Device for charging a feeding system for packaging medicaments

Abstract

In a device according to the invention for charging a feeding system (1) for packaging medicaments, the feeding system (1) is equipped with a feeding box (2), wherein this charging device comprises a three-dimensional robot (3) with a charging container (4) arranged on this robot (3), and wherein, by means of the robot (3), this charging container (4) can be filled up at a filling station (5) and can be discharged over the feeding system (1).

Description

DEVICE FOR LOADING A FEEDING SYSTEM FOR PACKAGING OF MEDICINES Technical area

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for feeding a supply system for packaging medicaments according to the preamble of claim 1. State of the art, technological background of the invention

[0002] Pharmaceutical products such as pills, tablets, capsules, and the like are often packaged in disposable packaging before being shipped to consumers. Such disposable packaging includes thermoformed and cold-drawn blister packs, as well as pouches, bags, or disposable bottles.

[0003] An important aspect in the manufacture of these packages is the placement of the pills in the blister packs before a sealing film layer is applied. This process is preferably carried out by an automatic machine capable of precisely and accurately placing the pills at high speed. One embodiment of a blister packaging machine is known, for example, from US Pat. No. 5,737,902. The feed system described therein comprises a feed cassette with a number of tubes and a chute assembly with multiple chutes for guiding individual pills into the appropriate container. Above the feed cassette is an orientation plate that guides the tablets into the feed cassette, which in turn guides the tablets into the chutes.

[0004] The orientation plate closes off a hopper located above the feed cassette of the feeding system, towards the tubes. Filled with tablets to be packaged, the hopper moves up and down. to separate and orient the tablets into the tubes so that these tablets can be fed sequentially through the tubes to the drop chutes, allowing simultaneous and precise filling from all drop chutes into the corresponding tablet cavities of blister packs. Only when all tablet cavities of a blister pack contain one tablet each can this blister pack be used for sale.

[0005] Conventional feeding systems are fed with the bulk material to be packaged using known conveyor systems, whereby such conveyor systems usually combine belt conveyors and lift conveyors and offer little flexibility for adaptation to changing conditions. Description of the invention

[0006] It is an object of the present invention to further develop a device for feeding a supply system for packaging medicines in such a way that an improved device with largely automatic feeding is made possible, which at the same time offers a high degree of flexibility with regard to freedom of movement and adaptability to changing conditions.

[0007] The problem underlying this invention for the device is solved by the features of claim 1; the features further developing this inventive idea are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0008] The essence of the present invention for the device for feeding a feed system for packaging medications with a feed system having feed boxes is that this feeding device comprises a three-dimensional robot with a feed container arranged thereon, wherein this feed container can be filled by the robot at a filling station and emptied via the feed system. Thus, the feed system can be filled and emptied easily and with a high degree of flexibility. Conversion due to changed conditions is also possible quickly and easily using the device according to the invention.

[0009] In one embodiment of the invention, it is advantageously provided that the robot is arranged in a stationary manner between the filling station and the feeding system; in this case, for conversion in the event of changed packaging conditions, the robot can remain in place, and the filling station and / or the feeding system are adapted accordingly to the changed packaging conditions.

[0010] In a further embodiment of the invention, it is advantageously provided that the robot is arranged so that it can be moved between the filling station and the feed system; thus, this robot can be easily moved to its respective location of use.

[0011] Furthermore, it is advantageous if the feed container and the filling station each have a closure slide that can be opened or closed for filling or emptying the feed container. Advantageously, the feed system also includes a closure slide, and the two closure slides of the feed container and the feed system are arranged so that they can be moved relative to one another and thus opened or closed for filling the feed system. Short description of the drawings

[0012] The invention is explained below by way of example with reference to figures. Identical objects are generally provided with the same reference numerals in the figures. It should be noted that the figures do not limit the subject matter of the invention as such, but merely show exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept—as presented in the claims.

[0013] They show purely schematically the Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a delivery system for medications which is shown by means of a device according to the invention for feeding such a delivery system, not yet shown here; Fig. 2 shows the device according to the invention for feeding a feeding system by means of a three-dimensional robot; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the device according to the invention with a loading container which can be filled by means of the three-dimensional robot at a filling station; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the device according to the invention with the loading container on a feeding system, which also; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the device according to the invention with the loading container directly above the feed system; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the device according to the invention with the feed container in an inclined position directly above the feed system; Fig. 7a-c a sectional view of the device according to the invention with a feed container at the filling station according to Fig. 3, wherein respective closure slides of the feed container and the filling station are opened simultaneously in opposite directions for the purpose of filling the feed container - sequence of Fig. 7a to Fig. 7c - or closed - sequence of Fig. 7c to Fig. 7a. Ways to implement the invention

[0014] As an introduction to the present topic, Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a feeding system 1 with which tablets, pills or capsules (not explicitly shown here) are fed via a funnel 7 for receiving the same and a Feed box 2 with a downstream chute arrangement 8 in packages (also not shown) can be introduced. In the present example of a funnel 7 open at the top, the tablets, pills, or capsules can be introduced into the funnel and, by means of tubes 9 leading therefrom, fed to the feed box 2, which comprises pin plates for the purpose of separating individual tablets, pills, or capsules.

[0015] Fig. 2 shows the device according to the invention for feeding the feed system 1 shown in more detail in Fig. 1, wherein this device for feeding the feed system 1 with tablets, pills or capsules comprises a three-dimensional robot 3 with a feed container 4 arranged on this robot 3, and wherein this feed container 4 can be filled by means of the robot 3 at a filling station 5 and emptied via the feed system 1. Fig. 3 shows the robot 3 in a position in which the feed container 4 can be brought into operative connection with the filling station 5. For this purpose, closure slides 6b and 6a can be provided on the feed container 4 and the filling station 5, respectively, which are either open or closed in the event of an incident.In any case, according to the invention, the robot 3 feeds the feed container 4 to the filling station 5 in such a way that the feed container 4 can be filled with tablets, pills or capsules (not explicitly shown here).

[0016] Fig. 4 now shows, in a temporally subsequent position, the robot 3, which feeds the feed container 4 to the feed system 1. For this purpose, the closure slide 6b on the feed container 4 and a closure slide 6c on the feed system 1 are opened simultaneously in order to feed the contents of the feed container 4, namely tablets, pills, or capsules, to the feed system 1. Of particular advantage is the embodiment of the invention in which both the feed system 1, the feed container 4, and the filling station 5 are each equipped with the closure slide 6a, b, c, since this allows both the filling of the feed container 4 at the filling station 5 and the emptying of the feed container 4 at the feed system 1 to take place in a substantially closed manner, meaning that neither bulk material—such as tablets, pills, or capsules—nor the associated bulk material dust escapes during filling or emptying. Thus, the present device according to the invention for feeding the feed system enables particularly clean and simple filling.

[0017] Fig. 5 shows an embodiment of the invention in which only the feed container 4 comprises the closure slide 6b, wherein the feed container 4 can be emptied by the robot 3 via the open hopper 7 of the feed system 1 by actuating this closure slide 6b. In a further, simplified embodiment of the invention, neither the feed container 4 nor the feed system 1 has the closure slide, and the robot 3 guides the feed container 4 over the hopper 7 of the feed system for the purpose of pouring.

[0018] Fig. 7a to 7c show in chronological order how the closure slide 6a of the filling station 5 and the closure slide 6b of the feed container 4 are brought into mutual engagement for parallel actuation. For this purpose, the robot 3 guides the two closure slides 6a, 6b towards one another at their respective edges in such a way that they open simultaneously through a corresponding movement of the robot 3 or close simultaneously when separated. Fig. 7a shows the feed container 4, which was fed to the filling station 5 by the robot 3, in such a way that the lateral edges of the two closure slides 6a, b abut one another. Fig. 7b shows a slightly open position of the two closure slides 6a, b, into which the robot 3 has brought these closure slides 6a, b. The two locking slides 6a, b are shown fully open in Fig. 7c.In this position, the feed container 4 can be filled with tablets, pills, or capsules from the filling station 5. According to this filling process, shown chronologically in Figs. 7a to 7c, the emptying of the feed container 4 can also take place at the feed system—as shown in Fig. 4—wherein the closure slides 6b and 6c can then be brought into a corresponding operative connection with each other by means of the robot. List of reference symbols 1 feeding system 2 feed boxes 3 robots 4 feeding containers 5 filling station 6a, b, c locking slide 7 funnels 8 Drop shaft arrangement 9 tubes 10a, b Pin plates for separation

Claims

Patent claims 1 Device for feeding a feed system (1) for packaging medicaments with a feed system (1) having a feed box (2), characterized in that this device for feeding comprises a three-dimensional robot (3) with a feed container (4) arranged on it, wherein this feed container (4) can be filled by means of the robot (3) at a filling station (5) and can be emptied via the feed system (1). 2 Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the robot (3) is arranged in a stationary manner between the filling station (5) and the feeding system (1). 3 Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the robot is arranged to be movable between the filling station (5) and the feeding system (1). 4 Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the loading container (4) and the filling station (5) each comprise closure slides (10a, b). 5 Device according to claim 4, characterized in that for filling the feed container (4) at the filling station (5) the respective closure slides (10a, b) are arranged to be displaceable relative to one another and can thus be closed or opened. 6 Device according to claim 4, characterized in that for filling the feed system (1) by means of the feed container (4) on the feed system (1) a closure slide (10c) is arranged and the two closure slides (10a, c) of the feed container (4) and of the feed system (1) are arranged displaceably relative to one another and can thus be closed or opened.

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