Pinch valve for a filling device for filling containers with pharmaceutical contents, filling device and method for filling containers with pharmaceutical contents

Abstract

The invention relates to a pinch valve (1) for a filling device (2) for filling containers (3) with pharmaceutical contents, at least comprising: • a valve housing (4); • a hose (5) for the contents, which is disposed at least partly in or on the valve housing (4); • a drive (24); and • a pinch element (7) for pinching the hose (5), which pinch element can be rotated by the drive (24) about an axis of rotation (8) into a closed position (9) in which the pinch element (7) closes the hose (5) and into an open position (10) in which the pinch element (7) at least partly opens the hose (5). The invention also relates to a filling device (2) having a pinch valve (1) of this type and to a method for filling containers (3) with pharmaceutical contents.

Description

[0001] Hose pinch valve for a filling device for filling containers with a pharmaceutical filling material, filling device and method for filling containers with a pharmaceutical filling material

[0002] The present invention relates to a hose pinch valve for a filling device for filling containers with a pharmaceutical filling material, a filling device for filling containers with the pharmaceutical filling material and a method for filling containers with the pharmaceutical filling material.

[0003] Filling devices are used in the pharmaceutical industry to fill pharmaceutical products, such as medications or other pharmaceutical products, into containers such as vials, bottles, ampoules, syringes, or other packaging. Such filling devices can be automated and / or used in pharmaceutical production facilities. In particular, the filling devices are used in the manufacture of pharmaceutical products to ensure precise dosing of the filling materials. Furthermore, the filling devices must be capable of filling the containers with the filling materials in a hygienic and contamination-free manner to ensure the quality and safety of the pharmaceutical products.

[0004] A pinch valve is used in a filling device to control and / or regulate the flow of liquid or viscous filling materials.

[0005] It enables the control of the flow of filling materials through a flexible hose by squeezing or releasing the hose at a predetermined point. To squeeze the hose, the hose pinch valve has a linearly movable pinch element. The pinch element is driven by a motor with a gear, whereby a high gear ratio results in a large mechanical play and a low gear ratio increases the opening and closing time of the hose pinch valve. Therefore, the known hose pinch valves sometimes do not allow sufficient dosing accuracy. Based on this, the object of the present invention is to at least partially solve the problems described with reference to the prior art and, in particular, to provide a hose pinch valve that enables high dosing accuracy. Furthermore, a filling device is to be provided whose hose pinch valve enables high dosing accuracy.In addition, a method is to be specified with which containers can be filled with a pharmaceutical filling material with a high dosing accuracy.

[0006] These objects are achieved with a hose pinch valve, a filling device, and a method according to the features of the independent claims. Further advantageous embodiments are specified in the dependent claims as well as in the description and, in particular, in the description of the figures. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can combine individual features in a technologically expedient manner, thereby achieving further embodiments of the invention.

[0007] A hose pinch valve for a filling device for filling containers with a pharmaceutical filling material contributes to this, which has at least the following:

[0008] - a valve housing;

[0009] - a hose for the filling material, which is arranged at least partially in or on the valve housing;

[0010] - a drive; and

[0011] - a squeezing element for squeezing the hose, which can be rotated by the drive about a rotation axis into a closed position in which the squeezing element closes the hose, and into an open position in which the squeezing element at least partially releases the hose.

[0012] The pinch valve can be used in particular for a filling device or a filling material feed system that can be used in a production plant for pharmaceutical products. The filling device can be designed in particular in the manner of a time-pressure filling system, with which a pharmaceutical filling material can be dispensed into a container with a predeterminable filling time and a predeterminable filling pressure. The filling time can be controlled by the pinch valve. The filling pressure can be generated in particular by a pump that is connected upstream of the pinch valve. The filling pressure is in particular an overpressure through which the filling material can be conveyed when the pinch valve is open. The pharmaceutical filling material can be, for example, a medication or another pharmaceutical product. The pharmaceutical filling material is in particular liquid or viscous. The filling device can in particular be used to fill a large number of containers with the filling material, e.g.B. in the context of mass production. The containers can be conveyed through the filling device or along the filling device using a conveyor system, in particular an automatic one. The containers can be, for example, vials, bottles, ampoules, syringes, or other packaging. The containers can each have a capacity for the filling material of, for example, 1 milliliter to 1 liter. The containers can be made at least partially of glass, plastic, and / or metal. The pinch valve is, in particular, not a peristaltic pump.

[0013] The pinch valve has a valve housing, which can be made at least partially of metal and / or plastic. The valve housing can be (essentially) T-shaped and / or have a cover. An opening in a mounting space of the valve housing can be closed or sealed by the cover. The valve housing can be attached to the filling device.

[0014] Furthermore, the pinch valve has a hose for the filling material, which is at least partially arranged or fastened in and / or on the valve housing. For example, the hose can be at least partially arranged or fastened on an outer housing surface of the valve housing. The valve housing can support, guide and / or hold at least part of the hose. The hose consists at least partially of a flexible and / or elastic material, which in particular enables precise pinching and at the same time ensures a good seal. For example, the hose can be made at least partially of plastic, silicone, elastomer or rubber. The hose can, for example, have an outer diameter of 2 mm [millimeters] to 20 mm. The pinch valve can be connectable or connected to a filling material source for the filling material using the hose.The filling material source can be, for example, a reservoir for the filling material, a distribution pipe for the filling material, or the pump. A first longitudinal hose end can be connected to the filling material source and / or a second longitudinal hose end can be connected to a hose connection of the hose pinch valve. From the hose connection, the filling material can be fed, for example, via a connecting line to a filling needle, through which the filling material can be poured into a container.

[0015] The pinch valve has a drive. The drive can be an electric motor. The drive can be arranged at least partially in and / or on the valve housing or the mounting space of the valve housing.

[0016] The hose pinch valve has a pinch element for pinching the hose. In particular, the hose pinch valve has a single pinch element. The pinch element can be designed as a roller, for example. The pinch element can be turned or rotated by the drive about a rotation axis into a closed position and an open position. The hose pinch valve is therefore, in particular, a rotary hose pinch valve. The pinch element can be mounted on the valve housing so that it can rotate about the rotation axis. The rotation axis can extend at least partially through the valve housing. The rotation axis can extend (essentially) orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the hose. The rotation axis can extend (essentially) orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of a section of the hose which the pinch element contacts in the closed position.In the closed position, the pinch element squeezes the hose in such a way that the filling material cannot flow through the hose. In the closed position, the pinch element presses on an outer peripheral surface of the hose. In the closed position, the hose or the hose pinch valve is closed. In the open position, the pinch element at least partially or completely releases the hose. In the open position, the hose or the hose pinch valve is at least partially or completely open. When the pinch element is rotated into the closed position and / or when the pinch element is rotated between the open position and the closed position, the pinch element can at least partially slide or roll on the hose or on the outer peripheral surface of the hose. To adjust the pinch element from the open position to the closed position, the pinch element can, for example, be rotatable around the axis of rotation through a first angle of rotation of 45° to 90°.The pinch element can be moved from the open to the closed position with less than one rotation of the drive. In particular, no gear is required to drive the pinch element.

[0017] The ability of the pinch element to rotate around the axis of rotation enables the hose pinch valve to be opened and closed very quickly, thereby increasing the dosing accuracy of the filling device.

[0018] The drive of the rotary pinch valve described here can preferably be designed to be more compact and lightweight (particularly with a low mass inertia of the moving components) than with linear pinch valves. In particular, no gear is required to convert the rotary motion of a drive motor into a linear pinch motion. Compared to a linear pinch valve, the rotary pinch valve requires less installation space than a rotary pinch valve. The lighter weight of such a rotary pinch valve is an advantage during replacement. The elimination of a gear also eliminates the need for lubrication.

[0019] Compared to linear pinch valves, the rotary pinch valve described here also has the advantage of allowing greater independence of operation from the pinch valve's installation orientation. With a linear pinch valve installed vertically, the pinch valve may have to be moved against gravity, which can lead to inaccuracies during operation. Greater forces are required to move a pinch element vertically rather than horizontally. The rotary pinch valve described here is significantly less dependent on this.

[0020] Opening and closing the pinch valve preferably requires a movement of less than one rotation of the drive. The angle of rotation between an open and a closed position of the pinch valve is preferably approximately 45 degrees. This also enables very rapid opening and closing of the pinch valve. This makes it possible to produce very small fill volumes or (micro)drops (micro and drop dosing).

[0021] Controlled acceleration of the filling product is possible at the start of the filling process via the ramp geometry in the valve housing and the acceleration of the roller with this filling valve. The roller moves in the direction of flow of the filling product and transfers the movement to the liquid even before the filling valve reaches the opening point.

[0022] This allows the valve to open gently and prevents splashing at the beginning of filling.

[0023] During closing, the movement profile and geometry of the ramp in the valve housing can also influence the product deceleration in the filling system. This optimizes the product flow and break-off in the filling needle at the end of the filling process. This prevents air pockets and hanging drops or drops that subsequently fall off the filling needle at the end of the filling process. All of these effects have a direct impact on filling accuracy. The rotational movement of the pinch element around the rotation axis can be controlled by a controller, particularly automatically. The controller can include a microprocessor.

[0024] By squeezing the hose with a squeezing element that performs a rotating movement, a particularly gentle squeezing of the hose can be achieved. The squeezing forces are applied evenly across the entire length of the hose. The section where the squeezing of the hose begins is located slightly adjacent to the point where the squeezing first creates a complete seal. This distributes the deformation of the hose over a section of the hose's length. The service life of the hose with this hose pinch valve is increased compared to that of linearly operating hose pinch valves.

[0025] The squeeze element can be arranged eccentrically on a rotor. The squeeze element can be rotatably mounted on and / or at least partially within the rotor. The squeeze element can be mounted on the rotor at and / or at least partially within a longitudinal rotor end of the rotor. The squeeze element can be rotatable about the axis of rotation by the rotor. The rotor extends in particular parallel to the axis of rotation and / or at least partially into the valve housing. The rotor can be rotatably mounted in the valve housing and / or at least partially formed as a shaft. The rotor can be rotatable about the axis of rotation by the drive and / or connected to the drive via a coupling.

[0026] The hose can be pressed against a concave contact surface by the squeezing element. In particular, when the squeezing element is in its closed position, the hose can be pressed against the concave contact surface by the squeezing element. When the squeezing element is in its closed position, the hose runs between the squeezing element and the concave contact surface. The concave contact surface can be formed, for example, on the valve housing or on the cover. The concave contact surface can extend at least partially parallel to the axis of rotation and / or along an outer circumferential surface of the rotor. The concave contact surface can extend around the axis of rotation at an angle of, for example, 45° to 180°, preferably 90° to 180°. The concave contact surface can have a circular segment-shaped cross-section orthogonal to the axis of rotation.

[0027] The concave contact surface on the housing and the shape of the squeezing element preferably define a defined ramp geometry. The ramp geometry defines how and with what degree of dependence on the rotation angle of the rotor or the squeezing element the hose is compressed from the open position to the closed position.

[0028] A controlled acceleration of the filling material is possible at the start of a filling process via the ramp geometry in the valve housing and the acceleration of the rotor. The rotor moves in the direction of flow of the filling material. Opening therefore preferably occurs with a movement of the rotor or the pinch element in the direction of flow of the filling material during filling, transferring the movement to the filling material. This is especially true before the rotor or the pinch element reaches the opening point, a seal in the hose is released, and a passage for the filling material is opened through the hose pinch valve.

[0029] This allows for a smooth opening of the pinch valve. In particular, the formation of splashes of the product at the beginning of a filling process can be effectively prevented by the pinch valve described in the line.

[0030] The motion profile and ramp geometry can also influence the deceleration of the filling material during closing. In particular, the flow of the filling material at the end of a filling process can be improved. For example, air pockets and hanging drops or drops that subsequently fall off the filling needle can be avoided at the end of a filling process. All of these effects have a direct impact on filling accuracy.

[0031] The pinch element can be rotated from the open position to the closed position, counter to the flow direction of the filling material in the hose. This can mean, in particular, that the pinch element slides or rolls at least partially on the hose or on the outer circumferential surface of the hose when rotating from the open position to the closed position, counter to the flow direction of the filling material in the hose. This can achieve a clear and / or clean break in the flow of the filling material at the filling needle when the pinch valve closes, which increases dosing accuracy.

[0032] The squeeze element can be rotated into a suction-back position by the drive. In particular, the squeeze element can be rotated about the rotation axis into the suction-back position by the drive. The squeeze element can be rotated from the open position or the closed position against the flow direction of the filling material in the hose into the suction-back position. To adjust the squeeze element from the closed position to the suction-back position, the squeeze element can, for example, be rotatable about the rotation axis through a second angle of rotation of 10° to 90°, preferably 30° to 60°. When rotating the squeeze element from the closed position to the suction-back position, a distance between the squeeze element and the concave contact surface can be (essentially) constant. When rotating the squeeze element from the closed position to the suction-back position, the squeeze element can (continuously) squeeze the hose such that the hose is closed.When the pinch element is rotated from the closed position to the suction-back position, the pinch element presses against the outer circumferential surface of the hose. When the pinch element is rotated from the closed position to the suction-back position, the hose or hose pinch valve is closed. When the pinch element is rotated from the closed position to the suction-back position, the filling material can be sucked back, in particular from the filling needle and / or in particular actively. By sucking back the filling material, dripping of the filling material onto the filling needle can be prevented, thereby increasing dosing accuracy.

[0033] The pinch element can be rotated into a hose changing position by the drive. In the hose changing position, the hose can be changed, in particular without opening or removing mechanical components of the pinch valve or the valve housing. This makes it possible to change the hose without tools. Preferably, no technical aids such as wrenches are required to change the hose. In the hose changing position, the pinch element in particular releases the hose and / or the pinch element in particular does not press the hose against the concave contact surface. The hose is the only part that needs to be replaced or loosened. No other parts need to be loosened to change the hose. Preferably, different hoses, which can have different inner diameters, can be inserted into the pinch valve.Preferably, different hoses suitable for a hose pinch valve each have the same wall thickness. The hose change position can be (essentially) opposite the closed position. To adjust the pinch element from the closed position to the hose change position, the pinch element can be rotatable, for example, through a third angle of rotation of 170° to 190°, preferably (essentially) 180°, about the axis of rotation. In this rotary pinch valve, the adjustment of the gap (distance between the valve housing and roller) after changing the hose is not necessary and is already determined by the manufacture of these components (valve housing and pinch element) or by the axis of rotation of the rotor with the pinch element.

[0034] This results in less assembly and alignment effort when assembling the pinch valve.

[0035] In preferred embodiments, the described pinch valve has a calibration structure with which a calibration position (a rotation angle) of the rotor relative to the housing is predetermined, in particular in order to calibrate the drive of the pinch valve.

[0036] The calibration structure can, for example, be designed as a hole in the rotor. If necessary, the calibration structure comprises a hole in the housing. Preferably, a pin can be inserted through the hole in the rotor into the hole in the housing in order to achieve precise relative positioning of the rotor to the housing and to calibrate the rotor or the drive. With the help of the calibration structure, it can be checked whether the rotor or the squeeze element is in the calibration position. Starting from a calibration position predetermined by the calibration structure (e.g. by a rotor position predetermined by the two holes), all positions of the rotor (closed position, open position, hose change position, etc.) are preferably precisely predetermined and can thus be approached using the drive. The drive comprises, for example, a stepper motor. The positions mentioned are, for example,defined by a fixed number of steps by which the drive is moved starting from the calibration position.

[0037] The squeezing element can be designed as a sliding roller.

[0038] The hose pinch valve can have a hose holder that prevents movement of the hose in a longitudinal direction. The hose holder can be formed or arranged on the valve housing and / or on the cover. The hose can, for example, be pluggable or inserted into a fastening slot of the hose holder, so that the hose is frictionally fastened in the fastening slot. The fastening slot can run non-linearly and / or meandering in the longitudinal direction of the hose. The hose can be arranged in the hose holder or the fastening slot and the hose can be released from the hose holder or the fastening slot without opening or removing mechanical components. The hose holder can be arranged upstream of the pinch element in the flow direction of the filling material.

[0039] According to a further aspect, a filling device for filling containers with a pharmaceutical filling material is also proposed, which has at least one hose pinch valve as proposed here.

[0040] According to yet another aspect, a method for filling containers with a pharmaceutical filling material is also proposed, which method comprises at least the following steps: a) providing a container; and b) at least partially filling the container with the pharmaceutical filling material, wherein the filling is controlled by means of a hose pinch valve proposed here.

[0041] For further details on the filling device and method, please refer in full to the description of the pinch valve.

[0042] The invention and the technical context of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the figures. The figures show a preferred embodiment, to which the invention is not limited. It should be noted in particular that the figures, and in particular the proportions depicted in the figures, are only schematic. They show:

[0043] Fig. 1 : a filling device with a hose pinch valve in a perspective view;

[0044] Fig. 2: a plan view of the hose pinch valve with a pinch element in an open position;

[0045] Fig. 3: a top view of the hose pinch valve with the pinch element in a closed position; Fig. 4: a top view of the hose pinch valve with the pinch element in a suction-back position; and

[0046] Fig. 5 a top view of the hose pinch valve with the pinch element in a hose change position.

[0047] Fig. 1 shows a filling device 2 for filling containers 3 with a pharmaceutical filling material. The filling device 2 has a hose pinch valve 1 with a valve housing 4. A drive 24 is arranged on the valve housing 4, by means of which a rotor 11 can be rotated about an axis of rotation 8. The drive 24 is preferably connected to the rotor 11 by a coupling 6 in order to drive the rotor 11. The rotor 11 has an eccentric pinch element 7, which can be rotated with the rotor 11 about the axis of rotation 8. The pinch element 7 extends outside the valve housing 4 parallel to the axis of rotation 8. A hose 5 for the filling material runs between the pinch element 7 and a concave contact surface 12 of the valve housing 4. The concave contact surface 12 extends around the rotor 11 or around the rotation axis 8 at an angle 18. The hose 5 leads from a filling material source (not shown here) to a hose connection 19 of the hose pinch valve 1.The hose 5 extends through a hose holder 16 of the hose pinch valve 1, which prevents movement of the hose 5 in a longitudinal direction 17 of the hose 5 when the pinch element 7 rotates about the rotation axis 8. The hose pinch valve 1 is connected to a filling needle 21 via a connecting line 20. The connecting line 20 is connected to a line connection 22 of the hose pinch valve 1. The filling material can be fed to the filling needle 21 via the hose 5 and the connecting line 20 and can be dispensed to the container 3 via the filling needle 21.

[0048] Fig. 2 shows the hose pinch valve 1 in a plan view, with the pinch element 7 of the rotor 11 rotated about the rotation axis 8 into an open position 10. In the open position 10, the hose 5 is open, so that the filling material can flow in a flow direction 13 through the hose 5 and the connecting line 20 to the filling needle 21.

[0049] Fig. 3 shows the hose pinch valve 1 in plan view, wherein the pinch element 7 of the rotor 11 has been rotated counterclockwise about the rotation axis 8 and against the flow direction 13 of the filling material from the open position 10 shown in Fig. 2 into a closed position 9. In the closed position 9, the pinch element 7 presses the hose 5 against the concave contact surface 12, so that the hose 5 is closed and no filling material can flow through the hose 5 to the filling needle 21.

[0050] Fig. 4 shows a top view of the hose pinch valve 1, wherein the pinch element 7 of the rotor 11 has been rotated counterclockwise about the axis of rotation 8 and against the flow direction 13 from the closed position 9 shown in Fig. 3 into a suck-back position 14. When the pinch element 7 is rotated from the closed position 9 shown in Fig. 3 into the suck-back position 14, the pinch element 7 presses the hose 5 against the concave contact surface 12 so that the hose 5 is closed and no filling material can flow through the hose 5 to the filling needle 21. By rotating the pinch element 7 from the closed position 9 shown in Fig. 3 into the suck-back position 14, the filling material can be sucked back by the filling needle 21 against the flow direction 13 shown in Fig. 2 in order to prevent the filling material from dripping onto the filling needle 21.

[0051] Fig. 5 shows the hose pinch valve 1 in plan view, wherein the pinch element 7 of the rotor 11 has been rotated about the rotation axis 8 into a hose change position 15. In the hose change position 15, the hose 5 is not clamped between the pinch element 7 and the concave contact surface 12, so that the hose 5 can be changed. The hose 5 can be changed in the hose change position 15 of the pinch element 7 without opening and / or removing mechanical components of the hose pinch valve 1. Also shown in Figs. 2 to 4 is a calibration structure 23, which can be designed, for example, as a bore in the rotor 11 and with which a calibration position of the rotor 11 or of the pinch element 7 is defined or can be found.

[0052] The present invention makes it possible to increase the dosing accuracy of the filling device 2.

[0053] List of reference symbols

[0054] Pinch valve

[0055] Filling device

[0056] container

[0057] valve housing

[0058] Hose

[0059] coupling

[0060] Squeeze element

[0061] axis of rotation

[0062] Closed position

[0063] Disclosure

[0064] Rotor concave contact surface

[0065] Flow direction

[0066] Suction back position

[0067] Hose change position

[0068] Hose holder

[0069] Hose longitudinal direction

[0070] angle

[0071] hose connection

[0072] connecting line

[0073] Filling needle

[0074] Line connection

[0075] Calibration structure

[0076] drive

Claims

Claims 1. Hose pinch valve (1) for a filling device (2) for filling containers (3) with a pharmaceutical filling material, at least comprising: - a valve housing (4); - a hose (5) for the filling material, which is arranged at least partially in or on the valve housing (4); - a drive (24); and - a squeezing element (7) for squeezing the hose (5), which can be rotated by the drive (24) about a rotation axis (8) into a closed position (9), in which the squeezing element (7) closes the hose (5), and into an open position (10), in which the squeezing element (7) at least partially releases the hose (5).

2. Hose pinch valve (1) according to claim 1, wherein the pinch element (7) is arranged eccentrically on a rotor (11).

3. Hose pinch valve (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the hose (5) can be pressed against a concave contact surface (12) by the pinch element (7).

4. Hose pinch valve (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the pinch element (7) is rotatable from the open position (10) against a flow direction (13) of the filling material in the hose (5) into the closed position (9).

5. Hose pinch valve (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the pinch element (7) can be rotated into a suction-back position (14) by the drive (24).

6. Hose pinch valve (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the pinch element (7) can be rotated into a hose change position (15) by the drive (24).

7. Hose pinch valve (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a calibration structure (23) with which a calibration position of the pinch element (4) relative to the valve housing (4) is predetermined.

8. Hose pinch valve (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the pinch element (7) is designed as a sliding roller.

9. Hose pinch valve (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a hose holder (16) which prevents movement of the hose (5) in a hose longitudinal direction (17).

10. Filling device (2) for filling containers (3) with a pharmaceutical filling material, comprising at least one hose pinch valve (1) according to one of the preceding claims.

11. A method for filling containers (3) with a pharmaceutical filling material, comprising at least the following steps: a) providing a container (3); and b) at least partially filling the container (3) with the pharmaceutical filling material, wherein the filling is controlled by means of a pinch valve (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9.

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