WO2018121948A1

WO2018121948A1 - Supply module of a transfer or transport device, in particular a pharmaceutical tablet transfer or transport device

Info

Publication number: WO2018121948A1
Application number: PCT/EP2017/080592
Authority: WO
Inventors: Frédéric Birague
Original assignee: Proditec
Priority date: 2016-12-30
Filing date: 2017-11-28
Publication date: 2018-07-05
Also published as: CN108263835A; FR3061487B1; FR3061487A1

Abstract

The subject of the invention is a supply module of a device for transferring or transporting products, in particular pharmaceutical tablets C, using a centrifugal bowl comprising an inclined axis rotary plate (12) and a rotary vessel (14) with an outer peripheral face, the inclined axis rotary plate (12) having an exchange point (14-2), tangent with the upper edge of said rotary vessel (14), that receives the products, a continuous isokinetic strip (16), of height H, oriented vertically and pressed against said outer peripheral face, over at least one section S, of the vessel.

Description

MODULE FOR SUPPLYING A DEVICE FOR TRANSFER OR TRANSPORT, IN PARTICULAR PHARMACEUTICAL TABLETS

The present invention relates to a feed module of a transfer device or transport, including pharmaceutical tablets.

There are pharmaceutical tablet transfer devices, used particularly for the quality control of said tablets. The pharmaceutical tablets are taken as an application because the quality constraints are of a high level.

For the rest of the description and the claims, the term "tablet" is intended to mean solid tablets, film-coated or non-film-coated, whatever the form, but also all capsules, softgels and, more generally, all products having the same gripping stresses. and transfer.

Such a transfer device, in particular of the type described in the French patent application FR 16 57254 in the name of the same applicant, is entirely satisfactory and the object of the present invention is to further improve the feed performance, especially the speed .

This transfer device lifts tablets by suction means at the outlet of a centrifugal bowl, transfers them and deposits them on an exit conveyor belt after they have been inspected by one or more cameras for analysis and decide to keep them or remove them from the exit conveyor belt in case of non-compliance.

There are also devices allowing only the transport of tablets, vacuum wheel for example that could also be powered by the power module according to the present invention.

In order to feed these transfer devices, it is often provided a centrifugal bowl which aims to position the tablets in mono column, continues, and present them to these transfer modules appropriately, without lack and good orientation.

The tablets, thus positioned in a single column, are spaced apart during the gripping by the transfer module and are found regularly spaced when being deposited on the strip. output conveyance because the speed of the transfer module strip is greater than the tablet feed rate at the outlet of the centrifugal bowl.

By passing through a transfer module, the tablets may be spaced so as to allow the optical control for example of said tablets during said transfer.

Such a known centrifugal bowl comprises, according to one embodiment, a rotary plate with an inclined axis of rotation, intended to receive a stream of tablets to be controlled or transported. The inclined axis rotary plate thus comprises a low peripheral point, a high peripheral point and generates a centrifugal effect.

Said rotary plate with inclined axis is surrounded at its periphery by a rotary tank whose axis of rotation is vertical, this rotary tank being provided with a peripheral balcony, external offset. This balcony is surmounted by a fixed fixed wedge, partial, adapted to limit the radial width available from the balcony depending on the type of tablet to be treated.

In the case of a disk-shaped tablet, the limited radial dimension of the balcony is substantially equal to the diameter of the tablet and when the tablet is ovoid, the limited radial dimension of the balcony is reduced substantially to the dimension of the minor axis to maintain the tablets aligned along their major axis.

The arrangement is such that the upper peripheral edge of the rotary plate inclined axis is juxtaposed and tangent at a point with the balcony of the rotary vessel, said exchange point. The tablets, by turning, are brought by centrifugal force, at the upper peripheral point of the rotating plate inclined axis and slide from this turntable to the balcony of the rotary tank, due to the centrifugal force and possibly the gravity, the exchange point. Indeed, the tray may comprise a lip coming to a height greater than that of the balcony and forming a sliding slope to the balcony.

The rotational speeds of the inclined axis rotary table and the rotary chamber are adjustable and the speed of the inclined axis rotary plate is generally greater than that of the balcony at the exchange point for feeding and continuously feeding the balcony, in order to constitute a continuity of tablets on the balcony, in single column.

The fixed annular wedging, partial, coaxial with the rotating tank and protruding above the balcony, allows to retain said tablets which are supported on said fixed annular wedging. Thus, the tablets rest on the one hand on the balcony and are pressed against the other fixed, partial ring setting by the centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the rotary tank itself. The tablets are subjected, in a simplified manner, to a driving force generated by the weight of the tablet on the contact surface with the balcony and to a friction force generated by the lateral support against the inner face of the fixed annular wedging, part.

The tablets are therefore rotated by the balcony about the axis of the tank but the friction forces disturb their own movement.

Anyway, this peripheral friction exists and leads to parasitic movements of the tablet, regardless of its shape, especially as the tablet has a single point of contact, the importance may be in amplitude, in rotation , oscillating, tilting and / or combining these various movements.

Some of these movements are known as "spin effect", that is to say, an oscillatory phenomenon that has a propensity to self-accentuate and this phenomenon increases especially at high speed.

Although the transfer or transport modules are fed constantly, the tablets are in random positions but especially with clean motions, which can be amplified at the time of aspiration and / or release on the conveyor. animated output of a translation speed.

The object of the present invention is to provide a tableted supply module of a conveyor, for example a centrifugal bowl, which allows feeding with tablets which are stabilized at the outlet until gripping by the module. transfer or transport.

Thus said tablets are at the output of the power module under the best conditions to then feed a transfer device or transport.

The feed module according to the present invention makes it possible to achieve the stability of the tablets in a simple manner while avoiding a motorization in its best embodiment, easily adapts to the different types of tablets, with the possibility of automating the adjustments.

In addition, the module according to the present invention is reliable and greatly reduces the risk of failure. The module according to the present invention avoids interruptions in production by improving the stability of the tablets.

The tablets will be presented in a perfectly adapted way for the subsequent visual inspection: better alignment and constant and regular spacing in particular. The feed module according to the present invention is directly adaptable to existing machines, having a feed from a particularly inclined centrifugal bowl, so that the retrofit is quite possible.

The module according to the present invention is now described with reference to the appended drawings comprising different figures, whose designation is numbered hereinafter, these figures illustrating a preferred embodiment on the day of the deposit, without it being possible to limit it. .

The intended application is that of pharmaceutical tablets but any other similar product would find to be treated by the module according to the present invention.

Thus the different figures represent:

FIG. 1: an exploded view, in perspective, of the module according to the present invention, with a representation of the tablets,

FIG. 2: a view from above of the module according to the present invention,

3: a perspective view of the module according to the present invention once mounted, with a magnifying glass of the exchange point,

Figures 4: a diametrical cross-sectional view through the exchange point, with two loupes on the balcony and the crown aimed at one a thick balcony 4A and the other 4B a balcony with an intermediate ring.

The module according to the present invention is now described in detail, relying indifferently on the figures, the example used to illustrate said invention is a pharmaceutical application for feeding a transfer module in pharmaceutical tablets Ç.

In FIG. 1, there is shown a feed module 10 according to the present invention, which comprises a rotating plate with an inclined axis 12 and a rotary tank 14.

The rotating plate inclined axis 12 has an axis XX 'of rotation which is inclined.

The rotary tank 14 has an axis YY 'which is vertical.

The rotating plate with inclined axis 12 has a diameter D1 equal, with the clearance and necessary compensations necessary related to the inclined plate, to the inner diameter D2 of the rotary tank.

The tilted axis rotary plate 12 has a tablet receiving point 12-1 and an exchange upper point 12-2.

The receiving lower point 12-1 receives the tablets from a feed hopper, collects the tablets which are not driven by the inclined-axis rotary table 12, which do not have were collected by the tank 14 at the exchange point or again, which fall from the tank before being transferred to the conveyor belt of the transfer device or transport. At the exchange point 12-2, the peripheral edge of the rotary plate with inclined axis 12 comes into tangency with the plane of the edge of the tank 14, this in a known manner.

The rotary tank 14 according to the present invention has a U-section in a known manner. The peripheral edge comprises at its upper peripheral end, a balcony 14-1 which projects outwardly with respect to the peripheral edge of the rotary tub as is clearly visible in FIG. 4A.

The inner peripheral face, at the upper edge of the edge of the rotary bowl, comes into tangency with the rotary plate with inclined axis 12, at the exchange point 12-2.

The balcony 14-1 is intended to receive tablets Ç.

The present invention consists in adding to the arrangement of the inclined-axis rotating plate 12 and the rotary tank a continuous isokinetic band 16, to obtain the module according to the present invention.

This isokinetic band 16 comprises guiding and tensioning means 18.

The isokinetic band 16 is partly its inner length 16-1 strapping and part of its length 16-2 outside the strapping 14-2.

The strip is advantageously a strip of a textile-type material coated, non-extensible or at least with a coefficient of elongation considered negligible with respect to said application.

The isokinetic band 16, of length L, shown in thick lines in FIG. 2, is arranged to have its width H vertically and its thickness e in the horizontal plane, see FIG. 4A.

This isokinetic band 16 is disposed with its inner face pressed against the outer peripheral face of the rotary tank 14, the balcony to have a sufficient thickness. The strip is thus rotated by the rotary tank 14 by friction. This is the magnifying glass of Figure 4A.

Advantageously, friction means such as a surface treatment of the outer peripheral face of the rotary tub and / or a high friction coefficient coating of the face of the isokinetic band 16 in contact with said face of the tub rotary 14 are provided to prevent slippage between said isokinetic band and the face of the rotating tank during rotation. The contact between the isokinetic band and the outer peripheral face of the rotary tank 14 is maintained by the guiding and tensioning means 18.

For this purpose, the guide and tensioning means 18 comprise two guide rollers 18-1 and 18-2 at two points located, the first upstream of the exchange point 12-2 and the second upstream of the opening. 14-3 release tablets. In fact, as represented in the figures, in particular FIGS. 2 and 4, the isokinetic band 16 is pressed against the outer peripheral face of the rotary tank 14 between the two guide rollers on a sector S included. between 90 ° and 270 °, more particularly 240 °, is substantially a contact on three quarters of the periphery of the rotary tank in the embodiment chosen. The isokinetic band 16 being continuous, it rotates around the guide rollers 18-1 and 18-2 to follow a guide and tension circuit, the guide and tensioning means 18 comprising in this case three other guide rollers and voltage 18-3, 18-4 and 18-5. These rollers advantageously comprise means for adjusting the tension of the isokinetic band 16, for example using eccentrics.

These rollers are grooved rollers to ensure accurate guidance but they could also be biconical to achieve a centering.

The isokinetic band 16 is thus arranged with respect to the rotary tank to protrude from a height h above the plane of the balcony on which the tablets are positioned. The isokinetic band 16 and the guiding and tensioning means 18 are advantageously arranged on a plate 20 comprising means for adjusting in height with respect to the rotary tank 14 so as to adjust concomitantly the position in height of the isokinetic band 16 relative to to the rotary tank 14, that is to say the height h.

The height of the rollers can be changed independently if necessary with respect to the plate.

FIG. 1 shows the independence of the rotating plate inclined axis 12 / rotary tank assembly 14 and the plate 20 carrying the isokinetic band 16 and its guiding and tensioning means 18.

This height h is defined by the type of tablets and the dimensions of these tablets C. The protruding portion of a height h forms a vertical outer peripheral rim intended to receive tablets Ç in lateral support. The flange thus formed is independent of the rotary tank 14 but, seen tablets, the isokinetic band 16 is stationary relative to the rotary tank 14 since the rotary tank drives said strip 16 at the same speed. This height h is limited in height because in the case where positioning defects are detected, it is always provided a safety that rejects the tablets in the bowl, in the form of a nozzle blowing air under pressure, continuously. It is therefore necessary that the jet of air can reach the top of the tablet and push it into the bowl.

In addition, the band must not project too far beyond the tablet, the value h being limited by another constraint, that of the position of the suction strip of the transfer or transport module. Indeed, the transfer module or transport must be positioned closer to the tablet so that the depression can be exercised in the best conditions, without coming into contact with the band.

The operation of the module 10 according to the present invention operates in the manner that is now described.

Tablets C are deposited by any means on the rotating plate with inclined axis 12 and accumulate at the lower point 12-1. The rotational speed of said inclined axis rotary plate 12 and the friction between the tablets and the upper surface of the inclined axis rotary plate lead to driving the tablets to the exchange point 12-2. When the tablets Ç arrive at the right of the balcony 14-1, the centrifugal force to which they are subjected deports and / or slides on said balcony.

The tablets remain on said balcony. Indeed, the isokinetic band 16 is pressed against the outer peripheral face of the edge of the rotary tank 14 and is stationary relative to said rotary tank 14. As the isokinetic band 16 is driven over part of its height H - h and protrudes from a height h of the balcony, this projecting portion ensures the retention of said tablets Ç on the balcony.

The tablets are thus transported without undergoing the differential speed between the speed of the balcony and an isokinetic vertical rim and are not subject to any lateral friction.

Tablets Ç are thus outputted on a conveyor, not shown, for example that of a transfer device, by suppressing the induced movements.

Ç tablets are stable on the balcony during rotation.

It is noted that the balcony 14-1 of the rotary tank 14 must be adapted to the types of tablets concerned. When the tablets have different dimensions, it is necessary to change rotating tank, one of the solutions consisting in having a series of rotary tanks 14 of different dimensions. According to the invention, there are provided improvements to the module according to the present invention, now described.

The present invention proposes a module 10 with an intermediate ring 22. This intermediate ring 22 is interposed between the rotary tank 14 and the isokinetic band 16. This ring 22 is attached removably around the rotary tank 14 and provided with securing means in rotation, for example radial clamping means, not shown.

The ring 22, as shown on the magnifying glass of FIG. 4B, has a thickness E greater than the radial dimension of the balcony 14-1 so as to project radially.

A recess d is formed in said ring so as to house the crown on the balcony if there is one and so that the upper radial surface of the ring 22, projecting beyond said balcony, is in the plane. said balcony and at least in the plane of the upper peripheral edge of the tank 14 if the tank does not have a balcony. Thus the ring 22, by its portion projecting from said balcony, radially widens the annular surface of the balcony, in this embodiment with a vessel having a balcony.

The ring 22 can also come completely above the balcony or the peripheral edge and the crown receives the tablets directly.

The tablets are thus received on an area equal to the radial dimension of the balcony increased by the radial dimension of the ring 22 projecting from said balcony or crown.

The isokinetic band 16 bears on the outer peripheral face of the ring instead of coming into direct contact with the outer peripheral face of the rotary bowl. When the dimensions of the tablets C vary, simply remove the ring 22 from the rotary tank 14 and replace it on said same rotary tank 14 by another ring 22 of suitable dimensions.

This operation is very fast and the ring 22 is of a limited cost compared to that of a rotary tank 14. The material of the ring may be of a material adapted to present a significant coefficient of friction for, of a on the other hand, require only a limited radial clamping on the outer peripheral surface of the rotary tank 14 to secure it and, on the other hand, a significant coefficient of friction to drive the isokinetic band 16 without slipping. This avoids any special manufacture of tape, any machining of the surface of the rollers of guiding and tensioning means, any machining or surface treatment of the outer peripheral face of the edge of the rotary tank.

Similarly, the ring 22 may have in the upper part a profile surface adapted to the shape of the tablet for receiving said tablets, for example recessed.

In a complementary manner, the module 10 according to the present invention comprises elastic pressing means 24.

These elastic pressing means 24 comprise a flexible flexible blade 24-1, held by one end 24-2, forming a recess and with its other end 24-3, free. Nevertheless, it is necessary to provide an end stop to prevent contact of the blade 24-1 with the tank or the ring and to generate pollutant particles. The blade 24-1 is held in a radial direction from its nesting point located radially inside the edge of the rotary tank, upstream of the opening 14-3 of the tablets outlet.

The length of said flexible, resilient blade being greater than the distance that separates the embedding point and the balcony, said blade 24-1 curves in the direction of rotation of the rotary tank to ensure a light pressing on the tablets, one of which part protrudes outside the balcony or crown and to reposition them.

The curvature of the blade and its characteristics of elasticity and flexibility are the guarantee of the good positioning of the tablets C, especially when they have complex shapes, for example oblong or oval.

The tablets are plated by the blade 24-1 against the isokinetic band 16. This blade also avoids any positioning offset in orientation, especially for products of complex shapes.

Such a blade can be made from a metal foil made of stainless steel so as to remain compatible with the pharmaceutical conditions in this case.

It is thus found that the module according to the invention makes it possible to largely overcome the surface condition of the tablets and its properties, is less sensitive to the surface state and moreover, the rates can be increased. . Reproducibility is also greatly improved.

The guiding and tensioning means 18 may be completed by any adjustment means, in particular the support plate 20 of the rollers and the isokinetic band 16 may be adjustable for adjusting the position of the output of the tablets in the alignment of the output conveyor belonging to the transfer or transport device.

The rollers guide and tension means can be mounted adjustable to change their position with respect to the diameter of the tablet, the adjustment including a radial adjustment. The isokinetic band 16 may also be shaped according to the tablets to ensure a wedging of said tablets, for better training.

Similarly, the rotary tank 14 may not have a balcony, the intermediate ring 22 then ensuring continuity with the upper edge of the tank and forming the balcony, in addition to the thickness of said edge of the tank or coming in superposition and constituting the entire balcony.

The automation of the adjustments are within the reach of those skilled in the art both in band tension and height guide means and voltage and therefore the position of the band or the position of the output of tablets.

Claims

1. Module for feeding a device for transferring or transporting products, in particular pharmaceutical tablets, from a centrifugal bowl with a rotating tank (14), with an outer peripheral face, characterized in that it comprises a continuous isokinetic band (16), of height H, on at least one sector S of said tank.

2. Module for supplying a product transfer or transport device according to claim 1, characterized in that the isokinetic band (16) is pressed against the outer peripheral face of the rotary tank (14) in such a way that to be trained.

Feeding module of a product transfer or transport device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the bowl comprises a rotary table with an inclined axis (12) arranged in the rotary bowl (14), with a outer peripheral face, the inclined axis rotary plate (12) having an exchange point (12-2), tangent with the upper edge of said rotary bowl (14), receiving the products, said isokinetic band (16) continuous making projecting from a height h above the rotary tank (14).

4. Module for feeding a device for transferring or transporting products according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means for guiding and tensioning (18) the isokinetic band (16). as well as radial adjustment means.

5. Module for supplying a product transfer or transport device according to claim 4, characterized in that the guiding and tensioning means (18) of the isokinetic band (16) comprise two guide rollers (18). -1, 18-2) disposed at two points, the first upstream of the exchange point (12-2) and the second upstream of the outlet of the products.

Feeding module of a product transfer or transport device according to claim 5, characterized in that the isokinetic band (16) is pressed against the peripheral outer face of the rotary tank (14), between the two guide rollers (18-1, 18-2) on a sector S between 90 ° and 270 °.

7. Module for supplying a product transfer or transport device according to claim 4, 5 or 6, characterized in that the guiding and tensioning means (18) comprise guide and tension rollers (18). -3, 18-4 and 18-5).

8. Module for feeding a device for transferring or transporting products according to any one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the isokinetic band (16) and the guiding and tensioning means (18) are arranged on a plate (20) having means for adjusting the height and radial with respect to the rotary bowl (14).

9. Power module of a transfer device or product transport according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an intermediate ring (22) interposed between the rotary bowl (14) and the strip isokinetic (16).

10. Module for supplying a device for transferring or transporting products according to claim 9, characterized in that the ring gear (22) is removably attached around the rotary bowl (14) and provided with securing means. in rotation on said tank.

11. Module for supplying a device for transferring or transporting products according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the upper radial surface of the ring gear (22) lies in the plane of the upper peripheral edge of the tank. (14).

12. Module for feeding a product transfer or transport device according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the ring (22) is entirely above the balcony or the upper peripheral edge of the tank (14). ) and receives the tablets C.

13. A supply module of a device for transferring or transporting products according to claim 12, characterized in that the ring (22) has, in the upper part, a profile surface adapted to the shape of the tablet Ç.

14. Power module of a device for transferring or transporting products according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises elastic pressing means (24).

15. Module for feeding a device for transferring or transporting products according to claim 14, characterized in that the elastic pressing means (24) comprise a blade (24-1), flexible, elastic, maintained by a end (24-2) forming a recess and with its other end (24-3) free, said embedding point being located radially inside the edge of the rotary bowl (14), upstream of the outlet of the products.

16. Module for feeding a product transfer or transport device according to claim 15, characterized in that the elastic pressing means (24) comprise an end stop in order to prevent any contact of the blade ( 24-1) flexible, elastic, with the rotating bowl (14) or the crown (22).