Device and method for handling containers

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (10) for handling containers with features of claim 1, and to a method for handling containers with features of the additional independent claim.

Description

[0001] Title: Device and method for handling

[0002] containers

[0003] Description

[0004] The invention relates to a device for handling containers with features of claim 1 and a method for handling containers with features of the independent claim.

[0005] Nested and usually pre-sterilized containers are typically arranged in a nest or tray at different spacings depending on their size. If you want to process different containers with different spacings between them, all format parts of the processing machine must be swapped to achieve the required spacing. This is time-consuming and costly, since appropriate (different) format parts must be kept on hand for each spacing between the containers.

[0006] It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a device and a method for handling containers, wherein the above disadvantages are eliminated.

[0007] The above object is achieved by a device for handling containers having the features of claim 1. The device comprises at least two receptacles arranged next to one another along a direction of movement, each for receiving a container. The containers can be, for example, containers for medical products, such as syringes, ampoules, cartridges and / or vials. The containers can have an elongated, in particular cylindrical, shape. In the present case, "handling" means, in particular, holding, fixing and / or moving.

[0008] The receptacles are designed to be movable into a first position along the direction of movement. In the first position, there is a first distance between two adjacent receptacles. The receptacles are designed to be movable into at least one second position along the direction of movement. In the second position, there is a second distance between two adjacent receptacles. The first distance and the second distance are different. In other words, the first distance and the second distance are different and, in particular, are not identical. Two adjacent receptacles are coupled to one another (in particular mechanically) by means of at least one elastic element. An elastic coupling between two adjacent receptacles can be achieved in particular due to the elastic element.

[0009] In this case, a movement of the recordings can mean a relative movement. For example, a first recording can be moved, while a second recording can be held (fixed in place). Analogously, the second recording can be moved, while the first recording can be held (fixed in place). It is also conceivable that the first recording and the second recording can be moved simultaneously (possibly differently or in the same way).

[0010] In this way, containers can be removed, for example, from a nest or tray, the containers being arranged at a first distance from one another. The containers can then be transferred to the device or its receptacles by means of a handling device, for example a robot (arm). In the device, the containers can be brought to a second distance by moving the receptacles of the device from the first position with the first distance to a second position with the second distance. The distance between the containers can be increased or decreased here. The containers, which are now arranged at the second distance from one another, can then be removed from the receptacles or transferred to a processing machine, for example a closing and / or filling station. In this way, the distance between the containers can be adjusted as required using simple means.In particular, the distance between the containers in a nest or tray can be adjusted (reduced and / or increased) to a machine-specific distance. Converting the processing machine to format parts that correspond to the respective distance between the containers in the nest or tray is not necessary.

[0011] According to a further development of the device, the device can comprise a guide device. The guide device can be designed to move at least one receptacle, in particular at least two receptacles, in a guided manner along the direction of movement.

[0012] Due to the elastic coupling between two adjacent mounts by means of the elastic element, the mounts are distributed evenly along the direction of movement. Guides for all mounts are not necessary. The device can therefore be made smaller, thus saving installation space.

[0013] According to a further development of the device, the guide device can comprise at least one rail and at least one guide element designed to be movable along the rail (in particular, linearly guided). The rail can form a guide (linear guide) for the guide element. The guide element can be fixedly coupled and / or connected to at least one receptacle. The movement of the guide element can thus be coupled to the movement of the receptacle coupled and / or connected to the guide element. The guide element can serve as a drive for the receptacle coupled and / or connected to the guide element.

[0014] This allows the guidance system to be implemented using simple means.

[0015] According to a further development of the device, the device may comprise a fixing device. The fixing device may be configured to fix at least one image along the direction of movement.

[0016] This allows for simple means of capturing at least one image along the direction of movement (stationary). This enables more precise positioning and / or conversion.

[0017] According to a further development of the device, the elastic element can be designed as a spring, a spiral spring, a leaf spring, a disc spring, an evolute spring, a spring clip and / or a rubber band.

[0018] This allows the elastic element to be implemented using simple means.

[0019] According to a further development of the device, the elastic element can be made of metal, plastic and / or elastomer.

[0020] This allows the elastic element to be implemented using simple means. According to a further development of the device, at least one receptacle can be designed as a clamp for clamping a container. In particular, all receptacles can each be designed as a clamp for clamping a container.

[0021] In this case, "clamping" refers specifically to the force-locking of a container within a receptacle. In this case, a force is exerted from the outside, particularly on two opposite sides of the respective container.

[0022] This makes it possible to pick up the containers in the respective holder or to fix the containers in the respective holder using simple means.

[0023] According to a further development of the device, all receptacles can be designed identically. If several elastic elements are present, these can also all be designed identically.

[0024] This allows the device to be implemented as simply as possible. In particular, individual parts of the device (such as mounts and / or elastic elements) can be easily exchanged or replaced.

[0025] According to a further development of the device, the device can comprise at least three receptacles. All receptacles can be arranged next to one another in a row. The row is oriented, in particular, along the direction of movement. A first receptacle and / or a last receptacle within the row can be designed to be guided and movable along the direction of movement by means of the guide device (or by means of its guide element).

[0026] Due to the elastic coupling between the individual mounts, guiding all of the mounts is not necessary. This saves costs for additional guides and installation space.

[0027] According to a further development of the device, the first receptacle and / or the last receptacle of the row can be designed to be fixable along the direction of movement by means of the fixing device.

[0028] This allows for the simple fixation of the first and / or last image in the series. This allows for more precise positioning and / or positioning.

[0029] The above object is achieved by a method for handling containers with at least one device according to the above embodiments with the features of the independent claim. The method comprises the steps:

[0030] Providing the fixture receptacles in the first position .

[0031] Arranging the containers in the receptacles of the device.

[0032] Moving the recordings along the direction of movement to the second position .

[0033] Removing the containers from the device's receptacles. Regarding the advantages achievable with the method, reference is made to the relevant information on the device. The measures described in connection with the device and / or those explained below may serve to further refine the method.

[0034] Further features, details and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the wording of the claims and from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings. They show:

[0035] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a device for handling containers according to a first embodiment;

[0036] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the device for handling containers according to a second embodiment and

[0037] Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the device for handling containers according to a third embodiment.

[0038] In the following description and in the figures, corresponding components and elements bear the same reference symbols. For the sake of clarity, not all reference symbols are shown in all figures.

[0039] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a device

[0040] 10 for handling containers according to a first embodiment. The device 10 can comprise at least two receptacles 14 arranged next to one another along a direction of movement 12, each for receiving a container. In the present case, the device 10 has ten receptacles 14. The receptacles 14 are elongated in this case, wherein the longitudinal extent of the receptacles 14 is oriented orthogonally to the direction of movement 12. For the sake of clarity, the containers are not shown in Figures 1 to 3.

[0041] The receptacles 14 are designed to be movable along the direction of movement 12 into a first position in which a first distance exists between two adjacent receptacles 14. The receptacles 14 are designed to be movable along the direction of movement 12 into at least one second position in which a second distance exists between two adjacent receptacles 14. The first distance and the second distance are different from one another. In other words, the first distance and the second distance are different.

[0042] Two adjacent receptacles 14 are (mechanically) coupled to one another by means of at least one elastic element 16.

[0043] The elastic element 16 can be designed as a spring, a spiral spring 24, a leaf spring, a disc spring, an evolute spring, a spring clip 26 and / or a rubber band.

[0044] The elastic element 16 can be made of metal, plastic and / or elastomer. In the present case, an elastic element 16 is arranged between each two adjacent receptacles 14. The device 10 thus has nine elastic elements 16. The elastic elements 16 are designed as spring clips 26. The elastic elements 16 designed as spring clips 26 extend perpendicular to the direction of movement 12. In the present case, the receptacles 14 and the elastic elements 16 designed as spring clips 26 extend in the same direction (e.g. direction of gravity).

[0045] At least one receptacle 14 can be designed as a clamp 28 for clamping a container. In the present case, all receptacles 14 are each designed as a clamp 28 for clamping a container.

[0046] In this case, all receptacles 14 are identically designed. In this case, all elastic elements 16 are identically designed.

[0047] The device 10 can comprise a guide device 18. The guide device 18 can be designed to move at least one receptacle 14 in a guided manner along the direction of movement 12. The guide device 18 can comprise at least one rail 20 and at least one guide element 22 designed to be guided and movable along the rail 20. The guide element 22 can be fixedly coupled and / or connected to at least one receptacle 14 such that the movement of the guide element 22 is coupled to the movement of the receptacle 14 coupled and / or connected to the guide element 22. In the present case, the device 10 has ten receptacles 14 which are arranged next to one another in a row 30 (along the direction of movement 12). In the present case, the first receptacle 14 and the last receptacle 14 within the row 30 are each designed to be guided and movable along the direction of movement 12 by means of the guide device 18.

[0048] In this case, the guide device 18 has two guide elements 22, each of which is guided (linearly guided) on two rails 20 so as to be movable along the direction of movement 12. A first guide element 22 is connected or fixedly coupled to the first receptacle 14 within the row 30. A second guide element 22 is connected or fixedly coupled to the last receptacle 14 within the row 30.

[0049] By moving the first guide element 22 and / or the second guide element 22, the first and / or the last receptacle 14 within the row 30 can be moved along the direction of movement 12. Due to the elastic coupling between the receptacles 14 by means of the elastic elements 16, the receptacles 14 are distributed evenly along the direction of movement 12. In other words, the same distance is always present between two adjacent receptacles 14.

[0050] The device 10 can comprise a fixing device (not shown). The fixing device can be configured for (stationary) fixing of at least one receptacle 14 along the direction of movement 12. By means of the fixing device, the first and / or the last receptacle 14 within the row 30 can be (stationary) fixed along the direction of movement 12. It is conceivable that, in the present case, one of the two guide elements 22 or both guide elements 22 can be (stationary) fixed for this purpose.

[0051] Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the device 10 for handling containers according to a second embodiment. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment shown in Figure 1 in the following:

[0052] The longitudinal extent of the elastic elements 16 designed as spring clips 26 and the longitudinal extent of the receptacles 14 are aligned orthogonally to one another. The elastic elements 16 designed as spring clips 26 and the receptacles 14 therefore do not extend in the same direction. The elastic elements 16 designed as spring clips 26 can in particular be oriented transversely to the direction of gravity. The longitudinal extent of the elastic elements 16 designed as spring clips 26 according to the first exemplary embodiment and the longitudinal extent of the elastic elements 16 designed as spring clips 26 according to the second exemplary embodiment are aligned orthogonally to one another.

[0053] Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the device 10 for handling containers according to a third embodiment. The third embodiment differs from the first embodiment shown in Figure 1 in the following:

[0054] In this case, the elastic elements 16 are each designed as a spiral spring 24. A method for handling containers with at least one device 10 according to the above statements is described below with reference to Figures 1 to 3. The device 10 can, in particular, be a device 10 shown in Figures 1 to 3.

[0055] The procedure includes the following steps:

[0056] Providing the receptacles 14 of the device 10 in the first position.

[0057] Arranging the containers in the receptacles 14 of the device 10. This can be implemented by means of a handling device, e.g., a robot (arm) or a transfer device.

[0058] Moving the receptacles 14 along the direction of movement 12 into the second position. In doing so, the distance between each two adjacent receptacles 14 is changed (reduced or increased).

[0059] Removing the containers from the receptacles 14 of the device 10. This can be implemented by means of another handling device, e.g., a robot (arm) or another transfer device.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Device (10) for handling containers with at least two receptacles (14) arranged next to one another along a direction of movement (12) for each receiving a container, wherein the receptacles (14) are designed to be movable along the direction of movement (12) into a first position in which there is a first distance between two adjacent receptacles (14), wherein the receptacles (14) are designed to be movable along the direction of movement (12) into at least one second position in which there is a second distance different from the first distance between two adjacent receptacles (14), wherein two adjacent receptacles (14) are coupled to one another by means of at least one elastic element (16).

2. Device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the device (10) comprises a guide device (18), wherein the guide device (18) is designed to move at least one receptacle (14) in a guided manner along the direction of movement (12).

3. Device (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the guide device (18) comprises at least one rail (20) and at least one guide element (22) designed to be movable along the rail (20), wherein the guide element (22) is firmly coupled to at least one receptacle (14) and / or connected so that the movement of the guide element (22) is coupled to the movement of the receptacle (14) coupled and / or connected to the guide element (22).

4. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (10) comprises a fixing device, wherein the fixing device is designed to fix at least one receptacle (14) along the direction of movement (12).

5. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the elastic element (16) is designed as a spring, a spiral spring (24), a leaf spring, a disc spring, an evolute spring, a spring clip (26) and / or a rubber band.

6. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the elastic element (16) is made of metal, plastic and / or elastomer.

7. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one receptacle (14), in particular all receptacles (14) are each designed as a clamp (28) for clamping a container.

8. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that all recordings (14) are identically designed.

9. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims and claim 2, characterized in that the Device (10) comprises at least three receptacles (14) which are arranged next to one another in a row (30), wherein a first receptacle (14) and / or a last receptacle (14) within the row (30) are designed to be movable in a guided manner along the direction of movement (12) by means of the guide device (18).

10. Device (10) according to claim 4 and 9, characterized in that the first receptacle (14) and / or the last receptacle (14) of the row (30) is designed to be fixable along the direction of movement (12) by means of the fixing device.

11. A method for handling containers with at least one device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising the steps: Providing the receptacles (14) of the device (10) in the first position; Arranging the containers in the receptacles (14) of the device (10); Moving the receptacles (14) along the direction of movement (12) into the second position; Removing the containers from the holders (14) of the Device (10) .

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