Abstract
An automated device for determining the peel force to peel a lidding foil off of a top surface of a primary packaging shell comprises: a shell holder for holding the primary packaging shell to the top surface of which the lidding foil is sealed; a foil lifter for lifting a non-sealed end portion of the lidding foil up from the planar top surface of the primary packaging shell held by the shell holder; a foil gripper for grasping the lifted non-sealed end portion of the lidding foil; a foil peeler for peeling the sealed lidding foil with the lifted non-sealed end portion grasped by the foil gripper off of the planar top surface of the primary packaging; and a force sensor for determining the force required to peel the lidding foil off of the top surface of the primary packaging shell.
Claims
1. Automated device (2) for determining the peel force required to peel a lidding foil (11) off of a planar top surface (100) of a primary packaging shell (10) to which the lidding foil (11) is sealed to form a primary packaging container (1), in particular a primary packaging container containing an ophthalmic article, for example an ophthalmic lens such as a contact lens, in particular a soft contact lens (CL), the device (2) comprising: a shell holder (20) for holding the primary packaging shell (10) to the top surface (100) of which the lidding foil (11) is sealed; a foil lifter (21) for lifting a non-sealed end portion (110) of the lidding foil (11) up from the planar top surface (100) of the primary packaging shell (10) held by the shell holder (20); a foil gripper (22) for grasping the lifted non-sealed end portion (110) of the lidding foil (11); a foil peeler (23) to which the foil gripper (22) is mounted, for peeling the sealed lidding foil (11) with the lifted non-sealed end portion (110) grasped by the foil gripper (22) off of the planar top surface (100) of the primary packaging shell (10) to which it is sealed; and a force sensor (24) for determining the force required to peel the lidding foil (11) off of the planar top surface (100) of the primary packaging shell (10) to which it is sealed.
2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the shell holder (20) comprises a shell support (200) having shell receiving and positioning members (202, 204) for determining a position and a rotational orientation of the primary packaging shell (10) on the shell support (200) with the planar top surface (100) of the primary packaging shell (10) and the lidding foil (11) sealed thereto facing upwards, and for preventing translational or rotational movement of the primary packaging shell (11) on the shell support (200).
3. Device according to claim 2, wherein the shell receiving and positioning members comprise a suction channel (203) arranged in the shell support (200) for applying vacuum through the suction channel (203) to make the primary packaging shell (10) adhere to the shell support (200).
4. Device according to claim 1, wherein the foil gripper (22) comprises a tweezer gripper (220) with clamping jaws (221) for grasping the lifted non-sealed end portion (110) of the lidding foil (11) and clamping it with the clamping jaws (221).
5. Device according to claim 2, wherein the foil peeler (23) comprises: a linearly movable slide (230) to which the foil gripper (22) is mounted, the linearly movable slide (230) being linearly movable in a predetermined longitudinal direction in a plane that extends parallel to a plane of the planar top surface (100) of the primary packaging shell (10) with the lidding foil (11) sealed thereto when the primary packaging shell (10) is arranged on the shell support (200), the predetermined longitudinal direction of movement of the linearly movable slide (230) corresponding to the direction in which the lidding foil (11) is to be peeled off of the planar top surface (100) of the primary packaging shell (10) arranged on the shell support (200) at the position and with the rotational orientation determined by the shell receiving and positioning members (202, 204); a linear motor (235) having an armature (237) that is linearly movable in the same longitudinal direction in which the linearly movable slide (230) is linearly movable; and wherein the force sensor (24) is mounted to a proximal end of the foil gripper (22) and to a distal end of the armature (237) of the linear motor (235) so that the force required to peel the lidding foil (11) off of the top surface (100) of the primary packaging shell (10) is applied in the predetermined longitudinal direction by the armature (237) of the linear motor (235) through the force sensor (24) to the foil gripper (22) which is mounted to the linear slide (230).
6. Device according to claim 2, wherein the foil lifter (21) for lifting the non-sealed end portion (110) of the lidding foil (11) up from the top surface (100) of the primary packaging shell (10) comprises a pin (210) mounted to a vertically movable actuator (211).
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0035] Further advantageous aspects of the device according to the invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments of the invention with the aid of the drawings in which:
[0036] FIG. 1 shows a primary packaging container comprising a primary packaging shell to which a portion of the lidding foil is still sealed while another portion of the lidding foil is already peeled off;
[0037] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the device according to the invention in an initial state, in which the primary packaging shell with a lidding foil sealed thereto is arranged on a shell support;
[0038] FIG. 3 shows a side view of the embodiment of the device according to the invention in the initial state (first state) shown in FIG. 2;
[0039] FIG. 4 shows a side view of the embodiment of the device of FIG. 2, in a second state in which a non-sealed end portion of the lidding foil has been lifted up for being grasped by a gripper;
[0040] FIG. 5 shows a sectional view of the embodiment of the device in the second state shown in FIG. 4 (left and right sides exchanged when compared to FIG. 4);
[0041] FIG. 6 shows a side view of the embodiment of the device of FIG. 2, in a third state in which the lifted non-sealed end-portion of the lidding foil has been grasped and clamped between the jaws of the gripper;
[0042] FIG. 7 shows a side view of the embodiment of the device of FIG. 2, in a fourth state in which the lidding foil has been nearly completely peeled off of the top surface of the primary packaging shell; and
[0043] FIG. 8 shows a side view of the embodiment of the device of FIG. 2, in a final state (fifth state) in which the peeling procedure is completed and the lidding foil has been completely removed from the top surface of the primary packaging shell.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0044] In FIG. 1 an embodiment of a primary packaging container 1 is shown as it is typically (but not exclusively) used for storing soft contact lenses which are used only once and are disposed of after use. Primary packaging container 1 comprises a primary packaging shell 10, typically made of a moldable plastic (for example polyethylene), and further comprises a lidding foil 11 sealed to a top surface 100 of primary packaging shell 10 along a seal seam 101 in the closed state of primary packaging container 1. In FIG. 1, primary packaging container 1 is shown in a state in which lidding foil 11 is partially peeled off of top surface 100 of primary packaging shell 10 so that a bowl 102 is visible that is filled with a storage liquid 103 and that contains a soft contact lens CL stored therein.
[0045] As can be seen in FIG. 1, when the lidding foil 11 is completely sealed to top surface 100 of primary packaging container 10 along seal seam 101, bowl 102 containing storage liquid 103 and soft contact lens CL is hermetically closed so that neither storage liquid 103 nor soft contact lens CL may escape from bowl 102, regardless of the position and orientation of primary packaging container 1. In order for a user to be able to open primary packaging container 1 to access soft contact lens CL, the user may grasp and hold the foremost downwardly protruding flange of primary packaging shell 10 with the thumb and the forefinger of one hand (e.g. the left hand) and slightly lift a non-sealed end portion 110 of lidding foil 11 up from the top surface 100 of primary packaging shell 10 by pushing the tip of the forefinger through through-opening 104 of primary packaging shell 10 from beneath. Thereafter, the user may grab the thus lifted non-sealed end portion 110 of lidding foil 11 with the thumb and the forefinger of the other hand (e.g. the right hand), clamp the non-sealed end portion 110 of lidding foil 11 therebetween, and peel lidding foil 11 off of top surface 100 of primary packaging shell 10 in the direction of the non-labeled arrow in FIG. 1 either partially, but preferably completely, while holding the downwardly protruding flange of primary packaging shell 10 with the thumb and forefinger of the one hand (e.g. the left hand). Once lidding foil 11 has been peeled off either partially or completely, the user may slide soft contact lens CL along a ramp 105 using the forefinger to take soft contact lens CL out and place it on the eye.
[0046] Obviously, the peel forces required to peel lidding foil 11 off of top surface 100 of primary packaging shell 10 should be within a predetermined range to make sure the user is able to conveniently peel lidding foil 11 off of top surface 100 on one hand, and on the other hand to make sure the lidding foil 11 is not inadvertently getting removed from top surface 100 (i.e. breaking the hermetical seal). During the process of examining samples of each lot of soft contact lenses produced on the production line as to their optical properties and other possible defects, primary packaging containers 1 are also examined with respect to the peel force required to peel lidding foil 11 off of top surface 100 of primary packaging shell 10.
[0047] In FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 a perspective view and a side view of an embodiment of the automated device 2 of the present invention are shown in an initial state (first state). Device 2 comprises a shell holder 20 including a shell support 200 having shell receiving and positioning members. The shell receiving and positioning members determine the exact position and rotational orientation of the primary packaging shell 10 with the lidding foil 11 sealed thereto, i.e. of the sealed primary packaging container 1. The shell receiving and positioning members include a hollow receiving cylinder 202 for receiving the bowl 102 of primary packaging shell 10 upon being placed on the shell support 200. The contour of the upper surface of receiving cylinder 202 may correspond to the contour of the bowl 102 of primary packaging shell 10, and surrounds a cavity 201 (see FIG. 5) that forms the upper end of a suction channel 203 (see again FIG. 5) through which vacuum may be applied to make primary packaging shell 10 adhere to shell support 200. The shell receiving and positioning members further comprise four positioning pins 204 that project upwardly from a planar upper surface 205 of shell support 200 which may serve as a support surface for flange 106 of primary packaging shell 10. Accordingly, primary packaging shell 10 with lidding foil 11 sealed thereto may be placed on shell support 200 only at a predetermined position and with a predetermined rotational orientation, it is not possible to place it on shell support 200 at a different position or with a different rotational orientation.
[0048] Device 2 further comprises a foil lifter 21 for lifting non-sealed end portion 110 of lidding foil 11 up from planar top surface 100 of primary packaging shell 10. Foil lifter 21 comprises a pin 210 mounted to a vertically movable actuator 211 that comprises an upper platform 212 from which pin 210 projects upwardly. For example, vertically movable actuator 211 may be a pneumatic actuator having two connectors 213 and 214 for pressure supply conduits (not shown) in order to move upper platform 212 and thereby pin 210 up and down through the supply of pressure.
[0049] Still further, device 2 comprises a foil gripper 22 for grasping the non-sealed end portion 110 of lidding foil 11 once it is lifted. In the embodiment shown, foil gripper 22 comprises a tweezer gripper 220 with clamping jaws 221 for grasping the non-sealed end portion 110 of lidding foil 11 once it has been lifted by pin 210, and for clamping the non-sealed end portion 110 of lidding foil 11 between the clamping jaws 221.
[0050] Yet further, device 2 comprise a foil peeler 23 for peeling the sealed lidding foil 11 off of the planar top surface 100 of primary packaging shell 10 after the lifted non-sealed end portion 110 of lidding foil 11 has been grasped and clamped between the jaws 221 of tweezer gripper 220. To open and close the jaws 221 of tweezer gripper 220, an arm of tweezer gripper 220 may be pneumatically movable in the axial direction with the aid of two shafts 222.
[0051] Foil peeler 23 comprises a linearly movable slide 230 comprising a first lateral plate 231 (which is not shown in FIG. 3 for illustrative purposes) and a second lateral plate 232 which are connected to each by a bottom plate 233. Foil gripper 22 comprising tweezer gripper 220 is mounted in an almost frictionless manner between first lateral plate 231 and second lateral plate 232 with the aid of and guided by suitable bearings (not labelled in the drawings).
[0052] Linear slide 230 as a whole is movable along a fixedly arranged guiding rail 234 in a predetermined longitudinal direction extending in a plane that extends parallel to a plane of the planar top surface 100 of the primary packaging shell 10 with the lidding foil 11 sealed thereto. This predetermined longitudinal direction of movement of linearly movable slide 230 is indicated in FIG. 3 by the unlabeled double-headed arrow, and corresponds to the direction in which lidding foil 11 is to be peeled off of the planar top surface 100 of primary packaging shell 10 arranged on shell support 200 at the position and with the predetermined rotational orientation determined by the shell receiving and positioning members (i.e. receiving cylinder 202 and positioning pins 204). Prior to peeling the lidding foil 11 off, vacuum is supplied through the suction channel 203 (see FIG. 5) so that primary packaging shell 10 adheres to the shell support 200, as will be discussed in more detail below.
[0053] Foil peeler 23 further comprises a linear motor 235 (only shown in FIG. 3) having a stator 236 and an armature 237 that is linearly movable in the same longitudinal direction in which linear slide 230 is movable along fixedly arranged guiding rail 234. Stator 236 of linear motor 235 is also fixedly arranged, so that only the armature 237 is linearly movable.
[0054] A force sensor 24 is mounted to the distal end of the armature 237 of linear motor 235 by means of a first mounting plate 238 on one hand, and to the foil gripper 22 on the other hand by means of a second mounting plate 223. First mounting plate 238 is neither directly connected to the first lateral plate 231 nor to the second lateral plate 232 nor to the bottom plate 233 of linearly movable slider 230. Similarly, second mounting plate 223 is neither connected to any of the first lateral plate 231 or the second lateral plate 232 nor to the bottom plate 233. As mentioned, the force required to peel the lidding foil 11 off of the top surface 100 of primary packaging shell 10 is transmitted from the armature 237 through first mounting plate 238, through force sensor 24 and through second mounting plate 223 to foil gripper 22, and can therefore directly be determined by force sensor 24.
[0055] While FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 show the initial state (first state) of the device 2, in the following the full procedure of peeling the lidding foil 11 off of top surface 100 of primary packaging shell 10 is explained with the aid of additional states of device 2.
[0056] Accordingly, FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 show the device 2 in a second state in which the non-sealed end portion 110 of lidding foil 11 has been lifted (bent upwardly) by pin 210 mounted to vertically movable actuator 211 that comprises an upper platform 212 from which pin 210 projects upwardly. FIG. 4 shows a view similar to that of FIG. 3 (however, without linear motor 235), whereas FIG. 5 shows a sectional view in which the left and right sides of device 2 have been exchanged, and in which guiding rail 234 is not shown.
[0057] Foil gripper 22 together with linearly movable slide 230 (only second lateral plate 232 and bottom plate 233 visible in FIG. 4, only first lateral plate 231 and bottom plate 233 visible in FIG. 5) has been moved to a position in which the clamping jaws 221 of tweezer gripper 220 are arranged at a position ready for grasping the lifted non-sealed end portion 110 of lidding foil 11 and clamping it with the clamping jaws 221. As can be seen best in FIG. 5, the movable clamping jaw 221 may have a recess (non-hatched) that allows movable clamping jaw 221 to be moved (with the aid of shafts 222) towards the static clamping jaw 221 of tweezer gripper 220 to clamp the non-sealed end portion 110 of lidding foil 11 without colliding with the pin 210 that keeps the non-sealed end 110 of lidding foil 11 in the lifted state (i.e. bent upwardly).
[0058] FIG. 6 shows device 2 (again without linear motor 235) in a third state in which clamping jaws 221 of tweezer gripper 220 are closed, and which the clamping jaws 221 clamp the non-sealed end portion 110 of lidding foil 11. Device 2 is now ready for peeling lidding foil 11 off.
[0059] FIG. 7 shows device 2 (again without linear motor 235) in a fourth state in which lidding foil 11 has been nearly completely peeled off of the top surface 100 of primary packaging shell 10. To reach this fourth state, the armature 237 of linear motor 235 (see FIG. 3) has applied a force (indicated by the unlabeled arrow in FIG. 7) to first mounting plate 238, and this force is transmitted through force sensor 24 to second mounting plate 223 and to foil gripper 22 comprising tweezer gripper 220 with the non-sealed end portion of lidding foil 11 clamped between the clamping jaws 221. The applied force peels lidding foil 11 off of top surface 100 of primary packaging shell 10 and can be determined by force sensor 24. Linearly movable slide (only second lateral plate 232 and bottom plate 233 thereof being visible in FIG. 7) to which foil gripper 22 is mounted is moved along guiding rail 234 with as low a friction as possible (preferably frictionless).
[0060] FIG. 8 shows device 2 (again without linear motor 235) in a final state (fifth state) in which lidding foil 11 has been completely peeled off of the top surface 100 of primary packaging shell 10, but with lidding foil 11 still being clamped by the clamping jaws 221 of tweezer gripper 220. Lidding foil 11 can then be placed in a foil waste bin (not shown). The storage liquid 103 and the soft contact lens CL are then removed from the bowl 102 of primary packaging shell 10, and the soft contact lens CL is subsequently inspected. Primary packaging shell 10 may be removed from shell support 200 and placed into a shell waste bin (not shown), thus being able to separate the different types of waste (e.g. for recycling purposes). Device may then be returned to the initial state (see FIG. 2) for the next sample (sealed primary packaging container) to be examined in the same manner.
[0061] While embodiments of the invention have been described with the aid of the drawings, it is apparent that many changes are possible without departing from the teaching underlying the invention. The scope of protection is therefore defined by the appended claims.
