Foldable chute for waterproof object transfer connection device

Abstract

The invention relates to a chute (13) designed to cooperate with a flange (2) having a central opening (8), in order to extend this central opening (8) to facilitate the flow of objects from this flange (2). This chute (13) comprises at least four cylindrical sectors connected by joints. This chute (13) can be either in an extended state having a cylindrical shape to extend the central opening (8), or in a folded state in which it has a reduced size to pass through the central opening (8). Figure 4

Description

Title of the invention: Foldable chute for a sealed connection device for transferring objects Technical field

[0001] Embodiments of the present publication relate to the transfer of objects from a sealed container to a sealed cell, with a double-door connection system equipped with a chute for channeling the flow of these objects into the cell, and more particularly such a chute. BACKGROUND

[0002] In various industrial sectors, tasks are carried out in a confined atmosphere, to protect the environment of these tasks for example from radioactivity, sterility, and / or toxicity, or to carry out these tasks in an aseptic atmosphere, or both simultaneously.

[0003] The transfer of objects from a sealed container to a sealed cell without breaking the seal is ensured with a double-door connection device, known for example from published patent documents FR2695343 and US8950624.

[0004] Such a device is for example used for the manufacture, assembly and packaging of medicines. An assembly or production line is then installed in the cell, and small objects such as stoppers or bottle caps are transferred into the cell as components to supply this line, and typically to assemble them in this line.

[0005] The sealed cell is equipped with a flange closed on the inside by a door mounted on a hinge fitted to this flange, and the sealed container is for example a bag or a rigid box whose mouth is provided with another flange fitted with another door.

[0006] The connection consists of engaging the container flange in that of the cell, and pivoting it on itself, which, thanks to a system with multiple (i.e. three) bayonet connections, has the effect of securing the two flanges to each other, securing the two doors to each other, and detaching the container door from the container flange.

[0007] After establishing the connection, the cell door is pivoted inwards to open it: the container door then being rigidly secured to that of the cell, it is taken with the cell door to extract it from the container flange.

[0008] Additionally, the device comprises on the inside of the cell a movable chute which is a revolution element which partially engages in the opening of the cell flange to extend it, in order to channel the flow of objects, for example towards a vibrating feed bowl located in the cell. This chute also ensures that the objects are transferred without being in contact with the annular region joining the two flanges, called the contamination ring or "critical ring", which is likely to be contaminated.

[0009] When the objects have been transferred, the chute is moved away from the opening of the cell flange, to free this opening and allow the cell door to be folded down against this opening with the container door it carries.

[0010] The container is then pivoted on itself in the opposite direction, which has the effect of securing the container door to its flange, and of separating the doors from each other, and of separating the flanges from each other.

[0011] When the chute of such an installation must be removed or installed, it is necessary to remove it from the sealed cell or to introduce it into this sealed cell to mount it. Given the tightness of the sterile cell, the introduction of the new chute requires the use of a transfer airlock which can be fitted to the cell or to open the cell and then have to sterilize it again, which constitutes in either case a complex operation requiring a significant intervention time.

[0012] The purpose of embodiments of the present publication is to provide a solution making it possible to simplify the operations necessary to change such a chute. Presentation of the invention

[0013] For this purpose, the subject of the present disclosure is a chute intended to cooperate with a flange comprising a central opening, in order to extend this central opening to facilitate the flow of objects out of this flange, this chute comprising a body having at least four cylinder sectors connected by articulations, this body being able to be either in a deployed state having a cylindrical shape to extend the central opening, or in a folded state in which this body has a reduced bulk to pass through the central opening.

[0014] With this arrangement, the chute can be introduced inside the sealed cell through the flange it is intended to equip, so that it is not necessary to use a transfer airlock having an opening larger than the central opening or to open the cell to install the chute or to change it.

[0015] Embodiments of the present disclosure also provide a chute thus defined, wherein the cylinder sectors of the body are sheet metal elements.

[0016] Embodiments of the present disclosure also provide a chute thus defined, and in which the articulations are piano hinges.

[0017] Embodiments of the present disclosure also provide a fall thus defined, in which the body comprises four sectors of cylinders connected to each other by four joints.

[0018] The invention also relates to a chute thus defined, comprising a fixing member comprising an internal jaw and an external jaw equipped with clamping means for gripping two contiguous cylinder sectors of the body, at the level of an articulation connecting these two sectors, the external jaw carrying a fixing base to an arm for holding the chute.

[0019] Embodiments of the present disclosure also provide a chute thus defined, in which each jaw comprises an active sheet metal part.

[0020] Embodiments of the present disclosure also relate to a chute thus defined, in which the clamping means comprise studs carried by the internal jaw, holes for the passage of these studs formed in the external jaw, and clamping nuts engaging these studs.

[0021] Embodiments of the present disclosure also relate to a drop thus defined, in which each cylinder sector gripped by the fixing member comprises a notch intended to receive a clamping stud.

[0022] Embodiments of the present disclosure also relate to a chute thus defined, comprising an articulation connecting two cylinder sectors which is equipped with a gripping member.

[0023] Embodiments of the present disclosure also relate to a chute thus defined, in which each of the two cylinder sectors connected by the articulation equipped with a gripping member, is terminated by a rim folded at a right angle, in which the articulation equipped with a gripping member is carried by the ends of these rims, and in which these rims bear against each other when the body is in the deployed state.

[0024] Embodiments of the present disclosure also relate to a fall thus defined, in which the fixing member grips the two cylinder sectors connected by the articulation equipped with a gripping member, and in which the fixing base carried by the external jaw is circumferentially offset relative to the articulation equipped with a gripping member.

[0025] Embodiments of the present disclosure also provide a chute thus defined, comprising two cylinder sectors having an angular extent less than that of the other two cylinder sectors.

[0026] Embodiments of the present disclosure also relate to a method for equipping a sterile cell flange, with a drop thus defined, this flange carrying an arm extending into the cell, this method comprising the steps of: - placing the folded body of the drop and the member for fixing the drop in a container provided with a container flange; - connect the container flange to the cell flange; - transfer the body and the fixing member into the cell by passing them through a central opening in the flange; - secure the fixing base of the fixing member to the arm; - deploy the body and secure it to the fixing member.

[0027] Embodiments of the present disclosure also relate to a method for cleaning a drop thus defined, from a sterile cell, this method comprising the steps of: - fold the body of the fall; - remove the fall from the sterile cell; - clean the fall; - reintroduce the fall into the sterile cell; - deploy the body of the fall.

[0028] Embodiments of the present disclosure also relate to a method thus defined, further comprising a step of securing the deployed body to a fixing member.

[0029] Embodiments of the present disclosure also provide a method so defined, wherein the step of removing the drop and reintroducing the drop includes passing the drop through a central opening of the flange of the sterile cell. Brief description of the drawings

[0030] [Fig. 1] shows a cell flange to which a container flange is connected as seen from outside the cell;

[0031] [Fig.2] shows a cell flange with its door open and its chute away from the opening seen from inside the cell;

[0032] [Fig.3] shows a cell flange with its door open and its chute engaged in its opening seen from inside the cell;

[0033] [Fig.4]shows a cell flange with its folded fall ready to be engaged in the central opening of the cell flange;

[0034] [Fig.5] shows a chute according to the invention with its body deployed and its fixing member secured to this body;

[0035] [Fig.6] shows the fixing member alone;

[0036] [Fig.7] shows the body of the chute and the fixing member separated from each other;

[0037] [Fig.8] shows the body of the fall in the process of being folded back;

[0038] [Fig.9] shows the body of the chute fully folded.

[0039] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PARTICULAR EMBODIMENTS

[0040] In [Fig. 1], a wall 1 of a cell is equipped with a cell flange 2 in which is engaged a container flange 3 provided with a container door 4. The container itself, which is not shown, extends in the extension of the flange 3, outside the cell, this container being able to be a flexible bag or a rigid box.

[0041] The cell flange 2 which extends around an axis of revolution AX is provided on the inside of the cell with a hinge 6 on which is mounted a cell door 7 visible in [Fig. 2]. This cell door 7 opens towards the inside of the cell to release the central opening 8 of the flange 2, as in the situation of [Fig. 2], and it can also occupy a folded position on the opening 8 to close it, which corresponds to the configuration of [Fig. 1]. As visible in Figures 1 and 2, the hinge 6 extends along an axis AY which is parallel to the wall 1 and which is here oriented vertically.

[0042] The connection of the container flange 3 consists of engaging its end in the cell flange 2, then pivoting it around the axis AX by means of two gripping handles 11 and 12 of this flange 3 which extend radially.

[0043] Thanks to a system of three bayonet connections not detailed here, this rotation has the effect of securing the two flanges 2 and 3 to each other, of securing the two doors 4 and 7 to each other, and of separating the container door 4 from the container flange 3.

[0044] Once the container flange 3 is connected to the cell flange 2, opening the cell door 7 allows the central opening 8 to be released, taking with it the container door 4, which corresponds to the situation in [Fig.2].

[0045] As visible in this [Fig.2], the cell flange 2 is also equipped, on the inside of the cell, with a chute 13 having here a shape of a portion of cylinder with an external diameter substantially smaller than the internal diameter that the opening 8 has on the inside of the cell. This chute 13 is a movable element which is carried by the flange 2.

[0046] This chute 13 can occupy a clear position corresponding to that of [Fig.2], in which it is moved away from the opening 8 to allow the passage of the door 7 in order to open or close it.

[0047] It can occupy a position of use in which its upstream circular edge 14 is engaged in the opening 8 concentrically thereto while being axially in abutment on corresponding stops, which corresponds to the situation of [Fig.3].

[0048] This chute 13 makes it possible to channel the objects to be transferred into the cell, for example towards a receptacle located in the cell, and it also ensures that during their transit, the objects do not come into contact with the annular region corresponding to the junction of the cell flange 2 and the container flange 3, which is likely to be contaminated.

[0049] The cell flange 2 is equipped on its internal face with a support 16 extending ra- dially with respect to the axis AX, and the end of which furthest from the axis AX carries one end of an arm 17 capable of pivoting with respect to the support 16, around an axis AZ normal to the axes AX and AY.

[0050] This arm 17 carries at its free end the chute 13, to move it in a controlled manner between its position of use and its released position, thanks to a motor not shown. When the arm 17 runs along the internal face of the flange 2 while extending towards the axis AX, the chute is in the position of use to extend the opening 8, and when it extends perpendicular to the internal face, that is to say parallel to the axis AX, the chute 13 is in its released position to free the opening 8 in order to allow the door 4 to close.

[0051] The chute 13 comprises a generally cylindrical body 18, and a fixing member 19 by which it is rigidly secured to the free end of the arm 17. This fixing member 19 is rigidly secured to the body 18 while being removable to separate it from this body 18.

[0052] The body 18 is formed of four cylinder sectors secured to each other by articulations parallel to each other, which allow it to be folded back on itself.

[0053] This body 18 is deployed to have a generally cylindrical shape when the chute is in use, that is to say as in figures 2 and 3, but its articulations allow it to be folded back on itself to reduce its size in order to allow its passage through the opening 8, as illustrated in [Fig.4].

[0054] In practice, to place the chute 13 inside the cell, the operator separates the body 18 from the fixing member 19 and folds the body back on itself, before placing the body 18 and the member 19 inside a container equipped with a container flange 3, after which the container flange 3 is coupled to the cell flange 2, to then open the door 4.

[0055] The container (not shown) may be a rigid container incorporating a mobile trolley in translation, or a flexible container such as a bag, and the cell comprises glove rings each equipped with a glove and located in the vicinity of the flange 2, allowing an operator to pass his arms into these gloves from outside the cell, to access the interior of the latter and manipulate objects there.

[0056] When the assembly is in place, the body 18 and the member 19 located in the container are moved therein to make them pass through the opening 8. The operator having put his arms in the gloves can then receive the member 19 and the body 18 inside the cell.

[0057] The operator then secures the fixing member 19 to the free end of the arm 17, deploys the body 18 and secures it to the fixing member 19, so that the chute 13 is then operational.

[0058] As can be seen more clearly in [Fig. 5], according to an exemplary embodiment, the body 18 comprises four cylinder sectors 21-24 secured to each other by four articulations marked 26-29. Each cylinder sector extends over approximately a quarter of a turn around the axis AX and is here formed from sheet metal. The articulations 26-29 which, according to an exemplary embodiment, are here piano hinges extend parallel to the axis AX to each connect two circumferentially consecutive cylinder sectors.

[0059] These four cylinder sectors thus delimit the general cylindrical shape of the body 18, the diameter of which is slightly less than the diameter of the opening 8 on the inside of the cell, this body 18 having a circular upstream edge 31 and a circular downstream edge 32. The upstream edge 31 is the one which is inserted into the opening 8 when the chute 13 is in its position of use.

[0060] The fixing member 19 is secured to the body 18 at the level of the articulation 26 which joins the sectors 21 and 22, and it encloses the two sectors 21 and 22 by extending (at least partially) between the upstream edge 31 and the upstream end of the articulation 26, this upstream end being significantly spaced from the edge 31.

[0061] As can be seen more clearly in [Fig. 6], this member 19 comprises an internal jaw 33 and an external jaw 34 which are curved, in this case in the form of sheet metal plates in the form of portions of cylinders of the same diameter as that of the body 18, these sheet metal plates constituting the active parts of these jaws.

[0062] The external jaw 34 carries a base 36 for fixing to the free end of the arm 17, in the form of a stud projecting from this jaw in a direction normal to its external face. This base 36 in the form of a stud engages reversibly in a corresponding hole formed at the free end of the arm 17 to be rigidly secured to the latter after locking by means not shown such as a radial pressure screw equipping the arm 17, or the like. Other reversible locking means such as mechanical locks are possible.

[0063] The inner jaw 33 carries two studs projecting from its outer face and extending parallel to each other, which engage in two corresponding holes formed in the outer jaw 34, so that two nuts 37 and 38 can be tightened onto these studs to press the two jaws 33 and 34 against each other.

[0064] Additionally, the sector 21 comprises a notch 39 opening in its upstream edge 31, and intended to be crossed by the first stud of the member 19, and the sector 22 comprises another similar notch to receive the other stud of this member 19.

[0065] Equipping the flange 2 with the fall 13 is obtained by first fixing the fixing member to the arm 17, and then fixing the body 18 to the fixing member 19.

[0066] The fixing member 19 is fixed to the arm 17, by engaging its base 36 in the free end of the arm 17, before rigidly fixing it to the latter, for example by means of a radial screw carried by the end of this arm 17 and making it possible to block the base 36.

[0067] The securing of the member 19 to the body 18 thus consists of engaging the studs of the internal jaw 33 in corresponding holes of the external jaw 34 and engaging the nuts 37, 38 at the ends of the studs, without tightening them completely.

[0068] The body 18 is then deployed by the operator to take its cylindrical shape, and it is then moved to bring its edge 31 closer to the jaws, as illustrated in [Fig.7]. The body 18 is then translated along the axis AX to engage the two studs in the notches of the cylinder sectors 21 and 22, while positioning the two jaws 33 and 34 on either side of the wall jointly delimited by these sectors 21 and 22.

[0069] At this stage, the member 19 is in place on the body 18, so that the nuts 37 and 38 can be screwed and tightened to rigidly secure the assembly of the member 19 to the body 18.

[0070] To facilitate the deployment of the body 18 with a view to securing the fixing member 19, the articulation 26 connecting the sectors 21 and 22 is equipped with a gripping member 41 designed to be grasped by the fingers of an operator to spontaneously place the body in the deployed configuration by the effect of gravity.

[0071] More particularly, the hinge constituting the articulation 26 comprises an internal rod passing through its hinges which protrudes beyond the edge 32, having its end terminated by the gripping member 41 in the form of a very long nut fixed to the end of this rod.

[0072] Additionally, this articulation 26 is offset radially outwards beyond the external face of the sectors 21 and 22. More particularly, the sector 21 comprises at the level of the articulation 26 a rim 42 folded at a right angle to extend radially relative to the axis AX beyond the main surface of this sector 21. In the same way, the sector 22 is provided with a rim of the same type, and the articulation 26 is carried by the ends of these two rims.

[0073] When the two edges are in contact with each other, the main cylindrical surfaces of the sectors 21 and 22 extend in line with each other so that these two sectors jointly delimit a semi-cylindrical shape.

[0074] Under these conditions, the deployment of the body 18 essentially consists of positioning the two sectors 21 and 22 so that their edges are in contact with each other. This is obtained simply by the effect of gravity when the drop is maintained by its gripping member 41, which is sufficient to configure the entire body 18 in its cylindrical configuration to fix the member 19 there.

[0075] For integration reasons, and as visible in [Fig.5], the base 36 is circumferentially offset relative to the edges of sectors 21 and 22 when the body is in place in the fixing member 19, that is to say rigidly secured to it.

[0076] The folding of the chute 13 consists in a first step of separating the body 18 from the member 19, by loosening its nuts 37 and 38 before moving it axially to move it away from the edge 31. After this operation, the articulation 26 is lowered to bring it closer to the opposite articulation, namely the articulation 28, as illustrated in [Fig.8].

[0077] The movement is then continued until the articulation 26 is brought close to the articulation 28 in order to complete the folding of the body 18 on itself, which corresponds to the situation in [Fig.9]. As visible in this [Fig.9], the two sectors 21 and 22 advantageously have an angular extent slightly smaller than that of the sectors 23 and 24, so as to allow a more compact folding of the body 18 on itself, that is to say to reduce as much as possible its size when it is folded.

[0078] For example, the external dimensions may be the dimension of the profile seen along the direction of the axis AX, in which the maximum dimension of the deployed profile (see [Fig.7]) is larger than the maximum dimension of the folded profile (see [Fig.9]). The longitudinal dimension of the profile does not change between the folded state and the deployed state.

[0079] As can be understood, when the chute located inside the sterile cell needs to be cleaned, its body is folded before removing it from the sterile cell through the central opening of the flange, and it is cleaned in a separate installation. When the chute is clean, it is reintroduced into the sterile cell through the central opening of the flange, before deploying its body and securing it to the fixing member.

[0080] Several apparently very different embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure.

[0081] For example, the body may be configured with a number of sectors other than four, such as five or three. In the case of three sectors, a middle sector is connected by hinges to adjacent sectors (flanks) on each side. The adjacent sector (flank) may then be folded towards the middle sector, and the other adjacent sector may be folded over the other sector, in the folded state. In the deployed state it constitutes a cylindrical shape. The sectors may advantageously be formed from a material having suitable flexibility.

[0082] It is important to emphasize that the invention is not limited to particular embodiments, except as defined in the claims.

Claims

Claims

1. Chute (13) intended to cooperate with a flange (2) having a central opening (8), in order to extend this central opening (8) to facilitate the flow of objects out of this flange (2), this chute (13) comprising a body (18) having several cylinder sectors (21-24) connected by articulations (26-29), this body (18) being able to be either in an extended state having a cylindrical shape to extend the central opening (8), or in a folded state in which this body (18) has a reduced bulk to pass through the central opening (8).

2. Chute according to claim 1, in which the cylinder sectors (21-24) of the body (18) are sheet metal elements.

3. Chute according to claim 1, in which the body (18) comprises four cylinder sectors (21-24) connected to each other by four articulations (26-29).

4. Chute according to claim 1, in which the articulations (26-29) are hinges, and preferably piano hinges.

5. Chute according to claim 1, comprising a fixing member (19) comprising an internal jaw (33) and an external jaw (34) equipped with clamping means for gripping two contiguous cylinder sectors (21, 22) of the body (18) at a joint (26) connecting these two sectors (21, 22), the external jaw (34) carrying a fixing base (36) of the chute to an arm (17) for holding this chute (13).

6. Chute according to claim 5, in which each jaw (33, 34) comprises an active part made of sheet metal.

7. Chute according to claim 5, in which the clamping means comprise studs carried by the internal jaw (33), holes for the passage of these studs formed in the external jaw (34), and clamping nuts (37, 38) engaging on these studs.

8. Chute according to claim 7, in which each cylinder sector (21, 22) gripped by the fixing member (19) comprises a notch (39) intended to be crossed by a clamping stud.

9. Chute according to claim 1, comprising an articulation (26) connecting two cylinder sectors (21, 22) which is equipped with a gripping member (41) extending it.

10. A chute according to claim 9, wherein each of the two sectors of cylinders (21, 22) connected by the articulation (26) equipped with a gripping member (41), is terminated by a rim (42) folded at a right angle, in which the articulation (26) equipped with a gripping member (41) is carried by the ends of these rims (42), and in which these rims bear against each other when the body (18) is in the deployed state.

11. Chute according to claims 5 and 10, in which the fixing member (19) grips the two cylinder sectors (21, 22) connected by the articulation (26) equipped with a gripping member (41), and in which the fixing base (36) carried by the external jaw (34) is circumferentially offset relative to the articulation (26) equipped with a gripping member (41).

12. Chute according to one of the preceding claims, comprising two cylinder sectors (21, 22) having an angular extent less than that of the other two cylinder sectors (23, 24).

13. Method for equipping a sterile cell flange (2) with a chute (13) as defined in claim 5, this flange (2) carrying an arm (17) extending into the cell, this method comprising the steps of: - placing the body (18) of the chute (13) folded and the fixing member (19) of the chute (13) in a container provided with a container flange (3); - connecting the container flange (3) to the cell flange (2); - transferring the body (18) and the fixing member (19) into the cell by passing them through a central opening (8) of the flange; - securing the fixing base (36) of the fixing member (19) to the arm (17); - deploying the body (18) and securing it to the fixing member (19).

14. A method for cleaning a chute according to claim 1, from a sterile cell, this method comprising the steps of: - folding the body (18) of the chute (13); - removing the chute (13) from the sterile cell; - cleaning the chute (13); - reintroducing the chute (13) into the sterile cell; - deploying the body (18) of the chute (13).

15. A method according to claim 14, further comprising a step of securing the deployed body (18) to a fixing member (19).

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of removing the drop (13) and reintroducing the drop (13) includes passing the drop (13) through a central opening (8) of the flange (2) of the sterile cell.

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