Gripping device for pharmaceutical containers with closures and cleaning device

Abstract

Gripping device (10) for pharmaceutical containers (1) having closures (2), with a gripping head (15) having a receptacle (25) in the area of ​​which the pharmaceutical container (1) is held at the closure (2), such that a base body (5) closed by the closure (2) is arranged at least substantially outside the receptacle (25), characterized in that the gripping head (15) is designed to guide a pressurized gaseous medium, in particular air, at the transition area between the closure (2) and the base body (5) in such a way that the transition area is surrounded by the medium.

Description

State of the art

[0001] The invention relates to a gripping device for pharmaceutical containers having closures according to the preamble of claim 1. Furthermore, the invention relates to a cleaning device with at least one gripping device according to the invention.

[0002] A gripping device according to the preamble of claim 1 is already known in practice, particularly as a component of a cleaning device for containers. The gripping device serves to hold the pharmaceutical container after it has been filled with a product, especially a liquid, and subsequently closed with a cap, so that its exterior can be cleaned using the cleaning device. For this purpose, the known gripping device has a gripping head that holds the pharmaceutical container in the area of ​​the cap. This makes it possible to clean the outer surface of the container's base body, which is typically made of glass and fitted with the cap, using a cleaning medium. The cleaning medium used is, in particular, water, optionally containing cleaning additives, which is directed onto the base body.It is essential that the cleaning medium flows around the base body at least essentially without pressure, as it is necessary to prevent moisture from entering the transition area between the base body and the closure. This limits or suboptimally reduces the effectiveness of the cleaning medium. Disclosure of the invention

[0003] Based on the prior art described above, the invention is based on the objective of further developing a gripping device for pharmaceutical containers having closures according to the preamble of claim 1 in such a way that it is suitable, in conjunction with a cleaning medium, to enable improved cleaning of the base body on its outside.

[0004] This problem is solved according to the invention in a gripping device with the features of claim 1 by the gripping head of the gripping device being designed to guide a pressurized gaseous medium, in particular air, onto the transition area between the closure and the base body, such that the medium flows around the transition area between the closure and the base body. Such a design of the gripping head ensures that the transition area between the base body and the closure is protected against the ingress of the cleaning medium or cleaning fluid by the pressurized medium flowing around the transition area. This makes it possible to guide the cleaning fluid against the base body at a higher pressure than in the prior art.Depending on the pressure of the gaseous medium, this prevents the pressurized cleaning medium from entering the transition area between the base body and the closure. The transition area therefore remains dry and free of cleaning medium throughout the entire cleaning process of the base body.

[0005] Advantageous further developments of the gripping device according to the invention are listed in the dependent claims.

[0006] To enable targeted guidance of the gaseous medium within the gripper head's receptacle to the transition zone, it is particularly preferred that the gripper head has a flow-guiding element that directs the medium flowing into the receptacle via at least one outlet to the transition zone between the closure and the base body. Such a flow-guiding element makes it possible to guide the medium to the transition zone between the closure and the base body.

[0007] In a structurally preferred embodiment of the flow guide element, it has at least one clamping surface for holding the closure. This enables, in particular, a defined positioning between the flow guide element and the closure, so that the exact positioning simultaneously determines the exact airflow.

[0008] In a further design feature of the flow guide element, it is provided that the flow guide element has several longitudinal ribs which, on the one hand, form at least one clamping surface and, on the other hand, define guide channels for the medium. The longitudinal ribs thus serve to position the closure by clamping it against the flow guide element and, in addition, serve to guide the gaseous medium in a controlled manner between the longitudinal ribs.

[0009] To enable the use of the same gripper head for different formats of pharmaceutical containers, one embodiment of the invention provides that the flow guide element is designed as a separate component that can be inserted into the gripper head. However, when changing formats, the entire gripper head, including the flow guide element, is usually replaced.

[0010] In particular, to avoid damage to the closure, the flow guiding element may be made of a material that is softer than the material of the gripping head, especially silicone.

[0011] A particularly effective flow pattern around the transition zone between the closure and the base body is achieved when the flow guide element has an annular area with a through-opening, wherein an annular gap is formed between the through-opening and the container, and wherein the area is at least approximately flush with a lower end face of the gripping head. The preferably relatively small annular gap increases the flow velocity of the medium in the transition zone between the closure and the base body, thus ensuring effective protection of the transition zone against (liquid) media even at relatively low supply pressures of the gaseous medium.

[0012] To facilitate the simplest possible handling and gripping of the pharmaceutical container, without requiring, for example, the gripping head to be raised or lowered, the gripping head may be designed to have two gripping head halves that are pivotably arranged relative to each other on at least one axis, and that the two gripping head halves have sealing surfaces that are sealed against each other. The seal ensures, in particular, that no cleaning medium can enter the gripping head's receptacle and that the pressurized gaseous medium does not escape from the receptacle, so that it is fully available to flow around the transition area between the closure and the base body.

[0013] The invention also includes a cleaning device for pharmaceutical containers with closures, using at least one gripping device according to the invention, in which a cleaning unit is provided for supplying liquid cleaning medium to the outside of the base body of the pharmaceutical container. According to the invention, such a cleaning device is characterized in that the cleaning unit is designed to apply the cleaning medium to the base body under overpressure. Such a cleaning device has the advantage of providing a particularly thorough and effective cleaning of the outside of the pharmaceutical containers in the area of ​​their base body with relatively low consumption of liquid cleaning medium.

[0014] Further advantages, features and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments and from the drawing.

[0015] This shows in: Fig. 1 a gripping device according to the invention for pharmaceutical containers in an open position of its two gripping head halves in perspective view, Fig. 2 a cleaning device using a gripping device according to Fig. 1 in partially cut side view and Fig. 3 a cross-section through one gripper head half in plane III-III of the Fig. 2.

[0016] Identical elements or elements with the same function are provided with the same reference numbers in the figures.

[0017] In the Fig. 1 is a gripping device 10 for holding one in the Fig. Figure 2 shows a recognizable pharmaceutical container 1 having a closure 2. The container 1 is, in particular, but not limited to, a container 1 for holding a liquid pharmaceutical product with a base body 5 made of glass, such as a vial, a bottle, or the like. The closure 2 can be designed as a crimp cap, a screw cap, or the like.

[0018] The gripping device 10 has a gripping head 15 with two gripping head halves 16, 17, which are mirror images of each other in a plane of symmetry. The two gripping head halves 16, 17 are pivotably mounted relative to each other on axes 18, 19 in the direction of the double arrows 21, 22, with the two axes 18, 19 being arranged parallel to each other. In the Fig. In the position shown in Figure 1, the two gripper head halves 16, 17 are arranged at a distance from each other, such that the closure 2 can be inserted into a receptacle 25 formed in the interior of the two gripper head halves 16, 17. To hold the container 1 in the area of ​​the closure 2, the two gripper head halves 16, 17 are pivoted about their respective axes 18, 19, such that the two gripper head halves 16, 17 are in contact with each other in the area of ​​their two separating surfaces 26, 27, the plane of the two separating surfaces 26, 27 intersecting the longitudinal axis 3 of the container 1 or of the lid closure 2 (when the gripper head halves 16, 17 are closed). The receptacle 25 is sealed to the outside by a seal 20 arranged in at least one of the separating surfaces 26, 27 when the gripper head halves 16, 17 are closed and is designed as a blind-hole receptacle 25.Preferably, several outlets 28 of an air duct (not shown) formed in the respective gripper head half 16, 17 open onto the inner circumferential wall of the receptacle 25. The air duct is connected via an inlet bore 31, 32 formed in the respective axis 18, 19 to a [missing information]. Fig. 2 symbolically represented overpressure wave 35 connected. The overpressure source 35 serves to provide a gaseous medium under overpressure, in particular air.

[0019] A flow guide element 40, adapted to the respective closure 2 of the container 1, can be inserted into the opening of the receptacle 25. The flow guide element 40 preferably consists of a material softer than that of the gripper head 15, in particular silicone. The underside of the flow guide element 40 is approximately flush with the lower end face 41 of the gripper head 15. Corresponding to the design of the two gripper head halves 16, 17, the flow guide element 40 is also formed in two parts and is flush with the parting surfaces 26, 27 of the gripper head halves 16, 17. The flow guide element 40 has a disc- or ring-shaped area 42 for forming a (round in cross-section) through-opening 43, which is arranged at a slight angle to the horizontal. When the gripper head halves 16, 17 are closed, the diameter of the through-opening 43 is such that, as shown in the illustration, Fig. 2 between the container 1 in the transition area between the base body 5 and the closure 2 a relatively small, radially circumferential annular gap 45 is formed.

[0020] On the side of the area 42 facing the inside of the receptacle 25, several longitudinal ribs 46 extend from the area 42, preferably arranged at equal angular intervals and running in the longitudinal direction, i.e., parallel to the longitudinal axis 3 of the container 1. Each of these ribs forms a (flexibly deformable) clamping surface 47 on the side facing the closure 2 for clamping the closure 2 or the container 1 when the gripping head halves 16, 17 are closed. Flow guide channels 48 are formed between the longitudinal ribs 46, through which the air flowing into the receptacle 25 via the air channels and the outlets 28 is directed into the area of ​​the through-opening 43. The flow guidance element 40 extends only over a portion of the height or depth of the receptacle 25 in the gripper head halves 16, 17, so that the outlets 28 are free.The area 42 ends just below the closure 2 in a radially constricted neck area 4 of the container 1.

[0021] In the Fig. Figure 2 shows a cleaning device 100 which, in addition to the gripping device 10, features, by way of example, a ring nozzle 101 for spraying or applying a cleaning medium under pressure, in particular water. The ring nozzle 101 is arranged to be movable vertically up and down or pivotable and sprays the cleaning medium in the form of jets 103 under pressure onto the outside of the base body 5 over its entire height, in order to clean the container 1 after it has been filled and subsequently closed by means of the closure 2. Furthermore, it can be seen from the Fig.2, that an air curtain 50 is formed around the transition area between the closure 2 and the base body 5 in the area of ​​the passage opening 43 of the flow guidance element 40 by the medium (air) flowing through the passage opening 43 with overpressure, which prevents the penetration of the cleaning medium into the transition area between the base body 5 and the closure 2.

[0022] The gripping device 10 and the cleaning device 100 described so far can be adapted or modified in a variety of ways without deviating from the inventive concept.

Claims

[1] Gripping device (10) for pharmaceutical containers (1) having closures (2), with a gripping head (15) having a receptacle (25) in the area of ​​which the pharmaceutical container (1) is held at the closure (2), such that a base body (5) closed by the closure (2) is arranged at least substantially outside the receptacle (25), characterized by , that the gripping head (15) is designed to guide a gaseous medium under overpressure, in particular air, at the transition area between the closure (2) and the base body (5) in such a way that the transition area is surrounded by the medium. [2] Gripping device according to claim 1, characterized by , that the gripping head (15) has a flow guidance element (40) which guides the medium flowing into the receptacle (25) via at least one outlet (28) to the transition area between the closure (2) and the base body (5). [3] Gripping device according to claim 2, characterized by that the flow guiding element (40) has at least one clamping surface (47) for holding the closure (2). [4] Gripping device according to claim 3, characterized by , that the flow guidance element (40) has several longitudinal ribs (46) which on the one hand form at least one clamping surface (47) and on the other hand define guide channels (48) for the medium. [5] Gripping device according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized by , that the flow guidance element (40) is designed as a separate component that can be inserted into the gripping head (15). [6] Gripping device according to claim 5, characterized by , that the flow guiding element (40) is made of a material that is softer than the material of the gripping head (15), in particular silicone. [7] Gripping device according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized by, that the flow guiding element (40) has an annular area (42) with a through-opening (43), that an annular gap (45) is formed between the through-opening (43) and the container (1), and that the area (42) is at least approximately flush with a lower end face (41) of the gripping head (15). [8] Gripping device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by , that the gripping head (15) has at least one flow bore (31, 32) that can be connected to an overpressure source (35) and that leads at least indirectly into the intake (25). [9] Gripping device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by , that the gripping head (15) has two gripping head halves (16, 17) arranged pivotably to each other in at least one axis (18, 19), and that the two gripping head halves (16, 17) have cooperating separating surfaces (26, 27) which are sealed against each other by a seal (20). [10] Cleaning device (100) for pharmaceutical containers (1) having closures (2), comprising at least one gripping device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 9 and a cleaning device for supplying liquid cleaning medium to the outside of the base body (5), in particular in the form of at least one nozzle (101), characterized by , that the cleaning device (100) is designed to apply the cleaning medium to the base body (5) under overpressure.

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