Opening system for the door of a freeze-drying machine

Abstract

An opening system (1) for a door (22) of a freeze-drying machine (101) is disclosed, the machine having a freeze-drying chamber defined by a plurality of walls. Access to the chamber for loading and removing a container containing the product to be freeze-dried is effected through a window (103) obtained in the vertical wall of the chamber. The system comprises a door (22) configured to close the window (103) of the freeze-drying machine (101), a transmission mechanism (2) configured to command the opening and closing of the door (22), and a support wall (3) configured to support the transmission mechanism.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an opening system for the door of a freeze-drying machine.

[0002] The freeze-drying process is a process of removing a solvent or a suspension medium, typically water, from a product. Pharmaceutical freeze-drying is often a sterile process that requires aseptic conditions in a freeze-drying chamber. It is important to ensure that all components of the freeze-drying system that come into contact with the product are sterile, and further, that the environment surrounding the freeze-drying machine is easy to clean and not a possible source of contamination for the product entering and leaving the system.

[0003] A freeze-drying system typically incorporates a freeze-drying chamber defined by a plurality of walls and configured to receive a plurality of containers or vials containing a sterile material to be freeze-dried. Access to the chamber for loading and removing the vials is through a window formed in a vertical wall of the chamber. This window is generally rectangular, and its opening or closing depends on the positioning of a door that is moved vertically to block or allow access through the window. Generally, the opening system includes a transmission mechanism having a plurality of mechanical components suitable for transmitting the motion generated by an actuator so as to move the door automatically. Since the actuator needs to be inserted into a specific position, protected from and often separated from the moving door, it usually has an articulated transmission mechanism with a significant number of components that are exposed to the external environment of the freeze-drying machine but still within the aseptic area.

[0004] To maintain aseptic conditions inside the freeze-drying machine, regular cleaning and sterilization of the door and its associated opening system are necessary, and further, the area in front of the access window to the freeze-drying machine must also remain aseptic.

[0005] The drawbacks of the prior art are that the open system consists of a number of components that must be arranged close to the door being operated, and since the area in front of the door must be kept sterile, this means that the time required for their cleaning is longer and this process becomes more difficult. Furthermore, the form of the door opening system also makes it difficult to clean the system.

[0006] Examples of these systems are described in WO 2005 / 088216 (A1), the opening mechanism of which comprises a first shaft that is connected to an actuator at its central part and is connected to two threaded shafts at its ends. These threaded shafts are positioned on respective sides with respect to the door and are connected to the door for movement of the door. As can be easily understood, cleaning the threaded shafts is difficult due to the grooves in the threads, and moreover, the friction with the threaded gears that transmit the movement generated by the actuator can generate debris that contaminates the product to be lyophilized.

[0007] Furthermore, even when the threaded shafts are covered with an elastic sleeve or "bellows", these also have drawbacks.

[0008] Therefore, there is a technical requirement for an improved opening system having a limited number of components exposed to the external environment, a compact implementation, and an opening system that does not generate dust during its operation, so as to have an easier and faster cleaning process.

[0009] The object of the present invention is to address this requirement by providing a system for opening the door of a lyophilization machine. The system comprises a motion transmission mechanism configured to command the opening and closing of the door, and a support wall for supporting the transmission mechanism according to claim 1.

[0010] The present invention is disclosed and characterized in the independent claims. The dependent claims disclose other features of the present invention or preferred variants of the main solutions.

[0011] The embodiments described in this specification relate to a door opening system for a freeze-drying machine, the system comprising a motion transmission mechanism and a support wall for the mechanism.

[0012] According to the embodiments described in this specification, the motion transmission mechanism comprises a first wheel associated with the wall, a second wheel associated with a first lever, and a third wheel rigidly coupled to a second lever.

[0013] According to the embodiments provided in this specification, the transmission mechanism comprises a primary drive shaft that rotates about a rotation axis X, and the first wheel is coaxially mounted with the drive shaft.

[0014] According to one embodiment described in this specification, the second lever is rotatably coupled to the door in its second distal region so as to open and close the door.

[0015] According to a characteristic aspect of the present invention, the device comprises a closed box in which the first, second, and third wheels are housed.

[0016] According to an embodiment, the closed box is configured to rotate about the rotation axis X at a rotational speed equal to the rotational speed of the primary transmission shaft.

[0017] According to the embodiments provided in this specification, the first transmission lever is formed at least partially housed within the closed box.

[0018] An advantage of the opening system according to the present invention is that the cleaning operation of the mechanical components, which are part of the system and are arranged around the access window of the freeze-drying machine, is facilitated because they are sealed inside the closed box.

[0019] Another advantage of the present invention is to avoid possible particle dispersion that can be separated by friction between the mechanical components of the open system, and these particles are retained inside the closed box.

[0020] A further advantage of the present invention is provided by the compactness of the open system with few moving parts.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0021] These and other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the embodiments provided as non-limiting examples with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

[0022] For ease of understanding, as far as possible the same reference numbers are used in the drawings to identify the same elements. It should be understood that the elements and features of one embodiment can be advantageously incorporated into other embodiments without further explanation.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0023] Next, various embodiments of the present invention are referred to in detail, and one or more examples thereof are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Each example is provided as an illustration of the present invention and is not intended as a limitation of the present invention. For example, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be employed based on, or in relation to, other embodiments to produce further embodiments. It is understood that the present invention includes such modifications and variations.

[0024] Before describing the embodiments, it is also made clear that this description is not limited to the details of the structure and arrangement of the components as described in the following description using the accompanying drawings in its operation. The present disclosure can include other embodiments and can be made or practiced in various other ways. Further, it is made clear that the expressions and terms used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be construed as limiting.

[0025] The embodiment described using the accompanying drawings refers to an opening system 1 for the door 22 of a lyophilization machine 101, and only one of its walls is shown. The lyophilization machine 101 is typically used to remove a solvent such as water or its suspension medium from a pharmaceutical product. This machine is equipped with a lyophilization chamber separated from the external environment by a plurality of walls. One of these walls (the one shown in FIG. 1) is provided with an access window 103 configured to allow one or more containers or vials containing a sterile product in which the lyophilization process is to be performed to be inserted into the chamber.

[0026] The system 1 is particularly suitable for use in the pharmaceutical field for the automatic movement of a door associated with a window of a lyophilization chamber so that a product to be processed can be inserted and extracted.

[0027] As seen in FIG. 1, the opening system 1 includes a door 22 configured to close the access window 103 of the lyophilization machine 101.

[0028] The opening system 1 also includes a motion transmission mechanism 2 configured to automatically control the opening and closing of the door 22, as will be described in more detail below.

[0029] The opening system 1 also includes a support wall 3 configured to support the transmission mechanism 2.

[0030] In one embodiment, the support wall 3 coincides with one of the walls that define the freeze-drying chamber of the machine.

[0031] The support wall 3 has an arrangement parallel, preferably substantially perpendicular, to the deployment plane of the window 103.

[0032] The door 22 is preferably movable between two operating positions. A closed position where the door 22 closes the window 103 and an open position where the window 103 is open and the chamber is accessible.

[0033] According to an embodiment, when in the closed position, the door 22 is in the lowered position in FIG. 1, preferably has a substantially vertical arrangement and is parallel to the deployment plane of the window 103. When the door 22 is commanded to move between the two operating positions to open or close, it performs a sliding movement along a movement track that is at least partially linear and parallel to the window 103 and the support wall 3.

[0034] According to the embodiment seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the transmission mechanism 2 comprises a primary drive shaft 4 rotatable about a first rotation axis X substantially perpendicular to the support wall. The primary drive shaft 4 is connected, in its first part, to an actuator device 10 that generates the movement necessary to move the door 22.

[0035] The actuator device 10 according to this embodiment can be positioned on the opposite side of the support wall 3 with respect to the transmission mechanism 2 so as to have the primary drive shaft 4 intersecting the support wall 3.

[0036] According to an embodiment, the primary drive shaft 4 can be directly connected to the actuator 10 or can be connected to the actuator 10 via a joint device 24 such as, for example, a Cardan joint, a gear wheel, a belt or a chain. According to an embodiment, the support wall 3 comprises a through hole intersected by the primary drive shaft 4. According to different alternative embodiments, the support wall 3 comprises a cavity configured to at least partially accommodate the joint device 24.

[0037] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the transmission mechanism 2 includes a first wheel 5 that is coaxially mounted with the primary drive shaft 4 and fixed to the support wall 3 so as not to rotate. In this way, the first wheel 5 is fixed to both the support wall 3 and the primary drive shaft 4 even while the primary drive shaft 4 is rotating.

[0038] According to an embodiment, the transmission mechanism 2 includes a first transmission lever 6 that is firmly connected to the drive shaft 4 in a first proximal region of the first transmission lever 6. Through this connection, the first transmission lever 6 can rotate around the first rotation axis X together with the rotation of the primary drive shaft 4.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 4, the transmission mechanism includes a second idle wheel 7 that is rotatably mounted on the first transmission lever 6. The second idle wheel 7 preferably has a second rotation axis Y that is parallel to the first rotation axis X as its rotation axis. The second idle wheel 7 cooperates playfully with the first wheel 5.

[0040] According to an embodiment, the transmission mechanism 2 includes a third wheel 8 that cooperates with the second idle wheel 7 and is rotatably coupled to the first transmission lever 6 in a first distal region of the first transmission lever 6. In practice, the second idle wheel 7 can rotate relative to the first transmission lever 6. According to an embodiment, the transmission mechanism 2 includes a second transmission lever 9 that is mounted so as to be firmly coupled to the third wheel 8 in a second proximal region. In practice, when the third wheel 8 rotates, the second lever 9 also rotates. Preferably, the third wheel 8 is firmly coupled to the second lever 9 via a transmission pin 25, and the transmission pin 25 is then mounted so as to be coaxial with the third wheel 8. In this way, the second lever 9 rotates together with the rotation of the third wheel 8 according to a common third rotation axis Z that is parallel to the first rotation axis X.

[0041] Therefore, the rotation of the primary drive shaft 4 rotates the first transmission lever 6, and the first transmission lever 6 then drives the second idle wheel 7 and rotates the second idle wheel 7 on the fixed first gear 5. In practice, the second idle wheel 7 rotates in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the primary drive shaft 4. In this way, the third wheel 8 that cooperates with the second idle wheel 7 is set to rotate in a rotational movement with the rotation axis Z and thus in a rotational direction corresponding to the rotation direction of the primary drive shaft 4.

[0042] Thereby, the second transmission lever 9 rotates with the rotation of the third wheel 8.

[0043] According to an embodiment, the second transmission lever 9 is coupled to the door 22 in its second distal region, whereby the door 22 is moved when opening and closing in accordance with the rotation of the primary drive shaft 4.

[0044] The opening system described herein is characterized in that the first wheel 5, the second wheel 7, and the third wheel 8 are accommodated inside the closed box 11.

[0045] The closed box 11 is configured as a plurality of walls that define a closed internal space in which the indicated mechanical elements are accommodated.

[0046] The closed box 11 is configured to accommodate at least the three wheels described above and is configured to be conveniently opened by an operator for maintaining or inspecting the mechanical parts accommodated therein. It is obvious that the box 11 can be implemented as a plurality of shells mounted around the mechanical parts to be accommodated.

[0047] Preferably, the closure of this box 11 is of a sealed type.

[0048] According to an alternative embodiment, the closed box 11 is configured to rotate when the primary drive shaft 4 is rotating. More specifically, the closed box 11 is configured to rotate around the rotation axis X at a rotational speed equal to the rotational speed of the primary drive shaft 4. According to this embodiment, it is clear that the closed box 11 is rigidly coupled to the first transmission lever 6.

[0049] According to an alternative embodiment, the first transmission lever 6 is at least partially received within the closed box 11. In this embodiment, one or more shells are coupled to the first transmission lever 6 that together form the box 11 in which the three wheels 5, 7, 8 are received.

[0050] According to a further embodiment, the transmission mechanism 2 is connected to the door 22 via the guide unit 12 seen in FIG. 1. The guide unit 12 comprises a plurality of elements suitable for enabling the movement of the door 22. The guide unit 12 has the main function of enabling the movement of the door 22 when opening and closing according to one pre-established direction.

[0051] The guide unit 12 comprises a bracket 13 that is coupled to the second distal region of the second lever 9 and is further coupled to the door 22. The coupling between the bracket 13 and at least one of the second lever 9 and the door 22 is preferably of a rotatable type, enabling the rotation of the second lever 9 with respect to the door 22. In this way, the rotational movement of the second lever 9 can be converted into the translational movement required for the opening and closing of the door 22. The translational movement is a sliding movement that is at least partially parallel to the support wall 3.

[0052] The guide unit 12 can further include a guide body 14 fixed to the support wall 3 and a sliding rod 15 fixed to the door 22. The sliding rod 15 is configured to slide inside a sliding channel 16 obtained in the guide body 14. The sliding rod 15 is preferably firmly fixed to the door 22 via the bracket 13. Conveniently, the sliding rod 15 and the sliding channel 16 have a deployment parallel to the support wall 3.

[0053] According to a predetermined embodiment, the system 1 further includes an inclination unit 23 including an arcuate slider 17 attached to the wall 3 and a sliding roller 18 fixed to the door 22. The sliding roller 18 is configured to slide on the arcuate slider 17, and thus moves the upper end portion of the door 22 away from the support wall 3 to expose the back surface of the door 22, that is, the portion of the door that fits inside the freeze-dryer chamber. The sliding roller 18 is preferably coupled to the door 22 via a sliding lever 19.

[0054] Next, the sliding lever 19 is rotatable about a rotation axis W perpendicular to the first rotation axis X.

[0055] Therefore, this embodiment enables the door 22 to be inclined when the door 22 is opened with respect to the window 103, and enables the rear part of the door to be cleaned.

[0056] According to an alternative embodiment, the first wheel 5, the second wheel 7, and the third wheel 8 are each configured as cooperating toothed wheels according to the method shown above. Alternatively, the three wheels (5, 7, 8) can each be configured as cooperating toothed wheels or pulleys via the movement of a predetermined sliding means such as a chain or a belt.

[0057] As described above, the opening system 1 according to the embodiment is connected to the motion transmission mechanism 2 and is configured to generate a motion transmitted by the transmission mechanism 2 to command the opening and closing of the door 22. The opening system 1 may further include an actuator 10. Preferably, the motion generated by the actuator 10 is of a rotational type in which the axis of rotation coincides with or is parallel to the first axis of rotation X of the primary drive shaft 4.

[0058] Thus, it becomes clear how the opening system 1 described in this specification according to various embodiments can be used on a lyophilization machine 101, which, as mentioned above, comprises a chamber having at least one wall, the chamber being accessible through a window 103 formed in the wall by opening the door 22, the opening being carried out by the opening system 1 according to the invention. According to this embodiment, it is clear that the wall of the chamber of the lyophilization machine coincides with or is integral with the support wall 3 of the opening system.

[0059] The opening system 1, which is the object of the present invention, can comprise a single transmission mechanism 2 for opening the door 22 or can advantageously comprise two transmission mechanisms 2 similar to each other for easier opening of the door 22. Preferably, the door 22 has a rectangular shape and, in the configuration shown above, each transmission mechanism 2 is positioned on the left and right sides of the door 22, respectively, as can be seen in FIG. 1.

[0060] As can be understood from what has been described, the opening system for the door of a lyophilization machine according to the present invention meets the requirements mentioned in the introduction of this specification with reference to the prior art and makes it possible to overcome the drawbacks.

[0061] Obviously, those skilled in the art can make numerous modifications and variations to the present invention described above to meet accidental and specific requirements, but all of these modifications are included within the scope of protection of the present invention defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. An opening system (1) for a door of a freeze-drying machine (101), wherein the system (1) comprises: - A door (22) configured to close an access window (103) of the freeze-drying machine (101); - A motion transmission mechanism (2) configured to control the opening and closing of the door (22); - A support wall (3) configured to support the transmission mechanism (2). The transmission mechanism (2) comprises: A primary drive shaft (4) that rotates around a first rotation axis (X) substantially perpendicular to the support wall (3), and the transmission mechanism (2) further comprises: A first wheel (5) coaxially mounted on the primary drive shaft (4) and fixed to the support wall (3) so as not to rotate; A first transmission lever (6) rigidly connected to the primary drive shaft (4) in a first proximal area so as to rotate around the first rotation axis (X); A second idle wheel (7) that cooperates with play with the first wheel (5) and is rotatably mounted around a second rotation axis (Y) on the first transmission lever (6); A third wheel (8) that cooperates with the second idle wheel (7) and is rotatably coupled to a first distal area of the first transmission lever (6); A second transmission lever (9) rigidly coupled to the third wheel (8) in a second proximal area of the second transmission lever (9) so as to rotate with the third wheel (8) along a third rotation axis (Z) parallel to the first rotation axis (X), and the second transmission lever (9) is also rotatably coupled to the door (22) in a second distal area of the second transmission lever (9) so as to move the door to an open configuration or a closed configuration according to the rotation direction of the primary drive shaft (4). The system, wherein the first wheel (5), the second wheel (7), and the third wheel (8) are housed in a closed box (11).

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the closed box (11) is configured to rotate around the first rotation axis (X) at a rotation speed equal to the rotation speed of the primary drive shaft (4).

3. The system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first transmission lever (6) is also at least partially housed in the closed box (11).

4. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the second rotation axis (Y) is parallel to the first rotation axis (X).

5. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the second lever (9) is rotatably coupled to the door (22) by a bracket (13), and the bracket (13) is firmly attached to an edge of the door (22).

6. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a coupling between the bracket (13) and at least one of the second lever (9) and the door (22) is rotatable, enabling rotation of the second lever (9) with respect to the door (22), and converting the rotational movement of the second lever (9) into a translational movement in the opening and closing of the door (22), the translational movement being a sliding movement at least partially parallel to the support wall (3).

7. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the third wheel (8) rotates in the same direction as the primary drive shaft (4).

8. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising a guide unit (12) including a guide body (14) attached to the support wall and a sliding rod (15) attached to the door (22), the sliding rod (15) being configured to slide within a sliding channel (16) formed within the guide body (14).

9. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising an inclination unit (23) including an arcuate slider (17) attached to the wall (3) and a sliding roller (18) coupled to the door (22), the sliding roller (18) being configured to slide on the arcuate slider (17) while the door (22) moves in an open configuration to incline the door (22) and provide access to the rear surface of the door (22).

10. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the first wheel (5), the second wheel (7), and the third wheel (8) are gear wheels that mesh with each other.

11. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising an actuator device (10) connected to the transmission mechanism (2) and configured to rotate the primary drive shaft (4).

12. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the support wall (3) comprises a through-hole intersected by the primary drive shaft (4).

13. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 12, comprising two transmission mechanisms (2), each of the transmission mechanisms (2) being positioned at a side portion of the door (22) with the door (22) interposed therebetween.

14. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the closed box (11) is hermetically closed.

15. A freeze-drying machine (101) comprising a sealed chamber provided with an access window (103) closed by an open system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

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