Patent Application
20250137452
The present disclosure relates to a pump apparatus for an in particular pharmaceutical product, which comprises a pump drive device and a pump head.
The present disclosure also relates to a pump assembly for use in a machine or as a component of such a machine. The machine may be a filling machine for pharmaceutical products.
A pump apparatus as mentioned above is used, for example, in a machine for processing liquid pharmaceutical products. The product is conveyed through a tube conduit and fed to a filling station, where the product is filled into pharmaceutical containers, for example vials, syringes, cartridges or ampoules, via needle-shaped filling elements. The processing of pharmaceutical products is governed by very high hygiene standards, for example in terms of sterility, cleanability, abrasion of materials, etc. For this reason, pump apparatuses are traditionally arranged in a clean room which allows compliance with the hygiene standards. However, handling pump apparatuses in the clean room is difficult, due to the clean room being inaccessible or difficult to access. For this reason, modifications along with maintenance or adaptation tasks are time-consuming and interrupt the production chain.
In the processing of toxic or even highly toxic products, there is also a risk of contamination of the pump apparatus in the event of improper handling or in the event of a technical defect, in which the product may unintentionally escape from the tube conduit and come into contact with the pump apparatus.
An object underlying the present disclosure is to provide a pump apparatus for a product, in particular a pharmaceutical product, with which hygiene standards can be observed in a simpler manner with preferably simplified handling.
In a first aspect of the present disclosure a pump apparatus for a product is provided. The product may be a pharmaceutical product. The apparatus comprises a pump drive device comprising a drive unit, a drive body which can be rotated about a drive axis by the drive unit and a support body for supporting directly or indirectly against a separating element, in particular a separating wall. The apparatus comprises a pump head comprising a base body for supporting on the separating element, a tube receptacle for receiving a tube conduit which conducts the product, a pump actuator for acting on the tube, and an output body which can be rotated about an output axis and which is operatively connected to the pump actuator. The pump drive device and the pump head can be supported on faces of the separating element facing away from each other. The drive body and the output body comprise a respective magnet assembly with magnet elements which interact in order to transmit a drive force of the drive unit to the pump actuator through the separating element.
In a second aspect of the present disclosure, a pump assembly is provided comprising a chamber which comprises a wall forming a separating element and an inner space enclosed by the wall, and at least one pump apparatus in accordance with the first aspect. The pump drive device is arranged outside the chamber and is secured on the wall. The pump head is arranged in the inner space and is operatively connected to the pump drive device via the magnet elements.
The foregoing summary and the following description may be better understood in conjunction with the drawing figures, of which:
Although the present disclosure is illustrated and described herein with reference to specific embodiments, the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the details shown. Rather, various modifications may be made in the details within the scope and range of equivalents and without departing from the present disclosure.
The present disclosure relates to a pump apparatus in accordance with the present disclosure for a pharmaceutical product. The product may be a pharmaceutical product. The apparatus comprises a pump drive device comprising a drive unit, a drive body which can be rotated about a drive axis by the drive unit and a support body for supporting directly or indirectly against a separating element, in particular a separating wall. The apparatus further comprises a pump head comprising a base body for supporting on the separating element, a tube receptacle for receiving a tube conduit which conducts the product, a pump actuator for acting on the tube, and an output body which can be rotated about an output axis and which is operatively connected to the pump actuator. The pump drive device and the pump head can be supported on faces of the separating element facing away from each other. The drive body and the output body comprise a respective magnet assembly with magnet elements which interact in order to transmit a drive force of the drive unit to the pump actuator through the separating element.
The pump apparatus in accordance with the present disclosure comprises two components, namely a pump drive device and a pump head. In the intended use of the pump apparatus, which is described below, the pump drive device and the pump head are spaced apart from each other, wherein a separating element, for example a separating wall, can be arranged between them. The separating element can optionally be part of the pump apparatus. In use as intended, the pump drive device and the pump head can be supported directly or indirectly on separating element faces facing away from each other. A drive force can be transmitted through the separating element via the magnet assemblies of the drive body and of the output body.
The present disclosure takes into account the consideration that it is desirable, when processing pharmaceutical products, especially toxic or highly toxic products, to position as few components as possible in a chamber of the filling machine, wherein the chamber in particular forms a clean room. The present disclosure offers the possibility of positioning the pump drive device outside the chamber and the pump head inside the chamber, wherein the wall of the chamber forms the separating element. The separation of zones between the clean room and the outside of the chamber can be easily ensured in this way, and in a sense a separation of zones is also achieved in the case of the pump apparatus. For example, the pump drive device can be easily accessible for maintenance purposes, including connection cables arranged outside the chamber. The pump head for conveying the product is arranged inside the chamber and receives the tube conduit through which the product can be conveyed by means of the pump actuator. The drive force can be transmitted through the wall as a result of the magnetic force.
The present disclosure further offers the advantage that, in the case of possible contamination by escaping product, only the pump head is affected, whereas the pump drive device in contrast remains unaffected.
It is advantageously possible to form the pump head for single use for processing a specific product. In the event of a product change, the pump head can be replaced, for example, by a different type of pump head.
Advantageously, the pump apparatus can be used in any orientation with respect to the direction of gravity.
It may prove advantageous if the pump head can be held in position on the pump drive device via the interacting magnet elements through the separating element. As a result, the magnet assemblies not only offer the possibility of transmitting the drive force to the pump actuator, but also the possibility of applying a holding force to the pump head.
In particular, it is preferably provided that the pump head is free of a connection with the separating element and can be held in position on the separating element solely via the magnet elements. As a result, a simple configuration can be achieved, with which connecting elements for connecting the pump head to the separating element can be avoided. Via the magnet assemblies, not only is the pump actuator driven but the pump head is also held, and as a result the connection between the pump drive device and the pump head through the separating element can be ensured. Preferably, there is in this embodiment even the possibility of holding the pump apparatus on a vertically aligned separating element, wherein, for example, the pump drive device and the pump head protrude horizontally from the separating element.
The magnet assemblies are formed, for example, as multipole assemblies, wherein the drive body and the output body, with the drive axis and the output axis in line, can be coupled with each other in a plurality of angular relative positions, relative to the axes. This facilitates the handling of the pump apparatus. Relative to the axes, the magnet elements are arranged on the drive body and the output body such that more than one relative position of these two bodies can be taken up in order to ensure the coupling. For example, two or more relative positions are conceivable. In one exemplary embodiment, it can be provided that the type and arrangement of the magnet elements on the drive body and on the output body repeat over a respective angular distance of 120°, 90°, 72° or 60°, so that, for example, three, four, five or six angular relative positions are possible in which the drive body and the output body can in each case couple with each other. Other angular distances than those given here as an example are conceivable.
It can be advantageous if the pump head, with the drive axis and the output axis in line, via the magnet assemblies in any angular relative position, relative to the axes, can be held in position on the pump drive device through the separating element. It is conceivable, for example, that the pump head with a suitable alignment of the axes is only “docked” to the separating element and not only the mounting but also the transmission of the drive force is ensured by magnetic engagement of the magnet assemblies with each other. Here, with regard to a particularly versatile use of the pump apparatus, any orientation of the pump head is desirable.
In a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, the magnet assemblies are in each case formed as Halbach arrays of the magnet elements. In practice, it can be shown that a reliable coupling of the magnetic assemblies to each other can be ensured in this way.
It proves advantageous if the pump head has a pharmaceutical-compliant configuration, in particular for use in a clean room with toxic or highly toxic pharmaceutical products.
Advantageously, the pump head can be washed off non-destructively with a cleaning fluid, in particular with water. The present disclosure advantageously makes WIP (washing-in-place) applications possible. For example, between individual production cycles, a cleaning of a chamber accommodating the pump head is undertaken by washing with a cleaning fluid. The pump head can be washed as well and does not need to be removed from the chamber. This facilitates handling and helps to keep dead times as brief as possible.
Advantageously, the pump head can be sterilized non-destructively, for example in a steam sterilization chamber and/or by radiation sterilization.
For example, the pump head can comprise a shaft that is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the output body and to the pump actuator. For example, the shaft that defines the output axis can be used to transmit the force from the output body to the pump actuator.
Preferably, the output body and/or the shaft is rotatably mounted on the base body about the output axis via at least one bearing element. This ensures a long-term reliable operation of the pump head. It is conceivable to use a rolling bearing and/or a plain bearing. For example, a radial deep-groove ball bearing is used. In a preferred embodiment, the bearing element surrounds the output body and is supported on a shoulder of the base body.
It can be advantageous if the base body comprises or forms a frame and/or a bottom wall, which faces the pump drive device and forms an edge which can abut the separating element, wherein the frame encloses a receiving chamber that accommodates the output body. The base body can be supported on the separating element via the edge and/or the bottom wall. The output body is arranged inside the frame. Preferably, the frame is closed along the entire circumference about the receiving chamber, as a result of which the output body is protected from external action. For example, the bottom wall can close the receiving chamber facing the separating element. The edge and/or the bottom wall are preferably configured to be planar, for flat contact with the separating element.
The base body advantageously comprises a cover element covering the receiving chamber to the side of the pump actuator, wherein the output body or a shaft connected to the output body engages through a through-opening of the cover element and is connected to the pump actuator at the side of the frame face facing away from the receiving chamber. Via the cover element, for example, the output body is separated from the chamber region on the base body, on or in which the pump actuator and the tube conduit are arranged. Preferably, as a result it is possible to restrict contamination to this chamber region in the case of escaping product and to prevent contamination of the output body. The cover element is configured, for example, as a top wall, which extends over the entire opening of the frame.
Preferably, at least one sealing element is provided for a seal between the cover element and the frame.
Alternatively or additionally, at least one sealing element is preferably provided for a seal between the output body or the shaft and the edge of the through-opening.
It is advantageous if the output body is spaced apart from a bottom wall of the base body, or from the separating element via a gap when the pump head is in contact with the separating element. This can be achieved, for example, in that the output body remains back relative to a contact plane of the base body defined by the above-mentioned edge, or the gap between the output body and the bottom wall is provided. As a result, the output body can rotate smoothly without contact with the separating wall or bottom wall. The gap is preferably narrow, in particular less than about 2 mm, preferably less than about 1 mm.
In a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, the output body has a receiving element facing the separating element, which comprises a plurality of receptacles for the magnet elements, and a connecting element connected to the receiving element, which is directly or indirectly connected to the pump actuator. This preferably offers the possibility of a constructively simple adaptation or scaling of the pump apparatus. For example, various receiving elements can be provided, which differ from each other with regard to the magnet assembly and can be used, for example, for different uses of the pump apparatus—in particular in separating elements of different thicknesses.
The connecting element is connected, for example, to the above-mentioned shaft, in particular via clamping set. Alternatively, the connecting element can be directly connected to the pump actuator, for example.
Advantageously, the receiving element is detachably connected to the connecting element and can be detached from the connecting element preferably from the face facing away from the connecting element. As a result, the receiving element can be accessed for easy handling.
The magnet elements are advantageously arranged in a positive-locking manner in the receptacles and held therein in particular by pressing and/or by bonding.
For the protection of the magnet elements, it can be provided that they are covered on at least one face and preferably two faces of the receptacles via a cover element.
The receiving element and/or the connecting element are advantageously configured to be disk-shaped or ring-shaped, wherein the magnet elements are arranged in the circumferential direction of the output axis. With a ring-shaped configuration, the mass of the output body can be kept relatively low. The assembly of the magnet elements in the circumferential direction of the output axis on the ring makes it possible to achieve a sufficiently high torque in a compact design.
The configuration of the pump drive device in the preferred embodiment of the present disclosure will be discussed below.
The pump drive device preferably comprises a shaft which can be rotationally mounted on the support body via at least one bearing element, which is connected to the drive body in a rotationally fixed manner and is coupled via a coupling element with a drive shaft of the drive unit or is comprised by the drive unit. For example, the support body forms a one-part or multi-part block with at least one bearing element for reliable support of the shaft. The shaft can be the drive shaft of the drive unit or can be formed separately from it.
For example, two bearing elements which are axially spaced apart from each other are provided for a particularly reliable support of the shaft.
The at least one bearing element can be or comprise a rolling bearing or alternatively a plain bearing. A radial deep-groove ball bearing and/or angular-contact ball bearing can be used as the rolling bearing, for example.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, it can be provided that the support body on the separating element is secured or can be secured directly.
In a different embodiment of the present disclosure, it can be provided that the support body is secured or can be secured on the separating element indirectly via at least one holding part, and as a result can support itself indirectly on the separating element. For example, the holding part is firmly connected to the separating element and offers the possibility of a connection for the support body. The connection of the holding part to the separating element can be effected, for example, by screwing. In a preferred embodiment, the connection between the holding part and the support body is achieved by screwing.
Preferably, the support body is detachably secured or can be detachably secured to the holding part when fastened indirectly to the separating element, or to the separating element when fastened directly thereto. This offers, for example, the possibility of simple assembly or disassembly, for example for maintenance purposes. It is also conceivable that the holding part provides a universal platform for various types of pump drive devices, which can optionally be connected to the separating element.
The at least one holding part is or comprises, for example, a base which the support body abuts and which is connected to the separating element, wherein the drive body is positioned laterally next to the at least one holding part and extends beyond one end of the support body facing away from the drive unit. During disassembly of the support body from at least one holding part, the drive body can thus be easily reached, for example for maintenance purposes. For example, two or more holding parts are provided, between which the output body is positioned and as a result better protected against external influence.
It can be provided that the support body on a face facing away from the drive body comprises or forms a flange and via this flange abuts a housing of the drive unit, wherein a shaft of the pump drive device extends in a through-opening of the support body. The drive unit is detachably connected to the flange, for example, as a result of which the components of the pump drive device are versatile. For example, different drive units can be combined with the same support body as required. Inside the through-hole, for example, the shaft of the drive unit, the above-mentioned coupling element and the shaft connected to the drive body are arranged.
Advantageously, the drive body is spaced apart from the separating element via a gap when the pump drive device is in a connected state with the separating element. The advantage of such a configuration has already been discussed in connection with the pump head. For example, a contact plane defined by at least one holding part or support body projects beyond the drive body, which remains behind the contact plane.
The gap is advantageously less than about 2 mm, even more preferably less than about 1 mm wide.
The drive body can preferably comprise a receiving element facing the separating element, which comprises a plurality of receptacles for the magnet elements, and a connecting element connected to the receiving element, which is coupled to the drive unit and in particular is connected to the shaft in a rotationally fixed manner. The advantage and preferred embodiments of the receiving element and of the connecting element have already been discussed in connection with the output body. Reference is made to the above statements.
The receiving element is advantageously detachably connected to the connecting element and can be detached from the connecting element preferably from the face facing away from the connecting element.
The magnet elements are arranged, for example, in a positive-locking manner in the receptacles and held in them in particular by pressing and/or bonding.
A cover element can be provided on at least one face for closing the receptacles and covering the magnet elements, preferably two cover elements.
The receiving element and/or the connecting element is preferably configured to be disk-shaped or ring-shaped, wherein the magnet elements are arranged in the circumferential direction of the drive axis.
It can be provided that the receiving elements of the drive body and of the output body are formed as identical parts. This simplifies the design of the pump apparatus.
In a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, the pump apparatus is a peristaltic pump, wherein the tube receptacle comprises a grooved recess for the tube conduit, and wherein the pump actuator is arranged inside the tube receptacle and comprises at least one pressure element, which is in a rotation about the output axis in squeezing engagement with the tube conduit. For example, the tube conduit is inserted into a groove-shaped recess extending about the output axis, wherein the pump actuator is arranged radially inside the tube conduit. When the pump actuator is rotated, at least one pressure element squeezes the tube conduit, causing the product to be conveyed.
It can be provided that the pump actuator comprises a plurality of pressure elements. The pressure elements are advantageously spaced apart from each other with respect to the output axis by equal angular distances.
The at least one pressure element is, for example, a roller body, which is rotatably mounted on a rotor of the pump actuator about a rotational axis aligned parallel to the output axis.
Advantageously, the pump actuator and/or the tube receptacle is held detachably on the pump head. Depending on the application and requirements, this offers the possibility of replacing the pump actuator and/or the tube receptacle, without the need to replace the entire pump apparatus or even the entire pump head.
The pump apparatus can be, for example, a single-tube pump or a multi-tube pump (for example, a double-tube pump). The tube receptacle can be formed for this purpose for receiving a tube or two or more tubes, wherein the tubes, for example, can be inserted in the axial direction one above the other in the pump head.
The pump head can comprise, for example, a cover body that can be transferred from a closed position to an open position and vice versa, which cover body covers the pump actuator and/or the tube receptacle in the closed position and releases it in the open position. In use, the cover body takes in particular the closed position in order to protect the tube receptacle and the pump actuator. For example, for the replacement of the pump actuator and/or of the tube receptacle, the cover body can be transferred to the open position. Advantageously, the cover body can be opened and closed manually and/or without tools.
In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, it can be provided that the pump apparatus comprises a plurality of pump heads, which can optionally be coupled to the pump drive device. As a result, the pump apparatus has a high degree of versatility, wherein the pump heads can in particular be different from each other, in order to allow an adaptation of the pump apparatus to respective applications. The respective pump head can be coupled via the magnet assembly to the pump drive device in particular through the separating element.
In accordance with the above, the pump apparatus in accordance with the present disclosure can comprise in particular at least one pump head, wherein a plurality of pump heads is conceivable.
Different pump heads can, for example, make possible the formation of the pump apparatus as a single-tube pump or as a multi-tube pump. Alternatively, it can be provided, for example, that a pump head can be converted from a single-tube pump into a multi-tube pump by replacing the tube receptacle and/or the pump actuator.
As mentioned at the outset, the present disclosure further relates to a pump assembly.
An object underlying the present disclosure is to provide a pump assembly for use in a machine, for example a filling machine for pharmaceutical products or as a component of such a machine.
This object is achieved by a pump assembly comprising a chamber which comprises a wall forming a separating element and an inner space enclosed by the wall, and at least one pump apparatus in accordance with the first aspect. The pump drive device is arranged outside the chamber and is secured on the wall. The pump head is arranged in the inner space and is operatively connected to the pump drive device via the magnet elements.
The advantages already mentioned in connection with the explanation of the pump apparatus in accordance with the present disclosure can likewise be achieved with the pump assembly in accordance with the present disclosure. Advantageous embodiments of the pump assembly in accordance with the present disclosure result from advantageous embodiments of the pump apparatus in accordance with the present disclosure. In this respect, reference is made to the above statements.
The chamber can in particular be a clean room chamber, wherein the inner space has a higher degree of sterility than an outer space surrounding the chamber. During the filling of pharmaceutical substances, the clean room chamber can, for example, have clean room class A in accordance with EC-GMP guidelines, Annex 1.
The following description of preferred embodiments of the present disclosure serves in conjunction with the drawing to explain the present disclosure in more detail.
The filling machine 100 comprises a plurality of processing stations 104, which in particular comprise a filling station 106 in the present case. At the filling station 106, the containers 102 are filled with a pharmaceutical product in liquid form. For this purpose, the filling station 106 comprises, for example, needle-shaped filling elements 108.
For the feeding of the product, the filling machine 100 comprises a pump assembly 110 in accordance with the present disclosure, in the present case in a preferred embodiment. The pump assembly 110 in turn comprises at least one pump apparatus 112 in accordance with the present disclosure. In the present case, for example, four pump apparatuses 112 are provided, wherein this number is non-limiting.
The pump assembly 110 further comprises a separating element 114. In the present case, the separating element 114 is formed by a wall 116 on the filling machine 100. The wall 116 encloses an inner space 118, in which processing stations 104 are arranged and which separates an outer space 120 from the inner space 118.
The pump assembly 110 comprises a chamber 122 with the wall 116 and the inner space 118 in the manner described above. In the present case, the chamber 122 is a clean room chamber (for example, with clean room class A), which has a higher degree of sterility than the outer space 120.
For example, the filling machine 100 is provided and configured for processing toxic or highly toxic pharmaceutical products for which there are very high hygiene requirements. For this reason, it is desirable that the products do not get outside the chamber 122. If the product escapes, any damage should, if possible, be limited to components of the filling machine 100 arranged inside the chamber 122.
The wall 116, for example, is made of a pharmaceutical-grade material, in particular stainless steel. Preferably, a wall thickness for the wall 116 of about 1 to 3 mm is used.
The configuration of the pump apparatus 112 in accordance with the present disclosure will be discussed below.
The pump apparatus 112 comprises a pump drive device 124 and a pump head 126. The pump apparatus 112 is configured such that the pump head 126 is spatially separated from the pump drive device 124 but is operatively connected to it via the magnetic assemblies explained below when the pump apparatus 112 is used as intended.
The pump head 126 is configured to be compliant with pharmaceutical standards and is preferably non-destructively sterilizable and/or washable with a cleaning fluid, particularly water.
The pump head 126 is arranged in the inner space 118 and is, as explained below, on the wall 116, which forms a separating wall 117 between the pump head 126 and the pump drive device 124.
For example, a bag-shaped storage container 128 for storing the product to be filled is arranged in the inner space 118. The product is fed to the pump head 126 via a fluid conduit, which in the present case is configured as a tube conduit 130. The product is further conveyed from the pump apparatus 112 to a respective filling element 108 and filled there.
The pump apparatus 112 is a peristaltic pump with which the product is conveyed by squeezing the tube conduit 130.
The pump drive device 124 is arranged in the outer space 120 and serves for driving the pump head 126 by means of an in particular electrically configured drive unit 132. Connection lines 134 are advantageous in terms of hygiene and are preferably easily accessible in the outer space 120.
In the present case, the pump drive device 124 comprises a support body 136 for indirectly supporting against the separating wall 117 and for fastening the drive unit. The support body has, for example, a central through-opening 138. In the present case, the support body 138 has a rectangular cross-section, although it could also have a different shape.
Facing a drive motor 140 of the drive unit 132, the support body 136 comprises a flange 142, which the drive motor 140 abuts. A connection is made, for example, by means of screw connection.
In the present case, the support body 136 comprises two segments 144, 146. The first segment 144 comprises the flange 142. In the direction of the separating wall 117, the first segment 144 is connected to the second segment 146 forming a bearing block 148.
The support body 136 is supported on at least one holding part 150 via the bearing block 148. In the present case, two holding parts 150, which are spaced apart from each other, are provided.
The holding parts 150 in each case form a base 152, on which the support body 136 rests and via which it is supported indirectly on the separating wall 117. A connection between the support body 136 and the holding part 150 is effected, for example, by means of screw connection. In particular, the connection is preferably detachable in order to detach the pump drive device 124 from the separating wall 117, wherein the holding parts 150 can remain connected to the separating wall 117. The connection of the holding parts 150 to the separating wall 117 is effected, for example, by means of screw connection.
Between the holding parts 150, a receiving chamber 154 is formed.
The drive unit 132 comprises a drive shaft 156, which defines a drive axis 158. In the present exemplary embodiment, the drive shaft 156 is connected in a rotationally fixed manner via a coupling element 160 to a shaft 162 which is rotatably mounted on the bearing block 148 about the drive axis 158.
The shaft 162 in turn is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to a drive body 164 of the pump drive device 124, so that the drive body 164 as a whole can rotate about the drive axis 158 by means of the drive motor 140. The reference numeral 166 denotes a clamping set for connecting the shaft 162 to the drive body 164.
At least one bearing element is provided for the bearing of the shaft 162, in the present case two bearing elements 168, 170 that are axially spaced apart from each other. The bearing element 168 is, for example, an angular-contact ball bearing and, in the present case, is facing the drive motor 140. The bearing element 170 is, for example, a radial-groove steering ball bearing and, in the present case, is facing the separating wall 117.
As can be seen in particular from
The drive body 164 comprises a receiving element 172 on the face facing the separating wall 117 and a connecting element 174 on the face facing the drive motor 140. The connecting element 174 is connected to the shaft 162 via the clamping set 166.
The connection of the receiving element 172 and the connecting element 174 to each other is effected, for example, by means of screw connection. Preferably, the connection is detachable so that the receiving element 172 can be separated from the connecting element 174 when so required. This may be desirable, for example, for maintenance purposes and/or adaptations of the pump apparatus 112 to various tasks.
In the present case, the receiving element 172 and the connecting element 174 are both ring-shaped and coaxially aligned with each other.
The receiving element 172 is used for receiving a magnet assembly 176, which comprises a plurality of magnet elements 178. The magnet elements 178 are arranged radially on the outside of the receiving element 172 and are positioned in the receptacles 180 formed there. Their fixation can be effected, for example, by pressing and/or bonding.
Cover elements 182 (
The magnet elements 178 form a so-called Halbach array, so that the magnet assembly 176 is a multipole assembly of magnet elements 178.
As further shown in
The magnet elements 178 are arranged as follows: Starting with a first magnet element 178 with orientation of the north and south poles in the axial direction, a further magnet element 178 follows in the circumferential direction, in which the north and south poles are oriented in the circumferential direction. The following magnet element 178 is axially reversed with respect to the first magnet element 178, and the fourth magnet element 178 is reversed with respect to the second magnet element 178 in the circumferential direction.
As is clear in particular from
Facing the separating wall 117, the frame 190 comprises an edge 194. Above the bottom wall 191 and the edge 194, the base body 184 abuts the separating wall 117, in the present case flat.
The receiving chamber 192 is closed at a distance from the bottom wall 191. For this purpose, the pump head 126 has a cover element 196. In the present case, the cover element 196 forms an upper end of the portion 186 (
A sealing element 198, for example in the form of an O-ring, seals between the cover element 196 and the frame 190.
A central through-opening 200 is formed in the cover element 196.
On the face of the base body 184 facing away from the receiving chamber 192, a tube receptacle 202 is arranged for receiving the tube conduit 130. The tube receptacle 202 comprises a groove-shaped recess 204, into which the tube conduit 130 can preferably be inserted in a positive-locking manner by forming a sling. For this purpose, the tube receptacle 202 forms a frame 206 with an insertion opening 208 for the tube conduit 130.
The tube receptacle 202 can be placed on the portion 186 and positioned laterally next to the protruding portion 188.
A pump actuator 210 of the pump head 126 is arranged radially inside the tube receptacle 202. The pump actuator 210 comprises a rotor 212 and at least one pressure element 214 held thereon. In the present case, four pressure elements 214 arranged at a uniform angular distance from each other are provided.
A respective pressure element 214 is formed as a roller and is mounted rotatably on the rotor 212 about a rotational axis 216.
The axis 216 is parallel to an output axis 218 of the pump head 126. In the intended use of the pump apparatus 112, the output axis 218 is in line with the drive axis 158 (
The pump actuator 210 can be rotated about the output axis 218 as explained below. The pressure elements 214 are in squeezing engagement with the tube conduit 130, in order to convey the pharmaceutical product through it.
For transmitting a drive force on the drive body 164 to the pump actuator 210, the pump head 126 comprises a drive body 220, which is operatively connected to the pump actuator 210. In the present case, the output body 220 is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to a shaft 222 defining the output axis 218. The shaft 222 is in turn connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the pump actuator 210.
A sealing element 223, in the present case a shaft sealing ring, seals between the shaft 222 and the edge of the through-opening 200.
As can be seen in particular from
The receiving element 224 and the connecting element 226 are preferably detachably connected to each other, for example by means of screw connection, and in the present case coaxially aligned with each other.
From a functional point of view, the output body 220 is configured similar to the drive body 164. In particular, in the present case, the receiving elements 224 and 172 are in functional terms identical parts, so that in this respect reference can be made to above embodiments.
In the output body 220 as well, the receiving element 224 is provided for receiving a magnet assembly 230 with magnet elements 232. With regard to their configurations and arrangements in the receiving element 224, reference is made to the above explanations.
The connecting element 226 is, in a manner corresponding to the connecting element 174, configured ring-shaped.
A bearing element 234 of the pump head 126 is provided in order to support the output body 220 on the base body 184. In the present case, a radial-groove ball bearing is used as a bearing element 234, which radial-groove ball bearing surrounds the connecting element 226 in a ring-shaped manner and is supported on a shoulder of the frame 190.
It can be provided that alternatively or in addition, the shaft 222 is rotatably mounted via a bearing element relative to the base body 184.
In the present case, the output body 220 is arranged in the receiving chamber 192. The frame 190 surrounds the receiving chamber 192 along the entire outer circumference. Via the frame 190 and the bottom wall 191, the output body 220 is protected against external influence.
In contrast to the pump actuator 210, the output body 220 is protected by the cover element 196 and the sealing element 198. In the event of a defective tube conduit 130, the pharmaceutical product preferably does not get into the receiving chamber 192, which means that the pump head 126 does not have to be disposed of completely. For example, only the tube receptacle 202 and the pump actuator 210 can be disposed of and replaced with new components.
In the intended use of the pump apparatus 112, the pump drive device 124 is supported on the separating wall 117. A gap 236 is formed between the separating wall 117 and the receiving element 172. The width of the gap 236 is preferably less than 1 mm. As a result of the gap 236, friction between the receiving element 172 and the separating wall 117 is avoided.
The contact plane of the pump drive device 124 against the separating wall 117 is defined by the holding parts 150.
In a corresponding manner, the base body 184 is supported via the edge 194 and the bottom wall 191 on the face facing away from the pump drive device 124 on the separating wall 117. Between the bottom wall 191 and the receiving element 224 there is likewise a gap 236 to prevent friction.
In use as intended, the drive force of the drive motor 140 is transmitted to the output body 156 via the drive shaft 220, the shaft 162 and the drive body 164. For this purpose, the magnet assemblies 176 and 230 interact contact-free through the separating wall 117.
The zone separation between the sterile inner space 118 and the less sterile outer space 120 caused by the separating wall 117 is implemented in the pump apparatus 112 in that the pump head 126 is spatially separated from the pump drive device 124, but a drive force can nevertheless be transmitted.
The drive force is transmitted to the pump actuator 210 via the output body 220 and the shaft 222.
The drive body 164 and the output body 220 can couple to each other in a plurality of angular relative positions with respect to the axes 158, 218, since the assemblies of the magnet elements 178, 232 in the circumferential direction of the axes 158, 218 periodically repeat. In the present case, there are five of these angular relative positions.
The reference numerals 237 identify schematically illustrated sensor elements for detecting the angular position of the output body 220 about the output axis 218 (
A particular advantage of the present disclosure is that the magnetic assemblies 176 and 230 not only make possible the transmission of drive force but also allow the pump head 126 to be mounted through the separating wall 117 onto the pump drive device 124. In particular, no connecting elements are provided in order to fix the pump head 126 to the separating wall 117. This allows not only a simple structural configuration of the pump apparatus 112 but also an improved handling.
For example, the pump drive device 124 can remain mounted on the separating wall 117, while, for example, for cleaning and maintenance purposes, the pump head 126 alone can be detached from the separating wall 117 against the magnetic force. Conversely, the pump head 126 can be “docked” in the inner space to the separating wall 117 in a user-friendly manner if the magnet assemblies 176, 230 are in magnetic engagement with each other. The pump head 126 is simply automatically aligned in the correct target position in a user-friendly manner.
As can be seen, in particular, from
The lid 240 is pivotally mounted on the base body 184, in the present case at the portion 186. A securing element 242, with which the lid 240 can be secured against unintentional opening, is arranged, for example, on the portion 188.
The above description refers to a preferred embodiment with only one pump actuator 210. In a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, it can be provided that the pump apparatus comprises two or more pump actuators 210, which are, for example, both rotationally coupled to the shaft 222. By means of a respective pump actuator 210, the product can be conveyed through a respective tube conduit 130.
The pump apparatus 244 comprises the pump drive device 124 and a plurality of pump heads, in the present case the pump head 126 and two further pump heads 246, 248. The number of pump heads can vary.
The pump heads 126, 246, 248 can be configured in particular in different ways, for example with regard to different applications, which can differ from each other, for example, by the inserted tube conduit(s) 130. The pump heads 126, 246, 248 can selectively be coupled to the pump drive device 124 via the respective magnet assemblies 176, 230. As a result, the pump apparatus 244 has a high degree of versatility.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2022 117 005.5 | Jul 2022 | DE | national |
This application is a continuation patent application of international application number PCT/EP2023/067543, filed on Jun. 27, 2023, and claims the benefit of German application number 2022 117 005.5, filed on Jul. 7, 2022, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties and for all purposes.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/EP2023/067543 | Jun 2023 | WO |
| Child | 19010474 | US |
