Machine For Filling Vials

• US 20100096042A1
• Filed: 10/01/2009
• Published: 04/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marchesini Group S.p.A.
• Original Assignee: Corima Srl (Suzhou SLAC Precision Equipment Co.,Ltd.)
• Inventors: ANATRINI, Dario
• Granted Patent: US 8,341,922 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 141/168
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 3/003 Filling medical containers such as ampoules, vials, syringes or the like

Abstract

The machine, either in a version for open vials or in one for closed vials, has a cantilevered architecture such that at the sides of the relative conveyor line of the vials there is a substantially vertical air passage gap developing in a downwards direction and connected with a conveyor which opens into an air outlet facing externally of the machine and positioned considerably below the conveyor line. The operating organs of the machine, among which the conveyor line, are inserted in a chamber having a controlled atmosphere, to which means for forced ventilation are associated, which means generate a laminar flow of air directed from above in a downwards direction. The part of the laminar flow, which strikes the sides of the conveyor line and the vials present therein, enters, without perturbation, the air passage gap and exits from the air outlet; thus entry of polluting particles into the inlet of the vials is prevented.

Claims

1. ). A machine for filling vials, comprising:

a supply station, including first organs for removing empty open-type vials from a store and arranging the vials in an ordered row at an inlet of a conveyor line;

a filling station, positioned along the conveyor line, provided with dispensing means for transferring inside each vial a batched quantity of a liquid product;

a closing station, positioned downstream of the filling station, in which means for closing the upper head of the vials operate;

an unloading station positioned at an end of the conveyor line, provided with second organs for receiving the vials, full and closed, released by the conveyor line, and for conveying the vials towards an outlet line, the machine comprising a cantilevered bearing structure, to which are associated;

a first cantilevered housing box, underlying the supply station;

a second cantilevered housing box, having a similar depth to the first cantilevered housing box, underlying the unloading station;

a third cantilevered housing box, extending between the first housing box and the second housing box, having a considerably smaller depth than said first housing box and second housing box;

a bridge support, extending between the first housing box and the second housing box, externally of the third housing box, for supporting the conveyor line;

a fourth housing box, extending between the first housing box and the second housing box, at an external limit thereof, having such a depth that an air passage gap is afforded between the fourth housing box and the third housing box, the air passage gap being substantially vertical and developing in a downwards direction, a width of which is greater than a width of the bridge support;

a conveyor extending between the first housing box and the second housing box, located below the air passage, for connecting the air passage with an air outlet, the air outlet being facing external-wise of the machine and positioned considerably below the conveyor line;

elements associated to the bearing structure, for defining a chamber in which all aforementioned organs of the machine are contained and separated from an outside environment;

forced ventilation means, associated to the chamber, for generating a laminar air flow directed in a downwards direction, a part of which is destined to enter, without turbulence, the air passage, at sides of the conveyor line, and to exit from the air outlet in order to be collected, together with a remaining part of the flow, by means for air channeling associated to an outside of the chamber.

3. ) The machine of claim 1, wherein said elements are constituted by panels.

4. ) The machine of claim 1, wherein said elements are constituted by wall structures.

2. ). A machine for filling vials, comprising:

a supply station, including first organs for removing empty closed-type vials from a store and arranging the vials in an ordered row at an inlet of a conveyor line;

a preparation station, positioned along the conveyor line, in which means for acting on the upper heads of the closed vials are located, for opening the vials;

a filling station, positioned along the conveyor line, provided with dispensing means for transferring inside each vial a batched quantity of a liquid product;

a closing station, positioned downstream of the filling station, in which means for closing the upper head of the vials operate;

an unloading station positioned at an end of the conveyor line, provided with second organs for receiving the vials, full and closed, released by the conveyor line, and for conveying the vials towards an outlet line, the machine comprising a cantilevered bearing structure, to which are associated;

a first cantilevered housing box, underlying the supply station;

a second cantilevered housing box, having a similar depth to the first cantilevered housing box, underlying the unloading station;

a third cantilevered housing box, extending between the first housing box and the second housing box, having a considerably smaller depth than said first housing box and second housing box;

a bridge support, extending between the first housing box and the second housing box, externally of the third housing box, for supporting the conveyor line;

a fourth housing box, extending between the first housing box and the second housing box, at an external limit thereof, having such a depth that an air passage gap is afforded between the fourth housing box and the third housing box, the air passage gap being substantially vertical and developing in a downwards direction, a width of which is greater than a width of the bridge support;

a conveyor extending between the first housing box and the second housing box, located below the air passage, for connecting the air passage with an air outlet, the air outlet facing external-wise of the machine and positioned considerably below the conveyor line;

elements associated to the cantilevered bearing structure, for defining a chamber in which all aforementioned organs of the machine are contained and separated from an outside environment;

forced ventilation means, associated to the chamber, for generating a laminar air flow directed in a downwards direction, a part of which is destined to enter, without turbulence, the air passage, at sides of the conveyor line, and to exit from the air outlet in order to be collected, together with a remaining part of the flow, by means for air channelling associated to an outside of the chamber.

5. ) The machine of claim 2, wherein said elements are constituted by panels.

6. ) The machine of claim 2, wherein said elements are constituted by wall structures.