Connection device for transferring pourable material to a receiving port - Patent Application 20070122997

Abstract

The present invention relates to a connecting device 121 for transferring a pourable substance in a passage direction 182 to a receiving port 103 using a passage frame 123 for guiding the pourable substance through a passage 111, wherein a transfer device 127 is associated with a spring device 131, and when the spring device is in a tensioned position, the transfer device is located at a stored position 173 in the passage frame, and when the spring device is in a relaxed position, the transfer device is moved by the spring force of the spring device to a use position 171 in the direction of the connecting side 163.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a connecting device for transferring a pourable material in a passage direction into a receiving port, using a passage frame for guiding the pourable material through a passage having a passage axis, and a holding bag for providing the pourable material, the passage frame having a connecting side and a rear side, in the connecting position the connecting side faces the receiving port and the rear side faces away from the receiving port, the passage direction extending from the rear side to the connecting side, the holding bag having a film-like body part arranged on the rear side, to which a transfer device oriented towards the connecting side is assigned for guiding the pourable material transferred from the holding bag through the passage frame. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, known connection devices designed to have a bag for transferring a sterile pourable material through a receiving port may include complex pouring aids or other transfer devices, such as funnel-shaped structures. In this case, complex mechanisms may be required to move these transfer devices into a usable state. When moving the transfer devices from a stored position to a usable position, drive elements may interfere, as may airflow within the isolator, for example.

[0003] US Patent No. 5,949,999 discloses a device for dispensing pharmaceutical products, in which a portion of the pouring device is flexibly oriented to close a passageway.

[0004] US Pat. No. 5,649,999 describes a filling aid for bags, comprising a clamping device for the bags and a movable filling wall, the filling being assisted by the filling wall moving into the filling opening of the associated bag.

[0005] US Patent No. 5,949,999 discloses a funnel-shaped filling aid for packaging pharmaceutical products.

[0006] Patent document 4 describes a filling spout for a filling pipe for filling valved bags with granular media, including, for example, fertilizer or plastic granules. In this case, the filling spout has two nozzle segments that are movable relative to each other, a fixed nozzle segment and a further movable nozzle segment. The valved bags are clamped to at least one of the fixed nozzle segments. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014 / 0239016 [Patent Document 2] U.S. Patent No. 2,042,858 [Patent Document 3] JP 2004-196403 [Patent Document 4] European Patent Application Publication No. 0416534 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] The problem addressed by the present invention is to improve upon the prior art. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The object is achieved by a connecting device for transferring pourable material in a passage direction into a receiving port, using a passage frame for guiding the pourable material through a passage having a passage axis, and a holding bag for providing the pourable material, the passage frame having a connecting side and a rear side, and in the connecting position, the connecting side faces the receiving port and the rear side faces away from the receiving port, the passage direction extending from the rear side to the connecting side, the holding bag having a film-like body part arranged on the rear side, to which is assigned a transfer device oriented towards the connecting side for guiding the pourable material transferred from the holding bag through the passage frame, and in the connecting device a spring device is assigned to the transfer device, and in a tensioned position of the spring device the transfer device is arranged in a stored position in the passage frame, and in a relaxed position of the spring device the transfer device is moved by the spring force of the spring device to a use position in the direction of the connection side.

[0010] In this case, the central idea of ​​the invention is that the transfer device is spring-biased, i.e., a spring device is provided and the transfer device is arranged to be movable between a tensioned position of the spring device, which is equivalent to the storage position of the transfer device, and a relaxed position of the spring device, which is equivalent to the use position of the transfer device. Thus, when the cover of the port arrangement is opened, for example, to enable the transfer device, the transfer device can be automatically and quickly moved to the use position, at least in part, by the spring device rebounding, assisted by the spring force of the spring device.

[0011] The following terms are explained in this context:

[0012] A "connecting device" as described herein refers to a device used to establish a connection to a "receiving port." This can be, for example, a bayonet lock or a similar type of lock, which is referred to in the technical field as an alpha port / beta port. Here, the alpha portion of the port refers to one side of the receiving port, and the beta portion of the port refers to the other side. In this case, the connecting device serves to "transfer" a pourable substance, in particular a pourable substance that is guided through the receiving port, for example, for transfer from one sterile environment to another. Here, such pourable substances can be free-flowing components that can or should be sterilized, as in the case of caps for vials, sterile stoppers, etc.

[0013] In this context, "pathway direction" refers to the direction in which the pourable material is transported through the receiving port.

[0014] In this case, the "channel frame" serves as a frame-shaped boundary, in particular a circular boundary, which defines a "channel" for the passage of the pourable material. In this case, the "channel axis" defines the main or reference axis of the channel, which may be, but need not be, coaxial with the channel direction. In this context, obliquely arranged channels in the corresponding receiving ports are also known.

[0015] In this context, "holding bag" refers to, for example, a film pouch, film bag, or equivalent device within which a pourable substance, e.g., a cap, is provided, where the components of the pourable substance are typically sterilized or pre-cleaned and contained within the holding bag.

[0016] The passage frame has, among other things, a "connection side" for connecting to the receiving port and a "rear side", the rear side receiving or facing the holding bag.

[0017] In this case, as already mentioned, the holding bag comprises a "film body", ie a body made for example of PE film, PET film or an equivalent material.

[0018] In this case, "transfer device" denotes a technical device arranged in or on or assigned to the holding bag, for example in the form of a chute or hopper, which can guide the pourable substance through the passage frame, in particular without contacting the passage frame.

[0019] "Spring device" particularly refers to a spring or resiliently pretensioned device that reversibly provides absorbed energy in a tensioned position and releases this energy by generating movement in a relaxed position, where what is important to the invention is that the spring device, in its stored position within the passage frame, holds the transfer device in a pretensioned, ready-to-use state, and in its relaxed position, the spring force of the spring device moves the transfer device into its use position, i.e., into a position for transferring the pourable substance.

[0020] In order to make the design of the device structure as simple as possible, the spring device comprises a strip spring (Bandfeder), a spiral spring and / or a disc spring, which springs are made in particular of stainless steel and / or plastic material.

[0021] In this context, a "strip spring" is a spring, particularly in the form of a strip, that stores spring energy by winding or twisting its longitudinal extension; a "spiral spring" refers to a standard helical spring; and a "disc spring" is a spring device, particularly circular or annular, that provides or releases corresponding spring energy by arcing upward along its longitudinal axis; disc springs are particularly capable of providing particularly high forces with short spring travels.

[0022] In one embodiment, the spring device is or comprises a pneumatic spring and / or bellows, the pneumatic spring and / or bellows being made in particular of the material forming the holding bag.

[0023] Thus, for example, a pocket-shaped pneumatic spring can be formed directly on or together with the holding bag, which means that an additional spring device in the form of a metal spring can be omitted. In this case, however, a combination of both options can be implemented, for example, to provide the initial spring force by a metal spring and to complete the transition to the use position by a pneumatic spring.

[0024] In order to make the spring device cleanable and / or replaceable, for example when it is in strip form, the spring device comprises at least one engaging portion and the holding bag and / or the passage frame and / or the transfer device comprises at least one receiving portion, and the associated engaging portion can be introduced or inserted, in particular detachably, into the associated receiving portion so that the spring device is fixed on the holding bag and / or on the passage frame and / or on the transfer device in the insertion position.

[0025] In this case, the "engagement portion" can be formed, for example, directly by the end region of a strip spring or, for example, by the end region of a spiral spring, and the "receiving portion" is arranged, for example, as a pocket-shaped receiving portion on a holding bag, so that, for example, the strip spring is inserted into the receiving portion in rod shape and can therefore be easily replaced.

[0026] In one embodiment, the spring device is materially coupled and / or integrally connected to the transfer device, such that the spring device may be formed from a similar or identical material to the transfer device, for example, and may be molded directly onto the transfer device, such that manufacturing complexity and / or maintenance or cleaning complexity is reduced.

[0027] In order to be able to move the transfer device contactlessly through the passageway, the transfer device can be moved from the storage position to the use position and / or from the use position to the storage position by a rotational movement, in particular a pivoting movement.

[0028] Here, for example, a chute-shaped transfer device or a transfer device with a semicircular cross section can be pivoted through the passage around a horizontal axis, the pivoting movement being initiated and carried out by a spring device.

[0029] In this case, "rotational movement" refers in particular to movement around an axis, which can be arranged to be stationary or movable by kinematics.

[0030] In another embodiment, the transfer device comprises a film tube that is particularly integrally connected to the holding bag, the film tube being particularly designed to be partially dimensionally stable so that a free passage opening in the film tube is formed, particularly in the relaxed position of the spring device.

[0031] In this case, this type of "film tube" is made, for example, of a material comparable to or identical to the holding bag and forms a tubular transfer device that can be molded directly onto the holding bag. A separate transfer device in the form of a chute or funnel can thus be omitted, and an advantageous holding bag with a film tube molded thereon, for example, designed as a disposable component, can be used for the sterile transfer of free-flowing or pourable substances.

[0032] In another embodiment, the length of the transfer device is sized to be less than the diameter of the passage frame and / or the diameter of the receiving port.

[0033] This geometric configuration of the invention ensures that when the transfer device is moved, in particular by means of a spring device, it does not collide with and / or come into contact with the passage frame and / or the receiving port, since the length of the transfer device is always smaller than the diameter and / or in particular the radius of the passage frame, where it is necessary to take into account, for example, the relationship between the pivot pin of the transfer device and the corresponding distance from the passage frame or from the receiving port.

[0034] In the simplest case, "diameter" here describes the mathematical diameter of a circular passage frame, but it can also denote the extension along an axis, as for example the semi-axis of an elliptical passage frame. The same applies to the diameter of the receiving port, where the distance relative to the semi-axis or linear extension of the transfer device is decisive.

[0035] The invention will now be explained in more detail on the basis of exemplary embodiments. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0036] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic view of a receiving port equipped with a transfer device having a container designed as a transfer bag. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0037] Port system 101 includes a circular port 103 with a flange ring 105. Flange ring 105 defines a port passage 111 and includes bayonets 108 and 109 oriented toward aft side 161 and connecting side 163, respectively. Port 103 is further defined by a passage axis 181 passing through port 103 in passage direction 182 and a passage plane 191 that lies within the port plane of port 103.

[0038] A pivotally arranged cover 107 (pivoting device not shown) can be fitted and fastened onto a bayonet 109. In this respect, it should be noted that the function of the port 103 is only shown diagrammatically in FIG.

[0039] The transfer bag 121 is flange-mounted on the rear side 161 by a flange 123 to the bayonet 108 and is fixed by the bayonet 108. The transfer bag 121 can receive, for example, a sterile stopper in the bag 125, which is to be passed through the passage plane 191. The bag 125 is made of a plastic film, here polyethylene.

[0040] The transfer tube 127 is arranged on the bag 125 in the direction of the connection side 163 and allows stoppers (not shown) contained in the bag 125 to be poured through the port 103. In this case, the transfer tube 127 is oriented obliquely to the passage plane 191 along the transfer axis 183 in the transfer position 171 and is held in this position by the spring rod 131. The stoppers can thus be poured through the passage 129. Furthermore, the transfer tube 127 has a wall thickness that ensures the inherent stability of the substantially circular cross-section of the transfer tube 127 in this position.

[0041] The spring bar 131 is inserted into a pocket 133 on the bag 125 and into a pocket 135 on the transfer tube 127 by its associated end region 132 so that the spring bar 131 can be separately cleaned and / or sterilized, with the pocket 133 acting as the receiving portion and the end region 132 acting as the engaging portion. Alternatively, the spring bar 131 can be integrally molded onto the transfer tube and / or onto the bag 125, e.g., welded thereto.

[0042] It should be noted that alternatively or additionally, spring bar 131 can be implemented by a spiral spring, a disc spring, or by an air cushion element having spring properties and molded onto the transfer tube. For example, an air cushion element acting as an air spring can be integrally formed with the transfer tube (none of which are shown).

[0043] 1 shows the transfer tube 127 in position 171, which can only be reached when the cover 107 is open. When the cover 107 is closed, for example when the transfer bag 121 is attached to the bayonet 108 by means of the flange 123, the transfer tube 127 is deformed in the direction from the transfer axis 183 to the passage plane 191 against the pretension of the spring bar 131, and is therefore also limited in its cross section, so that the transfer tube 127 remains in the rest position 173.

[0044] Thus, when the transfer bag 127 is flange mounted onto the port 103, the transfer tube 127 is clamped in the rest position 173 when the cover 107 is closed. It should be noted that the length of the transfer tube 127 is sized such that when the cover 107 is later closed, the transfer tube 127 cannot be clamped to the port 103 and / or flange ring 105 or bayonet 109. [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] 101 Port System Port 103 105 flange ring 107 Cover 108 Bayonet 109 Bayonet 111 Port Passage 121 Transport Bag 123 flange 125 Bags 127 Transfer tube Aisle 129 131 Spring bar 132 End area 133 Pocket 135 pockets 161 Rear side 163 Connection side 171 Transfer position 173 Rest position 181 Passage axis 182 Aisle direction 183 transfer axis 191 Pathway Plane

Claims

1. A connecting device (121) for transferring a pourable substance into a receiving port (103) in a passage direction (182) using a passage frame (123) for guiding the pourable substance through a passage (111) having a passage axis (181) and a holding bag (125) for providing the pourable substance, the passage frame (123) having a connecting side (163) and a rear side (161), in a connected position, the connecting side (163) faces the receiving port (103) and the rear side (161) faces away from the receiving port (103), the passage direction (182) extends from the rear side (161) to the connecting side (163), and the holding bag (125) is disposed on the rear side (161).

1. A connecting device comprising a film-like body (125) to which a transfer device (127) directed towards the connection side (163) is assigned for guiding the pourable substance transferred from the holding bag (125) through the passage frame (123), characterized in that the transfer device (127) is assigned a spring device (131), which, in its tensioned position, is arranged in a storage position (173) in the passage frame (123) and, in its relaxed position, is moved by the spring force of the spring device (131) into a use position (171) in the direction of the connection side (163).

2. 2. The connecting device according to claim 1, characterized in that the spring device (131) comprises a strip spring (131), a spiral spring and / or a disc spring, which spring is made in particular from stainless steel and / or plastic material.

3. 3. The connecting device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the spring device (131) comprises a pneumatic spring and / or a bellows, the pneumatic spring and / or the bellows being made in particular from the material forming the holding bag (125).

4. A connecting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the spring device (131) comprises at least one engaging portion (132), the holding bag (125) and / or the passage frame (123) and / or the transfer device (127) comprise at least one receiving portion (133, 135), and the associated engaging portion (132) can be inserted in particular detachably into the associated receiving portion (133, 135) so that in an inserted position the spring device (131) is fixed on the holding bag (125) and / or on the passage frame (123) and / or on the transfer device (127).

5. 5. A connecting device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the spring device (131) is materially bonded and / or integrally connected to the transfer device (127).

6. A connection device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the transfer device (127) is movable from the storage position (173) to the use position (171) and / or from the use position (171) to the storage position (173) by a rotational movement, in particular by a swiveling movement.

7. 7. A connection device according to claim 1, wherein the transfer device (127) comprises a film tube (127) which is in particular integrally connected to the holding bag (125), the film tube (127) being particularly designed to be partially dimensionally stable so that a free passage opening (129) in the film tube (127) is formed in particular in the relaxed position of the spring device (131).

8. 8. A connection device according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the length of the transfer device (127) is dimensioned to be smaller than the diameter (111) of the passage frame (123) and / or the diameter of the receiving port (103).

Images