Loading and/or unloading device for a freeze drying system

Abstract

A device for loading and unloading the utility surface (3′) of a drying chamber (2) of a freeze drying system. The device includes a carriage (8) which forms a movable guiding edge for the drying vessels (5), and is moveable on guides (7) disposed on both sides of the utility surface (3) and which extend in parallel with the movement direction and form fixed guiding edges for the drying vessels (5). At least one linear motor is provided to produce a drive for the carriage. All of the components of the device can be located inside the drying chamber (1), and the device of the present invention is suitable for upgrading existing freeze drying systems.

Claims

1. A device for pushing drying vessels, which contain a product to be dried and stand on one of a plurality of utility surfaces of a drying chamber of a freeze drying system, in a movement direction for the purpose of unloading or loading the utility surface through at least one opening in a wall of the drying chamber; the device comprising: a carriage, which forms a guiding edge movable in the movement direction, is configured to exert a feeding action upon the drying vessels and is supported so as to be movable on guides, said guides are disposed inside the drying chamber on both sides of the utility surface to be loaded or unloaded, are in parallel with one another and with the movement direction, are independent from said utility surface so that said utility surface and said guides are moveable relative to one another, and form guiding edges; and at least one linear motor configured to produce an electromagnetic drive for moving the carriage back and forth on said guides, said linear motor having a primary part which includes electromagnetically active portions structurally integrated into at least one of the guides and a secondary part which includes an arrangement of magnets supported on the guide and connected to the carriage for slidable movement of said carriage supported on said guides.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guides consist of a plurality of segments which are disposed one behind the other and are disposed so as to be displaceable in their common longitudinal direction.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the carriage can be moved inside the drying chamber on the guides to an inactive position outside the utility surface.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the height position of the guides inside the drying chamber is fixed.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guides, whilst retaining their mutually parallel alignment, are disposed in such a manner as to be displaceable perpendicularly with respect to the boundaries of the utility surface, which are allocated thereto, and in parallel with the plane thereof.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a bridge part-which is disposed outside the drying chamber in such a manner as to be displaceable at least vertically or perpendicularly with respect to the planes of the utility surfaces.

7. The device as claimed in claim 6, wherein in an unloading position the bridge part and the utility surface to be unloaded are positioned lying one against the other in a common plane via the said opening in the wall of the drying chamber and that the guides or at least segments thereof are disposed so as to be displaceable in their longitudinal direction provided that a feeding function can be exerted as far as into the region of the bridge part-by means of the carriage.

8. The device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the bridge part can additionally be used for loading purposes.

9. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a bridge part which is disposed outside the drying chamber in such a manner as to be displaceable at least vertically or perpendicularly with respect to the planes of the utility surfaces and is intended for loading purposes.

10. The device as claimed in claim 9, wherein in a loading position the bridge part and the utility surface to be loaded are positioned lying one against the other in a common plane via the said opening in the wall of the drying chamber, that the guides or at least segments thereof are disposed so as to be displaceable in their longitudinal direction provided that a feeding function can be exerted upon the drying vessels, which are standing on the bridge part, as far as onto the utility surface at least by means of a carriage.

11. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means which are intended to cause the guides to effect a vibrating motion when drying vessels are being inserted or removed.

12. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the utility surfaces are held in a frame which permits vertical displacement of the utility surfaces inside the drying chamber, that at least one system of supports is provided which can be displaced in parallel and are intended to engage underneath a utility surface located in a defined height position, and that the frame and the system of supports are configured and disposed with the proviso that the system of supports can effect a height positioning, independent of the plate frame, of the utility surface which is engaged from underneath.

13. The device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the system of supports is allocated to the loading and/or unloading position of the utility surfaces.

14. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein it comprises a stationary distance sensor which is not connected to the secondary part and is designed for detecting the position of the secondary part.

15. The device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the distance sensor is a laser-optic sensor which is attached outside the drying chamber to a pipe connection of the drying chamber wall which partially accommodates the secondary parts.

16. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the carriage can be moved inside the drying chamber on the guides to an inactive position outside the utility surface.

17. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the height position of the guides inside the drying chamber is fixed.

18. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guides are fixedly connected to the drying chamber and each guide includes at least two segments with a gap therebetween, and wherein the secondary parts are configured to travel over the gaps between the segments.

19. A device for pushing drying vessels, which contain a product to be dried and stand on one of a plurality of utility surfaces of a drying chamber of a freeze drying system, in a movement direction for the purpose of unloading or loading the utility surface through at least one opening in a wall of the drying chamber; the device comprising: a carriage, which forms a guiding edge movable in the movement direction, is configured to exert a feeding action upon the drying vessels and is supported so as to be movable on guides, which guides are disposed inside the drying chamber on both sides of the utility surface to be loaded or unloaded, are in parallel with one another and with the movement direction, are independent from the utility surface so that said utility surface and said guides are moveable relative to one another, and form guiding edges, and at least one linear motor forming an electromagnetic drive for moving said carriage back and forth on at least one of the guides, said linear motor having a primary part which includes electromagnetically active portions structurally integrated into at least one of the guides and a secondary part which includes an arrangement of magnets supported on the at least one guide and connected to the carriage.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be explained in greater detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a vertical sectional view of a drying chamber of a freeze drying system having an unloading device in accordance with the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 shows the drying chamber of FIG. 1 in a horizontal sectional view corresponding to a sectional plane II-II;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the drying chamber of FIG. 1 at the beginning of an unloading procedure;

(5) FIGS. 4, 5 show perspective views in each case of consecutive phases of the unloading device at the beginning of an unloading procedure;

(6) FIG. 6 shows a view of one variant of an unloading device in accordance with the invention; and

(7) FIGS. 7, 8 show plan views in each case of consecutive phases of the unloading device of FIG. 6 during an unloading procedure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(8) FIG. 1 illustrates a sectional view of the drying chamber 1 of a freeze drying system, in whose front side 2 there is located a closable opening, not shown in the drawings, for loading or unloading drying vessels 5. The drying chamber 1 is connected to a condenser chamber in a manner known per se, however this will not be explained in greater detail at this juncture.

(9) Located inside the drying chamber 1 is an arrangement of utility surfaces 3 which are held in a frame 4 in a manner known per se so as to be vertically movable. These utility surfaces 3 are used for positioning drying vessels 5 which each contain a substance to be dried and which are to be removed from the drying chamber 1 upon completion of the drying procedure. The reference numeral 6 designates a height position, in this case the utility surface 3′ which corresponds to the unloading position of this utility surface. It is essential that the vertical adjustability of all of the utility surfaces 3 of the frame 4 is configured such that each utility surface 3 can be moved to the height position 6 which corresponds to the unloading position.

(10) In order to explain the structure and the mode of operation of the unloading device in accordance with the invention, reference is first made hereinafter additionally to FIG. 2, in which functional elements corresponding to those of FIG. 1 are designated accordingly.

(11) Extending on both sides of the utility surface 3′, which in accordance with the illustrated exemplified embodiment is approximately rectangular, are linear strip-like guides 7 which are composed of several mutually spaced apart segments. These segments are disposed so as to be mutually displaceable in the longitudinal direction provided that they can be moved into end-face abutment with respect to one another, in this case forming a continuous guide. On the other hand, these segments can be moved to positions mutually spaced apart at the end face so that structural elements of the frame 4 which extend in immediate proximity to the lateral boundary of the utility surface 3′ are not hindered by these guides 7. These guides 7 are located at a height level in parallel with that of the utility surface 3′ and slightly above it. They form lateral guiding edges for the drying vessels 5 which are to be displaced in the direction towards the front side 2 during an unloading procedure.

(12) Furthermore, the guides 7 can be displaceable in parallel with the plane of the utility surface 3′ and transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction thereof, so as provide adaptability to suit different dimensions of the drying vessels 5. During an unloading cycle, they should always lie against the lateral guides 7, so that the lateral spaced interval of the guides 7 is always arranged in accordance with an integer multiple e.g. of the diameter of the drying vessel 5 and the drying vessels are reliably prevented from toppling over, becoming jammed or wedged. The guides 7 are displaced in the longitudinal and transverse direction and in parallel with the utility surfaces by means of drives 16, 17 which are disposed outside the drying chamber and are sealed inside the drying chamber in each case in the movement direction by means of special steel bellows.

(13) The reference numeral 8 designates a carriage which extends in the manner of a strip perpendicularly with respect to the guide 7 and which in FIG. 2 is illustrated in its rearmost position, the parking position. The carriage 8 extends over the entire width of the utility surface 3′ and during an unloading procedure forms a guiding edge which is movable in the direction towards the front side 2 and is intended to lie against the drying vessels 5 standing on the utility surface 3. Correspondingly, it is operatively connected to a drive which is to be described hereinafter. The carriage 8 is formed such that different spaced intervals of the guides 7 can be compensated for.

(14) This drive of the carriage is formed as a linear drive and consists of two linear motors, each of which consists of a primary part, which is structurally integrated into a guide 7, and of an elongated secondary part which is designated by the reference numeral 18, supports the carriage 8 directly at the side and contains an arrangement of permanent magnets with a polarity which changes in the longitudinal direction, and which secondary part is supported so as to be able to slide on the respective guide 7. In the parking position, the secondary parts 18 can be received partially in pipe connections 10 of the wall of the drying chamber 1 which can otherwise be formed as windows. The length dimension of the segments of the guide 7 is arranged according to the accommodation of the electromagnetically active portions of the primary part which are positioned in magnetic terms perpendicularly with respect to the movement direction 8′ of the carriage 8.

(15) Energy can be supplied to the two linear motors e.g. by means of a line which is received in a flexible, vacuum-sealed special steel corrugated tube (not shown) and which is connected to the two primary parts of the two guides 7 and is connected (not shown) to an external control via a vacuum-sealed wall passage of the drying chamber 1 which receives the said tube. Since the two linear motors consist of several movable segments, they are interconnected likewise to a special steel tube (not shown). Control signals and signals describing the position of the carriage can be transmitted simultaneously via this line or even group of lines.

(16) The Figures do not illustrate a plurality of holders which extend at a mutually spaced interval below the utility surface 3′ in lateral edge regions thereof and are operatively connected to the drives 16. By means of the drives 16, the holders are movable between a first position engaging underneath the side of the utility surface 3′ facing towards the holders, and a second position, in which there is no underneath-engagement. In this case, the holders can be moved together with the guides 7. Therefore, if the utility surface 3′ is moved slightly downwards by means of the frame 4, wherein at the same time the holders, which lie opposite one another e.g. transversely with respect to the conveying direction 8′, are located in such a position, in which there is engagement underneath one side of the utility surface 3′, the respective other side of the utility surface 3′, at which there is no underneath-engagement, is lowered further together with structural elements of the frame 4, so that as a result the utility surface 3′ assumes an oblique position of e.g. 2° to 3° which can be expedient for cleaning purposes.

(17) The mode of operation of the device will be explained hereinafter with reference to an unloading procedure and with supplementary reference to FIGS. 3 to 5, in which again like functional elements are designated accordingly.

(18) The reference numeral 12 designates a bridge part which is disposed at a small spaced interval in advance of the front side 2 of the drying chamber 1 in such a manner as to be movable vertically in the direction of the arrows 13 and/or horizontally in the direction of the arrows 13′. The bridge part 12 cooperates with further conveying devices, not illustrated in this case, for removing unloaded drying vessels 5 and in FIG. 3 is located in its rest position. The carriage 8 is located in its parking position or, with regard to the front side 2, in its rearmost position. For reasons of simplicity in the drawings, a closable opening provided in the front-side wall of the drying chamber 1 has not been illustrated.

(19) In the illustration of FIG. 4, the bridge part 12 has been moved to such a position, in which the utility surface 3′ is located in its unloading position, wherein the bridge part 12 lies directly against the facing boundary 3″ of the positioning plate 3′ which in general, i.e. when the utility surfaces 3 move vertically in the direction of the arrows 13, requires a slight horizontal displacement in the direction of the arrows 13′ towards the utility surface 3′.

(20) The carriage 8 is then moved in the direction towards the front side 2 by the actuation of the two linear motors, so that finally, as shown in FIG. 5, the drying vessels 5 in the utility surface 3′ can be displaced beyond their front-side boundary 3″ onto the bridge part 12.

(21) The bridge part 12 is then returned to its rest position shown in FIG. 3.

(22) An essential prerequisite for the mode of operation described above is that the guides 7 on both sides are dimensioned such that the carriage 8, as shown in FIG. 5, can be moved to a position on the bridge part 12. This can be achieved by means of a formation of the guide 7, which can be displaced in this direction, or at least by segments of the guide 7. This can also be achieved by means of an embodiment of at least segments of the guide 7 which can be telescoped in this direction.

(23) As an alternative to this, the bridge part 12 can also be equipped with guides which supplement the effect of the guides 7 and can form part of the guided conveying devices.

(24) As can be seen in particular in FIG. 5, the secondary part 18 of each one of the two linear motors consists of a hollow structure which engages on the outer side around the correspondingly formed guide 7 and in this way imparts a guiding function. Incorporated into this hollow structure are the permanent magnets of the secondary part which lie directly opposite the magnetically active parts of the primary part of the guide 7, and moreover such that a feeding function is produced.

(25) The drives 16 and 17 are also intended inter alia to cause the guides 7 to effect a vibrating motion when drying vessels 5 are being inserted or removed. This measure serves to improve the displaceability of the drying vessels, in particular on large utility surfaces, in that the standing stability in the utility surface is increased during a displacement procedure.

(26) The said holders which are each allocated to edge regions of the utility surface 3′ and are connected to the drives 16 can all be moved to a position engaging underneath the utility surface 3′, so that the utility surface 3′ is held at a defined height. These movements of the holders can thus be effected with the guides 7. This is particularly advantageous, since precise adjustment of the vertical spaced interval between this utility surface, which is to be unloaded, and the utility surface located directly above it is permitted in this manner. In this way, it is easier to take into account different sizes of the standing drying vessels.

(27) As soon as the drying vessels 5 have been completely removed from the utility surface 3′ via the unloading table 12, another utility surface 3 loaded with drying vessels 5 which are to be unloaded can be displaced to the unloading position, whereupon the procedure described above is repeated.

(28) The essential components of this type of unloading device, in particular the carriage 8, can be removed in the simplest manner from the drying chamber 1 for cleaning and/or sterilization purposes, optionally after disconnection from the electrical supply, and can then be inserted back into the drying chamber.

(29) These components are also accommodated completely inside the drying chamber 1 and moreover such that—apart from an unloading procedure—there is no engagement into the space above and/or below the utility surfaces 3.

(30) The utility surfaces 3 do not require any lateral guide strips which are fixedly connected thereto. The reason for this is that the execution of a lateral guiding effect is only required during an unloading procedure or even a loading procedure. However, this is achieved by the two lateral guides 7 which at the same time support the carriage 8 via the secondary parts 18. This means that completely smooth utility surfaces 3 which can be handled in a convenient manner from a point of view of asepsis can be used.

(31) What has been described above is the concept of an unloading device consisting of carriage 8 which is movable in parallel with the lateral boundaries of a utility surface 3′ located in the unloading position and which is supported on lateral guides 7 which at the same time exert a guiding function upon the drying vessels 5 when they are transferred to a bridge part 12.

(32) It is also possible to perform a loading procedure in a substantially completely comparable manner, i.e. by using these components. In this case, different concepts are possible for moving a group of drying vessels standing on a bridge part into the effective region of a carriage which pushes this group and is supported on lateral guides, which guides exert a lateral guiding function upon the group at the same time.

(33) In particular, in order to stabilize the standing position of the drying vessels, the drying vessels can be disposed between two carriages supported on the lateral guides as they are transferred onto the positioning plate of the drying chamber, wherein the carriage which is first in the feeding direction exerts a counter holding function. Conversely, this type of counter holding function can also be produced by a second carriage during an unloading procedure, so that an automated loading and unloading operation of the freeze drying system can be performed in accordance with short cycle times without the risk of the drying vessels toppling over.

(34) An essential feature of the above-described freeze drying system is that loading and also unloading procedures can be performed via its the front side 2, so that the drying vessels are loaded and unloaded in opposite directions of displacement. However, a “pass-through operation”, in which loading and unloading are effected in the same directions of displacement via mutually opposite doors in the wall of the drying chamber 1 can likewise be performed.

(35) It is apparent that the above-described concept of an automated loading and unloading device is devised in a convenient and clear manner in terms of its mechanical mode of operation, is easy to maintain and does not interfere with any other part of the operation of a freeze drying system.

(36) In the case of the exemplified embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5, the drying vessels 5 are supported directly on the utility surfaces 3, 3′.

(37) In FIGS. 6 to 8, like functional elements are again designated by like numerals, however the drives have not been illustrated, since at the very least they are not required for displacement of the guides in the longitudinal direction thereof. The drying vessels 5 stand in groups in rectangular trays 14 on the utility surfaces 3, 3′, wherein these trays 14 permit uniform handling of each group of drying vessels 5 during both loading and unloading. Instead of using the trays 14, it is also possible to use e.g. rectangular frames.

(38) This variant does not require any displacement of the segments of the guide 7, so that they are fixedly connected to the drying chamber. The carriage with the secondary parts 18 is able to travel over gaps between these segments.

(39) FIG. 7 illustrates the beginning of an unloading procedure, wherein a tray 14, or possibly also a frame, lies with a longitudinal side against the guiding edge of the carriage 8, which tray or frame is displaced towards the front side 2 of the drying chamber by actuation of the carriage in its movement direction 8′. A bridge part 12 is moved in the direction of the arrows 13′ towards the front side 2 of the drying chamber 1 as far as the position which is illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 8, is characterized by the bridge part 12 lying against the boundary 3″ of the utility surface 3′ and from which the tray 14 or frame can be moved from the utility surface 3 onto the bridge part 12. During the entire movement, the tray 14 is guided laterally by the guides 7 and is guided perpendicularly thereto in the direction towards the bridge part 12 by the carriage 8. In this case, the guides 7 form fixed guiding edges and the carriage 8 forms a movable guiding edge.

(40) The variant of a loading and unloading device as illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 8 otherwise corresponds to the embodiment already described in FIGS. 1 to 5, so that in this regard a description thereof will not be repeated.

(41) The inventive concept of this type of device is particularly suitable for permitting modular upgrading of existing devices to an automated loading and unloading procedure, in that guides which form lateral guiding edges which are independent of the utility surface can be installed consecutively and are displaceable laterally for the purpose of adapting to different diameters of the drying vessels which serve as a support for a carriage etc.

(42) In another embodiment, the loading and unloading device can include two carriages 8 which are supported on the guides 7 and which during a loading or unloading movement are each intended to lie—as seen in the direction of displacement—against a front side so as to fulfill a counter holding function on the drying vessels 5, and to lie against the rear side so as to fulfill a feeding function on the drying vessels 5.

(43) In yet another embodiment, the guides 7 can include two different primary parts which are disposed one above the other or one next to the other, so that a second carriage can be moved independently of the carriage 8 by means of a second secondary part which is disposed so as to be offset accordingly with respect to the first one.

(44) In still another embodiment, the guides can consist of a plurality of segments which are disposed one behind the other, wherein individual segments can be switched to the inactive state, so that the carriage 8 can be moved on active segments and a second carriage rests on inactive segments.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(45) 1. drying chamber 2. front side 3. utility surface 3′. utility surface 3″. boundary 4. frame 5. drying vessel 6. unloading position 7. guide 8. carriage 8′. movement direction 10. pipe connection 12. bridge part 13. movement direction 13′. movement direction 14. tray/frame 16. drive 17. drive 18. secondary part