JP2020100479A - Conveyance/transfer device and method for vial - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a conveyance/transfer device for a vial capable of preventing a staggering collapse at the time of warehousing the vial.SOLUTION: A vial conveyance/transfer device Tm comprises conveying means 3 for aligning and conveying a large number of vials Vc in one row along a conveyance path 2 in a standing posture and transfer means 4 for transferring a predetermined number of vials accumulated in one row on a transfer place 21 disposed in the conveyance path to a freeze-dryer 1 for freeze-drying a substance filled in the vial. The conveyance/transfer device has indexing means 7 disposed in the conveyance path upstream of the transfer place. The indexing means singly indexes the vials which are conveyed from the conveyance path upstream of the location of the indexing means without a gap between the vials, and delivers the vials to the conveyance path downstream of the location of the indexing means in a state in which a gap Gp of a predetermined width is spaced between the vials. Thus, the predetermined number of vials are accumulated on the transfer place in one row and in a state in which the gap of the predetermined width is spaced between the vials.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to a vial transfer/transfer device and a transfer/transfer method.

BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a transfer device that transfers and transfers a vial to a freeze-drying device that freeze-drys a substance (dissolved drug or the like) filled in a glass vial. This is one in which a large number of vials are arranged in one row in a standing posture along the transfer path and are transferred without leaving a gap between the vials, and a transfer place provided in the transfer path. And a transfer means for transferring a predetermined number of vials, which are accumulated in a row with no gap between the vials, to the freeze-drying device.

Here, it is known that glass vials have dimensional tolerances (for example, φ16 to 18 mm vials are ±0.15 to 0.5 mm). Therefore, at the tail end of the vials that are stacked in one row (the position on the most upstream side of the transfer location), a gap corresponding to one vial may occur due to the accumulated dimensional tolerance. In this case, if the vials that have been accumulated in one row at the transfer location are repeatedly transferred to the freeze-drying device and the vials are arranged in a zigzag pattern in multiple rows, the vials will move so as to fill the voids. Then, there is a problem that the staggered vial arrangement is collapsed, that is, a so-called staggered collapse occurs. To prevent this, the distance from the beginning to the end of the "one row" may be shortened, but this cannot increase the throughput per lot in the freeze-drying device. Then, such a staggered collapse makes it difficult to carry out the vial bottle after freeze-drying from the freeze-drying device, and also generates an unbalanced load at the time of pushing, so that the vial bottles are damaged due to collision between the vial bottles, It is desired to develop a transfer device that prevents the occurrence of zigzag collapse during storage.

Patent No. 4574326

In view of the above points, the present invention prevents a staggered state at the time of storing vials by a simple mechanism, and can maintain a multi-row aligned storage state. The task is to provide the.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a transporting unit that transports a large number of vials in a standing posture aligned in a line along a transporting route, and a predetermined number of the vials that are stacked in a row at a transfer location provided on the transporting route. And a transfer means for transferring the vial of (1) to a freeze-drying device for freeze-drying the substance filled in the vial. The transfer device of the vial of the present invention is a transfer path on the upstream side of the transfer location. The indexing means is provided in a portion, and the indexing means is configured to transfer vial bottles that are transported from the transport path portion upstream of the installation position of the indexing means without leaving a gap between the vial bottles. Each vial is indexed, and the vial bottles are delivered to the portion of the transport path on the downstream side of the installation position of the indexing device with a gap of a predetermined width between the vials, and a predetermined number of vials are placed at the transfer location. The vials of (1) are integrated in one row with a predetermined width of space left between the vials.

In addition, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a conveying process of aligning a large number of vials in a standing posture in a row along a conveying path and conveying the vials, and a single row at a transfer place provided in the conveying path are integrated. The method of transferring and transferring a vial of the present invention includes a transfer step of transferring a predetermined number of vials to a shelf plate provided in a freeze-drying device for freeze-drying a substance filled in the vials. The process is carried out by the indexing means provided in the part of the transfer path on the upstream side of the transfer place, without any gap between the vial bottles from the part of the transfer path on the upstream side of the installation position of the indexing means. Each vial bottle is indexed one by one, and the vial bottles are sent to a portion of the transport path on the downstream side of the installation position of the indexing means with a predetermined gap between the vials, and the transfer place The method is characterized by including a collecting step of collecting a predetermined number of vials in one row with a predetermined width of space left between the vials.

According to the present invention, a predetermined number of vials are stacked in a row at a transfer location, with a predetermined width gap between the vials (a constant pitch between the vials). Then, the dimensional tolerance of each vial is canceled by the gap of a predetermined width between each vial (the dimensional tolerance of each vial is summed with the positioning tolerance of each gap of a predetermined width by the indexing means, resulting in a pitch error. Therefore, it is possible to accumulate a predetermined number of vials at the transfer place without accumulating dimensional tolerances. As a result, a space equivalent to one vial does not occur at the end of the vials accumulated in one row, and it is possible to prevent staggering when the vials are stored.

Further, in the present invention, it is preferable that the indexing means is a gear-shaped rotating body having a plurality of tooth portions provided in the outer peripheral portion at circumferential intervals capable of receiving one vial bottle each. Here, in the above-mentioned conventional transfer device, a count sensor and a stopper are provided in a part of the transfer path on the upstream side of the transfer place, and when a predetermined number of vials have passed the count sensor, a stopper The vial is pressed against passage. On the other hand, if the indexing means is constituted by the gear-shaped rotating body as described above, it is possible to count the number of indexed vial bottles based on the number of rotations of the rotating body, and further, stop the rotation of the rotating body. If so, it can be pressed so that the vial does not pass. As a result, the rotating body plays a role as a count sensor and a stopper, the count sensor and the stopper can be eliminated, and the number of parts can be reduced as compared with the conventional one, which is advantageous.

FIG. 3 is a partially omitted cross-sectional view illustrating a transfer device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a partially omitted plan view illustrating the transfer device according to the embodiment of the present invention. Sectional drawing which follows the III-III line of FIG. The partial expanded top view explaining the indexing operation of the embodiment of the present invention. The elements on larger scale which show the tooth|gear part of the rotary body which concerns on the modification of embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, the transfer transfer device and transfer transfer method of the present invention will be described by taking as an example the case where a glass vial having a diameter of 16 mm is transferred to a freeze-drying device that freeze-drys a medicine filled therein. Will be described. In the following, the vertical direction is the Z-axis direction, and the two axes orthogonal to each other in the horizontal plane are the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 1 is a freeze-drying device for freeze-drying a drug filled in a vial Vc. The freeze-drying device 1 includes a freeze-drying tank 11, a cold trap 12 that adsorbs water vapor vaporized from a drug, and a vacuum pump 13 that vacuums the interior of the freeze-drying tank 11. In the freeze-drying tank 11 as an airtight container, a plurality of shelf plates 14 on which the vials Vc can be juxtaposed are installed at intervals in the Z-axis direction. A heating/cooling mechanism 141 is incorporated in each shelf 14, and by heating or cooling the shelf 14, it is possible to heat or cool the medicine filled in the vial Vc by heat transfer from the shelf 14. There is. In this case, although not particularly shown and described, the freeze-drying tank 11 is provided with a driving means so that each shelf 14 can be moved up and down in the Z-axis direction.

The cold trap 12 includes a condensing pipe 121 incorporated in the freeze-drying tank 11 and a refrigerator 122 that supplies a refrigerant to the condensing pipe 121, and the condensing pipe 121 is constantly kept at a constant temperature (for example, about −50° C.). It is designed to be cooled. The vacuum pump 13 is composed of, for example, a mechanical booster pump and an oil rotary vacuum pump on the back pressure side thereof, which is connected to the freeze-drying tank 11 via an exhaust pipe 131, and vacuums the inside of the freeze-drying tank 11 to a predetermined pressure. You can do it. The refrigerator 122, the heating/cooling mechanism 141, and the driving means may be known ones, and detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

An opening 112 that is long in the Y-axis direction is formed on one side surface of the freeze-drying tank 11 in the X-axis direction, and is opened and closed by an opening/closing door 113. The vial Vc is arranged side by side on the shelf plate 14 through the opening 112. The transfer/transfer device Tm for automatically loading and unloading the vials Vc on the shelf board 14 arranges a large number of the vials Vc in a standing position in a row along the transfer path 2 which is long in the Y-axis direction. A predetermined number of vials accumulated in a row at a transfer place 21 provided in the transfer path 2 so as to face the opening 3 of the freeze-drying tank 11 and the conveyor 3 as a transfer unit that transfers the transfer. And a transfer means 4 for transferring the bottle Vc to the freeze-drying apparatus 1. In the following, the direction from the transfer place 21 to the opening 112 of the freeze-drying tank 11 is defined as the X-axis plus direction, and the opposite direction is defined as the X-axis minus direction.

A pair of guide plates 22a, 22b extending along the Y-axis direction are provided in the portion of the transport path 2 on the upstream side of the transfer place 21 with a space for one vial in the X-axis direction. A large number of vials Vc can be transported in an upright posture while being aligned in a line along the transport path 2. A guide plate 22c located at the same X-axis direction position as the X-axis plus direction side guide plate 22a is provided at the transfer location 21 so as to be vertically movable in the Z-axis direction. In addition, the transfer place 21 is provided with a first push plate 41 having a push face 41a that is long in the Y-axis direction. In this case, at the standby position of the first push plate 41, the push surface 41a cooperates with the guide plate 22c to play a role of aligning a large number of vials Vc in a standing posture in one line.

The conveyor 3 includes a plurality of drive rollers 31 arranged along the conveyance path 2 at intervals in the Y-axis direction, and an endless conveyance belt 32 laid across the drive rollers 31. Further, the conveyor 3 has a stopping position of the vial Vc at the most downstream side among the predetermined number of vials Vc accumulated in a row at the transfer place 21 in the Y-axis direction by a substantially radius of the vial Vc ( In other words, it can be stopped by shifting the vial Vc including the gap of a predetermined width by half). Thereby, when the vials Vc accumulated in one row at the transfer place 21 are transferred by the transfer means 4, the vials Vc can be arranged in a zigzag form in a plurality of rows.

The transfer means 4 is configured by connecting a drive shaft 42 of drive means such as an air cylinder (not shown) to the first push plate 41. The first push plate 41 can move back and forth in the X-axis direction. On the other hand, in the freeze-drying tank 11, a second pressing plate 51 is provided so as to face the first pressing plate 41, and the second pressing plate 51 can be moved back and forth in the X-axis direction.

A bridge plate 6 that bridges the vial Vc through the opening 112 of the freeze-drying tank 11 is provided between the transport path 2 and the shelf plate 14 of the freeze-drying tank 11. The transfer means 4 is capable of transferring a predetermined number of vials Vc accumulated in one line at the transfer place 21 to the shelf plate 14 via the transfer plate 6. The transfer plate 6 is movably connected to a fixed temporary placement plate portion 61 whose upper surface is flush with the upper surface of the conveyor belt 32 at the transfer place 21 and an end portion of the temporary placement plate portion 61 in the X-axis plus direction. And a bridge plate portion 62 that is formed. When the transfer plate portion 62 is tilted in the X-axis direction with the opening/closing door 113 opened, the end portions in the negative direction of the X-axis of the shelf plate 14 whose height positions are matched by raising or lowering by the driving means (not shown). The X-axis plus direction end of the bridge plate 62 is locked to. As a result, the shelf 14 and the transport path 2 are located in substantially the same plane via the transfer plate 6, and the vials Vc accumulated in one row at the transfer place 21 by the first pressing plate 41 are freeze-dried. 11 can be transferred to the shelf board 14.

By the way, when a large number of vials Vc are stacked in a single row at the transfer place 21 without leaving a gap between the vials Vc, the dimensional tolerance of each vial Vc is accumulated and the vials collected in one row are stacked. At the end of the vial Vc (the position on the most upstream side of the transfer place 21), there may be a space of about one vial Vc. This causes staggering at the time of storage, and the vials Vc are transferred to the shelf plate 14 in a collapsed state rather than in a multi-row and aligned state. As a result, the vials Vc cannot be evenly transferred to the conveyor 3 in the process when the vials Vc are unloaded after the freeze-drying process is completed, and the downstream process of the conveyor 3 (vial Vc shipping) Occlusion may occur in the process).

In the present embodiment, in the portion of the transport path 2 on the upstream side of the transfer place 21, as the indexing means 7, a plurality of (a plurality of) bottles provided in the outer peripheral portion at circumferential intervals capable of receiving one vial bottle Vc each are provided. In the embodiment, a gear-shaped rotating body 7 having 12 teeth 7a is provided. Specifically, a long opening 23 is formed in the guide plate 22b in the Y-axis direction, and the rotating body 7 is installed so that at least two tooth portions 7a always project inside the guide plate 22b through the opening 23. did. As shown in FIG. 3, the height position of the rotating body 7 in the Z-axis direction is set at a position similar to or lower than a half height of the vial Vc to prevent the vial Vc from falling. (Thus, the frictional disturbance generated between the bottom surface of the vial Vc and the surface of the conveyor 3 can be effectively suppressed). A drive shaft 7b of a motor (not shown) is connected to the center of rotation of the rotating body 7, so that the rotating body 7 is rotated clockwise at a constant angular velocity in FIG. In this case, the motor is provided with detection means such as an encoder so that the rotation angle of the rotating body 7 can be detected. As for the angular velocity of the rotating body 7, the place (release point) where the constraint of each vial Vc, which is constituted by the guide plate 22a and the tooth portion 7a, is released is a constant pitch (that is, a gap of a predetermined width) on the conveyor 3. The sum of the vial Vc and the diameter of the vial) is set to be carved. Then, by the rotation of the rotating body 7, the vials Vc that are conveyed from the portion of the conveying path 2 on the upstream side of the rotating body 7 without gaps between the vials Vc are indexed one by one. As will be described later, the indexed vial bottle Vc is conveyed downstream of the rotating body 7 with a gap Gp having a predetermined width (0.4 mm to 1.0 mm) between it and the subsequent vial bottle Vc. It is sent to the part of road 2.

The transfer device Tm includes control means (not shown) including a well-known microcomputer and sequencer. The control means includes not only a motor for rotating the rotating body 7, but also, for example, the drive roller 31 and the push plate 41. , 51 is controlled in a centralized manner. Hereinafter, also with reference to FIG. 4, a transport transfer method for transporting the vial Vc to the freeze-drying apparatus 1 using the transport transfer device Tm of the above-described embodiment will be specifically described.

First, prior to filling the vial Vc with the drug, the vial Vc is washed and sterilized. As sterilization, steam sterilization using steam of distilled water (121° C. or higher, 20 minutes) is used. Upon completion of washing and sterilization, the vial Vc in the standing posture is filled with the medicine. The vial Vc filled with the drug is transferred to the transport path 2, and a large number of vial bottles Vc are aligned in a row along the transport path 2 and transported by the pair of guide plates 22a and 22b. At this time, the rotating body 7 is stopped in a state in which the one tooth portion 7a ₁ projects inside the guide plate 22b through the opening 23 (hereinafter, this is referred to as the origin position of the rotating body 7). When the vial Vc is transferred along the transport path 2, the side surface of the vial Vc ₁ on the most downstream side comes into contact with one tooth portion 7a ₁ of the rotating body 7 so that the vial Vc ₁ does not pass through. Can be held down. Therefore, subsequent vial _Vc. 2 to Vc ₄ also dammed up, these vials _Vc. 1 to Vc ₄ is aligned in a row without a gap between each vial Vc (FIGS. 4 (a) reference).

Next, the rotating body 7 is rotated in the clockwise direction at a preset angular velocity. While the rotating body 7 is rotated clockwise from the origin position at a rotation angle of 30 degrees or less, one tooth portion 7a ₁ of the rotating body 7 is always in contact with the side surface of the vial Vc ₁ on the most downstream side. The vial Vc ₁ moves downstream at the angular velocity of the rotating body 7. That is, the vial Vc ₁ does not move downstream from the one tooth 7a ₁ (see FIG. 4B). Then, when the rotation angle of the rotating body 7 reaches 30 degrees (release point), the one tooth portion 7a ₁ sinks into the opening 23, and the vial Vc ₁ is released from the one tooth portion 7a ₁ and indexed. (When the distance between the guide plates 22a and 22b is the same as the barrel diameter of the vial Vc). In the actual design, the distance between the guide plates 22a and 22b needs to be equal to or larger than the maximum tolerance of the vial diameter of the vial Vc in order to prevent blockage during transfer of the vial Vc by the conveyor 3. Vc ₁ is opened before the one tooth 7 a ₁ is immersed in the opening 23. That is, in the open position, the tolerance of the vial Vc and the tolerance of the tooth 7a of the rotating body 7 are centered around the position where the distance between the one tooth 7a ₁ and the guide plate 22a becomes the nominal barrel diameter of the vial Vc. (Opening position) varies by the sum of (manufacturing error) and the amount of rotational shake of the rotating body 7 (this becomes a pitch error between vials). How to deal with these problems will be described later. After that, the indexed vial bottle Vc ₁ is transported to the downstream side at the transport speed of the conveyor 3.

Before the one tooth portion 7a ₁ sinks into the opening 23, the next tooth portion 7a ₂ projects inside the guide plate 22b through the opening 23 and waits for Vc ₂ . When the side surface of the subsequent vial Vc ₂ comes into contact with this next tooth portion 7a ₂ , while the rotating body 7 is rotated clockwise from the origin position at a rotation angle of 60 degrees or less, teeth 7a ₂ is brought into contact with the side surface of the vial Vc ₂ always the most downstream side, so that the vial Vc ₂ is moved to the downstream side at an angular velocity of the rotating body 7. Note that by the initial contact position with the vial Vc ₂ and following teeth 7a ₂ to a configuration in which the side surface of the vial Vc _2, to suppress the component of force pressing toward the vial Vc ₂ to the guide plate 22a Therefore, it is possible to prevent the indexing means from being blocked. In this case, therefore vial Vc _2, while being blocked further subsequent vial _Vc 3, Vc _4, while moving to the downstream side, between the vial Vc ₁ at the most downstream side and the subsequent vial Vc ₂ In addition, a gap is gradually created depending on the angular velocity of the rotating body 7 and the transport velocity of the conveyor 3 (see FIG. 4C).

When the rotating body 7 is rotated clockwise by 60 degrees, the vial Vc ₂ is released from the next tooth portion 7a ₂ and is indexed. As a result, a gap Gp having a predetermined width is opened between the vial bottle Vc ₁ and the vial bottle Vc ₂ (see FIG. 4D). After that, by repeating the above operation, the vials that are conveyed without opening a gap are indexed one by one, and the indexed vials Vc have a gap Gp of a predetermined width between the vials Vc. In this state, it is delivered to the portion of the transport path 2 on the downstream side.

Next, the rotating means 7 detects the number of rotations by the detecting means, and when it reaches a predetermined value, it is determined that a predetermined number of vials Vc have been indexed, and the rotation of the rotating body 7 is stopped. In this case, the vial Vc in the portion of the transport path 2 on the upstream side of the rotating body 7 is again stopped by the tooth portion 7a of the rotating body 7 located at the origin position, as described above. The vials Vc indexed by the rotating body 7 are conveyed by the conveyor 3 with a gap Gp having a predetermined width between the vials Vc, and the first predetermined number of vials Vc are transferred to the transfer place 21. They are stacked in one row with a gap Gp having a predetermined width between the vials Vc (a state in which the pitch between the predetermined vials Vc is maintained).

Finally, the first predetermined number of vials Vc accumulated in one line at the transfer place 21 are moved by moving the first push plate 41 in the X-axis plus direction by a predetermined first stroke, thereby making the transfer plate 6 It is transferred to the temporary placement plate section 61. Further, in the same manner as described above, the second predetermined number of vials Vc, which is one less than the first predetermined number indexed by the rotating body 7, is conveyed to the transfer place 21 by the conveyor 3. In this case, the stop position of the vial Vc at the most downstream side among the second predetermined number of vials Vc is set to the radius of the vial Vc in the Y-axis direction (that is, half the pitch between the predetermined vials Vc. ) Shift. Then, in the same manner as described above, when the second predetermined number of vials Vc accumulated in one row at the transfer place 21 are moved by the first stroke in the X axis plus direction by the first stroke, The row of the second predetermined number of vials Vc and the row of the second predetermined number of vials Vc come into contact with each other, resulting in a situation of two rows, and by further movement, the temporary placement plate portion 61 of the transfer plate 6 is moved. Transferring (When performing this contact movement, if the first pushing plate 41 is moved in the X-axis plus direction by a predetermined first stroke with the pitch between the vials Vc in each row being inconsistent, It causes collapse, which causes various problems such as overturned bottles and blockages when entering/exiting). By repeating this operation, the vials Vc accumulated in one row in the Y-axis direction are juxtaposed in a zigzag pattern in the X-axis direction.

On the other hand, in the freeze-drying tank 11, the shelf plate 14 on which the vial Vc has been transferred is lifted and the opening/closing door 113 is moved to the open position. The end in the X-axis positive direction of the transfer plate portion 62 is locked to the end in the negative X-axis direction of the shelf plate 14. Then, when the vials Vc arranged in one row in the Y-axis direction are juxtaposed in a plurality of rows in the X-axis direction, the first pushing plate 41 is moved in the X-axis plus direction by a predetermined second stroke. Then, the vials Vc are transferred to the shelf plate 14 while being arranged side by side in a staggered manner. By repeating this operation, the vial bottles Vc are transferred to the plurality of shelf plates 14, and when this is completed, the transfer plate portion 62 is raised to the temporary storage plate portion 61 side and returned, and the opening/closing door 113 is moved to the closed position. , Freeze-drying is performed. Since the freeze-drying process itself is known, detailed description is omitted here. When the freeze-drying is completed, the shelf plate 14 is lowered and the opening/closing door 113 is moved to the open position. The end of the X-axis plus direction is locked. Then, when the second push plate 51 is moved in the negative direction of the X axis with a predetermined stroke, the freeze-dried vial Vc is transferred to the transfer place 21 via the transfer plate 6, and each vial Vc is transferred. It is transported to the downstream side of the loading place 21.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, a predetermined number of vials Vc are accumulated in one row in the transfer place 21 with a gap Gp having a predetermined width between the vials Vc. Since the dimensional tolerance of each vial Vc is canceled by the gap Gp having a predetermined width between the vials Vc, a predetermined number of vials Vc can be accumulated at the transfer place 21 without accumulating the dimensional tolerance. .. As a result, a space equivalent to one vial bottle is not formed at the tail end of the vial bottles Vc accumulated in one row, and it is possible to prevent staggering when the vial bottles Vc are stored. In this case, the number of vials Vc indexed based on the number of rotations of the rotating body 7 can be counted, and if the rotation of the rotating body 7 is stopped, the vial Vc can be suppressed from passing. Therefore, the rotating body 7 has a function of a count sensor and a stopper. This is advantageous because it is not necessary to provide a count sensor and a stopper, and the number of parts can be reduced.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. In the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the rotating body 7 is described as a symmetrical tooth gear, but the present invention is not limited to this. As shown in FIG. 5, in the modified example, as the rotating body 70, the surface Ro on the rotation direction side of the tooth portion 70a (that is, the tooth surface on the side where the tooth portion 7a of the rotating body 7 and the vial Vc do not contact) is chamfered, and is asymmetric. Toothed gears can be used. At the same time as this chamfering, offsetting the direction of tooth addition from the center of rotation of the rotor 7 is also an effective means. By using this rotating body 70, when the rotating body 7 indexes the vial Vc, the tooth portion 7a ₃ and the tooth portion 7a ₂ protrude from the guide plate 22b and the tooth portion 7a ₃ is guided by the guide plate 22b. It is possible to dispose immediately below the inner side surface of the rotor (that is, a position where it does not interfere with the subsequent vial Vc), and at the same time, it is possible to project three tooth portions 7a of the rotating body 70 from the inner side surface of the guide plate 22b. Become. This is advantageous in that the tooth portion 7a can be brought into contact with the vial Vc after the tooth portion 7a has sufficiently risen, so that the component force to be pressed toward the guide plate 22a can be further suppressed.

Further, from the viewpoint of suppressing the pitch error between the vials Vc described above, it is desirable that the rotating body 7 and the tooth portion 7a be integrally manufactured. This is because it is necessary to improve the accuracy on the side of the rotating body 7 to suppress the variation as long as the tolerance of the general-purpose vial Vc is allowed. As a matter of course, the structure that axially supports the rotating body 7 is required to have a configuration in which the amount of rotational shake does not deteriorate even when a moment load is applied. Further, from the surface of smoothly indexing the vial Vc at the release point, it is desirable that the material of the tooth portion 7a and the guide plate 22a be made of fluororesin. In the above-described embodiment, the rotating body 7 is manufactured as an integral body including the tooth portion 7a by cutting the fluororesin as a material. With other materials, stable indexing is difficult due to the friction coefficient problem.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the indexing means is the gear-shaped rotating body 7 has been described as an example. However, the vials Vc that are conveyed without leaving a gap are indexed one by one, and each vial Vc. It is not limited to this as long as it can be sent out with a gap Gp having a predetermined width therebetween. Although not particularly shown and described, for example, an endless belt is wound between a pair of drive rollers and a plurality of protrusions are formed on the surface of the belt at predetermined intervals, and the belt is passed through the opening 23 of the guide plate 22b. You may comprise so that at least 2 or more protrusions may always project inside the guide plate 22b.

Gp... Gap of predetermined width, Tm... Transfer device, Vc... Vial bottle, 1... Freeze-drying device, 2... Transfer path, 21... Transfer place, 3... Transfer means (conveyor), 4... Transfer means, 7... Indexing means (gear-shaped rotating body).

Claims (3)

A transport means for transporting a large number of vials aligned in a row along the transport path in a standing posture, and a predetermined number of vials accumulated in a row at a transfer location provided on the transport path are used as a vial bottle. In a transfer transfer device for a vial, which comprises a transfer means for transferring a filled substance to a freeze-drying device for freeze-drying,
The indexing means is provided in the part of the transfer path on the upstream side of the transfer place, and the indexing means forms a gap between each vial bottle from the part of the transfer path on the upstream side of the installation position of the indexing means. Each vial bottle that is conveyed without being indexed is sent out to the portion of the transport path on the downstream side of the installation position of this indexing device with a predetermined gap between the vials. And a predetermined number of vials are stacked in a row at the transfer location with a predetermined width of space left between the vials. 2. The vial according to claim 1, wherein the indexing means is a gear-shaped rotating body having a plurality of tooth portions provided on the outer peripheral portion at circumferential intervals capable of receiving one vial bottle each. Bottle transfer device. A transfer process in which a large number of vials are arranged in a row along a transfer path in a standing posture and transferred, and a predetermined number of vials accumulated in a row at a transfer location provided on the transfer path are transferred to a vial. In a method of transferring and transferring a vial, which comprises a transfer step of transferring the filled substance to a freeze-drying device for freeze-drying,
In the carrying step, the indexing means provided in the part of the carrying path on the upstream side of the transfer place does not leave a gap between each vial bottle from the part of the carrying path on the upstream side of the installation position of the indexing means. The vials that are transported to the container are indexed one by one, and the vials are sent to the part of the transport path on the downstream side of the installation position of the indexing device with a predetermined gap between the vials and transferred. A method of transferring and transferring vials, comprising a step of accumulating a predetermined number of vials in a row at a place and with a gap of a predetermined width between the vials.

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