Defoaming device and foreign matter inspection system

Abstract

A defoaming device (50) for removing bubbles (B) adhering to an inner surface (112s) that forms a filling chamber (112) for a liquid (L) in a prefilled syringe (100), the defoaming device (50) comprising: a syringe holder (35) that holds the prefilled syringe (100) with the tip of the prefilled syringe (100) facing upward; and a vibration mechanism (20) that applies a horizontal impact to the prefilled syringe (100) to thereby vibrate the prefilled syringe (100).

Description

Defoaming Device and Foreign Object Inspection System

[0001] The present invention relates to a defoaming device and a foreign object inspection system.

[0002] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-290008 discloses defoaming bubbles contained in a highly viscous fluid by applying an impact in a direction perpendicular to a container containing the highly viscous fluid. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2010-70779 discloses promoting defoaming of bubbles adhering to a substrate by applying an impact to the substrate.

[0003] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-290008, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2010-70779

[0004] By the way, in a prefilled syringe, when inspecting the presence or absence of foreign objects in the liquid filled in the prefilled syringe using a foreign object inspection system, it may be difficult to accurately distinguish between bubbles adhering to the inner surface of the prefilled syringe and foreign objects. Therefore, it is desired to improve the inspection accuracy of the presence or absence of foreign objects.

[0005] The present disclosure aims to solve the above-described problems.

[0006] (1) A first aspect of the present disclosure is a defoaming device for detaching bubbles adhering to an inner surface forming a liquid filling chamber in a prefilled syringe, including a syringe holding portion that holds the prefilled syringe with the tip portion of the prefilled syringe facing upward, and a vibration mechanism that applies an impact to the prefilled syringe from a direction intersecting the axis of the prefilled syringe to vibrate it.

[0007] According to such a configuration, the prefilled syringe can be effectively vibrated. Therefore, bubbles in the liquid filled in the prefilled syringe can be effectively defoamed.

[0008] (2) In the defoaming device according to the above item (1), the vibration mechanism may apply an impact to the prefilled syringe from a direction perpendicular to the axis of the prefilled syringe.

[0009] This configuration allows for more effective vibration of the pre-filled syringe.

[0010] (3) In the degassing apparatus described in item (1) or (2) above, the vibration mechanism may strike the outer surface of the syringe body of the prefilled syringe.

[0011] This configuration allows for effective vibration of the pre-filled syringe.

[0012] (4) In the degassing apparatus described in any one of the above items (1) to (3), the syringe holding part may have a holding groove for holding the prefilled syringe, and the vibration mechanism may have a striking part that moves toward the holding groove and applies an impact to the prefilled syringe.

[0013] This configuration allows for more effective vibration of the pre-filled syringe. Furthermore, it prevents the pre-filled syringe from coming loose from the retaining groove when impact is applied to it by the striking part.

[0014] (5) In the degassing apparatus described in any one of the above items (1) to (4), the syringe holding part may be a transport wheel for transporting the prefilled syringe.

[0015] This configuration is efficient because it allows for the simultaneous transport and degassing of pre-filled syringes.

[0016] (6) In the degassing apparatus described in item (5) above, the vibration mechanism has a plurality of impact-applying parts arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction of the transport wheel, and while the prefilled syringe is moved by the transport wheel, the plurality of impact-applying parts may vibrate one prefilled syringe multiple times.

[0017] With this configuration, bubbles that were not removed by the first vibration can be removed by subsequent vibrations, thus enabling more effective degassing.

[0018] (7) In the degassing apparatus described in item (5) or (6) above, the transport wheel may have an outer circumference for holding the prefilled syringe, and the vibration mechanism may have a striking part that applies impact to the prefilled syringe by moving toward the rotation center of the transport wheel.

[0019] With this configuration, the impact force from the striking part is generated efficiently, allowing the pre-filled syringe to be effectively vibrated.

[0020] (8) In the defoaming apparatus described in item (1) above, the vibration mechanism may include a striking part that moves toward the prefilled syringe to impart an impact to the prefilled syringe, and an air cylinder device that moves the striking part.

[0021] With this configuration, the high-speed operation of the air cylinder device allows for an extremely short contact time between the striking part and the prefilled syringe. Therefore, the prefilled syringe can be vibrated more effectively.

[0022] (9) A second aspect of the present disclosure is a foreign matter inspection system comprising a degassing device described in any one of the above items (1) to (8), and an inspection unit for inspecting the prefilled syringe after it has been vibrated by the degassing device for the presence or absence of foreign matter in the liquid.

[0023] This configuration can improve the accuracy of inspections for the presence or absence of foreign objects.

[0024] (10) The foreign object inspection system described in item (9) above may be provided with a sorting unit that sorts the prefilled syringes based on the inspection results of the inspection unit.

[0025] The degassing device of this disclosure can effectively vibrate a pre-filled syringe. Therefore, it can effectively remove air bubbles from the liquid filled in the pre-filled syringe. The foreign matter inspection system of this disclosure can improve the accuracy of inspection for the presence or absence of foreign matter.

[0026] Figure 1 is an overall schematic diagram of the foreign object inspection system. Figure 2 is a schematic side view of the defoaming device. Figure 3 is a schematic top view of the defoaming device.

[0027] The foreign object inspection system 10 shown in Figure 1 is equipment for inspecting pre-filled syringes 100 for the presence or absence of foreign objects. In Figure 1, the transport path of the pre-filled syringes 100 is shown by dashed arrows. As shown in Figure 2, the pre-filled syringe 100 comprises a syringe body 102, a gasket 104, and a cap 106. The syringe body 102 is cylindrical. The syringe body 102 has a body portion 108 and a nozzle 110. The constituent material of the syringe body 102 is, for example, a resin material, a metal material, or glass.

[0028] The gasket 104 is located inside the syringe body 102 (inside the barrel 108). The gasket 104 is inserted into the barrel 108 so as to be slidable along the axial direction. The material of the gasket 104 is, for example, an elastic material such as rubber.

[0029] Inside the syringe body 102, a filling chamber 112 is formed by the inner surface 102s of the syringe body 102 and the tip surface 104s of the gasket 104. The filling chamber 112 is filled with liquid L. Liquid L is, for example, a drug solution or physiological saline. In the following description, the inner surface 102s of the syringe body 102 and the tip surface 104s of the gasket 104 are collectively referred to as the "inner surface 112s of the filling chamber 112".

[0030] The cap 106 is attached to the nozzle 110. The cap 106 provides a liquid-tight seal to the nozzle 110.

[0031] As shown in Figure 1, the foreign object inspection system 10 includes a supply unit 12, a first transport unit 14, a press pin unit 16, a second transport unit 18, a vibration mechanism 20, an inspection unit 22, a sorting unit 24, and a discharge unit 26.

[0032] The supply unit 12 receives pre-filled syringes 100 from equipment (not shown) located upstream of the foreign object inspection system 10. The upstream equipment is, for example, an assembly device for pre-filled syringes 100. The supply unit 12 receives, for example, multiple pre-filled syringes 100 at once from the upstream equipment. The supply unit 12 supplies the pre-filled syringes 100 to the first transport unit 14.

[0033] The first transport unit 14 receives the pre-filled syringe 100 from the supply unit 12 and transports the pre-filled syringe 100 to the press pin unit 16. The first transport unit 14 has, for example, a plurality of transport wheels 30. Details are omitted, but each transport wheel 30 has a plurality of retaining grooves on its outer circumference that can hold the pre-filled syringe 100.

[0034] Each transport wheel 30 holds the pre-filled syringe 100 with its tip facing upward. The transport wheel 30 can transport the pre-filled syringe 100 by rotating while holding it in its holding groove. Between adjacent transport wheels 30, the pre-filled syringe 100 can be passed from the upstream transport wheel 30 to the downstream transport wheel 30.

[0035] The press pin section 16 receives the pre-filled syringe 100 from the first transport section 14. The press pin section 16 degasses, or at least collects, air bubbles B (see Figure 2), which may cause false detections in the inspection section 22, by rotating the pre-filled syringe 100 at high speed. The press pin section 16 has a plurality of spin devices 32 arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction. As the press pin section 16 as a whole rotates (revolves), each spin device 32 also rotates (rotates on its own axis).

[0036] Each spinning device 32, for example, holds the pre-filled syringe 100 from above and below, and rotates the pre-filled syringe 100 at high speed around its axis a0 (see Figure 2). Each spinning device 32 holds the pre-filled syringe 100 in a position with its tip facing upwards.

[0037] The second transport unit 18 receives the pre-filled syringe 100 from the press pin unit 16. The second transport unit 18 transports the pre-filled syringe 100 toward the inspection unit 22. The second transport unit 18, like the first transport unit 14, has, for example, a plurality of transport wheels 34.

[0038] Each transport wheel 34 holds the pre-filled syringe 100 with its tip facing upward. The pre-filled syringe 100 is sequentially transported downstream by the multiple transport wheels 34 and sent to the inspection unit 22. The outer circumference of each transport wheel 34 is equipped with a mechanism (holding mechanism 42) for holding the pre-filled syringe 100. In the following, the holding mechanism 42 will be described using the transport wheel 34a located furthest downstream among the multiple transport wheels 34 constituting the second transport unit 18 as a representative example.

[0039] As shown in Figure 2, the transport wheel 34a has a wheel body 36, a retaining groove 38, and retaining claws 40. The wheel body 36 rotates around a rotation axis Ax (see Figure 1) parallel to the vertical direction by a drive mechanism (not shown). The retaining groove 38 and retaining claws 40 constitute a retaining mechanism 42.

[0040] As shown in Figure 3, multiple retaining mechanisms 42 are provided on the outer circumference of the wheel body 36 at intervals in the circumferential direction. Each retaining groove 38 is a groove that is recessed radially inward of the transport wheel 34a. Each retaining groove 38 is a groove for holding a pre-filled syringe 100. Each retaining claw 40 contacts the pre-filled syringe 100 held in each retaining groove 38 and holds the pre-filled syringe 100 in place. Each retaining claw 40 is rotatably supported relative to the wheel body 36.

[0041] The vibration mechanism 20 is a mechanism for vibrating the prefilled syringe 100 by applying impact. As shown in Figure 2, the vibration mechanism 20 applies impact to the prefilled syringe 100 from a direction intersecting the axis a0 of the prefilled syringe 100. In this embodiment, the vibration mechanism 20 applies impact to the prefilled syringe 100 from a direction perpendicular to the axis a0 (horizontal direction). The vibration mechanism 20 is configured to strike the outer circumferential surface of the syringe body 102 of the prefilled syringe 100. In this embodiment, the degassing device 50 is composed of a transport wheel 34a that functions as a syringe holder 35 and a vibration mechanism 20 that vibrates the prefilled syringe 100.

[0042] The vibration mechanism 20 comprises a base portion 52, a support portion 54, and an impact-applying portion 56. The base portion 52 is fixed to an appropriate part (such as a stage 58) in the foreign object inspection system 10. The support portion 54 is fixed to the base portion 52. The support portion 54 is a member such as a bracket and supports the impact-applying portion 56.

[0043] The impact-applying unit 56 applies impact to the pre-filled syringe 100. The impact-applying unit 56 has a striking part 60 and a drive part 62. The striking part 60 applies impact to the pre-filled syringe 100 by moving toward the pre-filled syringe 100. The striking part 60 is fixed to the tip of the drive part 62. To prevent damage to the appearance of the pre-filled syringe 100 during impact application, the striking part 60 is made of a resin material such as polyethylene, polystyrene, or polypropylene.

[0044] In this embodiment, the striking portion 60 faces the outer peripheral portion of the conveying wheel 34a in the radial direction of the conveying wheel 34a. The striking portion 60 is disposed at the same height as the holding groove 38 and is movable toward the holding groove 38 when the striking portion 60 and the holding groove 38 face each other. The striking portion 60 imparts an impact to the prefilled syringe 100 by moving toward the rotation axis Ax (see FIG. 1), which is the center of rotation of the conveying wheel 34a. The striking portion 60 is movable in the radial direction of the conveying wheel 34a. The striking portion 60 is disposed at a height different from that of the holding claw 40 so as not to interfere with the holding claw 40 of the conveying wheel 34a. In this embodiment, the striking portion 60 is disposed above the holding claw 40.

[0045] The driving portion 62 moves the striking portion 60. The driving portion 62 can perform an advancing operation (striking operation) of moving the striking portion 60 in the direction toward the prefilled syringe 100 and a returning operation of moving the striking portion 60 in the direction away from the prefilled syringe 100. The driving portion 62 is a linear actuator. In this embodiment, the driving portion 62 moves the striking portion 60 in the radial direction of the conveying wheel 34a.

[0046] In this embodiment, the driving portion 62 is an air cylinder device 62A. The air cylinder device 62A is connected to an air supply source 66 via an air line 64. An air switching mechanism 68 (switching valve) is provided on the air line 64. The control portion 70 controls the air switching mechanism 68 to move the striking portion 60 by the air cylinder device 62A. Note that the driving portion 62 is not limited to the air cylinder device 62A, and other linear actuators such as a solenoid or a linear motor may be used.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 3, the vibration mechanism 20 is provided with a plurality of impact-imparting portions 56. The plurality of impact-imparting portions 56 are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction of the conveying wheel 34a. For this reason, while the prefilled syringe 100 is moved by the conveying wheel 34a, the plurality of impact-imparting portions 56 perform vibration on each prefilled syringe 100 a plurality of times. In this embodiment, two impact-imparting portions 56 are arranged.

[0048] Hereinafter, among the two impact-imparting portions 56, the impact-imparting portion 56 on the rear side in the rotation direction of the transport wheel 34a is referred to as the "first impact-imparting portion 56A", and the impact-imparting portion 56 on the front side in the rotation direction of the transport wheel 34a is referred to as the "second impact-imparting portion 56B". The axis (first drive axis a1) of the drive portion 62 of the first impact-imparting portion 56A and the axis (second drive axis a2) of the drive portion 62 of the second impact-imparting portion 56B are both parallel to the radial direction of the transport wheel 34a. The first drive axis a1 and the second drive axis a2 intersect the rotation axis Ax (see FIG. 1) of the transport wheel 34a. The first drive axis a1 and the second drive axis a2 are inclined with respect to each other (non-parallel). The angular interval in the circumferential direction between the first drive axis a1 and the second drive axis a2 is the same as the angular interval of the plurality of holding grooves 38 provided in the transport wheel 34a. The first drive axis a1 and the second drive axis a2 are parallel to the horizontal plane.

[0049] Incidentally, only one impact-imparting portion 56 may be provided. Three or more impact-imparting portions 56 may be provided.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 1, the inspection unit 22 receives the prefilled syringe 100 from the second transport unit 18. The inspection unit 22 inspects the prefilled syringe 100 after being vibrated by the defoaming device 50 for the presence or absence of foreign matter in the liquid L. The inspection unit 22 has an inspection rotor 72. The inspection unit 22 transports the prefilled syringe 100 toward the sorting unit 24 by rotating while holding the prefilled syringe 100 with the inspection rotor 72.

[0051] The inspection unit 22 inspects the presence or absence of foreign matter by, for example, X-ray inspection, image recognition, etc., using an inspection device 75. In the X-ray inspection, the prefilled syringe 100 is irradiated with X-rays, and the presence or absence of foreign matter is inspected by detecting the X-rays transmitted through the prefilled syringe 100. Also, in image recognition, the prefilled syringe 100 is imaged with a camera, and the presence or absence of foreign matter is inspected by examining whether a foreign object is reflected in the image of the imaged prefilled syringe 100.

[0052] The sorting unit 24 receives the pre-filled syringes 100 from the inspection unit 22 and sorts the pre-filled syringes 100 based on the inspection results of the inspection unit 22. In this embodiment, the sorting unit 24 sorts the pre-filled syringes 100 into good products (acceptable products), defective products (unacceptable products), and uninspected products. Good products are pre-filled syringes 100 that the inspection unit 22 has determined to be free of foreign matter in the liquid L. Defective products are pre-filled syringes 100 that the inspection unit 22 has determined to contain foreign matter in the liquid L. Uninspected products are pre-filled syringes 100 that passed the inspection unit 22 but did not meet the predetermined inspection conditions and therefore the inspection was not completed.

[0053] The sorting unit 24 has a main wheel 74, a first wheel 76, a second wheel 78, and a third wheel 80. Pre-filled syringes 100 that have not been inspected are received by the first wheel 76 and transported to the uninspected product receiving unit 82. Defective pre-filled syringes 100 are received by the second wheel 78 and transported to the defective product receiving unit 84. Good pre-filled syringes 100 are received by the third wheel 80 and transported to the discharge unit 26.

[0054] The discharge unit 26 receives the good quality pre-filled syringes 100 from the sorting unit 24 and sends the pre-filled syringes 100 to equipment (not shown) located downstream of the foreign matter inspection system 10.

[0055] The foreign object inspection system 10 configured as described above operates as follows.

[0056] In Figure 1, when a pre-filled syringe 100 is supplied to the supply unit 12 of the foreign object inspection system 10, the pre-filled syringe 100 is transported to the press pin unit 16 via the first transport unit 14. The press pin unit 16 rotates the pre-filled syringe 100 at high speed around its axis a0 (see Figure 2), thereby removing (degassing) or collecting at least a portion of the air bubbles B (see Figure 2) in the liquid L that may cause false detection.

[0057] Next, the pre-filled syringe 100 is transported from the press pin section 16 to the inspection section 22 via the second transport section 18. As the pre-filled syringe 100 is transported by the second transport section 18, it is vibrated by the degassing device 50. The vibration of the pre-filled syringe 100 by the degassing device 50 removes any air bubbles B that were not removed by the press pin section 16.

[0058] Specifically, as shown in Figure 3, the pre-filled syringe 100 is first vibrated horizontally by the first impact-applying unit 56A while being held and transported by the transport wheel 34a. In this case, when the pre-filled syringe 100 reaches the first position P1, which is the front position of the first impact-applying unit 56A, the first impact-applying unit 56A applies an impact to the pre-filled syringe 100 with its striking unit 60. This provides the first vibration (impact) to the pre-filled syringe 100 while it is being transported.

[0059] In other words, as shown in Figure 2, the drive unit 62 of the first impact-applying unit 56A moves the striking unit 60 toward the pre-filled syringe 100 at high speed. As a result, the striking unit 60 collides with the body 108 of the syringe body 102. In this case, the striking unit 60 moves toward the pre-filled syringe 100 from a position facing the outer circumference of the transport wheel 34a (at the same height as the holding groove 38). The position where the striking unit 60 collides with the pre-filled syringe 100 (collision position) may be above the gasket 104 or at the same height as the gasket 104. Depending on the relative positional relationship between the transport wheel 34a and the pre-filled syringe 100, the collision position of the striking unit 60 may be below the gasket 104.

[0060] The impact of the striking part 60 applies an impact force to the air bubble B adhering to the inner surface 112s of the filling chamber 112 (the inner surface 102s of the syringe body 102 or the tip surface 104s of the gasket 104). This impact force causes the air bubble B to detach from the inner surface of the prefilled syringe 100, or accelerates its detachment. After the striking part 60 momentarily impacts the prefilled syringe 100, it is returned to its retracted position by the drive unit 62.

[0061] As shown in Figure 3, when the pre-filled syringe 100 is transported by the transport wheel 34a and reaches the second position P2, which is the front position of the second impact-applying unit 56B, the second impact-applying unit 56B applies an impact to the pre-filled syringe 100 with its striking part 60. This applies a second vibration (impact) to the pre-filled syringe 100 while it is being transported. Even if air bubbles B remain after the first vibration by the first impact-applying unit 56A, the vibration of the pre-filled syringe 100 by the second impact-applying unit 56B causes the air bubbles B attached to the inner surface to detach, thus effectively removing all air bubbles B. The striking part 60 of the second impact-applying unit 56B momentarily collides with the pre-filled syringe 100 and is then returned to the retracted position by the drive unit 62.

[0062] As shown in Figure 3, when prefilled syringes 100 are held in adjacent holding grooves 38 on the transport wheel 34a, the first impact unit 56A and the second impact unit 56B vibrate the prefilled syringes 100 at the first position P1 and the second position P2, respectively. As a result, the first impact unit 56A and the second impact unit 56B simultaneously vibrate two adjacent prefilled syringes 100.

[0063] As shown in Figure 1, a detection unit 86 (imaging unit, optical sensor, etc.) capable of detecting the presence of the pre-filled syringe 100 may be provided near the transport wheel 34a and upstream of the vibration mechanism 20. In this case, the control unit 70 operates the first impact unit 56A and the second impact unit 56B only when the pre-filled syringe 100 passes through the first position P1 and the second position P2 shown in Figure 3. This prevents the first impact unit 56A and the second impact unit 56B from firing unnecessarily, thus saving air consumption.

[0064] The pre-filled syringes 100, vibrated by the degassing device 50, are transported to the inspection unit 22 as shown in Figure 1. In the inspection unit 22, the presence or absence of foreign matter in the liquid L of the pre-filled syringes 100 is inspected. The inspection unit 22 determines whether the pre-filled syringes 100 are uninspected, defective, or good. Subsequently, the pre-filled syringes 100 are transported to the sorting unit 24 and, depending on the determination result from the inspection unit 22, are transported to the uninspected product receiving unit 82, the defective product receiving unit 84, or the discharge unit 26. The pre-filled syringes 100 that are good are supplied to downstream processing equipment (not shown) via the discharge unit 26.

[0065] This embodiment provides the following effects.

[0066] As shown in Figure 2, the degassing device 50 can effectively vibrate the prefilled syringe 100 by vibrating it from a direction intersecting the axis a0 of the prefilled syringe 100. Therefore, it can effectively degas the air bubbles B in the liquid L filled in the prefilled syringe 100.

[0067] The vibration mechanism 20 applies an impact to the pre-filled syringe 100 from a direction perpendicular to the axis a0 of the pre-filled syringe 100, thereby allowing the pre-filled syringe 100 to vibrate more effectively.

[0068] The vibration mechanism 20 delivers a strike to the outer surface of the syringe body 102 of the prefilled syringe 100, thereby effectively vibrating the prefilled syringe 100.

[0069] The syringe holder 35 has a holding groove 38 for holding the pre-filled syringe 100. The vibration mechanism 20 has a striking part 60 that moves toward the holding groove 38 and applies impact to the pre-filled syringe 100. With this configuration, the pre-filled syringe 100 can be vibrated more effectively. In addition, it is possible to prevent the pre-filled syringe 100 from coming out of the holding groove 38 when impact is applied to the pre-filled syringe 100 by the striking part 60.

[0070] The syringe holder 35 is a transport wheel 34a for transporting the pre-filled syringe 100. This configuration is efficient because the transport of the pre-filled syringe 100 and degassing can be performed in parallel.

[0071] The vibration mechanism 20 has a plurality of impact-applying parts 56 arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction of the transport wheel 34a. While the pre-filled syringe 100 moves on the transport wheel 34a, the plurality of impact-applying parts 56 vibrate each pre-filled syringe 100 multiple times. With this configuration, air bubbles B that were not removed by the first vibration can be removed by the second and subsequent vibrations, thus enabling more effective degassing.

[0072] The transport wheel 34a has an outer circumference that holds the pre-filled syringe 100. The vibration mechanism 20 has a striking part 60 that applies impact to the pre-filled syringe 100 by moving toward the rotation center of the transport wheel 34a (see Figure 1). With this configuration, the impact force from the striking part 60 is generated efficiently, so the pre-filled syringe 100 can be vibrated more effectively.

[0073] The vibration mechanism 20 includes a striking section 60 that moves toward the pre-filled syringe 100 to impart impact to it, and an air cylinder device 62A that moves the striking section 60. With this configuration, the high-speed operation of the air cylinder device 62A makes the contact time between the striking section 60 and the pre-filled syringe 100 extremely short. As a result, the pre-filled syringe 100 can be vibrated more effectively.

[0074] While this disclosure has been described in detail, it is not limited to the individual embodiments described above. These embodiments can be added, replaced, modified, partially deleted, etc., in any way that does not depart from the gist of this disclosure or from the intent of this disclosure derived from the claims and their equivalents. These embodiments can also be implemented in combination. For example, the order of operations and processes in the embodiments described above are given as examples only and are not limited thereto. The same applies when numerical values ​​or mathematical formulas are used in the description of the embodiments described above.

Claims

1. A degassing device for removing air bubbles adhering to the inner surface forming the liquid filling chamber of a prefilled syringe, comprising: a syringe holding part that holds the prefilled syringe in a position with the tip of the prefilled syringe facing upward; and a vibration mechanism that vibrates the prefilled syringe by applying impact from a direction intersecting the axis of the prefilled syringe.

2. A defoaming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vibration mechanism applies an impact to the prefilled syringe from a direction perpendicular to the axis of the prefilled syringe.

3. A defoaming device according to claim 1, wherein the vibration mechanism strikes the outer surface of the syringe body of the prefilled syringe.

4. A degassing device according to claim 1, wherein the syringe holding portion has a holding groove for holding the prefilled syringe, and the vibration mechanism has a striking portion that moves toward the holding groove and applies impact to the prefilled syringe.

5. A degassing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the syringe holding portion is a transport wheel for transporting the pre-filled syringe.

6. A defoaming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the vibration mechanism has a plurality of impact-applying parts arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction of the transport wheel, and the plurality of impact-applying parts vibrate a single prefilled syringe multiple times while the prefilled syringe is moved by the transport wheel.

7. A defoaming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the transport wheel has an outer circumference for holding the prefilled syringe, and the vibration mechanism has a striking part that applies impact to the prefilled syringe by moving toward the rotation center of the transport wheel.

8. A defoaming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vibration mechanism comprises a striking part that moves toward the prefilled syringe to apply an impact to the prefilled syringe, and an air cylinder device that moves the striking part.

9. A foreign matter inspection system comprising: a degassing device according to any one of claims 1 to 8; and an inspection unit for inspecting the pre-filled syringe, after it has been vibrated by the degassing device, for the presence or absence of foreign matter in the liquid.

10. A foreign object inspection system according to claim 9, comprising a sorting unit for sorting the pre-filled syringes based on the inspection results of the inspection unit.

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