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CA-3032022-C - OPENING ASSEMBLY FOR A PACKAGE

CA3032022CCA 3032022 CCA3032022 CCA 3032022CCA-3032022-C

Abstract

This invention concerns an opening assembly (1) for a package (A), particularly for containers, preferably vials, bottles, syringes, carpules and the like. This assembly (1) can be installed in a container handling and filling system. The package (A) comprises a tub (B), covered by a covering film (C), the tub contain a nest bearing the containers in an orderly manner. According to the invention, the opening assembly (1) comprises at least one clamp (2) located upstream of an opening (3) placed on a separation wall (4) between a first (F) and second (E) sterile environment. Whilst the package (A) passes through the opening (3), the clamp (2) clamps a portion of an edge of the covering film (C), consequently removing the covering film from the tub.

Inventors

  • Claudio Trebbi
  • Gabriele Gabusi

Assignees

  • I.M.A. INDUSTRIA MACCHINE AUTOMATICHE S.P.A.

Dates

Publication Date
20260505
Application Date
20170724
Priority Date
20160726

Claims (11)

  1. 9 THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION FOR WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS: 1. Opening assembly for a package (A) of containers, which can 5 be installed in an apparatus for the handling and filling of said containers, said package (A) comprising a tub (B) provided with a covering film (C), wherein the tub (B) contains internally a nest bearing said containers in an orderly manner, said opening assembly being characterised in that the opening assembly 1 o comprises at least one clamp (2) arranged upstream of an opening (3) that is formed on a separation wall (4) separating a first sterile environment (D) from a second sterile environment (E), respectively upstream and downstream said opening (3), said clamp (2) being configured to clamp a portion of an edge of the covering film (C) 15 when the package (A) passes through said opening (3), with consequent removal of the covering film (C) from the tub (B).
  2. 2. Opening assembly according to claim 1, wherein said clamp (2) can translate, along a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of advancement of the package (A) due to the action of an 2 o actuator, between a first configuration of juxtaposition to said package (A) and a second configuration, in which the clamp (2) is raised from the package (A) by a distance equal to at least the length of the covering film (C), once the covering film (C) has been completely removed from the package (A) and such package (A) is 2 5 fully contained in the second environment (E). Date Re9ue/Date Received 2023-12-11
  3. 3. Opening assembly according to claim 1 or 2, comprising an abutment bar (5) for said covering film (C), which is arranged so as to face and be close to said separation wall (4), in the vicinity of said covering film (C) in a position such that said abutment bar (5) blocks 5 the lifting of the package (A) during the removal of the covering film (C) from the tub (B).
  4. 4. Opening assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising a handling device (6) provided with coupling elements (7) at an end of the handling device (6) for the package (A), the handling 1 o device (6) being configured for moving the package (A) through the opening (3).
  5. 5. Opening assembly according to claim 4, wherein the clamp (2) is fixed to a distance from a bottom side of the opening (3) and the handling device (6), as a consequence of the clamping of the clamp 15 (2) on the covering film (C), follows a sloping downwards trajectory towards the opening (3), in order to distance the package (A) from the clamp (2).
  6. 6. Opening assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the handling device (6) has securing elements (8) to secure 2 o the package (A) in order to prevent the package (A) from lifting during the removal of the covering film (C).
  7. 7. Opening assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said handling device (6) is an anthropomorphic robot.
  8. 8. Opening assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 7, 2 5 comprising a programmable control and management unit for the Date Re9ue/Date Received 2023-12-11 11 controlled movement of at least one component chosen between the handling device (6) and the clamp (2).
  9. 9. Opening assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 8, comprising at least two opposite containment shoulders (9) arranged 5 to guide the package (A) whilst the package (A) moves through the opening (3).
  10. 10. Opening assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the pressure within the second environment (E) is higher than the pressure within the first environment (D), such different 1 o pressures causing a constant flow of gas through the opening (3) from the second environment (E) to the first environment (D), such flow investing the package (A) whilst the package (A) passes through the opening (3).
  11. 11. Opening assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 10, 15 wherein the containers are vials, bottles, syringes, or carpules. Date Re9ue/Date Received 2023-12-11

Description

1 OPENING ASSEMBLY FOR A PACKAGE This invention concerns an opening assembly for a package, particularly for containers, preferably vials, bottles, syringes, 5 carpules and the like, which can be installed in a container handling and filling system. It is known that, in the pharmaceutical industry, products and substances in liquid and/or powder form can be appropriately packaged in special containers, often designed to contain a single 10 dose, in order to facilitate their administration to patients. These containers may be bottles, vials, cartridges (such as, for example carpules, used in syringes, intended to administer local anaesthetics), syringes (such as ready-to-use syringes used for many miscellaneous applications) and similar devices. 15 The known procedures for filling and packaging containers such as bottles, cartridges, syringes and similar devices require the provision of tubs containing suitable nests, within which the individual containers are neatly arranged. The tubs, nests and containers to be filled are manufactured by their 20 suppliers, which generally differ from those taking care of the filling procedure. Therefore, in order to protect the contents of the tub from any risk of contamination by the outside environment, before sending the package to the filling and packaging system, the tub is sealed with a 25 covering film and inserted into a bag. 2 Once the tub has been extracted from the bag, it is necessary to remove the covering film. This procedure is normally carried out in a special environment with a minimal risk of contamination (for example, contamination class A). 5 It should also be noted that such procedure is very delicate and may expose the containers to contamination due to particles that could remain in the air and enter the tub and, therefore, the containers, when the covering film is removed. The main aim of this invention is to resolve the above problems, by 10 providing an opening assembly for a package that eliminates the risk of contamination of the contents of the package during the process of removing the covering film from such package. Within the scope of this aim, one purpose of this invention is to propose a relatively easy-to-use, practical, safe and cost-effective 15 opening assembly for a package. This aim and these purposes are achieved by an opening assembly for a package. Additional features and advantages of this invention are further detailed in the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, form of 2 o execution, of the opening assembly for a package according to the invention, illustrated by way of a non-limiting example, in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows an axonometric view of the opening assembly, according to this invention, during an intermediate package opening 25 phase; Date Rei;ue/Date Received 2023-12-11 3 Figure 2 shows an aerial view of the assembly as shown in figure 1, according to the invention; Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the assembly as shown in figure 1, according to the invention, in a first clamping phase of a 5 package by at least one clamp; Figure 4 shows an enlarged view of a portion of figure 3; Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the assembly as shown in figure 1, according to the invention, in a package alignment phase to at least one clamp; 10 Figure 6 shows an enlarged view of a portion of figure 5; Figure 7 shows a cross-sectional view of the assembly as shown in figure 1, according to the invention, in a clamping phase with at least one clamp on a portion of a covering film; Figure 8 shows an enlarged view of a portion of figure 7; 15 Figure 9 shows a cross-sectional view of the assembly as shown in figure 1, in an intermediate film-removal phase; Figure 10 shows an enlarged view of a portion of figure 9; Figure 11 shows a cross-sectional view of the assembly as shown in figure 1, in a final package-opening phase, when the film is 2 o completely removed from the tub; Figure 12 shows an enlarged view of a portion of figure 11 ; Figure 13 shows a cross-sectional view of a different embodiment of the assembly of figure 1, in an intermediate film-removal phase. With specific reference to these figures, 1 globally indicates an 25 opening assembly for a package A, particularly for containers such 4 as: vials, bottles, syringes, carpules and the like. This assembly 1 can be installed in a container handling and filling system. The package A comprises a tub B, with a covering film D, containing 5 a nest bearing the containers in an orderly manner. According to the invention, the opening assembly 1 comprises at least one clamp 2 located upstream of an opening 3 placed on a separation wall 4 between a first sterile environment F and second sterile environment E, located upstream and downstream said 10 opening 3 respectively. Where upstream and downstream refer to the moving direction of the tub B. It should also be noted that a "clamp" 2 refers to any clamping device. 15 Whilst the packa