US3092121A - Cleaning means and more particularly cleaning of hypodermic needles of syringes - Google Patents

Description

K. BROGE 3, CLEANING MEANS AND MORE PARTICULARLY CLEANING June 4, 1963 OF HYPODERMIC NEEDLES OF SYRINGES Filed May 18, 1961 mv l l C United States Patent CLEANING MEANS AND MORE PARTICULARLY CLEANING 0F HYPODERMIC NEEDLES 0F SYRINGES Kurt Brtige, Berlin-Grunewald, Germany, assignor to Firma Rud. A. Hartmann Gross-Apparate und Spezialmaschinen G.m.b.H. & C0., Berlin-Rudow, Germany Filed May 18, 1961, Ser. No. 111,094 Claims priority, application Germany June 3, 1960 Claims. (Cl. 13458) This invention relates to cleaning means 'and more particularly to means for the cleaning of hypodermic needles of syringes.

In order to shorten the time-consuming manual work involved in the cleaning of syringes and the accessories thereof, it has already been proposed to use a centrifugal Washing machine. The application of the centrifugal efiect is, however, not sufficient for effectively cleaning the hypodermic needles.

According to the present invention, it is proposed to clean the generally very thin needles *ofiering the grea est resistance to an effective cleaning, by means of an apparatus permitting the action of the cleaning fluid under high pressure, namely, 10 to 20 atmospheres per square centimeter on the hypodermic needles, and after completion of the wet cleaning cycle, drying the needles by the application of pressurized air.

It is of particular importance that after charging the apparatus with the hypodermic needles to be cleaned, the cleaning cycle comprising several working steps, including the drying to be effected automatically, while the individual washing processes in respect to their sequence and time period are effected completely automatically by the apparatus within the periods determined as sufiicient by the results of experiments.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by providing a distributor head having several nozzles connected with an admission conduit for the cleaning medium, the head being pivotally connected with the apparatus frame so that during its pivotal movement, the same is adjustable in three positions respecting the holder carrying the hypodermic needles in such 'a manner that in the charging position, the nozzles of the distributor head are at such a distance from the bearing surface of the needle holder, that the insertion of and the removal from the apparatus of the holder is possible Without hindrance, while in its central position, the nozzles which can be pivoted downward together with the head to rest a short distance from the upper rims of the heads of the needles, and in the third or cleaning position only do the nozzles solidly rest on the rims of their respective needle heads.

The needle holder is defined 'by a plate provided with borings or apertures for the accommodation of the needles, the diameter of the boring being slightly less than the greatest outer diameter of the needle head, there being provided at the lower side of the plate, tubes aligned with the borings, the interior diameter of which is equal to the diameter of the borings in the plate, while the length of the tubes is greater than the actual needle part of the hypodermic needle. The tubes are closed at their lower ends and are provided with openings in the upper part of their casing, from which openings the cleaning medium may overflow.

For effecting the above intermittent movement of the distributor head as well as the control and supervision of the admittance of the different cleaning agents, such as washing fluid, distilled water, fresh water, the timely admittance of the pressurized air for the drying of the washed hypodermic needles, there is provided a control means consisting of a control sha'dit carrying the control supervision means with such control shaft being driven 3,092,121 Patented June 4, 1963 2 through a speed control gear by an electnounotor. The shaft is provided with a cam disc for effecting the intermittently effected pivotal movement of the distributor head, a control rotational slide plate for the admission and exit of the different cleaning fluids, and the dry air, and a drum switch in the circuit of an electromoto-r driving a pump for obtaining the required high working pres sure of the cleaning medium and the dry air.

A liquid-tight bearing of the nozzles against the upper rim of the hypodermic needles inserted into the needle holder during the last stage of the rinsing process is effected by the provision in the control means between the cam disc and the distributor head of a spring compensa tion means resulting in an elastic hut tight bearing connection between the nozzles and the respective needle heads.

According to a further feature of the invention, the cleaning apparatus including the complete control means and driving motor therefor and the pressure pump are arranged in a locker-type housing in which is arranged directly below the cleaning apparatus a receptacle having a drain for the spent cleaning medium. An opening in the locker wall for charging the apparatus can be closed by means of a transparent door or a door having sight openings therein.

Dependent on the number of the present needle cleaning apparatus simultaneously used, the different cleaning media can be introduced through different conduits into the respective connections in the Walls of the locker, or each locker, per se, and this arrangement is recommended for the Working with only one or 'a few of the cleaning apparatus in separate rooms, provided with storage containers for the individual cleaning media, which containers are suitably arranged in the locker in such a manner that the media are under the control of the rotational valve to the pressure pump.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description in connection with the annexed drawings, and in which drawings:

FIGURE 1 shows in side elevation and partly in section, the cleaning apparatus in charging position, with one side wall removed,

FIGURE 2 is a iiragmental view showing the nozzles and the needle heads in the cleaning apparatus ready for operation during the cleaning of the needle heads,

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2, showing the cleaning of the hypodermic needles, and,

FIGURE 4 is a diagrammatic view on a reduced scale of the cleaning apparatus installed in a locker including the control means for the actuation and supervision of the different working steps.

Referring to the drawings, and more especially to FIG. 1', there is shown a supporting means 16 of substantially U-shape and a hollow shaft or tube 5 serving as a conduit for the cleaning medium and also the pressurized air is rotatably mounted in legs 16 of the supporting means 16. A distributing head 4 is carried by the shaft 5 and the lower face of the head is provided with a plurality of nozzles 3. Conduits or passages 5a in the head '4 provide communication between each nozzle 3 and the interior of the shaft 5. One end of the shaft 5 is closed by suitable means, whereas the other end is equipped with a packing box allowing the shaft to be connected to a conduit in communication with a source of cleaning medium.

Each leg 16' of the supporting means 16 is provided with downwardly inclined slots or recesses which extend from the front edge of each leg toward the rear edge with such slots being defined by upper and lower surfaces 16a and 16b, respectively. A bracket 16c on each leg 3 has its upper edge flush with the lower surface 16b, and in conjunction with such surface, provides a support for a needle holder 2. The needle holder may be easily and readily introduced into the supporting means 16 from the front side thereof.

The holder 2 includes upper and lower plates 2a and 2e, respectively, joined by tubes 2b. The upper plate 2a is formed with a series of through apertures of equal dimensions, there being a tube 2b for each aperture. The lower plate 2e is imperforate and serves as a bottom for the tubes, which tubes carry the needles to be cleaned.

The number of apertures 2c and tubes 2b corresponds to the number of needles to be cleaned simultaneously, and of course is dependent on the size of the apparatus. The diameter of each plate aperture 20 is slightly less than that of the needle head, so that the head rests securely on the upper rim of the aperture 20. Also, each tube 2b has a greater length dimension than the length dimension of the needle, and the lower plate 2e bears against a bevelled face of stop means S on the supporting means 16. The stop means in conjunction with the lower surface 16]) determines the inclined position, and secures adjustment of the holder 2 relative to the nozzles 3 when the head 4 is pivoted or swung downwardly into the cleaning position.

It will be noted in FIG. 4 that a lever arm 5b is suitably connected to the hollow shaft 5, and an elongated lever means 8a is pivoted to the free end of the arm 5b. The opposite end of the lever means 811 is provided with a driving connection with a cam disc 8 mounted on a control shaft 6 which is driven by a motor 9 at a uniform speed through a reducing gear means of conventional type. A spring compensating means 811 is operably connected with the lever means 8a.

Also mounted on the control shaft 6 is a rotary slide 7 consisting of fixed and rotatable plates with the plates being provided with ports. The slide controls the passage of different cleaning media and air into the head 4. As shown, the drum switch 12a is in the form of a rotary switch having contact segments insulated from one another and contacted by brushes. One of the brushes a is connected by lead to one side of a source of power, the brushes b and 0 being respectively connected to the pump motor 12 and the cycling motor 9. The other side of the power source is connected by lead 26 directly to the motors through a manually operated switch S.

A drum switch 12a on the shaft 6 serves to control the circuit to an electro-motor adapted to drive a pressure pump 12. It is to be understood that limit switches are provided for the two motors and such switches function to break the motor circuits when the operating cycle is completed. Conduits 18, 19 and 20 extend from the rotary slide through the housing 15 to vessels 21, 22 and 23 respectively, supported on an extension 15a of the housing. These vessels contain the desired liquid cleaning media which flow to the valve by gravity. These media are maintained in heated condition by means of thermostatically controlled heaters which are conventional in the art and diagrammatically shown on the drawing. A conduit 24 extending from the rotary slide is connected to heating coils for the drying air which is to be used for drying the tubules following the liquid cleaning cycle.

The cleaning apparatus is arranged in a locker type housing 15 (FIG. 4) provided with an access door 17, and a receptacle 13 is located beneath the apparatus for collecting any cleaning media which may inadvertently escape during operation. Thus, the control means are protected from such liquids and a drain 13 is connected to the receptacle.

The access door 17 can be pivoted for upward swinging movement as shown in FIG. 4 or the door can be in the front wall of the housing. In this latter situation, the charging or inserting of the holder into the appa- '41. ratus can be effected in a horizontal direction which, in the case of small persons, enables the charging to be more easily achieved. The door can be formed entirely of a transparent plastic, or it can be of the type having a window or windows therein.

In the event only a single or a relatively small number of the needle cleaning units are to be used, and this is particularly true when such units are arranged at different locations, it is believed more feasible to provide at each housing an individual container for the different media, rather than the utilization of a central supply, with such individual media flowing by gravity to the valve and pump means operated by the control means.

In all types of assemblies, the conduit means for the cleaning media and the air may have associated therewith electrical heating means automatically controlled in their heat transmission by thermostats of suitable type.

In the changing or inserting position shown in FIG- URE 1, the head 4 with the nozzles 3 is swung to the uppermost position to allow the holder 2 filled with needles to be readily inserted into the inclined slots of the supporting means 16. With the head and nozzles in the same position, the holder can be removed from the supporting means following the completion of the cleaning and drying cycles.

Following the insertion of the holder into the supporting means 16, the head 4 is swung clockwise until it assumes the position shown in FIGURE 2. In other words, the nozzles are spaced a short distance from the rim of each needle head so that in such position the heads may be rinsed. Following completion of this step, the head is swung further in the clockwise direction so that the nozzles seat firmly on the rims of the needle head and the cleaning medium forced under high pressure (approximately 10 atmospheres) into the bores of the needles. After sufiicient cleaning medium has been introduced into the needles to fill the same, the medium passes upwardly in the space between the needles and the interior of the tubes 2b, and leaves the holder below the upper plate 2a.

Following this last cleaning cycle, the distilled water is passed through the needles, and the drying is accomplished by pressurized air. These latter steps are effected While the nozzles 3 firmly seat on the rims of the heads, and when the needles are dried, and the flow of cleaning media and air is arrested, the head 4 is swung in the counterclockwise direction, so that it assumes the position shown in FIGURE 1, whereupon the holder 2 with the cleaned needles can be removed from the supporting means 16. A new holder can then be inserted, and the foregoing steps repeated.

It is believed apparent from the above description that by virtue of the present invention, it is a simple and easy matter to clean the needles, since the operator is only required to exchange the needle holders, since the various steps of the cleaning process are actuated by the control means of the apparatus. The duration of the individual cleaning and drying steps is determined on the particular situations involved such as use of novel solvents, residues of medicines remaining in the needles, and which may make cleaning particularly difiicult, as well as other problems which may arise. These latter conditions usually arise in connection with special operational situations which can be effected by slowing down the duration of one rotation of the disc plate, and the drum 7 by the employment of a different reducing gear between the motor 9 and the shaft 6 and/or the length of the cam, and the contact strip on the outer periphery of the drum 7 can be altered.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is to be clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only, and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the spirit and scope of this invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

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I claim:

1. An apparatus for the cleaning of hypodermic needles including supporting means, a distributing head having a plurality of nozzles, said supporting means being provided with slot means therein, a holder insertable into the slot means, and adapted to carry the needles to be cleaned, means for supplying cleaning medium and drying air medium to said head and nozzles, means pivotally mounting said distributing head to said supporting means for movement to three positions relative to said holder, first control means cooperating with said head to sequentially locate it at the three respective positions, namely, a charging position in which the head is a sufiicient distance from said slot means to allow the insertion in and removal from the slot means of said holder, a central position in which the nozzles are located a short distance above the rims of the needle heads to permit the cleaning medium to clean the needle heads and a third position in which the nozzl s are pressed on the rims of the needles for introducing the cleaning medium and drying air sequentially into the needles, and second control means cooperative with said first control means and in timed relation therewith for operating the medium supplying means for supplying at least one of the mediums at each of the central and third positions of the head.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said holder includes a tube having a closed bottom for each nozzle with each tube receiving a needle, each tube being of greater length than the needle and having an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of the needle so that the cleaning medium flowing through the needle and present in the space between the eedle and the tube cleans the exterior of the needle.

3. An apparatus for the cleaning of hypodermic needles including supporting means, a distributing head having a plurality of nozzles, said supporting means being provided with slot means therein, a holder insertable into the slot means and adapted to carry the needles to be cleaned, means for supplying a cleaning medium and drying air to said head and nozzles, means pivotally mounting said distributing head to said supporting means for movement to three positions relative to said holder, namely, a charging position in which the head is a sufficient distance from said slot means to allow the insertion in and removal from the slot means of said holder, at central position in which the nozzles are located a short distance above the rims of the needle heads to permit the cleaning medium to clean the needle heads and a third position in which the nozzles are pressed on the rims of the needles for introducing the cleaning medium and drying air sequentially into the needles, said holder including a tube for each nozzle with each tube receiving a needle, each tube being of greater length than the needle and having an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of the needle so that the cleaning medium present in the space between the needle and the tube cleans the exterior of the needle, the holder including upper and lower plates with the tubes extending between the plates and the upper plate being supported by the lower wall of the slot means, said upper plates having apertures therein registering with said tubes for allowing the needles to be introduced into the tubes, and the diameter of the apertures being slightly less than the largest diameter of the needle heads to space such head above the upper plate.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further including electro-motors for respectively operating said first and second control means.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, in which said first control means includes a control shaft, a speed reducing gear coupling a first electromotor to the control shaft, a cam on the shaft for efiecting pivotal movement of the distributing head to said positions, said second means including a rotary valve on the shaft for the control of the cleaning medium and the drying air, a switch drum driven by the shaft, a second electro-motor, a pump driven by the second electro-motor for the generation of the required high pressure of the cleaning medium and drying air, a source of power, and a circuit controlled by the switch drum fior sequentially energizing the first and second electromotors.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 including linkage means connecting the cam to the distributing head and a spring means associated with said linkage means for biasing said linkage toward the cam.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, in which the cleaning apparatus and power driven control means are arranged in a housing, a receptacle having a drain for the spent cleaning medium being located below the cleaning apparatus, said housing having a charging opening therein for permitting insertion of and removal of the holder from the drum, and a door closing said charging opening.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, in which the wall of the housing is provided with connections for the supplying means for the cleaning medium and drying air.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, in which the housing is provided with containers for different cleaning media and from which the cleaning media flow by gravity to the rotary valve.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the supplying means for the cleaning medium for the drying air include heating means and thermostats controlling said heating means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 461,698 Anderson Oct. 20, 1891 507,870 Young Oct. 31, 1893 680,836 Birltholz Aug. 20, 1901 2,558,628 Redin June 26, 1951 2,626,624 I-lolderith Jan. 27, 1953 2,655,160 Casady Oct. 13, 1953 2,788,008 Wanzer Apr. 9, 1957

Claims (1)

1. AN APPARATUS FOR THE CLEANING OF HYPODERMIC NEEDLES INCLUDING SUPPORTING MEANS, A DISTRIBUTING HEAD HAVING A PLURALITY OF NOZZLES, SAID SUPPORTING MEANS BEING PROVIDED WITH SLOT MEANS THEREIN, A HOLDER INSERTABLE INTO THE SLOT MEANS, AND ADAPTED TO CARRY THE NEEDLES TO BE CLEANED, MEANS FOR SUPPLYING CLEANING MEDIUM AND DRYING AIR MEDIUM TO SAID HEAD AND NOZZLES, MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTING SAID DISTRIBUTING HEAD TO SAID SUPPORTING MEANS FOR MOVEMENT TO THREE POSITIONS RELATIVE TO SAID HOLDER, FIRST CONTROL MEANS COOPERATING WITH SAID HEAD TO SEQUENTIALLY LOCATE IT AT THE THREE RESPECTIVE POSITIONS, NAMELY, A CHARGING POSITION IN WHICH THE HEAD IS A SUFFICIENT DISTANCE FROM SAID SLOT MEANS TO ALLOW THE INSERTION IN AND REMOVAL FROM THE SLOT MEANS OF SAID HOLDER, A CENTRAL POSITION IN WHICH THE NOZZLES ARE LOCATED A SHORT DISTANCE ABOVE THE RIMS OF THE NEEDLE HEADS TO PERMIT THE CLEANING MEDIUM TO CLEAN THE NEEDLE HEADS AND A THIRD POSITION IN WHICH THE NOZZLES ARE PRESSED ON THE RIMS OF THE NEEDLES FOR INTRODUCING THE CLEANING MEDIUM AND DRYING AIR SEQUENTIALLY INTO THE NEEDLES, AND SECOND CONTROL MEANS COOPERATIVE WITH SAID FIRST CONTROL MEANS AND IN TIMED RELATION THEREWITH FOR OPERATING THE MEDIUM SUPPLYING MEANS FOR SUPPLYING AT LEAST ONE OF THE MEDIUMS AT EACH OF THE CENTRAL AND THIRD POSITIONS OF THE HEAD.

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