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, the present invention relates to an apparatus for aligning the filling nozzles of a blow / fill / seal packaging machine.

Background Art

[0002] Blow / fill / seal (BFS) technology is a well-known form of aseptic processing within the pharmaceutical industry. Containers are formed, filled, and sealed in a continuous process within a sealed aseptic environment within the machine. First, a thermoplastic resin is heated and extruded to form a downwardly hanging tube called a parison, which is then enclosed within a two-piece mold having a plurality of cavities for the containers to be formed. Next, the parison is cut above the mold and held within the mold. Next, the mold containing the parison is transferred to a filling station where a filling nozzle (mandrel) is lowered and the parison is inflated to form the container within the mold. After the container is formed, a 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 foregoing operations are performed within the sterilization chamber inside the B / F / S machine.

[0003] A typical blow / fill / seal machine is described in U.S. Patent No. 4,707,966 to Weiler et al. Containers are formed, filled, and sealed in a continuous operation within a sealed environment. Pharmaceutical liquid dosage forms can be aseptically manufactured in this manner if precautions are taken to maintain the aseptic environment.

[0004] When a B / F / S machine is assembled for manufacture, the individual filling nozzles must be properly aligned with the main mold or the B / F / S machine. The necessary alignment of each filling nozzle can be done manually, but this is a time-consuming operation. The present invention provides a jig that greatly facilitates the alignment of the filling nozzles in a B / F / S machine.

Prior Art Documents

[0005] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent No. 4,707,966 [Overview of the Initiative]

[0006] A nozzle alignment jig, 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 preferably forms a plurality of spaced-apart receptacles internally as through passages extending from the top surface to the bottom surface. The receptacles are dimensioned to receive and hold the tip of a nozzle, such as a filling nozzle of a B / F / S machine. The elongated block also forms at least a pair of sockets on its top surface, dimensioned to receive the nozzle stop of a nozzle holding plate. At least two spaced-apart positioning projections extend from the bottom surface and coincide with corresponding openings in the main mold, serving to position the elongated block on the main mold of a blow molding machine, such as a B / F / S machine. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of a nozzle alignment jig that embodies the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view of the filling nozzle device above the main mold of a B / F / S machine, where the filling nozzle is received by a pair of nozzle alignment jigs that embody the present invention. [Figure 3] This is a cross-sectional view in Plane 3-3 of Figure 2. [Figure 4] Figure 1 is a top view of the nozzle alignment jig. [Figure 5] Figure 1 is a side view of a nozzle alignment jig having an exemplary filling nozzle positioned for alignment. [Figure 6] This is a partial cross-sectional view of the nozzle alignment jig in Figure 1, in plan view 6-6 of Figure 4. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] For the sake of clarity, the nozzle alignment fixture embodying the present invention will be described below in its normal position during use, as shown in the accompanying drawings. In this specification, terms such as top, bottom, upper side, and lower side are used in reference to this normal position. However, it will be understood that the alignment fixture may be manufactured, stored, transported, sold, or used in orientations other than those described and illustrated herein.

[0009] Referring to Figure 1, the alignment jig 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 the bottom surface 14 are parallel to each other. The block 13 preferably forms a number of spaced-apart receptacles 16 as through passages formed within the block 13, extending from the top surface 12 to the bottom surface 14. Five groups of receptacles 16 are shown in Figure 1, each group having five receptacles, arranged in a line 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 dimensioned to receive and hold the tip portions of the nozzles to be aligned.

[0010] Two pairs of opposing sockets 18 are formed on the upper surface 12 and are dimensioned to receive nozzle stops such as nozzle stops 20 and 21 shown in Figure 3. The pickup hole 22 is formed in the block 13 between two consecutive groups of five receptacles 16. The pickup hole 22 is optional but is provided to facilitate handling of the alignment jig 10 as it is positioned on the main mold before being used for nozzle alignment.

[0011] Figures 2 and 3 show alignment jigs 10 and 11 located above the main mold 30, which is composed of movable mold sections 32 and 34. Block 15 of alignment jig 11 has the same configuration as block 13 of alignment jig 10. The nozzle holding plate 26 above the main mold 30 is provided with downward-hanging nozzle groups 24 and 25. The nozzle tips of nozzle group 24 are received into corresponding receptacles in alignment jig 10, which are formed as through passages to facilitate manufacturing. The nozzle tips of nozzle group 25 are received into corresponding receptacles in alignment jig 11. The nozzle holding plate 26 is provided with nozzle stops such as a pair of opposing nozzle stops 20 and 21 for engaging with sockets in alignment jig 10, and a nozzle stop 23 for engaging with a corresponding socket in alignment jig 11. Nozzle stop 23 is one of a pair of opposing nozzle stops for engaging with alignment jig 11. The other nozzle stop of the pair of nozzle stops for engaging with the alignment jig 11 is not shown in Figure 2.

[0012] The locking screws 27 are provided on the nozzle holding plate 26 for each nozzle in the nozzle group and serve to lock the individual nozzles of each nozzle group into the desired alignment position after the tip portion of the nozzle is received and held in the through passage formed within the blocks of the alignment jigs 10 and 11. After the locking screws 27 are tightened, the individual nozzles are held in place within the nozzle holding plate 26, the nozzle holding plate 26 is lifted, and the alignment jigs 10 and 11 are removed from the main mold 30.

[0013] Figure 3 further shows the alignment jig 10 located at the location of the main mold 30 and the nozzle 29 of the nozzle group 24, which has a tip portion received in a receptacle formed within the block 13.

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

[0015] As is most commonly seen in Figures 5 and 6, the portion of the receptacle 16 near the top surface 12 can be contoured as needed. This contour is dimensioned to receive and hold the nozzle tip and facilitates the centering of a nozzle, such as the nozzle 36 in Figure 5, relative to the corresponding receptacle.

[0016] The components of the alignment jig are metals such as aluminum and stainless steel. Aluminum is the preferred material for the structure. The overall dimensions of the nozzle alignment jig may vary depending on the intended use. A typical alignment jig embodying this invention is approximately 15 inches long, 2 inches wide, and 0.75 to 1 inch thick.

[0017] The foregoing description and drawings are illustrative of the present invention and should not be construed as limiting it. Further variations and arrangements of the individual components are possible within the spirit and scope of the present invention and will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A nozzle alignment jig, A block having a planar top surface and an opposing planar bottom surface parallel to the top surface, wherein a plurality of spaced-apart receptacles are formed inside the block to receive and hold the tip portion of a nozzle, at least one pair of opposing sockets are formed on the top surface to receive a nozzle stop, and at least two spaced-apart positioning protrusions extend from the bottom surface. A nozzle alignment jig comprising the following features.

2. The nozzle alignment jig according to claim 1, wherein the block is rectangular and forms 25 spaced receptacles that are aligned with each other and located in five groups along the block, and each group consists of five receptacles.

3. The nozzle alignment jig according to claim 2, wherein one of the positioning projections is aligned with the longitudinal axes of two of the receptacles in the group.

4. The nozzle alignment jig according to claim 1, wherein each of the receptacles is contoured to receive and hold a nozzle tip.

5. The nozzle alignment jig according to claim 1, further comprising a pickup hole formed in the block.

6. The nozzle alignment jig according to claim 1, comprising two pairs of opposing sockets.

7. The nozzle alignment jig according to claim 1, comprising two spaced-apart positioning protrusions, each of which is aligned with one of the receptacles.

8. The nozzle alignment jig according to claim 1, wherein the block is rectangular.

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