METHOD AND DEVICE FOR STERILELY ENCLOSING A CONTAINER

Abstract

Sterilely enclosing a container by means of at least two caps by: gripping a first region of a container provided with a first cap in a first region by means of first tongs, by gripping and clamping the first cap; and sliding a second cap onto a second region of the container in such a way that one or more of: the second cap abuts the first cap, the second cap slips over the first cap, or the second cap is slipped over by the first cap; or the first cap and the second cap are connected by means of complementary screw threads, protrusions, cut-outs, or engagement elements; or a connection that provides sterile sealing-off from the outside of the first and second caps can be formed between the first and second caps, leaving a bridgeable distance between the first and second caps.

Claims

1. A method for sterilely enclosing a container by means of at least two caps, wherein the method comprises the steps of: gripping a first region of a container covered by a first cap in a first region by means of first tongs, wherein gripping the first region comprises clamping the first cap; and sliding a second cap onto a second region of the container, which is not yet covered by a cap, wherein sliding the second cap onto the second region results in one or more of the following arrangements of the first cap and the second cap: the second cap abuts the first cap, slips over the first cap, or is slipped over by the first cap, or the first cap and the second cap are connected by means of one or more of complementary screw threads, protrusions, cut-outs, or engagement elements, or a connection is formed between the second cap and the first cap that provides sterile sealing-off from an outside of the first cap and an outside of the second cap.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising step of: connecting the first cap and the second cap in a sterilely sealing manner.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising steps of: prior to gripping the first region of the container by means of first tongs, lifting the container from a first conveying means by means of lifting tongs that do not grip the container in the first region and sliding the first cap onto the first region; after gripping the first region of the container by means of first tongs, releasing the lifting tongs from the container; after sliding a second cap onto the second region of the container, gripping the second region of the container by means of second tongs, wherein gripping the second region comprises clamping the second cap; and depositing the container on a second conveying means.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein none of the lifting tongs, the first tongs, the second tongs, the first conveying means, or the second conveying means come into contact both with the container and with either of the first cap or the second cap.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein one or more of the lifting tongs, the first tongs or the second tongs form part of at least one transport rake.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein one or more of the lifting tongs, the first tongs, or the second tongs are rotated away from the container before and/or after gripping the container or clamping one of the first cap or the second cap.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein, the first tongs and the second tongs are formed by respective sets of two jaws, wherein each of the two jaws is movable relative to the other, and wherein the first cap or the second cap, as applicable, can be clamped between the two jaws.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein at least one of the first conveying means or the second conveying means comprises one or more of a conveyor belt, a combination of a transport surface and a transport pusher, a combination of a transport surface and a transport rake, or a transport container.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein one or more of the first cap or the second cap is designed as a cylinder open on one side.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein only the first cap is designed as a cylinder open on one side and wherein the second cap is designed as a cylinder open on both sides, wherein the method further comprises the following steps: after connecting the first cap and the second cap in the sterilely sealing manner, sliding a further cap, designed as a cylinder open on one or both sides, onto a further region of the container which is not yet covered by the first cap or the second cap resulting in one or more of the following arrangements of the further cap and a last previously slid-on cap, wherein the last previously slid-on cap comprises either the first cap or the second cap, whichever was last previously slid onto the second region of the container: the further cap slips over the last previously slid-on cap or, the further cap is slipped over by the last previously slid-on cap, the further cap and the last previously slid-on cap are connected by means of one or more of complementary screw threads, protrusions, cutouts, or engagement elements, or a connection that provides sterile sealing-off from the outside of the further cap and the last previously slid-on cap is formed between the further cap and the last previously slid-on cap; and connecting the further cap and the last previously slid-on cap in a sterilely sealing manner using a second sealing film.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein one or more of the first cap, the second cap, the further cap, or the second sealing film a material having a permeability that meets sterility requirements for medical products contained in the container.

12. A device comprising: a first capping station for sliding a first cap onto a container; a first tongs or gripping the container after the first cap has been slid on, wherein gripping the container comprises clamping the first cap; and a second capping station for sliding a second cap onto the container.

13. The device of claim 12, further comprising: a sealing device for connecting the first cap and the second caps in a sterilely sealing manner; first conveying means for transporting the container; lifting tongs for lifting the container from the first conveying means and feeding the container to the first capping station; second tongs for gripping the container after the second cap is slid on, wherein gripping the container with the second tongs comprises clamping the second cap; and second conveying means for further transport of the container.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the sealing device connects the first cap and the second cap in the sterilely sealing manner by adhesively bonding a sealing film to the first cap and the second cap in such a way that the sealing film sterilely seals off a region between the first cap and the second cap.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein the sealing device comprises either the first capping station or the second capping station.

16. The device of claim 13, one or more of the lifting tongs, the first tongs or the second tongs form part of at least one transport rake.

17. The device of claim 13, wherein the container is fed by the second tongs to second conveying means.

18. The device of claim 13, wherein at least one of the first conveying means or the second conveying means comprises one or more of a conveyor belt, a combination of a transport surface and a transport pusher, a combination of a transport surface and a transport rake, or a transport container.

19. The device of claim 13, wherein the container, when transported via the second conveying means, is covered with at least the first cap and the second cap.

20. The device of claim 12, wherein the first tongs feed the container to the second clamping station

21. The device of claim 12, wherein the second capping station slides the second cap onto the container such that the second cap abuts the first cap, slips over the first cap, or is slipped over by the first cap.

22. The device of claim 12, wherein the second capping station slides the second cap onto the container and connects the first cap and the second cap by means of one or more of complementary screw threads, protrusions, cut-outs, or engagement elements.

23. The device of claim 12, wherein the second capping station slides the second cap onto the container and forms a connection between the second cap and the first cap that provides sterile sealing-off from an outside of the first cap and an outside of the second cap.

24. The method of claim 2, wherein connecting the first cap and the second cap in the sterilely sealing manner comprises adhesively bonding a sealing film to the first cap and the second cap in such a way that the sealing film sterilely seals off a region between the first cap and the second cap.

25. The method of claim 3, wherein the lifting tongs grip the container in the second region when lifting the container from the first conveying means.

26. The method of claim 6, wherein the one or more of the lifting tongs, the first tongs, or the second tongs are rotated away from the container about an axis parallel to a direction of longitudinal extension of at least one of the first conveying means, the second conveying means or the transport rake.

27. The method of claim 8, wherein the container comprises a vial or a syringe.

28. The method of claim 9, wherein one or more of the first cap or the second cap is designed circular or rectangular to have a diameter greater than a largest diameter of the container in the first or second region, respectively.

Description

[0076] Several embodiments of the present invention are explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

[0077] FIG. 1.1-1.15 show the implementation of a first embodiment of the method according to the invention with the aid of a device according to the invention, each in a schematic view in the direction of view along the conveying means; and

[0078] FIGS. 2.1 and 2.2 show the steps corresponding to FIGS. 1.8 and 1.10 of a second embodiment of the method according to the invention with the aid of the same device according to the invention as in FIG. 1.1-1.15, but using different caps.

[0079] FIG. 1.1 shows the situation at the beginning of an embodiment of the method according to the invention using an embodiment of the device according to the invention.

[0080] The container (40) has been brought to the work area of the lifting tongs (14) by means of a first conveying means (10), which is part of the device according to the invention, but can also be separate from it. The lifting tongs (14) are aligned with their mutually movable jaws (16, 18) on a second region (44) of the container (40).

[0081] In FIG. 1.2, the jaws (16, 18) of the lifting tongs (14) have been moved apart, pushed around the first cap, moved together and now clamp the second region (44) of the container (40).

[0082] In FIG. 1.3, the container (40) has been raised by means of the lifting tongs (14) and removed from the first conveying means (10). FIG. 1.3 shows how the first cap (52) is lowered from above in relation to FIG. 1.3 onto the first region (42) of the container (40) located at the top.

[0083] For example, the cap (52) can be held on the tube (60) during the lowering process by means of negative pressure. In FIG. 1.4, the lowering process has ended, the negative pressure has ended, and the cap (52) thus remains on the now covered first region (42) of the container (40).

[0084] The cap (52) is dimensioned and the attachment point of the lifting tongs (14) is selected so that there is no contact between the first cap (52) and the lifting tongs (14) and the jaws (16, 18) thereof.

[0085] FIGS. 1.5 and 1.6 show how the first tongs (22) are brought in and the first cap (52) is clamped with the aid of the jaws thereof, which are constructed similarly to the jaws (16, 18) of the lifting tongs (14). As a result, the first tongs (22) now clamp the container (40), namely only by coming into contact with the cap (52) and without coming into contact with the actual body of the container (40).

[0086] FIGS. 1.7 and 1.8 show how the lifting tongs (14) are then removed from the container (40) and how the container (40) is moved with the aid of the first tongs (22) in relation to the first conveying means (10), which is designed, for example, as a conveyor belt, so that, in a similar manner as the first cap (52) was fed in from above, the second cap (54) can now be brought up to the container (40) from below and aligned with the second region (44) with the aid of the tube (62).

[0087] The cap (54) has an engagement element (56) on the outside, which can interact with a complementary engagement element on the inside or on the inner circumference of the cap (52). As indicated here, the engagement element (56) can be, for example, an annular protrusion.

[0088] Since the diameter of the second cap (54) is slightly smaller than the diameter of the first cap (52), the first cap (52) slips over the second cap (54) and the engagement elements (56) engage with one another.

[0089] Then, as shown in FIG. 1.9, the second tongs (24) are brought up to clamp the second cap (54), whereby the container (40), which is now completely covered by the two caps (52, 54), can be held by the second tongs (24).

[0090] The setting tube (62) is now moved downwards.

[0091] Then, as shown in FIG. 1.10, the first tongs (22) are removed from the cap (52) and moved away.

[0092] FIG. 1.11 shows how the sealing film (58) is now slid over the first cap (52) from above with the aid of the setting ring (59) until the state shown in FIG. 1.12 is reached, that the sealing film (58) exactly covers the transition region or gap region between the first cap (52) and the second cap (54).

[0093] In this state, the sealing film (58) is pressed against the two caps (52, 54) with the aid of the setting ring (59) and adhesively bonded thereto in a sterilely sealing manner, for example by means of heat.

[0094] Alternatively, the sealing film or a label can also be applied to the gap region by unrolling. For this purpose, both a movement of a corresponding roll-off device around the container and a rotation of the container and/or a combination of both are conceivable. If the container is to be rotated, it may have to be moved onto a turntable or the like by means of the second tongs.

[0095] However, the application of the sealing film can also be omitted at this point and the provision of means for this, such as the setting ring (59) or roll-off devices, can be dispensed with. The sealing film can, for example, also be applied subsequently using another machine.

[0096] As a result, the container (40) is isolated from its surroundings in a completely sterile, sealed manner.

[0097] FIGS. 1.13 to 1.15 now show how the setting ring (59) is moved upwards again and, with the aid of the second tongs (24), the completely covered container (40) is deposited on a second conveying means (12), here for example a trough of a nest.

[0098] During the entire process, neither the container (40) nor one of the caps (52, 54) came into contact with any processing tool or processing means.

[0099] Furthermore, none of the processing means or tools that came into contact with the container (40) came into contact with one of the processing means/processing tools that came into contact with one of the caps (52, 54).

[0100] As a result, cross-contamination is practically completely excluded, and a user can see from the undamaged sealing film that there is a high probability that none of the filled material is on the outside of the caps (52, 54).

[0101] In the embodiment shown, the caps are dimensioned in such a way that they are slipped over. In other embodiments, however, the caps can also be dimensioned so that they have almost the same diameter and the two ends of the caps come into contact or a certain distance remains between the cap ends after they have been put on, which distance is then bridged by the sealing film, for example.

[0102] Since this only requires a different dimensioning of the caps, this can in each case be combined with all of the features specified for the embodiment explained.

[0103] FIGS. 2.1 and 2.2 show such a case of using differently dimensioned caps 52, 54 with the machine also shown in FIG. 1.1-1.15. FIG. 2.1 corresponds to FIG. 1.8 and FIG. 2.2 corresponds to FIG. 1.10.

[0104] As can be seen, the first cap 52 has the same design, but the second cap 54 is designed to be shorter in length and has a diameter similar to the first.

[0105] As a result, there is no offset between the walls of the caps 52, 54, but a certain intermediate region 100 remains between the caps 52, 54 after they have been put on.

[0106] This can be bridged and closed by a correspondingly dimensioned sealing film 58.

[0107] Since there is no overlap, no engagement elements 56 are provided on the outside or inside of the caps 52, 54 either.

[0108] It is also possible to use a somewhat longer second cap 54, as in FIGS. 2.1 and 2.2, so that the caps 52, 54 are put on touching each other, i.e. they just meet or make contact when they are put on. The intermediate region 100 is then a narrow gap or has an extent of almost zero.

[0109] It is also possible to coordinate the lower end of the first cap 52 and the upper end of the second cap 54 so that they can be closed, latched and/or connected to one another during or after putting on the second cap 54.

[0110] In addition to complementary engagement elements 56 on the underside or upper side of the caps 52, 54, a choice of material is also possible, so that the caps 52, 54 are already connected in the contact region by pressure and/or strands, preferably in a sterilely sealing manner.