A sterile delivery device for lyophilization trays and a tray access system

Abstract

The application discloses a freeze-drying tray aseptic conveying device and tray access system, and relates to the pharmaceutical field.The freeze-drying tray aseptic conveying device comprises a shell, a closed containing space is formed in the shell, a power supply assembly is arranged in the shell to provide electric energy, a driving mechanism is arranged in the shell and electrically connected with the power supply assembly to drive the conveying device to move along a preset path, and a lifting mechanism is arranged in the shell and electrically connected with the power supply assembly, and an execution end of the lifting mechanism extends out of the shell to pick up and place freeze-drying trays.The application realizes aseptic conveying of the freeze-drying trays by arranging a fully-closed shell, combining the driving mechanism and the lifting mechanism to complete picking up and conveying of the freeze-drying trays, simplifies the equipment structure, reduces the difficulty of cleaning and maintenance and the operation energy consumption, and guarantees the aseptic property of the raw medicine production.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the pharmaceutical field, and in particular to a freeze-drying tray aseptic conveying device and tray loading / unloading system. Background Technology

[0002] In the pharmaceutical industry, the long-term preservation of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) is crucial. Freeze-drying technology is widely used in API processing because it can maintain the original activity of drugs and prevent microbial growth. In the vacuum freeze-drying process of APIs, the prepared API liquid is first added to freeze-drying trays, then the trays are transported to the plates inside the freeze dryer for freeze-drying. After freeze-drying, the trays are removed from the freeze dryer to complete the material collection operation. Therefore, the tray loading and unloading process is a critical step in the API freeze-drying process, and its standardized operation directly affects drug quality and production efficiency. With the increasing demands for aseptic production in the pharmaceutical industry, aseptic control of the tray loading and unloading process has become a key focus. The optimization and upgrading of related equipment is of great significance for ensuring the asepticity of drug production, reducing production costs, and improving production convenience. The industry has an increasingly urgent need for freeze-drying tray loading and unloading equipment with a reasonable structure, reliable aseptic performance, and convenient operation and maintenance.

[0003] In current practices of freeze-drying raw material pharmaceuticals, there are several methods for loading and unloading freeze-drying trays. One method is manual operation, where operators use hooks while wearing gloves to manually push the freeze-drying trays one by one onto the shelves inside the freeze dryer. After the material is freeze-dried, the trays are pulled out using hooks. Another method is an automatic tray-pushing mechanism, where a tray-pushing mechanism with freely retractable push rods is installed at the front and rear of the freeze-drying chamber. When loading the trays, the push rod at the front of the freeze-drying chamber is controlled by a program to push the trays onto the shelves. When unloading the trays, the push rod at the rear of the freeze-drying chamber is controlled by a program to push the trays out of the chamber.

[0004] The existing lyophilization tray loading and unloading methods have problems affecting the aseptic production of drugs. During manual operation, the direct friction between the bottom of the lyophilization tray and the plate layer will generate metal particles. These metal particles may enter the drug and affect the sterility of the drug. The automatic tray pushing mechanism has many sealing structures and transmission mechanisms, which are difficult to clean and increase the risk of aseptic production. In addition, the overall system cost is high and the operation and maintenance are difficult. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the problems of existing freeze-drying tray loading and unloading methods, such as difficulty in ensuring sterility, complex structure, inconvenient cleaning and maintenance, and high operating costs, this invention uses a fully enclosed shell combined with a drive mechanism and a lifting mechanism to complete the forking and conveying of freeze-drying trays. This achieves sterile conveying of freeze-drying trays, simplifies the equipment structure, reduces the difficulty of cleaning and maintenance and operating energy consumption, and ensures the sterility of raw material drug production.

[0006] Based on this, in a first aspect of the present invention, a freeze-drying tray aseptic conveying device is provided, comprising:

[0007] The shell, within which a closed accommodating space is formed;

[0008] The power supply assembly, housed within the housing, provides electrical power;

[0009] The drive mechanism is located inside the housing and electrically connected to the power supply assembly to drive the conveying device to move along a preset path;

[0010] The lifting mechanism is housed within the housing and electrically connected to the power supply unit. The actuator of the lifting mechanism extends out of the housing to pick up and place the freeze-drying tray.

[0011] Optionally, the housing includes a frame, a top panel, and a bottom plate. The frame is formed as an annular structure with openings on both the top and bottom sides. The top panel is sealed to the upper opening of the frame, and the bottom plate is sealed to the lower opening of the frame.

[0012] Optionally, the drive mechanism includes:

[0013] The first driving component is disposed inside the housing and electrically connected to the power supply assembly to convert the electrical energy of the power supply assembly into power.

[0014] The drive shaft is rotatably mounted inside the housing and connected to the output end of the first drive component. The output end of the drive shaft extends out of the housing to transmit the power output by the first drive component.

[0015] A shaft seal is installed on the drive shaft to provide a dynamic seal between the drive shaft and the housing;

[0016] The drive pulley is located on the outside of the housing and coaxially sleeved on the drive shaft so as to rotate synchronously with the drive shaft;

[0017] The driven pulley is rotatably mounted on the outside of the housing. The driven pulley is positioned opposite to the driving pulley to cooperate with the driving pulley to form a transmission circuit.

[0018] A synchronous belt is wound around the driving pulley and the driven pulley to transmit power from the driving pulley to the driven pulley.

[0019] Optionally, the drive mechanism may also include:

[0020] The guide slider is located on the outside of the housing to cooperate with the synchronous belt rack assembly of the conveyor track assembly to achieve the limiting and guiding of the conveyor device;

[0021] An eccentric tensioning sleeve is installed on the mounting shaft of the driven pulley to adjust the tension of the timing belt;

[0022] The polymer slider is positioned below the synchronous belt and fits against the lower surface of the synchronous belt to support the weight of the conveying device and reduce the frictional resistance when the synchronous belt moves.

[0023] Optional, the lifting mechanism includes:

[0024] The second drive unit is located inside the housing and is electrically connected to the power supply assembly to convert the electrical energy of the power supply assembly into power.

[0025] The freeze-drying tray fork, as the actuating end, is located on the outside of the housing to pick up and place the freeze-drying tray;

[0026] The transmission assembly connects the second drive unit and the freeze-drying disc fork to transmit the power of the second drive unit to the freeze-drying disc fork, thereby driving the freeze-drying disc fork to reciprocate along a preset stroke.

[0027] Optionally, the transmission components include:

[0028] An eccentric wheel is rotatably mounted inside the housing and is coaxially and fixedly connected to the output end of the second drive component.

[0029] The lifting fork is fitted onto the eccentric wheel and engages with it to convert the rotational motion of the eccentric wheel into linear motion.

[0030] The lifting platform is connected to the lifting fork and the freeze-drying disc fork to receive the linear motion of the lifting fork and drive the freeze-drying disc fork.

[0031] Optionally, the transmission assembly also includes a transmission shaft, which is rotatably disposed within the housing and coaxially fixedly connected to the output end of the second drive component;

[0032] The eccentric wheel is sleeved on the drive shaft and is fixedly connected to the drive shaft coaxially.

[0033] Optionally, there can be a certain number of eccentric wheels and lifting forks, with each eccentric wheel and lifting fork being set in a one-to-one correspondence.

[0034] Optionally, a first sliding engagement component is provided on the inner wall of the housing, and a second sliding engagement component is provided on the lifting plate. The first sliding engagement component and the second sliding engagement component are slidably engaged, thereby realizing the sliding connection between the lifting plate and the housing.

[0035] Optionally, the first sliding component is a linear slide rail, and the second sliding component is a slider adapted to the linear slide rail. A lubricating layer is provided between the linear slide rail and the slider.

[0036] Optionally, the lifting platform is provided with a connecting assembly for connecting the freeze-drying tray fork, the connecting assembly including:

[0037] The lifting shaft seat is fixed to the lifting platform so that it moves with the lifting platform;

[0038] A connecting shaft slides through the housing, with the two ends of the connecting shaft connected to the lifting shaft seat and the freeze-drying tray fork, respectively, so that the lifting plate can drive the freeze-drying tray fork to move.

[0039] The telescopic sleeve is fitted onto the connecting shaft. One end of the telescopic sleeve is sealed to the side of the lifting shaft seat facing the freeze-drying disc fork, and the other end of the telescopic sleeve is sealed to the inner wall of the housing to seal the sliding fit gap between the connecting shaft and the housing.

[0040] Optionally, the telescopic sleeve is a telescopic corrugated sleeve, with its two ends respectively sealed to the lifting shaft seat and the inner wall of the housing via flanges, and a sealing gasket is provided between the flange and the sealing surface.

[0041] Optional, the power supply components include:

[0042] The battery, housed within the casing, stores electrical energy and outputs it to the drive mechanism and lifting mechanism.

[0043] A power switch is located on the housing and is electrically connected to the battery to control the circuit connection between the battery and the drive mechanism and the lifting mechanism.

[0044] A wireless charging receiver, housed inside the housing and electrically connected to the battery, receives power from an external wireless charging transmitter and charges the battery.

[0045] A wired charging port is located on the housing and is electrically connected to the battery to charge the battery via an external wired charger.

[0046] A charging seal is provided at the mating point between the wired charging port and the housing to seal the gap between the wired charging port and the housing.

[0047] Optionally, the power supply component also includes:

[0048] A wireless charging translucent plate is set on the housing at the position corresponding to the wireless charging receiver. The wireless charging translucent plate is sealed to the housing to allow electromagnetic waves from the external wireless charging transmitter to pass through.

[0049] A circuit breaker is installed inside a housing and connected in series in the battery's power supply circuit to disconnect the power supply circuit in the event of an overload or short circuit.

[0050] Optionally, the conveying device also includes a communication component, which includes:

[0051] An internal wireless communication module is located inside the housing to enable information processing and transmission;

[0052] An external wireless communication module is located outside the housing to receive information from the internal wireless communication module and send control commands.

[0053] A communication transducer is installed on the housing at the position corresponding to the internal wireless communication module, and the communication transducer is sealed to the housing.

[0054] Preferably, both the communication transmissive plate and the wireless charging transmissive plate are made of high-polymer engineering plastic, and a sealant is provided at the joint between the wireless charging transmissive plate and the shell.

[0055] In a second aspect of the invention, a tray loading / unloading system is also provided, comprising:

[0056] The aforementioned aseptic conveying device for freeze-drying trays is used to achieve aseptic conveying and handling of freeze-drying trays.

[0057] A conveyor track assembly is set on a preset path and cooperates with a drive mechanism to provide movement guidance for the conveying device;

[0058] The freeze-drying tray conveying mechanism is located at the starting end of the conveying track assembly to convey freeze-drying trays to be forked onto the conveying device.

[0059] Optionally, the tray loading / unloading system may also include a positioning mechanism, which includes:

[0060] The near-end positioning component is a fiber optic sensor component, which contains two spaced-apart fiber optic switches to detect the position of the conveyor when it picks up the freeze-drying tray.

[0061] The remote positioning component is a laser rangefinder, used to detect the movement of the conveyor in real time.

[0062] Optionally, the disk drive system may also include:

[0063] A wireless charging transmitter is located on the side of the conveyor rail assembly to work with the wireless charging receiver of the freeze-drying tray aseptic conveyor to achieve wireless charging.

[0064] The plate layer is set inside the freeze dryer housing to cooperate with the freeze drying tray fork to support the freeze drying tray.

[0065] Compared with the above-mentioned background technology, the technical solution provided by the present invention has at least the following technical effects:

[0066] The housing forms a closed enclosure, housing components such as the power supply, drive mechanism, and lifting mechanism, preventing exposed components from creating unsanitary corners and blocking the leakage of unclean gases from the inside, thus solving the problem of drug contamination caused by insufficient equipment sealing. The built-in power supply provides power to the drive and lifting mechanisms, eliminating the need for external power lines. This avoids the space occupation and sealing problems caused by external wiring, and also enables the conveying device to move autonomously inside and outside the freeze-drying chamber, freeing it from the limitations of external power supply on the device's movement range and improving its flexibility. The drive mechanism is integrated into the housing and electrically connected to the power supply, providing stable power output to drive the conveying device along a preset path. The path-moving mechanism replaces manual pushing or complex external transmission mechanisms, avoiding the problem of metal particles generated by friction between the freeze-drying trays and the plates during manual operation. It also simplifies the power transmission structure, reduces the exposure of transmission components, and lowers the difficulty of cleaning and maintenance, solving the problems of complex structure and inconvenient cleaning of existing automatic tray loading and unloading systems. The built-in lifting mechanism with the actuator extending out of the housing enables the forking and placement of freeze-drying trays. Compared with the rigid pushing of existing tray pushing mechanisms, it can operate the freeze-drying trays to be transported more smoothly, reducing collision damage to the freeze-drying trays. At the same time, the built-in design protects the transmission parts of the lifting mechanism from the influence of the external environment, and the extended actuator structure does not compromise the overall airtightness of the housing, thus meeting the sterile transport requirements of the device. Attached Figure Description

[0067] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the provided drawings without creative effort.

[0068] Figure 1 This is a first-view schematic diagram of the freeze-drying tray aseptic conveying device provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0069] Figure 2 This is a second-view schematic diagram of the freeze-drying tray aseptic conveying device provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0070] Figure 3 This is an exploded view of the freeze-drying tray aseptic conveying device provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0071] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the freeze-drying tray aseptic conveying device provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0072] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the tray loading / unloading system provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0073] Figure Labels

[0074] 100. Aseptic conveying device for freeze-drying trays; 200. Conveying track assembly; 300. Freeze-drying tray conveying mechanism; 4001. Proximal positioning assembly; 4002. Remote positioning assembly; 500. Wireless charging transmitter; 600. Plate; 700. Freeze-drying tray;

[0075] 1. Shell; 11. Frame; 12. Top panel; 13. Bottom panel;

[0076] 21. Battery; 22. Power switch; 23. Wireless charging receiver; 24. Wired charging port; 25. Wireless charging translucent plate;

[0077] 3. Drive mechanism; 31. First drive component; 32. Drive shaft; 33. Shaft seal; 34. Drive pulley; 35. Driven pulley; 36. Synchronous belt; 37. Guide slider; 38. Eccentric shrink sleeve; 39. Polymer slider;

[0078] 4. Lifting mechanism; 41. Second drive unit; 42. Freeze-drying disc fork; 43. Eccentric wheel; 44. Lifting shift fork; 45. Lifting upright; 46. Drive shaft; 47. Connecting assembly;

[0079] 5. Communication components; 51. Internal wireless communication module; 52. Communication transparent plate; 53. External wireless communication module. Detailed Implementation

[0080] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0081] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the present invention, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0082] As described in the background section, current practices in freeze-drying of pharmaceutical raw materials involve various methods for loading and unloading freeze-drying trays. One method is manual operation, where operators, wearing gloves, use hooks to manually push the freeze-drying trays one by one onto the shelves inside the freeze dryer. After the material is freeze-dried, the trays are pulled out using the hooks. Another method is an automatic tray-pushing mechanism, where a set of push-pushing mechanisms with freely retractable push rods is installed at the front and rear of the freeze-drying chamber. During tray loading, the push rod at the front of the chamber is controlled by a program to push the freeze-drying tray onto the shelf, and during tray unloading, the push rod at the rear of the chamber is controlled by a program to push the freeze-drying tray out of the chamber. Existing methods for loading and unloading freeze-drying trays present problems that affect aseptic production of pharmaceuticals. During manual operation, the direct friction between the bottom of the freeze-drying tray and the shelf generates metal particles, which may enter the pharmaceuticals and affect their sterility. Automatic tray-pushing mechanisms involve numerous sealing structures and transmission mechanisms, making cleaning difficult and increasing the risk of aseptic production. Furthermore, the overall system cost is high, and operation and maintenance are complex.

[0083] Based on this, in a first aspect of the present invention, a freeze-drying tray aseptic conveying device 100 is provided, referring to... Figure 1 and Figure 2 The device comprises a housing 1, a power supply assembly, a drive mechanism 3, a lifting mechanism 4, and a communication assembly 5. The housing 1 forms a closed enclosure to house the various functional components and prevents gas exchange between the inside and outside of the housing 1. The power supply assembly provides electrical energy to the drive mechanism 3, the lifting mechanism 4, and the communication assembly 5. The drive mechanism 3 converts electrical energy into power to drive the conveying device along a preset path. The lifting mechanism 4 extends out of the housing 1 and uses lifting motion to pick up and place the freeze-drying tray 700. The communication assembly 5 enables information exchange between the inside and outside of the device, ensuring the transmission of operating commands and feedback on operating status. In other words, this invention, by setting up a fully enclosed housing 1, combined with the drive mechanism 3 and the lifting mechanism 4 to complete the picking up and conveying of the freeze-drying tray, achieves aseptic conveying of the freeze-drying tray 700, simplifies the equipment structure, reduces cleaning and maintenance difficulty and operating energy consumption, and ensures the aseptic nature of raw material drug production.

[0084] Specifically, refer to Figure 3 The shell 1 includes a frame 11, an upper panel 12 and a lower base plate 13, which together form a fully enclosed frame.

[0085] The frame 11 is an annular structure with openings at the top and bottom, welded together from stainless steel plates that meet the aseptic requirements of the pharmaceutical industry. The thickness of the stainless steel plates is selected based on the overall dimensions of the shell 1 and the load-bearing requirements. Weight-reducing grooves are evenly milled into the inner side of the stainless steel plates. The specific depth of the weight-reducing grooves is determined according to the plate thickness; for example, the depth of the weight-reducing grooves may include, but is not limited to, 50% of the plate thickness. The upper and lower surfaces of the frame 11 are ground to form smooth sealing surfaces to facilitate a sealed connection with the upper panel 12 and the lower base plate 13.

[0086] The upper panel 12 is made of stainless steel plate with the same material as the frame 11. It is detachably connected to the upper opening end of the frame 11 by stainless steel bolts evenly distributed around the circumference. The upper panel 12 completely covers the opening area on the upper surface of the frame 11. A sealing gasket or sealant is set between the upper panel 12 and the mating surface of the frame 11. The sealing gasket is selected to match the mating surface, and the sealant is applied evenly to achieve static sealing on the upper side.

[0087] The lower base plate 13 completely seals the opening area on the lower surface of the frame 11. The lower base plate 13 is also made of the same stainless steel plate and is welded to the lower opening end of the frame 11 by argon arc welding. After welding, the weld is ground smooth to ensure that there are no protrusions or gaps. The weld sealing is verified by penetrant testing to form a static seal on the lower side. According to the installation requirements of subsequent components such as power switch 22, wired charging port 24, and communication transmissive plate 52, the frame 11 is provided with corresponding holes. The edges of the holes are chamfered to avoid scratching the seals. Each hole and corresponding component is fitted with a seal. The seal fits the surface of the hole and the corresponding component to achieve a static seal around the frame 11, forming a leak-free enclosed space of the shell 1 to prevent the exchange of internal gas with the external environment.

[0088] As an optional implementation, a stepped structure can be provided on the housing 1 for the mounting holes corresponding to the communication transparent plate 52 and the wireless charging transparent plate 25. Both transparent plates are embedded in the stepped holes and are sealed to the housing 1 by a sealing ring.

[0089] Specifically, the power supply assembly includes a battery 21, a power switch 22, a wireless charging receiver 23, a wired charging port 24, a charging seal (not shown), a wireless charging translucent plate 25, and a circuit breaker (not shown). The battery 21 is electrically connected to the power switch 22, the wireless charging receiver 23, the wired charging port 24, and the circuit breaker via wires. The circuit breaker is connected in series between the battery 21 and the power-consuming components such as the drive mechanism 3, the lifting mechanism 4, and the communication component 5, forming a complete power supply circuit. The wireless charging translucent plate 25 is fixed to the mounting position corresponding to the wireless charging receiver 23. The power switch 22 and the wired charging port 24 are respectively matched with corresponding holes on the housing 1, and are sealed to the housing 1 through the seal.

[0090] Specifically, the battery 21 is a lithium battery, which is fixed to the battery 21 bracket inside the housing 1 by bolts. The battery 21 bracket is fixedly connected to the housing 1, and the battery 21 is electrically connected to each electrical component through wires.

[0091] The power switch 22 is adapted to the corresponding hole on the housing 1, specifically located on the right side of the rear end of the housing 1 (the rear end of the housing 1 refers to the end of the housing 1 away from the execution end of the device), and is connected in series with the battery 21 in the power supply circuit to control the on and off of the circuit. A sealing structure is provided at the mating point between the power switch 22 and the housing 1 to ensure static sealing at this position.

[0092] The wireless charging receiver 23 is fixed to the bottom center of the housing 1 by fasteners. It is electrically connected to the battery 21 and is used to receive electromagnetic waves emitted by external wireless charging devices and convert them into electrical energy.

[0093] The wired charging port 24 is located in a preset hole in the housing 1, specifically on the left side of the rear end of the housing 1, and is electrically connected to the battery 21 via a wire; the charging seal (not shown) is a sealing ring, which is located at the mating point between the wired charging port 24 and the housing 1 to fill the mating gap and achieve static sealing.

[0094] A circuit breaker (not shown) is connected in series in the power supply circuit between the battery 21 and the electrical components to deal with circuit overload or short circuit situations and to prevent circuit failure from affecting the operation of the device.

[0095] The wireless charging translucent plate 25 is made of high-polymer engineering plastic and is embedded in the mounting hole opened in the bottom plate 13. The joint between the wireless charging translucent plate 25 and the bottom plate 13 is provided with sealant, which allows electromagnetic waves to pass through to ensure the wireless charging effect without compromising the overall airtightness of the shell 1.

[0096] When the device is running, closing the power switch 22 activates the power supply circuit, allowing the battery 21 to supply power to various electrical components such as the drive mechanism 3, lifting mechanism 4, and communication component 5, ensuring the normal operation of each component. When the battery 21 is low on power and needs charging, it can be charged wirelessly. An external wireless charging transmitter 500 emits electromagnetic waves, which are received by the wireless charging receiver 23 through the wireless charging transparent plate 25 and converted into electrical energy to recharge the battery 21. Alternatively, it can be charged via wired charging by connecting an external wired charger to the wired charging port 24. In emergencies, wired charging can quickly replenish the battery 21's power, preventing disruption to production. When an overload or short circuit occurs, the circuit breaker automatically triggers to cut off the power supply circuit, preventing the abnormal current from continuing to flow and protecting the battery 21 and other electrical components from damage. After the fault is cleared, the circuit breaker can be reset to restore power supply.

[0097] As an optional implementation, the battery 21 can be a lithium iron phosphate battery; the power switch 22 can be a knob-type structure for easy manual control by the operator; a heat insulation pad can be set between the wireless charging receiver 23 and the wireless charging transparent plate 25 to prevent the heat generated by the internal components from affecting the performance of the transparent plate; a dust cover can be added to the wired charging port 24, and the dust cover is connected to the housing 1 by a hinge. When not charging, the dust cover is closed to further improve the sealing and dustproof effect.

[0098] As an optional implementation, the power supply assembly may also include a battery management module, which is electrically connected to the battery 21 and is used to monitor the voltage, current, temperature and other status information of the battery 21 in real time. The monitoring data is fed back to the external control terminal through the communication component 5, so that the operator can keep track of the working status of the battery 21. At the same time, the battery management module can automatically trigger the power switch 22 to disconnect when the battery 21 is too low in power or too high in temperature, thereby improving the safety of the power supply assembly.

[0099] Specifically, refer to Figure 4 The drive mechanism 3 includes a first drive component 31, a drive shaft 32, a shaft seal 33, a drive pulley 34, a driven pulley 35, a timing belt 36, a guide slider 37, an eccentric tightening sleeve 38, and a polymer slider 39. The output end of the first drive component 31 is connected to the drive shaft 32 via a coupling. The drive shaft 32 drives the drive pulley 34 to rotate, and the timing belt 36 engages with the drive pulley 34 and the driven pulley 35, thereby realizing the movement of the device.

[0100] The first drive unit 31 is an integrated structure of servo driver and reducer. It is fixed on the first drive mounting seat inside the housing 1. The first drive mounting seat is fixedly connected to the wall of the housing 1. The first drive unit 31 is electrically connected to the battery 21 and can control the output speed and direction.

[0101] The drive shaft 32 includes left and right half shafts. One end of the left and right half shafts is connected to the output end of the first drive member 31 through a coupling, and the other end of the left and right half shafts extends through the side wall of the frame 11 to the outside of the housing 1.

[0102] The shaft seal 33 is located at the penetration point between the drive shaft 32 and the frame 11. Specifically, it is a polymer shaft seal 33, thereby achieving dynamic sealing at this location.

[0103] The drive pulley 34 is fitted onto the extended end of the drive shaft 32 via a key connection and forms a fixed connection with the drive shaft 32 so as to rotate synchronously with the drive shaft 32.

[0104] Driven pulley 35 is rotatably mounted on driven pulley bracket outside housing 1 via mounting shaft. Driven pulley bracket is fixedly connected to outer wall of housing 1. Driven pulley 35 and driving pulley 34 are arranged opposite each other, and the line connecting their centers is parallel to the direction of movement of the device.

[0105] The synchronous belt 36 is wound around the driving pulley 34 and the driven pulley 35 to form a closed transmission circuit. The outer periphery of the synchronous belt 36 is provided with meshing teeth for cooperating with the external conveying track assembly 200 of the device mentioned below, so as to realize power transmission and play a role in movement guidance.

[0106] The guide slider 37 is integrally connected to the housing 1 and symmetrically fixed at both ends of the outer side of the housing 1. The guide slider 37 is used to slide and engage with the guide groove in the conveyor track assembly 200 to achieve up-down and left-right limit when the device moves, so as to avoid deviation or skipping of the synchronous belt 36 during the movement of the device.

[0107] The eccentric tensioning sleeve 38 is mounted on the mounting shaft of the driven pulley 35. By rotating to adjust its own angle, it changes the mounting position of the driven pulley 35, thereby tensioning the synchronous belt 36.

[0108] The polymer slider 39 is fixed to the outside of the housing 1 by a stainless steel bracket. The lower surface of the polymer slider 39 is used to fit against the inner side of the synchronous belt 36 to support the overall weight of the device.

[0109] It should be noted that there are two sets of shaft seal 33, driving pulley 34, driven pulley 35, synchronous belt 36, guide slider 37, eccentric expansion sleeve 38, and polymer slider 39, respectively located on the left and right sides of the outer shell 1. The first driving component 31 starts when energized, outputting power to rotate the drive shaft 32. The drive shaft 32 drives the driving pulley 34 to rotate synchronously. The driving pulley 34 drives the driven pulley 35 to rotate via the synchronous belt 36. The synchronous belt 36 meshes with the external conveying track assembly 200 for transmission. Under the limiting action of the guide slider 37 and the supporting action of the polymer slider 39, the entire device moves along the track assembly. By controlling the forward or reverse rotation of the first driving component 31, the device can move forward or backward. By adjusting the output speed of the first driving component 31, the moving speed of the device can be controlled, enabling the device to reach the target position.

[0110] As an optional implementation, the drive mechanism 3 may also include a tension sensor (not shown), which is mounted on the driven wheel bracket and in contact with the timing belt 36. It is used to detect the tension of the timing belt 36 in real time and feed the detection signal back to the external control terminal through the communication component 5. When the tension of the timing belt 36 is insufficient, the eccentric tensioning sleeve 38 can be automatically adjusted by the electric adjustment mechanism to achieve automatic compensation of the tension of the timing belt 36.

[0111] Specifically, the lifting mechanism 4 is located inside the housing 1 near the front end, and includes a second drive member 41, a freeze-drying disc fork 42, and a transmission assembly. The transmission assembly includes an eccentric wheel 43, a lifting fork 44, a lifting platform 45, a drive shaft 46, a first sliding engagement component, a second sliding engagement component, and a connecting assembly 47. The output end of the second drive member 41 is connected to the drive shaft 46 via a coupling. The drive shaft 46 drives the eccentric wheel 43 to rotate. The eccentric wheel 43 rolls with the lifting fork 44, which is fixedly connected to and drives the lifting platform 45. The lifting platform 45 is fixedly connected to the freeze-drying disc fork 42 via the connecting assembly 47. The first and second sliding engagement components slide with each other, providing guidance for the movement of the lifting platform 45.

[0112] The second drive unit 41 is an integrated structure of servo driver and reducer, which is fixed inside the housing 1 and electrically connected to the battery 21 to control the lifting stroke.

[0113] The freeze-drying tray fork 42 serves as the execution end of the aforementioned lifting mechanism 4. It is located on the outside of the housing 1 and is connected to the second drive member 41 via a transmission assembly to pick up and place the freeze-drying tray 700. Furthermore, there are two freeze-drying tray forks 42 to pick up and place two freeze-drying trays 700 simultaneously, thereby improving the efficiency of picking up and placing the freeze-drying tray 700.

[0114] The drive shaft 46 is rotatably mounted inside the housing 1 via a bearing seat, and one end of the drive shaft 46 is connected to the output end of the second drive member 41 via a coupling.

[0115] There are two eccentric wheels 43, which are symmetrically sleeved at both ends of the transmission shaft 46. The eccentric wheels 43 are fixed to the transmission shaft 46 by key connection so as to rotate synchronously with the transmission shaft 46.

[0116] The lifting fork 44 is formed as a C-shaped block, which is sleeved on the eccentric wheel 43 for rolling engagement with the eccentric wheel 43. One side of it is fixedly connected to the lifting plate 45. When the eccentric part of the eccentric wheel 43 rotates to the top of the eccentric wheel 43, the lifting fork 44 reaches its maximum height, thereby driving the lifting plate 45 to its maximum height. When the eccentric part of the eccentric wheel 43 rotates to the bottom of the eccentric wheel 43, the lifting fork 44 reaches its minimum height, thereby driving the lifting plate 45 to its minimum height. In this way, the rotational motion of the eccentric wheel 43 is converted into the vertical linear motion of the lifting plate 45.

[0117] The lifting plate 45 is vertically arranged, and a second sliding fit is installed on the side of the lifting plate 45 near the inner wall of the front end of the housing 1. A first sliding fit is correspondingly arranged on the inner wall of the housing 1. The second sliding fit is a slider, and the first sliding fit is a linear slide rail. The linear slide rails are arranged vertically and there are no less than three of them to prevent the lifting plate 45 from bending laterally when it moves.

[0118] Four connecting components 47 are evenly distributed along the length of the lifting platform 45. Each component includes a lifting shaft seat (not shown), a connecting shaft (not shown), and a telescopic sleeve (not shown). The lifting shaft seat is fixed to the top of the lifting platform 45. One end of the connecting shaft is fixedly connected to the lifting shaft seat, and the other end extends through the housing 1 and is fixedly connected to the freeze-drying disc fork 42 to achieve power transmission. The telescopic sleeve is a telescopic corrugated sleeve with flanges at both ends. It is sealed to the lower side of the lifting shaft seat and the inner wall of the housing 1 by bolts. A sealing gasket is provided between the flange and the sealing surface to seal the sliding fit gap between the connecting shaft and the housing 1 and ensure the airtightness of the housing 1.

[0119] Furthermore, the bottom of the front end of the frame 11 is concave upwards, forming a clearance space for accommodating the tail end of the freeze-drying fork 42. The aforementioned connecting shaft extends through this concave portion and is fixedly connected to the tail end of the freeze-drying fork 42 to achieve power transmission. When the freeze-drying fork 42 descends to the lowest working position, its lower end face is flush with the lower end face of the lower base plate 13 to avoid interference between the tail end of the freeze-drying fork 42 and the lower base plate, or it is slightly higher than the lower end face of the lower base plate 13 to prevent scraping the track when the device moves; when the freeze-drying fork 42 rises to the highest working position, its upper end face abuts against the concave portion of the front end of the frame 11.

[0120] When the freeze-drying tray 700 needs to be picked up, the device lowers the freeze-drying tray fork 42 to a preset height and moves it to the freeze-drying tray 700 receiving position. Then, the second drive unit 41 is powered on and starts, outputting power to drive the transmission shaft 46 to rotate. The eccentric wheel 43 rotates synchronously and pushes the lifting fork 44 to move up and down. The lifting fork 44 drives the lifting plate 45 to rise vertically along the linear slide rail. The lifting plate 45 drives the freeze-drying tray fork 42 to rise synchronously through the connecting component 47 until the freeze-drying tray fork 42 supports the two sides of the freeze-drying tray 700. When the device moves to the plate 600 and needs to place the freeze-drying tray 700, the second drive unit 41 is activated, driving the freeze-drying tray fork 42 to descend to a preset height until the bottom of the freeze-drying tray 700 contacts the plate 600. Then the device can return to its original position and start the next freeze-drying tray 700 conveying.

[0121] As an optional implementation, a stroke sensor (not shown) is provided on the lifting platform 45 to detect the lifting height in real time and feed it back to the external control terminal through the communication component 5, so as to facilitate the control of the lifting position of the freeze-drying fork 42.

[0122] Specifically, the communication component 5 includes an internal wireless communication module 51, an external wireless communication module 53, and a communication transflector plate 52. The internal wireless communication module 51 is fixed to a communication mounting base inside the housing 1, used to receive control commands sent externally and to provide feedback on the device's operating status. The internal wireless communication module 51 is electrically connected to the battery 21, the first drive component 31, the second drive component 41, and the positioning mechanism via wires, forming a signal acquisition and control loop. The external wireless communication module 53 is located outside the housing 1 and is electrically connected to a host computer, used to transmit commands issued by the host computer and simultaneously receive device information fed back by the internal wireless communication module 51. The communication transflector plate 52 is made of high-polymer engineering plastic and is embedded in a square hole at the rear end of the frame 11. The mating point between the communication transflector plate 52 and the square hole is sealed with sealant to ensure the overall airtightness of the housing 1. The internal wireless communication module 51 and the external wireless communication module 53 can interact wirelessly via electromagnetic waves through the communication transflector plate 52, enabling bidirectional transmission of commands and information.

[0123] When the control device needs to perform an operation, the host computer issues control commands such as movement, lifting, and charging. These commands are transmitted to the external wireless communication module 53, which converts them into electromagnetic wave signals and sends them. The internal wireless communication module 51 receives these electromagnetic wave signals via the communication wave-transparent plate 52, converts them into electrical signals, and transmits them to the corresponding components such as the first drive unit 31 and the second drive unit 41. The components then perform corresponding actions according to the commands. During the execution of these actions, the internal wireless communication module 51 collects real-time operating status information of the device, including location information, battery 21 power information, and the working status information of each component. This information is converted into electromagnetic wave signals and transmitted to the external wireless communication module 53 via the communication wave-transparent plate 52. The external wireless communication module 53 converts the received signals into electrical signals and feeds them back to the host computer, thereby achieving real-time monitoring of the device's operating status.

[0124] As an optional implementation, the internal wireless communication module 51 and the external wireless communication module 53 may be wireless communication modules such as Bluetooth, WiFi, or LoRa.

[0125] In a second aspect of the invention, a tray loading / unloading system is provided, referring to... Figure 5 It includes the aforementioned freeze-drying tray aseptic transport device 100, as well as transport track assembly 200, freeze-drying tray transport mechanism 300, positioning mechanism, wireless charging transmitter 500 and plate 600, to achieve aseptic transport of freeze-drying tray 700 throughout the entire process.

[0126] The conveyor track assembly 200 is set on a preset path on the production site, connecting the freeze-drying tray conveyor mechanism 300 to the freeze dryer housing inlet. It includes a track support, a synchronous belt rack, and guide grooves. The track support is made of stainless steel and is fixed to the ground or a support platform to provide support. The synchronous belt rack is fixed to the top of the track support and arranged along the length of the track. Its tooth shape is adapted to the outer peripheral tooth shape of the synchronous belt 36 of the freeze-drying tray aseptic conveyor device 100 for meshing and transmission with the synchronous belt 36. The guide grooves are opened on both sides of the track support and are suitable for sliding engagement with the guide slider 37 of the conveyor device to form vertical and horizontal limits.

[0127] As an optional implementation, the conveyor track assembly 200 can adopt a segmented structure, with each track segment being detachably connected via flanges to allow for length adjustment according to the production site layout.

[0128] The freeze-drying tray conveying mechanism 300 is located on one side of the starting end of the conveying track assembly 200, and includes a roller support, conveying rollers, and a drive motor. The roller support is made of stainless steel and is fixed to the ground, with multiple conveying rollers rotatably mounted on its top, evenly distributed laterally. The drive motor is fixed to one side of the roller support and is connected to the conveying rollers to drive them to rotate, thereby conveying the freeze-drying trays 700. Furthermore, there are two sets of freeze-drying tray conveying mechanisms 300, located on both sides of the starting end of the conveying track assembly 200, to simultaneously convey freeze-drying trays 700 to two freeze-drying tray placement stations on the conveying track assembly 200. In conjunction with the two freeze-drying tray forks 42 on the aforementioned freeze-drying tray aseptic conveying device 100, the forklifting and conveying efficiency of the freeze-drying trays 700 can be improved.

[0129] The positioning mechanism includes a near-end positioning component 4001 and a far-end positioning component 4002, used to detect the position of the conveyor and ensure the accuracy of the freeze-drying tray picking and placement. The near-end positioning component 4001 is a fiber optic sensor assembly, fixed to the side of the synchronous belt rack and engaging with the housing 1 of the conveyor. It detects whether the conveyor has reached the picking position by transmitting and receiving fiber optic signals. The far-end positioning component 4002 is a laser rangefinder, fixed to the outside of the housing 1 of the conveyor and engaging with it. It detects the movement distance of the conveyor by transmitting laser signals. Furthermore, the positioning mechanism is electrically connected to an external control terminal and the communication component 5 of the conveyor to achieve position signal transmission.

[0130] As an optional implementation, the positioning mechanism may be equipped with an auxiliary positioning component, which includes an infrared positioning sensor located in the middle of the conveyor track assembly 200 and a proximity switch located at the edge of the plate 600. The infrared positioning sensor is used to detect the intermediate position of the device during movement, and the proximity switch is used to position the relative position of the device and the plate 600 to form multiple positioning, thereby further improving the positioning accuracy.

[0131] The wireless charging transmitter 500 is fixed on the track support of the conveying track assembly 200 and corresponds to the position of the wireless charging receiver 23 of the conveying device. When the conveying device stops at the charging station, the wireless charging transmitter 500 emits electromagnetic waves, which are received by the wireless charging receiver 23 through the wireless charging transparent plate 25 of the conveying device, thus realizing contactless charging.

[0132] Plates 600 are installed inside the freeze dryer chamber and are spaced apart in the vertical direction for freeze drying of materials in freeze drying trays 700.

[0133] It should be noted that in this specification, relational terms such as first and second are used only to distinguish one entity from several other entities, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities.

[0134] This article uses specific examples to illustrate the principles and implementation methods of the present invention. The descriptions of the above embodiments are only for the purpose of helping to understand the method and core ideas of the present invention. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make several improvements and modifications to the present invention without departing from the principles of the present invention, and these improvements and modifications also fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A freeze-drying tray aseptic conveying device, characterized in that, include: A housing, wherein a closed accommodating space is formed within the housing; A power supply assembly, disposed within the housing, provides electrical power; A drive mechanism is disposed inside the housing and electrically connected to the power supply assembly to drive the conveying device to move along a preset path; A lifting mechanism is disposed within the housing and electrically connected to the power supply assembly. The actuator of the lifting mechanism extends out of the housing to pick up and place the freeze-drying tray. The drive mechanism includes: a first drive member disposed within the housing and electrically connected to the power supply assembly to convert electrical energy of the power supply assembly into power; a drive shaft rotatably disposed within the housing and connected to the output end of the first drive member, the output end of the drive shaft extending out of the housing to transmit the power output by the first drive member; and a shaft seal disposed on the drive shaft to dynamically seal the drive shaft and the housing. The lifting mechanism includes: a second driving member, disposed within the housing and electrically connected to the power supply assembly, to convert the electrical energy of the power supply assembly into power; a freeze-drying tray fork, serving as the actuating end of the lifting mechanism, disposed on the outside of the housing, for picking up and placing freeze-drying trays; and a transmission assembly, connecting the second driving member and the freeze-drying tray fork, to transmit the power of the second driving member to the freeze-drying tray fork, thereby driving the freeze-drying tray fork to reciprocate along a preset stroke; the transmission assembly includes an eccentric wheel, a lifting fork, and a lifting platform, the eccentric wheel being rotatably disposed within the housing and coaxially fixedly connected to the output end of the second driving member; the lifting fork being sleeved on the eccentric wheel and connected to the housing. An eccentric wheel is used to convert the rotational motion of the eccentric wheel into linear motion. A connecting assembly for connecting the freeze-drying disc fork is provided on the lifting plate. The connecting assembly includes: a lifting shaft seat, fixed to the lifting plate to move with the lifting plate; a connecting shaft, slidably passing through the housing, with its two ends connected to the lifting shaft seat and the freeze-drying disc fork respectively, so that the lifting plate drives the freeze-drying disc fork to move; and a telescopic sleeve, sleeved on the connecting shaft, with one end of the telescopic sleeve sealed to the side of the lifting shaft seat facing the freeze-drying disc fork, and the other end of the telescopic sleeve sealed to the inner wall of the housing to seal the sliding fit gap between the connecting shaft and the housing.

2. The freeze-drying tray aseptic conveying device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The drive mechanism also includes: An active pulley is located on the outside of the housing and coaxially sleeved on the drive shaft so as to rotate synchronously with the drive shaft; The driven pulley is rotatably disposed on the outside of the housing, and the driven pulley is disposed opposite to the driving pulley to cooperate with the driving pulley to form a transmission circuit; A synchronous belt is wound around the driving pulley and the driven pulley to transmit power from the driving pulley to the driven pulley.

3. The freeze-drying tray aseptic conveying device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The transmission assembly further includes a transmission shaft, which is rotatably disposed within the housing and coaxially and fixedly connected to the output end of the second drive component. The eccentric wheel is sleeved on the drive shaft and is coaxially and fixedly connected to the drive shaft.

4. The freeze-drying tray aseptic conveying device according to claim 3, characterized in that, There are multiple eccentric wheels and multiple lifting forks, and each of the multiple eccentric wheels and multiple lifting forks is arranged in a one-to-one correspondence.

5. The freeze-drying tray aseptic conveying device according to claim 1, characterized in that, A first sliding engagement component is provided on the inner wall of the housing, and a second sliding engagement component is provided on the lifting plate. The first sliding engagement component and the second sliding engagement component are slidably engaged, thereby realizing the sliding connection between the lifting plate and the housing.

6. The freeze-drying tray aseptic conveying device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The power supply component includes: A battery is disposed within the housing to store electrical energy and output electrical energy to the drive mechanism and the lifting mechanism; A power switch is disposed on the housing and electrically connected to the battery to control the circuit connection between the battery and the drive mechanism and the lifting mechanism. A wireless charging receiver is disposed inside the housing and electrically connected to the battery to receive power from an external wireless charging transmitter and charge the battery. A wired charging port is provided on the housing and electrically connected to the battery so that the battery can be charged by an external wired charger; A charging seal is provided at the mating point between the wired charging port and the housing to seal the gap between the wired charging port and the housing.

7. A disk loading / unloading system, characterized in that, include: The aseptic conveying device for freeze-drying trays as described in any one of claims 1-6, thereby achieving aseptic conveying and handling of freeze-drying trays; A conveyor track assembly is positioned on a preset path and cooperates with the drive mechanism to provide movement guidance for the conveying device; A freeze-drying tray conveying mechanism is located at the starting end of the conveying track assembly to convey freeze-drying trays to be forked onto the conveying device.

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