DEVICE FOR MANIPULATING AN OBJECT, METHOD FOR FILLING AN OBJECT AND CORRESPONDENT USE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for manipulating an object, wherein the object can be moved contactlessly on a drive surface by at least one mover which is magnetically coupled to a stator arrangement.

[0002] It is common practice to carry out specialized manufacturing processes that require a controlled and / or sterile environment in protected indoor spaces. Such protected indoor spaces include clean rooms, such as isolators, containments, or radioactively contaminated rooms. Protected indoor spaces are used in a variety of applications, including semiconductor manufacturing, aerospace engineering, and the aseptic production or packaging of food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetic products. Semi- or fully automated process steps are widely used to optimize specialized manufacturing processes. However, various process steps are often performed by humans, which can lead to contamination of the manufactured products, even if the process is carried out within a protected indoor space.

[0003] Devices for manipulating objects are well known in industry. Manipulation can be considered, for example, any process that can take place in a device for the processing and / or completion of a product. For example, in the pharmaceutical industry, injection vials are first conveyed via a conventional conveyor belt, a starwheel conveyor, or a conveyor rake to a filling device, where they are filled, and then transported via the conveyor belt to further process stations. Such systems can be relatively inflexible, prone to failure, and maintenance-intensive.

[0004] Recently, there have been devices for manipulating objects in which a transport body, known as a mover, can be moved and / or rotated in an electromagnetic field, preferably without contact, in at least two degrees of freedom. The mover is magnetically coupled to a stator assembly (planar motor system) and levitates contactlessly a few millimeters above the stator assembly. The stator assembly consists of at least one tile and can be modularly positioned and modified to suit the given spatial conditions.

[0005] The invention further relates to a method for filling an object which is transported by a mover on a boundary wall of a protected interior space to a filling device and filled by the filling device.

[0006] The invention further relates to the use of a boundary wall of a protected interior space as a drive surface.

[0007] For example, EP 3 945 046 A1 discloses a container treatment system for treating containers. The container treatment system has a plurality of treatment devices for treating the containers and a planar drive system for transporting the containers. The planar drive system is configured to move a plurality of movement devices individually according to one of a plurality of treatment profiles for different container treatment to a selection from the plurality of treatment devices, wherein the plurality of treatment profiles each have a different selection from the plurality of treatment devices. Advantageously, the container treatment system enables flexible treatment of different containers (different formats, contents, designs, containers, packaging, etc.) starting from a batch size of 1.

[0008] Furthermore, EP 4 338 261 A1 describes a rotor for a planar drive system with a housing and at least one magnet arrangement. The housing has a housing base body and a cover. The magnet arrangement is arranged in a recess of the housing base body. The cover is attached to the housing base body such that the housing is fluid-tight, the cover covers the recess, and the magnet arrangement is arranged in an interior of the fluid-tight housing. The invention further relates to a manufacturing method for such a rotor and a planar drive system with such a rotor.

[0009] The documents LILIENTHAL PETER F II ET AL: "A FLEXIBLE MANUFACTURING WORKSTATION", AT & T Technical Journal, Vol. 67, No. 2, April 1, 1988 (1988-04-01), pages 5-14, US 2020 / 262060 A1, DE 10 2019 215745 A1 and JPH01116065A also belong to the prior art.

[0010] The invention further relates to the use of a boundary wall of a protected interior space as a drive surface.

[0011] To achieve the stated object, the features of claim 1 are provided according to the invention. In particular, to achieve the stated object, in a device of the type described above, the drive surface is designed as a sealed boundary, in particular as a boundary wall of a protected interior space. According to the invention, this can include all or part of the boundary walls. Thus, the drive surface can also extend to other, possibly non-horizontal, surfaces within the protected interior space, thereby achieving expanded functionality and / or working capacity as well as greater flexibility. Thus, the stator arrangement can be formed on the boundary wall of the protected interior space, thereby saving space and material at the same time.

[0012] The advantage is that transport in a protected interior is abrasion-free. This reduces the effort required for cleaning. This also ensures that no particles are released during production that could cause contamination, for example, during filling.

[0013] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the stator assembly can be arranged outside a protected interior space. Thus, the stator assembly can be separated from the conditions in the interior space. For example, the stator assembly can be attached to a boundary wall. This results in a particularly space-saving variant. The boundary wall can be arranged vertically, horizontally, and / or at an angle. Thus, differently oriented boundary walls can be used.

[0014] In one embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the at least one mover is arranged in the protected interior space. This is advantageous in that many processes, in particular conveying and / or transport processes, can be carried out in the protected interior space without manual intervention. A controlled exchange, for example of air between the interior space and the environment, is thus achievable. Such a controlled exchange is of great importance in aseptic applications with isolators or in toxic processes in containments. Furthermore, potentially costly and time-consuming clean room tests in the form of, for example, microbiological contact plates can be reduced. The embodiment can, for example, make it possible to operate the at least one mover in an interior space into which no substances can enter uncontrolled from the outside and / or from which no substances can escape uncontrolled to the outside.

[0015] It can further be provided that the at least one mover is arranged outside a protected interior space. For a functional arrangement, a corresponding stator arrangement can thus be enclosed within the protected interior space. This advantageously allows processes to be carried out outside the protected interior space. This can prevent particles and / or contaminants generated and / or released by or on the stator arrangement from escaping from the interior space in an uncontrolled manner.

[0016] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the boundary wall of the protected interior space contains a coupling region comprising the stator arrangement and the at least one mover, in particular, wherein the area within the coupling region can be smaller than the area of ​​the boundary wall. It is advantageous that further devices can be mounted outside the coupling region and / or in the protected interior space, for example, magnetically non-neutral devices and / or structures that can influence and disrupt the magnetic field or the range of motion of the movers.

[0017] For example, gripping devices, scales, locking systems, filling devices or conventional transport systems for manipulating containers can be installed outside the coupling area.

[0018] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the boundary wall can be made of a magnetically neutral separating layer. According to the invention, a coupling region, in particular the one already mentioned, is made of a magnetically neutral separating layer. Magnetically neutral in the sense of the invention means that the materials used can reduce or prevent any disruption or impairment of a magnetic coupling between the mover and the stator arrangement.

[0019] For example, the separating layer can be made of or comprise a layer of stainless steel and / or glass. Alternatively or additionally, the separating layer can also be made of gas-tight plastic or composite material. This makes it particularly suitable for protected interior spaces.

[0020] Preferably, the separation layer is less than 2 mm thick. This allows the mover to be positioned very close to the stator assembly for strong magnetic coupling.

[0021] In one embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the boundary wall and / or a coupling area, for example the one already mentioned, is stabilized by support components. The use of support components is advantageous for the statics of the device.

[0022] It is advantageous if the carrier components are made of magnetically neutral materials. This reduces or even prevents coupling disruption and / or deformation of the magnetic fields. This is particularly advantageous in conjunction with a magnetically neutral separation layer.

[0023] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the stator arrangement can be installed in at least one rack. It is advantageous that the stator arrangement can be stabilized in the at least one rack.

[0024] In this case, it is advantageous if at least one rack is mounted directly against the boundary wall and / or a coupling area, for example, the one already mentioned. This allows the stator arrangement to be positioned very close for magnetic coupling to the mover.

[0025] Alternatively, the rack can be positioned freely on the boundary wall and / or the coupling area to allow more flexible movement of the racks.

[0026] Preferably, the at least one rack is movable to and from the site of use and / or is adjustable at the site of use between a working position close to the boundary wall and a position remote from the boundary wall. Since stator assemblies must be accessible, for example, for maintenance and / or repair work, a design of the stator assembly in movable racks is advantageous. Furthermore, the rack can advantageously move to a position remote from the boundary wall, allowing stator assemblies to be removed without sustaining damage to the rack itself or causing damage to the boundary wall.

[0027] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the boundary wall and / or the separating layer can be removed from the device. This is advantageous because the boundary wall and / or the separating layer can be removed from the interior, thereby making stator assemblies accessible for cost-effective maintenance.

[0028] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the protected interior space can have at least two chambers, in particular wherein the at least two chambers are separated by an intermediate wall, which preferably has at least one small access opening. This is advantageous in that different process steps of a method can be separated from one another in order to eliminate further sources of contamination and / or particles. According to the invention, the at least one small access opening allows, for example, the transport of open containers from one chamber to another chamber for filling and / or sealing there.

[0029] Preferably, the intermediate wall is designed as a boundary wall on which further processes can be carried out separately.

[0030] Alternatively or additionally, overpressure can be created in one of the chambers so that no contamination or particles from the other chamber can enter this chamber through at least one small access opening.

[0031] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least one processing station is permanently mounted or located on a mover in the protected interior. Thus, objects can be processed flexibly in the protected interior throughout the entire manipulation process.

[0032] For example, a filling device can be permanently mounted or positioned on a mover. A filling device allows the regulation of the fill level of an object.

[0033] Preferably, the at least one process station is located on the boundary wall and / or in a coupling area, for example, the one already mentioned. This allows a multi-stage manufacturing process to be implemented in a modular and dynamic manner, since the movers can move essentially freely on the drive surface and travel paths can be easily modified, particularly in a closed interior and / or without moving parts. The modularity and dynamic nature of the invention allows a method and / or process to be quickly adapted and modified without endangering the protected clean room.

[0034] It is also possible for the process station to be located in one chamber and secured in a second chamber. This is advantageous because the process station can be securely positioned in one chamber, protected from contamination, and then moved into a second chamber for processing. For example, a process station can be moved from one chamber to a second chamber through an opening, such as a lock.

[0035] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the stator arrangement is fastened to the boundary walls and / or to one, in particular the already mentioned, coupling regions, and / or two adjacent walls of the protected interior space in such a way that the at least one mover can transport the at least one object within the at least two chambers and / or through the at least one small access opening of the partition wall between the at least two chambers. This has the advantage that work steps during which particles or contaminants can be released can be separated from subsequent work steps. Thus, the spread of contamination can be reduced or even prevented.

[0036] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the stator arrangement can be arranged, preferably vertically, within the at least one partition wall between the at least two chambers. It is advantageous that the at least one partition wall provides a drive surface for movers for lifting movements.

[0037] Alternatively or additionally, the at least one partition wall can be designed as a coupling area, which can have at least one magnetically neutral area for fastening gripping devices, trolleys, closure systems, filling devices or other process stations for manipulating containers.

[0038] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, a stator assembly can be installed within the at least one partition wall in at least one rack. This allows the stator assembly to be very easily removed from the partition wall for maintenance and / or repair work.

[0039] In an alternative or additional embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the boundary wall or a boundary wall and / or the separating layer or a separating layer of one partition wall are removable. This allows the stator arrangement or a stator arrangement to be accessible from the interior for maintenance work, which is advantageous, particularly if the stator arrangement or a stator arrangement is fixed in the partition wall in a stationary manner, for example, in stationary racks.

[0040] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the protected interior space can be provided with at least one flow zone. In a flow zone, the particle concentration in the air can be advantageously reduced, which is beneficial for the purity of the products to be processed, in particular the products to be filled.

[0041] In particular, the drive surface can be oriented such that the at least one mover can be moved into and / or within the zone. Consequently, a flow-through zone can be realized that is smaller in area than the footprint of the protected interior and is accessible and passable by movers. The advantage of such a flow-through zone is that less energy is required for the air flow, thereby saving costs. Alternatively or additionally, it is advantageous to provide a further means for preventing contaminants from entering a work area.

[0042] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the stator arrangement can be enclosed by a sealed tunnel, with the drive surface being formed by a casing of the tunnel. Thus, the drive surface can advantageously be formed on a tunnel within the protected interior, allowing the drive surface and the mover to be incorporated into the device in a space-saving manner.

[0043] Alternatively, the drive surface within the protected interior can be configured independently of the enclosure. This allows, in particular, the mover(s) to move independently of the enclosure or tunnel, so that the mover(s) can be moved and deployed flexibly within the protected interior.

[0044] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the tunnel can be accessible from one or both sides from outside the protected interior. This can be made possible, for example, by the access points described herein. Thus, the stators of the stator arrangement can advantageously be accessed from outside the protected interior, particularly during maintenance and / or repair.

[0045] Alternatively or additionally, the tunnel can be surrounded by the protected interior along its entire length. This allows the tunnel to be fully integrated into the protected interior, allowing for a particularly high level of integrity within the protected interior. Furthermore, space can be advantageously saved outside the protected interior.

[0046] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the protected interior space has a profile body, wherein the profile body has the stator arrangement and the separating layer. As a result, a drive surface for movers can be formed with a level difference with respect to a floor of the protected interior space, which can reduce contamination originating from the floor. The profile body can be inserted or set up in the protected interior space, wherein the profile body in particular has at least one foot that forms a connection to the exterior of the protected interior space, so that, for example, electrical components can advantageously be supplied to the profile body, in particular to the stator arrangement. The at least one foot can also advantageously serve to dissipate waste heat from the stator arrangement, so that overheating of the device can be avoided.

[0047] In particular, it can be provided that the separating layer is replaceably attached to the profile body. This allows the profile body to be sealed, preventing any material transfer between the stator assembly and the protected interior. The separating layer is replaceable, which advantageously allows for the easy replacement of defective and / or maintenance-requiring stator assemblies.

[0048] In particular, it can be provided that the separating layer is adhesively attached to the profile body. This allows the profile body to be sealed particularly easily. The profile body can even have adhesive surfaces for the separating layer, so that the separating layer is not glued to the stator assembly. In this embodiment, in particular, the separating layer rests on the stator assembly, so that no air gap is created between the separating layer and the stator assembly. Thus, the magnetic coupling of the mover and the stator assembly can be achieved particularly efficiently and smoothly.

[0049] The separating layer is preferably foil-like. A separating layer in foil form is particularly easy to handle, especially if it is glued to the profile body as described above.

[0050] In a preferred and advantageous embodiment, the separating layer formed as a film can be a glass fiber composite. Other magnetically neutral materials can alternatively be used to form the separating layer, as desired by the user.

[0051] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the tunnel and / or the profile body form / s forms access points outside the protected interior. In this case, the access points are advantageously formed by the front ends of the tunnel and / or profile body. This embodiment, in particular, simplifies removal of the stator assembly, for example, during maintenance, without having to enter the protected interior or contaminating it through tampering. Thus, starting or resuming operation in the device can be carried out particularly quickly.

[0052] Alternatively or additionally, the features of the independent claim directed to a method are provided according to the invention to achieve the stated object. In particular, in a method of the type described above, it is proposed according to the invention that the at least one object is moved by a mover on a drive surface of the protected interior to a process station, for example a filling device, and is filled by the filling device, wherein the filling device is positioned in the protected interior, in particular on the drive surface, or is fastened to a further mover. It is preferably provided that the mover executes a lifting movement with the at least one object to the filling device, which is located above the horizontal floor plane of the device.This means that the vertically arranged filling device does not affect the transport path of the device, which means that additional movers can be guided to other process stations in a flexible manner.

[0053] Alternatively, it is also conceivable for the filling device to move towards the mover with the at least one object.

[0054] In addition, the features of the independent claim directed to a use are provided according to the invention to achieve the stated object. In particular, when used as described above, the invention proposes that a boundary wall of a protected interior space be used as the drive surface of at least one mover coupled to a stator arrangement. It is preferably provided that the stator arrangement is positioned outside the protected interior space. This enables spatial separation of the mover and stator arrangement, which are usually not demarcated in a space. It is advantageous in this case that maintenance and / or conversion of the stator arrangement of a protected interior space, for example an isolator or containment, can be implemented flexibly.

[0055] The invention will now be described in more detail using exemplary embodiments, but is not limited to the exemplary embodiments shown. Further exemplary embodiments result from combining the features of one or more claims with one another and / or with one or more features of the exemplary embodiments.

[0056] It shows, partially cut: Fig. 1 a side view of a device with differently oriented stator arrangements and movers, Fig. 2 a side view of a device with a coupling area, Fig. 3 a side view of a device with racks, Fig. 4 a side view of a device with vertically arranged process stations, Fig. 5 a side view of a device with two chambers, Fig. 6 a side view of a device with two chambers and a stator arrangement in an intermediate wall, Fig. 7 a side view of a device with two chambers and a process station that is fastened in one chamber and projects into a second chamber, Fig. 8 a front view of a device with a mover-stator arrangement located in the protected interior, Fig. 9 a side view of a device with a stator arrangement enclosed in a tunnel, Fig. 10 a front view of a device with a stator arrangement enclosed in a tunnel, Fig.11 a front view of a device with a stator arrangement enclosed in a profile body, Fig. 12 a side view of the device. Fig. 11 with a stator arrangement enclosed in the profile body, Fig. 13 a detailed side view of a variant of Fig. 11 and Fig. 14 a detailed side view of another variant of Fig. 11 .

[0057] Figure 1 shows a device 1 according to the invention, designated as a whole by 1. The device 1 has a housing 2 having a protected interior 9. For the input and output of the at least one object 3 from the protected interior 9, the device 1 according to the invention has locks and / or decontamination areas customary for isolators or containments.

[0058] Alternatively or additionally, the device 1 and / or the housing 2 may be movable.

[0059] In the protected interior space 9, at least one object 3 is located on the floor, on the ceiling, on a vertical wall, and on an inclined wall. The at least one object 3 is positioned on a holder 6 of a mover 4. The at least one mover 4 is magnetically coupled to a stator arrangement 5.

[0060] Figure 1 shows that four stator assemblies 5, each composed of one or more stators, are positioned outside the protected interior space 9 on a vertical, horizontal, or inclined wall. Alternatively, a stator assembly 5 can also be positioned in the housing 2 and / or in a boundary wall 8 and / or between the housing 2 and the boundary wall 8.

[0061] The at least one mover 4 can be operated passively, for example by integrated permanent magnets (not shown), or actively, for example by an integrated coil package (not shown), on the drive surface 7. The active operation of the at least one mover 4 can be realized by a preferably contactless movement, in particular a movement along the drive surface or with a component transverse to it, a rotation and / or a tilting, relative to the drive surface 7. In the embodiment shown here, the drive surface 7 forms the boundary wall 8 of the device 1. The device 1 according to the invention can additionally have conventional transport devices such as conveyor belts, star wheels and / or computing systems for moving the at least one object 3.

[0062] In an embodiment according to the Figure 2a device 1 has a coupling area 10, which is incorporated into a vertical boundary wall 8 of a housing 2. The area of ​​the coupling area 10 is smaller than the area of ​​the vertical boundary wall 8. The vertical boundary wall 8 can have various process stations 15 positioned inside or outside the coupling area 10 and on the side of the protected interior 9 (not shown). These process stations 15 can be approached by at least one mover 4 for manipulating at least one object 3. In the Figure 2the drive surface 7 is realized as a magnetically neutral separating layer 11, for example a separating layer 11 made of glass, stainless steel, gas-tight plastic or composite material. Furthermore, the coupling region 10 is positioned and stabilized on the housing 2 and / or the boundary wall 8 by magnetically neutral support components 12, for example bars and / or angles and / or profile rails and / or ribs and / or other stiffeners.

[0063] Alternatively or additionally, the stator arrangement 5 can also be connected to the housing 2 and / or the separating layer 11 by support components 12.

[0064] In an embodiment according to Figure 3A stator assembly 5 is mounted in a rack 13 outside the protected interior 9. For example, for repair and / or maintenance work, the stator assembly 5 can be moved away from a contact position near the boundary wall 8 by the rack 13, so that the stator assembly 5 is accessible.

[0065] In addition, the rack 13 may have a drive (not shown) to move individual tiles of the stator assembly 5 and / or the stator assembly 5 within one or between several drive surfaces 7.

[0066] In the embodiment according to Figure 4A stator arrangement 5 is arranged on a vertical wall. In the protected interior space 9 of the device 1 is a mover 4, which holds at least one object 3 on a holder 6. A filling device 14 is permanently mounted above the mover 4 on the vertical wall, and a further process station 15 is permanently mounted below the mover 4. The mover 4 can move to the filling device 14 to fill the at least one object 3. Once filled, the mover 4 can move with the at least one object 3 to the process station 15, which can preferably be a scale to measure the fill level of the at least one object 3.

[0067] Alternatively, the filling device 14 and / or the process station 15 can be positioned on a mover 4 (not shown). This allows the mover 4 to be moved relative to the filling device 14 and / or the process station 15.

[0068] In a further embodiment, the process station 15 and / or the filling device 14 could be arranged on a conventional movement system, in particular as already mentioned.

[0069] With a device 1 according to the invention, a method for filling an object, preferably a vial, a syringe, a carpoule and / or an ampoule or an injection bottle, can thus be carried out, which method could proceed as follows.

[0070] A mover 4 moves at least one unfilled or partially filled object 3 to a scale to determine the empty weight of the at least one unfilled or partially filled object 3. The mover 4 then moves the at least one unfilled or partially filled object 3 along a vertical drive surface 7 toward a filling device 14, by which the at least one unfilled or partially filled object 3 is filled. After filling, the mover 4 can be moved with the at least one filled object 3 to another process station 15 for further process steps, for example, back to the additional scale.

[0071] In Figure 5A device 1 with two chambers 16, 23 is depicted. The two chambers 16, 23 are formed by an intermediate wall 17 and connected to each other via at least one small access opening 18. The stator arrangement 5 shown here is formed at the bottom of the device 1. At least one mover 4 can be moved by a horizontal movement through the at least one small access opening 18 between the two chambers 16, 23.

[0072] Alternatively or additionally, a stator arrangement 5 can also be arranged on a vertical and / or inclined wall in order to move the at least one mover 4 between the at least two chambers 16, 23.

[0073] In the embodiment according to Figure 6At least one rack 13 with at least one stator arrangement 5 is positioned on a partition wall 17 between two chambers 16, 23. The at least one mover 4 can be moved vertically and / or horizontally on the partition wall 17. By means of additional stator arrangements 5 (not shown), the at least one mover 4 can be moved in or between the at least two chambers 16, 23.

[0074] Figure 7depicts a device 1 with two chambers 16, 23, in which a process station 15 is positioned on a vertical wall of a first chamber 16. The process station 15 depicted here protrudes through an access opening 18 into the second chamber 23, but in alternative embodiments can also protrude into multiple chambers 16, 23. The stator arrangement 5 is enclosed in an intermediate wall 17. A mover 4 located in the second chamber 23 can move to the process station 15 via the magnetic coupling with the stator arrangement 5, where processing of an object 3 can be carried out.

[0075] Alternatively or additionally, the or a part of the process station 15 can be movable, for example movable within a chamber 16, 23 or between at least two chambers 16, 23.

[0076] In an embodiment according to the Figure 8Within the protected space 9 of the device 1 is a mover 4 with a corresponding stator arrangement 5, wherein the stator arrangement 5 is enclosed on all sides by a tight and magnetically neutral enclosure 19. The enclosure 19, together with the stator arrangement 5, is robustly positioned in the protected interior space 9 by two anchors 20. The number of supporting anchors 20 can be configured alternatively, which is why an enclosure 19 can be positioned in the protected interior space 9 without, with one, or with more than two anchors 20.

[0077] Alternatively or additionally, the casing 19, together with the mover 4 and stator arrangement 5, can be suspended and / or clamped into the protected interior 9.

[0078] Figure 9shows a side view of a device 1 in which an object 3 is located on a mover 4 within a flow zone 21. As is known for clean rooms, filtered air is admitted from the ceiling into the protected interior 9 in order to displace the air present therein. Furthermore, Figure 9 It can be seen that the mover 4 is magnetically coupled to a stator assembly 5, which is tightly enclosed by a tunnel 22. The casing 19 forming the tunnel 22 is made of magnetically neutral materials to ensure trouble-free use of the mover-stator application. Not shown in this figure are racks 13 or other transport vehicles that enable the stator assembly 5 to be extended from the tunnel 22.

[0079] Figure 10 shows a tunnel 22, as it is particularly in Figure 9 is shown in a front view. The drive surface 2, 7, 8 is formed by the casing 19 of the tunnel 22.

[0080] In an embodiment not shown, the drive surface 2, 7, 9 can also be designed separately or independently of the tunnel 22 or its casing 19 within the protected interior space 9, so that the device 1 can be designed flexibly.

[0081] The Tunnel 22 in Figs. 11 and 12 is accessible from both sides from the outside of the protected interior 9. Thus, for example, in the case of maintenance, the stators of the stator arrangement 5 can be brought into the outer space A via the accesses 25, in particular as it is with regard to Figure 9 as already described. Thus, the stators of the stator assembly 5 can be serviced without having to enter the protected interior 9 or contaminating it through tampering.

[0082] Such accesses 25 can also be formed in a profile body 24 as described below.

[0083] The tunnel 22 is surrounded by the protected interior space 9 along a full circumference running around its longitudinal extent.

[0084] Furthermore, Figure 10 It can be seen that the stator arrangement 5 is provided with an adjusting device 26 (cf. Figs. 13 and 14 ) so that it can be aligned if necessary.

[0085] The Figures 11 1 (front view) and 12 (side view) show a device 1 with a profile body 24 located in the protected interior space 9, wherein the profile body 24 has the stator assembly 5 and the separating layer 11, in particular wherein the film-like separating layer 11 is replaceably attached to the profile body 24. The film-like separating layer 11 is adhesively attached to adhesive surfaces of the profile body 24 and seals it.

[0086] Figs. 13 and 14 show two variants of the structure Figs. 11 and 12 more detailed.

[0087] In a first variant according to Fig. 13The separating layer 11, which can be film-like for this purpose, is placed on an outer profile 29, for example made of sheet metal, of the profile body 24 and glued to it. The inner profile, for example made of aluminum or plastic (e.g., glass-fiber-reinforced plastic), is arranged in the space 31 thus formed, which is connected to the outer space A via the base 24. This inner profile 28 accommodates the stator assembly 5 and is placed on adjustment devices 26 in order to align a top side of the stator assembly 5 with an end of the outer profile 29.

[0088] In the arrangement according to Fig. 15, the separating layer 11—also film-like, for example—is delimited by an inner profile 28 of the profile body 24, preferably made of aluminum or plastic such as fiberglass or another magnetically neutral material. An outer profile 29 of the profile body 24, preferably made of sheet metal, surrounds the inner profile 28 and is sealed to the inner profile 28 by a sealing element 30, for example, a sealing compound such as silicone or in the form of a sealing lip or a sealing profile, so that contamination cannot enter the protected interior space 9.

[0089] The separating layer 11 rests on the stator assembly 5, so that no air gap is created between the separating layer 11 and the stator assembly 5. Thus, the magnetic coupling of the mover 4 and the stator assembly 5 is particularly efficient and trouble-free.

[0090] The profile body 24 according to the Figures 11 and 12is inserted or placed in the protected interior 9 and has two feet 27 (see Figure 11 ), which form a connection to the exterior space A of the protected interior space 9, so that, for example, electrical components can be advantageously supplied to or removed from the profile body 24, in particular the stator arrangement 5. The two feet 27 advantageously serve to dissipate the waste heat produced by the stator arrangement 5. This prevents overheating of the device 1. For example, connecting cables of the stator arrangement 5 can be routed into the exterior space A via the foot 24.

[0091] In a further embodiment, the profile body 24 is supported by only one foot 27 or by more than two feet 27.

[0092] The invention thus generally proposes a device 1 for manipulating an object 3, wherein the object 3 can be moved contactlessly on a drive surface 7 by at least one mover 4, which is magnetically coupled to a stator arrangement 5, wherein the drive surface 7 is designed as a boundary wall 8 of a protected interior space 9. The use of such a flexible device 1 is preferably of interest in the food or pharmaceutical industries, but is not limited to these areas. List of reference symbols

[0093] 1Device 2Housing 3Object 4Mover 5Stator arrangement 6Receptacle 7Drive surface 8Boundary wall 9Protected interior 10Coupling area 11Separation layer 12Support components 13Rack 14Filling device 15Process station 16(first) chamber 17Parting wall 18Access opening 19Enclosure 20Anchoring 21Zone 22Tunnel 23(second) chamber 24Profile body 25Access 26Adjustment device 27Foot of 24 28Inner profile 29Outer profile 30Sealing element AExterior space

Claims

1. Device (1) for manipulating an object (3), wherein the object (3) can be moved in a contactless manner on a drive surface (7) by at least one mover (4) which is magnetically coupled to a stator assembly (5), wherein the drive surface (7) is designed as a tight boundary, in particular as a boundary wall (8), of a protected interior space (9), wherein a coupling region (10) of the stator assembly (5) is produced from a magnetically neutral separating layer (11) and wherein at least one process station (15) is located in a fixedly mounted manner or on the mover (4) in the protected interior space (9).

2. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the stator assembly (5) is arranged outside a protected interior space (9), in particular is arranged on a preferably vertical and / or horizontal and / or sloping boundary wall (8), and / or in that the at least one mover (4) is arranged in the protected interior space (9) or outside the protected interior space (9).

3. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the boundary wall (8) of the protected interior space (9) has a coupling region (10) of the stator assembly (5) and the at least one mover (4), in particular wherein the area within the coupling region (10) may be smaller than the area of the boundary wall (8).

4. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the boundary wall (8) is made from the magnetically neutral separating layer (11), in particular from a stainless steel and / or glass layer and / or from gas-tight plastic and / or from composite material, which is preferably less than 2 mm thick, and / or in that the boundary wall (8) and / or the or a coupling region (10) is stabilized by carrier components (12), preferably consisting of magnetically neutral materials.

5. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stator assembly (5) is set up in at least one rack (13), wherein the at least one rack (13) is directly mounted on the boundary wall (8) and / or the or a coupling region (10), and / or is movable from and to the site of use and / or is adjustable at the site of use between an operating position approximated to the boundary wall (8) and a position remote from the boundary wall (8).

6. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the or a boundary wall (8) and / or the or a separating layer (11) can be removed from the device (1).

7. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the protected interior space (9) has at least two chambers (16, 23), in particular wherein the at least two chambers (16, 23) are formed by a partition wall (17) which preferably has at least one small access opening (18) and / or preferably forms the boundary wall (8).

8. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one process station (15), for example a filling device (14), is arranged in the or a coupling region (10) and / or in a chamber (16) and is located in a fastened manner in a second chamber (23).

9. Device (1) according to one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the stator assembly (5) is arranged on at least one boundary wall (8) and / or at least one coupling region (10) and / or two adjacent walls of the protected interior space (9) in such a way that the at least one mover (4) can transport the at least one object (3) within the at least two chambers (16, 23) and / or through the at least one small access opening (18) of the intermediate wall (17) between the at least two chambers (16, 23).

10. Device (1) according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the stator assembly (5) is arranged preferably vertically within the at least one intermediate wall (17) between the at least two chambers (16, 23).

11. Device (1) according to claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the stator assembly (5) is set up in the at least one intermediate wall (17) in at least one rack (13).

12. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the protected interior space (9) has at least one zone (21) through which flow occurs, in particular wherein the drive surface (7) is aligned such that the at least one mover (4) can be moved into the zone (21) and / or in the zone (21).

13. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stator assembly (5) is enclosed by a tunnel (22) that is sealed with respect to the interior space (9), wherein the drive surface (7) is formed by an enclosure (19) of the tunnel (22) or wherein the drive surface (7) is formed within the protected interior space (9) ) independently of the enclosure (19).

14. Device (1) according to claim 13, characterized in that the tunnel (22) is accessible from outside the protected interior space (9) on one or two sides and / or in that the tunnel (22) is surrounded by the protected interior space (9) along a full circumference running around its longitudinal extension.

15. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the protected interior space (9) has a profile body (24), wherein the profile body (24) has the stator assembly (5) and the separating layer (11), in particular wherein the preferably film-like separating layer (11) is preferably interchangeably attached to the profile body (24).

16. Device (1) according to one of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that the tunnel (22) and / or the profile body (24) forms / form accesses (25) outside the protected interior space (9).

17. Method for filling at least one object (3) with a device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one object (3) is moved by a mover (4) on a drive surface (7) of the protected interior space (9) to a process station (15), for example a filling device (14), and is filled by the filling device (14), wherein the filling device (14) is positioned in the protected interior space, in particular on the drive surface (7), or is positioned on a further mover (4).

18. Use of a boundary wall (8) of a protected interior space (9) of a device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 16 as a drive surface (7) of at least one mover (4) which is coupled to a stator assembly (5).