Machine for filling vials

• US 8,341,922 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2009
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Desai, Hemant M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Weeks, Gloria R
• Application Number:
  US12/571,533
• Publication Number:
  US 20100096042A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,188 Days
• Field of Search: 53/79, 531/03, 532/846, 535/10, 532/81, 532/82, 531/67, 532/845
• US Class Current: 53/79
• 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 conveyor line for conveying the vials;

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 the conveyor line;

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

a closing station, positioned downstream of the filling station, having means for closing an upper head of the liquid product containing vials;

an unloading station positioned at an end of the conveyor line, provided with second organs for receiving the liquid product filled and closed vials, released by the conveyor line, and for conveying the filled and closed vials towards an outlet line;

a cantilevered bearing structure, situated laterally relative to and along the conveyor line;

a first cantilevered housing box, cantilever mounted to the cantilevered bearing structure, supporting the supply station;

a second cantilevered housing box, cantilever mounted to the cantilevered bearing structure, supporting the unloading station and having a depth similar to a depth of the first cantilevered housing box;

a third cantilevered housing box, cantilever mounted to the cantilevered bearing structure between the first cantilevered housing box and the second cantilevered housing box, the third cantilevered housing box, extending between the first housing box and the second housing box, having a depth smaller than the depths of said first housing box and second housing box, the third cantilevered housing box supporting the filling station and the closing station;

a bridge support, extending from above the first housing box to above 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 a gap is provided between the fourth housing box and the third housing box, the gap having a width greater than a width of the bridge support so that air passages are defined at both sides of the conveyor line supported by the bridge support, the air passages being substantially vertical and developing in a downwards direction;

elements connected to the bearing structure defining a chamber which surrounds and separates the conveyor line, supply station, filling station, the closing station, the unloading station and the first through fourth cantilevered housing boxes contained therein from an outside environment;

forced ventilation means for generating a laminar air flow directed in a downwards direction through the chamber, a part of the laminar air flow passing downwardly and unobstructedly through the air passages so as to avoid turbulence and maintain a laminar air flow passing by the conveyor line supported by the bridge support;

a director extending between the first housing box and the second housing box, located in the gap below the air passages, for directing the part of the laminar air flow passing through the air passages located at the sides of the conveyor line to an air outlet facing externally in relation to the chamber and positioned below the conveyor line;

the laminar air flow exiting from the air outlet in to an outside of the chamber.

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

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

4. A machine for filling vials, comprising:

a conveyor line for conveying the vials;

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

a preparation station, positioned along the conveyor line, having means for opening the upper heads of the closed vials, for opening the vials;

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

a closing station, positioned downstream of the filling station, having means for closing the upper head of the liquid product containing vials;

an unloading station positioned at an end of the conveyor line, provided with second organs for receiving the liquid product filled and closed vials, released by the conveyor line, and for conveying the filled and closed vials towards an outlet line;

a cantilevered bearing structure, situated laterally relative to and along the conveyor line;

a first cantilevered housing box, cantilever mounted to the cantilevered bearing structure, supporting the supply station;

a second cantilevered housing box, cantilever mounted to the cantilevered bearing structure, supporting the unloading station and having a depth similar to a depth of the first cantilevered housing box;

a third cantilevered housing box, cantilever mounted to the cantilevered bearing structure between the first cantilevered housing box and the second cantilevered housing box, the third cantilevered housing box, extending between the first housing box and the second housing box, having a depth smaller than the depths of said first housing box and second housing box, the third cantilevered housing box supporting the preparation station, the filling station and the closing station;

a bridge support, extending from above the first housing box to above 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 a gap is provided between the fourth housing box and the third housing box, the gap having a width greater than a width of the bridge support so that air passages are defined at both sides of the conveyor line supported by the bridge support, the air passages being substantially vertical and developing in a downwards direction;

elements connected to the bearing structure defining a chamber which surrounds and separates the conveyor line, the supply station, the preparation station, the filling station, the closing station, the unloading station and the first through fourth cantilever housing boxes contained therein from an outside environment;

forced ventilation means for generating a laminar air flow directed in a downwards direction through the chamber, a part of the laminar air flow passing downwardly and unobstructedly through the air passages so as to avoid turbulence and maintain a laminar air flow passing by the conveyor line;

a director extending between the first housing box and the second housing box, located in the gap below the air passages, for directing the part of the laminar air flow passing through the air passages located at the sides of the conveyor line to an air outlet facing externally in relation to the chamber and positioned below the conveyor line;

the laminar air flow exiting from the air outlet to an outside of the chamber.

5. The machine of claim 4, wherein said elements are constituted by panels.

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