Isolator single-row feeding and in-cabin spacing system

Abstract

The invention relates to a single-row feeding and in-cabin spacing system for isolators, and relates to the technical field of pharmaceutical production equipment. The system comprises an isolator, a single-branch conveying mechanism and a distance separation mechanism. A feeding hole is formed in the wall part of the isolator, and the opening outline of the feeding hole is matched with the outer outline of a single packing material; the single-branch conveying mechanism is used for sequentially conveying the packing materials into the isolator through the feeding port in a single-branch arrangement mode in the first direction; the distance separation mechanism is arranged in the isolator, is in butt joint with the single-branch conveying mechanism and is configured to arrange the single-branch input packing materials according to the preset distance in the second direction intersecting with the first direction. Single-row feeding is matched with in-cabin spacing recombination, so that the feeding caliber of the isolator is effectively reduced, internal and external gas exchange is limited to maintain in-cabin negative pressure stability, the risk of leakage of toxic substances is reduced, meanwhile, extrusion and blockage of a packing material are avoided, and the feeding requirement of a subsequent multi-head filling process is met.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of pharmaceutical equipment technology, and in particular to a single-row feeder and compartment separation system for an isolator. Background Technology

[0002] In the pharmaceutical and high-activity, high-toxicity drug filling processes, isolators are typically used to maintain a sterile and negative pressure environment in the core filling area to ensure product quality and operator safety. In traditional packaging material feeding processes, to match the subsequent multi-head filling process, the packaging material is usually pre-arranged horizontally in 5 or 10 rows outside the isolator, and then fed into the isolator as a whole through a rat hole in the side wall of the isolator.

[0003] However, this traditional multi-row integral feeding method has the following unavoidable drawbacks: In order to accommodate multiple rows of packaging materials passing through at the same time, the size of the feed port opening on the isolator must be too large. This large opening structure makes it extremely difficult to establish and maintain the gas pressure difference between the inside and outside of the isolator (such as between the filling area and the unpacking area); especially when producing products containing highly toxic or allergenic substances, the excessively large feed gap can easily cause toxic gases or aerosols inside the chamber to leak into the external environment, posing a serious safety hazard.

[0004] In addition, for some smaller packaging materials, squeezing and jamming can easily occur in the wide feeding channel, affecting production efficiency. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the aforementioned issues, this application provides a single-row feeder and compartment spacing system for isolators that minimizes the inlet diameter of the isolator while ensuring continuous multi-head filling.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the isolator single-row feeding and in-cabin separation system designed in this application includes: The isolator has a feed inlet on its wall, the opening profile and size of which are adapted to the outer profile of a single package material; A single-piece conveying mechanism is configured to sequentially convey packaging materials in a single-piece arrangement along a first direction through the feed inlet into the interior of the isolator. The separating mechanism is located inside the isolator and is spatially positioned corresponding to the output end of the single conveyor mechanism. The spacing mechanism is configured to arrange the packaging materials, which are individually fed into the feed port, at a preset spacing along a second direction different from the first direction.

[0007] Preferably, the wall of the isolator is detachably provided with a partition, and the feed inlet is opened on the partition.

[0008] Preferably, the partition is a replaceable modular structure, which is configured to be replaceable with a partition having a corresponding opening size according to different styles and specifications of packaging materials.

[0009] Preferably, the partition is detachably disposed inside the rat hole of the isolator to at least partially cover the rat hole and form the feed inlet.

[0010] Preferably, the edge shape of the inlet includes a clearance notch adapted to the shape of the bottle body and / or neck of the packaging material; when the packaging material passes through the inlet, a predetermined gap for restricting gas flow is formed between the outer wall of the packaging material and the inner edge of the inlet.

[0011] Preferably, the single conveying mechanism includes a feeding track that is inclined downward along the first direction, one end of the feeding track is located outside the isolator, and the other end extends into the feeding port and extends to the feeding area of ​​the spacing mechanism; the packaging material slides sequentially along the feeding track toward the feeding port under the action of gravity and / or thrust.

[0012] Preferably, the single conveying mechanism further includes a propulsion assembly disposed to the side and / or above the feed track, and the power output end of the propulsion assembly is configured to apply a conveying driving force to the single-row package material along the first direction.

[0013] Preferably, the spacing mechanism includes a spacing positioning comb plate and a translation drive assembly; the sidewall of the spacing positioning comb plate is provided with a plurality of positioning grooves spaced apart along the second direction, the inner wall contour of the positioning groove is adapted to the outer wall of the packaging material, and the center distance between two adjacent positioning grooves is equal to the preset spacing; the translation drive assembly is connected to the spacing positioning comb plate and is configured to drive the spacing positioning comb plate to perform intermittent translational movement along the second direction, so that the single packaging materials output sequentially through the feed port enter the corresponding positioning groove one by one.

[0014] Preferably, the spacing positioning comb plate is detachably mounted to the power output end of the translation drive assembly via quick-release fasteners, so as to serve as a replaceable spacing module to replace packaging materials with different outer diameter specifications.

[0015] Preferably, the translation drive assembly includes a drive motor, a translation guide shaft arranged along the second direction, a movable seat slidably sleeved on the translation guide shaft, and a synchronous belt drive mechanism; the power output end of the drive motor is connected to the movable seat through the synchronous belt drive mechanism to drive the movable seat to reciprocate along the translation guide shaft in the second direction; the spacing positioning comb plate is detachably mounted on the movable seat through the quick-release fastener.

[0016] The isolator single-row feeding and in-chamber spacing system designed in this application reduces the inlet's contact area by feeding the packaging material into the isolator in single pieces and matching the inlet profile with the outer profile of each individual packaging material. This structure restricts gas exchange between the inside and outside of the isolator, ensuring a stable internal negative pressure environment and regional pressure difference, and reducing the risk of toxic substance leakage. Simultaneously, the in-chamber spacing mechanism converts the single-piece input packaging material into multiple rows arranged at preset intervals. This avoids packaging material compression and jamming in the channel while meeting the feeding requirements of multi-head filling processes, balancing equipment sealing safety and production continuity. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the isolator single-row feeding and in-cabin spacing system provided in the embodiments of this application. Figure 1 .

[0018] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Enlarged diagram of point A in the middle.

[0019] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the isolator single-row feeding and in-cabin spacing system provided in the embodiments of this application. Figure 2 .

[0020] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 Enlarged diagram of point B in the middle.

[0021] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the single conveying mechanism and the spacing mechanism provided in the embodiment of this application.

[0022] Figure 6 This is an exploded view of the translation drive component provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0023] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the operation of the spacing and positioning comb plate provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0024] Among them: isolator 10, rat hole 11, feed inlet 20, clearance notch 21, partition 50, single conveyor mechanism 30, feed track 31, separation mechanism 40, separation positioning comb plate 41, positioning groove 411, translation drive assembly 42, drive motor 421, translation guide shaft 422, moving seat 423, synchronous belt drive mechanism 424, first direction F1, second direction F2. Detailed Implementation

[0025] The preferred embodiments of this application are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the preferred embodiments described herein are for illustration and explanation only and are not intended to limit this application.

[0026] The isolator single-row feeding and in-chamber spacing system described in this embodiment is mainly used in multi-head filling production lines for pharmaceuticals and highly active drugs. For example... Figures 1 to 7 As shown, the system mainly includes an isolator 10, a single conveying mechanism 30, and a spacing mechanism 40. The components work together to form an overall structure in which the packaging material is conveyed in an orderly manner from the outside of the isolator to the inside and is arranged in a spacing manner.

[0027] Specifically, the isolator 10, as a protective device for isolating the production environment, has an inlet 20 on its wall. The inlet 20 forms a channel for the packaging material to enter the isolator 10, essentially a "rat hole." To reduce gas exchange between the internal and external environments of the isolator 10, the opening profile and size of the inlet 20 are designed to match the outer profile of a single piece of packaging material. This allows the packaging material to pass smoothly through the inlet 20 individually while creating a controlled gap between the outer wall of the packaging material and the inner wall of the inlet 20. Through this structural design, the inlet 20, while fulfilling the function of feeding packaging material, reduces the effective opening area of ​​the isolator 10 wall, structurally restricting gas flow between the inside and outside of the isolator 10. This helps maintain a negative pressure state inside the isolator 10 and reduces the risk of harmful substances spreading to the external environment.

[0028] In this embodiment, the single-piece conveying mechanism 30 is configured to sequentially convey packaging materials along the first direction F1 in a single-piece arrangement through the feed inlet 20 into the interior of the isolator 10. The spacing mechanism 40 is located inside the isolator 10 and is spatially positioned corresponding to the output end of the single-piece conveying mechanism 30. During equipment operation, the single-piece conveying mechanism 30 feeds the packaging materials one by one into the isolator 10 according to a predetermined rhythm. The spacing mechanism 40 receives the packaging materials input in a single-piece arrangement through the feed inlet 20 and, according to the requirements of subsequent processes, arranges the packaging materials at a preset interval along a second direction F2, which is different from the first direction F1. This completes the conversion from single-row feeding to multi-row arrangement inside the isolator 10, satisfying the requirements of the multi-head filling process for the packaging material arrangement. In this embodiment, the second direction F2 is perpendicular to the first direction F1 to achieve effective spatial turning and spacing arrangement.

[0029] In some embodiments, such as Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 As shown, a partition 50 is detachably installed on the wall of the isolator 10 to address the original large opening, i.e., the rat hole 11, in the wall of the isolator 10. The feed inlet 20 is opened on the partition 50. After the partition 50 is installed inside the rat hole 11, it covers most of the area of ​​the rat hole 11, forming only the feed inlet 20 on the partition 50 that matches the outer contour of a single packaging material. Thus, without changing the overall structure of the isolator 10, the opening size of the packaging material feed channel is effectively reduced, making it suitable for the renovation of old production lines.

[0030] In some embodiments, in order to adapt to the feeding requirements of different batches or different specifications of packaging materials, the partition 50 adopts a replaceable modular structure. That is, by replacing the partition 50 with a different opening profile and size, such as replacing the partition 50 with a feed port 20 whose opening profile corresponds to the shape of a vial or pre-filled needle, the feed port 20 can be adapted to the corresponding specifications of packaging materials. This ensures that a single packaging material passes through smoothly while maintaining a controlled gap at the feed port 20, thereby improving the system's adaptability to different packaging material specifications.

[0031] In some preferred embodiments, a negative pressure chamber is provided at the installation location of the rat hole 11, i.e., the partition 50, and the negative pressure chamber is arranged in the thickness direction of the wall of the isolator 10. During equipment operation, the negative pressure chamber continuously evacuates the channel area where the rat hole 11 is located, maintaining the area in a negative pressure state, thereby forming a stable airflow barrier around the feed inlet 20, further suppressing the diffusion of gas inside the isolator 10 to the external environment.

[0032] In some embodiments, such as Figure 2 , Figure 4 As shown, the edge shape of the inlet 20 is machined with clearance notches 21 that are adapted to the shape of the bottle body and / or neck of the packaging material. When the packaging material passes through the inlet 20 driven by the single conveyor mechanism 30, a predetermined gap is formed between the outer wall of the packaging material and the inner edge of the inlet 20. This predetermined gap is controlled within a range that only allows the packaging material to pass smoothly, thereby restricting the flow of gas while satisfying the feeding function, in order to work with the aforementioned negative pressure structure to maintain the environmental stability inside the isolator 10.

[0033] In some embodiments, such as Figure 4 , Figure 5 As shown, the single conveying mechanism 30 includes a feeding track 31 inclined downwards along a first direction F1. The feeding end of the feeding track 31 is located outside the isolator 10, and its discharge end passes through the feeding port 20 and extends to the feeding area of ​​the separating mechanism 40. Under the action of gravity and / or the thrust of subsequent packaging materials, the packaging material moves sequentially along the feeding track 31 toward the feeding port 20 and enters the interior of the isolator 10. In this embodiment, by setting the feeding track 31 to a downwardly inclined structure, the packaging material can be conveyed by its own gravity, thereby reducing the need for active drive components inside the isolator 10, reducing the possibility of particulate matter being generated during the operation of the power components, and helping to maintain a clean environment inside the isolator 10.

[0034] In some embodiments, to improve the continuity and stability of the packaging material conveying process, the single conveying mechanism 30 is further provided with a propulsion assembly (not shown). The propulsion assembly is arranged to the side and / or above the feed track 31, and its power output end is configured to apply a conveying driving force to the single-row arranged packaging materials along the first direction F1 to assist the packaging materials in moving forward along the feed track 31. In specific implementations, the propulsion assembly can adopt a pneumatic push rod structure or a vibration structure coupled to the surface of the feed track 31. By applying high-frequency micro-amplitude vibration, the frictional resistance between the packaging materials and the feed track 31 is reduced, allowing the packaging materials to slide down more smoothly. In addition, in the continuous feeding state, the subsequent packaging materials entering the feed track 31 exert a pushing effect on the preceding packaging materials, and this pushing effect can also serve as a conveying driving force for the packaging materials to move along the first direction F1.

[0035] In some embodiments, such as Figure 3 , Figure 5 , Figure 6 As shown, the spacing mechanism 40 mainly includes a spacing positioning comb plate 41 and a translation drive assembly 42. The sidewall of the spacing positioning comb plate 41 is provided with multiple positioning slots 411 spaced apart along the second direction F2. The inner wall contour of each positioning slot 411 matches the outer wall curvature of the packaging material, and the center distance between two adjacent positioning slots 411 corresponds to the preset spacing required for the subsequent multi-head filling process. The translation drive assembly 42 is connected to the spacing positioning comb plate 41 and is configured to drive the spacing positioning comb plate 41 to perform intermittent translational movement along the second direction F2. During equipment operation, when a packaging material is output from the feeding track 31 and enters the currently aligned positioning slot 411, the translation drive assembly 42 drives the spacing positioning comb plate 41 to move one preset step distance along the second direction F2, aligning the next empty positioning slot 411 with the output end of the feeding track 31. This process is repeated until the spacing positioning comb plate 41 carries a predetermined number of packaging materials, thereby completing the spacing arrangement of the packaging materials inside the isolator 10.

[0036] In some embodiments, such as Figure 6 , Figure 7 As shown, to accommodate the specification switching of the front partition 50, the spacing positioning comb plate 41 is detachably installed on the power output end of the translation drive assembly 42 using quick-release fasteners such as hand-tightening screws. As a replaceable spacing module, when the outer diameter specification or arrangement spacing of the packaging material changes, the spacing mechanism 40 can be adapted to different packaging materials by disassembling and replacing it with a spacing positioning comb plate 41 that matches the new packaging material specification, without needing to adjust the main structure of the translation drive assembly 42.

[0037] In specific implementation, such as Figure 6As shown, the specific transmission structure of the translation drive assembly 42 includes a drive motor 421, a translation guide shaft 422 arranged along the second direction F2, a movable seat 423 slidably sleeved on the translation guide shaft 422, and a synchronous belt drive mechanism 424. The drive motor 421 is fixedly installed on a base inside the isolator 10, and its power output end is connected to the movable seat 423 through the synchronous belt drive mechanism 424. When the drive motor 421 rotates forward and reverse, it drives the synchronous belt drive mechanism 424 to operate, thereby pulling the movable seat 423 to perform high-precision reciprocating sliding along the translation guide shaft 422 in the second direction F2. The aforementioned spacing and positioning comb plate 41 is securely and detachably installed on the movable seat 423 by quick-release fasteners, and performs intermittent bottle cutting and spacing actions synchronously with the movable seat 423.

[0038] The isolator single-row feeding and in-chamber spacing system provided in this application embodiment feeds the packaging material into the isolator in single pieces, and adapts the outline of the feed inlet to the outer outline of the single packaging material, thereby reducing the communication area of ​​the feed inlet. This structure restricts gas exchange between the inside and outside of the isolator, ensuring the stability of the internal negative pressure environment and regional pressure difference, and reducing the risk of toxic substance leakage. At the same time, the in-chamber spacing mechanism converts the single-input packaging material into multiple rows arranged at preset intervals, meeting the feeding requirements of multi-head filling processes while avoiding the packaging material being squeezed and jammed in the channel, and taking into account both the sealing safety of the equipment and the continuity of production.

[0039] In the description of this application, it should be noted that the terms "vertical", "up", "down", "horizontal", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this application.

[0040] In the description of this application, it should also be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "set," "install," "connect," and "link" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0041] Finally, it should be noted that the above descriptions are merely preferred embodiments of this application and are not intended to limit this application. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art can still modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments or make equivalent substitutions for some of the technical features. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A single-row feeding and in-cabin spacing system for an isolator, characterized in that, include: The isolator has a feed inlet on its wall, the opening profile and size of which are adapted to the outer profile of a single package material; A single-piece conveying mechanism is configured to sequentially convey packaging materials in a single-piece arrangement along a first direction through the feed inlet into the interior of the isolator. The separating mechanism is located inside the isolator and is spatially positioned corresponding to the output end of the single conveyor mechanism. The spacing mechanism is configured to arrange the packaging materials, which are individually fed into the feed port, at a preset spacing along a second direction different from the first direction.

2. The isolator single-row feeding and in-cabin spacing system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The isolator wall is detachably provided with a partition, and the feed inlet is opened on the partition.

3. The isolator single-row feeding and in-cabin spacing system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The partition is a replaceable modular structure, configured to be replaced with a partition having a corresponding opening size according to different styles and specifications of packaging materials.

4. The isolator single-row feeding and in-cabin spacing system according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, The partition is detachably installed inside the rat hole of the isolator to at least partially cover the rat hole and form the feed inlet.

5. The isolator single-row feeding and in-cabin spacing system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The edge shape of the inlet includes a clearance notch adapted to the shape of the bottle body and / or neck of the packaging material; when the packaging material passes through the inlet, a predetermined gap is formed between the outer wall of the packaging material and the inner edge of the inlet to restrict gas flow.

6. The isolator single-row feeding and in-cabin spacing system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The single conveying mechanism includes a feeding track that is inclined downward along the first direction. One end of the feeding track is located outside the isolator, and the other end extends into the feeding port and extends to the feeding area of ​​the spacing mechanism. The packaging material slides sequentially along the feeding track toward the feeding port under the action of gravity and / or thrust.

7. The isolator single-row feeding and in-cabin spacing system according to claim 6, characterized in that, The single conveying mechanism further includes a propulsion assembly located to the side and / or above the feed track, and the power output end of the propulsion assembly is configured to apply a conveying driving force to the single-row package material along the first direction.

8. The isolator single-row feeding and in-cabin spacing system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The spacing mechanism includes a spacing positioning comb plate and a translation drive assembly; the sidewall of the spacing positioning comb plate is provided with a plurality of positioning grooves spaced apart along the second direction, the inner wall contour of the positioning groove is adapted to the outer wall of the packaging material, and the center distance between two adjacent positioning grooves is equal to the preset spacing; the translation drive assembly is connected to the spacing positioning comb plate and is configured to drive the spacing positioning comb plate to perform intermittent translational movement along the second direction, so that the single packaging materials output sequentially through the feed port enter the corresponding positioning groove one by one.

9. The isolator single-row feeding and in-cabin spacing system according to claim 8, characterized in that, The spacing positioning comb plate is detachably mounted to the power output end of the translation drive assembly via quick-release fasteners, serving as a replaceable spacing module to match packaging materials with different outer diameter specifications.

10. The isolator single-row feeding and in-cabin spacing system according to claim 9, characterized in that, The translation drive assembly includes a drive motor, a translation guide shaft arranged along the second direction, a movable seat slidably sleeved on the translation guide shaft, and a synchronous belt drive mechanism; the power output end of the drive motor is connected to the movable seat through the synchronous belt drive mechanism to drive the movable seat to reciprocate along the translation guide shaft in the second direction. The spacing positioning comb plate is detachably mounted on the movable base via the quick-release fastener.

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