Pharmaceutical Container Closure Handling Without Vacuum Suction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for closing pharmaceutical containers, particularly when handling toxic and highly sensitive substances, suffer from operational inefficiencies due to the suction of protective gases or substances in vapor or powder form by vacuum devices, necessitating extensive filtration or recirculation, which complicates the process and increases safety risks.
Innovation Solution
A closing apparatus and system that allows closure elements to be fed and placed on containers without direct contact to their first face, utilizing a feed path and turning device to position the closure elements such that the first face faces the container interior, enabling exposure to protective gas and minimizing contamination risks, and eliminating the need for vacuum devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If vacuum devices are used to lift closure elements in a protective gas atmosphere, then closure elements can be handled and placed on containers, but protective gas and pharmaceutical substances are suctioned in vapor or powder form, requiring extensive filtration and recirculation systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful vacuum suction function from the closure element handling process. Instead of using vacuum devices that suction protective gas and pharmaceutical substances, the invention uses a feed unit with a feed path where closure elements are conveyed mechanically without vacuum, eliminating the need for filtration and recirculation systems while maintaining effective closure element handling and placement
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a feed unit with a feed path as an intermediary mechanism between the closure element supply and the container closing process. This feed unit mechanically conveys closure elements through a controlled path without requiring vacuum suction, thereby mediating the transfer process in a way that prevents suction of protective gas and pharmaceutical substances into the environment
2Productivity
If closure elements are fed through a conventional feed path, then they can be supplied to containers, but the first face of closure elements may contact contaminated surfaces, risking contamination of the container interior
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by designing the feed path such that only the second face (outer surface) of the closure element contacts the feed path components, while the first face (inner surface facing container interior) remains isolated and contamination-free. This localized contact arrangement allows continuous supply of closure elements while protecting the critical first face from contamination
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the closure element surface into two distinct faces with different functional requirements: the first face that contacts the container interior and must remain contamination-free, and the second face that contacts the feed path. This segmentation allows the feed path to interact with only the appropriate surface, maintaining productivity while preventing contamination of the critical first face
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for closing pharmaceutical containers with closure elements, and a system for processing pharmaceutical containers. The closure elements include a first face and a second face. The apparatus includes a feed unit with a feed path in which closure elements can be fed separately without contacting the first face; a receiving body with a receptacle for the closure element, the closure element transferrable from the feed path into a receiving position in the receptacle; a device for turning the receiving body from an initial position into an end position and transferring the closure element from the receiving position into a placed position in which the closure element is positioned on the container or at a distance to the container such that the first face points toward the container interior; and a monitoring device adapted to monitor the receiving body for presence of a closure element in the receptacle.