Cleaning clamping mechanism and cleaning method

Abstract

A cleaning clamping mechanism is disclosed for clamping a tubular component during cleaning. The cleaning clamping mechanism includes a clamping mechanism frame and at least one clamping assembly disposed on the clamping mechanism frame. The clamping assembly includes a clamping member that surrounds the outer peripheral surface of the tubular component's cylindrical body during cleaning, and the clamping member is tapered, tapering downwards. The clamping member is connected to the clamping mechanism frame via a connecting member. This cleaning clamping mechanism structure helps reduce obstruction and interference with the cleaning water during cleaning of tubular components. This application also relates to a method for cleaning tubular components using the above-described cleaning clamping mechanism.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to apparatus and methods for cleaning containers, particularly elongated tubular or bottle-shaped containers. More particularly, this application relates to mechanisms and methods for cleaning medical containers and medical devices in the shape of tubular or bottle. Background Technology

[0002] With technological advancements, the pharmaceutical field is increasingly employing slender, tubular, or bottle-shaped components, such as syringes, cartridges, and vials made of glass or plastic. These components are commonly used in the pharmaceutical industry as drug packaging materials or as medical devices.

[0003] As is well known, the pharmaceutical industry has high requirements for the hygiene and quality of pharmaceutical products. Therefore, the production process of slender tubular or bottle-shaped components used in the pharmaceutical field also has high requirements, needing to be manufactured in a reliable, stable, safe, and hygienic environment. To meet the high hygiene and quality requirements of pharmaceutical products, the production process of slender tubular or bottle-shaped components used in the pharmaceutical field involves many steps, including cleaning, drying, siliconization, and assembly.

[0004] In the cleaning process, slender tubular or bottle-shaped components need to be stably clamped before being sprayed with water for cleaning. The clamping mechanism must be able to hold the component stably while minimizing interference and obstruction of the rinsing water flow. When designing the cleaning clamping mechanism, clamping stability and minimizing water flow interference are two interrelated considerations. In existing designs, improving clamping stability usually requires increasing the contact surface between the clamping mechanism and the slender tubular or bottle-shaped component. However, increasing the contact surface affects the rinsing of the component by the water flow, resulting in insufficient cleaning. Conversely, minimizing water flow interference may affect the clamping stability of the slender tubular or bottle-shaped component.

[0005] Therefore, there is a need for further improvements to the cleaning clamping mechanism for slender tubular or bottle-shaped components to overcome the problems existing in the prior art described above. Summary of the Invention

[0006] This application is made to address the problems existing in the prior art described above. The purpose of this application is to provide an improved cleaning clamping mechanism that can stably clamp tubular components during the cleaning process, while minimizing obstruction and interference with the cleaning water.

[0007] This application provides a cleaning clamping mechanism for clamping tubular components during cleaning. The cleaning clamping mechanism includes a clamping mechanism frame and at least one clamping assembly disposed on the clamping mechanism frame. The clamping assembly includes: a clamping member configured to surround the outer peripheral surface of the tubular component's cylindrical body during cleaning; the clamping member is tapered, tapering downwards; and a connecting member connecting the clamping member to the clamping mechanism frame.

[0008] In the cleaning clamping mechanism described above, the clamping member is conical in shape and gradually tapers from top to bottom. In this way, when cleaning water is sprayed from above onto the tubular component, the cleaning water can flow along the outer peripheral wall of the conical shape of the clamping member, and the outer peripheral wall of the conical shape has less obstruction and interference to the cleaning water.

[0009] Preferably, the connecting component has a thin plate structure, and the plate is configured such that its thickness direction is perpendicular to the axis of the tubular component when the tubular component is clamped on the cleaning clamping mechanism. For a connecting component with such a structure, the thickness of the plate is the direction facing the jet water flow, which helps to reduce the obstruction and interference effect of the connecting component on the water flow.

[0010] Preferably, after the tubular component is clamped in the cleaning clamping mechanism, cleaning water can be sprayed onto the tubular component from the spray nozzle. The outer peripheral wall of the clamping member forms a first angle with the axis of the tubular component, and the spray direction of the spray nozzle forms a second angle with the axis of the tubular component, wherein the first angle is equal to the second angle. This limits the portion of the clamping member facing the spray direction to the thickness of its outer peripheral wall, thereby minimizing the area of ​​the clamping member facing the spray direction and thus minimizing obstruction and interference with the cleaning water.

[0011] Preferably, each tubular component is held by two clamping assemblies: a first clamping assembly at the top and a second clamping assembly at the bottom. Clamping the tubular component from both the top and bottom positions provides greater stability.

[0012] Preferably, the cleaning clamping mechanism further includes a base plate that supports the bottom of the tubular component from below. The base plate, by supporting the tubular component from below, restricts vertical movement of the tubular component, thus preventing the tubular component from detaching from the cleaning clamping mechanism even if the clamping force on the tubular component is insufficient.

[0013] Preferably, the base plate has multiple base plate protrusions that support the bottom of the component. This support of the component bottom by the base plate protrusions helps reduce the contact area between the base plate and the component bottom, thereby further reducing obstruction and interference with the cleaning water. Preferably, the base plate protrusions and the component base plate form point contact; for example, the top surface of the base plate protrusions can be formed as an arc surface.

[0014] Preferably, the clamping member has a perforated portion. This perforation allows cleaning water to flow from top to bottom, prevents cleaning water from accumulating at the bottom of the clamping member, and also helps to reduce the contact area between the clamping member and the cylindrical body of the tubular component.

[0015] In one specific structure, the clamping mechanism frame includes a first frame half and a second frame half, and the clamping member includes two clamping member halves, which are respectively connected to the first frame half and the second frame half via connecting members.

[0016] Preferably, the cleaning clamping mechanism further includes a clamping force adjusting component, which can adjust the clamping force of the clamping member acting on the cylinder of the tubular component.

[0017] In one specific example, the clamping force adjusting assembly includes: a bolt inserted from one of the first frame half and the second frame half and protruding from the other of the first frame half and the second frame half; a nut disposed on the end of the bolt protruding from the other of the first frame half and the second frame half; and a spring disposed between the nut and the other of the first frame half and the second frame half.

[0018] In addition, the clamping force adjustment component can also take other forms, such as cam mechanism, cylinder, hydraulic cylinder, etc.

[0019] This application also relates to a method for cleaning tubular components, which uses the cleaning clamping mechanism described above and includes the following steps:

[0020] Secure the tubular component to the cleaning clamping mechanism and clamp the tubular component with the clamping parts;

[0021] Open the water nozzle located at the top to spray cleaning water towards the tubular component; and

[0022] After cleaning is complete, loosen the clamps to allow the tubular components to be removed. Attached Figure Description

[0023] The accompanying drawings illustrate a non-limiting preferred embodiment of the invention, and the features and advantages of the invention become more apparent when viewed in conjunction with the drawings. Wherein:

[0024] Figure 1A perspective view of the cleaning clamping mechanism of this application is shown, wherein a plurality of tubular components are clamped on the cleaning clamping mechanism.

[0025] Figure 2 It shows Figure 1 A partial front view of the cleaning clamping mechanism, showing a schematic structural diagram of a clamped tubular component and the first and second clamping assemblies that clamp it.

[0026] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 A partial top view of the cleaning clamping mechanism shown.

[0027] Figure 4 yes Figure 2 A partial perspective view of the cleaning clamping mechanism shown.

[0028] Figure 5 It is along Figure 3 The sectional view obtained from line AA in the diagram.

[0029] Figure 6 A perspective view of the base plate supporting the bottom of the tubular component is shown.

[0030] (Symbol Explanation)

[0031] 1 tubular component

[0032] 2 Cleaning clamping mechanism

[0033] 3 spray nozzles

[0034] 11 tubes

[0035] 12 components bottom

[0036] 20 clamping mechanism frame

[0037] 21 First Frame Half

[0038] 22 Second Frame Half

[0039] 23 bolts

[0040] 24 nuts

[0041] 25 springs

[0042] 31 First clamping component

[0043] 32 Second clamping component

[0044] 33 Openwork section

[0045] 41 First connecting component

[0046] 42 Second connecting component

[0047] 50 base plate

[0048] 51 Bottom Plate Protrusion

[0049] 52 Base Plate Connector Detailed Implementation

[0050] The specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the embodiments shown in the drawings are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not constitute a limitation on the scope of the present invention. Those skilled in the art can make various obvious modifications, variations, and equivalent substitutions to the present invention based on the embodiments shown in the drawings. Furthermore, without contradiction, the technical features in the different embodiments described below can be arbitrarily combined with each other, all of which fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0051] In the following detailed description, terms such as "up" and "down" used to indicate orientation are relative to the orientation of the cleaning clamping mechanism shown in the figure for ease of description. This orientation is also basically the orientation in which the mechanism is normally operated, but in other situations, such as during product transportation and storage, the orientation of the mechanism may change.

[0052] Figure 1 A schematic perspective view of the cleaning clamping mechanism 2 of this application is shown in general. Multiple tubular components 1 are clamped in the cleaning clamping mechanism 2. The tubular components 1 are shown in the figure as an example of a syringe; however, as mentioned above, the tubular components 1 can also be other tubular or bottle-shaped components, such as vials, cartridges, etc.

[0053] When these tubular components 1 are clamped on the cleaning clamping mechanism 2, the tubular components 1 can be cleaned while keeping them fixed.

[0054] like Figure 1 As shown, the cleaning clamping mechanism 2 includes a clamping mechanism frame 20, on which at least one clamping component is provided for clamping and fixing the tubular component 1. Once the tubular component 1 is fixed, water can be sprayed onto it to clean it. Preferably, multiple clamping components are provided on the clamping mechanism frame 20, allowing multiple tubular components 1 to be clamped simultaneously for cleaning.

[0055] In the preferred structure shown in the figure, each tubular component 1 corresponds to two clamping assemblies, namely a first clamping assembly located above and a second clamping assembly located below. These two clamping assemblies clamp the tubular component 1 at the upper and lower parts respectively, thereby improving the clamping stability of the tubular component 1.

[0056] The structure of the clamping assembly is described below using the first clamping assembly as an example. As shown in the figure, the first clamping assembly includes a first clamping member 31, which includes two clamping half portions. These two clamping half portions are arranged opposite to each other, surrounding the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical body 11 of the tubular component 1 from both sides, thereby contacting the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical body 11 to clamp the cylindrical body 11 of the tubular component 1. The first clamping assembly also includes a first connecting member 41, which is configured to connect the first clamping member 31 to the clamping mechanism frame 20, thereby fixing the position of the first clamping member 31 relative to the clamping mechanism frame 20.

[0057] The first connecting member 41 and the first clamping member 31 may be formed separately and then connected together by means of heat fusion, welding or the like. Alternatively, the first connecting member 41 and the first clamping member 31 may be formed integrally. These are all within the scope of this application.

[0058] Similar to the first clamping assembly, the second clamping assembly may also include a second clamping member 32, which is divided into two opposing clamping member halves, each clamping member halves being connected to the clamping mechanism frame 20 via a second connecting member 42.

[0059] In the preferred structure shown in the figure, the clamping mechanism frame 20 includes a first frame half 21 and a second frame half 22. The two clamping halves of the first clamping member 31 are respectively connected to the first frame half 21 and the second frame half 22 via a first connecting member 41. By adjusting the distance between the first frame half 21 and the second frame half 22, the clamping and releasing operations of the tubular component 1 can be realized, and the clamping force of the first clamping member 31 / second clamping member 32 on the tubular component 1 can be adjusted.

[0060] Specifically, the cleaning clamping mechanism 2 includes a clamping force adjusting assembly, which includes at least one, preferably multiple, bolts 23 (three bolts 23 are shown in the figure). Two sets of holes are provided on the first frame half 21 and the second frame half 22, wherein the holes on the first frame half 21 are aligned with the corresponding holes on the second frame half 22, and the bolts 23 can pass through the corresponding holes on the first frame half 21 and the second frame half 22, thereby connecting the first frame half 21 and the second frame half 22 together.

[0061] like Figure 1As shown, bolt 23 is inserted through a hole on one side of the second frame half 22 and then exits through a hole on one side of the first frame half 21. The clamping force adjustment assembly also includes a nut 24, which is connected to the end of bolt 23 that exits the first frame half 21. Specifically, the end of bolt 23 that exits the first frame half 21 is provided with external threads, and the nut 24 is provided with internal threads. The internal threads of the nut 24 can engage with the external threads on the bolt 23, thereby allowing the nut 24 to translate relative to the bolt 23 along the axial direction of bolt 23 by tightening the nut 24.

[0062] A spring 25, for example a helical compression spring, is fitted onto one end of the bolt 23 that protrudes from the first frame half 21. The spring 25 is clamped between the nut 24 and the first frame half 21. By turning the bolt 24, the relative position of the nut 24 on the bolt 23 is changed, thereby adjusting the degree of compression of the spring 25, that is, adjusting the compressive force of the spring 25 acting on the first frame half 21, and further adjusting the clamping force of the first clamping member 31 and the second clamping member 32 acting on the tubular component 1.

[0063] Those skilled in the art will know that the bolt 23 can also be inserted from one side of the first frame half 21 and protrude from one side of the second frame half 22, which is also within the scope of this application.

[0064] Those skilled in the art will recognize that, in addition to the bolt-spring structure described above, the clamping force adjustment assembly can also take other effective forms. For example, the clamping force adjustment assembly can be in the form of a cam mechanism, a cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, etc., and these structures can also adjust the clamping force of the first clamping member 31 / second clamping member 32 on the tubular component 1.

[0065] Figures 2-5 It shows Figure 1 A partial view of the cleaning clamping mechanism 2, showing a schematic structural diagram of a clamped tubular component 1 and the first and second clamping assemblies clamping it, wherein, Figure 2 It is a front view. Figure 3 It is a top view. Figure 4 It's a 3D image. Figure 5 It is along Figure 3 The sectional view obtained from line AA in the diagram.

[0066] In this application, the first clamping member 31 is at least partially conical in shape, tapering downwards. This reduces the contact area between the first clamping member 31 and the tubular member 1 when clamping the tubular member 1. This minimizes the area of ​​the tubular member 1 obstructed by the first clamping member 31, thereby reducing interference and obstruction of the flushing water flow by the first clamping member 31. Preferably, the first clamping member 31 is in line contact with the outer peripheral surface of the tubular member 1. More preferably, as from... Figure 3 As can be seen more clearly, a perforated portion 33 is formed on the first clamping member 31. By providing the perforated portion 33 on the first clamping member 31, cleaning water can flow downwards to clean the lower part of the tubular component 1 without accumulating at the bottom of the first clamping member 31.

[0067] Preferably, the cutout 33 is formed to further reduce the contact area between the first clamping member 31 and the outer peripheral surface of the tubular member 1. For example, the cutout 33 is formed at the position where the diameter of the first clamping member 31 is the smallest, that is, at the position where the first clamping member 31 contacts the tubular member 1, such as at the bottom of the first clamping member 31, so that point contact can be formed between the first clamping member 31 and the outer peripheral surface of the tubular member 1.

[0068] See Figure 5 The outer peripheral wall of the first clamping member 31 forms a first angle α1 with the axis X of the tubular component 1. Furthermore, the nozzle 3 for spraying cleaning water onto the tubular component 1 is configured such that its spray direction forms a second angle α2 with the axis X of the tubular component 1. In the preferred structure shown in the figure, the first angle α1 and the second angle α2 are equal. Thus, when the nozzle 3 sprays cleaning water onto the tubular component 1, the water flows along the tapered, tapered wall of the first clamping member 31, and the water-blocking surface of the first clamping member 31 facing the water flow direction is only equal to the wall thickness of the first clamping member 31. Therefore, by designing the first clamping member 31 to be as thin as possible, the water-blocking area of ​​the first clamping member 31 can be minimized, thereby minimizing the obstruction and interference of the first clamping member 31 with the cleaning water.

[0069] The second clamping member 32 can be designed to have the same structure as the first clamping member 31. That is, the second clamping member 32 can also be at least partially conical in shape and taper downwards, and preferably has a cutout portion 33.

[0070] The first connecting member 41 is in the form of a thin sheet, and its orientation is designed such that its thickness direction is perpendicular to the axis X of the tubular member 1. Thus, as in... Figure 5As shown more clearly in the diagram, when cleaning the tubular component 1, the water-blocking surface of the first connecting component 41 facing the water flow direction is only the wall thickness of the first connecting component 41. Therefore, by designing the first connecting component 41 to be as thin as possible, the obstruction and interference of the first connecting component 41 with the cleaning water can be minimized.

[0071] The second connecting member 42 can be designed to have the same structure as the first connecting member 41. That is, the second connecting member 42 can be designed as a thin sheet, and the thickness direction of the thin sheet is perpendicular to the axis X of the tubular member 1.

[0072] Preferably, the cleaning clamping mechanism 2 also includes a base plate 50. Figure 6 The figure shows a perspective view of the base plate 50. The base plate 50 supports the bottom 12 of the tubular component 1 from below, thus helping to prevent the tubular component 1 from falling downwards when the clamping force of the first clamping member 31 and the second clamping member 32 on the cylindrical body 11 of the tubular component 1 is insufficient. In other words, by providing the base plate 50, the first clamping member 31 and / or the second clamping member 32 can simply surround the cylindrical body 11 of the tubular component 1, restricting the horizontal movement of the tubular component 1, while the base plate 50 restricts the vertical movement of the tubular component 1, so that the first clamping member 31 and / or the second clamping member 32 do not need to be clamped onto the tubular component 1. Furthermore, a gap can be left between the tubular component 1 and the first clamping member 31 / second clamping member 32. This helps to further reduce the obstruction and interference of the cleaning clamping mechanism 2 on the cleaning water.

[0073] As shown in the figure, the base plate 50 is preferably provided with a plurality of upwardly extending base plate protrusions 51, which support the bottom 12 of the tubular component 1. This reduces the contact area with the bottom 12 of the component, thereby reducing obstruction and interference with the cleaning water.

[0074] Preferably, these base plate protrusions 51 are configured to make point contact with the bottom 12 of the tubular component 1. For example, in the exemplary structure shown in the figure, the top of the base plate protrusion 51 is formed as an arc surface, such as a dome.

[0075] Preferably, the base plate 50 is connected to the clamping mechanism frame 20 via the base plate connector 52, thereby fixing the position of the base plate 50 relative to the clamping mechanism frame 20.

[0076] The following describes a cleaning method for cleaning the tubular component 1 using the cleaning clamping mechanism 2 of this application.

[0077] First, the tubular component 1 to be cleaned is fixed to the cleaning clamping mechanism 2. Specifically, the first frame half 21 and the second frame half 22 of the clamping mechanism frame 20 are brought close to the tubular component 1 from both sides, clamping the tubular component 1 between the two clamping halves of the first clamping member 31 and the second clamping member 32. Then, the clamping force adjusting assembly is operated to further clamp the tubular component 1. In the specific configuration shown in the figure, the clamping force can be adjusted by turning the nut 24 to adjust the compression of the spring 25.

[0078] After fixing the tubular component 1 to the cleaning clamping mechanism 2, open the water spray nozzle 3 located above and spray cleaning water toward the tubular component 1.

[0079] After cleaning is completed, the first clamp 31 and the second clamp 32 are loosened by turning the nut 24 to allow the tubular component 1 to be removed.

Claims

1. A cleaning clamping mechanism, the cleaning clamping mechanism being used to clamp the tubular component during cleaning, wherein, The cleaning clamping mechanism includes a clamping mechanism frame and at least one clamping component disposed on the clamping mechanism frame, characterized in that the clamping component includes: A clamping member is configured such that, when cleaning the tubular component, the clamping member surrounds the outer peripheral surface of the tubular component's cylindrical body, wherein the clamping member is conical in shape, tapering from top to bottom, and when the clamping member grips the tubular component, a line contact or point contact is formed between the clamping member and the outer peripheral surface of the tubular component's cylindrical body; and A connecting component that connects the clamping member to the clamping mechanism frame; The connecting component has a thin plate structure, and the thin plate is configured such that when the tubular component is clamped on the cleaning clamping mechanism, the thickness direction of the thin plate is perpendicular to the axis of the tubular component. The clamping mechanism frame includes a first frame half and a second frame half, and The clamping member includes two clamping member halves, which are respectively connected to the first frame half and the second frame half via the connecting member.

2. The cleaning clamping mechanism as described in claim 1, characterized in that, After the tubular component is clamped in the cleaning clamping mechanism, cleaning water can be sprayed onto the tubular component from the spray nozzle. Wherein, the outer peripheral wall of the clamping member forms a first angle with the axis of the tubular component, and the water spraying direction of the spray nozzle forms a second angle with the axis of the tubular component, wherein the first angle is equal to the second angle.

3. The cleaning clamping mechanism as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Each of the tubular components is held by two clamping assemblies, namely a first clamping assembly located at the top and a second clamping assembly located at the bottom.

4. The cleaning clamping mechanism as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The cleaning clamping mechanism also includes a base plate that supports the bottom of the tubular component from below.

5. The cleaning clamping mechanism as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The base plate is provided with a plurality of base plate protrusions, which support the bottom of the component.

6. The cleaning clamping mechanism as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The clamping component has a hollowed-out section.

7. The cleaning clamping mechanism as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The cleaning clamping mechanism also includes a clamping force adjustment component, which can adjust the clamping force of the clamping member acting on the cylindrical body of the tubular component.

8. The cleaning clamping mechanism as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The clamping force adjustment component includes: A bolt, which is inserted from one of the first frame half and the second frame half and exits from the other of the first frame half and the second frame half; A nut, wherein the nut is disposed on the end of the bolt that protrudes from the other of the first frame half and the second frame half; and A spring is disposed between the nut and the other of the first frame half and the second frame half.

9. A method for cleaning tubular components, characterized in that, The method uses the cleaning clamping mechanism as described in any one of claims 1 to 8, and the method includes the following steps: The tubular component is fixed to the cleaning clamping mechanism, and the tubular component is clamped by the clamping member; Open the water nozzle located at the top and spray cleaning water towards the tubular component; as well as After cleaning is complete, release the clamps to allow the tubular component to be removed.

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