Apparatus for loading and unloading freeze-drying chambers

• US 7,695,230 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2004
• Issued: 04/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GEA Lyophil Gmbh (GEA Group AG)
• Original Assignee: GEA Lyophil Gmbh (GEA Group AG)
• Inventors: Selch, Johannes
• Primary Examiner(s): Fox; Charles A
• Application Number:
  US10/546,461
• Publication Number:
  US 20060263179A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,259 Days
• Field of Search: 414/214, 414/217, 34/92, 342/48, 342/84, 198/600
• US Class Current: 414/180
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/0435 with pulling or pushing means on either stacking crane or stacking area
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2201/0244 Bottles
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/82 Rotary or reciprocating members for direct action on articles or materials, e.g. pushers, rakes, shovels means for pushing glass articles onto a conveyor C03B9/453
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 25/001 Handling, e.g. loading or unloading arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 5/06 the process involving freezing

Abstract

An apparatus having a supporting surface (3) for containers (4) and a device for loading and unloading the containers (4) onto the supporting surface (3). The device has a component (11) for unloading the containers from the supporting surface and a drive unit (12) for facilitating movement of the component (11) relative to a supporting surface (3).

Claims

1. In an apparatus having a supporting surface (3) for containers (4) and a device for loading and unloading said containers (4) onto said supporting surface (3), said device having a component (11) for unloading said containers from said supporting surface and a drive unit (12) for facilitating movement of said component (11) relative to a supporting surface (3), the improvement comprising:

a working plane (9) and a conveyor belt system (10) for loading and unloading said apparatus, said working plane (9) and said conveyor belt system (10) being disposed to one side of said supporting surface (3);

said drive unit (12) having drive wheels (44, 45), an articulation system (42, 43), and a winding system (46, 47) for winding said articulation system (42, 43);

said drive unit (12) being operable to convey said articulation system (42, 43) along a predetermined path;

said articulation system (42, 43) being attached to said component (11) for moving said component relative to said supporting surface (3);

said drive wheels (44, 45) being rotatable about an axis (40) wherein said axis (40) is disposed perpendicularly to said linear direction of motion of said component; and

said winding system (46, 47) being in alignment with said drive wheels (44, 45) wherein said conveyor belt system (10) is located between said working plane (9) and said supporting surface (3);

said conveyor belt system (10) is adjacent to said working plane (9) and separated by a space from said supporting surface (3); and

an adjustable plate (17) is operable to bridge said space between said conveyor belt system (10) and said supporting surface (3);

wherein

said supporting surface (3) includes a first pair of lateral bars for guiding containers (4), and

said supporting surface (3) includes first edges for supporting said component (11), said first edges being disposed outside of said first pair of lateral bars; and

said plate (17) includes a second pair of lateral bars for guiding containers (4), said plate (17) further comprising second edges for supporting said component (11), said second edges being disposed outside of said second pair of lateral bars.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said component is a carriage (11) including a longitudinal bar;

said carriage (11) being supported by means of supports (37) and rollers (39).

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said longitudinal bar is connected to said articulation system (42, 43).

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said carriage (11) is equipped with a panel device (38) that carries a movable panel (54) having a first position and a second position.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that said panel (54) can be actuated mechanically.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that said panel device (38) is equipped with a toothed rack (57) aligned in said linear direction, which engages a gear wheel (58) connected to said panel (54).

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that said panel device (38) can be actuated electrically.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein

said panel device (38) is equipped with a servo motor (59) for positioning said panel (54) in one of said first and said second positions, and

said articulation system (42, 43) is operable to conduct one of a transmitting signal and an actuating current.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said articulation system (42, 43) includes a plurality of rod sections (76), each of said rod sections (76) having a first end (75) and a second end (77) wherein said first end (75) of said rod sections (76) being connected to said second end (77) of adjacent rod sections (76) in an articulated manner.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said articulation system (42, 43) includes steel pins (78) having ends (79) that project laterally from said articulation system (42, 43).

11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said drive wheels (44, 45) include peripherally-spaced recesses (81) dimensioned to receive said ends (79).

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said winding system (46, 47) includes a housing (62) having a spiral-shaped hollow space (72) defined therein, said housing (62) having lateral grooves (84, 85) for guiding said ends (79) of said articulation system (42, 43).

13. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a housing (62) having hollow spaces (71, 72) for accommodating said drive wheels (44, 45), said winding system (46, 47) and said articulation system (42, 43).

14. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a housing (62) including a first cassette (63) having a first hollow space (71) defined therein and a second cassette (64) having a spiral shaped second hollow space (72) defined therein, wherein both first cassette (63) and second cassette (64) are detachably connected to said apparatus.

15. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an insulator (14).

16. An apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a housing (62) having a first hollow space (71) and a spiral shaped second hollow space (72) defined therein, wherein said insulator (14) defines an insulator room (15);

and

said first hollow space (71) and said spiral shaped second hollow space (72) being fluidly connected to said insulator room (15).

17. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said housing (62) has an opening (86) defined therein for fluidly connecting said second hollow space (72) to a source for sterile gases.

18. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a slide (21) for loading containers onto said supporting surface (3).

19. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said supporting surface (3) includes a loading side and said slide (21) and said component for unloading are both disposed in proximity to said loading side such that both slide (21) and said component for unloading can move freely.

20. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus is a device for freeze-drying that includes a chamber (2) having a plurality of supporting surfaces (3) vertically arranged therein.

21. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said chamber (2) has an opening (6) dimensioned to allow containers to pass therethrough;

and

a slide (21) and a component for unloading disposed such that slide (21) can facilitate loading of said containers onto said supporting surface (3) through said opening (6) and said component for unloading can facilitate unloading of said containers from supporting surfaces (3) through said opening (6).