WO2006090065A1

WO2006090065A1 - Sealing machine comprising a motor-driven jack

Info

Publication number: WO2006090065A1
Application number: PCT/FR2006/000404
Authority: WO
Inventors: Olivier Hoffarth
Original assignee: Action Europe
Priority date: 2005-02-22
Filing date: 2006-02-22
Publication date: 2006-08-31
Also published as: EP1861331A1; FR2882340A1; FR2882340B1; EP1861331B1

Abstract

The invention relates to the sealing of vials. More specifically, the invention relates to a device and method for the sealing or unsealing of analysis vials. The inventive vial (4)-sealing/-unsealing device (1) comprises a head support which can receive a sealing/unsealing head (7) and a holder (3) which can receive the vials (4). The invention also comprises a motor-driven jack (6) which is equipped with a piston having the sealing head (7) fixed to the end thereof. The motor-driven jack (6) is controlled by an electronic control unit (8) and the sealing head comprises sealing jaws which are actuated by the piston.

Description

ELECTRIC CURRENT CRUSHER

The present invention relates to the field of vial crimping.

The present invention relates more particularly to an electrical device for automatically crimping vials used for analytical purposes.

Analytical laboratories use many vials of samples and use crimping of these.

The crimp quality of each vial is extremely important for laboratories using gas chromatography or liquid chromatography techniques and may have a direct impact on the test results, if any. The risks of evaporation and therefore of modifying the initial concentration as well as contamination of the solution remain well-known phenomena.

The prior art already knows, by the patent application WO91 / 1 1276, a manual crimping tool for attaching a plug (12) to the flange flange (19) of a container. The use of manual crimping pliers is quite common as it provides a simple, inexpensive and space-saving solution for laboratories.

The prior art also knows, from US Pat. No. 6,196,545 and US Pat. No. 6,076,330, portable electric crimping machines.

Also known from GB 2359069, the same family as the patent application WO 01/58800, a portable pneumatic crimper.

These various solutions of the prior art have several disadvantages:

^• they require axial positioning and precise centering of the crimper with the cap and bottle, to ensure effective crimping,

• By their manual and portable character, they offer a slow crimping speed of the order of 3 to 5 bottles per minute, • Finally, these crimping machines remain random because they do not allow to control crimping parameters and thus to reproduce a crimp identical in time because the pressure applied by the hand of the user, the pressurized air, is not identical in each use.

The prior art also knows automatic and semi-automatic crimping machines. Among others, patents US 3964234 and US 4087952 disclose automatic electric seamers whose bottle support is electrically high so that the plug hits a fixed mounted crimping head.

This solution is complex and requires a motor to move the plate to the crimping zone (motor or positioning cylinder), then a second cylinder to actuate the crimping head. When moving the tray to the crimping head, there is a risk of dropping the capsules placed on the bottles. This positioning operation requires a significant time that slows the rate of the system. There is also a risk of misaligning the tray in the high position. In addition, these devices have a large footprint and no means of securing the crimping area.

Also known from US Patent 4098053, an automatic pneumatic crimper whose operating cycle is to place a container on a conveyor belt, to place a capsule on the head of the container and to crimp by pneumatic means the capsule to the container. This solution also has means for verifying the correct crimping, means of presence of the capsule before the crimping phase ... However, its pneumatic nature is a limitation in that it does not allow to have a control over the crimping parameters. The solutions of the prior art are unsatisfactory because too often the equipment used (automatic crimper or manual clamp) offers no possibility of adjustment and is a source of errors in crimping. These solutions are not adapted to the needs of laboratories.

There are also known industrial solutions for crimping bottles, in particular fruit juice or equivalent. The disadvantage of these devices is mainly their size with regard to the purpose of the present invention: the analysis laboratories.

For example, patent application EP 1 182 165 presents an industrial encapsulation system for bottles. A crimping head at the end of a piston is lowered vertically above a bottle to be encapsulated by a linear actuator. The crimping of the metal caps is achieved by the application of a vertical force down the crimping head while the capsule is deformed in a neck to close on the neck of the bottle and thus crimp the bottle. This solution has an incompatibility with the field of analytical laboratories for which the sampling flasks are significantly more fragile than industrial bottles. Thus the application of a vertical stress on a vial held by the rack may break the sample vial. Foam may be provided and disposed under the bottle to compensate for this constraint.

An object of the present invention is also to overcome this vertical stress to crimp applied between the bottle and the rack. It is preferred a crimp not compressing the bottle on its rack.

Patent application EP 1 151 795, which has a device for filling vials, is also known. This document clearly does not concern the crimping of bottles but only the filling of these flasks involving safety mechanisms. The present invention intends to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing an automatic crimping device provided with an electric jack controlled by an electronic card. Thus, the invention makes it possible to control the crimping parameters and ensures the reproducibility and reliability of this crimping over time.

The object of the present invention is also to provide an automatic crimping system with a capacity of several bottles per minute, for example at least twelve. For this, the invention is provided with a plate where are housed several bottles.

The present invention also aims to overcome certain disadvantages of the prior art by proposing a crimping device whose rack geometry and the presence of sensors and the electronic card can crimp bottles of variable size without external action.

The invention also proposes a device and a method for serving the vials and allowing the sorting of the different constituent elements of the vial and the sample in order to meet the needs of selective sorting.

The present invention also provides means for securing the crimping zone by the use of a light curtain or microswitches acting on the device. Another object of the invention is to provide a linear guide of the crimping jack in order to maintain the rigidity of the system during the crimping phase.

Another object of the invention is to minimize the stresses on the crimp vial by avoiding compressing it directly against a hard and fixed surface.

Another object of the invention is to provide a solution in which the settings are minimized irrespective of the size of the crimp vials. Another object of the invention is to prevent tampering (breakage) of the bottles in case of malfunction or blockage of the cylinder or the crimping head.

The present invention then offers the following advantages:

• speed: automatic crimping of several bottles in less than a minute;

• precision: positioning of the plate thanks to a stepper motor of very high precision and displacement of the crimping head by linear guidance;

• reproducibility: use of an electric cylinder whose crimping parameters are controlled by a dedicated electronic card;

• electronic control of the parameters: automatic adjustment of the crimping parameters by identification of the bottles and automatic regulation of the parameters;

• modularity: scalable system, with or without motorization, trays and crimping heads interchangeable easily.

For this purpose, the invention relates in its most general sense to a crimping device or vial of bottles comprising a head support adapted to receive a crimping / filling head and a rack adapted to receive said bottles, an electric cylinder to the end of which is fixed said crimping head, said electric cylinder being controlled by an electronic control unit and said crimping head comprising crimping jaws actuated by said piston.

According to one embodiment, said rack is fixed and comprises a single location for said bottles, said location being positioned below and vertically of said cylinder. As will be seen later, the location may be for bottle holders used depending on the size of the crimp vials. According to a variant, said rack is a circular plate comprising a plurality of locations able to receive said bottles and positioning the crimping neck of all the bottles substantially at the same height, said circular plate being rotated by motor means, type stepper motor.

In this case, said device further comprises inductive type sensor means connected to said control unit and able to allow adjustment and positioning of said turntable.

In particular, said device further comprises at least one sensor, of photoelectric type, connected to said control unit and able to detect the presence, the size of the bottles and the angular position of said plate.

According to one embodiment, the device further comprises security means connected to said control unit. These means are an immaterial barrier and / or microswitches placed in said crimping head support.

Similarly, the device may further include a control panel comprising a crimp cycle start and stop button, an emergency stop button, and a rack rotation button.

In a particular embodiment, said crimping head is interchangeable and is equipped with an anti-projection shield.

In particular, said rack is interchangeable, facilitating the use of the invention for a laboratory.

In a variant, the device further comprises glass side walls providing protection of the crimping chamber. In order to optimize the device according to the invention, said electronic control unit is programmable to define the crimping parameters applied to the electric jack.

The invention also relates to a method for crimping vials by a crimping device according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a step of disposing at least one bottle in said rack and a capsule on said bottle, characterized in that it further comprises a step of activation of the electric jack carrying the head, said activation step down said head to crimp or to cover the capsule on said bottle.

According to one implementation, the method further comprises a preliminary step of defining crimping parameters.

According to a particular implementation, said crimping device comprises safety means connected to said control unit, and the method further comprises a step of interrupting the crimping cycle when said security means are activated.

In one embodiment, said crimping device comprising at least one sensor, of photoelectric type, connected to said control unit able to detect the presence, the size of the flasks and the angular position of the plate, and said method comprises, in addition , a step of determination, by said unit thanks to the information produced by the sensor, the size of the bottle, the type of capsule by said photoelectric sensor, and a step of modification by said unit crimping parameters according to said determination. In a particular embodiment in which said device is provided with vial filling means comprising a metering pump, the method further comprises a step of filling said vials with said filling means. The invention also applies to the decontamination and the decortication of vials containing samples. In which case, the device (1) is provided with a descreasing head. In addition, the method comprises, prior to the descent of said head, a step of pressurizing a vial with a double needle,

a step of extracting the contents of the bottle by said double needle and of sorting the content according to its halogen character,

- Optionally a rinsing step of said bottle by the emission of a jet of cleaning liquid in the bottle by the double needle, and, following the cycle of unloading, said constituent elements of the bottle are sorted in separate containers.

The invention will be better understood by means of the description, given below for purely explanatory purposes, of one embodiment of the invention, with reference to the appended figures in which the same reference refers to the same element or similar element: - Figure 1 shows a block diagram of a first embodiment single rack of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention with a turntable;

- Figures 3-a, 3-b and 3-c show different embodiments of a single rack for bottles;

FIG. 4 illustrates an anti-projection shield used in the present invention; FIG. 5 represents a flowchart of the method according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a double-sided rack used for the invention;

FIG. 7 represents examples of bottle holders; - Figure 8 illustrates the guide mechanism of the crimping head according to the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a detailed representation of an exemplary crimping head, (a) in the position of the compressed jaws, (b) in the position of the open jaws;

FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary bottle holder of FIG. 7 provided with means for adjusting and compensating for the height of the inserted bottle; and FIG. 11 illustrates an example of a rack provided with a single location for a bottle or a bottle holder.

The laboratory field uses a wide variety of sample vials. The present invention is not limited to the examples used below and can be applied to any type of vials, both of small capacity (1, 5 ml) and larger capacities, of variable diameter (1 1, 5 mm , 22.5 mm, 23 mm), made of glass or plastic or other material used, as well as any type of capsule as long as the crimping head is suitable (aluminum capsules for neck of 8, 1 1, 13, 20 or 32 mm, ...). The invention is also applicable to the crimping of aerosols and diffusers of any type.

Single seamer Rack

In a first embodiment (Figure 1), the crimper (1) according to the present invention comprises a base (2) in the middle of which is placed a rack (3) adapted to accommodate a bottle (4). This rack (3) may be an aluminum piece, cylindrical or not, integral with the base (2) comprising a hole or bore (31) of the size of the bottle (4) to be crimped and adapted to the shape of the bottles (generally circular), the hole (31) being not through the rack (Figure 3-a). The unbored bottom (32) of the rack serves to support the bottle during crimping. The diameter of the hole can be reduced depending on the outside diameter of the crimp bottle by the addition of a reduction ring.

Other embodiments of rack are possible, among others: • Figure 3-b: a conical trunk hole flared from bottom to top so that the rack can accommodate vials (4) of variable size;

• Figure 3-c: a flared hole from bottom to top by stair, the steps (33) serving to support the bottles of different diameters, for example 1 1, 5 mm, 22.5 mm and 23 mm.

The rack is engaged with a receiving base, for example with means of lugs type or complementary forms interlocking one into the other.

Referring to Figure 6, there are provided double-sided racks for their use for several sizes of bottles. In this example, the rack is provided on one side with 12 locations for the reception of 10 ml bottles and on the other side with 12 locations for the reception of 20 ml bottles having the same diameter but a different height. In Figure 6a, there are deep bores (34) for 20 ml bottles and short bores (35) for 10 ml bottles. Other configurations may be provided, including the mixture of various dimensions. Figure 6b shows that the bores provided on one side are staggered with those provided on the other side. This effectively integrates several bore depths into a rack thickness (36) barely larger than the maximum bore depth (34 in Fig. 6a). A position indicator (37) is provided for each of the directions of the rack and is used as described later to determine a so-called "zero" initial position of the rack.

The advantage of this double-sided rack is to reduce the number of accessories and reduce the cost of the product, while allowing crimp different sizes or types of vials with the same accessory.

In an embodiment in which it is desired that all crimp vials present their neck at the same height, in order to minimize the adjustments to be made on the device, provision is made for the use of vial-holders which contain the vials and are arranged in the locations provided on the racks (3).

Figure 7 illustrates such vial-holders (40). These vial-holders have an identical base (41) whatever the vials concerned, this base corresponding to the dimensions of the locations provided in the rack (3). At the end opposite this base, a centered bore (42) is provided to accommodate a bottle. For a bottle holder intended for a 2 ml bottle, the bore (42) is of diameter X substantially equal to the outside diameter of the 2 ml bottle. The depth Y of the bore is sufficient to hold the vial, for example 1/4, 1/3 or 1/2 vial height (Y + W = vial height).

The height Z of the bottle holder corresponding to the emergent portion of the rack when the bottle holder is placed therein is determined with respect to a fixed height at which it is desired to perform the crimping (positioning of the crimping head in operation) . This height Z can be variable depending on the bottle holders (depending on the size of the vials intended for them) or be identical regardless of the bottle holder model, in which case the bores must be even deeper than the vials they are intended for are high.

These bottle holders make it possible to use only one stable and indeformable rack having only one type of location. FIG. 11 shows such an example of rack (3) having the same dimensions as a rack with multiple locations, thus making it possible to use it on the same model of crimping device 1. In this configuration, no motor means is required to rotate the carrier 3. The latter is fixed or secured to the base 2, the single location 31 being positioned vertically to the cylinder 6, below it. To effectively position the rack, guiding means, for example lugs, are provided on the rack, the base having notches in which the lugs enter ensuring effective positioning and holding the rack.

Solidary stem of the base (2), a bracket (5) supports an electric jack (6) positioned and oriented vertically above the rack (3).

In one embodiment, the bracket (5) is fixed and the jack (6) is integral with the bracket (5). In another embodiment, the bracket (5) can be adjustable in height, either manually by the use of screws or clipping pins, or automatically by the use, for example, of jacks. This allows in particular to increase the range of bottle heights that can be crimped by the device (1).

Cylinder and head

The electric jack (6) is of the type having a piston sliding relative to a body attached to the stem. The state of the art knows a large number of electric jack usable in the context of the present invention.

At the end of the piston of the jack (6) is fixed a head support in which is screwed a crimping or descreasing head (7). In a nonlimiting manner, the head (7) is screwed into the head support fixed on the jack (6). Conical guidance also makes it easier to center the head (7) during the head pattern change operation. A tightening of the head is provided by a tool that is just introduced into a bore on the upper flange of the head (7) to ensure the proper maintenance thereof. The jack (6) and the extension of the bracket (5) are chosen so that the stroke of the cylinder (6) allows the head (7) to reach the neck of the bottle (4) crimp. The adaptation of the device to bottles (4) of different height can be done by adjusting the lengthening of the bracket (5) or reducing the height of the trays (3) or by acting on the setting of a stop against the cylinder stops, a more detailed description of which is provided below.

The head support is mounted with four screws on a movable element for linear guidance. This element is composed of a carriage and a guide rail. The controlled movement of the piston of the cylinder (6) drives the carriage and the head support to the stop ensuring locking at a defined height. As soon as the movable assembly is blocked, the piston continues its stroke to compress a second piston which actuates the jaws of the crimping head (7). After crimping each bottle, the cylinder piston (6) returns to its initial position.

In more detail, with reference to Figure 8, a guide rail (50) is provided on a structure of the bracket 5 located vertically behind the cylinder (6). The stem structure may be reinforced by dedicated elements (51) to minimize deformations due to the forces experienced by the rail.

The head support (52) is secured to a bearing shoe (53) via a bracket (54). The pad can slide vertically along the rail (50). The set bracket + pad is the sliding carriage along the rail. When the piston of the cylinder (and thus the head support and the crimping head) goes down, the pad slides along the rail thus guiding the lowering of the jack.

During crimping operations, the assembly formed of the end of the jack, the head support and the crimping head, is held in place regardless of the forces and forces experienced by the system. The guiding system thus prevents any deformation of the frame during crimping.

As discussed with reference to Figure 7, it may be desired to crimp the vials at the same height to minimize device presets. It is thus expected to have the device with a stop (55) which stops the downward sliding of the carriage. This stop is adjustable in height, manually or electronically. Thus the head support always stops at the same height, crimping is always performed at the same height. This solution also eliminates the sensor to detect the height of the bottles and adjust the positioning of the crimping head. The adjustment of the stop (55) also makes it possible to adapt the device to bottles of different heights; when the vial-holders do not make it possible to keep the same crimping height, for example for batches of vials outside manufacturing tolerance. Referring to Figure 9, in the non-crimping position, the crimping head has four jaws (60) held open by a spring system (61) for example a circular elastic placed in a notch of the jaws. When the carriage reaches the abutment on the stop (55), the end of the jaws is located substantially under the neck of the crimp vial and the capsule placed thereon.

The carriage being in abutment, the head support (52) is fixed, the piston which continues to descend presses a pusher (62) which is integrally connected to a head (63). The movement of this head closes the jaws (60) under the neck and capsule of the bottle while lifting the bottle through the curved shape of the outer end of the jaws.

The head is circular and comprises a circular recess 64 substantially halfway up. In the folded position of the head 63, the inner end of the jaws (60) tilts in the recess 64 under the effect of the spring (61). The recess is degressive towards the rear of the head 63, so that when it advances, under the effect of the jack and the pusher, the inner end of the jaws is gradually raised to tilt the jaws in a closed position.

Once the bottle is seized, the head 63 continues its sliding by means of the pusher and then presses the capsule of the bottle to crimp it.

The advantage of this solution is to avoid any compression of the bottle during the crimping phase to prevent any risk of bursting thereof. In order to allow an error tolerance at the level of the presented bottle heights, but also to allow the vials to be filled (which requires a large vertical force to be applied to the bottle), a bottle holder provided with spring means is used in reference to Figure 10.

The bottom of the bore 42 provided in the bottle holder is formed by a circular support (70) of diameter greater than X maintained at the distance Y from the edge by a spring (71).

During crimping or decorticating operations, the support (70) compresses the spring 71 and descends under the force applied by the jack to the bottle which is positioned substantially too high. By this system, it is achieved compensation and automatic adjustment of the height of the bottle by the use of the integrated spring in the bottle holder. It can be provided to directly provide the rack locations (3) of this system (both the locations intended to receive the vials directly that the locations receiving vial-holders, in which case the bases 41 must be slightly larger than the depth of the location to allow play with the spring, which avoids to provide each bottle holder with such a system).

Control unit

The crimping device (1) also comprises a digital control unit (8) located for example inside the base

(2). This unit (8) is of the dedicated digital electronic control card type and is connected to the various modules of the device requiring or providing commands / information: jacks, motors, buttons, sensors, power supply, connection interface with a device dedicated to the parameterization device (for example, a computer), etc.

We consider, here, that the unit (8) processes all the information flowing in the device (1). It may, however, be considered to separate the unit (8) into specific interconnected subunits, each of which processes the messages separately. alarm, power supply, control panel (9), sensors, cylinder (6), rack (3), ...

Lectern The base (2) also comprises a desk (9) on which are arranged one or more control buttons, for example an emergency stop button (91), a start button of the crimping cycle (92), a cycle stop button (93). The integration in the console (9) of a multi-position switch or push button (96) makes it possible to act manually on the setting of the crimping force, via the electrical intensity applied to the jack (6).

The buttons are of the mechanical type, backlit or not, of the touch-sensitive keyboard type or of the infrared touch-sensitive type. It is also planned to incorporate waterproof buttons, for example according to IP 67, to ensure a sufficient seal to allow disinfection of the device.

Simple crimping process

According to the dimensions of the crimp bottle model, the operator chooses the crimping head (7) with respect to the crimp neck diameter and the rack model (3) adapted to the outside diameter of the flask (4) and to its total height. The crimping head is screwed onto the head support located at the end of the electric jack (6). The operator also positions the rack adapted to the bottles he wishes to crimp (101).

The operator manually disposes the bottle (4) in the rack (3) and a capsule on the bottle (102).

It then (103) launches the crimping cycle by pressing a cycle start button (92). Upon receipt of the start of cycle information, the unit (8) controls the electric cylinder (6) which moves the piston including the crimping head (7) to the stop at the end of the stroke and then to compress in the head (7) another piston actuating the crimping jaws of the head (7). These jaws strike the capsule and ensure, therefore, crimping (1 1 1) the vial (4) effectively and tightly, thanks to the applied force.

Once the crimping force has been applied for a specified time, the unit (8) controls the rise of the piston; the jack (6) returns to its folded position.

Crimping parameters

The use of an electric cylinder (6) makes it possible to ensure a controlled and perfectly reproducible stroke with each movement of the piston, the objective being to have all the bottles of the laboratory crimped identically. The forces or forces applied (750 N for example) by the crimping head (7) on the capsules are directly related to the voltage and the intensity applied to the piston (6) by the dedicated electronic card (8) to the system . These parameters of tension and intensity, as well as other parameters (crimping time, speed, electrical intensity applied to the jack, which corresponds to the crimping force, etc.), all called crimping parameters, are stored in the unit (8) to ensure incomparable reproducibility and linearity compared to manual or pneumatic crimping technologies.

These crimping parameters can be defined definitively during the design of the electronic card (8), either by single value or by correspondence table (or charts, function, ...) that will allow the unit (8) to choose the parameters according to some information reported by the system (sensors, buttons, ...). In an improved embodiment, the device (1) comprises means for interfacing the electronic card (8) with an external device, computer type, to correct, adapt or modify these parameters.

In one embodiment, it is intended to provide four different levels for adjusting the crimping force (force applied by the head 63). The front panel of the device is then provided with a set of light-emitting diodes whose ignition informs the chosen level, for example the number of lit diodes corresponds to the chosen crimping level. This crimping force can also be selected by the user by means of a button (96) provided for this purpose on the desk.

Safety Side walls

The device (1) also comprises side walls (10) protection and anti-projection, for example transparent glass or plexiglass.

Light curtains Access to the crimping area is via the front of the device (1). In order to guarantee a maximum degree of safety for all users, as soon as the operator activates the initiation of the crimping cycle, a light curtain (1 1) is activated at this front face of the device (1). This barrier can be implemented by an infrared beam or any equivalent technology, generated and analyzed by adapted modules (12) integrated for example in the base (2). These are connected to the unit (8) which processes the received signals.

As soon as the operator tries to cross the zone delimited by the implantation of the light curtains (11) during the crimping phase, the unit (8) receives an alert from the modules (12) and the current is immediately cut in order to deactivate the device (1).

Microswitches

In another embodiment, the crimping head support includes microswitches connected to the unit (8). Thus, when the operator approaches his hand of the head (7) and the key (it pushes, brakes, holds the head), the micro-switch (s) changes (s) state and this information is transmitted to the unit (8) which causes the power supply to be cut off from the apparatus (1). Emergency stop button

As mentioned above, the console (9) has an emergency stop button (91) which, during its activation, to cut off any power supply of the device (1), for example in case of breakage of the bottle. Screen of protection

In order to retain any projection of glass and / or product in case of bursting of the bottle during the crimping cycle, the crimping head (7) is provided with an anti-projection screen (13).

This screen (13) may be a metal plate or curved plastic secured to the head (7) by two rods (16) screwed or crimped. The screen (13) is placed between the operator and the head (7) so as to hide the bottle (4). In another embodiment, the protective screen (13) is a bottomless hollow cylinder integral with the head (7). During the descent of the cylinder (6), the cylinder covers and encompass the bottle (4).

The protective screen (13) is adapted not to abut against the rack (3) or the base (2) and thus to prevent the cylinder (6) and the head (7) from bottle (4). It can be plastic, glass or metal.

Intensive Automatic Seamer Tray

In an embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the device (1) now comprises a rack (3) in the form of a tray at several vial locations.

The plate (3) is rotated circularly through a shaft connected to an engine block (14) and is guided by a needle bearing. The engine block (14) consists of a stepper motor and possibly a gearbox to adapt its speed and torque. The engine block (14) is also connected to the control unit (8). In another embodiment, the plate (3) is engaged with a second plate by a fastening system, for example by simple screwing. This second plate is driven by the shaft of the engine block (14). The trays (3) can thus be easily exchanged according to the dimensions of the crimp vials. Preferably, for security reasons, it is preferred to choose a plate (3) not fixed directly to the second plate. Indeed, in case of blockage of a bottle following permanent maintenance in the jaws during crimping operations, the plate (3) must not rotate while the second plate can be driven by the engine that is not aware blocking mentioned. It is therefore expected to allow the tray (3) to remain static without causing damage or broken glass. For example, it can be provided that the rack (3) is magnetized to the second plate driven by the motor. Without any contrary force, the rack is driven. If there is blockage of a bottle, the magnetization force is not sufficient to drive the rack.

The plate (3) is of tubular shape, for example circular, provided if necessary with a bottom wall adapted to be engaged with the shaft of the engine block (14). The plate (3) has holes or bores in the thickness, these being evenly distributed and equidistant all around the axis of rotation of the plate so that the trajectories of the centers of these locations are combined and that these centers occur once per cycle of rotation of the plate under the axis of the electric jack (6).

The tray rack (3) comprises at least four vial locations, for example 8 or 12.

In particular, aluminum trays with eight or twelve locations are envisaged for bottles of 2 ml, 10 and / or 20 ml of capacity. Only the diameter of the holes changes.

In this embodiment, the axis of rotation of the plate (3) is offset from that of the jack (6). The cylinder axis (6) intersects perpendicularly the trajectory of the centers of the tray locations of the tray.

Position and presence sensor

The plate (3) comprises bore-type markings on its outer part so as to identify a position called "zero" and possibly all the positions associated with the locations of the bottles.

A positioning sensor (15) of the inductive sensor type is connected to the unit (8) to identify the position of the plate (3) by means of the bores. At the start of the crimping cycle, the control unit (8) feeds the motor block (14) so as to place the plate (3) in its "zero" position, this is the "initialization" cycle. . The positioning sensor (15) informs the unit (8) as soon as the plate has indeed reached this "zero" position. Then throughout the cycle, the sensor (15) informs the unit

(8) the position of the plate (3).

A major difficulty lies in the risk of shifting the tray / rack (3) relative to the "zero" position and the centering of the vial locations in the axis of the crimping head (7). Such a risk can occur when the user holds the tray during rotation or tries to remove a bottle during the cycle. Any anomaly of positioning, displacement of the plate or power failure causes a reset and a readjustment of the plate (3) at each new cycle start.

In another embodiment, the sensor (15) is a presence and positioning sensor of the photoelectric type. The unit (8) receives the information captured by this sensor (15) and performs a detection analysis of the presence of vial in the tray (3) as well as a recognition analysis of the dimensions (diameter of the bottle, diameter of the neck vial) and angular positions of the vials. These analyzes are known from the prior art. The determination of the angular positions allows the unit (8) to ensure the proper alignment of the crimping head (7) with the crimp vial and to know at any time, the position of the plate (3).

Depending on the characteristics of the bottle or bottles, the control card (8) automatically adjusts the intensity of the electric current of the cylinder (6) to ensure the appropriate crimping. The parameters of crimping are controlled by micro processor (card 8) and thus guarantee an identical and reproducible crimping in time.

In an advanced embodiment, the data provided by the sensor (15) makes it possible to analyze the brightness and / or the color of the capsules deposited by the operator on the bottles (4). This analysis makes it possible to deduce the nature of the materials and to adapt the parameters and therefore the crimping force (that is to say the intensity of the electric jack) especially when it comes to aluminum caps or sheet metal requiring very different crimping forces.

In the case of rack having a large number of bottles, it can be expected to perform a fine analysis of the current consumed by the cylinder during crimping of the first bottle, to deduce (compared to charts in memory) the nature of the capsule . This data is then applied to all the other vials in the rack and can be used to refine the crimping parameters.

In one embodiment, the device (1) comprises a first inductive type sensor (15-1) for determining the positioning of the tray and a second photoelectric type sensor (15-2) for checking the presence of the bottles and, for analyze the size of these and possibly capsules.

Process

The operator loads the plate (3) with all the bottles (4) to be crimped, for example twelve, outside the system or directly at the crimping zone. To facilitate access to the tray (3), the console (9) also has a tray rotation button (94). For example, pressing the button (94) rotates the tray a quarter or a half turn. It is also envisaged that the tray (3) rotates as long as the button (94) is pressed. By this system, the operator does not need to access the locations at the bottom of the crimping area. When the operator triggers (103) the crimping cycle, the control board (8) positions (104) the platen (3) in its "zero" position (105) using the stepping motor block (14). ) and the positioning sensor (15). Optionally, in the case of a sensor (15) of photoelectric type as mentioned above, the unit (8) selects, for each of the crimp vials of the plate, the crimping parameters (electric intensity of the cylinder, duration) according to information analyzed by the sensor (15). The unit (8) controls the motor unit (14) which drives and rotates (106) the tray (3) until a first location is centered under the axis of the electric ram (107). The motorization allows to move accurately the plateau. The motor (14) stops and the unit (8) increments (108) a counter dedicated to counting the number of locations traveled during the cycle. The sensor (15) can make it possible to determine the presence of a bottle in this location (1 10). If a bottle is present, then, controlled by the unit (8), the crimping head (7) descends and exerts a force F for a duration T, both corresponding to the crimping parameters present in the card (8). Then the unit (8) controls the rotation of the tray (3) at the next location.

If the sensor (15) detects the absence of a bottle in the slot centered under the axis of the cylinder (6), the unit (8) still increments the counter dedicated to the count and controls the rotation of the plate (3). ) at the following location (106).

The operation is thus repeated for the twelve locations of the plateau (3): the cycle ends (1 12) when the counter dedicated to the count reaches the value of the number of locations, here twelve (109).

By this process, crimping is automatic and fast and efficient: in less than a minute, twelve bottles are crimped identically. Adaptability

The present invention crimps all capsule diameters (8, 11, 13, 20 or 32 mm) by changing the platen (3) and crimping head (7) models or by using platens and crimping heads. adapted to several dimensions. For a uniform operation of the device (1), regardless of the size of the crimp vials, the racks are adapted to the different sizes of vials in order to position the neck to crimp vials of different height and outside diameter, always at the same height. .

The device (1) in one of the embodiments described above can be associated with an automatic feeder or a robot for automatically feeding and / or emptying the rack (3) containing one or more bottles (4). This passer or robot also makes it possible to fill the vials with the analysis sample and to place the capsule on the neck of the vial.

It is also envisaged in the context of the present invention that the crimping device (1) comprises a lighting system of the crimping zone and the console (9), for example by placing bulbs on the bracket (5).

In another embodiment, the system is equipped with a desiccation head and allows the bottles to be decontaminated before recycling or to selectively sort the constituents (glass, aluminum, rubber, halogenated or non-halogenated solvents). Using a double coaxial needle connected to a pumping system, we first pressurize the bottle and extract the total contents of the bottle. Then, a specific sensor can determine the presence of halogenated substances in which case the contents of the bottle is stored in a dedicated container. A container dedicated to non-halogenated substances receives the other contents of the bottle.

The double needle also makes it possible to flush the bottle by emitting a jet of liquid, for example water and then extracting it and depositing it in the appropriate container. The decapping head then removes the capsule from the bottle and dissociates the seal (usually rubber) from the aluminum part. The bottle (glass), the seal (rubber) and the capsule (aluminum) are then deposited in separate sorting containers.

In another embodiment, the crimping device (1) has filling means, for example via the aforementioned double needle and a peristaltic pump system. This pump system allows the accurate transfer of an exact amount of one or more liquids into each vial. Then, in a second step, the closure controlled by crimping each container is performed. Optionally, the crimping device has means for filling the bottle to add a fixed or variable volume of an internal standard to the bottle, for example an internal standard of known concentration for dosing the sample content in the bottle or to mark certain chemicals. The system includes a metering valve (diaphragm, volumetric or loop dosing), a valve controller, a refrigerated tank and a vial filling needle (either before crimping or after crimping by piercing the seal. sealing of the capsule with a cannula, the seal ensuring sealing again after this step by redeforming).

Other embodiments may be envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the hardware device (base, stem, cylinder, head, ...) can be separated from the control part (desk, electronic card, ...) and connected via a suitable connection (computer cable). This makes it possible in particular to disinfect a totally stainless steel equipment without introducing the control components into an isolator for the packaging of clinical batches, for example a decontamination chamber.

Claims

1. Device (1) for crimping or emptying vials (4) for laboratory comprising a head support adapted to receive a crimping / filling head (7) and a rack

(3) adapted to receive said flasks (4), characterized in that it further comprises an electric jack (6) provided with a piston at the end of which said crimping head (7) is fixed, said electric cylinder (6) being controlled by an electronic control unit (8), and said crimping head comprising crimping jaws actuated by said piston.

2. Device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the head support is integral with a carriage mounted on a rail and in that said device comprises an adjustable stop against which stops said carriage when the cylinder (6 ) drives the crimping head, said piston actuating said crimping jaws in the course of its course.

3. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said carrier (3) is fixed and comprises a single location for said bottles (4), said location being positioned below and vertically of said cylinder ( 6).

4. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said carrier (3) is a circular plate comprising a plurality of locations adapted to accommodate said bottles (4) by positioning the crimping neck of all vials (3) substantially at the same height, said circular plate (3) being rotated by motor means (14).

5. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said rack comprises at least one location adapted to accommodate a bottle, said location being provided with a support (70) on which the bottle and being provided with elastic means arranged to allow vertical movement of the support.

6. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said flasks are placed on said rack by means of vial-holders positioning the neck to crimp all the bottles substantially at the same height.

7. Device (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that it further comprises sensor means (15) of inductive type connected to said control unit (8) and able to allow the adjustment and the positioning said rotary plate (3).

8. Device (1) according to one of claims 4 and 7, characterized in that it further comprises at least one sensor (15) of the photoelectric type, connected to said control unit (8) and suitable detecting the presence, the size of the flasks (4) and the angular position of said platen (3).

9. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises safety means connected to said control unit (8).

10. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said carrier (3) is interchangeable and driven by a motorized plate by means arranged to cancel this drive when said carrier is blocked.

1 1. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said crimping head (7) is equipped with an anti-projection screen (13).

12. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises glass side walls (10).

13. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said electronic control unit

(8) is programmable to define the crimping parameters applied to the electric jack (6).

14. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises:

A system for sampling and dosing a liquid contained in a refrigerated tank, the metering system being provided with valves and at least one valve controller, and means for supplying a dispensing liquid with a filling needle; bottles

15. A method of crimping or decanting vials by a crimping or crimping device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a step of disposing at least one vial (4) in a rack (3) and a capsule on said bottle (4), characterized in that it comprises:

A step of activating the piston of an electric jack (6) positioned above said rack (3), said piston being provided at its end with a crimping head (7) and being secured to a guided carriage by a rail, said activation step descending said crimping head (7);

A step of stopping said carriage by a stop; • a step of crimping the capsule on said bottle (4) by the activation of jaws in said crimping head (7) by said piston in its subsequent course.

16. The method of claim 14, characterized in that said crimping step comprises a step of closing said jaws to lift said bottle and the crimping of the capsule by pressure of a head (63) driven by said piston.

17. Method according to one of claims 14 and 15, characterized in that it further comprises a preliminary step of setting crimp parameters and gradually adjusting the crimping force.

18. Method according to one of claims 14 to 16, said crimping device (1) comprising security means connected to said control unit (8), characterized in that it further comprises a step of interrupting the crimping cycle when said security means are activated.

19. Method according to one of claims 14 to 17, said crimping device (1) comprising at least one sensor (15), photoelectric type, connected to said control unit (8) capable of detecting the presence, the size vials (4) and the angular position of the plate (3), characterized in that it comprises, in addition, a step of determination, by said unit (8) thanks to the information produced by the sensor (15), the size of the bottle (4), the type of capsule by said photoelectric sensor (15), and a step of modification by said unit (8) crimping parameters according to said determination.

20. Method according to one of claims 14 to 18, said device (1) being provided with vial filling means comprising a metering pump, characterized in that further comprises a step of filling said flasks (3) with said filling means.

21. Method according to one of claims 14 to 18, said device (1) being provided with a head of dessert, characterized in that it comprises, prior to the descent of said head (7),:

A step of pressurizing a vial with a double needle, a step of extracting the content of the vial by said double needle and sorting the content according to its halogen character,

Optionally a step of rinsing said bottle by the emission of a jet of cleaning liquid in the bottle by the double needle, and in that, following the cycle of the dessert, said constituent elements of the bottle are sorted in separate containers .