Pharmaceutical Container Closing With Air-Stream Closure Transfer
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for closing pharmaceutical containers, particularly when handling toxic and sensitive substances, face challenges in maintaining operational safety due to the suction of protective gases or substances in vapor or powder form by vacuum devices, necessitating extensive filtration or recirculation.
Innovation Solution
A closing apparatus and system that utilize a feed unit with a feed path to separately handle closure elements, a receiving body with a receptacle, and a turning device to position closure elements without direct contact with the first face, allowing exposure to protective gas and minimizing contamination risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a vacuum device is 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
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful vacuum suction function is extracted and replaced by a gentle air stream that blows closure elements along the feed path. This eliminates the suction of protective gas and pharmaceutical substances while maintaining effective closure element transport and positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
A stream of air is introduced as an intermediary medium to transfer closure elements from the feed path to the container. This air stream replaces the vacuum device and prevents direct suction of protective gas and pharmaceutical substances into the vacuum system.
2Reliability
If closure elements are handled in a protective gas atmosphere, then contamination is prevented, but the system requires complex filtration and recirculation infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The vacuum device that created the need for complex filtration and recirculation systems is replaced by a simple air blow mechanism. This maintains contamination protection through controlled air flow while eliminating the need for extensive filtration and recirculation infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The handling mechanism changes from vacuum suction to air stream propulsion. This parameter change in the handling approach maintains the protective atmosphere integrity while significantly reducing the complexity of required filtration and recirculation systems.
3Ease of operation
If the first face of closure elements contacts the feed path, then handling is simplified, but contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
A stream of air is used as an intermediary to transfer closure elements along the feed path and into the container without the first face contacting the feed path surface. This maintains easy handling through automated air-driven transport while preventing contamination of the critical first face.
Solution Approach 2:
The direct contact between the first face and feed path is eliminated by using an air stream to propel and position closure elements. This extraction of the harmful contact interaction maintains operational simplicity while preventing contamination.
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 being transferrable from the feed path into a receiving position in the receptacle; and 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 in the direction of the container interior.