Freeze dryer slot door actuator and method
First Claim
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1. A freeze dryer system having an aseptic area and a non-aseptic area, the system comprising:
- a vacuum chamber;
a slot door for providing access through an opening in the vacuum chamber by sliding between open and closed positions, the slot door being in the aseptic area in both the opened and closed positions;
at least one gear rack connected to the slot door, the at least one gear rack being exposed within the aseptic area of the system; and
for each gear rack, a pinion engaged with the gear rack for driving the gear rack to move the slot door between the open and closed positions, the pinion being exposed within the aseptic area.
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Abstract
Movement of a slot door of a freeze dryer is driven by a rack and pinion actuator. The actuator is easily sanitized and includes internal elements that are accessible to sanitizing sprays. The pinions are driven by pinion shafts that pass through a seal separating an aseptic area from a non-aseptic area where the drive train is positioned. Only rotary motion is transferred across the aseptic barrier, reducing the need for a bellows or sliding covers, which are difficult to sanitize.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A freeze dryer system having an aseptic area and a non-aseptic area, the system comprising:
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a vacuum chamber; a slot door for providing access through an opening in the vacuum chamber by sliding between open and closed positions, the slot door being in the aseptic area in both the opened and closed positions; at least one gear rack connected to the slot door, the at least one gear rack being exposed within the aseptic area of the system; and for each gear rack, a pinion engaged with the gear rack for driving the gear rack to move the slot door between the open and closed positions, the pinion being exposed within the aseptic area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for operating a slot door of a freeze drying chamber in an aseptic environment, the method comprising the steps of:
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sealing a pinion drive shaft with a sanitary seal for keeping a pinion end of the pinion drive shaft aseptic while a drive end of the drive shaft is not aseptic; sanitizing elements exposed within the aseptic environment, those elements including a pinion mounted on the pinion end of the pinion drive shaft, a gear rack attached to the slot door and in engagement with the pinion, and the slot door; and driving the drive end of the drive shaft to rotate the pinion, drive the gear rack and operate the slot door. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A freeze dryer system, comprising:
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a vacuum chamber having a vacuum chamber opening for loading product into the vacuum chamber; a slot door mounted for substantially linear movement between an open position for loading product through the vacuum chamber opening and a closed position for sealing the vacuum chamber opening; at least one gear rack connected to the slot door; and for each gear rack, a pinion engaged with the gear rack for driving the gear rack to move the slot door between the open and closed positions; wherein each pinion has an axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to a principal plane of the slot door. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification