DEVICE FOR DISCHARGING LIQUID

Abstract

Device for discharging liquid (2), in particular a biopharmaceutical liquid, from a flexible container (3) comprising an inclined plane (4) and a kneading mechanism (5) for kneading the flexible container (3) and its contents while the flexible container (3) rests on the inclined plane (4).

Claims

1. Device for discharging liquid, in particular a biopharmaceutical liquid, from a flexible container comprising an inclined plane and a kneading mechanism for kneading the flexible container and its contents while the flexible container rests on the inclined plane.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the kneading mechanism comprises at least two kneading elements and a drive train for moving the kneading elements, ably in a periodic manner and/or in an acyclic manner.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the at least two kneading elements are of substantially flat configuration.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the kneading mechanism comprises a rotatable rocker link and a drive motor for moving the rocker link.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the rocker link is substantially of T-shape, and/or at least two kneading elements are attached to a first, preferably longer, arm of the rocker link, and/or and the drive motor drives the rocker link on a second, preferably shorter, arm of the rocker link through an eccentric.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the at least two kneading elements are attached to the rocker link via lifting rods.

7. The device according to claim 5, wherein a drive side of the drive motor and/or the at least two kneading elements and/or the lifting rods are attached to the rocker link by engagement with at least one elongated hole.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the inclined plane is at an angle of between 1° and 60°, preferably between 1° and 30°, particularly preferably between 2° and 8°, relative to the horizontal.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the inclined plane is realized by a surface of a cooling plate for cooling the flexible container and its contents.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein a control device is provided, preferably which control device closed loop controls an operation of a cooling device using feedback signals of a temperature sensor and/or open loop controls the drive motor of the drive train.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the temperature sensor is arranged on the cooling plate and/or is inset into a recess of the cooling plate.

12. Use of a device according to claim 1 for discharging a liquid, in particular a biopharmaceutical liquid, from a flexible container.

13. Use of a device according to claim 12, wherein the flexible container is a single use bag.

Description

[0043] Further advantages and embodiments are apparent from the figures and the accompanying description of the figures which show:

[0044] FIG. 1 to 6 different views of an embodiment of a device according to the invention,

[0045] FIG. 7 a detailed view of the kneading mechanism of the embodiment of FIG. 1 to 5, and

[0046] FIGS. 8a and 8b further detailed views of an embodiment of a kneading mechanism according to the invention.

[0047] FIGS. 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 show an embodiment of a device according to the invention in a front view, a side view, a rear view, a top view, and a detailed view, respectively.

[0048] The device comprises an inclined plane 4 and a kneading mechanism 5.

[0049] Additionally, a control device 17 is present for controlling the kneading mechanism.

[0050] Schematically a cooling device 23 is indicated.

[0051] FIG. 2 shows the kneading mechanism 5 and the inclined plane 4 in greater detail.

[0052] FIG. 6 shows the kneading mechanism 5 on its own from an outside.

[0053] FIG. 7 shows the kneading mechanism 5 and the inclined plane 4 in yet greater detail and shows an inside view of the kneading mechanism 5.

[0054] The kneading mechanism 5 comprises a drivetrain 7.

[0055] The drivetrain 7 comprises an electric motor drive 9 and a substantially T-shaped rocker link 8 which is rotatably mounted on a pivot 21. The drive side 13 of the electric motor drive 9 is connected to the second arm 12 of the rocker link 8 through an eccentric 20, the second arm 12 of the rocker link 8 being somewhat shorter than the first arm 11 of the rocker link 8.

[0056] The pivot 21 is situated at an intersection between the first arm 11 and the second arm 12.

[0057] The eccentric 20 is visualized as a dashed circle representing a drive axle of the drive side 13 of the drive motor and an offset actuating element of the eccentric 20 engaged with the second arm 12.

[0058] Through the rotation of the eccentric 20 (indicated by an arrow) the rocker link 8 is pivoted from side to side resulting in anti-cyclic movements of the two sides of the first arm 11. An elongated hole 15 with which the actuating element of the eccentric 20 engages compensates linear and rotational motion of the eccentric 20 relative to the rocker link 8.

[0059] On both sides of the first arm 11 of the rocker link 8 lifting rods 10 are mounted via bolts 14 which engage with elongated holes 15 in the two sides of the first arm 11. Like the elongated hole 15 in the second arm 12 the elongated holes 15 in the first arm 11 compensate relative linear and rotational motion between the rocker link 8 and the lifting rods 10.

[0060] In the present example embodiment, the lifting rods 10—as well as all other moving parts of the kneading mechanism 5—are guided by plain bearings/sliding bearings.

[0061] In this embodiment the plain bearings are all FDA-certified. They are extremely abrasion resistant such that a very low amount of particles are created by the gliding along the bearing. In this way the device according to the invention 1 can be made usable in a clean room.

[0062] The lifting rods 10 carry kneading elements 6 on the respective other end such that the anti-cyclic movement of the two sides of the first arm 11 is transferred onto the kneading element.

[0063] The kneading elements 6 are of a substantially flat configuration and are roughly shaped like paddles.

[0064] In FIG. 7 the kneading elements 6 are shown at an intermediate position during the periodic movement. In this position there is temporarily no contact between the kneading elements 6 and the flexible container 3, in this embodiment a single use bag.

[0065] Because of the rotation of the eccentric 20 and the resulting motion of the rocker link 8 the left kneading element 6 will be moved downwards, will contact the flexible container 3, and will exert a force on the container 3. In a repeating pattern this will continue with the kneading elements 6 alternately exerting a force on the container 3. Since the container is flexible this results in a kneading action on the liquid 2 inside the container.

[0066] The inclined plane 4 is realized as an upper surface of the cooling plate 16. It should be noted that even though the cooling plate is drawn horizontally in FIG. 6 it is of course arranged at an angle as can be seen in FIG. 1 to 6.

[0067] The cooling plate 16 is mounted on a base plate 19. Between the base plate 19 and the cooling plate 16 there is an insulating plate 18 which decouples the base plate 19 and the cooling plate 16 thermally.

[0068] The cooling plate 16 has at least one internal conduit through which cooling medium (e.g. a water glycol mixture and/or a silicone oil) can be conveyed. A water glycol mixture may be preferred as it can be used over a wide range of temperatures, e.g. between −10° C. to +40° C. The device 1 comprises a cooling device 23 which, as mentioned before, is shown in FIG. 1 schematically. The cooling device 23 cools the cooling medium and conveys the cooling medium through the at least one internal conduit of the cooling plate 16.

[0069] In this embodiment a temperature sensor 22 is incorporated into the cooling plate which provides feedback signals to the control device 17 for a closed loop control of the temperature of the cooling medium, the cooling plate, the flexible container, and/or the liquid stored in the container.

[0070] Based on the feedback signal the control device 17 can command for example a pump or a valve of the cooling device 17 so that a commanded amount of heat is transferred away from the cooling plate 16. A predefined temperature and/or temperature profile can therefore be held at the cooling plate 16.

[0071] Details of an example of a cooling plate as well as an example of the supply of cooling medium can for example be taken from the yet undisclosed European Patent Application no. 21202961.5.

[0072] The aforesaid makes it clear how the liquid 2 is discharged from the container 3 because of the inclined plane 4, potentially supported by the action of a pump pumping the liquid, how the liquid 2 is kneaded and therefore kept homogeneous, and how the liquid is cooled, all at the same time. Human intervention during the discharge process is therefore not needed.

[0073] In the present embodiment, the control device 17 comprises separate controls for the cooling and for the control of the speed of the drive motor 9 as well as a control unit tied to a human machine interface. The different control units communicate via a bus system, in this exemplary embodiment a Profinet bus.

[0074] The feedback signals of the temperature sensor 22 are delivered to the control unit tied to the human machine interface, where the feedback signal is compared to a target value which can be adjusted at the human machine interface. Based on the comparison a command value is calculated and delivered to the control unit of the cooling device 23 via the bus system (the control unit of the cooling device 23 is rated as “slave” in the bus system).

[0075] The drive motor 9 is open loop controlled in this embodiment. A desired speed can be set at the human machine interface and this desired speed is delivered via the bus system to the control unit of the drive motor 9 which in this case is a frequency converter which directly supplies the drive motor 9 with the appropriate voltage and/or current.

[0076] FIG. 8a shows the embodiment of FIG. 1 to 6 in a view where a cover of the kneading mechanism 5 has been opened so that the inside of the kneading mechanism is visible.

[0077] In this embodiment removing the cover will interrupt a security circuit and cause the control unit 17 to command a standstill of the drive motor 9 and therefore the kneading mechanism 5.

[0078] FIG. 8b shows detail A of FIG. 8a.

[0079] FIG. 8b in particular shows an example of an eccentric 30 with adjustable eccentricity. The eccentric 20 comprises a base element 25 which is rotated by the drive side 13 of the drive motor 9.

[0080] An engagement element 26 is mounted on the base element 25. The engagement element 26 engages with the elongated hole 15 in the second arm 12 as described in connection with FIG. 7.

[0081] The eccentricity of the eccentric 20 is defined by the distance between the axis of rotation of the drive side 13 of the drive motor 9 (see dashed circle in FIG. 7) and the engagement element 26.

[0082] This distance can be adjusted using an adjustment screw 24 which in this embodiment co-rotates with the eccentric 20. Adjusting the screw will change the movement range of the rocker link 8, which in turn leads to different stroke lengths of the kneading elements 6. In the present example the stroke length can be adjusted between 0 mm and 10 mm.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0083] 1 device [0084] 2 liquid [0085] 3 flexible container [0086] 4 inclined plane [0087] kneading mechanism [0088] 6 kneading elements [0089] 7 drive train [0090] 8 rocker link [0091] 9 drive motor [0092] 10 lifting rods [0093] 11 first arm [0094] 12 second arm [0095] 13 drive side [0096] 14 bolt [0097] 15 elongated hole [0098] 16 cooling plate [0099] 17 control device [0100] 18 insulating plate [0101] 19 base plate [0102] 20 eccentric [0103] 21 pivot [0104] 22 temperature sensor [0105] 23 cooling device [0106] 24 adjustment screw [0107] 25 base element [0108] 26 engagement element