IMPROVED CELL FLANGE FOR SEALED TRANSFER SYSTEM

Abstract

A cell flange (200) comprising an annular flange body (201) with a main axis (AX) and provided with means for its attachment to a wall (100) of a cell, the flange body (201) defining an internal passage (202), the cell flange (200) having a cell door (15) capable of selectively closing the internal passage (202), the cell flange (200) also comprising a ring (210) rotatably mounted relative to the flange body (201) about the main axis (AX) and comprising a set of external tabs (212-215) projecting radially from an inner periphery (216) of the ring (210) and adapted to form an external bayonet connection, the cell door (15) comprising a fixed portion (150) and a movable portion (160) mounted concentrically rotatably relative to each other about the axis main (AX), the mobile portion (160) comprising a set of internal ears (161-164) capable of forming an internal bayonet connection.Figure for the abbreviation: Figure 1.

Description

Title of the invention: IMPROVED CELL FLANGE FOR SEALED TRANSFER SYSTEM technical field

[0001] The invention relates to the sealed transfer of objects from a sealed container to a cell, with a double-door connection system. PREVIOUS STATE OF THE ART

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

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

[0004] Such a device can be used for the packaging of medicines: a filling line is then installed in the cell, and small objects such as bottle caps are transferred into the cell to supply this line.

[0005] The cell is equipped with an annular cell flange with a main axis which defines an internal passage closed on the inside by a door mounted on a hinge equipping this flange, and the container is for example a bag whose mouth is provided with a container flange equipped with another door.

[0006] The connection consists of engaging the container flange with that of the cell and rotating it on itself, which has the effect of:

[0007] - to join the two flanges together by engaging a first connection at bayonet known as bridle-bridle connection;

[0008] - to secure the two doors together by engaging a second connection at bayonet known as door-to-door link;

[0009] - detach the container door from its flange by disengaging a third bayonet fitting, also known as flange-door fitting.

[0010] After connection, the cell door is pivoted inwards to open it: the container door being then rigidly attached to that of the cell by the door-to-door connection, it is taken with the cell door to extract it from the container flange.

[0011] When the objects have been transferred, the cell door can then be folded down against this opening with the container door that it carries.

[0012] The container is then pivoted on itself in the opposite direction, which has the effect of:

[0013] - securing the container door to the container flange;

[0014] - detach the container door from the cell door;

[0015] - detach the container flange from the cell flange.

[0016] The connection operations require rotating the flange of The container's rotation around the main axis presents several problems. When the container is a flexible bag, the operator must support and manipulate its contents to move with the flange. During this movement, the bag's contents can be damaged. If the operator doesn't handle the bag's contents correctly, a bulge can form near the container flange, potentially damaging the bag. Furthermore, with such a flange system, it's impossible to supply the cell with delicate or fragile items using bags. Such items are stored in containers with internal cradles that decouple the cradle's rotation from the container's rotation around the main axis.Such devices are expensive, prone to failure, and greatly reduce the available storage volume in the container, thus requiring an increase in the number of connection / disconnection sequences of a container to the cell, which in turn increases the risk of a connection failure.

[0017] The object of the invention is to improve the reliability of a connection from a cell to a container using a double bayonet door system. Description of the invention

[0018] To this end, a cell flange is provided, comprising an annular flange body with a main axis and equipped with means for its attachment to a cell wall. The flange body defines an internal passage. The cell flange has a gate that can selectively close the internal passage. According to the invention, the cell flange also comprises a ring mounted for rotation relative to the flange body about the main axis and comprising a set of external tabs that project radially from the inner periphery of the ring and are adapted to form an external bayonet connection. The gate comprises a fixed portion and a movable portion mounted concentrically for rotation relative to each other about the main axis. The movable portion comprises a set of internal tabs adapted to form an internal bayonet connection.

[0019] Thus, a cell flange is obtained that reduces the amplitude of rotation of the container by connecting the external bayonet link through rotation of the flange and not of the container. By reducing, or even eliminating, the rotation of the container relative to the cell flange, the overall reliability of the connection is improved.

[0020] According to other specific, non-exclusive and optional embodiments of the invention: - the fixed portion is an annular portion which defines an internal housing for receiving the moving portion. - the moving portion also includes means for locking the door to the flange. - the door locking means to the flange include a bolt attached to the moving portion and the flange includes a strike plate. - the door includes a rotating coupling device, separate from the internal bayonet connection, to transmit rotation of the moving portion. - The flange includes a portion actuator to actuate the rotation of the moving portion relative to the fixed portion and / or an opening actuator to selectively move the gate between a closing position of the internal passage and a releasing position of the internal passage; - the flange includes retaining means intended to hold in position a container presented in front of the flange.

[0021] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of particular, non-limiting embodiments of the invention. Brief description of the drawings

[0022] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description, given by way of non-limiting example, and made with reference to the figures which represent:

[0023] - [Fig. 1] [Fig. 1] is a schematic cross-sectional view of a cell equipped with a flange according to the invention;

[0024] - [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a schematic front view of the flange of [Fig.1] whose The door is shown closed;

[0025] - [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a schematic half-section view of the flange of [Fig.1] and of a container flange;

[0026] - [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is a schematic exploded perspective view of a flange of container and a container door;

[0027] - [Fig.5] [Fig.5] is a schematic cross-sectional view of the flange and the door of container of the [Fig.4];

[0028] - [Fig.6] [Fig.6] is a schematic partial perspective view of the flange and the container door of the [Fig.5];

[0029] - [Fig.7] [Fig.7] is a schematic perspective view of a first stage of connecting a container flange equipped with a door to a cell flange according to the invention;

[0030] - [Fig.8] [Fig.8] is a schematic front view of a second linking stage from a container flange equipped with a door to a cell flange according to the invention;

[0031] - [Fig. 9] [Fig. 9] is a schematic front view of a third linking stage from a container flange equipped with a door to a cell flange according to the invention;

[0032] - [Fig. 10] [Fig. 10] is a schematic perspective view of a fourth stage of connecting a container flange equipped with a door to a cell flange according to the invention;

[0033] - [Fig. 11] [Fig. 11] is a schematic front view of a fifth stage of connection of a container flange equipped with a door to a cell flange according to the invention;

[0034] - [Fig. 12] [Fig. 12] is a schematic perspective view of a sixth stage of connecting a container flange equipped with a door to a cell flange according to the invention.

[0035] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PARTICULAR EMBODIMENTS

[0036] With reference to figures 1 to 3, a wall 100 of a cell not shown is equipped with a cell flange 200. This cell flange 200 has an inner face 4 turned towards the inside of the cell it equips, and an outer face 7 turned towards the outside of the cell it equips.

[0037] The cell flange 200 comprises an annular flange body 201 with main axis AX and which is provided with means for its attachment to the wall 100. The flange body 201 defines an internal passage 202. The flange 200 has a cell door 15 capable of selectively closing the internal passage 202. The cell flange 200 is provided on the inner side of the cell with a hinge 14 on which the cell door 15 is mounted. The cell door 15 itself is connected to the hinge 14 by means of an arm 16 having a first end rigidly fixed to a rotating element of the hinge 14, a body fixed to the door. The cell door 15 also includes a first square parallelepiped recess 17 which is set back from the face 15.1 of the cell door 15. The cell door 15 opens into the cell to free the internal passage 202 of the flange 200, as in the configuration of [Fig. 12].This cell door 15 can also occupy a folded position over the internal passage 202 to close it off, which corresponds to the configuration of figures 1 and 2. As can be seen in figures 1 and 2, the hinge 14 extends along an axis AY which is parallel to the wall 100 and which is here oriented vertically.

[0038] As shown in [Fig. 3], the cell flange 200 comprises a ring 210 rotatably mounted relative to the flange body 201 about the axis AX. The rotational guidance of the ring 210 on the flange 200 is provided by a circular slide 211 with axis AX. The ring 210 includes a set of four external lugs 212 to 215 that project radially from the inner periphery 216 of the ring 210 and are adapted to form an external bayonet connection, also called a flange-to-flange connection.

[0039] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the cell door 15 comprises a fixed annular portion 150 that defines an internal housing 151 for receiving a movable portion 160. The fixed portion 150 and the movable portion 160 are mounted concentrically and rotate with respect to each other about the axis AX, and the movable portion 160 comprises a set of four internal tabs 161 to 164 adapted to form an internal bayonet connection. The fixed portion 150 includes a double-lip annular sealing gasket 152.

[0040] The body 201 includes a strike plate 203 which protrudes from the inner face 4 and the movable portion 160 includes a bolt 165 which extends radially overhanging the fixed portion 150 to collaborate with the strike plate 203 by rotation around the axis AX.

[0041] The container flange 3 is annular in shape and includes a cylindrical inner face 5 that defines an internal passage 6. The internal passage 6 has four internal tabs 10 to 13 evenly distributed around a central principal axis AX of the container flange 3. Two of these internal tabs, 10 and 13, are visible in [Fig. 4]; these internal tabs 10 to 13 project radially towards the axis AX. The face of tab 10 that faces the internal passage 6 includes a truncated pyramid-shaped notch 10.1 that is recessed from said face. The internal tabs 11, 12, and 13 each have similar notches 11.1, 12.1, and 13.1, respectively. The container flange 3 includes four container lugs 3.1 to 3.4 that project outwards from the outer face 8 of the container flange 3.

[0042] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the container door 30 comprises a cylindrical body 31 of revolution about axis AX. The body 31 also defines a blind cylindrical housing 32 about axis AX, which is open on its front face 33. The housing 32 comprises a radially projecting wall 34 from which extend a set of four internal tabs 35, 36, 37, and 38 adapted to form the internal bayonet connection with the internal lugs 161 to 164 of the cell door 15. The container flange 3 is provided with a container door 30 which rests on a double-lip seal 3.10.

[0043] The door 30 also includes a plate 40 mounted for rotation about the axis AX relative to the body 31. To this end, the plate 40 includes an axial cylindrical protrusion 41 which is received in a central cylindrical bearing 39 of the body 31. A screw 42, which extends through the protrusion 41 and the bearing 39, rotationally links the plate 40 and a cap 43 located on the front face 33 of the body 31. The cap 43 is provided at its apex with a second square parallelepiped recess 44 which projects from an upper face 45 of the cap 43. The second recess 44 is complementary to the first recess 17. A helical spring 46 interposed between the body 31 and the cap 43 returns the plate 40 towards the body 31.

[0044] The plate 40 includes, projecting radially from its periphery 47, a set of four door lugs 48, 49, 50 and 51 adapted to form a bayonet door connection with The inner legs 10 to 13. As seen in [Fig. 4], the face of the door ear 48 that faces the body 31 includes a truncated pyramid-shaped nipple 48.1 that projects axially from said face. The door ears 49, 50, and 51 include similar nipples 49.1, 50.1, and 51.1, respectively.

[0045] The body 31 comprises four external stops 55 to 58 regularly distributed in radial projection of the body 31 around the axis AX. Two of these external stops 56 and 57 are visible in [Fig.4].

[0046] The external stops 55 to 58 extend radially from the outer circular circumference of the body 31 so that each can engage between two contiguous internal tabs 10 to 13 of the container flange 3, against which they bear, as in the configuration of [Fig. 6]. The stops 55 to 58 thus prevent rotation about the axis AX of the body 31 relative to the container flange 3.

[0047] Optionally, a safety device not shown in the figures ensures that the bolt 165 can only be disengaged from the strike plate 203 when the cell flange 200-container flange 3 connection is engaged and it is locked in the locked position. It is therefore not possible to open the cell door 15 unless a container is connected by its container flange 3 to the cell flange 200.

[0048] With reference to figures 7 to 12, the connection of the container flange 3 to the cell consists of engaging the container ears 3.1 to 3.4 of the container flange 3 in the cell flange 200 so as to present the container ears 3.1 to 3.4 of the container flange 3 between the external ears 212 to 215 of the crown 210 (figures 7 and 8). The crown 210 is then pivoted around the axis AX - here a rotation of thirty degrees clockwise as shown in [Fig.9] - to form the external bayonet connection and link the container 3 to the cell flange 200. During the approach operation of the container flange 3 to the cell flange 200 (figures 7 and 8), the second recess 44 of the cap 43 is received in the first recess 17 of the cell door 15, which rotationally couples the cell door 15 and the tray 40.When the container flange 3 is inserted into the cell flange 200, the bearing force exerted by the cell door 15 on the cap 43 against the spring 46 causes a translation of the tray 40 relative to the body 31 in a direction parallel to the axis AX. The pins 48.1, 49.1, 50.1 and 51.1 are respectively disengaged from the notches 10.1, 11.1, 12.1 and 13.1 and the tray 40 is then free to rotate relative to the body 31.

[0049] A rotational movement is then applied to the movable portion 160 (here a rotation of sixty degrees in the counterclockwise direction as shown in Figures 2 and 10), and during this rotational movement the following steps take place:

[0050] - the inner ears 161 to 164 of the cell door 15 cooperate with the legs internal 35 to 38 of container door 30 to engage the bayonet connection internal, also called door-to-door connection and not visible in the figures. The internal bayonet connection secures the container door 30 to the cell door 15;

[0051] - the second imprint 44 engaged in the first imprint 17 binds in rotation around the axis AX the movable portion 160 of the cell door 15 with the plate 40. The stops 55 to 58 in contact with the internal tabs 10 to 13 block a rotation around the axis AX of the body 31 relative to the container flange 3. Thus, during the rotational movement of the movable portion 160 around the axis AX, the rotation of the movable portion 160 is transmitted to the plate 40 which performs a rotation around the axis AX relative to the body 31. This has the effect of bringing the tabs 48 to 51 to face the stops 55 to 58 and thus disengaging the bayonet door connection, also called the flange-door connection. The container door 30 is then detached from the container flange 3 ([Fig.11]);

[0052] - the rotation of the movable portion 160 around the axis AX disengages the bolt 165 from the gâche 203 ([Fig. 10]).

[0053] Following these operations, the coupling of the container door 30 with the cell door 15 is completed and the cell door 15 is unlocked. The opening of the cell door 15 frees the internal passage 202 by taking the container door 30 with it, which corresponds to the situation in [Fig. 12].

[0054] Similarly, once the transfer has been carried out, the cell door 15 is folded down before applying a clockwise rotation around the AX axis (as shown in Figures 2 and 10) to the movable portion 160. This has the effect of locking the door 15 onto the flange 200, disengaging the internal bayonet connection—which separates the cell door 15 from the container door 30—and engaging the door bayonet connection—which secures the container door 30 to the container flange 3. Finally, by acting on the ring 210 to impart a counterclockwise rotation to it, the external bayonet connection is disengaged and the container flange 3 is uncoupled from the cell flange 200.

[0055] This results in a cell flange 200 whose particular arrangement eliminates the need to apply a rotational movement to the container in order to connect it to the cell. Thus, by avoiding the twisting of flexible bags or the use of cradles mounted for rotation in a rigid container, the risks of connection failure between the container and the cell are reduced, thereby increasing the reliability of the cell flange of the invention compared to existing flanges.

[0056] The identical or analogous elements to those previously described shall bear a numerical reference identical to that in the following description of a second, third and fourth embodiment of the invention.

[0057] According to a second embodiment not shown, the flange 200 includes a portion actuator for actuating the rotation of the movable portion 160 relative to the fixed portion 150. Such a portion actuator can take the form of a rotary geared motor placed between the fixed portion 150 and the moving portion 160. This portion actuator can also take the form of a linear actuator extending between the bolt 165 and the fixed portion 150.

[0058] According to a third embodiment not shown, the flange 200 includes a door opening actuator 15 in the form of a motorization of the hinge 14. Such a door opening actuator allows the door 15 to be selectively moved between a position of closing the internal passage 202 and a position of releasing the internal passage 202 without requiring intervention from inside the cell.

[0059] According to a fourth embodiment not shown, the flange 200 includes a retaining cradle connected to the outer face 7 of the flange 200. This cradle is arranged to receive the container flange 3 and hold it in position during the rotation step of the ring 210.

[0060] Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described but encompasses any variant falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

[0061] In particular,

[0062] - although here the imprint is a parallelepiped with a square cross-section, the invention also applies to other types of imprint patterns such as other variations of a quadrilateral pattern such as a rectangle, a rhombus or any other shape, the imprint may also adopt a triangular or polygonal pattern, the imprint may be protruding or recessed from the upper face of the cap;

[0063] - although here the coupling device includes a square footprint intended to cooperate with a homologous imprint of the container door, the invention also applies to other types of coupling devices accessible from the front face of the door body such as for example a device not requiring modification of the cell door and for which the coupling is done by friction via a friction disc mounted on the cap;

[0064] - although here the external ears include pyramid-shaped nipples In its truncated form, the invention also applies to other types of means for locking the flange-door connection, such as cylindrical studs or any other type of axially projecting protuberances, or parallelepiped notches in axial recess or of any shape;

[0065] - although here the container door includes a helical spring, the invention This also applies to other types of return means, which may be elastic return means such as, for example, an elastomer block or washers. Belleville or a means of return devoid of an elastic element such as a magnet for example;

[0066] - although here the external ears include pyramid-shaped nipples In its truncated form, the invention also applies to other types of means for locking the flange-door connection, such as cylindrical studs or any other type of axially projecting protuberances, or parallelepiped notches in axial recess or of any shape;

[0067] - although here the body comprises four external stops, the invention applies also to other types of devices for blocking rotation of the body, such as a single stop;

[0068] - although here the operations of linking and unlinking the container and the cell flange requires a relative rotation of the container and the cell flange of an amplitude of sixty degrees, the invention also applies to other values ​​of the angular amplitude such as for example an amplitude of thirty degrees;

[0069] - although here the flange includes a retaining cradle, the invention applies also to other types of holding means intended to hold in position a container presented in front of the flange such as magnets or a container flange clipping device;

[0070] - although here the crown undergoes a rotation of thirty degrees to form the link with external bayonet, the invention also applies to other rotation amplitudes of the crown to form this link such as for example less than thirty degrees, sixty degrees or any value.

[0071] - although here the container door includes a removable tray and a device of coupling the rotating platform, the invention also applies to the container connection where the container door is a single piece, without a platform such as those known from the prior art;

[0072] - although here the moving portion includes a bolt, the invention also applies to other means of locking the door to the flange, such as a magnetic lock, a roller or an axle engaged in a bore;

[0073] - although here the external bridle comprises a set of four external ears, the invention also applies to a bridle having the set of external ears comprising a different number of ears such as two, three or more than four external ears;

[0074] - although here the moving portion is located inside the fixed portion, the invention also applies to other types of configuration such as a mobile portion located outside the fixed portion.

Claims

Demands

1. A cartridge flange (200) comprising an annular flange body (201) with a main axis (AX) and provided with means for its attachment to a wall (100) of a cartridge, the flange body (201) defining an internal passage (202), the cartridge flange (200) having a cartridge door (15) capable of selectively closing the internal passage (202), the cartridge flange (200) also comprising a ring (210) rotatably mounted relative to the flange body (201) about the main axis (AX) and comprising a set of external tabs (212-215) projecting radially from an inner periphery (216) of the ring (210) and adapted to form an external bayonet connection, the cartridge door (15) comprising a fixed portion (150) and a movable portion (160) mounted concentrically rotatably with respect to the other around the main axis (AX),the movable portion (160) comprising a set of internal ears (161-164) capable of forming an internal bayonet connection, wherein the fixed portion (150) is an annular portion that defines an internal housing (151) for receiving the movable portion (160), and the internal housing (151) is a housing passing through the fixed portion.

2. Flange (200) according to claim 1, wherein the movable portion (160) also includes locking means (165, 203) of the cell door (15) to the flange (200).

3. Flange (200) according to claim 2, wherein the locking means (165, 203) of the cell door (15) to the flange (200) comprise a bolt (165) integral with the movable portion (160) and the flange (200) comprises a strike plate (203).

4. Flange (200) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cell door (15) includes a rotational coupling device (17), separate from the internal bayonet linkage, for transmitting rotation of the movable portion (160).

5. Flange (200) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a portion actuator for actuating the rotation of the movable portion (160) relative to the fixed portion (150) and / or an opening actuator for selectively moving the cell door (15) between a closing position of the internal passage (202) and a releasing position of the internal passage (202).

6. 11 Flange (200) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising holding means for holding in position a container presented in front of the flange (200).

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