US2256663A

US2256663A - Method of washing ampoules

Info

Publication number: US2256663A
Application number: US352020A
Authority: US
Inventors: John H Brewer
Original assignee: Hynson Westcott and Dunning Inc
Current assignee: Hynson Westcott and Dunning Inc
Priority date: 1940-08-09
Filing date: 1940-08-09
Publication date: 1941-09-23
Anticipated expiration: 1958-09-23

Description

Sept. 23, 1941. J. BREWER. 2,255,663

l A METHOD OF WASHING AMPOULES I Filed Aug. 9, 1940 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 III/ll 'IIIIIIIlI/IlI/II/ll I "In" wunnnnlnunz Sept. 23,1941.

J. H. BREWER METHOD OF WASHING AMPOULES Filed Aug. 9, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 -ing of a large number Patented Sept. 23, 1941 METHOD OFWASHING AMPOULES John H. Brewer, Baltimore, Md., assignor to Hynson, vWestcott &' Dunning,

Incorporated, Baltimore, Md a corporation of -Maryland Application August '9, 1940, Serial No. 352,020 (Cl. Lil- 7) 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a method for washing-ampoules. More particularly the invention relates to a method for filling ampoules with a washing liquid and for expelling-the washing liquid from the ampoules wherebyv they, are cleaned and dried and prepared for use."

Ampoules are glass receptacles of small size, usually cylindrical in shape, andhave av capacity of not more than a few cubiccentimeters. Generally they are provided with restricted openings which are so small that they-will not fill with water on being submerged in it and water will not flow out when the ampoule is turned upside down. It is difficult therefore tointroduce and withdraw a washing-liquid. The conventional method is to introduce and withdrawthe washing liquid by means of small pipes or capillary tubes which are inserted through the necks of the ampoules and it will be appreciated that this method is tedious andtroublesome and relatively inefficient. i

, In accordance with the-present invention the washingliquid, e. g. water, is forced into and out of the ampoules by centrifugal force. This method makes possible the simultaneous washbe handled as much as is necessary, i. e. the mere reversal of the ampoules from filling position to emptying position, ness of handling the individual ampoules is eliminated. The centrifugal method may be carried out by means of a simple,-relatively inexpensive and trouble free apparatus.

Apparatus suitable for carrying out the washing method is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. l is a side view partly in elevation and partly in section of the complete apparatus,

Fig. 2 is a top view of the apparatus with the lid thrown open and parts removed to reveal the interior,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a tray for bolding a plurality of ampoule channels shown in Fig. 5,

Fig. 4 is a. perspective view of the grill for holding the ampoules and ampoule channels in the tray of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the ampoule channel,

Fig. 6 is a side view of a typical ampoule,

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of the frame or cage for supporting a plurality of magazines of ampoules in the centrifuge,

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional perspective view of a magazine assembly showing the tray,

of ampoules which mayin groups so that the tediousthe ampoule channels with an ampoule in place, and the grill inoperative relation, and

Fig. 9 ,is a top plan view of a tray. filled with ampoule channels. v

Referring particularly to Figs- 1; 2 and 3 of the drawings I is theoutside casingof the centrifuge in the formof a cylindrical vessel open at the top and standing on legs 2. Casing .I has a central opening in the bottom provided with a 0 stuffing box 3 and bearing! for the vertical shaft throughthe casing and carries the cylindricalit! which is rotated by the pulley I5,.driven by the belt 16 from pulley [1 on therotating shaft iii of motor I9. thelatter'being supported on the housing I. Shaft l0 extends. upwardly vessel 32 which is secured to and .rotateswith the shaft Ill. Vessel l is provided with a permanently open drain} and vessel 32 is provided with an opening 345m its bottom for discharging 2 its contents. Opening 34 is closed by a remov able plug 35. Shaft 10 is provided with a vertically extending key 42 which fits the key way 43 (Fig. '7 in the hub 28 of the frame 2| so that vessel 32 and frame 2| rotatetogether with shaft II) but frame 2| is readily removable. Vessel-32 is provided with a cover 38which is securely but removably held in place by screws 39 which extend through the cover. 38 into the threaded bosses ll on the body'of vessel 32.. Cover 38 is 3 provided with a central opening surrounded by stufling box 40 for the shaft l0. Shaft Ill extends upwardly through an opening in the re movable cross bracket 36, which opening serves as an auxiliary bearing for the shaft 10, and on up into the bearing socket 9 in the cover 8 of the casing Cross bracket 36 rests in supporting slots 31. Cover 8 is hinged at 8 and is held in closed position by the locking member [4 hinged to projection I3 and adapted to engage the lugs 1. Cover 8 is provided with a depending flange H and packing I2. The frame 2| is supported on the shaft I8 and spaced from the bottom of the vessel 32 by the bearing collar 33.

Referring now to Fig. '7 of the drawings the frame 2| comprises the hub 20, diagonal or radial bracing members 22 and outer, rectangular box shaped compartments 23 adapted to hold the ampoule magazines.

An ampoule magazine compnsing the tray 24 I (Fig. 3), the ampoule channels 28 (Fig. 5), the

grill 29 (Fig. 4) and the ampoules25 (Fig. 6) all shown in assembled relation in Figs. 8 and 9 will now be described. All of these parts excepting the ampoules which of course are of glass, are made of a suitable material such as and thus also holdsthe ampoules hold say seven ampoule channels (see Fig.5 9)

Tray 24 each channel containing 8 ampoules.

[size of ampoule v cartridge. Any apparatus: capable of supporting one or more ampoules sub- Tray 24 is is provided with the wired rim.28 which engages lips ll! of the grillr29 30 5801116 the latter inplace. .Grill'29 comprises a square frame sized tojflt telescopically within the side wall of the tray 24 r and is provided with grid members 4! adapted to rather closely fit the narrow portions-of the ampoules above the shoulders and, thus to hold the ampoules in the channels when centrifugal force is applied to expel the washing liquid from the ampoules. Grill29 is held inv place by the lips 3| engaging the wired 'rim 2.8 of the tray and the ampoule channelsin place.

" Ampoules 25 are placed in channels 26 and the loaded channels'areput in tray 24 and grill 211s.

inserted. One of the resultingampoule cartridges 2 is inserted infieach of the compartments 23' of the frame 2 I Frame 2| is then inserted into vessel32 which s ones with "washing liquid,- cover as 1 1s 'put;on,: bracket f3 put inv place, cover 8 closed and motor, I! started. In filling the ampoulw with washing liquid themagazines are so inserted in compartments 23 that the open ends of the am poulespoi'nt toward the hub 20. Uponrota'tion the washing liquid is' forced into the ampoules displacing air. 'lhe movement of the washing liquid into the ampoulesymay'bemade' sufllciently vigorous: to exert a cleansing action, for-instance ."when the vessel 32 has a radius of about seven inchesand the rotation is at the rate of about 300 .RpPtM'. When "the ampoules-have been filled with the washing liquid the machine is stopped, the liquid is drainedfrom vessel 32, .the position of'theianipoule magazines reversed and the machlneoperated again toexpel the washing liquid.

These operations may be repeated if desired with the same ordiiferent washing liquids. After expulsion of the final washing liquid'the ampoules are clean and dry and ready foruse. f

; Itwill be appreciated that the apparatus may be madeiof' any suitable size and the frame 2| may The 'operation of the apparatus is as follows.

be designed to hold a larger number and a larger merged in a liquid in such positions that centrifugal force may be applied first to force. the liquid into the ampoules andthento expel the liquid may serve to carry out the method. The ampoules need not ,be supported. radially. They will fill if their open ends are nearer to the axis than any other part of the ampoule and willempty if the open ends are farther away from the axis than any other part. It is within the scope of mylinvention 'to use one centrifugal. device for filling the ampoules and another for emptying them. In'thatevent the device for filling'the :ampoules would comprise aframe for supporting the ampoule cartridge in fllling position and the emptyingdevicewould comprise a frame for supporting the cartridges in emptying. position. v The device designed merely for emptying the ampoules will not require a-container such asthe vessel 32- 'forliquid, Thesemoreorless obvious modificathus of the "specificapparatus illustrated in the" I drawings are-su gested in :order: to. indicate the scope of the, appended. claims.

' the washingofampoules butembraces filling and centrifugal action for'anypurposafr emptying. ampoules similar containers by 2.'Method 0r washing-amp0ules which comprises rotating abody of'washing liquid about. an 1 axis, supporting an ampoule' submerged in "said 1,

body of liquidiwith itslop'en end spaced from said axis'butgnearer thereto "than any 0ther;-part of the ampoule,rotating said ampoule with the body "of liquid until'it is filled with said liquid, separate ing' the ampoule from the body of liquid and rotating the-ampoule-about an axis with its'open end farther away'from the axis thanany other part of the ampouleto expel the-washing liquid I y g It will be appree" ciated further that theinvention is not-limitedto 1. Method of washingiampoules which comj prises submergin'g-the samein-a -washingliquid, forcing-the washing liquid into the ampoules by I centrifugal force and expelling the 'liquid from the ampoules by, centrifugal'force. a 9 l