JP3351445B2 - Capping device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a stoppering device, and more particularly to a stoppering device suitable for fitting, for example, a rubber inner stopper to an injection cylinder as a container.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 4-28386 is known as a technique for plugging an inner plug into a syringe barrel of a syringe. In the technique disclosed in the above publication, first, an injection cylinder is held on one plate under the atmospheric pressure outside the vacuum chamber, and an inner plug is held on the other plate. Then, the plate holding the plug and the plate holding the syringe are set in a vacuum chamber. Next, after the inside of the vacuum chamber is evacuated, the inner stopper is pushed down by a pressing pin, and the inner stopper is provisionally stoppered at the upper opening of the syringe barrel. Thereafter, when the atmosphere is introduced into the vacuum chamber, a pressure difference is generated between the inside and the outside of the syringe barrel. The pressure difference causes the inner plug to be fitted deeply from the upper opening to the vicinity of the liquid surface of the drug solution. The syringe barrel thus fitted with the inner plug opens the vacuum chamber and is taken out.

[0003]

By the way, in the above-mentioned prior art, an operator carries out the work of holding the inner plug and the syringe barrel on each plate, and furthermore, opens and closes the vacuum chamber to take in and out each plate. There was a disadvantage that work efficiency was poor because of the necessity. Further, in the above-mentioned conventional technique, since the vacuum chamber is an indispensable constituent element, there is a drawback that plugging under the atmospheric pressure cannot be performed.

[0004]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In view of such circumstances,
The present invention is a container supply mechanism that supplies a container having an open mouth, an inner stopper supply mechanism that supplies an inner stopper made of an elastic member,
Holding means for holding the inner plug supplied from the inner stopper supply mechanism at a position above the container, and a lower stopper provided so as to be able to move up and down and held by the holding means to be pushed down and fitted to the mouth of the container. A stopper pin, which is provided so as to be able to move up and down, is inserted between the mouth of the container and the outer periphery of the stopper when the stopper is fitted to the mouth of the container. And a lifting mechanism for raising and lowering the tapping pin and the gap pin at the same time .

[0005]

According to this structure, the supply of the container and the inner plug and the fitting of the inner plug to the container can be mechanized.
When the inner plug is fitted to the mouth of the container, a gap pin is inserted between the mouth of the container and the inner plug. Then, a minute gap is formed along the gap pin. Therefore, the internal space of the syringe barrel and the outside communicate with each other through the gap, and when the inner plug is plugged into the mouth, it is possible to prevent the pressure in the internal space of the syringe barrel from rising, thereby enabling the container The inner plug can be smoothly fitted to the mouth of the inner plug. Further, the vacuum chamber and the like required by the above-described conventional technique can be omitted. Therefore, the working efficiency at the time of fitting the inner plug into the syringe can be greatly improved as compared with the related art.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiment. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a stoppering system, which is capable of fitting an inner stopper 3 to a syringe barrel 2 as a container shown in FIG. . This stoppering system 1 includes a drug solution 4 in an injection barrel 2.
Filling device 5, filling device 5 with filling agent 5, plug device 6 for fitting inner plug 3 to mouth 2a of injection cylinder 2 filled with drug solution 4, and plug device 6 for fitting inner plug 3 A grouping device 7 for grouping the injected syringes 2 by a predetermined number, and an inner plug 3 is once removed from the mouths 2a of the syringes 2 grouped by the grouping device 7, and is again fitted to the mouths 2a under vacuum. And a vacuum tapping device 8. As shown in FIG. 2, in the syringe barrel 2, when the cap 11 is attached to the attachment port 2 b where the injection needle is attached, the attachment port 2 b is inserted into the cup-shaped holder 12 so as to face downward. Therefore, the mouth 2a of the syringe barrel 2
Is supported upward and the holder 1
The injection cylinder 2 held in 2 is supplied to the upstream side of the first conveyor 13. Thereafter, the syringe 2 in the holder 12 transported downstream by the first conveyor 13 is moved to the first position.
A predetermined amount of the chemical solution 4 is sequentially filled into the inside of the conveyor 13 by a conventionally known line-type filling device 5 disposed in the process of transporting the conveyor 13. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, the inner plug 3 is formed of a columnar rubber, and has a seal portion 3a formed of an annular projection at both ends in the axial direction and a center portion of an outer peripheral portion thereof. A female screw portion 3b is formed at a predetermined depth at the center of the upper surface of the inner plug 3, and after the tapping operation is completed, the distal end of a pusher (not shown) is screwed onto the female screw portion 3b. Has become.

(Plug device) The plug device 6 rotates clockwise to rotate the mouth 2a of the syringe barrel 2.
A stopper mechanism 14 for fitting the inner stopper 3 to the inside, a supply starwheel 15 for transferring the injection cylinder 2 to the stopper mechanism 14 at the first supply position A, and an injection with the stopper 3 fitted at the discharge position B. It comprises a discharge starwheel 16 for discharging the cylinder 2 from the plugging mechanism 14, and a plug supplying mechanism 17 for supplying the plug 3 to the plugging mechanism 14 at the second supply position C. The stopper mechanism 14 and the star wheels 15 and 16 are rotated in the direction of the arrow in synchronization with each other. The injection cylinder 2 conveyed by the first conveyor 8 is sequentially fed by the supply star wheel 15 to the first conveyor. After being taken out from above, it is supplied to the tapping mechanism 14 at the first supply position A. On the other hand, the inner plug supply mechanism 17 includes a sorter 18 that forms a spiral step on the inner peripheral surface of the concave portion and is reciprocated and oscillated. A large number of stored inner plugs 3 are aligned in a vertical line with the female screw portion 3b facing upward. And, as shown in FIG.
The inner plugs 3 arranged in a line in such a manner are first supplied and supported on the plate-shaped guide 9 from the distal end portion 19a of the chute 19 at the second supply position C, which is located between the star wheels 12 and 13, and then. Each engagement recess 2 of the tapping mechanism 14 described later
3b.

[0008] Next, as shown in FIG.
Are five disks 22, 2 attached to a drive shaft (not shown).
3, 24, 25, and 26, and when the drive shaft is driven, these disks 22, 23, 24, 25, and 26 are rotated clockwise. A pocket 25a formed of an arc-shaped concave portion is formed at an equal interval position on the outer peripheral portion of the second disk 25 from the lower side, and the pocket 25a of the disk 25 is also formed on the outer peripheral portion of the disk 24 above it. The pockets 24a are respectively formed in accordance with the positions. Then, with the rotation of the disks 24 and 25 in the clockwise direction, the holder 12 holding the syringe barrel 2 is sequentially supplied into the respective pockets 25a by the supply star wheel 15 at the first supply position A. It has become. Each holder 12 thus supplied to the tapping mechanism 14 has its bottom surface supported on the lowermost disk 26, and at the same time, its outer peripheral portion is held in the pocket 25a. The outer periphery of the injection cylinder 2 is also a pocket 2
4a. In this embodiment, each pocket 25
a (24a) so as to prevent the holder 12 (syringe 2) from falling off by centrifugal force over a required range on the outer side of the movement trajectory of each pocket 25a (24a).
7, 27 'are provided.

The two disks 22 and 23 located on the upper side are provided with through holes 22a and 23a, respectively, in accordance with the position of the syringe barrel 2 held in each of the pockets 25a (24a). Through holes 22a, 23a at these upper and lower positions
In addition, a stepped cylindrical tapping pin 28 is slidably penetrated. The upper end of the tapping pin 28 communicates with a negative pressure source (not shown) via a movable pipe, and a negative pressure can be constantly introduced into the tapping pin 28 from the negative pressure source. Further, since the lower outer peripheral portion of the stopper pin 28 is reduced in diameter by a predetermined dimension, as described later, when the stopper pin 28 is lowered, the lower end of the stopper pin 28 is Female thread part 3
The inside plug 3 is inserted into the inside b so that the inner plug 3 can be sucked and held. In the outer peripheral portion of the disk 23 at a position adjacent to each through hole 23a, an engaging recess 23b continuous from the through hole 23a is formed. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, in the present embodiment, the plate-shaped guide 9 is
Is located below the engagement recess 23b. Therefore, when the disk 23 is rotated clockwise, at the second supply position C, the inner plug 3 supplied and supported on the plate-shaped guide 9 from the distal end portion 19a of the chute 19 engages with each of the engagement recesses 23b. While being held together, they are taken out one by one, and immediately thereafter, they are sucked by the lower end of the stopper pin 28 which is lowered by a predetermined amount. Further, a gap pin 31 is integrally attached to the outer periphery of the stopper pin 28 in parallel with the axis of the stopper pin 28 and slightly apart from the lower periphery. The lower end of the gap pin 31 is located below the lower end of the tapping pin 28 by a predetermined dimension.

[0010] When the gap pin 31 is lowered, the gap pin 31 is placed on the disk 23 located immediately below the gap pin 31.
Through holes 23 that allow the passage of air and guide the descent
c is drilled. The inner peripheral portion on the lower side of the through hole 23c is formed into a true circular cross section having an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the gap pin 31 and is formed in the vertical direction. On the other hand, the upper inner peripheral portion of the through hole 23c has an elliptical cross section whose diameter gradually increases on the upper side. Thus, an inclined surface for guiding the lower end portion 31a of the gap pin 31 is formed on the upper inner peripheral surface of the through hole 23c. When the gap pin 31 is lowered, the lower end portion 31a is first elastically deformed toward the stopper pin 28 while engaging with the inclined surface of the upper inner peripheral portion of the through hole 23c. 4 is guided by the lower inner peripheral portion of the base member and penetrates vertically downward (FIG. 4).
(B)). In this embodiment, since the through hole 23c is configured as described above, when the lower end portion 31a of the gap pin 31 passes through the through hole 23c, the lower end portion 31a does not come into contact with the inner plug 3 held at the adjacent position. It has become. A cam follower 32 is attached to an upper outer peripheral portion of the stopper pin 28, and the cam follower 32 is engaged with a ring-shaped cam member 33 attached to a fixed frame (not shown). Therefore, when each of the disks 22 to 26 is rotated clockwise, each of the stopper pins 28 is raised and lowered by a predetermined stroke along the cam surface of the cam member 33. In the present embodiment, the cam curve of the cam member 33 is adjusted so that each stopper pin 28 is moved up and down as follows in each rotation section when each of the disks 22 to 26 rotates. That is, in the rotation section clockwise in FIG. 1 slightly before the discharge position B to the second supply position C, each tapping pin 28 is held at the rising end position shown in FIG. ing. In this rotation section, the lower end of the tapping pin 28 and the lower end 31a of the gap pin 31 are connected to both through holes 23a, 23c.
Hiding inside. Accordingly, as each of the disks 22 to 26 is rotated clockwise, the inner plug 3 supported on the plate-like guide 9 at the second supply position C is moved to the corresponding engagement recess 23b of the disk 23. Are sequentially taken out one by one (FIGS. 3 and 4 (a)).

Next, at the position immediately after the passage of the second supply position C, each stopper pin 28 is lowered from the rising end position to a slightly lower position, and the height thereof is changed to the first supply position A. Is maintained throughout. As a result, the lower end of the tapping pin 28 passes through the through hole 23a and is inserted into the female screw 3b of the inner plug 3 engaged with the engaging recess 23b. Since a negative pressure is introduced into the stopper pin 28, the inner stopper 3 is sucked and held by the stopper pin 28 in a state where the inner stopper 3 is located in the engagement recess 23b.
At the same time, the lower end 31a of the gap pin 31 also passes through the through hole 23c. As described above, the upper inner peripheral portion of the through hole 23c is an inclined surface, whereas
Since the lower inner peripheral portion of c is formed in the vertical direction, the lower end portion 31a of the gap pin 31 is elastically deformed along the inclined surface, and is further directed vertically downward along the lower inner peripheral portion. Penetrate in a state. Thus, the lower portion of the gap pin 31 that has passed through the through hole 23c is parallel to the axis of the inner plug 3 and slightly separated from the seal portion 3a. Also,
In this state, the lower end 31 a of the gap pin 31 projects slightly below the lower surface of the inner plug 3. (FIG. 4
(B)).

In this state, when the engaging recess 23b holding the inner plug 3 and the stopper pin 28 move to the first supply position A, the supply star wheel 1 is moved to the first supply position A.
5, the holder 12 is inserted into each pocket 24a (25a).
And the syringe 2 held therein is supplied (FIG. 4).
(B) and FIG. 2). As a result, the syringe barrel 2 is held at a position immediately below the inner plug 3 held by the stopper pin 28, and the center of the syringe barrel 2 and the inner stopper 3 held by the stopper pin 28 are held.
Axis coincides with the center axis. Next, the first supply position A
In the rotation section from the position where the elapsed time has elapsed to slightly before the discharge position B, the stopper pin 28 is gradually lowered to the lower end position. Thereby, the inner plug 3 held by the stopper pin 28 is
The lower portion 31a of the gap pin 31 is gradually lowered at the same time as it is gradually pushed down from the inside of the engaging recess 23b. As a result, the lower end 31a of the gap pin 31 located below the lower surface of the inner plug 3 is engaged from above with the tapered surface 2a ', which is the upper end of the mouth 2a of the syringe 2, and the syringe 2 Are elastically deformed toward the axial center side. In addition, the bottom surface of the inner plug 3 and the lowermost seal portion 3a contact the lower end portion 31a of the gap pin 31 thus elastically deformed from above (FIG. 4C).

Thereafter, the inner plug 3 and the gap pin 31 held by the stopper pin 28 are further lowered, so that the inner plug 3 is pressed into the mouth 2a of the syringe barrel 2. At the same time, the lower portion of the gap pin 31 which has been in contact with the lowermost seal portion 3a of the inner plug 3 is also sandwiched between the inner plug 3 and the inner peripheral surface of the mouth 2a of the syringe barrel 2 together with the inner plug 3. The syringe 2 is inserted into the mouth 2a of the syringe barrel 2 in the state of being closed. At this time, the outer peripheral portion of the inner plug 3 in contact with the gap pin 31 is elastically deformed along the shape of the gap pin 31 according to its shape, so that a gap is generated between the elastically deformed portion and the gap pin 31. Looks like Due to the formation of the gap, the inside of the syringe barrel 2 on the inner side of the inner stopper 3 communicates with the outside of the syringe barrel 2, and therefore, the inner stopper 3 is pressed into the mouth 2 a of the syringe barrel 2. Nevertheless, it is possible to prevent the pressure in the space inside the syringe 2 from rising. As a result, the inner plug 3 can be smoothly fitted to the mouth 2a of the syringe barrel 2. Therefore, rubber inner plug 3
The rubber solution does not form when the is press-fitted into the inner peripheral surface of the mouth 2a, so that the chemical solution 4 in the injection cylinder 2 can be prevented from being contaminated by such a residue.

Thereafter, at the position immediately before the discharge position B, the stopper pin 28 is raised to the original raised end position, and then the second position is set.
It is maintained at the rising end position up to the supply position C. Therefore,
The lower end of the stopper pin 28 is separated from the inner stopper 3, and
The lower part of the gap pin 31 inserted between the outer peripheral part of the inner stopper 3 and the mouth part 2a of the syringe barrel 2 is also removed. Since a seal portion 3a is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the inner plug 3, when the lower portion of the gap pin 31 is pulled out from between the mouth portion 2a and the inner plug 3, the seal portion 3a becomes the mouth portion of the syringe barrel 2. The inside of the syringe barrel 2 can be completely sealed in close contact with the injection tube 2a. In this way, the syringe barrel 2 with the inner plug 3 fitted to the mouth 2a is discharged from the discharge position B by the discharge star wheel 16 and transferred to the second conveyor 34. Then, the second conveyor 34 sequentially conveys the syringe barrel 2 with the inner plug 3 fitted thereto to the grouping device 7 on the downstream side.

As described above, in the plugging device 6 of this embodiment,
Since the operation of supplying the syringe barrel 2 and the inner stopper 3 to the stopper mechanism 14 and the work of fitting the inner stopper 3 to the syringe barrel 2 are mechanized, the work can be greatly improved. In the above embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the rotary plugging device 1 has been described, but the present invention can also be applied to a line type plugging device. Further, the stopper pin 2 by the cam member 33 is used.
By changing the up / down stroke of the gap pin 8 and the gap pin 31, the inner plug 3 can be deeply stoppered near the liquid surface of the chemical solution 4 which is on the inner side of the mouth 2a.

(Grouping Apparatus) Next, the grouping apparatus 7 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 5 to 7. The grouping device 7 includes a stopper wheel 35 provided at a position facing the second conveyor 34 in the conveying process, a first pushing mechanism 37 and a grouping conveyor 38 provided at a position facing the end of the second conveyor 34.
And a second pushing mechanism 39 that surrounds the holders 12 grouped on the grouping conveyor 38 and pushes the holders 12 toward the vacuum stopper 8. Each holder 12 (syringe 2) conveyed by the second conveyor 34 is
By the stopper wheel 35, those at adjacent positions are separated into every twelve vertical rows in contact with each other, and are conveyed to the downstream side. The first pushing mechanism 37 can move forward and backward in a direction intersecting with the second conveyor 34 while moving following the movement of the holder 12 carried by the second conveyor 34. Therefore, the second conveyor 3
The holders 12 (injection cylinders 2), which are gathered in a line on each of the 12 columns and conveyed to the downstream end, are sequentially pushed out from the second conveyor 34 by the first pushing mechanism 37, 12 pieces per line. And a grouping conveyor 38 via a bridge plate 42 provided at a position adjacent to the second conveyor 34.
It is designed to be placed on top. The grouping conveyor 38 is disposed in a direction perpendicular to the second conveyor 34 and runs in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 6, and the mounting surface of the grouping conveyor 38 is the second conveyor 34 and the transfer plate 42. Is set at the same height as the mounting surface. Thereby, the second conveyor 34 is moved by the first pushing mechanism 37.
Each holder 12 is prevented from falling down when it is extruded from above to the grouping conveyor 38. A pair of guide rails 43 is disposed at outer positions on both sides of the grouping conveyor 38.
The leg 39a of the second push-out mechanism 39 is mounted on the guide rail 43 so as to roll freely. The second push-out mechanism 39 includes a pair of guide members 44 disposed to be opposed to the upper and lower sides of the grouping conveyor 38 so as to be opposed to each other. Flap members 45 and 46 are provided. As a result, among the twelve vertical rows of holders 12 sequentially supplied onto the grouping conveyor 38 by the first push-out mechanism 37, the leading and trailing ones of the holders 12 are regulated in the position of the moving end by the guide member 44. Therefore, the grouping conveyor 38
Will not dissipate on. Accordingly, the twelve holders 12 in each of the vertical rows are sequentially supplied onto the grouping conveyor 38 by the first extruding mechanism 37, and the adjacent rows 1
The two holders 12 are placed on the grouping conveyor 38 in a state where they are in contact with each other.

The flap member 45 located on the second conveyor 34 side is formed in a rectangular shape in cross section, while the flap member 46 on the vacuum tapping device 8 side is formed in an elongated box shape. These flap members 45 and 46 are connected to the cylinder mechanism 4.
By means of 7, 47, it is possible to oscillate between an upper position and a lower position synchronously. And these flap members 4
Until the first pushing mechanism 37 pushes the holders 12 for 12 rows onto the grouping conveyor 38, the positions 5 and 46 are at the upper positions where they do not interfere with the holders 12 (the syringe barrels 2) (FIG. 6). On the other hand, when the holders 12 for 12 rows are pushed out onto the grouping conveyor 38, the grouping conveyor 38 which has been stopped up to that point is stopped.
Is driven in the direction of the arrow by a predetermined distance. As a result, the twelve holders 12 in the twelfth row, which are the last positions on the grouping conveyor 38, and the passing plate 4 which is the adjacent position thereof
There is a large gap between the next row of holders 12 on the second. At this time, both flap members 45,
46 is synchronously lowered to the lower position, so that the flap member 45 abuts on the outer peripheral portions of the twelve holders 12 in the rearmost twelfth row via the above-mentioned gap, and at the left side of the flap member 46. 12 holders 12 whose end faces are in the first row
Abuts the outer periphery of As a result, a total of 144 holders 12 are grouped on the grouping conveyor 38 in each of the 12 columns in the vertical and horizontal directions, and the periphery of the grouped holders 12 is surrounded by the two guide members 4 of the second pushing mechanism 39.
4 and both flap members 45 and 46.

Thereafter, the second push-out mechanism 39 is moved by a predetermined stroke toward the right side along the guide rail 43 by a linear drive mechanism (not shown), so that a total of 144 grouped on the grouping conveyor 38.
The book holder 12 is supplied from the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 5 to the position of the vacuum stopper 8 shown by the imaginary line. At this time, if a total of 144 holders 12 whose vacuum plugging has been completed already exist at the position of the vacuum plugging device 8, the front end face of the flap member 46 that has moved as described above. As a result, it is extruded from the position of the vacuum tapping device 8 onto a discharge conveyor 48 provided at a position adjacent thereto. When the second pushing mechanism 39 is moved to the position of the vacuum tapping device 8 as described above, both the flap members 45 and 46 also become the holder 1.
It returns to the upper position where it does not come into contact with 2. After this, immediately
The second pushing mechanism 39 is the same as the original grouping conveyor 38.
To the upper position. In this way, the grouping device 7 sequentially moves on the grouping conveyor 38 in each of the vertical and horizontal directions.
A total of 144 holders 12 (syringe 2) are provided in two rows, and the grouped holders 12 can be supplied to a predetermined position on the side of the vacuum stopper 8 and at the same time, the vacuum stopper 8
144 holders 12 whose vacuum plugging has already been completed
Can be discharged from the position of the vacuum tapping device 8 to the discharge conveyor 48.

(Vacuum Plugging Device) Next, the vacuum plugging device 8 will be described with reference to FIG.
and a casing 53 integrally connected to the upper surface of the vacuum chamber 52. The vacuum chamber 52 and the casing 53 are connected to the upper end of a rod 54 penetrated through the mounting surface 51a of the fixed frame 51, and a cylinder mechanism 55 interlocking with the rod 54 moves the raised end position shown in FIG. The lower end position shown in FIG. 8 by the cylinder mechanism 55.
When the vacuum chamber 52 and the casing 53 are lowered to the lower end position shown in FIG. 5, the lower end opening 52a of the vacuum chamber 52 is mounted on the mounting surface 51a, and the vacuum chamber 5
2 is hermetically sealed. On the other hand, when the vacuum chamber 52 and the casing 53 are located at the rising end position shown in FIG.
The holder 12 (injection cylinder 2) grouped into 144 pieces is supplied onto the mounting surface 51a located immediately below the vacuum chamber 52 by the second pushing mechanism 39.

The vacuum chamber 52 has a flexible hose 5
6 and the flow path switching valve 57 are connected to either the vacuum pump 58 or the atmosphere. Thus, a negative pressure or the atmosphere can be selectively introduced into the sealed vacuum chamber 52 shown in FIG. Inside the vacuum chamber 52, an inner plug holding means 61 is provided, and a stopper pin 62 is provided above the inner plug holding means 61.
And a mounting member 64 to which the gap pin 63 is mounted. The inner plug holding means 61 is formed of a plate-like member, and is provided with a stepped through-hole whose diameter is increased on the lower side at a position immediately above each holder 12 (the injection cylinder 2) supplied on the mounting surface 51a. Each of these through holes serves as a holding portion 61A for holding the inner plug 3. Each holding portion 61A comprising the above-mentioned through hole
By making the inner diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the inner plug 3, when the inner plug 3 is extruded into the holding portion 61A,
The inner plug 3 can be held in the holding portion 61A by the frictional force of both. A guide groove 61a for guiding the gap pin 63 along the axial direction is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the holding portion 61A.
Is formed. Further, a step portion 61b and a tapered hole 61c are provided continuously below the holding portion 61A,
The centering of the mouth 2a of the syringe barrel 2 is performed by the tapered hole 61c, and the upper surface of the syringe barrel 2 can be pressed and held by the stepped portion 61b. In the present embodiment, when the inside of the vacuum chamber 52 is evacuated,
The inner plug 35 fitted to the mouth 2a of the syringe barrel 2 is pushed out of the syringe barrel 2 by the pressure difference between the atmospheric pressure in the chamber and the vacuum pressure in the vacuum chamber 52, and the pushed-out inner stopper 35 is held in each holder. It is held by the portion 61A.

The inner plug holding means 61 is connected to the lower ends of a plurality of lifting rods 65 penetrating the vacuum chamber 52 and the casing 53 while maintaining the airtightness. The upper end of each lifting rod 65 is connected to a plate-like support member 66 provided in the casing 53. At the center of the support member 66, a double rod cylinder mechanism 67 is provided. The lower end of the cylinder rod 67a is brought into contact with the center of the upper surface of the support member 68 located immediately below the lower end of the cylinder rod 67a. Is in contact with the lower surface of the central portion of the casing 53 from below. On the other hand, the mounting member 64 located above the inner plug holding means 61 has the inner plug holding means 6 attached thereto.
A stopper pin 62 and a gap pin 63 are attached to positions directly above the respective holding portions 61A so as to face vertically downward. The lower end of the gap pin 63 is located below the lower end of the stopper pin 62 by a predetermined dimension. The attachment member 64 is attached to the lower ends of a plurality of elevating rods 71 penetrating the vacuum chamber 52 and the casing 53 while maintaining the airtightness. The upper ends of the elevating rods 71 are connected to the support member 68. A piston rod 72a of a cylinder mechanism 72 provided at the center of the upper surface of the vacuum chamber 52 is connected to the center of the lower surface of the support member 68. As described above, both rod cylinder mechanisms are connected to the center of the upper surface of the support member 68. The lower end of the cylinder rod 67a of the cylinder 67 is in contact with the cylinder rod 67a. In addition, a compression spring 73 is provided between the both rod cylinder mechanisms 67 and the lower surface of the central portion of the casing 53 so as to always push down the rod cylinder mechanisms 67 and the inner plug holding means 61 which moves up and down integrally therewith. Further, a guide rod 74 fixed to the casing 53 is penetrated at a predetermined position of the support member 66, and a large-diameter stopper portion 74 is provided at a lower end portion of the guide rod 74.
a. The lower end of the inner plug holding means 61 is regulated by the contact of the support member 66 with the stopper 74a from above. When the supporting member 68 is moved up and down by the cylinder mechanism 72 to raise and lower the stopper pin 62 and the gap pin 63, the rod cylinder mechanism 67 and the inner plug holding means 61 integrated therewith are moved up and down integrally therewith. Can be done.

(Operation Step by Vacuum Plugging Apparatus 8) Next, the operation of the vacuum plugging apparatus 8 configured as described above will be described. In the previous process described above, the 144 holders 12 (injection cylinders 2) in which the chemical solution 4 has been filled and the inner stopper 3 has been fitted are placed in the state in which the vacuum chamber 52 is located at the rising end position. It is supplied onto the mounting surface 51a located immediately below the vacuum chamber 52 by the two-push-out mechanism 39. By being supplied onto the mounting surface 51a in this manner, the 144 injection cylinders 2 are positioned at positions immediately below the holding portion 61A of the inner plug holding means 61, the tapping pins 62, and the gap pins 63. Thereafter, the vacuum chamber 52 is lowered to the lower end position shown in FIG.
The inside is sealed. In this state, the cylinder mechanisms 72, 6
Numeral 7 designates a gap pin 63, a tapping pin 62, and an inner plug holding means 61 at respective rising ends, and a flow path switching valve 57 connects the inside of the vacuum chamber 52 to the atmosphere (FIG. 9 (a)). )reference). When the vacuum chamber 52 is sealed, the rod cylinder mechanism 67 is operated to lower the elevating rod 65 and the inner plug holding means 61, and the tapered hole 61c of the holding portion 61A of the inner plug holding means 61 allows the injection cylinder 2 to be moved. The mouth 2a is centered on the stopper pin 62, and the upper surface of the syringe 2 is pressed by the step 61b to hold the syringe 2 (see FIG. 9B). In this state, the flow path switching valve 57 is switched so that the inside of the vacuum chamber 52 communicates with the vacuum pump 58, and the inside of the vacuum chamber 52 is brought into a low vacuum state of, for example, about 300 Torr. Then, a pressure difference is generated between the atmospheric pressure in the syringe barrel 2 and the vacuum pressure in the vacuum chamber 52, so that the inner stopper 3 is pushed out of the syringe barrel 2 and at the same time the inner stopper holding means 61 is pressed. Is pressed into the holding portion 61A of the
A (FIG. 9B). Next, when this state is reached, the double rod cylinder mechanism 6
7, the inner plug holding means 61 is raised to the original raised end position. As a result, the inner plug 3 held by the inner plug holding means 61 can be lifted with respect to the syringe 2, so that the inside of the syringe 2 is reliably communicated with the vacuum chamber 52, and
The inside can be made vacuum. On the other hand, by raising the inner plug 3 integrally with the inner plug holding means 61, the lower end of the tapping pin 62 is fitted into the female screw portion 3 b of the inner plug 3, and the gap pin 63 holds the inner plug. Guide groove 6 of means 61
It is guided by 1a and projects below the lower surface of the inner plug 3 (FIG. 9 (c)). When a predetermined vacuum pressure is thus introduced into the injection cylinder 2, both rod cylinder mechanisms 67 are actuated to lower the inner plug holding means 61 again, and the cylinder mechanism 72 is actuated to allow the gap pin 63 to move. The stopper pin 62 is integrally lowered. When the step 61b of the inner plug holding means 61 comes into contact with the upper surface of the syringe barrel 2, the lowering is stopped (FIG. 9 (d)), but the lowering of the gap pin 63 and the stopper pin 62 by the cylinder mechanism 72. It is continued (see FIG. 9E).

Then, as the gap pin 63 and the stopper pin 62 continue to descend, the inner plug 3 held by the inner plug holding means 61 is inserted into the syringe barrel 2, and at this time, the inner plug 3 Between the outer peripheral surface of the syringe barrel and the inner peripheral surface of the syringe barrel 2.
Since the gap 3 is interposed and forms a gap at that portion, the inner plug 3 can be smoothly inserted into the syringe barrel 2 while allowing a small amount of air remaining in the syringe barrel 2 to escape into the vacuum chamber 52. When the step 61b of the inner plug holding means 61 comes into contact with the upper surface of the syringe barrel 2, the descent is stopped. In this state, the upper and lower ends of the cylinder rod 67a are
3 is separated from the upper surface of the support member 68, and the holding force for holding the injection cylinder 2 is only the own weight of the rod cylinder mechanism 67, the elevating rod 65, and the inner plug holding means 61. A required size of holding force for the injection cylinder 2 is obtained by the elasticity of the compression spring 73 provided between the cylinder mechanism 67 and the lower surface of the casing 53. Thereafter, when the gap pin 63 and the stopper pin 62 are at the lower end and their lowering is stopped, the vacuum chamber 5
The inside of the syringe 2 is set to a high vacuum state of, for example, about 10 to 50 Torr, and the vacuum pressure is introduced into the syringe 2 through the gap formed by the gap pin 63.

After the high vacuum pressure is introduced into the syringe 2 in this manner, the stopper pins 62, the gap pins 63 and the inner plug holding means 61 are raised to the original raised end position by the cylinder mechanisms 67 and 72. As a result, the stopper pin 62 is separated from the inner stopper 3 and the gap pin 63 is also connected to the stopper pin 62.
And the inside stopper 3. In this state,
The vacuum chamber 52 is raised to the rising end by the cylinder mechanism 55. Then, after this, the second pushing mechanism 3
9, new 144 holders 12 (syringe 2)
Is supplied to the position directly below the vacuum chamber 52, while the 144 syringe barrels 2, which have already been vacuum-plugged as described above, are discharged from the position immediately below the vacuum chamber 52 to the discharge conveyor 4.
8 is discharged.

As described above, according to the stoppering system 1 according to the present embodiment, the filling device 5 fills the inside of the syringe 2 with the chemical solution 4 and the vacuum stoppering device 8 moves the syringe 4 under vacuum. The operation up to refitting the inner plug 3 can be mechanized.
Therefore, the efficiency of the above-described series of operations can be significantly improved. In the above embodiment, the gap pin 63 is formed of a solid rod, but it may be formed of a hollow rod. Further, the inner plug holding means 61 may have a clamp means for clamping the inner plug 3.
In this case, the inner stopper 3 is pressed into the mouth 2a of the syringe barrel 2 by about half and the upper end thereof is projected outside the syringe barrel 2, and the projected part can be held by the clamp means. . Further, in this case, it is obvious that the step of extruding the inner stopper 3 by the pressure difference between the atmospheric pressure in the syringe 2 and the vacuum pressure in the vacuum chamber 52 can be omitted.

Further, in the above embodiment, the vacuum chamber 52
After the inside of the syringe 2 is evacuated, the inner stopper 3 is fitted again to the syringe 2 in that state.
A step of supplying an inert gas into the vacuum chamber and filling the inside of the syringe cylinder 2 with the inert gas between the step of vacuuming the inside and the step of fitting the inner plug 3 back into the syringe barrel 2. May be inserted, and the inner plug 3 may be fitted into the syringe 2 again while the interior of the syringe 2 is filled with the inert gas. Also,
In the above-described embodiment, the case where the inner plug 3 is fitted to the injection cylinder 2 as a container has been described. However, the present embodiment can be applied to a general container having the mouth 2a opened upward.

[0027]

As described above, according to the present invention, there is obtained an effect that the working efficiency when fitting the inner plug into the syringe can be greatly improved as compared with the related art.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a stoppering system showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a main part taken along line II-II in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a main part of FIG. 2 for easy understanding;

FIG. 4 is a view showing a process when the inner stopper 3 is fitted to the injection cylinder 2 by the stopper mechanism 14.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a front view of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a main part along a line VIII-VIII in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a view showing an operation process by the vacuum tapping device shown in FIG. 8;

[Description of sign]

Reference Signs List 2 syringe barrel (container) 2a mouth 3 inner stopper 6 stopper device 15 supply starwheel (container supply mechanism) 17 inner stopper supply mechanism 23b engaging recess (holding means) 28 stopper pin 31 gap pin 32 cam follower (elevating mechanism) 33) Cam member (elevation mechanism)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A61J 1/05 A61M 5/24 B67B 1/04

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A container supply mechanism for supplying a container having an open mouth, an inner stopper supply mechanism for supplying an inner stopper made of an elastic member, and an inner stopper supplied from the inner stopper supply mechanism at a position above the container. The holding means for holding, the stopper pin which is provided movably up and down and pushes down the inner stopper held by the holding means to be fitted to the mouth of the container, and the stopper pin which is provided movably and vertically. When the stopper is fitted to the mouth of the container, the gap pin inserted between the mouth of the container and the outer periphery of the inner stopper to communicate the inside and outside of the container, and the stopper pin and the gap pin are simultaneously raised. A stopper device comprising a lifting mechanism for lowering the plug.