Instant drying device and method for low temperature vial product at room temperature labeling

Abstract

This invention discloses an instant drying device and method for labeling low-temperature vials at room temperature, relating to the field of product labeling technology. It includes a bottle-feeding conveyor belt and at least one side of a grid. The conveyor belt transports vials transferred from low-temperature storage to room temperature to the labeling machine. The grid is located on one or both sides of the conveyor belt, at least one of which is a hollow structure. The side of the hollow grid closest to the conveyor belt facing the vial surface has several evenly distributed air vents, and the side of the hollow grid away from the conveyor belt has at least one air inlet. Compressed air enters the corresponding grid through the air inlet and is ejected from the air vents, instantly drying the surface of the vials passing through it. This invention fundamentally solves the problems of bottle squeezing, bottle bursting, and poor label adhesion caused by condensation, increasing the labeling pass rate to over 99%.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of product labeling technology, and more specifically to the field of instant drying device and method for labeling low-temperature vials at room temperature. Background Technology

[0002] Taking biological products as an example, products packaged in vials typically need to be stored at low temperatures (2–8°C), while labeling is usually performed at room temperature (18–26°C). According to domestic and international Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and related regulations, the time required for biological products to be transferred from a low-temperature environment to a room-temperature environment must be validated to ensure that the impact of temperature changes on product quality is within acceptable limits.

[0003] However, when vials are transferred from the low-temperature zone to the room-temperature zone, their surface temperature is lower than the air dew point temperature, causing water vapor in the air to condense on the vial walls, forming water mist. If these vials are fed directly into the labeling machine without proper treatment, the following problems may occur: the wet, slippery vials increase friction, making them prone to squeezing or bursting; labels may not adhere firmly, resulting in misalignment, wrinkling, or detachment; labeling efficiency decreases, and equipment failure rate increases; labeling time is prolonged, potentially causing products to exceed the temperature exposure verification time, affecting product safety and efficacy.

[0004] In existing technologies, a common practice is to remove the vials from the low-temperature zone beforehand, place them at room temperature for a period of time, and allow the surface water vapor to evaporate naturally before labeling. This method has the following drawbacks: It takes a long time and affects production efficiency.

[0005] The inability to precisely control the drying time can easily lead to the product being exposed beyond its designated time.

[0006] It requires additional production space and increases management difficulty.

[0007] In humid environments, natural evaporation has limited effectiveness, resulting in incomplete drying.

[0008] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a device and method that can instantly dry the condensed water mist on the surface of vials during the labeling process, so as to improve labeling efficiency and product quality. Summary of the Invention

[0009] The purpose of this invention is to solve the above-mentioned technical problems by providing an instant drying device for labeling low-temperature vials at room temperature.

[0010] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention specifically adopts the following technical solution: One aspect of the present invention provides an instant drying device for labeling low-temperature vials at room temperature, comprising: The bottle inlet conveyor belt is used to transport vials that have been stored at low temperatures to the room temperature area to the labeling machine; At least one side of the screen is provided on one or both sides of the bottle inlet conveyor belt. At least one screen is hollow. The side of the hollow screen facing the bottle inlet conveyor belt has several air outlets evenly distributed on the side facing the bottle surface. The side of the hollow screen away from the bottle inlet conveyor belt has at least one air inlet. Compressed air enters the corresponding screen through the air inlet and is sprayed out through each air outlet to dry the surface of the bottle passing by. The inner side of the hollow structure of the grid is an arc-shaped surface adapted to the delivery trajectory of the vial, and each air outlet faces the vial body to ensure that the airflow can accurately sweep the surface of the vial.

[0011] Specifically, the instant drying device disclosed in this solution is seamlessly connected to the bottle inlet of the labeling machine, and the vials immediately enter the labeling process after the surface drying is completed during the transportation process.

[0012] In one embodiment, there are two hollow structure grids, which are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the bottle inlet conveyor belt. Several air outlets on the two hollow structure grids are arranged in a rectangular array or staggered along the bottle conveying direction.

[0013] In one embodiment, there is one hollow structure grid, which is set on one side of the bottle inlet conveyor belt. Several air outlets on the hollow structure grid are arranged alternately, uniformly in a rectangular array, or uniformly in a straight line along the bottle conveying direction.

[0014] In one embodiment, the air inlet is connected to a compressed air source via a compressed air pipe with a diameter of 8 mm. The compressed air pipe is equipped with a manual or automatic control switch and a filter. The manual or automatic control switch is connected to the corresponding air inlet.

[0015] Specifically, one end of the compressed air pipe is sealed and connected to the air inlet of the hollow stainless steel grille, while the other end is connected to an industrial compressed air source. The φ8mm diameter of the compressed air pipe is adapted to the delivery flow rate of the compressed air, ensuring uniform air output from multiple outlets. A manual or automatic control switch is located on the compressed air pipe to adjust and control the output pressure of the compressed air to 0.2MPa-0.6MPa, preventing excessive pressure from causing the vial to tip over and insufficient pressure from preventing rapid drying. A filter is located between the manual or automatic control switch and the air inlet to filter moisture and impurities in the compressed air, preventing impurities from contaminating the vial and preventing moisture from being sprayed out with the airflow and forming water mist on the vial again.

[0016] In one embodiment, a photoelectric detection device is installed downstream of the hollow structure's grid (near the labeling station) to detect water mist on the surface of the vials. The photoelectric detection device includes a light source and a receiver, and uses the light scattering characteristics of water mist to determine whether the vial surface is dry.

[0017] The photoelectric detection device is electrically connected to the automatic control switch on the compressed air pipe. The photoelectric detection device monitors the surface condition of the vials passing through the drying area in real time and transmits the detection signal to the control system. The control system uses a PID algorithm to dynamically adjust the compressed air pressure according to the degree of water mist residue, realizing closed-loop control of the drying process. The compressed air pressure in the compressed air pipe is automatically adjusted according to the detection results. When residual water mist is detected on the surface of some vials, the compressed air pressure in the compressed air pipe is automatically increased. When the drying is detected to be good, the compressed air pressure in the compressed air pipe is automatically reduced to save energy.

[0018] Specifically, this solution adds online detection and feedback control functions for drying effect. For example, when the ambient temperature rises and the humidity decreases, the water mist on the surface of the vials decreases, and the control system automatically reduces the compressed air pressure to 0.2–0.25 MPa; when the ambient humidity increases or the vials are taken out of the cold storage at a low temperature, the water mist increases, and the control system automatically increases the pressure to 0.5–0.6 MPa to ensure that the optimal drying effect is always achieved.

[0019] This solution enables intelligent control of the drying process, maximizing energy savings and reducing operating costs while ensuring effective drying. Simultaneously, the online monitoring function can promptly detect drying anomalies, preventing defective products from flowing into the next process and improving the controllability of product quality.

[0020] In one embodiment, each air outlet of the hollow structure grid is provided with an adjustable nozzle. The nozzle is connected to the hollow structure grid through a ball joint or threaded structure, and the airflow spray angle can be adjusted according to the specifications of the vial and the surface water mist condition. The photoelectric detection device monitors the surface condition of vials passing through the drying area in real time and transmits the detection signal to the control system. The control system uses a PID algorithm to dynamically adjust the angle of each nozzle according to the degree of water mist residue.

[0021] In one embodiment, the spacing between two adjacent vents on the same hollow structure is 2-4 times the diameter of the vial, the diameter of each vent is 2 mm, and the shape of each vent is 1.5 mm to 3 mm; the shape of the vent is one of circular, elliptical or oblong.

[0022] Specifically, the vent has a diameter of φ2mm, and several vents are arranged at equal intervals along the direction of the bottle outlet, with a spacing of 3 times the diameter of the vial. The number of vents is set according to the conveying length of the inlet conveyor belt. The core requirement is to ensure that when vials are conveyed at a speed of 350-400 vials / minute, the surface condensate water mist is dried within the conveying channel.

[0023] In one embodiment, the pressure of the compressed air is 0.2 MPa-0.6 MPa.

[0024] In one embodiment, the fence is made of stainless steel, which has corrosion resistance and structural stability.

[0025] A second aspect of the present invention provides an instant drying method for labeling low-temperature vials at room temperature, using the aforementioned instant drying apparatus for labeling low-temperature vials at room temperature, comprising the following steps: S1. Turn on the manual or automatic control switch of the compressed air supply component, adjust the output pressure of the compressed air to 0.2MPa-0.6MPa, and the compressed air enters the hollow cavity of the hollow structure grid after being filtered through the air pipe, and finally sprays out evenly and stably from the air outlet on the inner side. S2. Vials stored at low temperature of 2-8℃ are directly transferred from the low temperature storage area to the inlet conveyor belt without prior drying. The vials move in the inlet conveyor belt at an industrial production speed of 350-400 vials / minute. S4. The photoelectric detection device monitors the surface condition of vials passing through the drying area in real time and transmits the detection signal to the control system. The control system uses a PID algorithm to dynamically adjust the compressed air pressure and nozzle angle according to the degree of water mist residue. S3. During the transport of vials, the surface of the vial comes into full contact with the airflow from the vent. The condensed water vapor evaporates rapidly under the blowing of the airflow. When most of the vials pass through the vent in the middle of the transport channel, the water vapor on the surface is completely dried, which takes about 4 seconds. When all the vials pass through the entire inlet conveyor belt, the water vapor on the surface is completely dried, with a total drying time of about 8 seconds. S4. After immediate drying, the vials are directly fed into the labeling station of the round bottle labeling machine to complete the labeling operation. The labeled vials can then be directly processed for subsequent packaging.

[0026] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: 1. This invention provides rapid and immediate drying, solving the core problem of condensation and water mist: This device uses compressed air to achieve drying. When vials are transported at a rate of 350-400 vials / minute, the surface condensation and water mist can be completely dried in just 4-8 seconds. The drying efficiency is far higher than the existing natural air-drying method, fundamentally solving the problems of bottle squeezing, bottle bursting, and poor label adhesion caused by condensation and water mist, and increasing the labeling qualification rate to over 99%.

[0027] 2. This solution achieves intelligent control of the drying process, maximizing energy savings and reducing operating costs while ensuring drying effectiveness. Simultaneously, the online detection function can promptly identify drying anomalies, preventing defective products from flowing into the next process and improving the controllability of product quality.

[0028] 3. No additional steps required, controllable room temperature exposure time: The drying process is carried out simultaneously with the transport of vials. Low-temperature vials can be directly transported from the low-temperature storage area to the labeling machine's inlet conveyor belt, eliminating the need for pre-drying, manual transfer, or other additional steps. The exposure time of vials at room temperature is only the necessary time for drying and labeling, fully complying with domestic and international regulations on the verification requirements for room temperature exposure time of biological products. This avoids quality risks caused by temperature changes in biological products from the source, ensuring the safety and effectiveness of biological products.

[0029] 4. Seamless integration with labeling machines, suitable for continuous industrial production: This device is an integrated modification of the bottle feeding conveyor belt of the labeling machine, requiring no additional equipment floor space and no need to change the layout and operation rhythm of the original labeling production line. It can adapt to the continuous industrial production speed of 350-400 bottles / minute, achieving seamless connection of "conveying-drying-labeling" and greatly improving production efficiency.

[0030] 5. Low modification cost and easy maintenance: This device only requires replacing the original grid of the labeling machine with a hollow stainless steel grid and adding a simple compressed air supply component. The modification cost is far lower than the cost of purchasing a dedicated drying equipment. The core components of the device are made of stainless steel and general pneumatic components. There are no precision or easily damaged parts. Daily maintenance only requires cleaning the air outlet and replacing the filter. The maintenance is simple and the operating cost is low.

[0031] 6. Meets the clean requirements of pharmaceutical production and prevents secondary pollution: The hollow stainless steel fence is corrosion-resistant and easy to clean, meeting the GMP clean environment requirements for pharmaceutical production; the compressed air supply component is equipped with a filter to effectively filter moisture and impurities in the air, avoiding secondary pollution of the vials during the airflow purging process and ensuring the cleanliness of the product packaging.

[0032] 7. Simple operation and reduced labor costs: This device only requires the operator to turn on the manual or automatic control switch and adjust it to the set pressure. No additional manual operation is required. It replaces the manual transfer and sorting processes in the existing drying method, which greatly reduces labor costs. At the same time, it avoids the problem of bottle collision and breakage caused by manual operation and reduces product loss.

[0033] 8. Controllable drying effect, compatible with different sizes of vials: This device can change the compressed air pressure by adjusting the manual or automatic control switch. At the same time, the spacing, number and direction of the air outlet can be adjusted according to the diameter and height of the vial. It is compatible with standard vials of different sizes such as 2ml, 5ml, and 10ml. The drying effect is stable and controllable, and it has strong versatility.

[0034] 9. No energy waste, energy saving and environmental protection: The pressure of compressed air can be precisely adjusted to 0.2-0.6MPa according to production needs. It is only turned on during labeling production. The airflow only acts on the vial conveying channel, with no extra energy consumption. Compared with hot air drying and other methods, it is more energy-saving and environmentally friendly, and avoids the temperature impact of hot air on biological products. Attached Figure Description

[0035] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the accompanying drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. It should be understood that the following drawings only show some embodiments of the present invention and should not be regarded as a limitation of the scope. For those skilled in the art, other related drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

[0036] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the instant drying device for labeling low-temperature vials at room temperature.

[0037] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a structure with a nozzle on the air outlet.

[0038] Reference numerals: 1. Vial; 2. Automatic control switch; 3. Compressed air pipe; 4. Air outlet; 5. Fence. Detailed Implementation

[0039] To make the technical problems, technical solutions, and technical effects of the present invention clearer, 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. The components of the embodiments of the present invention described and shown in the accompanying drawings can generally be arranged and designed in various different configurations.

[0040] Therefore, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the invention provided in the accompanying drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention, but merely to illustrate selected embodiments of the invention. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the invention without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of the invention.

[0041] It should be noted that similar reference numerals and letters in the following figures indicate similar items; therefore, once an item is defined in one figure, it does not need to be further defined and explained in subsequent figures. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," etc., are used only to distinguish descriptions and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0042] In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted that the terms "inner", "outer", "upper", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, or the orientation or positional relationship in which the product of the invention is usually placed when in use. They are only for the convenience of describing the present invention 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 limiting the present invention.

[0043] Example 1 like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, this embodiment provides an instant drying device for labeling low-temperature vials at room temperature, including an inlet conveyor belt and at least one side railing 5; The inlet conveyor belt is used to transport vials 1, which have been stored at low temperature and then transferred to room temperature, to the labeling machine. The grid 5 is set on one or both sides of the inlet conveyor belt. At least one grid 5 is hollow. The hollow grid 5 has several air outlets 4 evenly distributed on the side facing the surface of the vial 1 near the inlet conveyor belt. The hollow grid 5 is provided with at least one air inlet on the side away from the inlet conveyor belt. Compressed air enters the interior of the corresponding grid 5 through the air inlet and is sprayed out through each air outlet 4 to dry the surface of the vial 1 in real time. The inner side of the hollow structure of the grid 5 is an arc-shaped surface that is adapted to the conveying trajectory of the vial 1, and each air outlet 4 faces the body of the vial 1 to ensure that the airflow can accurately sweep the surface of the vial.

[0044] Specifically, the instant drying device disclosed in this solution is seamlessly connected to the bottle inlet of the labeling machine, and the vial 1 enters the labeling process immediately after the surface is dried during the transportation process.

[0045] There are two hollow structure grids 5, which are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the bottle inlet conveyor belt. Several air outlets 4 on the two hollow structure grids 5 are arranged in a rectangular array or staggered along the conveying direction of the vial 1.

[0046] There is one hollow structure grid 5. The hollow structure grid 5 is set on one side of the bottle inlet conveyor belt. Several air outlets 4 on the hollow structure grid 5 are arranged alternately, uniformly in a rectangular array, or uniformly in a straight line along the conveying direction of the vial 1.

[0047] The air inlet is connected to the compressed air source through the compressed air pipe 3. The diameter of the compressed air pipe 3 is 8mm. The compressed air pipe 3 is equipped with a manual or automatic control switch 2 and a filter. The manual or automatic control switch 2 is connected to the corresponding air inlet.

[0048] Specifically, one end of the compressed air pipe 3 is sealed and connected to the air inlet of the hollow stainless steel grid 5, and the other end is connected to an industrial compressed air source. The φ8mm diameter of the compressed air pipe 3 is adapted to the delivery flow rate of the compressed air, so as to meet the uniform air output of multiple air outlets 4. The manual or automatic control switch 2 is set on the compressed air pipe 3 to adjust and control the output pressure of the compressed air to 0.2MPa-0.6MPa, so as to avoid the vial 1 from tipping over due to excessive pressure and the inability to achieve rapid drying due to insufficient pressure. The filter is set between the manual or automatic control switch 2 and the air inlet to filter the moisture and impurities in the compressed air, so as to avoid the impurities from contaminating the vial 1, and at the same time prevent the moisture from being sprayed out with the airflow and forming water mist on the bottle body again.

[0049] A photoelectric detection device is installed downstream of the hollow structure grid 5 (near the labeling station) to detect the water mist on the surface of the vial 1. The photoelectric detection device includes a light source and a receiver, and uses the light scattering characteristics of water mist to determine whether the surface of the vial is dry.

[0050] The photoelectric detection device is electrically connected to the automatic control switch 2 on the compressed air pipe 3. The photoelectric detection device monitors the surface condition of the vials 1 passing through the drying area in real time and transmits the detection signal to the control system. The control system adopts a PID algorithm to dynamically adjust the compressed air pressure according to the degree of water mist residue, thereby realizing closed-loop control of the drying process. The compressed air pressure in the compressed air pipe 3 is automatically adjusted according to the detection results. When residual water mist is detected on the surface of some vials 1, the compressed air pressure in the compressed air pipe 3 is automatically increased. When the drying is detected to be good, the compressed air pressure in the compressed air pipe 3 is automatically reduced to save energy.

[0051] Specifically, this solution adds online detection and feedback control functions for drying effect. For example, when the ambient temperature rises and the humidity decreases, the water mist on the surface of vial 1 decreases, and the control system automatically reduces the compressed air pressure to 0.2–0.25 MPa; when the ambient humidity increases or the temperature of vial 1 is low after being removed from the cold storage, the water mist increases, and the control system automatically increases the pressure to 0.5–0.6 MPa to ensure that the optimal drying effect is always achieved.

[0052] This solution enables intelligent control of the drying process, maximizing energy savings and reducing operating costs while ensuring effective drying. Simultaneously, the online monitoring function can promptly detect drying anomalies, preventing defective products from flowing into the next process and improving the controllability of product quality.

[0053] Each air outlet 4 of the hollow structure grid 5 is equipped with an adjustable nozzle. The nozzle is connected to the hollow structure grid 5 through a ball joint or threaded structure, and the airflow spray angle can be adjusted according to the specifications of the vial 1 and the surface water mist condition. The photoelectric detection device monitors the surface condition of vial 1 after passing through the drying zone in real time and transmits the detection signal to the control system. The control system uses a PID algorithm to dynamically adjust the angle of each nozzle according to the degree of water mist residue.

[0054] The spacing between two adjacent air vents 4 on the same hollow structure grid 5 is 2-4 times the diameter of the vial 1. The diameter of each air vent 4 is 2mm, and the diameter of each air vent 4 is 1.5mm to 3mm. The shape of the air vent 4 is one of circular, elliptical or oblong.

[0055] Specifically, the diameter of the vent 4 is φ2mm. Several vent 4 are arranged at equal intervals along the direction of the bottle outlet, with the interval being 3 times the diameter of the vial 1. The number of vent 4 is set according to the conveying length of the bottle inlet conveyor belt. The core requirement is to ensure that when the vial 1 is conveyed at a speed of 350 to 400 bottles / minute, the surface condensate water mist drying is completed in the conveying channel.

[0056] The pressure of the compressed air is 0.2MPa-0.6MPa.

[0057] Fence 5 is made of stainless steel, which has corrosion resistance and structural stability.

[0058] Example 2 This embodiment provides an immediate drying method for labeling low-temperature vials at room temperature, using the aforementioned immediate drying device for labeling low-temperature vials at room temperature, including the following steps: S1. Turn on the manual or automatic control switch 2 of the compressed air supply component, adjust the output pressure of the compressed air to 0.2MPa-0.6MPa, and the compressed air enters the hollow cavity of the hollow structure grid 5 after being filtered through the air pipe, and finally sprays out evenly and stably from the air outlet 4 on the inner side. S2. The vials 1 stored at a low temperature of 2-8℃ are directly transferred from the low temperature storage area to the inlet conveyor belt without prior drying. The vials 1 move in the inlet conveyor belt at an industrial production speed of 350-400 vials / minute. S4. The photoelectric detection device monitors the surface condition of vial 1 after passing through the drying area in real time and transmits the detection signal to the control system. The control system adopts the PID algorithm to dynamically adjust the compressed air pressure and the nozzle angle according to the degree of water mist residue. S3. During the conveying process, the surface of the vial 1 comes into full contact with the airflow sprayed from the vent 4. The condensed water mist evaporates quickly under the blowing of the airflow. When most of the vials 1 pass through the vent 4 in the middle of the conveying channel, the surface water mist has been dried, which takes about 4 seconds. When all the vials 1 pass through the entire inlet conveyor belt, the surface water mist is completely dried, and the total drying time is about 8 seconds. S4. After being dried immediately, vial 1 is directly fed into the labeling station of the round bottle labeling machine to complete the labeling operation. After labeling, vial 1 can be directly carried out in the subsequent packaging process.

[0059] Example 2 This embodiment is a further optimization based on Embodiment 1. The fabrication and assembly of the instant drying device for labeling low-temperature vials at room temperature is as follows: Fabrication of the hollow stainless steel grid 5: 304 stainless steel is selected. Based on the length and width of the bottle conveyor belt of the labeling machine, the hollow stainless steel grid 5 is fabricated. The overall length of the grid 5 is 1.2m, matching the conveying length of the bottle conveyor belt. The inner side of the grid 5 is an arc-shaped surface, with the arc radius matching the radius of the 2ml standard vial 1 (the diameter of the 2ml vial 1 is approximately 12mm, and the arc radius is set to 6.5mm), ensuring that the vial 1 fits snugly against the arc surface during transport, allowing for comprehensive airflow. An air inlet with a diameter of φ8mm is opened on the outer side of the inlet end of the grid 5 as a compressed air input port. On the inner arc-shaped surface of the grid 5, 20 φ2mm air outlets 4 are evenly spaced along the outlet end direction, with a spacing of 36mm (i.e., three times the diameter of the 2ml vial 1, 12mm). The opening direction of the air outlets 4 is perpendicular to the arc-shaped surface, ensuring that the airflow is directed towards the vial 1.

[0060] Selection and connection of compressed air supply components: Select a φ8mm PU material compressed air hose, which has flexibility and sealing properties, and is suitable for the layout of pharmaceutical production workshops; select an automatic control switch 2 with a pressure regulating valve, with a pressure regulating range of 0~1.0MPa, which can be precisely adjusted to 0.2~0.6MPa; select a pneumatic precision filter with a filtration accuracy of 5μm, which effectively filters moisture and impurities in compressed air; connect one end of the compressed air hose to the air inlet of the hollow stainless steel grid 5 through a threaded joint for sealing; install the automatic control switch 2 and the filter on the hose in sequence; connect the other end of the hose to the workshop's industrial compressed air source.

[0061] Remove the original fixed guardrail 5 on one side of the bottle inlet conveyor belt of the labeling machine, and fix the completed hollow stainless steel guardrail 5 to the corresponding position of the bottle inlet conveyor belt with bolts. The guardrail 5 cooperates with the original fixed guardrail 5 on the other side of the conveyor belt to form a single-row conveying channel with a width of 13mm, which is suitable for the diameter of 2ml standard vials 1, ensuring that the vials 1 are centered and do not shake during conveying; check the sealing of all connection parts to avoid compressed air leakage.

[0062] Commissioning and operation of the drying unit: No-load test: Turn on the compressed air source, turn on the automatic control switch 2, adjust the pressure regulating valve, and adjust the output pressure of the compressed air to 0.4MPa (the optimal pressure in this embodiment). Observe the air outlet 4 of the hollow stainless steel grid 5 to ensure that all air outlets 4 can spray air evenly and stably, without weak airflow or blockage. Turn on the bottle feeding conveyor belt of the labeling machine and run it at a speed of 350 bottles / minute without load. Check the fit between the conveyor belt and the hollow stainless steel grid 5, and check for any jamming or friction.

[0063] Load operation: Take a 2ml standard vial 1 (with obvious condensation on the surface) from a low-temperature refrigerator at 2-8℃ and place it directly on the feeding end of the labeling machine's bottle inlet conveyor belt. The vial 1 enters the single-track conveyor channel at a speed of 350 vials / minute. During the conveying process, the surface of the vial 1 comes into full contact with the airflow from the air outlet 4. According to the test, when the vial 1 passes through the middle of the conveyor channel (the 10th air outlet 4), most of the condensation on the surface of the vial 1 has dried, which takes about 4 seconds. When the vial 1 passes through the entire 1.2m long conveyor channel and reaches the labeling station of the labeling machine, the condensation on the surface of the vial 1 is completely dry, with a total drying time of about 7.5 seconds, which meets the 4-8 second drying time requirement of this invention.

Claims

1. An instant drying device for labeling low-temperature vials at room temperature, characterized in that, include: The bottle inlet conveyor belt is used to transport vials (1) that have been stored at low temperature to the room temperature area to the labeling machine; At least one side of the grid (5) is provided on one or both sides of the bottle inlet conveyor belt. At least one of the grids (5) is hollow. The hollow grid (5) has a plurality of air outlets (4) evenly distributed on the side of the grid (5) facing the bottle (1) near the bottle inlet conveyor belt. The hollow grid (5) is provided with at least one air inlet on the side away from the bottle inlet conveyor belt. Compressed air enters the interior of the corresponding grid (5) through the air inlet and is sprayed out through each of the air outlets (4) to dry the surface of the bottle (1) in real time. The inner side of the hollow structure of the fence (5) is an arc-shaped surface adapted to the conveying trajectory of the vial (1), and each of the air outlets (4) faces the vial (1) body to ensure that the airflow can accurately sweep the surface of the vial body.

2. The instant drying device for labeling low-temperature vials at room temperature according to claim 1, characterized in that, The hollow structure has two grids (5), which are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the bottle inlet conveyor belt. The vent holes (4) on the two grids (5) are arranged in a rectangular array or staggered along the conveying direction of the vial (1).

3. The instant drying device for labeling low-temperature vials at room temperature according to claim 1, characterized in that, The number of the hollow structure railing (5) is one. The hollow structure railing (5) is set on one side of the bottle inlet conveyor belt. The several air outlets (4) on the hollow structure railing (5) are arranged alternately or uniformly in a rectangular array or in a straight line along the conveying direction of the vial (1).

4. The instant drying device for labeling low-temperature vials at room temperature according to claim 1, characterized in that, The air inlet is connected to a compressed air source via a compressed air pipe (3). The diameter of the compressed air pipe (3) is 8 mm. The compressed air pipe (3) is equipped with a manual or automatic control switch (2). The compressed air pipe (3) is equipped with a filter. The manual or automatic control switch (2) is connected to the corresponding air inlet.

5. The instant drying device for labeling low-temperature vials at room temperature according to claim 4, characterized in that, A photoelectric detection device is provided downstream of the hollow structure of the fence (5) to detect the water mist on the surface of the vial (1); the photoelectric detection device includes a light source and a receiver, and uses the light scattering characteristics of water mist to determine whether the surface of the vial is dry. The photoelectric detection device is electrically connected to the automatic control switch (2) on the compressed air pipe (3). The photoelectric detection device monitors the surface state of the vials (1) passing through the drying area in real time and transmits the detection signal to the control system. The control system adopts a PID algorithm to dynamically adjust the compressed air pressure according to the degree of water mist residue, thereby realizing closed-loop control of the drying process. The compressed air pressure in the compressed air pipe (3) is automatically adjusted according to the detection results. When water mist residue is detected on the surface of some vials (1), the compressed air pressure in the compressed air pipe (3) is automatically increased. When the drying is detected to be good, the compressed air pressure in the compressed air pipe (3) is automatically decreased.

6. The instant drying device for labeling low-temperature vials at room temperature according to claim 5, characterized in that, Each of the air outlets (4) of the hollow structure is provided with an adjustable nozzle. The nozzle is connected to the hollow structure via a ball joint or threaded structure. The airflow spray angle can be adjusted according to the specifications of the vial (1) and the surface water mist condition. The photoelectric detection device monitors the surface condition of vials (1) passing through the drying area in real time and transmits the detection signal to the control system. The control system uses a PID algorithm to dynamically adjust the angle of each nozzle according to the degree of water mist residue.

7. The instant drying device for labeling low-temperature vials at room temperature according to claim 6, characterized in that, The spacing between two adjacent air vents (4) on the same hollow structure of the fence (5) is 2-4 times the diameter of the vial (1), the diameter of each air vent (4) is 2mm, and the diameter of each air vent (4) is 1.5mm to 3mm; the shape of the air vent (4) is one of circular, elliptical or oblong.

8. The instant drying device for labeling low-temperature vials at room temperature according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pressure of the compressed air is 0.2MPa-0.6MPa.

9. The instant drying device for labeling low-temperature vials at room temperature according to claim 1, characterized in that, The fence (5) is made of stainless steel, which has corrosion resistance and structural stability.

10. A method for immediate drying of low-temperature vial products when labeling at room temperature, using the immediate drying apparatus for low-temperature vial products when labeling at room temperature as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that... Includes the following steps: S1. Turn on the manual or automatic control switch (2) of the compressed air supply component, adjust the output pressure of the compressed air to 0.2MPa-0.6MPa, and the compressed air enters the hollow cavity of the hollow structure grid (5) after being filtered by the air pipe, and finally sprays out evenly and stably from the air outlet (4) on the inner side. S2. The vials (1) stored at low temperature of 2-8℃ are directly transferred from the low temperature storage area to the inlet conveyor belt without prior drying. The vials (1) move in the inlet conveyor belt at an industrial production speed of 350-400 vials / minute. S4. The photoelectric detection device monitors the surface condition of vials (1) that have passed through the drying area in real time and transmits the detection signal to the control system. The control system uses a PID algorithm to dynamically adjust the compressed air pressure and the nozzle angle according to the degree of water mist residue. S3. During the transport process, the surface of the vial (1) comes into full contact with the airflow sprayed from the vent (4). The condensed water mist evaporates rapidly under the blowing of the airflow. When most of the vials (1) pass through the vent (4) in the middle of the transport channel, the surface water mist has been dried, which takes 4 seconds. When all the vials (1) pass through the entire inlet conveyor belt, the surface water mist is completely dried, and the total drying time is 8 seconds. S4. After immediate drying, the vials (1) are directly placed into the labeling station of the round bottle labeling machine to complete the labeling operation. The labeled vials (1) can then be directly used for subsequent packaging processes.

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