Search

KR-20260065613-A - Device and method for recovering parts of an inhaler

KR20260065613AKR 20260065613 AKR20260065613 AKR 20260065613AKR-20260065613-A

Abstract

The present invention relates to an object retrieval station for an apparatus for handling inhaler articles. The object retrieval station comprises an article holder means for holding an inhaler article and an object discharge means configured to discharge an object out of a tubular element of an inhaler article. The present invention also relates to an apparatus for handling inhaler articles. The present invention also relates to a method for handling inhaler articles.

Inventors

  • 디'암브로기, 발레리오
  • 프레스티아, 이반

Assignees

  • 필립모리스 프로덕츠 에스.에이.

Dates

Publication Date
20260508
Application Date
20240919
Priority Date
20230926

Claims (13)

  1. As an object recovery station for a device for processing suction items, A means for holding an inhaler article, wherein the inhaler article has a distal end facing a mouth end of the inhaler article; and It includes an object discharge means configured to discharge a dry powder capsule out of a tubular element of the above-mentioned inhaler article, and The object discharge means is configured to push the dry powder capsule out of the tubular element so that the dry powder capsule exits the suction article outside the distal end of the article, in an object recovery station.
  2. In claim 1, the object discharge means comprises a plunger configured to push the dry powder capsule out of the tubular element, and The tip of the plunger configured to be inserted into the tubular element of the above-mentioned suction device article has a diameter not exceeding 2 millimeters in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction, and Preferably, the end surface of the plunger configured to contact the dry powder capsule includes a concave indentation, in an object recovery station.
  3. An object recovery station according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the object discharge means is configured to apply a force of less than 110 Newtons, preferably less than 100 Newtons, more preferably less than 80 Newtons, more preferably less than 50 Newtons, more preferably less than 30 Newtons, more preferably less than 20 Newtons, more preferably less than 15 Newtons, onto the dry powder capsule when pushing the dry powder capsule to discharge the dry powder capsule from the tubular element.
  4. An object recovery station according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the object discharge means comprises an internal air channel configured to apply compressed air over the dry powder capsule.
  5. An object recovery station according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the article holder means comprises one or more rotating drums.
  6. In paragraph 5, The above-mentioned article holder means includes an upstream rotating drum, and The above-mentioned upstream rotating drum includes a plurality of concave portions, and The above-mentioned concave portions are arranged circumferentially around the rotation axis of the upstream rotating drum, and Each recess is configured to accommodate a single suction article such that the longitudinal axis of the suction article accommodated within the recess is aligned parallel to the rotation axis of the upstream rotating drum, and Preferably, the upstream rotating drum is an object recovery station arranged upstream of the object discharge means.
  7. In paragraph 6, the article holder means comprises a vacuum system configured to adhere the suction article within the concave portion, and The above vacuum system includes a vacuum source and a fixed shell, and The above fixed shell is fixed with respect to the rotational movement of the upstream rotating drum, and The above fixed shell extends over less than a full rotation of the upstream rotating drum, and An object recovery station, wherein the fixed shell is configured to selectively provide a fluid connection between the vacuum channel of the concave portion and the vacuum source depending on the rotational position of each concave portion.
  8. In paragraph 6 or 7, The above-mentioned upstream rotating drum includes a plurality of removablely attached first shell halves, and The first shell half portion is arranged circumferentially around the rotation axis of the upstream rotating drum, and The above-mentioned concave portion is provided within the first shell half portion such that each first shell half portion includes one concave portion, and The above-mentioned article holder means includes a downstream rotating drum arranged immediately downstream of the upstream rotating drum, and The above-mentioned downstream rotating drum includes a plurality of removablely attached second shell halves, and The above second shell half portion is arranged circumferentially around the rotation axis of the downstream rotating drum, and The above-mentioned removable first and second shell halves are configured such that the first shell halve is attached over the second shell halve, thereby firmly holding an inhaler article received within the recess of the first shell halve between the respective first and second shell halves, and Preferably, the first shell half is attached to the second shell half by magnetic coupling, an object recovery station.
  9. In claim 8, the automatic locking mechanism is configured to releaseably attach the removable first and second shell halves on each drum depending on the rotational position of each removable shell halve on each drum, and Preferably, the object retrieval station, wherein the automatic locking mechanism includes a magnetic locking means.
  10. An object recovery station comprising, in any one of claims 1 to 9, an article opening means for opening at least a partially closed end of the inhaler article before discharging the dry powder capsule from the tubular element through the end of the article.
  11. An object recovery station according to any one of claims 1 to 10, comprising an optical sensor for detecting the orientation of the inhaler article received by the article holder means, and comprising two object discharge means arranged on both sides of the article holder means, wherein the object recovery station is configured to determine which of the two opposing object discharge means will be used to discharge the dry powder capsule from the tubular element based on information received from the sensor.
  12. A device for manufacturing an inhaler article, comprising an object recovery station according to any one of claims 1 to 11.
  13. As a method for recovering dry powder capsules from inhaler products, A step of providing an inhaler article having a distal end facing a mouse end of the inhaler article, wherein the inhaler article comprises a tubular element and a dry powder capsule contained within the tubular element. The step of providing an object recovery station according to any one of claims 1 to 11, and A method comprising the step of pushing the dry powder capsule out of the tubular element by the object recovery station so that the dry powder capsule exits the suction article outside the distal end of the article.

Description

Device and method for recovering parts of an inhaler The present invention relates to an object retrieval station for a device for processing inhaler articles. The present invention also relates to a device for processing inhaler articles. The present invention also relates to a method for processing inhaler articles. Inhaler articles, such as dry powder inhalers, are known in the art. In the field of manufacturing inhaler articles, it is known to provide a tubular element of the article and to insert an object, such as a dry powder capsule, into the tubular element through an open distal end of the tubular element. Then, the open distal end is closed at least partially, for example, by folding the distal end of the tubular element inward. By doing so, the object can be firmly held within the article. When processing inhaler articles, it may occur that a semi-finished or finished inhaler article exhibits defects and must therefore be rejected. Then, it may be desirable to recycle potentially reusable parts of the defective article, such as an intact powder capsule contained within the tubular element of the defective article. The present invention will be further described merely by reference to the accompanying drawings: FIGS. 1a to FIGS. 1c illustrate inhaler articles. Figures 2a and 2b illustrate an object recovery station. Figures 3a and 3b illustrate the plunger of an object recovery station. FIGS. 4a and FIGS. 4b illustrate a recess for holding an inhaler article. Figures 5a and 5b illustrate the vacuum system of an object recovery station. Figure 6 illustrates an object recovery station. FIGS. 7a and FIGS. 7b illustrate means for receiving inhaler articles. FIGS. 1a to FIGS. 1c illustrate an aspirator article (10) suitable for use with the object recovery station of the present invention. FIG. 1a illustrates a cross-sectional view of an inhaler article (10). The inhaler article (10) includes a closed distal end (12) in the form of a flanged front plug. FIG. 1b illustrates an end view of the flanged front plug at the distal end (12). The inhaler article (10) includes an outer wrapper (14). The inhaler article (10) includes a retaining plug (16). The inner diameter of the hollow tubular retaining plug (16) may be about 2 millimeters. The inhaler article (10) includes tipping paper (18). The inhaler article (10) includes a proximal end (20) in the form of a curled mouse plug. Fig. 1c illustrates an end view of the curled mouse plug at the proximal end (20). The diameter "d" of the central opening at the proximal end (20) may be about 2 millimeters. The inhaler article (10) further comprises a tubular element (22). The tubular element (22) holds an object (24), for example, a capsule (24), preferably a dry powder capsule (24). The inhaler article (10) extends along a longitudinal central axis (26) between the anterior plug at the distal end (12) of the inhaler article (10) and the mouse plug at the proximal end (20). FIGS. 2a and FIGS. 2b schematically illustrate an object retrieval station for a device for handling an aspirator article (10). The object retrieval station includes an article holder means for holding the aspirator article (10). The article holder means includes a rotating drum (30) for holding the aspirator article (10). The rotational direction of the rotating drum (30) is indicated by a curved arrow in FIGS. 2a and FIGS. 2b. The object recovery station includes an object discharge means. The object discharge means is configured to discharge an object (24), preferably a capsule (24), out of the tubular element (22) of the suction article (10). The object discharge means is configured to push the object (24) out of the tubular element (22) so that the object (24) exits the suction article (10) out of the distal end (12) of the article (10). The object discharge means includes a plunger (80) configured to push the object (24) out of the tubular element (22). The object recovery station includes two plungers (80) arranged on both sides of a rotating drum (30). The object retrieval station includes at least one optical sensor (90) for detecting the orientation of a suction article (10) received by an article holder means. The object recovery station is configured to determine which of the two opposing plungers (80) will be used to discharge an object (24) from a tubular element (22) based on information received from a sensor (90). The pushing movement of the plunger (80) is indicated by a straight arrow in FIG. 2a. FIG. 2b shows the plunger (80) moving into the inhaler item (10) through the proximal end (20) to push the object (24) out of the distal end (12) of the inhaler item (10). Optionally, the object recovery station may include an article opening means for opening the closed distal end (12) of the suction article (10) before discharging the object (24) from the tubular element (22) through the distal end (12) of the article (10). For example, the article opening means may include a kn