Pharmaceutical Container Filling and Sealing Device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices for filling and sealing pharmaceutical containers cannot handle syringe barrels, vials, and cartridges with crimp caps simultaneously, limiting their versatility and efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A device with a crimping mechanism controlled by a handling robot, a feed device with programmable gripper arms, and a crimp cap delivery system, allowing for flexible handling and sealing of various container formats within a compact, laminar flow environment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a single device is designed to handle only one type of container (syringe barrels), then the device can be simple and specialized, but it cannot process other container types (vials and cartridges with crimp caps)

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontainer type handling capabilityVSAvoiddevice structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device incorporates multiple handling devices with different functionalities - a first handling device for syringe barrels and a second handling device for vials and cartridges. The second handling device includes a crimping device that can be controlled based on the container type, enabling the same device to process multiple container formats through configurable operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The crimping device is designed to be controllable in dependence on the container being processed. The system can dynamically adjust its operation mode - performing crimping operations when vials or cartridges are detected, and skipping this step for syringe barrels, thereby adapting its complexity to the specific task at hand

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If crimp caps are delivered early in the process, then the workflow is efficient, but crimp caps may be lost between container removal and crimping

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveworkflow efficiencyVSAvoidcrimp cap retention

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A crimp cap delivery device is positioned upstream of the crimping device, delivering crimp caps to containers before the containers are removed from the carrier element. This preliminary action ensures crimp caps are already in place when containers are transferred, eliminating the risk of loss during handling and maintaining both efficiency and reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If the gripper arm delivers crimp caps and containers simultaneously, then the process is efficient, but it disturbs the laminar flow in the housing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing speedVSAvoidlaminar flow disturbance

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The gripper arm is configured to remove containers from the carrier element before removing crimp caps from the crimp cap supply. By separating these actions in time, the system eliminates the simultaneous delivery that would disturb laminar flow, while still maintaining efficient processing through sequential operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Adaptability or versatility

If the device is designed for flexible adaptation to different container formats, then versatility is improved, but the device size and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontainer format adaptabilityVSAvoiddevice footprint

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The second handling device features a gripper arm with freedom of movement in both horizontal and vertical directions. This multi-dimensional mobility allows a single device position to service multiple container formats and configurations without requiring additional horizontal space, achieving versatility within a compact footprint

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables efficient and adaptable filling and sealing of different pharmaceutical container types, minimizing crimp cap loss and ensuring pharmaceutical security without modifying existing infrastructure, while maintaining a clean and efficient workflow.

Implementation Method 1

a blower device is provided, which blower device generates within the housing a laminar flow directed from the ceiling region into the floor region

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLaminar flow: Laminar Flow

Data Source

PatentUS8978344B2Device for filling and sealing pharmaceutical containers

Publication Date: 2015.03.17 SYNTEGON TECHNOLOGY GMBH

AI summary

The invention is a device (10) for filling and sealing pharmaceutical containers. The containers are received in a receptacle (12), in which a carrier element (11) is inserted. The containers are arranged in receivers of the carrier element (11) in multiple rows. The device further includes a first handling unit (27) for removing the carrier element (11) from the receptacle (12), a filling and sealing device (35) for the containers, and a second handling unit (45) for reinserting the carrier element (11) into the receptacle (12) which is conveyed with the carrier element (11) on a conveying device (20). The containers are embodied as syringe barrels (1) or as containers which are to be provided with crimp caps (53), and the second handling device (45) is associated with a crimping device (54).