Container Inspection System

Abstract

To provide a container inspection system that requires a small installation space and has high detection accuracy. [Solution] The container inspection system of the present invention is a container inspection system S in which multiple containers C, each containing a liquid, are rotated by a rotating unit K and abnormalities in the containers C are detected, and the system is equipped with defoaming means M1, p1, b1 that rotates the rotating unit K to eliminate bubbles in the containers C, and container breakage detection means 20, 20a1, 20a2 that detects leakage of liquid or gas in the containers C to detect breakage in the containers C, and the container breakage detection means 20, 20a1, 20a2 apply a voltage to the containers C attached to the rotating rotating unit K to measure the resistance value of the containers C.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a container inspection system. [Background technology]

[0002] Examples of containers that can hold medicinal liquids include ampoules, which are sealed glass tubes containing medicine, vials that are sealed with medicine and capped with rubber stoppers, syringes, etc. Containers that hold these medicines are called drug containers. Pharmaceutical containers are inspected to check for foreign matter in the liquid medicine (Patent Document 2) and for small holes (cracks, fissures, etc.) in the body of the container. To check for foreign matter in the liquid medicine, a method is used to determine the presence or absence of foreign matter by checking whether anything is moving within the liquid medicine, and because bubbles in the liquid medicine in the container can cause false detection, a method is sometimes used to eliminate the bubbles (Patent Document 1). Inspection of small holes in the body of the pharmaceutical container is called a leak tester (to check the airtightness of the container).

[0003] Conventionally, commercially available leak testers detect flaws in a drug container by turning the drug container on its side, passing an electric current through the container, and detecting the change in resistance caused by the drug leaking through a small hole. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-186803 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 3785342 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Conventionally, commercially available leak testers often require a dedicated space to test the drug container on its side. Furthermore, because leak testers are used in medical procedures, they are required to be able to perform precise measurements with high detection accuracy (for example, be able to find even small holes). The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and has an object to provide a container inspection system that requires a small installation space and has high detection accuracy. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problem, the container inspection system of the present invention is a container inspection system having a plurality of containers for holding liquids. With the container side facing downwards and the liquid inlet / outlet side facing upwards Place it on the rotating unit Self a container inspection system that detects abnormalities in the container, a driving means for rotating a base on which the container is placed in the rotation unit; The rotating unit The driving means a defoaming means for rotating the container to eliminate bubbles in the container, and a means for preventing leakage of liquid or gas in the container. The rotating container is placed with the container side facing downwards and the liquid inlet / outlet side facing upwards. and a container breakage detection means for detecting breakage of a container by detecting the breakage of the container, the container breakage detection means being attached to the rotating unit, When transporting, place the container side downwards and the liquid inlet / outlet side upwards. A voltage is applied to the container and the resistance of the container is measured. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a container inspection system that requires a small installation space and has high detection accuracy (accuracy for detecting small holes). [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a top view of a container inspection system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a conceptual top view showing a drive mechanism that rotates the syringe in the pre-spin portion. [Figure 3] 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II in FIG. 1 showing an installed state of the syringe. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a conceptual top view showing a measurement state of a leak tester target item in a container inspection system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a top view of a container inspection system S according to an embodiment of the present invention. The container inspection system S of the embodiment is a system that inspects whether there is any abnormality in the airtightness of a container to be inspected (for example, a syringe C or the like).

[0010] <Overall structure> The container inspection system S of this embodiment includes a pre-spinning unit 1 that has a leak tester function and a defoaming function for the inspection object. An inspection rotor unit 2 that has a function of inspecting the solution to be inspected for foreign matter contamination is installed downstream of the pre-spinning unit 1. In this embodiment, a syringe C (see FIG. 3) containing an injection liquid (solution) will be described as an example of the container to be inspected.

[0011] A syringe C (inspection object) to be inspected by the container inspection system S is sent to the first carry-in rotor 3 (see FIG. 1) as shown by the arrow α01 in FIG. 1, and is then carried from the first carry-in rotor 3 to the pre-spinning unit 1. In the pre-spinning unit 1, the syringe C is rotated while revolving (arrow α11 in FIG. 1), and a leak tester function (confirms the airtightness of the container) and a defoaming function are performed. The syringe C is then carried to the inspection rotor unit 2 by the second carry-in rotor 6 via the first carry-out rotor 4 and the delivery rotor 5. In the inspection rotor unit 2, the syringe C is revolved (arrow α12 in FIG. 1) and photographed by a camera equipped with a CMOS image sensor to check for foreign matter in the injection liquid enclosed therein.

[0012] After the inspection by the inspection rotor unit 2, the syringes C are sorted by the sorting rotor 7 into a non-defective syringe C0, a first defective syringe Ca, a second defective syringe Cb, and a third defective syringe Cc.

[0013] A good syringe C0 is a syringe in which there is no abnormality in the injection liquid in the syringe C or in the syringe C's container body. The first defective syringe Ca is, for example, a syringe C in which an abnormality such as a small hole (crack, crack, etc.) has been detected in the luer lock c1 (see Figure 3) on the tip side that points to the injection needle. The second defective syringe Cb is, for example, a syringe C in which an abnormality such as a small hole (crack, crack, etc.) has been detected in the syringe container c2 (see FIG. 3).

[0014] The third defective syringe Cc is one in which an abnormality such as the presence of a foreign substance in the liquid medicine has been detected, for example. The non-defective syringe C0 is transported to the downstream process (arrow α20 in FIG. 1) by non-defective transport rollers 8 (see FIG. 1).

[0015] The first defective syringe Ca is transported to a predetermined location by the first defective transport rotor 9 shown in FIG. 1 (arrow α21 in FIG. 1). The second defective syringe Cb is transported to a predetermined location by the second defective transport rotor 10 shown in FIG. 1 (arrow α22 in FIG. 1).

[0016] The third defective syringe Cc is transported to a predetermined location by the third defective product transport rotor 11 shown in FIG. 1 (arrow α23 in FIG. 1). <Syringe C rotation mechanism>

[0017] FIG. 2 is a conceptual top view showing a drive mechanism for rotating the syringe C in the pre-spinning unit 1. As shown in FIG. The pre-spinning unit 1 is provided with a plurality of motors M1 for driving the syringes C to rotate about their own axes. One motor M1 is configured to indirectly drive five syringes C to rotate about their own axes.

[0018] Specifically, the press spin unit 1 has one motor M1, two pulleys p1, p1 constituting a speed reduction mechanism, and a driving belt b1 for sequentially feeding five syringes C. The belt b1 is stretched around the shaft of the motor M1, the pulley p1, and pulleys (not shown) and pulley p1 of the base 15 (see FIG. 3) on which each of the five syringes C is placed.

[0019] That is, the rotation of the syringes C is indirectly driven by the motor M1 via the pulley p1, the belt b1, and the pulley p1. In the embodiment, an example is shown in which the rotation of five syringes C is indirectly driven by the motor M1, etc., but the number of indirectly driven syringes C is not limited. Alternatively, each syringe C may be directly driven by a motor.

[0020] <Configuration of Syringe C> FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II in FIG. 1, showing the syringe C installed. The syringe C has a luer lock c1, which is a part to which an injection needle is attached, a cylindrical syringe container c2 with a thin tip, and a flat flange c3 that is pressed by the fingers of a medical professional.

[0021] <Rotation unit K on which syringe C (the product to be leak tested) is installed> The rotation unit K on which the leak tester object (syringe C) shown in FIG. 3 is placed has a base 15, a cap 16, a separating member 17, an anti-whirl bearing 18, a type changing mechanism 19, and a fixing member 21.

[0022] The base 15 is a member on which the object to be tested for leaks (syringe C) is placed. The base 15 is a columnar member, and has a pulley (not shown) formed below it, around which the belt b1 (see FIG. 2) is hung. The cap 16 is a member that holds down and restrains the object of the leak test (syringe C) from above.

[0023] The cap 16 has a fitting recess 16a on the bottom surface, and is a long, shaft-like member that is thin at an upper portion 16b and thick from a center 16c to a lower portion 16d. With the configuration of the rotation unit K described above, the leak tester object (syringe C) is placed on the base 15 and is pushed downward from above by the cap 16, causing it to rotate on its own axis while being restrained on the base 15.

[0024] <Outline of leak tester container airtightness check (leak tester)> FIG. 4 is a conceptual top view showing the measurement state of the leak tester object in the container inspection system S. When measuring the leak tester target item (syringe C), the area near the luer lock c1 of syringe C shown in Fig. 3 is measured as area A. As shown in Figs. 4 and 3, the positive electrode 20a1 and negative electrode 20a2 of the resistance measuring device 20 are placed near the luer lock c1 of the target item (syringe C) without contacting each other, sandwiching the luer lock c1.

[0025] The area around syringe container c2 of syringe C shown in Fig. 3 is measured as area B. As shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 3, the syringe container c2 of the measurement object (syringe C) is sandwiched between positive electrode 20b1 and negative electrode 20b2 of resistance measuring device 20, and the syringe container c2 is placed in a non-contact manner.

[0026] The area near the flange c3 of the syringe C shown in Fig. 3 is measured as area C. As shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 3, the flange c3 of the measurement object (syringe C) is sandwiched between the positive electrode 20c1 and the negative electrode 20c2 of the resistance measuring device 20, and the positive electrode 20c1 and the negative electrode 20c2 are arranged in a non-contact manner near the flange c3. Then, when measuring area A (Lurer lock c1), area B (syringe container c2), and area C (flange c3), a high voltage is applied between positive electrodes 20a1, 20b1, and 20c1 and negative electrodes 20a2, 20b2, and 20c2, respectively, and discharged to Luer lock c1, syringe container c2, and flange c3, respectively. Then, the resistance values ​​of Luer lock c1, syringe container c2, and flange c3 are measured from changes in current measured by resistance measuring device 20, and abnormalities such as small holes in each are detected.

[0027] <Separator 17, base 15, cap 16, and anti-whirl bearing 18 for ensuring the accuracy of leak tester measurements> The above measurement method uses the discharge phenomenon to measure abnormalities such as small holes by measuring changes in current (electrical resistance). If there is a conductive material in the space near the object to be measured, the current during discharge will flow through the conductive material, making it difficult to obtain changes in the current (electrical resistance) of the object to be measured. Therefore, to ensure accurate measurements, an insulating material is placed in the space near the object to be measured.

[0028] 3 are made of conductive metal. Therefore, in order to prevent the current during discharge from flowing through the switching mechanism 19 and the fixing member 21, the distance between the object of the leak test (syringe C) and the switching mechanism 19 and the fixing member 21 is increased. For this reason, an insulating separating member 17 is disposed between the object of the leak test (syringe C) and the switching mechanism 19 and the fixing member 21.

[0029] 3 has a vertically long circular ring shape, so that the cap 16 that is inserted through the inside of the separating member 17 and holds the leak test object (syringe C) from above also has a long shape. In the embodiment, a syringe C is used as an example of an object to be measured by a leak tester, but objects to be measured by a leak tester can have various shapes other than the syringe C, such as vials and ampoules. Therefore, a type change mechanism 19 is provided as a member that can be changed according to the shape of the object to be measured by the leak tester.

[0030] Two bearings 19a and 19b that support the upper part 16b of the cap 16 are fixed to the type change mechanism 19. That is, in the type changing mechanism 19, an outer ring 19a1 of the bearing 19a and an outer ring 19b1 of the bearing 19b are fixed by press fitting or the like.

[0031] The fixing member 21 shown in FIG. 3 is a member that fixes the separating member 17 to the type changing mechanism 19 that is provided on the fixed side of the bearings 19a and 19b. The fixing member 21 has an annular shape. The fixing member 21 is fixed to the type changing mechanism 19 by bolt b3. The fixing member 21 is then fixed to the separating member 17 by bolt b2. In other words, the separating member 17 is fixed to the type changing mechanism 19 via the fixing member 21. In this way, the separating member 17 is a member on the fixed side with respect to the rotating leak tester object (syringe C).

[0032] On the other hand, by providing the separating member 17 shown in FIG. 3, the distance from the base 15 that supports the leak tester object (syringe C) to the two bearings 19a, 19b that support the upper part 16b of the cap 16 (see FIG. 3) becomes longer. As a result, there is a risk that the lower part 16d of the cap 16 may whirl. To address this, an anti-whirl bearing 18 is installed between the lower central part 16c1 of the cap 16 and the separating member 17. The inner ring 18a of the anti-whirl bearing 18 is press-fitted into the lower central part 16c1 of the cap 16. The outer ring 18b of the anti-whirl bearing 18 is press-fitted into the lower inner surface 17a of the separating member 17.

[0033] As described above, the resistance measuring device 20 of the leak tester uses a discharge phenomenon, and therefore the measurement accuracy is higher when the member placed near the leak tester object (syringe C) is an insulator. Therefore, the base 15, cap 16, and anti-whirl bearing 18 shown in Fig. 3, along with the separating member 17, which is a member placed near the object to be measured by the leak tester (syringe C), are made of a material with high insulation and low electrical resistance (insulating material or resin). This improves the detection accuracy of the resistance measuring device 20, which uses the discharge phenomenon.

[0034] Examples of materials (insulating materials or resins) with high insulation and low electrical resistance include Macol (registered trademark) (ceramic material from Corning, USA) and Photoveel II (registered trademark) (low thermal expansion machinable ceramics from Narasaki Sangyo Co., Ltd.). Of course, insulating materials or resins other than those mentioned above may be used for the separating member 17, base 15, cap 16, and anti-whirl bearing 18, provided that the insulating properties of the separating member 17, base 15, cap 16, and anti-whirl bearing 18 are ensured.

[0035] <Defoaming in pre-spin section 1 and conducting a leak test> In the press-spinning section 1 shown in FIG. 1, the target syringes C are sequentially fed as indicated by arrow α01 in FIG. 1, and are revolved (e.g., 300 rpm) as indicated by arrow α11 in FIG. 1, and the syringes C rotate at high speed (e.g., 12,000 rpm), thereby eliminating bubbles in the solution inside the syringes C and performing a leak test (checking the airtightness of the container).

[0036] The solution in syringe C rotates at high speed, and centrifugal force (ρv·r(dx / dt) 2 ) is applied, forming an air column in the center. Bubbles are also absorbed into the air column, and the centrifugal force of the rotation of syringe C (ρv·r(dx / dt) 2 ) is greater than the surface tension of the liquid surface at the boundary of the bubble, so the liquid surface at the boundary of the bubble bursts and the bubble disappears.

[0037] In the press-spin section 1 shown in Figure 1, the syringe C revolves and rotates, while the following leak tester inspection is performed on the vicinity of the luer lock c1 of the syringe C (area A) (see Figure 3), the vicinity of the syringe container c2 (area B) (see Figure 3), and the vicinity of the flange c3 (area C) (see Figure 3).

[0038] Therefore, with syringe C rotating at high speed to raise the liquid level inside, plus electrode 20a1 and minus electrode 20a2 are placed near luer lock c1 (see FIG. 3) without contacting each other, as shown in Figures 4 and 3. As shown in Figure 4, plus electrode 20a1 and minus electrode 20b2 are connected to resistance measuring device 20.

[0039] Furthermore, when syringe C rotates at high speed to raise the liquid level inside, positive electrode 20b1 and negative electrode 20b2 are placed near syringe container c2 (see FIG. 3) without contacting it, as shown in Figures 4 and 3. As shown in Figure 4, positive electrode 20b1 and negative electrode 20b2 are connected to resistance measuring device 20.

[0040] Furthermore, in a state where syringe C rotates at high speed to raise the liquid level in syringe C, positive electrode 20C1 and negative electrode 20c2 are arranged near flange c3 (see FIG. 3) without contacting each other, sandwiching the flange c3. As shown in FIG. 4, positive electrode 20c1 and negative electrode 20c2 are connected to resistance measuring device 20.

[0041] With the above configuration, the resistance measuring device 20 applies a high voltage between the positive electrode 20a1 and the negative electrode 20a2 to discharge the voltage. Then, a leak tester (container airtightness check) is performed on the A region of the syringe C (near the Luer lock c1 (see FIG. 4)) based on the change in current. If the current increases, a decrease in resistance near the Luer lock c1 can be detected, and the leak tester (container airtightness check) for the Luer lock c1 (see FIG. 3) judges it as NG (abnormal). If the current does not increase, the leak tester (container airtightness check) for the Luer lock c1 (see FIG. 3) judges it as OK (no abnormality).

[0042] Similarly, resistance measuring device 20 applies a high voltage between positive electrode 20b1 and negative electrode 20b2 to discharge the voltage. Then, a leak tester (container airtightness check) is performed on region B of syringe C (near syringe container c2 (see FIG. 4)) based on the change in current. If the current increases, a decrease in resistance near syringe container c2 can be detected, and the leak tester (container airtightness check) for syringe container c2 (see FIG. 3) determines that there is an NG (abnormality). If the current does not increase, the leak tester (container airtightness check) for syringe container c2 (see FIG. 3) determines that there is an OK (no abnormality).

[0043] Similarly, resistance measuring device 20 applies a high voltage between positive electrode 20c1 and negative electrode 20c2 to discharge the voltage. Then, a leak tester (container airtightness check) is performed on region C of syringe C (near flange c3 (see FIG. 4)) based on the change in current. If the current increases, a decrease in resistance near flange c3 can be detected, and the leak tester (container airtightness check) near flange c3 (see FIG. 3) determines that there is an NG (abnormality). If the current does not increase, the leak tester (container airtightness check) for flange c3 (see FIG. 3) determines that there is an OK (no abnormality).

[0044] <Action and effect> According to the above configuration, the container (syringe C) to be leak tested is fixed by the base 15 and the cap (umbrella) 16. Therefore, the distance between the positive electrodes (20a1, 20b1, 20c1) and negative electrodes (20a, 20b2, 20c2) of the measurement terminal and the container (syringe C) can be accurately determined, thereby improving measurement accuracy.

[0045] In addition, the leak tester (for checking the airtightness of containers) can be used to test the product by applying a voltage and detecting changes in resistance, without having to come into contact with the product, resulting in high detection accuracy. In addition, the high-speed press-spin mechanism for defoaming (around the press-spin portion 1) can be used as is, which reduces the cost and saves space.

[0046] In addition, at the same time as the foam is eliminated in the pre-spinning section 1, a leak test (to check the airtightness of the container) can be performed on the container (syringe C). Furthermore, since the leak tester (checking the airtightness of the container) can be performed without turning the test item sideways, the mechanism can be simplified and costs can be reduced.

[0047] <<Other embodiments>> 1. The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but includes various modifications. For example, the above-described embodiment has been described in detail to clearly explain the present invention, and is not necessarily limited to a configuration including all of the described configurations. Furthermore, it is possible to replace part of the configuration of the embodiment with another configuration, and it is also possible to add other configurations to the configuration of the embodiment. Furthermore, it is possible to add, delete, or replace part of each configuration with other configurations. [Explanation of symbols]

[0048] 15 Pedestal 16 Cap 17 Separation member 18 Anti-whirl bearing (bearing) 20 Resistance measuring device (container damage detection means) 20a1, 20b1, 20c1 positive electrode (container breakage detection means) 20a2, 20b2, 20c2 negative electrodes (container breakage detection means) b1 Belt (defoaming means) C Syringe (container) K Rotating Unit M1 motor (defoaming means) p1 Pulley (defoaming means) S Container Inspection System

Claims

1. A container inspection system in which a plurality of containers into which liquids can be placed are rotated on a rotation unit with the container side facing downward and the liquid inlet / outlet side facing upward, and in which abnormalities in the containers are detected, a driving means for rotating a base on which the container is placed in the rotation unit; a defoaming means for rotating the rotary unit by the driving means to eliminate bubbles in the container; a container breakage detection means for detecting a leak of liquid or gas from the container while the rotating container is in an orientation with the container side facing downward and the liquid inlet / outlet side facing upward, thereby detecting breakage of the container; The container breakage detection means The container is attached to the rotary unit and is oriented with the container side facing downwards and the liquid inlet / outlet side facing upwards during transport, and a voltage is applied to the container to measure the resistance value of the container. A container inspection system.

2. 2. The container inspection system according to claim 1, The rotating unit has a base on one side on which the container is placed and a cap that holds the container from the other side, The base and the cap are made of an insulating material or resin. A container inspection system.

3. 3. The container inspection system according to claim 2, A spacing member is provided around the cap, a bearing is provided between the cap and the spacing member; The separating member and the bearing are made of an insulating material or resin. A container inspection system.

4. 2. The container inspection system according to claim 1, the container breakage detection means has a resistance measuring device and a positive electrode and a negative electrode connected to the resistance measuring device, the positive electrode and the negative electrode are disposed near the container with the container in between, A voltage is applied to the container from the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and the resistance value of the container is measured. A container inspection system.

Images