GB2322851A

GB2322851A - Evacuating and closing device with an additional holding element

Info

Publication number: GB2322851A
Application number: GB9803788A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Karl Brechel
Original assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Current assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Priority date: 1997-03-05
Filing date: 1998-02-23
Publication date: 1998-09-09
Also published as: ITMI980360A1; DE19708864A1; IT1298445B1; GB9803788D0; SE9800682L; SE9800682D0

Abstract

An evacuating and closing device 10 for small containers 1 comprises a vacuum chamber 27 for receiving a container neck, and a reciprocating vacuum plunger 14 with a suction element 22 for holding a stopper 2. In order to prevent the stopper from dropping onto the container during evacuation, the device further includes an additional holding element such as three or more equiangularly disposed spring members 32, which may be interchangeable. Alternatively, the additional holding element may comprise rigid cam members (see page 6, line 25) which can deform a stopper made of rubber or the like.

Description

1 2322851 Evacuating and closing device for a small container having a

stopper

Background art

The invention relates to an evacuating and closing device for a small container having a stopper according to the preamble of claim 1. Such evacuating and closing devices are used particularly in the pharmaceutical industry for small containers such as vials or the like. In order during evacuation of the small container to prevent the stopper from dropping off the suction element which holds the stopper, there has to be a relatively high vacuum at the suction element because the suction element vacuum and the vacuum prevailing in the evacuation chamber counteract one another. Since however, e.g. during transfer of the stopper from a supply device, such a high vacuum at the suction element is neither necessary nor possibly advantageous, known evacuating and closing devices are of a relatively complex construction owing to additional pressure control devices or they have to provide a higher vacuum than is necessary for the actual evacuation process of the small container. Furthermore, evacuating and closing devices not of the type described are known which hold the stopper by means of mechanical holding pincers. Such evacuating and closing devices are however of a complex construction, take up a relatively large amount of room and are not ideal for sterile operating conditions.

Advantages of the invention In contrast, the evacuating and closing device for small containers having a stopper according to the invention having the characterizing features of claim 1 2 has the advantage that a reliable securing of the stopper in the evacuation chamber is possible during evacuation of the small container. In particular, there is no need for a higher vacuum at the suction element than is necessary for evacuating the small container. As a result, the evacuating and closing device according to the invention is of a relatively simple design because the vacuum necessary for evacuating the small container is the deciding factor for the design of the vacuum source.

Further advantages and advantageous developments of the evacuating and closing device for a small container having a stopper according to the invention are indicated in the sub-claims and in the description.

Drawing An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawing and explained in detail in the following description. The single drawing shows an evacuating and closing device for small containers having a stopper in longitudinal section.

Description of the embodiment

The evacuating and closing device 10 shown in Figure 1 is part of a cleaning, filling and closing installation in the pharmaceutical industry and is used to evacuate and close small containers such as ampoules 1, vials or the like having a stopper 2. To said end, the evacuating and closing device 10 comprises a substantially sleeve-like evacuating tool 11 having two bore portions 12, 13. In the first bore portion 12 remote from the ampoule 1, a vacuum plunger 14 is guided so as to be movable up and down by means of two sliding bearings 16, 17. Further provided in the region of the first bore portion 12 are two seals 18, 3 19, which seal off the vacuum plunger 14 from the first bore portion 12. Disposed at the end 21 of the vacuum plunger 14 which projects into the second bore portion 13 is a suction element 22, which is connected by a suction bore 23 formed centrically in the vacuum plunger 14 to a vacuum source which is not shown.

Disposed at the inside of the end of the second bore portion 13 directed towards the ampoule I is a radially circumferential bottleneck seal 24, which is connected by means of a connection 26 formed in the wall 25 of the second bore portion 13 to a, gauge pressure source which is likewise not shown.

In a first operating position of the bottleneck seal 24, said seal is not acted upon by gauge pressure with the result that the neck region 3 of the ampoule 1 may be introduced into the bore portion 13. In a second operating position of the bottleneck seal 24, in which the latter is acted upon by gauge pressure, the bottleneck seal 24 as a result of its then larger cross section seals off the neck region 3 so that a vacuum chamber 27 for evacuating the ampoule 1 is formed inside the second bore portion 13. For producing and controlling the vacuum in the vacuum chamber 27, a pressure absorbing connection 28 and a vacuum connection 29 are formed in the wall 25 of the bore portion 13.

In order, from a specific vacuum in the vacuum chamber 27, to prevent the stopper 2 from dropping off the suction element 22 and falling onto the opening of the ampoule 1, a plurality of elastic holding elements in the form of flat springs 32 are fastened in the base 31 of the second bore portion 13. In the illustrated embodiment, three flat springs 32 are provided, which are disposed on a pitch diameter 33 each at a uniform angular distance from one another and project in the direction of the ampoule 1. Instead of flat springs 32, however, it 4 is of course also possible to use bar springs. In order to adapt the flat springs 32 to different applications and/or stoppers 2, said flat springs are fastened preferably in an exchangeable manner, e.g. by means of screw connections, to the base 3 1. Each of the flat springs 32 is bent twice so as to form in each case three portions 34, 35, 36. The first portions 34 extend parallel to the vacuum plunger 14 at a mutual distance from one another which is slightly greater than the diameter D of the stopper 2. The - in the direction of the ampoule 1 adjoining second portions 35 of the flat springs 32 are bent towards the stopper 2. They serve as a supporting or retaining surface for the stopper 2 when the latter is situated partially in the region of the first portions 34. In said position of the stopper 2 shown in the drawing the underside 5 of the stopper 2, which once the ampoule I is closed rests on the bottle edge 4, rests on the second portions 35 of the flat springs 32. The third portions 36 of the flat springs 32 are bent towards the bore portion 13 and are of such a length that they have, at the side directed towards the ampoule 1, at least one point at a mutual distance from one another which is greater than the diameter D of the stopper 2.

The evacuating and closing device 10 described above operates as follows. For picking up a stopper 2, the evacuating tool 11 is positioned above a known stopper supply device and aligned with a stopper 2. The vacuum plunger 14 is then moved down out of the second bore portion 13 until its suction element 22 is operationally connected to the stopper 2. The suction element 22 is then activated via the vacuum source connected thereto so that the stopper 2 is held fast by the suction element 22. The vacuum plunger 14 is then lifted back into its original raised position. As a result, the stopper 2 as it moves upwards passes between the third portions 36 of the flat springs 32, in which case the flat springs 32 are initially bent open elastically and, after the stopper 2 has been lifted into the region of the first and second portions 34, 35, spring back into their original position. The important point here is that the vacuum at the suction element 22 is high enough to prevent the stopper 2, when it bends open the flat springs 32 as it passes the third portions 36, from dropping off the suction element 22.

The process described above of lifting and introducing the stopper 2 into the evacuating tool 11 preferably occurs during a transfer phase of the evacuating and closing device 10 from said stopper supply device into a position above the ampoule 1, which is to be evacuated and closed and has previously been filled with a product. Once the transfer phase has been completed, the evacuating tool 11 is lowered until the neck region 3 of the ampoule 1 is situated inside the second bore portion 13. In said position, the bottleneck seal 24 is activated so that it is applied sealingly against the neck region 3. A vacuum is then generated in the vacuum chamber 27 via the vacuum connection 29 so that in particular the air situated in the top region of the ampoule 1 above the product is extracted.

Because of the vacuum prevailing in the vacuum chamber 27, a force acting counter to the holding force of the suction element 22 is exerted upon the stopper 2. The holding force exerted by the suction element 22 upon the stopper 2 is however boosted or intensified by the flat springs 32, the second portions 35 of which act together with the elasticity of the flat springs 32 as retaining means for the stopper 2. It is central to the invention that the flat springs 32 prevent the stopper 2 from falling onto the ampoule 1 during evacuation. As soon as the actual evacuation process of the ampoule 1 has been completed, the vacuum plunger 14 is moved back down towards the ampoule 1 in order to close the ampoule 1 with the stopper 2, the stopper 2 being pressed partially into the neck region 3 until the ampoule 1 is closed in 6 the desired manner by the stopper 2. Finally, the source of the vacuum at the suction element 22 is disconnected and, after the bottleneck seal 24 has been deactivated, the evacuating tool 11 is moved upwards so that the ampoule 1 is released.

It should additionally be pointed out that, unlike in the embodiment, it is also conceivable for the vacuum plunger 14 to be lifted to such an extent that the stopper 2 is disposed fully in the first portion 34 of the flat springs 32. In said case, it is possible, given an appropriate vacuum in the vacuum chamber 27, for the stopper 2 to drop off the suction element 22. In said case, the geometry of the flat springs 32 and/or their elasticity has to be designed in such a way that prevents a dropping through onto the ampoule 1.

is It is moreover possible to use, instead of spring elements or flat springs 32, other types, shapes and arrangements of elastic holding elements. The important factor is merely that a mechanically acting retaining means acts during evacuation of the small container upon the stopper and prevents the latter from dropping onto the small container.

In the case of the arrangement described in the embodiment, it was assumed that the stopper 2 is a relatively rigid body, while the flat springs 32 are in contrast relatively elastic bodies. In the pharmaceutical packaging industry, however, use is also made of rubber stoppers and elastic closure bodies. In said case, the retaining means for the closure body, which for example take the form of three holding cams disposed at uniform angular distances on the inner surface of the third portion 36, may be made more rigid than the closure body. This means that the closure body as it passes the retaining means is deformed and, for example, clamped in by the retaining means.

7

Claims

Claims is 1. Evacuating and closing device (10) for small containers (1)

having a stopper (2), comprising a vacuum chamber (27), which has an opening for receiving the small container neck (3) and in which an upwardly and downwardly movable plunger (14) is guided in alignment with the opening, a first holding element for the stopper (2) in the form of a suction element (22) being disposed at the end of said plunger directed towards the opening, characterized in that disposed in the vacuum chamber (27) is at least one second holding element (32) for the stopper (2), which second holding element in an upper position of the plunger (14) acts upon the stopper (2) and holds the stopper (2) in the direction of the suction element (22) in order to prevent the stopper from dropping onto the small container (1) situated below the stopper (2).
2. Evacuating and closing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the second holding element (32) is so designed that it plastically deforms the stopper (2) for holding in the vacuum chamber (27).

IS
3. Evacuating and closing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the holding el ement comprises at least one elastic body (32) which is deformable by the stopper (2).
4. Evacuating and closing device according to claim 1 or 3, characterized in that the holding element comprises at least three spring elements (32) disposed at uniform. angular distances from one another.
8 Evacuating and closing device according to claim 4, characterized in that the spring elements (32) each comprise a plurality of differently angled portions (34, 3 5, 3 6), of which one portion (3 5) forms a supporting and recess surface for the stopper (2).
6. Evacuating and closing device according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the spring elements (32) are disposed in an exchangeable manner.
7. An evacuating and design device for small containers substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.