DEVICE FOR HANDLING CLOSURES INSIDE A CLEAN ROOM, A CLEAN ROOM COMPRISING A CORRESPONDING DEVICE, AND A METHOD FOR HANDLING CLOSURES INSIDE A CLEAN ROOM

Abstract

A device (10) for handling closures (12) inside a clean room, in particular in a sterile environment, a clean room with a corresponding device (10) and a method for handling closures (12) within a clean room, in particular in a sterile environment, are proposed.

Claims

1. A device (10) for handling closures (12), inside a clean room, comprising: a receptacle (14) for receiving at least one closure (12), a handling device (16) having a tool (18), the tool (18) being configured to be able to handle at least one closure (12), a sensor device (20) configured to detect a position, a type, an orientation and/or a possible damage of the closure (12) within the receptacle (14), wherein the device (10) further comprises a vibration device (22) which is configured to vibrate the receptacle (14) in such a way that the closure (12) received in the receptacle (14) is changed in its orientation and/or position due to the vibration.

2. The device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the sensor device (20) comprises at least one illumination device (24) configured to illuminate the receptacle (14).

3. The device (10) according to claim 1, wherein in that the sensor device (20) comprises at least one camera (26) for detecting the closure (12).

4. The device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle (14) is configured in the form of a plate (28).

5. The device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle (14) comprises a structure (29) configured to influence the position and/or orientation of the closure (12) during vibration of the receptacle (14).

6. The device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the device (10) comprises a control device (30), the control device (30) being coupled by connections (32) to the handling device (16) and/or the sensor device (20) and being adapted to move the handling device (16) and/or the tool (18) of the handling device (16) in dependence on the detection of the sensor device (20).

7. The device (10) according to claim 1, wherein at least one element of the device (10) is configured to be H2O2-resistant, autoclavable and/or waterproof.

8. A clean room with a device (10) according to claim 1.

9. A method for handling closures (12), inside a clean room, comprising the steps: receiving at least one closure (12) in a receptacle (14), setting the receptacle (14) in vibration in such a way that the closure (12) received in the receptacle (14) is changed in its orientation and/or position due to the vibration, detecting a position, type, orientation and/or possible damage of the closure (12) within the receptacle (14), moving a handling device (16) to a position from which handling of the detected closure (12) is possible, handling the closure (12) with the handling device (16).

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the receptacle (14) and/or the closure (12) received by the receptacle is illuminated.

11. (canceled)

12. The device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the handling device (16) is a robot arm (17).

13. The device (10) according to claim 4, wherein the plate (28) has a raised edge (27) and is configured in a shell-like manner.

14. The device (10) according to claim 7, wherein all elements of the device (10) are configured to be H2O2-resistant, autoclavable and/or waterproof.

15. The method according to claim 9, wherein the detecting step includes using a sensor device (20).

16. The method according to claim 10, wherein the receptacle (14) and/or the closure (12) received by the receptacle is illuminated by an illumination device (24).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0047] Further features, details and advantages of the invention are apparent from the wording of the claims and from the following description of the embodiment example based on the drawing. It shows:

[0048] FIG. 1 a perspective view of a device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0049] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a device 10 for handling closures 12 within a clean room. The device 10 has a receptacle 14.

[0050] The receptacle 14 is designed as a plate 28 with an edge 27. In other words, the receptacle 14 is tub-shaped or shell-shaped. The receptacle 14 or the plate 28 is rectangular. The edge 27 runs along the four rims of the plate 28, in other words, the edge 27 encloses the plate 28.

[0051] The receptacle 14 can securely receive a plurality of closures 12.

[0052] The device 10 also has a handling device 16. This is designed in the form of a robot arm 17. The handling device 16 has a tool 18. This is designed to be able to handle a closure 12.

[0053] The receptacle 14 can optionally be automatically upgraded with the robot arm 17.

[0054] The receptacle 14 may be designed to be format dependent. In other words, the receptacle 14 can be designed depending on the type, size, shape of the closures 12 to be received therein.

[0055] The receptacle 14 can be designed in such a way that it can be exchanged manually.

[0056] FIG. 1 shows a state of the device 10 in which the tool 18 is handling a closure 12. In other words, a closure 12 is held by means of the tool 18.

[0057] The device 10 further comprises a sensor device 20. In the present case, this is in the form of a camera 26. An illumination device 24 is arranged around the camera 26. In other words, the camera 26 is arranged within the illumination device 24.

[0058] It is conceivable that the illumination device 24 is formed separately from the camera 26, in particular is arranged at a distance from the camera 26. For example, the illumination device 24 can illuminate the receptacle 14 from the side at an angle.

[0059] In the present case, the sensor device 20 or the camera 26 and the illumination device 24 are arranged above the receptacle 14 and aligned accordingly with the receptacle 14 or in the direction of the receptacle 14. In this way, the receptacle 14 and the closures 12 accommodated therein can be optimally illuminated and their position, type, orientation and/or possible damage can be detected in a process-safe manner. It is conceivable that the illumination device 24 can be adjusted/changed in its relative position with respect to the receptacle 14 for better illumination.

[0060] The device 10 further comprises a vibration device 22. This is designed to cause the receptacle 14 to vibrate. This causes the individual closures 12 to jump back and forth, changing their position or orientation.

[0061] The vibration device 22 is arranged directly below the receptacle 14. The vibrating device 22 has a cuboid shape. The receptacle 14 is arranged on the vibrating device 22 so that the vibrating device 22 forms a base (holding base) for the receptacle 14.

[0062] In order to influence the jumping behavior of the individual closures 12 or the orientation in which the individual closures jump, the receptacle 14 has a structure 29. In this case, the structure 29 is in the form of elongated, slot-shaped recesses 30. These are only schematically indicated in FIG. 1.

[0063] In the present case, the recesses 30 are formed in such a way that the closures 12 can only jump into the recesses 30 in a certain orientation (e.g. with the closure opening facing downwards). The recesses 30 are formed complementary to the closures 12. Other types of structures, in particular complementary structures, are conceivable, for example, projections or elevations complementary to the closures 12 may also be provided. Different types of structures, or protrusions and/or recesses may be provided, for example adapted to different types of closures 12.

[0064] The device 10 further comprises a control device 30. This is coupled to the handling device 16 and the sensor device 20 by means of connections 32. Both the control device 30 and the connections 32 are shown only schematically in FIG. 1.

[0065] The connections 32 may be cable connections. However, wireless (e.g. radio, optical) connections may also be provided.

[0066] The operation of the device 10 can be described as follows:

[0067] A plurality of closures 12 are placed on the receptacle 14. Closures 12 of the same type or format are shown here. However, it is also conceivable that closures 12 of different types are placed in the receptacle 14 at the same time.

[0068] The vibrating device 22 causes the receptacle 14 to vibrate so that the closures 12 jump back and forth in the receptacle 14. In the process, the closures 12 change their position and/or their orientation. The closures 12 can be distributed over the entire receptacle 14.

[0069] After the vibration process, the camera 26 searches in the receptacle 14 for the closures 12 of the desired type (e.g. stoppers for vials) and in the desired orientation. If none of the closures 12 in the desired orientation are detected, the vibration process can be restarted. It is conceivable that if the desired orientation could not be detected even after a certain number of repetitions of a vibration process, a fault signal is output. Alternatively or additionally, further closures 12 can be inserted into and/or removed from the receptacle 14. For example, the receptacle 14 can be completely emptied.

[0070] The position of the closures 12 of the desired type and orientation is communicated to the control device 30. This controls the handling device 16 or the tool 18 in such a way that the handling device 16 or the tool 18 is moved to a position from which a closure 12 of the desired type and the desired orientation can be handled or gripped.

[0071] It is conceivable that the camera 26 detects the closures 12 already during the vibration of the receptacle 14 and sends corresponding signals to the control device 30, so that the control device 30 moves the handling device 16 or the tool 18 also already during the vibration of the receptacle 14.

[0072] Subsequently, the closures 12 can be further processed. A next processing step can be, for example, placing the closure 12 on a container (not shown) directly by the handling device 16 or transferring it to another handling device not shown. The closures 12 may also be placed in a receptacle (e.g., nest or tray) or in a parking position.

[0073] Since the closures 12 are already gripped/handled in the desired orientation, a re-gripping during the handling of the closures 12, for which an additional handling device and/or additional tool may be required, is unnecessary.

[0074] It is conceivable that the camera 26 checks the closures 12 for damage. By changing the orientation of the closures 12 when vibrating the receptacle 14, the closures 12 are detected from as many, in particular from all, sides as possible by means of the camera 26. Repositioning the camera 26 and/or changing the orientation of the camera 26 (and/or the illumination device 20) in order to detect the closures 12 from as many sides as possible is thus rendered superfluous, but may be additionally provided in order to speed up the process or make it more reliable.

[0075] If damage to a closure 12 is detected, the damaged closure 12 can be sorted out by means of the handling device 16. It is also conceivable that a further handling device (not shown) can be provided for sorting out damaged closures 12.

[0076] In the event of a malfunction or after completion of a run (batch), the receptacle 14 can be emptied automatically. The emptying of the receptacle 14 can be carried out by the handling device 16, another handling device (not shown) or by means of the vibration platform. This eliminates the need for manual intervention by an operator in the barrier system. The receptacle 14 can also be tilted for emptying, for example.