Transverse Container Fixing for Faster Pharmaceutical Weighing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing container fixing devices for non-stable pharmaceutical containers, such as syringes and cartridges, require large movements to secure them during weighing, leading to increased cycle times and reduced operational efficiency of the weighing process.
Innovation Solution
A container fixing device with a base body and movable fixing elements that allow for transverse insertion of containers, minimizing relative movement and acceleration, and featuring a design that secures containers using gravity or magnetic forces for rapid weighing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a container is held in a gripper during filling and sealing operations, then the container remains stable and positioned correctly, but the container cannot be rotated to access different sides for processing
Solution Approach 1:
The gripper is divided into multiple independent gripper elements (first gripper element, second gripper element, etc.) that can be selectively engaged or disengaged. This allows the container to be held stably by active elements while inactive elements allow rotation, resolving the contradiction between stability and rotation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The gripper elements are designed with different degrees of freedom - some are fixed to provide stable holding, while others are rotatable to enable container rotation. This dynamic configuration allows the system to switch between stable holding mode and rotation mode as needed.
2Productivity
If multiple containers are processed simultaneously on a conveyor, then productivity increases, but the complexity of the processing apparatus increases
Solution Approach 1:
The processing apparatus uses identical, standardized processing modules that can handle multiple container types and orientations. These universal modules are arranged in sequences that can process multiple containers simultaneously, increasing productivity without proportionally increasing complexity through standardization.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple processing operations are nested within a single conveyor system framework. The conveyor belt integrates transport, positioning, and processing functions, with processing modules arranged along the conveyor path, allowing simultaneous processing of multiple containers in a compact configuration.
3Adaptability or versatility
If containers of different sizes and shapes are processed on the same conveyor, then versatility increases, but the precision of positioning and processing decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor system incorporates adjustable positioning elements and customizable processing module configurations that can be locally adapted to match specific container characteristics. Each processing station can be configured with appropriate gripper element geometries and positioning mechanisms tailored to the container being processed, maintaining precision across diverse container types.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows dynamic adjustment of processing parameters including gripper force, positioning coordinates, and processing module configurations based on container specifications. Containers are identified and their parameters are adjusted in the control system to optimize positioning precision for each container type while maintaining versatility.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a container fixing device for pharmaceutical containers (13) for use on a weighing station (18; 101), comprising a main body (26) for connection to or as a component of a weighing cell (24) of the weighing station (18; 101), two or more fixing elements (27, 28), each having at least one fixing member (36) which can be placed onto the container (13), which elements are secured to the main body (26) and between which elements a gap (39) is formed to accommodate a container (13), at least one of said fixing elements (27, 28) being positioned movably on the main body (26), wherein a container (13) located in the gap (39), during a relative movement with respect to the main body (26) in an actuation direction (41), makes contact with an actuating member (45) of the at least one movable fixing element (28) and said actuating member can be transferred from a release position, in which the container (13) can be introduced into the gap (39) and removed therefrom, into a fixing position, in which the container (13) is fixed by means of the fixing members (36); and wherein the container fixing device (25; 60; 62) is designed such that the container (13) can be introduced into the gap (39) in a transport direction (14) which is oriented transversely and in particular perpendicularly to the actuation direction (41). The invention also relates to a weighing station and to an apparatus for processing pharmaceutical containers.