Claims
- 1. An apparatus for the sterilization of arrays of interconnected blister packages each containing a contact lens in a sterile environment; comprising:
- (a) a plurality of racks transportable between a series of workstations;
- (b) a conveyor arrangement for transporting said racks between said series of workstations;
- (c) a plurality of trays for receiving said arrays of blister packages, each of said trays being selectively loadable into and unloadable from said racks;
- (d) means positioning first and second of said racks at a first said workstation, said first rack being empty and said second rack containing a plurality of said trays in an empty condition;
- (e) unloading means at said first workstation for unloading individual of said empty trays in predetermined sequence from said second rack;
- (f) means at said first workstation for filling each said unloaded empty tray with a plurality of said arrays advancing the array-filled tray into alignment with said empty first rack and loading each said tray into said first rack in predetermined sequence;
- (g) conveyor means advancing said tray-filled first rack towards a second said workstation comprising a sterilizing chamber;
- (h) means engaging said first rack at said second workstation for conveying said first rack into said sterilizing chamber, and said engaging means withdrawing said first rack from said sterilizing chamber subsequent to sterilizing of the arrays in said trays; and
- (i) further conveyor means advancing said first rack from said sterilizing workstation to a third workstation for unloading said trays from said first rack and removing the sterilized arrays of blister packages therefrom.
- 2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said tray comprises an upwardly opening box-like structure having a plurality of adjacent elongate compartments each adapted to receive respectively one said array of blister packages at said first workstation.
- 3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said filling means comprises a vacuum-assisted structure for lifting successive of said arrays and depositing said arrays into a chute communicating with successive of said compartments upon said tray being indexed forwardly at said first workstation.
- 4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein pusher means loads each successive of said array-filled trays into said first rack.
- 5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second racks each possess a plurality of vertically spaced levels each adapted to respectively support a plurality of said trays in contiguous positions.
- 6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein lifting means at said first workstation support said first and second racks for indexed vertical displacement so as to facilitate unloading empty trays from successive levels of said second rack and concurrently loading array-filled trays into successive levels of said first rack.
- 7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said lifting means comprise pneumatically-actuated structures operatively associated with and supporting said first and second racks for incrementally raising and lowering said racks in alignment with the levels supporting the trays in each of said racks.
- 8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said unloading means for said empty trays at said first workstation comprises a horizontally displaceable pusher member engaging into said second rack and contacting one of said trays to slidingly unload a tray at the opposite end of said rack towards said tray filling means.
- 9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for engaging and conveying said rack into said sterilizing chamber comprises a gripping element engaging an upper edge of said rack distant from said sterilizing chamber; and retractable means for drawing said gripping element towards said sterilizing chamber so as to position said rack in said chamber and thereafter releasing said gripping element from said rack.
- 10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said gripping means withdraws said rack from said sterilizing chamber upon completion of a sterilization cycle.
- 11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein conveyor means transports said first rack and sterilized arrays in said trays to a rack unloading station for transporting said trays to a cartoning arrangement.
- 12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said rack unloading station comprises pusher means for successively sliding individual trays from said first rack onto a platform; means for inverting said tray; indexing means for advancing said inverted tray so as to dispense pairs of arrays therefrom.
- 13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein a downwardly extending chute receives said pairs of array; means at an outlet of said chute for orienting said pairs of arrays into interleaved pairs, and collecting predetermined quantities of said interleaved pairs of arrays.
- 14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said cartoning arrangement comprises a chute for dispensing cartons having open ends; and conveyor means for transporting predetermined quantities of pairs of said arrays into successive of said cartons.
- 15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein conveyor means transports said cartons and arrays contained therein through apparatus for closing the end flaps of said cartons.
- 16. An apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein further conveyor means transports said cartons through a glueing device for sealing closing glue flaps on said cartons so as to form a sealed carton structure.
- 17. An apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein a jet ink printer imprints information on said cartons.
- 18. An apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein labeling means adheres strips of bar coded information to said cartons.
- 19. An apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein weight checking means weighs each said carton and the contents therein.
- 20. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sterilization chamber comprises an autoclave.
- 21. An apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein conveyor means transports said cartons to an accumulating area for collecting and boxing a plurality of said cartons.
- 22. A method for the sterilization of arrays of interconnected blister packages each containing a contact lens in a sterile environment; said method comprising:
- (a) transporting a plurality of racks between a series of workstations;
- (b) a plurality of trays for receiving said arrays of blister packages being selectively loaded into and unloaded from said racks;
- (c) positioning first and second of said racks at a first said workstation, said first rack being empty and said second rack containing a plurality of said trays in an empty condition;
- (d) unloading at said first workstation individual of said empty trays in predetermined sequence from said second rack;
- (e) filling at said first workstation each said unloaded empty tray with a plurality of said arrays advancing the array-filled tray into alignment with said empty first rack and loading each said tray into said first rack in predetermined sequence;
- (f) advancing said tray-filled first rack towards a second said workstation comprising a sterilizing chamber;
- (g) engaging said first rack at said second workstation for conveying said first rack into said sterilizing chamber, and withdrawing said rack from said sterilizing chamber subsequent to sterilizing of the arrays in said trays; and
- (h) further advancing said first rack from said sterilizing workstation to a third workstation for unloading said trays from said first rack and removing the sterilized arrays of blister packages therefrom.
- 23. A method as claimed in claim 22, wherein each said tray comprises an upwardly opening box-like structure having a plurality of adjacent elongate compartments each adapted to receive respectively one said array of blister packages at said first workstation.
- 24. A method as claimed in claim 23, wherein said filling comprises actuating a vacuum-assisted structure for lifting successive of said arrays and depositing said arrays into a chute communicating with successive of said compartments upon said tray being indexed forwardly at said first workstation.
- 25. A method as claimed in claim 22, wherein successive of said array-filled trays are each loaded into said first rack.
- 26. A method as claimed in claim 22, wherein said first and second racks each possess a plurality of vertically spaced levels each adapted to respectively support a plurality of said trays in contiguous positions.
- 27. A method as claimed in claim 26, wherein at said first workstation said first and second racks are activated for indexed vertical displacement so as to facilitate unloading empty trays from successive levels of said second rack and concurrently loading array-filled trays into successive levels of said first rack.
- 28. A method as claimed in claim 27, wherein said lifting comprises activating pneumatically-actuated structures operatively associated with and supporting said first and second racks for incrementally raising and lowering said racks in alignment with the levels supporting the trays in each of said racks.
- 29. A method as claimed in claim 22, wherein the unloading of said empty trays at said first workstation comprises operating a horizontally displaceable pusher member for engaging into said second rack and contacting one of said trays to slidingly unload a tray at the opposite end of said second rack.
- 30. A method as claimed in claim 22, wherein engaging and conveying said first rack into said sterilizing chamber comprises a gripping element engaging an upper edge of said first rack distant from said sterilizing chamber; and drawing said gripping element towards said sterilizing chamber so as to position said first rack in said chamber and thereafter releasing said gripping element from said rack.
- 31. A method as claimed in claim 30, wherein said first rack is withdrawn from said sterilizing chamber upon completion of a sterilization cycle.
- 32. A method as claimed in claim 31, wherein said first rack and sterilized arrays in said trays are transported to a rack unloading station for transporting said trays to a cartoning arrangement.
- 33. A method as claimed in claim 31, wherein said rack unloading station comprises successively sliding individual trays from said first rack onto a platform; inverting said tray; and indexed advance of said inverted tray so as to dispense pairs of arrays therefrom.
- 34. A method as claimed in claim 33, wherein a downwardly extending chute receives said pairs of array; orienting said pairs of arrays into interleaved pairs, and collecting predetermined quantities of said interleaved pairs of arrays.
- 35. A method as claimed in claim 33, wherein said cartoning arrangement comprises dispensing cartons having open ends; and transporting predetermined quantities of pairs of said arrays into successive of said cartons.
- 36. A method as claimed in claim 35, wherein said cartons and arrays contained therein are transported through apparatus for closing the end flaps of said cartons.
- 37. A method as claimed in claim 36, wherein said cartons are conveyed through a glueing device for sealing closing glue flaps on said cartons so as to form a sealed carton structure.
- 38. A method as claimed in claim 37, wherein a jet ink printer imprints information on said cartons.
- 39. A method as claimed in claim 37, wherein labeling means adheres strips of bar coded information to said cartons.
- 40. A method as claimed in claim 37, wherein weight checking means weighs each said carton and the contents therein.
- 41. A method as claimed in claim 22, wherein said sterilization chamber comprises an autoclave.
- 42. A method as claimed in claim 37, wherein said cartons are transported to an accumulating area for collecting and boxing a plurality of said cartons.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO THE RELATED PATENT APPLICATION
This application is a continuation-in-part application of Ser. No. 08/257,788; filed on Jun. 10, 1994 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,488,815.
US Referenced Citations (9)
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
257788 |
Jun 1994 |
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