Pharmaceutical Production Machine Continuous Loading

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing machines for pharmaceutical product preparation have long production cycles and low productivity due to the need for a robotized arm to stop during loading and unloading operations, which also require the machine to be stopped, limiting efficiency and productivity.

Innovation Solution

A machine design with a sterile containment chamber and a robotized gripping and transporting device that allows for continuous loading and unloading of syringes, bottles, and infusion bags without stopping the machine, utilizing belt conveyors and cradles for efficient transfer and a star-shaped wheel for infusion bags, enabling uninterrupted operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If a robotized arm is used for transferring containers between the store, weighing station, and dosing station, then the machine can operate with automated container handling, but the production cycle becomes long and productivity becomes low due to the need to stop during loading and unloading operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomated container handlingVSAvoidproduction cycle length

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The machine is divided into multiple independent stations (store, weighing station, dosing station) that can operate simultaneously. Each station has its own container handling capabilities, allowing parallel processing of different containers at different stages of the pharmaceutical product preparation process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The machine enables continuous operation by allowing loading and unloading of containers at the store to occur simultaneously with weighing, dosing, and other operations at other stations. This eliminates idle time and ensures that the robotized arm and other components are continuously productive without stopping for container replenishment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

2Ease of operation

If the machine stops during loading and unloading operations of the store, then container transfer can be completed, but productivity decreases and production cycles lengthen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontainer loading and unloadingVSAvoidmachine operation continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Containers are pre-loaded into the store in advance before the dosing process begins. The store acts as a buffer reservoir that is prepared beforehand, allowing the main dosing operations to proceed without interruption while container replenishment occurs in the background at the store station.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The store functions as an intermediary buffer between container supply and the dosing station. It temporarily holds containers and allows exchange operations to occur independently of the dosing process, decoupling the loading/unloading operations from the main production flow and enabling continuous operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS8499919B2Machine for the production of pharmaceutical products

Publication Date: 2013.08.06 OMNICELL INC

AI summary

A machine for the preparation of pharmaceutical products has a pocket conveyor, mobile along a loop-shaped path and provided with a plurality of pockets, each adapted to receive and withhold a respective container, and a transfer device for transferring the containers with a rectilinear motion between the respective pockets and at least one operating station for executing an operation on the containers themselves.