[go: up one dir, main page]

WO2025150077A1 - Procédé et appareil de pesée de récipients - Google Patents

Procédé et appareil de pesée de récipients

Info

Publication number
WO2025150077A1
WO2025150077A1 PCT/IT2025/050001 IT2025050001W WO2025150077A1 WO 2025150077 A1 WO2025150077 A1 WO 2025150077A1 IT 2025050001 W IT2025050001 W IT 2025050001W WO 2025150077 A1 WO2025150077 A1 WO 2025150077A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
weighing
container
gripping member
manipulator
containers
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
PCT/IT2025/050001
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Gabriele STEFANELLI
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
IMA Industria Macchine Automatiche SpA
Original Assignee
IMA Industria Macchine Automatiche SpA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by IMA Industria Macchine Automatiche SpA filed Critical IMA Industria Macchine Automatiche SpA
Publication of WO2025150077A1 publication Critical patent/WO2025150077A1/fr
Pending legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01G—WEIGHING
    • G01G23/00—Auxiliary devices for weighing apparatus
    • G01G23/01—Testing or calibrating of weighing apparatus
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01G—WEIGHING
    • G01G15/00—Arrangements for check-weighing of materials dispensed into removable containers
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01G—WEIGHING
    • G01G17/00—Apparatus for or methods of weighing material of special form or property
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01G—WEIGHING
    • G01G21/00—Details of weighing apparatus
    • G01G21/26—Counterweights; Poise-weights; Sets of weights; Holders for the reception of weights

Definitions

  • the present invention concerns a method and an apparatus for weighing containers, such as vials, bottles, flasks, pre-sterilized syringes or other types of containers, filled with pharmaceutical products, for example fluids, in particular liquids, or solids, in powder or gel form.
  • containers such as vials, bottles, flasks, pre-sterilized syringes or other types of containers, filled with pharmaceutical products, for example fluids, in particular liquids, or solids, in powder or gel form.
  • pharmaceutical products for example fluids, in particular liquids, or solids, in powder or gel form.
  • the method and the apparatus find application preferably in the pharmaceutical sector, but also in the cosmetic, health, chemical and/or food sectors.
  • filling and weighing apparatuses are known that normally comprise an isolated chamber, or isolator, inside which a manipulator is disposed that moves the containers, according to a specific work cycle, to and from a filling station and a weighing station, or even other stations.
  • a weighing device that weighs the containers after they have been filled with a certain amount of a pharmaceutical product.
  • Document WO2011138140A1 describes a scale comprising a weighing device equipped with a plurality of weighing cells with which there is associated a support provided with first seatings for positioning the containers and with second seatings for positioning calibration weights.
  • the scale also comprises a calibration device having a gripping unit specially dedicated to picking up, by means of suckers operating with negative pressure, the calibration weights that are disposed in a magazine below the weighing device, in order to position them in the second seatings and subsequently remove them therefrom to return them to the magazine at the end of an operation of calibrating the weighing device.
  • an apparatus is known from document WO 2009/102964 for moving containers during the execution of quality control tests, in order to verify the conformity of a decoration executed with ink on the outside of the container with respect to the specifications provided.
  • This apparatus is not disposed in an isolated chamber, nor does it need to interact with the operating stations for weighing and filling the containers.
  • One purpose of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and perfect a method for weighing containers filled with a pharmaceutical product as well as capping such containers after they have been filled, but also for calibrating the weighing device in a rapid, efficient and repeatable manner.
  • Another purpose of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for weighing containers that does not require the introduction of additional manipulators to move the calibration weights, in addition to the one(s) already present to move the containers.
  • the Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.
  • a method according to the present invention for weighing containers filled with a pharmaceutical product comprises the following steps:
  • the manipulator comprises a gripping member configured to grip the at least one container when it is picked up.
  • the method further comprises a calibration step comprising:
  • the gripping member is configured to pick up the at least one reference piece from the magazine and place it on the weighing member, the controller being configured to verify whether the output weight of the weighing member corresponds to the known weight of the corresponding reference piece, thus verifying that the weighing station is calibrated.
  • - fig. 8 is a three-dimensional view showing another embodiment of a gripping member comprised in the apparatus of fig. 1.
  • an apparatus 10 is usable to weigh containers 100 filled with a pharmaceutical product, in a fully automated manner.
  • the containers 100 can be of any shape and size and they can be, without limitation to generality, vials, bottles, flasks, pre-sterilized syringes or other types of containers, capable of containing either fluid products, in particular liquids, or solid products, in powder or gel form.
  • the gripping member 17 is mounted on the side of a frame 19, for example with a square shape (plan view), internally hollow and connected to the end of the manipulator 16.
  • At least one further gripping member 38 is provided, also mounted on the frame 19 and configured to grip the nest 21 in order to remove it from the tub 20 containing it.
  • a plurality of further gripping members 38 is provided, homogeneously distributed along the perimeter of the frame 19.
  • at least two, or more preferably three, further gripping members 38 can be provided, mounted on each side of the frame 19.
  • each further gripping member 38 comprises a vacuum gripper V, for example conformed as a sucker, which grips the nest 21 with vacuum.
  • the gripping member 17 comprises at least one engagement portion 18 configured to allow the picking up and temporary support of a container 100, determining a same- shape or geometric coupling, as shown by way of example in fig. 4.
  • the at least one engagement portion 18 is conformed in a manner mating with an engagement portion 110 of the container 100.
  • the at least one engagement portion 18 can be open frontally as well as upwards and downwards to allow the container 100 to be picked up at its engagement portion 110, see figs. 4 and 5.
  • the engagement portion 18 can have a concave shape.
  • the gripping member 17 is provided with a plurality of aligned engagement portions 18, for example ten engagement portions 18 to simultaneously move an equal number of containers 100, figs. 1-5.
  • FIG. 8 shows an alternative embodiment, in which a gripping member 17’ is depicted, mounted on one side of the frame 19.
  • the weighing station 14 comprises a weighing member 26 having at least one weighing seating 27 conformed to temporarily support the container 100 and at least one weighing cell 28 associated with the weighing seating 27 and configured to determine the weight of the container 100.
  • the operation of the apparatus 10 described heretofore which corresponds to the method according to the present invention, comprises a step of orderly supply of the containers 100, a step of filling, weighing and capping the containers.
  • the picking up and movement of the at least one container 100 are carried out with the manipulator 16 by means of the gripping member 17, 17’ mounted on one side of the frame 19, connected to the free end of the manipulator 16.
  • the gripping member 17, 17’ picks up a row of containers 100, ten in the example described here, and disposes it on the weighing members 26.
  • the containers 100 are first weighed empty, in order to determine the tare, and are subsequently weighed after they have been filled in order to determine the net weight as the difference between the gross weight actually measured and the tare.
  • the method also comprises a calibration step in which at least one reference piece 30, preferably more than one at a time, for example ten reference pieces 30 at a time, are used to perform a calibration of the weighing member 26.
  • the reference pieces 30 are picked up and moved with the same gripping member 17, 17’ that is normally used to pick up and move the containers 100.
  • the movement of the containers 100 and of the reference pieces 30 can occur both by means of the gripping member 17, wherein there is provided a mechanical same-shape coupling to hold the objects, and also by means of the gripping member 17’, wherein the objects are held with vacuum by means of suckers.
  • the calibration step can be carried out at regular intervals or by samples, in any case according to specific sector regulations. Furthermore, preferably, the step of calibrating the weighing device takes place with reference pieces 30 having a unit weight as close as possible to the weight of the product that will be dispensed into the containers 100, or rather to the weight of the product added to that of the empty container 100.
  • the method also provides a step of moving the nest 21 by means of the manipulator 16, typically to bring the nest 12 into the supply station 12 filled with containers 100 to be weighed and filled, or to remove the nest 21 from the supply station 12 after all of the containers 100, row after row, have been processed by the apparatus 10.
  • the frame 19 approaches it from above until the vacuum grippers V of the further gripping members 38 contact the surface of the nest 21.
  • the subsequent upward movement of the frame 19 therefore allows to lift the nest 21 with vacuum, in order to extract it from the tub 20 that contains it, as shown in fig. 7. If, on the other hand, the nest 21 has to be disposed inside the tub 20, the frame 19 that holds a nest 21 with vacuum thanks to the further gripping members 38 is disposed on the tub and approaches the latter from above in order to release the nest 21 inside it.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Filling Of Jars Or Cans And Processes For Cleaning And Sealing Jars (AREA)

Abstract

Procédé et appareil (10) de pesée de récipients (100) remplis d'un produit pharmaceutique, l'appareil comprenant un poste (12) d'alimentation en récipients vides (100), un poste de remplissage (13), un poste de bouchage (40), un poste de pesée (14) comprenant un dispositif de pesée (26), un magasin de poids d'étalonnage (15) comprenant au moins une pièce de référence (30), et un manipulateur (16) muni d'au moins un organe de préhension (17; 17) pour alternativement saisir lesdits récipients (100) ou lesdites pièces de référence (30) pour les déplacer entre lesdites stations.
PCT/IT2025/050001 2024-01-10 2025-01-08 Procédé et appareil de pesée de récipients Pending WO2025150077A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT202400000312 2024-01-10
IT102024000000312 2024-01-10

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2025150077A1 true WO2025150077A1 (fr) 2025-07-17

Family

ID=90458057

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/IT2025/050001 Pending WO2025150077A1 (fr) 2024-01-10 2025-01-08 Procédé et appareil de pesée de récipients

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2025150077A1 (fr)

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2009102964A2 (fr) * 2008-02-14 2009-08-20 Nordson Corporation Appareil multifonction et procédé permettant de tester des récipients
DE102010028733A1 (de) * 2010-05-07 2011-11-10 Robert Bosch Gmbh Waage mit Kalibriervorrichtung

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2009102964A2 (fr) * 2008-02-14 2009-08-20 Nordson Corporation Appareil multifonction et procédé permettant de tester des récipients
DE102010028733A1 (de) * 2010-05-07 2011-11-10 Robert Bosch Gmbh Waage mit Kalibriervorrichtung

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
CN113994178B (zh) 称量容器的方法
JP7071333B2 (ja) 容器の計量方法及びその計量装置
JP4980618B2 (ja) 物質を容器内に分配するための装置及び方法
US10527483B2 (en) Automated dosage-dispensing system for powdery substances, and method of ascertaining that the system is ready for operation
JP2022504653A (ja) 容器を重量測定するための重量測定デバイス
WO2025150077A1 (fr) Procédé et appareil de pesée de récipients
CN116209620B (zh) 生产线中移动容器以处理容器的方法，及相应的生产线
CA3202865C (fr) Dispositif et methode de pesage de contenants individuels et ensemble comprenant un tel dispositif
CN116171372B (zh) 容器的称重方法
CN120677106A (zh) 用于对容器自动填充和称重的设备和方法

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application

Ref document number: 25702045

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1