Patent Application
20240153660
The present application relates to a transfer system for a sealed enclosure delimiting a closed volume intended to be connected to another closed volume, the sealed enclosure including a sealed connection device between the two closed volumes. The present invention also relates to a method for actuating said transfer system.
In many industrial sectors, including the pharmaceutical, medical, agri-food and nuclear sectors, it is necessary or desirable to perform some tasks in a confined atmosphere, either in order to protect the personnel, for example from radioactivity, toxicity . . . , or on the contrary to be able to perform these tasks in an aseptic or dust-free atmosphere, or finally both simultaneously.
The transfer of an apparatus or a product from one closed volume to another, without at any time the sealing of each of these volumes from the outside being broken, poses a delicate problem to address. This problem may be solved by a dual-door connection device. For example, such a dual-door device provided with a multi-safety control is known from the document FR 2 695 343. Each volume is closed by a door mounted in a flange. Each door is secured to its flange by a bayonet connection and the two flanges are intended to be secured to each other by a bayonet connection. This system is also referred to as RTP standing for “Rapid transfer port”.
In the case where one of the closed volumes is formed by a container and the other volume by an enclosure, for example a glove box, the transfer is performed as follows. The flange of the container includes on its outer periphery lugs intended to cooperate with an indentation of the flange of the glove box. The flange of the container is inserted into the flange of the glove box, the container is oriented so as to match the lugs with the indentation. A first rotation of the container along the axis of its door allows securing the flange of the container to the flange of the glove box by the bayonet connection. By means of a second rotation of the container, along the same axis and in continuity with the first rotation, the door of the container is pivoted relative to the container, ensuring both a connection by another bayonet connection with the door of the glove box and a separation of the new assembly formed by the two doors affixed to the door and glove box flanges. A handle control located in the glove box allows unlocking a safety mechanism and clears the passage between the two volumes. In the case of an aseptic atmosphere, the external faces of the two doors being in contact with each other in a sealed manner, they cannot contaminate the interior of the volumes or be contaminated by the internal environment of the glove box.
The container flange includes a seal which, when it is secured to the flange of the glove box, delimits with the two flanges the passage between the interior of the container and the interior of the glove box. The tip of the seal of the container flange that is not in contact with the flange of the glove box is called the “contamination ring” or “ring of concern”. Care should be taken to ensure the integrity of the container flange seal and priority should be given to avoid contact with the contamination ring during transfer, to avoid the contamination of the enclosure.
This type of enclosure is used for the manufacture of products under controlled atmosphere, for example in the pharmaceutical field for the manufacture of drugs and packaging thereof. For example, filling lines are disposed in the enclosures. Objects from the outside can then be transferred towards the interior of the enclosure, for example vials or caps. The objects are contained in a bag provided with a flange and a door, the flange being connected in a sealed manner to the flange of the enclosure. To facilitate the transfer of the objects, for example to pour them into a vibrating bowl of the filling line, a transfer system is implemented in the enclosure, including an element forming a funnel, called chute and intended to fit as a support or in the flange of the enclosure inside the enclosure to receive the objects that originate from the bag and guide them towards their destination, for example the vibrating bowl. Positioning the chute in the opening of the container flange allows covering the contamination ring.
An example of such a transfer system is described in the document EP3581339. The chute is hinged with respect to the wall of the enclosure between a docked position, in which it docks with the flange of the enclosure and borders the opening of the enclosure and a separated or rest position, in which the chute is moved away from the opening of the enclosure so as not to disturb the return of the door of the enclosure in place.
The chute is hinged on an arm which is itself hinged in rotation on the wall of the enclosure. When it is desired to set the chute in place on the opening, the arm is rotated in the direction of the wall, the chute and comes to bear against the flange of the enclosure and border its opening. To move the chute away, the arm is rotated in the reverse direction. The transfer system has a relatively reduced size. However, the rotational movement of the chute in the enclosure may cause, when docking the connection device, a friction of the docking end of the chute and of the contamination ring, and can damage the sealing.
Consequently, it is an aim of the present application is to describe a transfer system for a sealed enclosure limiting the friction between the chute and the contamination ring.
The aim stated hereinabove is achieved by a transfer system intended to be mounted in a sealed enclosure including a device for a sealed connection to a closed volume, said connection device including a longitudinal axis, the transfer system including a chute hingedly mounted on a portion of the enclosure by means of a hinge device enabling the chute to have, at least when approaching the connection device, a movement coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the connection device. Thus, the frictions between the chute and the contamination ring are substantially reduced, compared to a system wherein the chute docks the connection device by a rotational movement.
In one embodiment, the hinge device includes two arms connected by a pivot hinge, one of the arms is connected to the chute by a pivot hinge and the other arm is connected to the enclosure by a pivot hinge, and each pivot hinge is motor-driven. The control of the motors allows for a great freedom of movement of the chute relative to the enclosure and the implementation of two arms allows moving the chute at least during docking thereof with the connection device and during undocking thereof from the connection device along a direction coaxial with the axis of the connection device.
In another embodiment, the hinge device includes two arms and two motors.
The motors of the hinge device may be controlled, for example during an undocking phase, so that the chute has, in this order, a first exclusively translational movement according to a direction coaxial with the axis of the connection device and a second movement secant to the axis of the connection device, for example orthogonal thereto.
Preferably, the transfer system, in particular the hinge device, is fastened on the flange of the connection device mounted on the wall, which facilitates the electrical connection of the motors of the hinge device as well as the integration on the wall.
Advantageously, the chute is removably secured to the hinge device.
An object of the present application is a transfer system for a sealed enclosure, said sealed enclosure defining a first closed volume and including at least one sealed connection device with an axis intended to connect the first closed volume to a second closed volume, said transfer system being intended to be disposed in said enclosure, said transfer system including:
Preferably, the transfer system includes a third pivot hinge between the second arm and the chute and a third electric motor for moving the chute in rotation relative to the second arm, said third motor being controlled by the control means.
Advantageously, the first motor is integrated in the first pivot hinge and/or the second motor is integrated in the second pivot hinge and/or the third motor is integrated in the third pivot hinge.
In one embodiment, the first arm and/or the second arm is or are bent.
According to an additional feature, the chute is removably mounted on the second arm.
Another object of the present application is an enclosure defining a first closed volume and including a transfer system according to the invention and a device for sealed connection to a second closed volume, said connection device being mounted in a wall of said enclosure, said connection device including a flange and a door.
For example, the hinge device is fastened on a flange of the connection device.
In an advantageous embodiment, the flange includes a passage between the interior and the exterior of the enclosure and through which pass means for electrical connection of the motors. The connection device may include automated means for opening a latch of the door and for pivoting the door activated by at least one motor and means for electrical connection of said at least one motor may pass through said passage.
According to an additional feature, the enclosure includes a system for generating a laminar flow located on one side of the connection device and the hinge device is fastened in the enclosure opposite the system for generating a laminar flow with respect to the connection device.
In another embodiment, the hinge device is fastened on a wall different from that in which the connection device is mounted.
Advantageously, the enclosure includes means (S) for detecting the configuration of the transfer system and/or of the open state of the connection device.
Another object of the present application is a method for actuating a transfer system for a sealed enclosure, said sealed enclosure defining a first closed volume and including at least one sealed connection device with an axis intended to connect the first closed volume to a second closed volume, said transfer system being intended to be disposed in said enclosure, said transfer system including:
In the case where the enclosure includes a device for generating a laminar flow along the wall including the sealed connection device, at the end of the separation phase, the chute may advantageously be disposed so as to be in the axis of the laminar flow.
The objects of the present application will be better understood based on the following description and the appended drawings wherein:
In
The enclosure 2 includes walls delimiting a sealed volume. At least one of the walls 4 includes a device D for sealed connection to an external sealed system, for example another enclosure, a bag-type rigid or flexible container. The device D is intended to allow connecting the internal volumes of the enclosure and of the external system in a sealed manner and to enable a sealed transfer between the two volumes, to protect the objects contained in the sealed volumes and/or protect the external environment of these objects. For example, the enclosure 2 may be part of an isolator system, specifically a containment area of the isolator, a sterile containment area, or a radioactive containment area, which may be used to manufacture products in the pharmaceutical, agri-food or nuclear industry, for example.
Examples of sealed connection device are described in the document FR 2 695 343 and in the document U.S. Pat. No. 9,754,691.
The sealed connection device D includes a flange 6 mounted in the wall 4 and delimiting an opening 8, a door 10 intended to close the opening 8 in a sealed manner. The sealed connection device D also includes means for connection to an external system, for example a container C (
An example of a procedure for connecting a container in a sealed manner to the enclosure will be briefly described with reference to
The flange 9 of the container is secured in a sealed manner to the flange 6 of the enclosure by means of a bayonet connection. Simultaneously, the door 11 of the container and the door 10 of the enclosure are secured to each other in a sealed manner by a bayonet connection. The external faces of the doors 10, 11 are isolated from the internal volume of the container and of the enclosure, the assembly formed by the two doors 10, 11 secured to each other may be removed by pivoting it about its axis, and afterwards move into the enclosure, clearing a passage between the two volumes. The two volumes are then in communication in a sealed manner and the transfer of objects between the two volumes may be achieved through the passage.
The flange 9 of the container carries a seal which comes into contact with the external face of the flange 6 of the enclosure, this seal contributes to the delimitation of the passage between the two volumes. The tip of the seal of the container flange that is not in contact with the flange 6 is a line called the “critical line” or “contamination ring” or “ring of concern”.
The enclosure includes a transfer system S1 allowing guiding objects coming from outside towards an area of the internal volume of the enclosure. For example, these objects are caps contained in a bag and which are poured inside the enclosure. The system S1 is intended to facilitate the processing and/or transfer of objects/elements in the enclosure 2, for example to facilitate the supply of objects/elements to a conveyor belt or, during a subsequent processing, transfer into a separate sealed container, through another sealed connection device.
The transfer system S1 includes a part 14 ensuring the guidance of the flow of objects, referred to as a chute and forming some kind of funnel.
In the shown example, the chute 14 is cylindrical with a longitudinal axis X2 with a circular section comprising a docking end 17 (
Alternatively, the chute has for example a bent shape, in this case the axis X2 is the axis of the docking end 17.
Advantageously, the docking end 17 is covered with a bead made of a soft material (not shown), for example made of elastomer.
The transfer system includes a device 20 for hinging the chute with respect to the connection device, the hinge device 20 being mounted on the enclosure.
The hinge device 20 includes a first arm 22 and a second arm 24 connected to each other at one of their longitudinal ends 22.1 and 24.1 by a first pivot hinge 26 with an axis Y1 (
The transfer system also includes actuation means for setting the chute 14 in movement relative to the connection device D. Quite advantageously, the hinge device is motor-driven, and even more advantageously, it includes an electric motor M1, M2, M3 at the first 26, second 28 and third 30 pivot hinges.
A control unit UC (schematically shown in
In the case of an automated connection device, wherein the opening of the door is motor-driven, the control unit may be common to both the control of the transfer system and of the connection device, and it may provide for preventing the closure of the doors when the chute is in place in the passage and/or it may be provided to prevent the actuation of the transfer system as long as the doors are closed.
In a particularly advantageous manner, each motor M1, M2, M3 is integrated in the pivot hinge 26, 28, 30 actuated thereby, as shown in the kinematic diagram of
Because of the axes of the motors being parallel to one another, the hinge device moves in a plane normal to the axes Y1, Y2 and Y3.
A preferred trajectory for moving the chute will now be described with reference to
Consider an undocking phase: when the chute is docked on the connection device, its axis X2 is substantially collinear with the axis X1 (
In the present application, by “substantially collinear”, it should be understood two parallel axes separated by a distance of at most 5 mm, preferably by at most 1 mm or secant at an angle of at most 5°, preferably of at most 1°.
In a first portion of the trajectory shown in
In a second portion of the trajectory shown in
The axis X2 of the chute remains parallel to the axis X1 throughout its movement. The chute fits under the connection device against the wall of the enclosure, thereby reducing its size in the enclosure.
The docking trajectory includes the second portion, then the first portion.
Advantageously, the undocking trajectory may include a third portion in which the motors are actuated to position the arms and the chute along the wall, the chute having its axis X2 parallel to the wall. Advantageously, it consists of the rest position of the chute further limiting its size and its impact on the laminar flow of the enclosure. This position is shown in
It should be understood that this example of a trajectory is not restrictive. In particular over the second portion, the chute can move according to a partially straight and partially non-straight or only non-straight movement. For example, it may be provided that after the translation movement to move away from the connection device, the motors are controlled to place the axis of the chute in the direction Z, as shown in
In the shown example and preferably, the hinge device is fastened on the connection device, more particularly on the flange 6, which avoids having to pierce the wall of the enclosure to fix the transfer system.
Furthermore, when at least one portion of the connection device is automated, for example the control of the latch of the door of the connection device and the opening of the door of the connection device, by implementing one or more electric motors, the electric cables of the motors of the transfer device and of the motors of the connection device are brought together and run through the hole made in the flange.
This assembly allows for a high level of integration and simplifying the operation of equipping an enclosure.
Preferably, the transfer system is fastened on the lower portion of the flange under the opening 8, therefore under the passage, which is favourable in the event of application of a laminar flow in the enclosure. Indeed, this is generally generated at the top of the enclosure. In the case of a connection device mounted on the vertical wall, the transfer system placed under the opening of the connection device, i.e. downstream of the opening when considering the direction of the laminar flow, does not hinder the flow in front of the opening.
Nevertheless, other setups may be considered.
Indeed, it is particularly interesting for the chute to be in the axis of the laminar flow in the rest position. Advantageously, in the rest position the chute is oriented vertically so it is oriented like the laminar flow.
In
The transfer system may also be fastened to a wall of the enclosure, for example on the wall carrying the connection device, preferably above or below the latter, which can meet the setup and size constraints in the enclosure.
In
In this example, the transfer system S2 is fastened on a wall different from that carrying the connection device, which in this example is a lateral wall, which lies on the side of the hinge of the door of the connection device. The transfer system includes a second arm 124 having an elbow.
In this embodiment, the hinge device includes two arms 122, 124, two pivot hinges 126, 128 with an axis Z1, Z2 respectively and two motors integrated in the pivot hinges 126, 128 respectively, the arm 124 is rigidly fastened to the chute 114. The implementation of a bent arm 124 allows disposing the system at locations that are normally excluded because of the proximity to the door or to the latch. In this example, the bent arm forms a right angle, any other angle may be considered and is selected according to the setup.
This second embodiment allows, in the rest position of the chute, clearing the area for the passage of the components and the area for the passage of the laminar flow. It offers a free volume in the enclosure to handle the components, for example by robots.
In this example, the enclosure 2 includes a conveying system such as a conveying ramp or conveyor belt T over which the objects will travel transferred from the container by the chute. The end 118 of the chute 114 is directly above the conveyor belt T when the chute is in the docked position.
The motors are actuated so that the chute has a movement according to a trajectory including at least one translational movement away from and approaching the connection device. In this configuration, the axes of the hinges are oriented vertically.
Alternatively, the transfer system is fastened on the wall carrying the connection device but is offset laterally with respect to the centre of the connection device. In this configuration, the system is fastened so that the axes of the pivot hinges are horizontal.
A transfer system according to the second embodiment may include two straight arms similar to those of the system S1.
Advantageously, the chute is removably mounted on the hinge device, which allows easily removing, cleaning and sterilising it, for example in an autoclave. An easy cleaning is particularly interesting since the chute is in contact with the components during transfers, and requires careful cleaning.
Preferably, fastening the chute 14 on the hinge device 20 is performed by a quick mount/dismount system R with one hand (
In
The system R is disposed at a rod 32 fastened to the hinge device 20 and a rod 34 fastened on the chute 14. For example, the rod 32 includes at its free end a housing 36 sized to accommodate the free end of the rod 34. The housing 36 includes a lateral wall 38 and a bottom 40. The lateral wall 38 includes a notch 42 (
The locking mechanism 46 includes a locking rod 48 movable transversely in the bore 44 and pushed outwards by means of a spring 50 mounted in compression between the rod 48 and a transverse stop 52. In this example, the stop is formed by a bolt screwed into the bore.
The locking rod 48 includes three axial portions 48.1, 48.2 and 48.3 with a decreasing diameter in the direction of the thrust force exerted by the spring.
The transverse bore 44 includes a shoulder 53 cooperating with a shoulder 54 connecting the external lateral faces of the axial portions 48.1 and 48.2. The diameter of the axial portion 48.2 is substantially equal to that of the immobilisation portion 42.2.
The end of the locking rod 48 carries an actuation button 56.
The operation of the system is as follows:
The operator presses on the actuation button 56, moving the locking rod 48 and compressing the spring 50, the portion 48.3 then fits within the immobilisation portion 42.2 of the notch. Its diameter being smaller than the smallest transverse dimension of the notch 42, the portion 48.3 can slide in the notch 42, which allows clearing the end of the rod 34 off the housing 36, and separating the chute from the hinge device.
Placing the chute again on the hinge device is performed by pressing on the actuation button and by inserting the portion 48.3 into the notch 42.
This manipulation may be done with one hand.
The transfer system according to the present description applies to enclosures including any type of sealed connection device and not only those implementing bayonet connection means. The sealed connection device(s) may implement retractable pins, pawls, be of the magnetic type . . . .
The objects described in this application may be implemented in all technical fields requiring a transfer of objects between two closed volumes isolated from the external environment.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2102528 | Mar 2021 | FR | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/FR2022/050428 | 3/10/2022 | WO |
