Nozzle alignment jig

Abstract

A nozzle alignment fixture suitable for use with a blow / fill / seal packaging machine in the form of an elongated block forming a series of receptacles sized and positioned to receive and hold the tips of the filling nozzles of the blow / fill / seal packaging machine.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a blow / fill / seal packaging machine, more particularly to an apparatus for aligning the filling nozzle of a blow / fill / seal packaging machine. [Background technology]

[0002] The Blow / Fill / Seal (BFS) technique is a well-known form of aseptic processing within the pharmaceutical industry. Containers are formed, filled, and sealed in a continuous process in a closed, sterile environment within the machine. First, a thermoplastic resin is heated and extruded to form a downward-hanging tube called a parison, which is then enclosed within a two-piece mold with multiple cavities for the container to be formed. The parison is then cut above the mold and held within the mold. The mold containing the parison is then transferred to a filling station where a filling nozzle (mandrel) is lowered and used to inflate the parison to form a container within the mold. After the container is formed, the nozzle is used to fill the formed container with liquid. After the container is filled, the nozzle is retracted and a second, upper mold is used to seal the filled container. All of the aforementioned operations are carried out within a sterile chamber inside the B / F / S machine.

[0003] A typical blow / fill / machine is described in U.S. Patent No. 4,707,966 to Weiler et al. The containers are formed, filled, and sealed in a continuous operation in a closed environment. Pharmaceutical liquid dosage forms can be produced aseptically in this manner, provided precautions are taken to maintain a sterile environment.

[0004] When a B / F / S machine is assembled for production, the individual fill nozzles must be properly aligned with the main mold or B / F / S machine. The required alignment of each fill nozzle can be done manually, but this is a time-consuming task. The present invention provides a fixture that greatly facilitates alignment of fill nozzles in a B / F / S machine. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Pat. No. 4,707,966 Summary of the Invention

[0006] The nozzle alignment fixture, in the form of an elongated block or plate, preferably an elongated rectangular block, has a flat top surface and an opposing flat bottom surface. The top and bottom surfaces are parallel. The elongated block defines a plurality of spaced apart receptacles therein, preferably as through passages extending from the top surface to the bottom surface. The receptacles are dimensioned to receive and hold tips of nozzles, such as fill nozzles of a B / F / S machine. The elongated block also defines at least a pair of sockets on the top surface that are dimensioned to receive nozzle stops of a nozzle retaining plate. At least two spaced apart locating projections extend from the bottom surface and mate with corresponding openings in the main mold and serve to locate the elongated block over a main mold of a blow molding machine, such as a B / F / S machine. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a nozzle alignment fixture embodying the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fill nozzle apparatus above the main mold of a B / F / S machine, where the fill nozzle is received in a pair of nozzle alignment fixtures embodying the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along plane 3-3 of FIG. 2. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a top view of the nozzle alignment jig of FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a side view of the nozzle alignment fixture of FIG. 1 with an exemplary fill nozzle positioned for alignment. [Figure 6] 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of the nozzle alignment fixture of FIG. 1 taken along plane 6-6 of FIG. 4. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] For ease of explanation, a nozzle alignment fixture embodying the invention is described below in its normal position in use as shown in the accompanying drawings. Terms such as top, bottom, upper, lower, etc. are used herein with reference to this normal position. However, it will be understood that the alignment fixture may be manufactured, stored, shipped, sold, or used in orientations other than those described and illustrated herein.

[0009] With reference to Figure 1, the alignment fixture 10 includes an elongated rectangular block 13 having a flat top surface 12 and an opposing flat bottom surface 14. The top surface 12 and bottom surface 14 are parallel to one another. The block 13 defines a plurality of spaced apart receptacles 16, preferably as through passages formed in the block 13 extending from the top surface 12 to the bottom surface 14. Five groups of receptacles 16 are shown in Figure 1, with each group having five receptacles, aligned along the centerline of the block 13. As will be described in more detail below with respect to Figures 2 and 3, the receptacles 16 are sized to receive and hold tip portions of nozzles to be aligned.

[0010] Two pairs of opposing sockets 18 are formed in top surface 12 and are sized to receive nozzle stops, such as nozzle stops 20 and 21 shown in Figure 3. Pick-up holes 22 are formed in block 13 between two successive groups of five receptacles 16. Pick-up holes 22 are optional, but are provided to facilitate handling of alignment fixture 10 as it is positioned on the master mold prior to use for nozzle alignment.

[0011] 2 and 3 show alignment fixtures 10 and 11 located above a main mold 30 formed by movable mold portions 32 and 34. Block 15 of alignment fixture 11 has the same configuration as block 13 of alignment fixture 10. A nozzle retaining plate 26 above main mold 30 is provided with downwardly depending nozzle groups 24, 25. Tip portions of the nozzles of nozzle group 24 are received in corresponding receptacles in alignment fixture 10 formed as through passages for ease of manufacture. Tips of the nozzles of nozzle group 25 are received in corresponding receptacles in alignment fixture 11. Nozzle retaining plate 26 is provided with nozzle stops such as a pair of opposing nozzle stops 20 and 21 for engaging sockets in alignment fixture 10, and nozzle stop 23 for engaging a corresponding socket in alignment fixture 11. Nozzle stop 23 is one of a pair of opposing nozzle stops for engaging alignment fixture 11. The other nozzle stop of the pair of nozzle stops for engaging with the alignment jig 11 is not shown in FIG.

[0012] A locking set screw 27 is provided in nozzle retaining plate 26 for each nozzle in a nozzle group and serves to lock the individual nozzles in each nozzle group in the desired aligned position after the tip portions of the nozzles are received and held in the through passages formed in the blocks of alignment fixtures 10 and 11. After set screws 27 are tightened, the individual nozzles are held in position in nozzle retaining plate 26, and nozzle retaining plate 26 is lifted and alignment fixtures 10 and 11 are removed from main mold 30.

[0013] FIG. 3 further shows alignment fixture 10 in place of master mold 30 and nozzles 29 of nozzle group 24 having tip portions received in receptacles formed in block 13 .

[0014] Figures 4, 5 and 6 show further details of the preferred embodiment. Mold locating projections or plugs 42 and 44 for the alignment fixture depend downwardly and extend away from bottom surface 14 and are positioned to seat in complementary sockets (not shown) provided for that purpose in the upper surface of main mold 30. Preferably, the mold locating plugs are aligned with through passages provided in block 13.

[0015] As best seen in Figures 5 and 6, the portion of the receptacle 16 near the top surface 12 may be contoured, if desired, which is sized to receive and retain a nozzle tip and facilitate centering of a nozzle, such as nozzle 36 of Figure 5, with respect to the corresponding receptacle.

[0016] The material of construction of the alignment fixture is a metal such as aluminum, stainless steel, or the like. The preferred material of construction is aluminum. The overall dimensions of the nozzle alignment fixture may vary depending on the intended use. A typical alignment fixture embodying the invention is about 15 inches long, about 2 inches wide, and about 0.75 to 1 inch thick.

[0017] The foregoing description and drawings are intended to illustrate the invention and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. Still other variations and arrangements of individual parts are possible and will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A nozzle alignment jig, an elongated block having a planar top surface and an opposing planar bottom surface parallel to the top surface, forming a plurality of spaced apart receptacles therein dimensioned to receive and retain tip portions of nozzles, forming at least a pair of opposed sockets in the top surface dimensioned to receive nozzle stops, and having at least two spaced apart locating prongs extending from the bottom surface; A nozzle alignment fixture comprising:

2. 2. A nozzle alignment fixture as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elongated block is rectangular and defines 25 spaced apart receptacles aligned with one another and positioned in groups of five along the block, each group consisting of five receptacles.

3. The nozzle alignment fixture of claim 2 , wherein the positioning projection is aligned with the longitudinal axes of two receptacles of the group.

4. The nozzle alignment fixture of claim 1 , wherein each said receptacle is contoured to receive and hold a nozzle tip.

5. The nozzle alignment fixture of claim 1 , further comprising a pick-up hole formed in the elongated block.

6. The nozzle alignment fixture of claim 1 , comprising two opposing pairs of said sockets.

7. The nozzle alignment fixture of claim 1 comprising two spaced apart positioning projections each adapted to align with one of the receptacles.

8. The nozzle alignment fixture of claim 1 , wherein the elongated block is rectangular.

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