U.S. patent application number 16/307546 was filed with the patent office on 2019-05-16 for system for producing a medical bag, and method for operating such a system.
This patent application is currently assigned to KIEFEL GmbH. The applicant listed for this patent is KIEFEL GmbH. Invention is credited to Bernd Stein.
Application Number | 20190144146 16/307546 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 59522892 |
Filed Date | 2019-05-16 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190144146 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Stein; Bernd |
May 16, 2019 |
System For Producing A Medical Bag, And Method For Operating Such A
System
Abstract
Assembly for manufacturing a medical bag from a plastic film,
with filling means for filling the bag with a liquid through a port
of the bag, with closing means for closing the port after filling
of the bag, with different stations in which various production
process steps are performed, and with a transport unit for
transferring the bag being produced along these stations, the
assembly being adapted to perform filling of the bag and closing of
the bag at a combined filling and closing station.
Inventors: |
Stein; Bernd;
(Kirchanschoring, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
KIEFEL GmbH |
Freilassing |
|
DE |
|
|
Assignee: |
KIEFEL GmbH
Freilassing
DE
|
Family ID: |
59522892 |
Appl. No.: |
16/307546 |
Filed: |
June 14, 2017 |
PCT Filed: |
June 14, 2017 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/DE2017/000163 |
371 Date: |
December 6, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
141/2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 7/2821 20130101;
B65B 3/045 20130101; B65B 39/12 20130101; B65B 3/003 20130101; B65B
7/02 20130101; B65B 43/59 20130101; A61J 1/10 20130101; B65B 7/2807
20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65B 3/00 20060101
B65B003/00; B65B 7/02 20060101 B65B007/02; B65B 43/59 20060101
B65B043/59; B65B 3/04 20060101 B65B003/04; B65B 39/12 20060101
B65B039/12 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 23, 2016 |
DE |
10 2016 007 625.9 |
Claims
1. An assembly for manufacturing a medical bag from a plastic film,
the assembly comprises: filling means for filling the medical bag
with a liquid through a port of the medical bag; closing means for
closing the port after filling of the medical bag; a plurality of
different stations in which various production process steps are
performed; and a transport unit for transferring the medical bag
being produced along the plurality of different stations; wherein
the assembly is adapted to perform the filling and the closing of
the medical bag at a combined filling and closing station, wherein
the combined filling and closing station comprises: an angle
adjusting device having an operative connection to a reclining
angle and/or holding angle of the medical bag, and/or an operative
connection to an angular position of a filling nozzle.
2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the assembly is
adapted to perform filling of the medical bag with the bag in a
horizontal position.
3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the assembly is adapted to hold
the medical bag at the combined filling and closing station at an
inclination of less than 45.degree. with respect to a horizontal
plane.
4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the combined filling and
closing station comprises a filling nozzle and a plug insertion
unit.
5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the filling nozzle and the plug
insertion unit have the same operational height, but at least one
of these two units has a retraction position which allows the other
of the two units to reach a working position at the medical bag in
order to interact with the medical bag in this working
position.
6. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the filling nozzle and/or the
plug insertion unit have a height adjusting device for adjusting
the height between a working position and a retraction
position.
7. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the plug insertion unit has a
regripping unit so that the plug insertion unit can be equipped
with a new plug for a subsequent medical bag.
8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the regripping unit is arranged
in a region of the retraction position.
9. A method of operating an assembly for manufacturing a medical
bag from a plastic film, the method comprising: providing a port on
the medical bag; holding the medical bag at a filling and closing
station at a predetermined angle by means of an angle adjusting
device; filling the medical bag with a liquid through the port
along a transport path; and closing the port on the medical bag
with a plug, wherein filling and closing of the medical bag occurs
at a single combined filling and closing station; wherein the angle
adjusting device comprising an operative connection to a reclining
angle and/or holding angle of the medical bag and/or an operative
connection to an angular position of a filling nozzle and of any
other components of the combined filling and closing station; and
wherein for different bags, different angles are set with a view to
material, filling height and the like.
10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the medical bag is
filled and closed in a horizontal position.
11. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the assembly is adapted to
hold the medical bag at the combined filling and closing station at
an inclination of less than 45.degree. with respect to a horizontal
plane.
12. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the combined filling and
closing station comprises a filling nozzle and a plug insertion
unit.
13. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the combined filling and
closing station comprises a filling nozzle and a plug insertion
unit.
14. The assembly of claim 5, wherein the plug insertion unit has a
regripping unit so that the plug insertion unit can be equipped
with a new plug for a subsequent medical bag.
15. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the plug insertion unit has a
regripping unit so that the plug insertion unit can be equipped
with a new plug for a subsequent medical bag.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to an assembly for manufacturing a
medical bag from a plastic film, with filling means for filling the
bag with a liquid through a port of the bag, with closing means for
closing the port after filling of the bag, with different stations
in which various production processing steps are performed, and
with a transport unit for transferring the bag being produced along
these stations.
[0002] The invention also relates to a method of operating a plant
for manufacturing a medical bag from a plastic film, wherein the
medical bag comprising a port is filled along a transport path and
closed by a plug.
[0003] Generic assemblies are known from the state of the art and
have already proven their worth in the manufacturing of medical
bags. However, the efforts in terms of construction and, in
particular, of time for filling and closing the medical bags to
make them fit for transport are often very high. Particularly in
case of bags with larger filling volumes, handling of the bags in
such assemblies has frequently proven to be difficult.
[0004] The invention is based on the objective to enhance generic
assemblies such that the manufacturing of medical bags is
simplified.
[0005] The objective of the invention is fulfilled by an assembly
for manufacturing a medical bag from a plastic film, with filling
means for filling the bag with a liquid through a port of the bag,
with closing means for closing the port after filling of the bag,
with different stations in which various production process steps
are performed, and with a transport unit for transferring the bag
being produced along these stations, the assembly being adapted for
performing filling of the bag and closing of the bag in a combined
filling and closing station.
[0006] The combined filling and closing station has an angle
adjusting device, with an operative connection to a reclining angle
and/or holding angle of the bag and/or with an operative connection
to an angular position of a filling nozzle. In this manner, it is
possible to set the holding angle of the bag during filling to a
value which deviates from the horizontal plane. For instance, the
angle adjusting device can allow setting of an angle of more than
10.degree., more than 20.degree., more than 30.degree., more than
45.degree. or even up to 90.degree. deviation from the horizontal
plane in the downward direction. The more the angle deviates from
the horizontal plane, the less pressure is needed to fill the bag
with liquid since with an increasing angle, the bag is hanging with
more strength downward and the liquid can be filled into the bag
with the aid of gravity.
[0007] The angle adjusting device preferably allows continuous
adjustment of the bag's angle during filling.
[0008] Ideally, at least one component, in particular a filling
nozzle and/or a plug plug-on-unit of the combined filling and
closing station also assumes a different angle, preferably the same
angle as the bag.
[0009] Advantageously, the assembly can be adjusted individually
for each filling task by means of an angle adjusting device. Thus a
thick bag which strongly inflates during filling can be hung at a
larger angle than a flat bag with little liquid inside it which has
little counterpressure during filling and little mass.
[0010] In one embodiment of the invention, the filling angle which
deviates from the horizontal plane can be maintained by the
combined station. In this case, the bag is already fed at this
angle and is also advanced in the direction towards the next
station at this angle. Alternatively, it is conceivable that the
angle is set during the process at the combined filling and closing
station, i.e. the bag is fed into the station at a different angle,
in particular in a horizontal plane, and is then placed in an
inclined position for filling or during filling. Preferably closure
takes place at least at the same angle deviating from the
horizontal plane as at the end of the filling process.
[0011] A particularly preferred embodiment has an actuator as the
angle adjusting device, the actuator being actively connected to a
machine controller, so that the machine controller sets the angle
during ongoing production and/or at the beginning of an ongoing
production.
[0012] Thanks to the fact that the assembly has a combined filling
and closing station, it can also be built to be more compact and to
require less maintenance.
[0013] In the context of the invention, the term "station"
describes a device where work can be performed on or with the
bag.
[0014] Furthermore, the objective of the invention is also solved
by means of a method for operating an assembly for manufacturing a
medical bag from a plastic film, wherein the medical bag comprising
a port is filled along a transport path and closed by a plug, the
method being characterized in that the bag is filled and closed in
a single, combined filling and closing station.
[0015] Due to the fact that the bag is filled and closed in a
single, combined filling and closing station, its manufacturing in
the respective assembly is substantially simplified and can be
performed much faster.
[0016] In particular, it is advantageous to group together
successive stations for filling and closing the bag to one single
combined filling and closing station, which not only saves time
between the individual treatment processes but which also allows
the assembly to be more compact and require less maintenance, since
an additional station, which is still required in the state of the
art, can be omitted.
[0017] Furthermore, in terms of the device and thus also in terms
of process control, the bag can be handled much more easily in the
assembly if it is filled and closed in a horizontal position.
[0018] A preferred embodiment therefore provides for the assembly
being adapted for filling of the bag when the bag is in a
horizontal position. This allows safe handling in particular of
larger bags to be filled in the present assembly, wherein the angle
can be precisely preselected and adjusted.
[0019] If the assembly is adapted to hold the bag in the combined
filling and closing station at an angle of less than 45.degree.
from the horizontal plane, handling of larger bags which have been
filled completely or even partly is no problem, especially if the
bags are located in a transport path which is substantially
horizontal.
[0020] It goes without saying, that the present means of filling
the bag and the means of closing the port of the bag can take
different forms. In particular, embodiments known from the state of
the art can be provided. Thus, no additional explanations
concerning details of construction are necessary.
[0021] It is advantageous if the combined filling and closing
station comprises a filling nozzle and a plug plug-on-unit; in this
manner, a single station of the present assembly can be simply
equipped with a double function by a respective construction.
[0022] The assembly or its combined filling and closing station,
respectively, can be built to be even more compact if the filling
nozzle and the plug plug-on-unit have the same operating height,
but wherein at least one of them has a retracting position which
allows the other unit to go to an operating position at the bag in
order to interact with the bag in this position.
[0023] In this manner, it can be achieved that the filling nozzle
and the plug plug-on-unit can be arranged at the same operating
height and can interact with the bag, which allows a particularly
flat construction of the combined filling and closing station.
[0024] If, alternatively, the combined filling and closing station
is to be constructed to be particularly short, it is possible for
the filling nozzle and/or the plug plug-on-unit to have a height
adjustment device for height adjustment between an operating
position and a retracting position. For this purpose, the filling
nozzle and the plug plug-on-unit can be moved alternately not only
on a horizontal level but also along a vertical level.
[0025] It is understood that the present plug plug-on-unit can have
various embodiments. The manufacturing according to the invention
can be further accelerated and thus improved if the plug
plug-on-unit has a re-gripping unit so that the plug plug-on-unit
can be equipped with a new plug for the next bag.
[0026] For preventing the re-gripping unit from impeding the
filling nozzle or the plug plug-on-unit which are temporarily and
alternately in the working position, while this filling nozzle or
the plug plug-on-unit interacts with the bag, it is advantageous
for the re-gripping unit to be arranged in a portion of the
retracting position.
[0027] Other features, effects and advantages of the present
invention will be explained by means of the attached figure and the
following specification, where by way of example an assembly for
manufacturing a medical bag having a combined filling and closing
station is shown and described.
[0028] To avoid repetitions, components do not have to be provided
with reference numbers and explained in all figures.
[0029] In the figures:
[0030] FIG. 1 schematically shows a first perspective view of an
assembly for manufacturing a medical bag, having a combined filling
and closing station;
[0031] FIG. 2 schematically shows another perspective view of the
assembly shown in FIG. 1;
[0032] FIG. 3 schematically shows a detailed view of a receiving
and feeding station of the assembly as in FIGS. 1 and 2;
[0033] FIG. 4 schematically shows a lateral view of the assembly
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in a general basic position;
[0034] FIG. 5 schematically shows a lateral view of the assembly
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in a first plug transfer position;
[0035] FIG. 6 schematically shows a lateral view of the assembly
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in an further plug transfer position,
wherein the plug receiving part and the plug insertion unit have
already further approached each other;
[0036] FIG. 7 schematically shows a lateral view of the assembly
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in an additional further plug transfer
position, with a plug insertion unit having already performed a
reverse movement;
[0037] FIG. 8 schematically shows a lateral view of the assembly
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in another plug transfer position, with the
plug insertion unit being completely retracted;
[0038] FIG. 9 schematically shows a lateral view of the assembly
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 with the plug receiving part moved back to
the plug storing unit;
[0039] FIG. 10 schematically shows a lateral view of the assembly
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 with a bag gripped by a grip of a bag
handling unit;
[0040] FIG. 11 schematically shows a lateral view of the assembly
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 with a port part of the bag gripped by the
grip vertically raised by the bag handling unit;
[0041] FIG. 12 schematically shows a lateral view of the assembly
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 with a filling nozzle actively connected to
the bag gripped by the grip;
[0042] FIG. 13 schematically shows a lateral view of the assembly
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 with a bag sealingly clamped by a clamping
unit;
[0043] FIG. 14 schematically shows a lateral view of the assembly
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 with the filling nozzle pulled out of the
bag;
[0044] FIG. 15 schematically shows a lateral view of the assembly
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 with a plug insertion unit moved to the
operating height;
[0045] FIG. 16 schematically shows a lateral view of the assembly
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 with a plug inserted in the bag, the plug
still being retained by the plug insertion unit;
[0046] FIG. 17 schematically shows a lateral view of the assembly
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 with a finished bag; and
[0047] FIG. 18 schematically shows a last lateral view of the
assembly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, again in the general basic
position as shown in FIG. 4;
[0048] In all figures, the horizontal bag position shown being
merely a possible angular position--which can preferably be set
continuously--, wherein for a different bag to be filled or for a
different liquid to be filled in, a different angle could be set in
all figures.
[0049] The assembly 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is used for
manufacturing medical bags 2 (see FIG. 3) from a plastic film 2A,
and more specifically, for filling and closing such bags 2.
[0050] For this purpose, the assembly 1 has filling means 3 for
filling the bag 2 with a liquid (not shown) and closing means 4 for
closing a port 5 of the bag 2 with a plug 6, which is inserted in a
preferably hose-like tubular element 7 (see e. g. FIG. 3), the
filling means 3 being characterized in particular by a filling
nozzle 10 and the closing means 4 and being characterized in
particular by a plug insertion unit 11 with a plug gripper 12.
[0051] Normally, such a port 5 of such a filled bag 2 substantially
consists at least of the tubular element 7, which has been inserted
in a non-releasable manner in the bag 2, and of the plug 6 fastened
thereto externally or internally.
[0052] According to the invention, these filling means 3 and
closing means 4 are combined in one single filling and closing
station 15 so that the number of required processing stations 15,
60 and 61 in the assembly 1 is advantageously reduced.
[0053] In the state of the art, at least two separate stations (not
shown here and thus without reference numeral) have always been
present, wherein at the first one the bags 2 were filled and at the
second one the bags 2 were subsequently closed.
[0054] These two separate stations are no longer present but have
been combined to form one single combined filling and closing
station 15.
[0055] The single, combined filling and closing station 15 is
located at a lower frame portion 16 of an assembly frame 17 of the
assembly 1 and consists substantially of a filling unit 18 and a
closing unit 19 arranged above it, the filling unit 18 and the
closing unit 19 forming a constructional unit (not again referenced
separately) which in its entirety is fastened to the assembly frame
17 such that it is adjustable in the vertical direction 21 by a
height adjusting device 20 or vertical stroke device,
respectively.
[0056] Thus, the filling unit 18 and the closing unit 19 of the
single combined filling and closing station 15 are translated
together in the vertical direction 21 by means of a single stroke
cylinder 22 of the height adjusting device 20.
[0057] The filling unit 18 and the closing unit 19 are both
supported by a common carrier 23 of a common vertical support
24.
[0058] The filling unit 18 has a filling head 25 comprising the
filling nozzle 10, which head can be translated horizontally by
means of a first horizontal drive 26 such that the filling nozzle
10 can be translated in the horizontal direction 28 also
independently to a gripping and closing head 27, comprising the
plug insertion unit 11, of the closing unit 19.
[0059] The gripping and closing head 27, on the other hand, is
driven in the horizontal direction 28 by means of an additional
horizontal drive 29, the gripping and closing head 27 being
arranged so as to be translated on a rail element 30 mounted to the
filling unit 18.
[0060] Both horizontal drives 26 and 29 are fastened to the common
carrier 23 of the common vertical support 24.
[0061] The filling unit 18 is provided with liquid to be filled
into the bags 2 to be manufactured by a feeding line 31, whereas
the plug insertion unit 11 can be equipped with additional plugs 6
by means of a regripping unit 35.
[0062] The regripping unit 35 is located in an upper frame portion
36 of the assembly frame 17 of the assembly 1 and consists
substantially of a plug reservoir unit 37 for storing additional
plugs 6 at the single combined filling and closing station 15, and
a swivel and transfer arm 38 for gripping additional plugs 6 from
the plug reservoir unit 37 and for transferring a received and
gripped plug 6 to the plug insertion unit 11.
[0063] The swivel and transfer arm 38 is pivoted to the upper frame
portion 36 about a swivel axis 39 and is driven by means of a
working cylinder 40, and it has a plug receiving portion 41 adapted
for gripping and receiving the respective plug 6.
[0064] In addition to the regripping unit 35, a bag handling unit
45 is also provided in the upper frame portion 36 of the assembly
1.
[0065] This bag handling unit 45 comprises a gripper 46 by means of
which the bags 2 provided at the single combined filling and
closing station 15 can be gripped at at least one of their tubular
elements 7 and can be shifted with respect to the single combined
filling and closing station 15.
[0066] For this purpose, the gripper 46 is mounted to the upper
frame portion 36 by means of a drive unit 47 such that it can be
moved both horizontally and vertically.
[0067] The bag handling unit 45 further comprises a clamping unit
48 for clamping in particular a filled bag 2 at at least one of its
tubular elements 7 (see in particular FIG. 13).
[0068] The clamping unit 48 comprises a clamping element 49
displaceable in the vertical direction 21 which can be lifted or
lowered with respect to a counter-clamping element 50. The clamping
unit 48 also comprises a clamping drive 51.
[0069] For being able to provide the bags 2 in succession at the
filling and closing station 15, the assembly 1 furthermore
comprises a transport unit 55, forming a transport path 54, for
transferring the bags 2 produced, below the bag handling unit 45
and laterally to the filling and closing station 15, which
transport unit 55 has a circumferential belt drive 56 with seats 57
(numbered only by way of example) for receiving tubular elements 7
of bags 2, as well as an endless belt 58 for the positioning of
such bags 2 (see in particular FIG. 3).
[0070] In this example of embodiment, the transport unit 55 of the
assembly 1 shown in FIGS. 1 through 18 is designed such that both
the filling and substantially also the closing of the bags 2 can be
performed in a horizontal position at the filling and closing
station 15.
[0071] To be more precise, the bags 2 are substantially located on
a horizontal plane 59 (see for instance only FIG. 4) or
substantially in parallel thereto, the horizontal plane 59 being
illustrated directly by means of the flat bag 2 for simplicity.
[0072] By means of this transport unit 55, the bags 2 being
produced are fed to additional processing stations 60 and 61 of the
assembly 1.
[0073] Additional processing stations 60 and 61 can be, for
instance, a receiving or feeding station 60, respectively (see only
FIG. 3), where bags 2 are fed to the assembly 1, a providing
station 61 (see only FIG. 17), where the filled bags 2 are provided
at the assembly 1 in particular for further processing or further
transport, or the like.
[0074] FIG. 3 substantially shows a portion of the receiving or
feeding station 60 where bags 2 (only exemplarily shown) are
sequentially transferred to the transport unit 55, either manually
or if the receiving or feeding station 60 is equipped accordingly
automatically.
[0075] It can easily be seen in FIG. 3 that the bag 2 with its two
tubular elements 7 (only numbered by way of example) is inserted in
the seats 57 (only numbered by way of example) whereas the actual
plastic film 2A of the bag 2 is substantially placed on the endless
belt 58.
[0076] The seats 57 shown here can also be simplified in terms of
construction such that in particular an insertion of tubular
elements 7 can take place automatically with particular ease and
safety of operation.
[0077] The transport unit 55 is designed such that the actual belt
body (not referenced again) for the belt drive 56 and the endless
belt 58 at the same time serves as a guide for the bags 2.
[0078] FIG. 4 shows the assembly 1 in a general basic setting 65 of
the filling unit 18, where in this general basic setting 65 one
plug 6 at a time can be fed to the regripping unit 35 and picked up
by the plug receiving portion 41. Feeding of the plugs can take
place perhaps manually or, preferably, in an automated manner.
[0079] The FIGS. 5 through 8 show the assembly 1 in various plug
transfer positions 68 (only numbered by way of example), wherein a
bag 2 is already provided at the filling and closing station 15 by
means of the transport unit 55 (not explicitly shown). The endless
belt 58 of the transport unit 55 is preferably moving during this
process, such that the plug 6 can be transferred from the plug
reservoir unit 37 to the plug insertion unit 11 substantially in
real time.
[0080] In FIG. 5, first, the swivel and transfer arm 38, provided
with a plug 6 (concealed by the plug receiving portion 41) of the
regripping unit 35, has already been swiveled into a transfer
position 69 for this purpose, and secondly, the filling and closing
station 15 has been shifted upwards by means of the height
adjusting device 20. During this process, the plug receiving
portion 41 of the regripping unit 35 and the plug insertion unit 11
of the gripping and closing head 27 are positioned at the same
horizontal transfer height (not referenced separately), and in
particular the filling nozzle 10 of the filling unit 18 is located
at an operational height 70 at which the filling nozzle 10 can be
adequately brought in operational contact with one of the tubular
elements 7 of the bag 2.
[0081] For reaching this transfer height and in particular the
operational height 70 of the filling and closing station 15, the
stroke cylinder 22 of the height adjusting device 20 is moved
upwards in the vertical direction 21.
[0082] If the plug insertion unit 11 is located on the horizontal
level of the transfer height, the plug insertion unit 11 according
to the present invention is brought to a vertical retracting
position 71 with regard to the bag 2, wherein the filling nozzle 10
is positioned at the operational height 70 being located in the
actual operating position 72 together with the respective bag
2.
[0083] In FIG. 6, the plug insertion unit 11 has been moved by the
additional horizontal drive 29 in the direction of the plug
receiving portion 41 such that the plug 6 can finally be
transferred to the plug insertion unit 11 by the plug receiving
portion 41. Here, a feeding cylinder 74 of the plug insertion unit
11 or of the gripping and closing head 27, respectively, is in a
deployed state.
[0084] In FIG. 7, the plug 6 has been gripped by the plug gripper
12 of the plug insertion unit 11 such that the plug insertion unit
11 with the plug 6 can move back.
[0085] In FIG. 8, the cylinder 74 (see FIGS. 6 and 7) of the plug
insertion unit 11 has moved back to its starting position, and
correspondingly, the plug insertion unit 11 is located in the
vertical retracting position 71 which has already been shown in
FIG. 5.
[0086] In FIG. 9, the plug receiving portion 41 has been swiveled
back in the direction of the plug reservoir unit 37 by means of the
swivel and transfer arm 38.
[0087] The process of plug loading described above can overlap in
time with a subsequent step of taking the bag from the seat 57,
especially if the cycle time of the assembly 1 needs to be
reduced.
[0088] In FIG. 10, the gripper 46 of the bag handling unit 45 has
already gripped the bag 2, which has arrived at the filling unit
10, by one of its tubular elements 7. The gripper 46 has been moved
to this tubular element 7 by means of the drive unit 47 as soon as
the respective bag 2 has arrived at the filling and closing station
15 or at its filling unit 10, respectively. Preferably, the
presence of the bag 2 to be filled is detected by adapted sensors
(not specifically shown).
[0089] In FIG. 11, the bag 2 which has been gripped by the gripper
46 has been moved upward, such that the tubular element 7 is at
least at the level of the operational height 70 of the filling
nozzle 10 and the filling nozzle and the tubular element 7 are
oppositely aligned, such that the filling nozzle 10 can be at least
partially inserted in the tubular element 7.
[0090] In FIG. 12, the bag 2 has been moved in the horizontal
direction 28 towards the filling nozzle 10 by means of a linear
transport 75 of the bag handling unit 45, wherein in addition the
filling head 25 is moved towards the bag 10 with or preferably
without delay such that the filling nozzle 10 is inserted in the
tubular element 7 of the bag 2 and the bag 2 can now be safely
filled with the provided fluid.
[0091] In FIG. 13, the actual filling process of the bag 2 has been
completed which, however, is not shown by the way the bag 2 is
drawn. Before, however, the filling nozzle 10 is removed from the
tubular element 7, this tubular element 7 is clamped between the
clamping element 49 of the clamping unit 48 and the
counter-clamping element 50 of the clamping unit 48 so as to be
tight. For this purpose, the clamping element 49 moves against the
counter-clamping element 50 which corresponds to the gripper 46,
the clamping forces acting on the counter-clamping element 50
acting via the gripper 46 on a deflection pulley element 76
supported in the upper frame region 36 and being transferred via
this deflection pulley element 76 to the upper frame region 36 of
the assembly 1.
[0092] In FIG. 14, the filling nozzle 10 has again been removed
from the tubular element 7 and moved into the filling head 25 of
the filling and closing station 15, with the tubular element 7
still being clamped by the clamping unit 48.
[0093] In FIG. 15, the filling and closing station 15 has again
been lowered so that the plug insertion unit 11 is now positioned
at the operational height 70. Thus, the plug insertion unit 11 is
now located in the actual operating position 72 opposite to the bag
2 which is still in the grip of the gripper 46, the filling nozzle
10 being correspondingly now parked in an additional retracting
position 77.
[0094] In FIG. 16, the plug insertion unit 11 has been moved in the
horizontal direction 28 towards the bag 2 such that the plug 6 is
inserted in the tubular element 7 and the closed port 5 at the bag
2 has been completed.
[0095] In FIG. 17, the plug insertion unit 11 has been moved back
to its initial position in the open condition. The gripper 46 has
also been opened such that the completely filled and closed bag 2
falls on the transport unit 55 and can be moved further.
[0096] In FIG. 18, the assembly 1 has returned to the general basic
position 65 of the filling unit 18 that was already shown in FIG.
4. The manufacturing process can now be restarted for subsequent
bags 2.
[0097] At this point, it is explicitly pointed out that the
features of the solutions described above or described in the
Claims and/or Figures can also be combined, if desired, so as to
implement the features and achieve the effects and advantages
described above in combination.
[0098] It is understood that the example of embodiment described
above is merely a first embodiment of the assembly according to the
invention for manufacturing a medical bag. Thus, the implementation
of the invention is not limited to this example of embodiment.
[0099] All features disclosed in the application documents are
claimed as essential for the invention, provided that they are
novel over the state of the art individually or in combination.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS
[0100] 1 assembly [0101] 2 medical bag or subsequent bag,
respectively [0102] 2A plastic film [0103] 3 filling means [0104] 4
closure means [0105] 5 port [0106] 6 plug [0107] 7 tubular element
[0108] 10 filling nozzle [0109] 11 plug insertion unit [0110] 12
plug gripper [0111] 15 filling and closing station [0112] 16 lower
frame portion [0113] 17 assembly frame [0114] 18 filling unit
[0115] 19 closing unit [0116] 20 height adjusting device or
vertical stroke device, respectively [0117] 21 vertical direction
[0118] 22 stroke cylinder [0119] 23 common carrier [0120] 24 common
vertical support [0121] 25 filling head [0122] 26 first horizontal
drive [0123] 27 gripping and closing head [0124] 28 horizontal
direction [0125] 29 additional horizontal drive [0126] 30 rail
element [0127] 31 feeding line [0128] 35 regripping unit [0129] 36
upper frame region [0130] 37 plug reservoir unit [0131] 38 swivel
and transfer arm [0132] 39 swivel axis [0133] 40 working cylinder
[0134] 41 plug receiving portion [0135] 45 bag handling unit [0136]
46 gripper [0137] 47 drive unit [0138] 48 clamping unit [0139] 49
clamping element [0140] 50 counter-clamping element [0141] 51
clamping drive [0142] 54 transport path [0143] 55 transport unit
[0144] 56 belt drive [0145] 57 seats [0146] 58 endless belt [0147]
59 horizontal plane [0148] 60 receiving or feeding station [0149]
61 providing station [0150] 65 general basic position [0151] 68
plug transfer position [0152] 69 transfer position [0153] 70
operational height [0154] 71 vertical retraction position [0155] 72
working position [0156] 74 feeding cylinder [0157] 75 linear
transport [0158] 76 deflection pulley element [0159] 77 additional
retraction position
* * * * *