motor 5 transfer device 6 halogen heater 7 motor control unit 8 circuit unit 9 heater control unit 10 temperature sensor 11 personal computer 12 connector (RS232C)

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A transport unit that continuously supports a drug container such as an ampoule and sends it out onto a transport line, a transport unit that includes a motor that operates the transport unit, and a halogen that is provided along the transport line. Heating means comprising a heater;
A motor control unit that controls the rotation speed of the motor; and a heater control unit that controls the temperature of the heating unit. The motor control unit controls the motor control unit and the heater control unit to sterilize the medicine container. A continuous sterilizing apparatus for a medicine container, characterized in that the sterilizing apparatus is configured to perform the sterilization. 2. The control according to claim 1, wherein the control of the heating temperature by the heating means includes a control in which a detection signal of a temperature sensor provided at or near the transfer line is fed back around a feedforward. Continuous sterilizer for drug containers. 3. The transport speed control by the transport unit includes a control performed by feeding back a detection signal of a temperature sensor provided at or near the transport line around a feedforward. 4. The continuous sterilization device for a drug container according to claim 1. 4. The continuous sterilization apparatus for a medicine container according to claim 1, wherein the heating temperature control and the transport speed control are performed by program control using a personal computer or microcomputer control.