Machine for filling and closing pharmaceutical containers, such as syringes, vials and the like

Abstract

A machine for filling and closing pharmaceutical containers disposed in respective supports has a sterile first work environment with an inlet passage and an outlet passage, a conveyor transporting the supports, which crosses the work environment through the inlet passage and the outlet passage, and a collecting station in the work environment, for collecting and extracting the containers from the supports. The work environment has a second outlet passage. A sterile second work environment has an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being at the second outlet passage of the first work environment to define a common passage. Another conveyor passes through the common passage, has a first part in the first work environment and a second part in the second work environment, and is predisposed so that the first part can receive the containers and convey them through the common passage at a filling station and a closing station.

Claims

1. A machine for filling and closing pharmaceutical containers, arranged in respective support elements, comprising: a conveyor means predisposed for receiving and conveying the support elements of the pharmaceutical containers; a work environment in a controlled and sterile atmosphere comprising an inlet passage and an outlet passage, the conveyor means being arranged with respect to the work environment and having a length that is such as to cross the work environment through the inlet passage and the outlet passage and to have: a first portion externally of the work environment and upstream of the inlet passage, for receiving the support elements of the pharmaceutical containers which are to be filled with pharmaceutical substances or products and then closed, a second portion internally of the work environment, between the inlet passage and the outlet passage, to which the conveyor means conveys and positions the support elements of the pharmaceutical containers to be filled and closed, and a third portion externally of the work environment downstream of the outlet passage, a collecting station internally of the work environment and predisposed and configured for collecting and extracting the pharmaceutical containers from the support elements which have been conveyed by the conveyor means through the inlet passage at the relative respective second portion, wherein the work environment comprises a second outlet passage and in that it comprises a second work environment in a controlled and sterile atmosphere comprising an inlet and an outlet, the second work environment being predisposed with respect to the work environment in such a way that the inlet is at the second outlet passage of the work environment so as to identify a common passage between the two work environments, and in that it comprises: a conveyor predisposed and positioned so as to pass through the common passage and to have a first part located internally of the work environment and a second part located internally of the second work environment, and predisposed so that the first part can receive the pharmaceutical containers extracted from the support elements at the collecting station and in that the pharmaceutical containers can be conveyed through the common passage internally of the second work environment at, and along, the second part of the conveyor, a filling station, internal of the second work environment, for carrying out the filling of the pharmaceutical containers conveyed by the second part of the conveyor with pharmaceutical substances or products, a closing station, internal of the second work environment, for applying a closing element on the pharmaceutical containers once filled, extraction means, predisposed for collecting the pharmaceutical containers that have been filled and closed from the conveyor and for transporting the containers externally of the second work environment through the respective outlet.

2. The machine of claim 1, wherein the support elements of the pharmaceutical containers comprise a nest which bears a plurality of pharmaceutical containers and a tub in which the nest is positioned, and in that the collecting station comprises: transfer means predisposed for collecting the nests from the “tubs” of the support elements which have been conveyed by the conveyor means through the inlet passage to the relative respective second portion internally of the work environment and for positioning the nests at a paused position in proximity of the first part of the conveyor, and handling organs predisposed and configured for collecting the pharmaceutical containers from the nests positioned in the paused position and transfer the containers onto the first part of the conveyor, the transfer means also being predisposed for collecting the nests, once emptied of the pharmaceutical containers, and for transferring the containers newly into the tubs present on the second portion of the conveyor organ.

3. The machine of claim 1, wherein the support elements of the pharmaceutical containers comprise a tray and the pharmaceutical containers are arranged internally of the tray, and in that the collecting station comprises transfer means for extracting the pharmaceutical containers from the trays which have been conveyed by the conveyor means through the inlet passage to the respective second portion internally of the work environment and for positioning the pharmaceutical containers at a paused position in proximity of the first part of the conveyor, and handling organs predisposed and configured for collecting the pharmaceutical containers from the paused position and transferring the containers onto the first part of the conveyor.

4. The machine according to claim 1, wherein the extraction means comprise gripping means, predisposed for collecting the pharmaceutical containers that have been filled and closed by the conveyor, and a screw transport member for receiving the pharmaceutical containers from the gripping means and for conveying the pharmaceutical containers externally of the second work environment through the respective outlet.

5. The machine according to claim 1, further comprising a sorting station, downstream of the outlet of the second work environment, predisposed for receiving the filled and closed pharmaceutical containers from the extraction means and for transferring the pharmaceutical containers to a packing station.

6. The machine of claim 5, wherein the conveyor means is configured for conveying the support elements, once emptied of the pharmaceutical containers, externally of the work environment through the outlet passage and along the respective third portion up to the packing station, and in that the packing station comprises pick up and place organs predisposed for inserting the filled and closed pharmaceutical containers newly internally of the support elements.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The characteristics of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of the machine for filling and closing pharmaceutical containers, such as syringes, vials and the like of the present invention will be described in the following with reference to the appended tables of drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1A, already mentioned in the foregoing, illustrates, in a perspective and exploded view, a support element of pharmaceutical containers to be filled and closed, such as for example syringes, support element comprising a nest for receiving and supporting a plurality of syringes with an upwards-facing mouth for inserting the pharmaceutical substance or product, and a tub in which the nest with the syringes is positioned and supported;

(3) FIGS. 1B and 1C, also mentioned in the foregoing, illustrate, in respective plant views, two types of machines for filling and closing pharmaceutical containers of known type;

(4) FIG. 2 illustrates, in a schematic plan view, the detailed lay-out arrangement and configuration of the machine for filling and closing pharmaceutical containers, such as syringes, vials and the like, positioned internally of relative support elements, of the present invention;

(5) FIG. 3 is a larger-scale illustration of detail K of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(6) With reference to the appended tables of drawings, in particular FIGS. 2 and 3, reference numeral (100) denotes the machine for filling and closing pharmaceutical containers, such as syringes, vials and the like of the present invention.

(7) As mentioned in the foregoing, the pharmaceutical containers (CF) to be filled and closed are arranged in relative support elements (E), being trays, or are arranged in nests (N) inserted into relative tubs (T), as illustrated in FIG. 1A.

(8) The machine (100) of the invention is predisposed to operate with both types of support elements.

(9) The machine (100) comprises a conveyor means (1) predisposed for receiving and conveying the support elements (E) of the pharmaceutical containers, and a work environment (2) which is maintained, in known ways, in a controlled and sterile atmosphere comprising an inlet passage (21) and an outlet passage (22).

(10) The conveyor means (1) is arranged with respect to the work environment (2) and is configured so as to have a length that is such as to cross the work environment (2) through the inlet passage (21) and the outlet passage (22) and to have: a first portion (11) externally of the work environment (2) and upstream of the inlet passage (21), for receiving the support elements (E) of the pharmaceutical containers which are to be filled with pharmaceutical substances or products and then closed, a second portion (12) internally of the work environment (2), between the inlet passage (21) and the outlet passage (22), to which the conveyor means (1) conveys and positions the support elements (E) of the pharmaceutical containers to be filled and closed, and lastly a third portion (13) externally of the work environment (2) downstream of the outlet passage (22).

(11) The machine (100) further comprises a collecting station (3) located internally of the work environment (2), which is predisposed and configured for collecting and extracting the pharmaceutical containers from the support elements (E) which have been conveyed by the conveyor organ (1) through the inlet passage (21) at the relative second portion (12).

(12) The peculiarities of the machine (100) for filling and closing the pharmaceutical containers of the present invention consist in the fact that the work environment (2) further comprises a second outlet passage (23) and the machine (100) further comprises a second work environment (4) maintained in a controlled and sterile atmosphere.

(13) In particular, the second work environment (4) comprises and inlet (41) and an outlet (42), and is predisposed with respect to the work environment (2) in such a way that the inlet (41) is at the second outlet passage (23) of the work environment (2) so as to identify a common passage (P) between the two work environments (2, 4)

(14) The machine (100) also comprises a conveyor (5) which is predisposed and positioned so as to pass through the common passage (P) and to have a first part (51) located internally of the work environment (2) and a second part (52) which is located internally of the second work environment (4).

(15) The conveyor (5) is configured and predisposed so that the first part (51) (located internally of the work environment (2)) can receive the pharmaceutical containers extracted from the support elements (E) at the collecting station (3) and so that the pharmaceutical containers can be conveyed through the common passage (P) internally of the second work environment (4) at, and along, the second part (52) of the conveyor (5).

(16) For example, the conveyor (5) can be provided with special retaining elements or seatings (not illustrated in detail as of known type) in which the containers can be positioned and retained during transport thereof along the conveyor (5), from the first part (51) internally of the work environment (2) to the second part (52), through the common passage (P), and along the second part (52) internally of the second work environment (4).

(17) The machine (100) is provided and equipped with:

(18) a filling station (6), located internally of the second work environment (4), for carrying out the filling of the pharmaceutical containers conveyed by the second part (52) of the conveyor (5) with pharmaceutical substances or products,

(19) a closing station (7), also located internally of the second work environment (4), for applying a closing element on the pharmaceutical containers once filled.

(20) Lastly, the machine (100) comprises extraction means (8), which are predisposed for collecting the pharmaceutical containers that have been filled and closed from the conveyor (5) and for transporting the containers externally of the second work environment (4) through the relative outlet (42).

(21) Owing to these special characteristics, in particular the presence of the second work environment (4) having a controlled and sterile atmosphere which is arranged so as to have a common passage (P) with the work environment (2), and the presence of the conveyor (5) which is predisposed so as to pass through the common passage (P) and to have a first part (51) located internally of the work environment (2) and a second part (52) located internally of the second work environment (4), in the machine (100) of the invention, the pharmaceutical containers, once extracted from the relative support elements at the collecting station (3) in the work environment (2), can be transferred internally of the second work environment (4) and be filled and closed there.

(22) In this way, the filling and closing of the pharmaceutical containers can take place in a sterile work environment that is entirely separated and distinct from the work environment in which the support elements are positioned and moved.

(23) This contributes to preventing the onset of possible contaminations during the filling operations of the pharmaceutical containers, due to an eventual release of powders or particles caused by the movement of the support elements.

(24) Other advantageous characteristics of the machine (100) of the present invention are set out in the following.

(25) As mentioned in the foregoing, the machine (100) is predisposed to be able to operate both when the pharmaceutical containers are arranged in support elements (E) constituted by nests (N) inserted in and borne by relative tubs (T), and when the pharmaceutical containers are arranged in trays.

(26) For example, FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate a preferred embodiment of the machine (100) of the invention in the case of support elements (E) constituted by nests (N) which bear a plurality of pharmaceutical containers (CF), such as for example syringes or vials and a tub (T) in which the nest (N) is positioned.

(27) In this particular embodiment, the collecting station (3) comprises: transfer means (31), which are predisposed for collecting the nests (N) from the tubs (T) of the support elements (E) which have been conveyed by the conveyor means (1) through the inlet passage (21) to the relative second portion (12) internally of the work environment (2) and for positioning the nests (N) at a paused position (Z) in proximity of the first part (51) of the conveyor (5).

(28) The collecting station (3) also comprises handling organs (32) which are predisposed and configured for collecting the pharmaceutical containers from the nests positioned in the paused position (Z) and transfer the containers onto the first part (51) of the conveyor (5).

(29) The transfer means (31) are also predisposed for collecting the nests (N) from the paused position (Z), once emptied of the pharmaceutical containers, and for newly transferring the containers into the tubs (T) present on the second portion (12) of the conveyor means (1).

(30) In this way, the conveyor means (1) can convey the support elements (E), once emptied, externally of the work environment (2) through the outlet passage (22) and along the relative third portion (13).

(31) Alternatively, in a case where the pharmaceutical containers are arranged in support elements constituted by trays, the transfer means of the collecting station (3) will be configured and predisposed to extract the pharmaceutical containers directly from the trays, which have been conveyed by the conveyor means (1) through the inlet passage (21) to the relative second portion (12) internally of the work environment (2) and for positioning the pharmaceutical containers at a paused position (Z) in proximity of the first part (51) of the conveyor (5).

(32) In this case too, the collecting station (3) will be provided with special handling organs (32) predisposed and configured for collecting the pharmaceutical containers from the paused position (Z) and transferring the containers onto the first part (51) of the conveyor (5).

(33) In the meantime, the conveyor means (1) can convey the trays, once emptied, externally of the work environment (2) through the outlet passage (22) and along the relative third portion (13).

(34) In the preferred but not exclusive embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the extraction means (8) comprise gripping means (81), predisposed for collecting the pharmaceutical containers that have been filled and closed from the conveyor (5), and a screw transport member (82) for receiving the pharmaceutical containers from the gripping means (81) and for conveying the pharmaceutical containers externally of the second work environment (4) through the relative outlet (42).

(35) The machine (100) can advantageously comprise, as illustrated schematically in FIG. 2, a sorting station (9), arranged downstream of the outlet (42) of the second work environment (4).

(36) The sorting station (9) is predisposed for receiving the filled and closed pharmaceutical containers from the extraction means (8) and for transferring the pharmaceutical containers to a packing station (90).

(37) According to the illustrated preferred embodiment, the machine (100) is designed and structured so that the third portion (13) of the conveyor means (1) can be configured for conveying the support elements (E), once emptied of the pharmaceutical containers, up to the packing station (90).

(38) In this way, according to the ways in which the packaging of the pharmaceutical containers, once filled and closed, it will be possible to reposition the filled and closed containers internally of the support elements (E):

(39) For this purpose, the machine (100) can be configured so that the packing station (90) comprises pick up and place organs (91) which are predisposed for collecting the pharmaceutical containers supplied by the sorting station (9) and inserting the pharmaceutical containers internally of the support elements (E).