Multi-station rotary platform with nitrogen filling function

Abstract

The application relates to a multi-station rotary platform with a nitrogen filling function, comprising a supporting column, a rotary star wheel rotatably arranged at the outer periphery of the supporting column, a plurality of stations for carrying medicament bottles to be treated being arranged on the rotary star wheel, and a nitrogen filling module fixedly installed on the supporting column, the nitrogen filling module being arranged on the rotary path of the rotary star wheel at a position corresponding to a predetermined station and being used for introducing nitrogen into the bottle mouth of the medicament bottle located at the predetermined station. The multi-station rotary platform with the nitrogen filling function designed by the application highly integrates multiple processes, is compact in structure, saves floor space, replaces multiple conveying sections with single rotary motion, avoids cumulative positioning errors, and guarantees high-precision alignment between stations. Meanwhile, the modular and adjustable nitrogen filling module design can quickly adapt to medicament bottles of different specifications, simplifies the change operation, and improves the production flexibility and efficiency of the equipment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of pharmaceutical machinery and equipment technology, and in particular to a multi-station rotary platform with nitrogen filling function. Background Technology

[0002] In pharmaceutical preparation, especially in aseptic filling production lines, pharmaceutical bottles often require a series of follow-up treatments after filling. For example, to ensure the stability of the medicine, inert gases such as nitrogen need to be introduced into the bottle before sealing to replace the oxygen in the bottle, followed by operations such as stoppering and capping.

[0003] The traditional method for implementing the above process flow typically employs a linear conveyor line layout. In this layout, different processing functions, such as feeding, nitrogen filling, stoppering, and waste removal, are performed by separate dedicated workstations located along the conveyor line. The bottles to be processed are moved sequentially from one workstation to the next by the conveyor belt, completing all necessary processing steps one by one.

[0004] However, due to the linear arrangement of the workstations, the entire production line occupies a considerable amount of physical space. In the space-constrained and costly pharmaceutical cleanroom environment, this layout undoubtedly increases the cost and construction difficulty of the production site. Furthermore, the vials need to be transferred and moved multiple times between different types of conveying mechanisms, such as conveyor belts, rollers, and robotic arms. Frequent start-stop and transfer operations not only easily lead to instability in the vials' posture, but also cause the positioning errors between individual workstations to accumulate, affecting the accuracy of the final processing. Utility Model Content

[0005] To address the aforementioned issues, this application provides a compact, flexible, multi-station rotary platform with nitrogen purging capabilities.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, this application designs a multi-station rotary platform with nitrogen filling function, comprising:

[0007] Support column; rotating star wheel, rotatably disposed on the outer periphery of the support column, the rotating star wheel having multiple stations for carrying bottles of medicine to be processed;

[0008] A nitrogen filling module is fixedly installed on the support column. The nitrogen filling module is set at a position corresponding to a predetermined work station on the rotation path of the rotating star wheel, and is used to introduce nitrogen gas into the mouth of the medicine bottle located at the predetermined work station.

[0009] Preferably, the workstation includes multiple clamping or adsorption parts arranged in parallel for gripping and releasing the medicine bottle.

[0010] Preferably, the nitrogen filling module includes multiple nitrogen filling pipelines, each of which is arranged in a one-to-one correspondence with the clamping part or adsorption part, and the outlet end of each nitrogen filling pipeline is aligned with the mouth of the medicine bottle gripped by the corresponding clamping part or adsorption part.

[0011] Preferably, the nitrogen filling module further includes a base frame, which is fixedly installed on the support column. The base frame has multiple mounting positions corresponding to each workstation position, and at least one of the mounting positions is detachably installed with a nitrogen tube rack, and the nitrogen filling pipeline is arranged on the nitrogen tube rack.

[0012] Preferably, the nitrogen tube rack includes a first bracket and a second bracket. The first bracket extends radially along the rotating star wheel and is detachably mounted on the mounting position via a first hand-tightening screw. The second bracket is pivotally connected to the first bracket, and the nitrogen filling pipeline is disposed on the second bracket. The second bracket is provided with a locking element for locking the angular position of the second bracket relative to the first bracket.

[0013] Preferably, the second support includes a hollow nitrogen distribution tube, and each of the nitrogen filling pipes is connected to the nitrogen distribution tube, and the nitrogen distribution tube is connected to an air inlet main pipe that connects to an external nitrogen source.

[0014] Preferably, a third bracket is provided on the first bracket, and the third bracket is provided with a clamp for fixing and supporting the intake manifold.

[0015] Preferably, the base frame is mounted on the support column, and the base frame is also provided with a locking member for locking the base frame in position on the support column.

[0016] Preferably, the locking element includes a wedge and a second hand-tightening screw. The base frame has a through hole suitable for the support column to pass through. A vertically extending positioning groove is formed on the inner wall of the through hole, and the wedge is disposed in the positioning groove. A vertically extending locking groove is formed on the outer peripheral wall of the support column corresponding to the position of the wedge. The second hand-tightening screw extends at least partially into the positioning groove and contacts the wedge. When the second hand-tightening screw is tightened, the wedge is pressed against the locking groove.

[0017] Preferably, the work station is a U-shaped slot with its opening facing the outside of the rotating star wheel; the inner wall of the U-shaped slot is provided with a limiting groove for positioning the medicine bottle; an elastic abutment is movably provided in the U-shaped slot for pressing the medicine bottle to be processed against the groove wall of the limiting groove.

[0018] The multi-station rotary platform with nitrogen filling function designed in this application integrates multiple processes into one unit by fixing the nitrogen filling module to the central support column and using a rotating star wheel to uniformly transport the medicine bottles. This not only results in a compact structure and space-saving design, but also eliminates multi-stage transport by replacing it with a single rotary motion, avoiding accumulated positioning errors and ensuring high-precision alignment between stations. Furthermore, its modular and adjustable nitrogen filling module design allows for rapid adaptation to different bottle sizes, simplifying changeover operations and improving the equipment's production flexibility and efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the multi-station rotary platform with nitrogen filling function provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0020] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Enlarged diagram of point A in the middle.

[0021] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 Top view.

[0022] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 Sectional view at point BB.

[0023] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 Enlarged diagram of point C in the middle.

[0024] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the workstation structure provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0025] The components include: support column 10, locking groove 11, rotating star wheel 20, work station 21, elastic support 211, U-shaped slot 212, limiting groove 213, nitrogen filling module 30, nitrogen filling pipeline 31, base frame 32, mounting position 321, through hole 322, nitrogen pipe rack 33, first bracket 331, second bracket 332, first hand-tightening screw 333, locking component 334, nitrogen distribution pipe 335, air intake main pipe 34, third bracket 35, clamp 351, locking component 36, wedge block 361, second hand-tightening screw 362, and drive device 40. Detailed Implementation

[0026] 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.

[0027] like Figures 1 to 6 As shown in the figure, the multi-station rotary platform with nitrogen filling function described in this embodiment mainly includes a support column 10 as a fixed reference, a rotating star wheel 20 for conveying workpieces, and a nitrogen filling module 30.

[0028] Specifically, such as Figure 1 , Figure 4 As shown, the support column 10 is vertically positioned, providing a stable reference for the installation of other moving and functional components. The rotating star wheel 20 is disc-shaped and rotatably and coaxially positioned on the outer periphery of the support column 10. The rotating star wheel 20 is driven by a drive device 40 for precise, intermittent rotation. Multiple workstations 21 are provided on the outer edge of the rotating star wheel 20 to hold the medicine bottles to be processed. When the rotating star wheel 20 rotates a predetermined angle, all the medicine bottles held on the workstations 21 are synchronously and precisely transferred to the next preset workstation.

[0029] like Figure 1 , Figure 2 As shown, the nitrogen filling module 30 is fixedly installed on the support column 10. The nitrogen filling module 30 is located on the rotation path of the rotating star wheel 20 and corresponds to a predetermined workstation position, such as a processing workstation that requires nitrogen filling protection to prevent oxygen from mixing in. It is used to introduce nitrogen gas into the bottle opening of the reagent located at the predetermined workstation. In this embodiment, since the nitrogen filling module 30 itself does not move, its gas source pipeline and other connections can be effectively simplified, improving the reliability of the system.

[0030] Using the above structural design: at a loading station, a medicine bottle is loaded into an empty station 21 of the rotating star wheel 20; then, the drive device 40 drives the rotating star wheel 20 to rotate by an angle, conveying the medicine bottle to the station that needs nitrogen filling; at this time, the rotating star wheel 20 stops, and the mouth of the medicine bottle is precisely aligned with the bottom of the stationary nitrogen filling module 30, which then starts to introduce nitrogen into the mouth to prevent oxygen from mixing in; then, the rotating star wheel 20 rotates again, sending the medicine bottle to the next station for capping or unloading, while the medicine bottle from the previous station 21 also enters the nitrogen filling station, realizing continuous automated processing of medicine bottles.

[0031] In specific implementation, the workstation 21 includes multiple clamping or adsorption parts arranged in parallel, such as grippers or pneumatic nozzles, for grasping and releasing medicine bottles.

[0032] In another specific embodiment, the workstation 21 is a U-shaped slot 212 with its opening facing radially outward from the rotating star wheel 20. This design allows the medicine bottle to easily enter and exit the workstation from the side, simplifying the robotic arm's loading and unloading operations. Simultaneously, the inner walls of the U-shaped slot 212 are provided with limiting grooves 213 for positioning the medicine bottle; a movably mounted elastic abutment 211 is provided within the U-shaped slot 212 to press the medicine bottle to be processed against the groove wall of the limiting groove 213, preventing it from shaking or shifting its posture during rotation and start / stop. Furthermore, the clamping force of the elastic abutment 211 mainly acts on... Figure 6 Along the entire length of the workstation 21, when the end effector of the external robotic arm grabs the medicine bottle and moves it outward, the medicine bottle located in the limiting groove 213 can easily and without interference detach from the constraint of the U-shaped slot 212 in a direction perpendicular to the length of the workstation 21, avoiding damage to the bottle body and friction-generated particles caused by traditional push plates, levers, etc.

[0033] In some embodiments, such as Figure 2 , Figure 3 As shown, the nitrogen filling module 30 includes multiple nitrogen filling pipes 31, each corresponding to a clamping or adsorption section. The outlet of each nitrogen filling pipe 31 is aligned with the mouth of the corresponding medicine bottle held by the clamping or adsorption section. Thus, when the rotating star wheel 20 delivers a group of medicine bottles to the nitrogen filling station and stops, the outlet of each nitrogen filling pipe 31 can be precisely aligned with the mouth of the corresponding medicine bottle below it, thereby achieving synchronous batch nitrogen filling of all medicine bottles at that station.

[0034] In some embodiments, such as Figure 1 , Figure 3 As shown, the nitrogen filling module 30 also includes a base frame 32, which is fixedly mounted on the support column 10. The base frame 32 has multiple mounting positions 321 corresponding to each workstation position. At least one mounting position 321 is detachably mounted with a nitrogen tube holder 33, and the nitrogen filling pipeline 31 is mounted on the nitrogen tube holder 33. Thus, the multiple mounting positions 321 on the base frame 32 provide multiple installation options. Operators can selectively install nitrogen tube holders 33 at different mounting positions 321 according to different production process requirements, thereby changing the position of the nitrogen filling process in the entire process flow or adding workstations requiring nitrogen protection. Furthermore, in some possible implementation examples, other functional modules, such as a plugging detection module, can be installed on other empty mounting positions 321, realizing flexible combination and adjustment of processing steps, effectively improving the equipment's versatility and adaptability to future process changes.

[0035] In some embodiments, such as Figure 2As shown, the nitrogen tube holder 33 includes a first support 331 and a second support 332. The first support 331 extends radially along the rotating star wheel 20 and is detachably mounted on the mounting position 321 via a first hand-tightening screw 333. The second support 332 is pivotally connected to the first support 331, and the nitrogen filling pipeline 31 is disposed on the second support 332. Thus, since the second support 332 can rotate relative to the first support 331 around a pivot axis, synchronous and overall adjustment of the nozzle angles of all nitrogen filling pipelines 31 on the unified mounting position 321 can be achieved. To reliably fix the position after adjustment to the desired angle, the second support 332 is also equipped with a locking element 334, such as another hand-tightening screw or a quick-locking handle, to lock the angular position of the second support 332 relative to the first support 331. This pivot adjustment mechanism allows the platform to flexibly handle reagent bottles of different heights or bottle mouth shapes, achieving optimal oxygen replacement by adjusting the purging angle of the nitrogen filling pipeline 31.

[0036] In some embodiments, such as Figure 2 , Figure 3 , Figure 4 As shown, the second support 332 includes a hollow nitrogen distribution tube 335, and each of the nitrogen filling pipes 31 is connected to the nitrogen distribution tube 335. The nitrogen distribution tube 335 is connected to a main air inlet pipe 34 that connects to an external nitrogen source. The main air inlet pipe 34 from the external nitrogen source is connected to a main air inlet of the nitrogen distribution tube 335, while each independent nitrogen filling pipe 31 extends from and connects to the tube wall of the nitrogen distribution tube 335. The structure is compact and the appearance is neat.

[0037] In this embodiment, as Figure 2 , Figure 4 As shown, a third bracket 35 is provided on the first bracket 331, and a clamp 351 for fixing and supporting the air intake manifold 34 is provided on the third bracket 35, ensuring the long-term reliability of the air source connection.

[0038] In some embodiments, such as Figure 2 , Figure 4 As shown, the base frame 32 is mounted on the support column 10, allowing it to slide up and down along the support column 10 to accommodate various sizes of medicine bottles in conjunction with the purging angle adjustment of the nitrogen filling pipeline 31. To ensure a secure lock after adjustment to the desired height, the base frame 32 is also equipped with a locking element 36 for securing its position on the support column 10.

[0039] Specifically, such as Figure 2 , Figure 4 , Figure 5As shown, the locking component 36 includes a wedge 361 and a second hand-tightening screw 362. The base frame 32 has a through hole 322 suitable for the support column 10 to pass through. The inner wall of the through hole 322 has a vertically extending positioning groove, and the wedge 361 is disposed in the positioning groove. The outer peripheral wall of the support column 10 has a vertically extending locking groove 11 corresponding to the position of the wedge 361. The second hand-tightening screw 362 extends at least partially into the positioning groove and contacts the wedge 361.

[0040] In the assembled state, the positioning groove and the locking groove 11 are positioned opposite each other, with the wedge 361 located precisely between them. The second hand-tightening screw 362 extends laterally through the wall thickness of the base frame 32, and its front end can extend into the positioning groove and contact the back of the wedge 361. When locking is required, the operator only needs to tighten the second hand-tightening screw 362, and its front end will move forward, applying a radially inward thrust to the wedge 361. This thrust forces the wedge 361 into the locking groove 11 of the support column 10. Through the huge frictional force and mechanical interlocking force generated by this wedge structure, the base frame 32 is locked extremely securely at the current height of the support column 10. Even when the equipment vibrates during operation, its position remains absolutely stable and will not rotate circumferentially around the support column 10. This ensures that the angular position of the nitrogen filling module 30 relative to the station on the rotating star wheel 20 remains unchanged, greatly simplifying the calibration work after height adjustment.

[0041] The multi-station rotary platform with nitrogen filling function provided in this application integrates multiple processes into one unit by fixing the nitrogen filling module to the central support column and using a rotating star wheel to uniformly transport the medicine bottles. This not only results in a compact structure and space-saving design, but also eliminates multi-stage transport by replacing it with a single rotary motion, avoiding accumulated positioning errors and ensuring high-precision alignment between stations. Furthermore, its modular and adjustable nitrogen filling module design allows for quick adaptation to different bottle sizes, simplifying changeover operations and improving the equipment's production flexibility and efficiency.

[0042] 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.

[0043] 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.

[0044] 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 multi-station rotary platform with nitrogen filling function, characterized in that, include: Support column; A rotating star wheel is rotatably disposed on the outer periphery of the support column, and the rotating star wheel is provided with multiple workstations for carrying the medicine bottles to be processed; A nitrogen filling module is fixedly installed on the support column. The nitrogen filling module is set at a position corresponding to a predetermined work station on the rotation path of the rotating star wheel, and is used to introduce nitrogen gas into the mouth of the medicine bottle located at the predetermined work station.

2. The multi-station rotary platform with nitrogen filling function according to claim 1, characterized in that, The workstation includes multiple clamping or adsorption parts arranged in parallel, used to grasp and release the medicine bottle.

3. The multi-station rotary platform with nitrogen filling function according to claim 2, characterized in that, The nitrogen filling module includes multiple nitrogen filling pipelines, each of which is configured in a one-to-one correspondence with the clamping or adsorption part. The outlet end of each nitrogen filling pipeline is aligned with the mouth of the medicine bottle gripped by the corresponding clamping or adsorption part.

4. The multi-station rotary platform with nitrogen filling function according to claim 3, characterized in that, The nitrogen filling module also includes a base frame, which is fixedly installed on the support column. The base frame has multiple mounting positions corresponding to each workstation position. At least one of the mounting positions is detachably installed with a nitrogen tube rack, and the nitrogen filling pipeline is arranged on the nitrogen tube rack.

5. The multi-station rotary platform with nitrogen filling function according to claim 4, characterized in that, The nitrogen tube rack includes a first bracket and a second bracket. The first bracket extends radially along the rotating star wheel and is detachably mounted on the mounting position by a first hand-tightening screw. The second bracket is pivotally connected to the first bracket, and the nitrogen filling pipeline is arranged on the second bracket. The second bracket is provided with a locking element for locking the angular position of the second bracket relative to the first bracket.

6. The multi-station rotary platform with nitrogen filling function according to claim 5, characterized in that, The second support includes a hollow nitrogen distribution tube, and each of the nitrogen filling pipes is connected to the nitrogen distribution tube. The nitrogen distribution tube is connected to an air inlet main pipe that connects to an external nitrogen source.

7. The multi-station rotary platform with nitrogen filling function according to claim 6, characterized in that, The first bracket is provided with a third bracket, and the third bracket is provided with a clamp for fixing and supporting the intake manifold.

8. The multi-station rotary platform with nitrogen filling function according to claim 4, characterized in that, The base frame is mounted on the support column, and the base frame is also provided with a locking element for locking the base frame in position on the support column.

9. The multi-station rotary platform with nitrogen filling function according to claim 8, characterized in that, The locking element includes a wedge and a second hand-tightening screw. The base frame has a through hole suitable for the support column to pass through. The inner wall of the through hole has a vertically extending positioning groove, and the wedge is disposed in the positioning groove. The outer peripheral wall of the support column has a vertically extending locking groove corresponding to the position of the wedge. The second hand-tightening screw extends at least partially into the positioning groove and contacts the wedge. When the second hand-tightening screw is tightened, the wedge is pressed against the locking groove.

10. The multi-station rotary platform with nitrogen filling function according to claim 1, characterized in that, The work station is a U-shaped slot with its opening facing the outside of the rotating star wheel; the inner wall of the U-shaped slot is provided with a limiting groove for positioning the medicine bottle; an elastic abutment is movably provided in the U-shaped slot for pressing the medicine bottle to be processed against the groove wall of the limiting groove.

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