MXPA96001615A - Apparatus and method for sterilization and packaging - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus for sterilizing replenishments of interconnected bubble packings each containing a contact lens in a sterile environment, characterized in that it comprises: (a) a plurality of transportable grids between a series of work stations; b) a conveyor arrangement for transporting the grids between said series of work stations, (c) a plurality of trays for receiving the bubble pack arrangements, each of said trays being selectively loaded into and discharged from the grids (d) means for placing first and second said trays in a first work station, said first grid being emptied and said second grid containing a first plurality of said trays in an empty condition; (e) unloading means in the first work station to individually download the empty trays in predetermined sequence from the second reji (f) means in the first work station to fill each of said empty trays discharged with a plurality of arrangements advancing the tray filled with arrangement in alignment with said first empty grid and loading each tray in the first grid in sequence predetermined; (g) conveyor means advancing the first grid filled with tray to a second work station comprising a sterilization chamber; (h) means for coupling the grid in the second work station for transporting the grid inside the chamber of sterilization, and said coupling means by removing the grid from said sterilization chamber subsequent to the sterilization of the arrangements in said trays, and (i) additional conveyor means advancing the first grid from the sterilization work station to a third station. of work for unloading said trays from the grid and removing the s sterilized provisions of bubble packings of the same

Description

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR STERILIZATION AND SECONDARY PACKAGING CROSS REFERENCE AT RELATED PATENT APPLICATION This application is a continuation request in part of Sept. No. 06 / 257,766; presents on June 10, 199i +.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an apparatus for sterilization and secondary packaging in cardboard packaging of bubble packaging arrangements, each package containing at least one hydrophilic contact lens immersed in a sterile aqueous solution. More specifically, the invention is directed to an apparatus adapted to provide the assembly of bubble pack arrangements that are suitably transported in batches of predetermined amounts within one or more trays while they are placed in appropriate transport grids. These trays are transported over the racks to a sterilization chamber to sterilize the bubble pack arrangements, particularly the lenses contained therein, and from which the sterilized bubble pack arrangements are then transported to a location to implement the secondary packaging of the same in sealed cardboard packaging. In addition to the foregoing, the invention is also directed to a method of sterilizing and implementing secondary packaging ion in cardboard packaging of predetermined amounts of bubble packaging arrangements, each of the bubble packages contains a blank. Submerged hydrophilic contact is a sterile aqueous solution, to provide a sterile environment for bubble packaging devices. The packaging of hydrophilic contact lenses in a sterile aqueous solution is well known in contact lens manufacturing technology. Particularly, packaging arrangements of that type generally consist of so-called bubble packings adapted to be used for the storage and supply of hydrophobic contact lenses for use by a medical practitioner or a consumer who intends to use them. the contact lenses. Such idro contact lenses, which can be discarded after a single period of use or a short time use, are inexpensively manufactured from appropriate hydrophilic polymeric materials; for example, copolymers of hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA) containing about 20 to 90% more water, depending on the composition of the polymer. These contact lenses are submerged in storage generally in a sterile aqueous solution, ordinarily consisting of an isotonic saline solution, in order to avoid dehydration and to keep the lenses in a condition ready for use. A bubble pack of the above type typically comprises a base member that is molded from an injection molded material or suitable thermoformed plastic; for example a polyolefin, such as propylene, and incorporating a cavity adapted to receive the contact lens in the aqueous solution. The cavity is sealed in a sealed manner by a cover in the form of a label, preferably in the form of a flexible multilayer laminate sheet or an appropriate plastic film structure which can incorporate a silicone oxide barrier material in order to provide the bubble packaging. This type of packaging arrangement has found widespread use in view of the inherently advantageous storage properties thereof and the readily available nature of the packaging by simple detachment of the sheet from the base member allowing the user to have easy access. to the contact lens that is contained in the cavity of the base member. For example, a bubble pack that is adapted to provide a sterile sealed storage environment for essentially single-use, disposable, hydrophilic contact lenses, which is normally used for approximately 6-16 hours within a 2-hour period. , wherein the lens is immersed in a sterile aqueous solution within the package is described in US Patent No.! -, 691,620 for Martinez; which is assigned to the common assignee of the present application, and the description thereof is incorporated herein by reference. In the aforementioned US Patent, the bubble pack for storage and supply of hydrophilic contact lenses includes a thermoformed or injection molded plastic base member or portion that incorporates a molded cavity that is surrounded by a projecting flat flange that is extends around the cavity ring. A flexible cover sheet, such as a laminated sheet is adhered to the surface of the flange so that it sealingly encloses the cavity in a generally liquid tight manner. The surface of the cover sheet may constitute a label and may be provided with appropriate printed information of the product stored in the bubble pack, the name and address of the manufacturer, and also incorporates various decorative designs and logos as desired; and also provides interchangeable information, such as lot numbers, adjustment parameters, expiration dates and the like in addition to the foregoing, as may be required by FDA regulations. Now, a novel and unique concept has been developed through a design for packaging arrangements of the bubble pack type, particularly for the containment of hydrophilic contact lenses in a sterile aqueous solution, wherein a plurality of base members for such bubble packs, each having a cavity for containing a hydrophilic contact lens in the sterile aqueous solution, are adapted to be placed in a contiguous arrangement and covered in a sealed manner by a single or individual flexible cover sheet, the latter being which is preferably in the form of a multilayer flexible sheet web having a plastic sheet or film incorporating a silicone oxide barrier material. In this case, the cover sheet of plastic or laminated material is provided with recessed lines, preferably in the form of perforations extending intermediate each to each of the respective base members so as to allow individual segments of the member The sheets are separated along the recessed lines and in conjunction with the associated base members thereof separated from the remainder of the arrangement when it is desired to have access to the contact lens contained in the separate bubble pack without adversely affecting it. the integrity of the packaging. This type of multiple interconnected needle packing structure allows the compact packaging of a plurality of such arrangements, each possessing a specific number of base members containing contact lenses interconnected by a single flexible cover sheet, within the confines of a suitable sealed container, such as a rigid cardboard package. A plurality of bubble packaging arrangements can be stored compactly in the carton package which, under certain circumstances, can comprise interlaminate pairs and overlapping arrangements of bubble packages and where, for example, each arrangement consists of five or even larger quantities of bubble packages interconnected with each of the latter having an individual disposable contact lens housed therein. The carton pack can store six superimposed arrangements of bubble packings, for a total of 30 contact lenses, or indeed, a 30-day supply of contact lenses respectively for one user's eye, although it is possible to contemplate provide cardboard packaging that stores a supply of contact lenses for 5-, 10-, 15, 20-, or 25-days, or even other quantities. A packaging arrangement for contact lenses of this type is in the form of interconnected bubble packet arrangements described in co-pending US Patent Application No. 06 / 257,796.; filed on 10 Ounio de 199 < +; entitled "Packaging Arrange for Contact Lenses" (Case of Attorney No. 90m, VTN-0090), which is assigned in a manner common to the assignee of the present application and the description of which is incorporated herein by reference. Bubble packages that are formed through the intermediate of this structure comprise a plurality of contiguously arranged injection-molded base members each containing a cavity for housing a hydrophobic contact lens in a sterile aqueous solution, and wherein the resulting arrangement of such base members, eg, five (5) base members, is adapted to be covered in a sealed and interconnected manner by a single multilayer flexible laminate sheet or web that also forms a common label, preferably of the type described in the applicant's co-pending US Patent Application No. 06 / 106,366, filed August 13, 1993, entitled "Method of Duty-Sided Priting of the Unauthorized and Product Obtained Thereby" (Proxy Case No. 9013) VTN-0096) assigned to the common assignee of the present application, and the description of which is incorporated herein by reference. In the above description, the multilayer laminate sheet includes an outer layer of a plastic film material, such as a polyolefin preferably polyester, which is adhesively bonded to the surface of a metal support sheet, such as aluminum, although it could a layer of silicone oxide is used instead of the metal foil, and in which the outer layer is printed on two sides; in effect, on both opposite surfaces. The surface of the outer plastic film layer that faces towards and is adhered to the metal sheet is printed with appropriate indications and legends that may consist of permanent information regarding the manufacturer and the product, logos, instructional material, and decorative indications and advice regarding the product of bubble packaging; while the opposite or outer surface of the outer plastic film material layer may include appropriate interchangeable information, such as expiration dates, lot numbers, fixation parameters, lens magnification, and other specific data for the packaged product . The inner surface of the layer of outer plastic film material, when desired, may be printed through appropriate lithographic printing, either in a single or in several colors and also provided with an appropriate printed background; wherein the interchangeable information specifies for the product that is printed on specific areas of the outer facing surface of the outer film layer, may be printed thereon by means of thermal transfer printing as described in detail in the Patent Application North American copendiente referred to above No. 06 / 106,366.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve previous sterilization of packaging arrangements; of bubble, the par icularity of the product or the interiors containing the contact lenses thereof, and to subsequently implement its secondary packaging in sealed cardboard packaging the apparatus of the invention contemplates the use of a novel conveyor system in which achieves the above in an essentially automated mode of operation. Specifically, the apparatus provides for the transport of a grid system, each supporting a plurality of trays, each of which trays is adapted to accommodate therein a specific amount of bubble packing arrangements such as those described in FIG. co-pending US Patent Application No. 06 / 257,796 (Proxy Case No. 901W; VTN-0090) wherein the provisions of bubble packages are transported through the intermediary of a transfer mechanism in a respective tray so as to fill the spaces in the last one placed in the specified rows and columns. A plurality of filled disposal trays can be loaded into a grid by being axially displaced and vertically layered in the grid, and with the grid then transported along a predetermined path. An additional conveyor is adapted to convey the grid containing the trays with the bubble pack provisions therein in a sterilization chamber, bal as an autoclave, in which the bubble pack arrangements are collectively sterilized. After the sterilization process has been completed, the grid containing the trays with the bubble pack arrangements is transported by an additional conveyor from the sterilization chamber to a tray discharge arrangement in which the trays are sequentially discharged from the grid and the inverted individual trays to cause the provisions of bubble packings to be removed from them in pairs. These pairs of arrangements are inverted with each other and interlaminated to be sequentially transported to a secondary packaging machine to pack and seal specified amounts of sterilized paired dispositions of bubble packings in a carton. The secondary packaging machine causes the specified amounts of interlaminated arrangements of bubble packings to advance in succession in a carton packer having open cartons at their ends adapted to receive the bubble pack provisions. Therefore, each of the cardboard packaging filled, sealed and sealed in the carton packer in sequential stages and transported to additional stations for appropriate additional handling such as labeling, bar code installation, weighing and possible accumulation for packing and storage, as may be required. The emptied trays are reinvested and redeposited on a spacing conveyor, recharged in an empty grid and transported in it to a return conveyor to be in a condition of availability to unload the trays, fill the last in the tray filling location with bubble pack provisions to be sterilized, loaded in an empty grid to transport to the sterilization chamber. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for the sterilization and secondary packaging of specified amounts of bubble pack arrangements, with each bubble pack containing a contact lens immersed in a sterile aqueous solution. A more specific object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus of the type described in which a method for filling trays with specific amounts of the bubble packing arrangements is implemented in an automated manner, pluralities of the filled trays transported on a grid towards a sterilization chamber, and subsequently transported to a discharge arrangement to discharge the bubble pack provisions with their contents sterilized from the grids, emptying the trays and effecting an orientation of the bubble packaging arrangements and subsequently packing specific quantities of them in sealed cardboard packaging. Still another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus of the type described in which the empty tray unloading functions are carried out from a grid, where the trays are adapted to be filled with bubble pack arrangements, placing the arrangements for filling in the trays, loading the filled trays in a previously emptied grid, transporting the grid with the trays filled with provisions in a sterilization chamber, later transporting the grid containing the trays with the sterilized provisions of bubble packings towards a arrangement in which the individual trays are successively inverted to facilitate orientation and unloading of paired dispositions in a grid unloading station, with sterilized bubble pack arrangements being transported to a carton packer for filling cardboard boxes with the packaging; while the emptied trays are rotated in their original positions, loaded on an empty grid and transported to the initial grid discharge and the tray filling work station. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a method of sterilization and secondary packaging in cardboard packaging of bubble pack arrangements, each containing a contact lens immersed in a sterile aqueous solution through the use of the apparatus as described in FIG. describes in the present. A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a method for sterilization and secondary packaging in cardboard boxes of a plurality of bubble packaging arrangements in which the method is implemented through the use of an automatic conveyor and an apparatus. of sterilization in a highly efficient and precise operation mode.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Reference is now made to a preferred embodiment of the apparatus for sterilization and secondary packaging constructed in accordance with the invention, particularly directed to the packaging of contact lenses in a sterile environment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 1 is a generally diagrammatic plan view of the sterilization and packing apparatus according to the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a typical arrangement of interconnected bubble packages; Figure 3 is a side elevational view, in section, of a plurality of overlapped and interlaminated interlaminate arrangements of bubble packings, as intended to be placed in a carton; Figure? +, Is a perspective view of the cardboard box, with the end flaps in an open condition; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the cardboard box in use, shown with the cover that has been opened to allow access to the contents of the carton; Figure 6 is a view taken along line 6-6 of Figure 1; Figure 7 is a top plan view of a grid discharger; Figure 6 is a top plan view of a m tray loading work station; Figure 9 is a side top sectional view taken along line 9-9 of Figure 6; Figure 10 is a perspective view of a typical tray for receiving bubble packing arrangements. Figure 11 is a top plan view of a conveyor segment for transporting racks transporting trays filled with disposition towards a sterilization chamber; Figures 12 and 13, respectively, are views in extreme and lateral elevation of an arrangement for extracting grids inside and outside the sterilization chamber; Figure I is a side view of a grid discharger used in a tray unloading work station; Figure 15 is a top plan view of Figure ll +; Figure 16 is a schematic top plan view of a cardboard packaging machine for the sterilized arrangements of bubble packagings; Figures 17 and 16 are, respectively, end and side views of the tray orientation and unloading arrangement for the cardboard packaging machine; and Figure 19 illustrates, in elevation, a schematic detail of the cardboard packaging machine of Figure 16.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now in more specific detail to the drawings, as shown in the overview of FIG. 1, a generally schematic silver view of the general operating structure of an apparatus 10 for implementing sterilization and secondary packing is described. cardboard boxes of overlapping interlaminated and matched bubble pack plurality arrangements used for contact lens containment in a sterile environment. As illustrated in Figure 1, a conveyor system is described which includes a plurality of roller conveyors for transporting grids each adapted to receive a plurality of trays containing bubble pack arrangements in order to allow transportation of the containers. in a sterilization unit comprising a sterilization chamber. Subsequently the transport of the same is implemented towards a secondary packaging machine to receive the sterilized dispositions of bubble packings from the trays, with the last one being unloading from the transport grids, and for the packing of predetermined quantities of packing arrangements of bubble in cardboard boxes in a fast, sequential and fully automated mode of operation, as detailed below in this. As shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, each bubble pack arrangement 12 consists of 5 base members 14 adjacently located each having a cavity 16 for the containment of a contact lens immersed in a sterile aqueous solution., and with the arrangement 12 being covered in a sealed manner by a flexible laminate cover sheet forming individual printed label 16, to be separable along perforation lines in individual bubble packages, each containing respectively an individual contact lens . The base members m, each of which has a tab 20 at one end thereof, are constructed as described in copending US patent application No. 6/257, 796 (Proxy Case No. 9014, VTN) -0090) when placed in a cardboard box 22 as illustrated in Figure 3 placed in inverted interlaminated pairs of arrangements 12, shown in the drawing as consisting essentially of 6 arrangements in this particular case, filling a cardboard box 22 as shown in the figure - in the direction of an arrow H, where the end flaps of the cardboard box are adapted to be closed in sequence to form the cardboard box of figure 5. The last one is illustrated with the opening of the top flap that can be reclosed having produced the same at some subsequent time to allow access to individual bubble packs 12 therein by a medical practitioner or a user of contact lenses. Referring specifically to Figures i, 6 and 14 of the drawings, a sterilization conveyor arrangement 30 of the apparatus 10 includes a first horizontal conveyor unit 32 along which the grids 3"-», l + 2 each having 1 plurality of levels adapted to receive and support respectively in rows a number of trays with open compartments in the upper part 50 adapted for the transport of bubble pack provisions 12. As illustrated in figure m, each of the grids 34 is basically a rectangular open-ended frame structure having horizontal supports 36 and 36 and supports 40, and adapted to be transported along the conveyor 32 to a first work station A, with a first grid 34 that it has been previously filled with empty trays 50 each destined to receive respectively a quantity of provisions of bubble packings 12. It locates In front of the grid 34 in the work station A there is an initially empty grid 42 which is adapted to receive trays 50 which have been filled with bubble packs 12 in work station A, the last of which it is adapted to receive arrangements from a bubble packaging manufacturing and sealing facility.

The grid 34 in the work station A, and the grid 42 that is located in front of it are both placed on respective lifting devices 52, 54, each having folding scissor-like legs 46, 56, and which can be operated pneumatically and which are designed to separate each of the grids 34, 42 vertically upwards and downwards by a tray level as required during the tray unloading, tray filling, and tray loading procedure in the tray station. work A of the apparatus 10. For that purpose, the apparatus 10 is provided with a first grid discharger 60 in the work station A which includes a horizontal pusher 62, as shown in figures 6 and 7, in which it is adapted for applying an impulse action against one of the trays located adjacent 50 at an aligned level of the grid 34 to cause a tray 50 at the opposite end of the particular row of ch Arolas in the rack 30 slide from the rack 34 onto a tray loading arrangement 70, as illustrated in Figures 6 and 9 of the drawings, for sequentially filling each respective unloaded tray 50 with bubble pack arrangements 12. The tray loading arrangement 70 in the work station A includes a vacuum-operated disposition holding device 72 for placing successive arrangements of bubble packs 12 on a conveyor surface 74 for transporting the arrangements 12 to a vertical channel 76. This allows each arrangement 12 to slide downwardly with the channel under the effect of gravity or its own weight to be liable to fall into a tray 50 located below the lower discharge end 76 of channel 76. The packaging arrangements of bubbles 12 are filled into the tray 50 located in the tray loading arrangement 70, while the trays 50, as shown in FIG. FIG. 10, consists of an open box-type structure in the upper rectangular part having a plurality of vertical partitions 60 forming parallel compartments 62 therebetween, inside each of which the bubble packings are fed into each other. bubble pack arrangements 12 from the channel 76. The arrangements 12 are filled in each successive comparison 62 between adjacent partitions so that the tray 50 is separated forward by an appropriate driving device 64 towards the grid 42 located further ahead to be finally in alignment with one level of it. As each tray 50 is filled with bubble pack provisions 12, on each compartment 62 that has been filled with an arrangement 12 a driving element 66 as shown in Figure 1, it will slide the tray into the level aligned therewith, of the grid 42 associated therewith, while a subsequent empty tray 50 discharged from the grid 34 is advanced towards the tray loading arrangement 70 to provide a succession of trays filled with arrangement 50 to be driven in and filled each level of the grid 42. Once the level has been filled with tray 50 each containing 1 specified amount of bubble pack arrangements, for example 42 compartments 12 in compartments 62, the previously raised gratings 34, 42 that were raised in initially filled by the lifting devices 52, 54, are each separated downward by a level of tray support to allow The next upper level or grid row 42 is raised with the tray 50 containing bubble pack arrangements 12. This operating sequence is repeated until the filled grid with loaded trays 42 is transported on an additional conveyor 90 until it reaches its position lower fully charged, and then moves laterally relative to the conveyor 32 along the conveyor 90 to a sterilization chamber 92 at work station B. At that time, the now empty grid 34 from which the empty trays 50 have been unloaded (to be filled with arrangements 12 in the arrangement 70 and then inserted in the racks 42) is moved forward on the conveyor into the loading position of tray previously occupied by grid 42 in work station A, and a subsequent grid containing base trays 50 is advanced along conveyor 52 in position in alignment with grid discharger 60 as it rises in its position higher by the riser 52, while the grid 54 in front of it is also raised by the device raised to the 54, to allow the tray loading sequence to be repeated. According to the grid 42 containing the trays 50 filled with bubble pack arrangements 12, it is transported on the conveyor 90 in position opposite the sterilization chamber 92, as shown in figures 11 to 13 of the drawings, the gratings 42 it is located behind a frame structure 110 mounted on both sides thereof and extending above its upper level or upper frame. A hook-type grasping tip 112 that is joined to an extendable and retractable band member 114 is adapted to engage the upper frame structure of the grid 42 remote from the sterilization chamber 92. A drive unit (not shown) is adapted to retract the band member 114, thereby causing the grasping limb 112 to pull the grid 142 into the sterilization chamber 92 and then to release it from the grid 42 to allow the chamber to close in a sealed manner and initiate the operation of sterilization on the contents of the provisions 12 located in it. At the end of the sterilization cycle, the grid 42 with the sterilized trays 50 of the bubble packing arrangements 12 is pulled out of the chamber 92 by means of the grasping end 112 engaging the upper edge of the working frame of the grid with extension of the conveyor belt 114 for placing the grid 42 in operative connection with an additional conveyor 112 that leads it to a cardboard packing station or secondary packing C. According to the grid 42 containing the sterilized trays 50 with the packing arrangements of bubble 12 is advanced to be placed adjacent to a secondary packing machine 120 at work station C is raised by a lifting device 122 similar to device 52 within the highest position so that the lowest row of trays 50 in the grid 42 is in horizontal alignment with a grid discharger 126 having a driving arm 126, and which is similar to the grid discharger previously described 60 both in structure and function. In front of the grid 42 is another grate 34 which has been previously unloaded and which is now in an empty condition and which is also in a fully elevated position by means of a lifting device 130 of the previously described type, as shown in Figure 1. In that location the grid discharger 126, which, as mentioned, is identical or similar in structure and operating principle to the grid discharger 60 employed in the work station A, causes an impeller 134 to slide a tray completely loaded 50 containing the sterilized provisions of bubble packages 12 on a discharging device 140, as shown in Figure 17 wherein the tray 50 is rotated inverted at 160 ° so that the openings of each of the spaces or compartments 62 that contain the sterilized arrangements come down, although the latter is prevented from falling off the tray 50 by means of a plate member of retention 140 placed therein. The inverted tray 50 is separated forwardly by a drive cylinder 142 by a distance of two adjacent compartment widths to allow two adjacent arrangements 12 to fall downwardly into a channel 144., such a downward movement movement assisted by a vertical impeller 146 engaging simultaneously in two openings (not shown) formed in the bottom of each compartment 62 the tray and in alignment with each compartment containing a bubble pack arrangement. The channel 144 is configured to cause the two downward arrangements 12 to pass over opposite sides of a guide 146 and with a passage bottom 146 configured so that the arrangements 12 assume an inverted horizontal position with respect to each other in interlaced pairs, as shown in FIG. shows in figure 3 of the drawings. Once a predetermined number of pairs of bubble pack provisions 12 have been superimposed on each other, for example, such three pairs of arrangements for a total of 30 bubble packings, a driving member will advance the overlapping arrangements of bubble packets towards a conveyor that leads them to the secondary packaging machine or carton packing illustrated diagrammatically in a general manner 150 in the work station C; having reference to figure 16 of the drawings. As each inverted tray 50 is completely emptied from the sterilized arrangements 12, the grid 42 is advanced to a grid loading arrangement 154, wherein the emptied tray 50 is rotated 160 ° again in its original upper open position, and a driving arm 156 is adapted to slide the empty tray 50 into the level aligned therewith of the empty grid 34 located adjacent thereto. This procedure is repeated until the empty grid level 34 is filled with empty trays 50 where the grid is separated downwards by means of a leveling drive of the lifting device 130 on which it is supported. Concurrently, the grid 42 having the trays filled with disposed 50 discharged therefrom is also separated downwardly by its riser 122 to allow the subsequent upper level of tray * filled with array 50 to be driven sequentially outwardly by the unloader. grid 126 towards the now empty tray invader mechanism. This cycle of operation is repeated until the front located grid previously emptied 34 is filled with empty trays 50, and then advanced by conveyor system 160 to work station A to be ready to repeat the previously described sequence of operation. As shown in detail in Figure 6, this represents the view taken along line 6-6 of Figure 1, shown on a somewhat enlarged scale, and illustrating each of the grids 34, 42 in work stations A and C in their fully elevated or raised positions on the respective lifting devices associated therewith. Therefore, at the workstation A, the grid 34 is shown in the process of being discharged by the driver of the grid discharge device, while another grid in its raised position is shown ready to be discharged in proximity to the grid. Secondary packaging machine or carton packing. When the grid 42 is fully loaded in the work station A with tray 50 containing bubble packing arrangements 12, or on the contrary, the grid 34 is filled with empty trays in the work station C, the lifting device for the grids that are in the lowest positions, as shown by shaded lines at each location, and the grids are then adapted to be transported along the horizontal conveyor system at their respective operative positions or locations. Returning to the secondary packaging or carton packing machine 150, the last one is shown in Figure 16, and is detailed below in the present. As illustrated in the plan view of the figure 16, the secondary packaging machine or carton packaging arrangement 150 includes a series of conveyor sections, and also includes a vertical channel structure 170 that contains a supply of flat or folded planar underlying but flat cardboard boxes at their ends 22 of the type illustrated in Figure 3 to 5 of the drawings, with the ends of the carton being in an open condition. This particular channel structure and cardboard box feed arrangement is illustrated more clearly in the detailed drawing of FIG. 19. The tray discharge work station C is adjacent although separate from the vertical channel structure 170 that contains the boxes of flat underlying cardboard open at its ends 22. A driving element advances the six provisions 12, or indeed, three interlaminating array pairs at the bottom of the passage 146 shown in FIG. 17 to an additional conveyor 160 that is essentially offset but at the same level as the lower end of the channel structure 170 that contains the stack of flattened cardboard boxes 22. Subsequently a cardboard box 22 which is opened by a pneumatic drive element 162, as illustrated in figure 19 within its fully open position as shown in shaded lines is pulled down and separated into a channel or conveyor 166 in alignment with an open end of the carton, and then driven or slid axially within the carton 22. The carton 22 with the separate arrangements 12 contained therein is advanced later along a conveyor section 166, which includes mechanisms that cause the end and side flaps of the carton to be folded inwardly in position. closed, and is subsequently transferred to an additional conveyor for upward movement through a gumming device 194 which causes the glued flanges or flaps to be folded down in a gummed and sealed condition, thereby completing the sealing and sealing the cardboard structure. From this, the carton is transported to a labeling station where an inkjet printer 196 prints information on the carton in relation to the characteristics of the contact lenses contained in the bubble packs of the cartons. 12, and then an additional station is transported to apply a strip of bar code to the surface of the carton belonging to other information that may be required. As illustrated in the drawing of FIG. 16, the sealed carton 22 is then placed on a conveyor section 202 to pass a weight verification station 200 which will provide information on the correct weight of the carton. filled 32 containing the provisions of bubble packages 12, indicative of what appropriate amount of provisions is contained therein. The conveyor section 202 then advances the labeled bar code, printed and the verified weight of the carton to an accumulation area 210 in which a complete sequence of cardboard boxes can be collected and manually placed in a larger box or container for storage or additional storage. The above procedure is implemented, for example, whereby each tray 50 can have 42 compartments each adapted to house, respectively, a bubble pack arrangement 12, and with each grid 34, 42 being constructed with 6 vertically stacked rows or levels. adapted to each receive 6 trays 50 in an adjoining lateral relationship; in effect, for a total of 64 trays 50 each containing 42 bubble pack provisions 12 for simultaneous transport within the sterilization chamber 92. While those preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described. , of course, it will be understood that various modifications and changes in form or detail may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is, therefore, intended that the invention is not limited to the exact form and detail shown and described herein, or to anything less than the entirety of the invention described herein as claimed hereinbelow therein.

Claims (6)

1. NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS 1. - An apparatus for the sterilization of interconnected bubble-pack arrangements, each containing a contact lens in a sterile environment; characterized in that it comprises: (a) a plurality of transportable grids between a series of work stations; (b) a conveyor arrangement for transporting the grids between said series of work stations; (c) a plurality of trays for receiving the bubble pack arrangements, each of said trays being selectively loaded into and discharged from the racks (d) first and second positioning means of said trays at a first work station said first grid being emptied and said second grid containing a first plurality of said trays in an empty condition n (e) unloading means in the first work station for individually unloading the empty trays in predetermined sequence from the second grid; (f) means in the first work station for filling each of said empty trays discharged with a plurality of arrangements advancing the filled tray arranged in alignment with said first empty grid and loading each tray in the first grid in predetermined sequence; (g) conveying means advancing the first grid filled with tray to a second work station comprising a sterilization chamber; (h) means engaging the grid in the second work station for transporting the grid within the sterilization chamber, and said coupling means removing the grid from said sterilization chamber subsequent to sterilizing the arrangements in said trays; and (i) additional conveying means advancing the first grid from the sterilization work station to a third work station for unloading said trays from the grid and removing the sterilized bubble pack provisions from the same.
2. 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, further characterized in that each tray comprises an upwardly open box-like structure having a plurality of adjacent elongated compartments each adapted to receive respectively one of said bubble packing arrangements in said first work station.
3. 3. An apparatus according to claim 2, further characterized in that the filling means comprise a vacuum assisted structure for raising successive arrangements and depositing the arrangements in a channel communicating with the successive comparisons on said tray being separated forward. in said first workstation.
4. 4. An apparatus according to claim 1, further characterized in that the driving means load each of the trays filled with successive arrangements in said first grid.
5. 5. An apparatus in accordance with the claim 1, further characterized in that the first and second grids each have a plurality of vertically spaced levels each adapted to support respectively a plurality of said trays in contiguous positions. 6. An apparatus according to claim 5, further characterized in that the lifting means in the first work station support of said first and second grids for separate vertical movement to facilitate the unloading of empty trays from successive levels of the second »Jilla and concurrently loading the trays filled with dispositions in successive levels of said first grid. 7. An apparatus according to claim 6, further characterized by the lifting means comprising pneumatically operated structures operatively associated with and supporting said first and second grids for increasing and lowering of said grids in alignment with the levels that they support the trays in each of said grids.
6. 6. An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the unloading means for said empty trays in the first work station comprises a horizontally displaceable driving member which engages in the second grid and makes contact with one of said trays to slideably unload a tray at the opposite end of said trays. grid towards the tray filling means 9. An apparatus according to claim 1, further characterized in that said means for coupling and transporting said grid in the sterilization chamber comprise a holding element that couples an upper edge of said distant grid. of the sterilization chamber; and retractable means for extracting said holding element towards the sterilization chamber for placing the grid in said chamber and subsequently releasing said holding element from said grid 10.- An apparatus in accordance with the claim 9, further characterized in that the grasping means removes said grid from the sterilization chamber at the termination of the sterilization cycle. 11. An apparatus in accordance with the claim 10, further characterized in that the conveying means conveys the grid and the sterilized arrangements in said trays to a grid unloading station for transporting said trays to a carton packing arrangement. 12. - An apparatus according to claim 10, further characterized in that the grid unloading station comprises driving means for successively sliding individual trays from the grid on a platform; means for inverting said tray; separation means for advancing said inverted tray so as to provide pairs of arrangements therefrom. 13. An apparatus according to claim 12, further characterized in that a channel extending downwards receives the pairs of arrangements, means in an output of said channel to orient said pairs of arrangements in interlaminated pairs, and collect predetermined amounts of said interlaminar pairs of provisions. 14. An apparatus according to claim 12, further characterized in that the carton packaging arrangement comprises a channel for supplying cardboard boxes having open ends; and conveying means for transporting predetermined quantities of pairs of said arrangements in successive cartons. 15. An apparatus in accordance with the claim 14, further characterized in that the transport means carry said cartons and the provisions contained therein through the apparatus for closing the end flaps of said cartons. 16. An apparatus in accordance with the claim 15, further characterized in that the conveyor means transport said cartons through a gumming device to seal the gummed flaps on said cartons in a sealed manner to form a sealed cardboard structure. 17. An apparatus in accordance with the claim 16, wherein an inkjet printer prints information on said cartons 16. An apparatus according to claim 16, further characterized in that the labeling means adhere barcode information bands to the cartons. 19. An apparatus according to claim 16, further characterized in that the means of checking weight weigh each of said cartons and the contents thereof. 20. An apparatus according to claim 1, further characterized in that the sterilization chamber comprises an autoclave. 21. An apparatus according to claim 16, further characterized in that the transport means transport said cardboard boxes to an accumulation area to collect and pack a plurality of said cardboard boxes. 22. A method for sterilizing interconnected bubble pack arrangements each containing a contact lens in a sterile environment; said method comprising: (a) transporting a plurality of grids between a series of work stations; (b) a plurality of trays for receiving bubble pack arrangements that are selectively charged and discharged from said racks; (c) placing the first and second of said grids in a first work station, said first grid being emptied and said second grid containing a plurality of said trays in an empty condition ^ (d) unloading in said first work stations trays individual empty in predetermined sequence from the second grid; (e) filling in said first work station each of said empty trays discharged with a plurality of said arrangements advancing the filled tray with arrangements in alignment with the first empty grid and unloading each of said trays in said first grid in a sequence default; (f) advancing said first grid filled with trays to a second work station comprising a sterilization chamber, (g> coupling the grid in the second work station to transport the grid in the sterilization chamber, and removing the grid of said sterilization chamber after sterilization of the arrangements in said trays, and (h) advancing the first grid from the sterilization work station to a third work station to unload the trays of said grid and remove the sterilized arrangements. 23. A method according to claim 22, further characterized in that said tray comprises an upwardly open box-like structure having a plurality of adjacent elongated compartments each adapted to receive respectively one of said bubble packing arrangements in said first workstation 24. A method according to claim 23, further characterized in that the filling comprises actuating a vacuum assisted structure to raise successive arrangements and depositing said dispositions in a channel communicating with successive compartments on said tray being advanced forward in said first work station. 25. A method according to claim 22, further characterized in that the trays filled with successive arrangements are each loaded in the first row. 26.- A method of compliance with the rei indication 22, further characterized in that the first and second grids each have a plurality of vertically spaced levels each adapted to each support a plurality of said trays in contiguous positions. 27.- A method in accordance with the claim 26, further characterized in that in the first work station the first and second grids are activated for separate vertical movement to facilitate the unloading of empty trays from successive levels of the second grid and concurrently loading filled trays with arrangements in successive levels of the first grid . 26.- A method according to claim 27, further characterized in that the elevation comprises activating pneumatically activated structures operatively associated with and supporting said first and second grid for increasing elevation and descent of said grids in alignment with the levels that support the trays in each of the grids. 29. A method according to claim 22, further characterized in that the discharge of the empty trays in the first work station comprises operating a horizontally displaceable driving member for coupling in the second grid and making contact with one of said trays for unloading. slidably a tray at the opposite end of said grid. 30.- A method in accordance with the claim 22, further characterized in that the coupling and transport of the grid in the sterilization chamber comprises a holding element that couples an upper edge of the grid distant from the sterilization chamber; and extracting said hold element towards the sterilization chamber to place said grid in the chamber and subsequently release the hold element from said grid. 31.- A method in accordance with the claim 30, further characterized in that the grid is removed from the sterilization chamber at the termination of a sterilization cycle. 32.- A method in accordance with the claim 23, further characterized in that the grid and the sterilized arrangements in said trays are transported to a grid unloading station for transporting said trays to a carton packing arrangement 33.- A method in accordance with the claim 31, further characterized in that the grid discharge station comprises individual trays which slide successively from the grid on a platform; the investment of said tray; and the separate advance of the inverted tray to dispense array pairs from it. 34.- A method in accordance with the claim 33, further characterized in that the channel extending downwards receives the pairs of arrangements; the orientation of said pairs of arrangements in interlaminated pairs, and the collection of predetermined quantities of said interlaminated pairs of arrangements. 35.- A method in accordance with the claim 33, further characterized in that the carton packaging arrangement comprises supplying cartons having open ends; and transportation of predetermined amounts of pairs of said provisions in successive cartons. 36.- A method in accordance with the claim 35, further characterized in that the cartons and the provisions contained therein are transported through the apparatus to close the end flaps of said cartons. 37.- A method in accordance with the claim 36, further characterized »because the cardboard boxes are transported through a gumming device for sealingly closing the gummed flaps on said cardboard boxes to form a sealed cardboard structure. 36.- A method of coifing with claim 37, further characterized in that an inkjet printer prints information on said cartons 39.- A method according to claim 37, further characterized in that the labeling means adhere strips of barcode information to cardboard boxes. 40.- A method in accordance with the claim 37, further characterized in that the weight verification means weigh each carton and the contents thereof. 41. A method according to claim 22, further characterized in that the sterilization chamber comprises an autoclave. 42. - A method according to claim 37, further characterized »because the cardboard boxes are transported to an accumulation area for the collection and packaging of a plurality of said cardboard boxes. APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR STERILIZATION AND SECONDARY PACKAGING SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An apparatus for sterilization and secondary packaging in cardboard boxes that store bubble pack arrangements, each of which contains at least one hydrophilic contact lens immersed in a sterile aqueous solution; more specifically, the apparatus adapted to provide the bubble packing arrangements that are transported within the trays supported on the grids is described; those grids are transported to a sterilization chamber to sterilize the bubble pack arrangements, and from which the sterilized bubble pack provisions are then transported to a room to implement the packing thereof and the secondary packaging in cardboard boxes sealed; also described is a method for sterilization and implementation of secondary packaging in cardboard boxes of predetermined quantities of bubble pack arrangements, each of which contains a hydrophilic contact lens submerged in a sterile aqueous solution, to provide a sterile environment for bubble packaging provisions. RML / cpm * ieoh * cgt * crm *