U.S. patent number 3,880,211 [Application Number 05/380,685] was granted by the patent office on 1975-04-29 for apparatus for filling containers.
Invention is credited to Larry C. Gess.
United States Patent |
3,880,211 |
Gess |
April 29, 1975 |
APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS
Abstract
This invention relates to apparatus for filling medicinal
syringes. The apparatus includes a pump arrangement for filling
individual syringes automatically and includes a mechanical
adjustment for easily changing the amount of medicinal liquid fed
to each syringe. The individual syringes are then labeled with
appropriate indicia showing the contents.
Inventors: |
Gess; Larry C. (Toledo,
OH) |
Family
ID: |
26885877 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/380,685 |
Filed: |
July 19, 1973 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
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190210 |
Oct 18, 1971 |
3835897 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
141/258;
141/183 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65C
3/08 (20130101); B65B 3/12 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65B
3/10 (20060101); B65B 3/12 (20060101); B65C
3/08 (20060101); B65C 3/00 (20060101); B67c
003/12 () |
Field of
Search: |
;23/253,259
;141/98,18,165,170,171,191,130,183-191,258-262 ;53/139.3 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Bell, Jr.; Houston S.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Gutchess, Jr.; Allen D.
Parent Case Text
This is a division of application Ser. No. 190,210, now U.S. Pat.
No. 3,835,897 filed Oct. 18, 1971.
Claims
I claim:
1. Apparatus for filling medicinal containers comprising means for
holding a medicinal container upright with an opening at the top
thereof, a hollow member for directing liquid into the container
opening, means for holding said hollow member above the container
holding means with the hollow member directed toward the opening, a
supply container, plunger means in said supply container, means
connecting said supply container with said hollow member, and means
for moving said plunger means incremental distances further into
said supply container to move amounts of liquid from the supply
container through the connecting means and the hollow member when
medicinal containers are to be filled.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1 characterized by means for
returning said plunger means toward the initial position in said
supply container after said plunger means has been moved a number
of incremental distances further into said supply container.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1 characterized by said moving
means comprises a gear rack connected to said plunger means, a
pinion gear, and means for rotating said pinion gear in one
direction only through a predetermined angle to incrementally move
said plunger means each time one of the medicinal containers is to
be filled.
4. Apparatus according to claim 3 characterized by said latter
means includes a shaft on which said pinion gear is mounted, an arm
affixed to said shaft, and adjustable means for limiting the extent
of angular movement of said pinion gear.
5. Apparatus according to claim 4 characterized by a one-way clutch
mounting said pinion gear on said shaft to enable said pinion gear
to rotate with said shaft in only one direction effective to move
said gear rack toward the supply container and said plunger means
further into said supply container.
6. Apparatus according to claim 4 characterized further by drive
means including an electromagnetic clutch for rotating said shaft,
and means for energizing said electromagnetic clutch for a
predetermined period of time when one of the medicinal containers
is to be filled.
7. Apparatus according to claim 1 characterized further by means
for moving said hollow member downwardly into the medicinal
container when the medicinal container is held in alignment with
said hollow member by said holding means.
Description
This invention relates to apparatus for filling containers and
specifically medicinal syringes.
Disposable syringes are more and more commonly used in hospitals, a
principal advantage being the added assurance against infection.
Commonly syringes are manually filled from a supply container
having a rubber diaphragm through which the syringe needle is
projected into the container. Such containers are relatively small,
being capable of only supplying doses for eight or ten syringes.
Otherwise, too many holes result in the diaphragm as the result of
the needles, and the contents can be exposed to the air and
contaminated. Additionally, the needles of the syringes have a
greater chance of being contaminated by this supply technique. The
relatively small supply containers are also uneconomical and
present a handling and storage problem. Particularly in larger
hospitals using large numbers of syringes daily, the manual filling
of each represents many costly man-hours on the part of nurses or
doctors who are already overworked.
The present invention provides a machine for filling a number of
syringes automatically and for labeling them at the same time. This
assures that the proper label is applied to the proper medicine to
reduce the possibility of errors. Further, a larger container of
the medicine can be used, if desired, for greater economy, as well
as to reduce handling and storage problems. The syringes can be
filled without the needles thereon with the needles being applied
later, to further reduce the possibility of contamination.
The new machine is also compact, reliable, and can be used by an
unskilled operator. It also employs relatively inexpensive and
simplified mechanical components to reduce the overall cost and
maintenance requirements.
The new machine has a four-station indexing wheel or turntable. The
syringe is fed by hand or by suitable automatic supply means to a
first station of the turntable with a narrow neck to receive the
needle extending upwardly. The lower end of the syringe has a
plunger previously inserted into the barrel thereof to seal that
end of the syringe. The syringe is then moved to a second station
at which a predetermined amount of medicinal liquid is supplied
through the narrow neck of the syringe in a predetermined,
changeable amount. The syringe intercepts a printed label at the
third station which wraps around the syringe barrel and is adhered
together at the back. The syringe is then automatically removed
from the indexing wheel to a discharge trough at the fourth
station. A removable cap can then be placed over the narrow neck of
the syringe and the filled syringe stored until ready for use. At
that time, the cap can be removed and a sterilized needle applied
to the narrow neck, with a plunger rod inserted into the plunger
located in the syringe barrel.
Even with four stations, including the filling apparatus and the
label printing and applying apparatus, the entire machine is very
compact, being less than about 16 inches wide and 20 inches
long.
It is, therefore, a principal object of the invention to provide a
machine for automatically filling syringes.
Another object of the invention is to provide a machine for filling
and labeling syringes which is compact in size, reliable, and low
in cost.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a
container-filling machine with accurate and easily adjustable means
for changing the quantity of medicinal liquid supplied to the
container.
Many other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent
from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment
thereof, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in
which:
FIG. 1 is an overall view in perspective from above of a machine
for filling and labeling syringes according to the invention;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view in perspective, taken from the opposite
direction, of indexing means for a turntable and of apparatus for
filling syringes with predetermined, changeable amounts of
medicinal liquid; and
FIG. 3 is a view in perspective, with parts broken away and with
parts in section, of drive means for certain components of the
machine and particularly the filling apparatus.
Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, an overall
syringe filling and labeling machine embodying the invention is
indicated at 10 and includes a base 12 containing the drive system
and controls for the machine. The overall machine is compact, being
only about 16 inches wide and 20 inches long so that space
requirements are kept to a minimum. The machine is also relatively
light in weight, less than about 100 pounds, to provide portability
so that the machine can be positioned in the most efficient or
needed location. However, the machine is commonly used in a
sanitary hood which supplies filtered, germ-free air over the
apparatus to prevent possible contamination by air-borne
bacteria.
Syringes handled by the machine 10 are indicated at 14. These
preferably are of the disposable type which can be readily
commercially obtained in several different styles. As shown in FIG.
2, the syringe 14 includes a main barrel 16 containing the usual
graduations and an upper neck 18 over which can be fitted a
suitable cap when the syringe is filled. The cap can subsequently
be removed and a needle placed on the neck 18. At the lower end of
the syringe 14 is an annular flange 20 for fingers, used in
combination with the thumb on a plunger rod, to push the plunger
rod into the syringe and move a plunger 22 through the barrel 16
toward the neck 18 to dispense the contents. The plunger 22 is
placed in the barrel 16 before the syringe 14 is placed in the
machine. Commonly, the syringes 14 including the plungers 22 are
purchased assembled and in a sterilized condition from the
manufacturer.
The syringes 14 are moved from a suitable supply source
sequentially to an indexing wheel or turntable 24. The turntable 24
includes an upper disc 26 and a spaced, lower disc 28 connected
together by a central hub (not shown). Referring particularly to
FIG. 3, the upper disc 26 includes a notch 30 which positions an
upper portion of the syringe barrel 16. The lower disc 28 has a
horizontally-extending peripheral lip 32, above which is a thin
metal plate 34 of smaller diameter, with a space indicated at 36
between the lower disc and the plate. A notch 38 is formed in the
plate 34 to receive a lower portion of the barrel 16, the notches
30 and 38 being in alignment, there being four of each of the
notches for the four stations of the turntable 24. A chamfer 40 is
formed around the lower notch 38 at the bottom surface of the plate
34. The flange 20 of the syringe 14 is inserted in the space 36 and
is held between the disc 28 and the plate 34, the latter being
somewhat resilient to firmly engage the flange.
The syringes 14 are loaded at a first station indicated at 42 and
are then carried by the turntable to a second station indicated at
44 when the turntable is indexed in a clockwise direction through
90.degree. increments or steps. At the second station 44, the
syringes 14 receive a predetermined quantity of a medicinal liquid
from filling apparatus indicated at 46. The syringes 14 are then
transferred to a third station, indicated at 48, where labels 50
carrying appropriate indicia designating the medicine in the
syringes are applied. The syringes then move to a fourth station 52
and are stripped from the turntable and specifically from the
notches 30 and 38 as they move beyond the station 52. This is
accomplished by a side wall 54 of a discharge chute or trough
indicated at 56, the side wall extending into the space between the
discs 26 and 28 to engage and push outwardly that portion of the
barrel 16 between the discs.
The turntable is driven through a central shaft 58 and an
electromagnetic clutch C1 by means to be discussed subsequently.
The table is precisely indexed to each of the four stations by
means of four recesses 60 located on the lower surface of the lower
disc 38 at the four notch positions of the turntable. A detent 62
(FIG. 2) extends upwardly through a platform 64 of the machine base
12 and has a downwardly-extending rod 66 therebelow which is
spring-loaded in the upward direction by a coil spring 68. The rod
66 extends into a solenoid 70 and is pulled downwardly when the
solenoid is actuated. The solenoid 70 is supported by a mounting
plate 72 extending from a depending wall 74 of the base 12.
When a new syringe is placed at the first station 42 of the
turntable 24, and the turntable is to be indexed, a start switch,
whether hand- or foot-operated, is closed. A timer is then actuated
which actuates the solenoid 70 to move the detent 62 out of the
recess 60 for a very short period of time. The clutch Cl is also
energized, enabling the turntable to be indexed to the next
station. When the detent is released, the spring 68 moves it up
against the lower surface of the disc 28 again where it can enter
the next one of the recesses 60 when the turntable completes its
90.degree. movement to the next station. When the detent has so
indexed, and the detent 62 has moved into the next recess 60, an
arm 76 extending outwardly from a collar 78 of the rod 66 operates
a limit switch designated LSl which de-energizes the clutch Cl and
stops the drive for the turntable.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the filling apparatus 46 at the second
station 44 includes a vertically reciprocable member 80 slidably
mounted on two vertical posts or guides 82 and 84. The member 80
has ears 86 pivotally connected by a pin 88 to a crank arm 90 which
is driven in a manner to be subsequently discussed. The arm moves
the member 80 with a vertical reciprocating motion over a
predetermined distance. The member 80 also includes an outwardly
extending flange 92 supporting a supply needle or elongate hollow
member which extends downwardly and is in alignment with the neck
18 of the syringe 14 when at the second station 44.
The supply needle 94 is connected through a flexible supply tube 96
to a neck 98 of a pump cylinder 100. The cylinder 100 is held in a
fixed position in a recess 102 of a stand 104 by means of a
clamping bar 106 held in clamping engagement through a pin 108 and
a thumbscrew 110. A pump plunger 112 is located within the cylinder
100 and is connected to a plunger rod 114 extending downwardly to
an end flange 116, which is held by means of clamping plates 118,
screws 120, and springs 122 on a back-up plate 124. The plate 124,
in turn, is affixed to the upper end of a gear rack 126 which is
reciprocably guided in a groove or gib 128 in the side of the stand
104.
When the rack 126 is moved up a predetermined distance, it moves
the plunger 112 accordingly and dispenses a predetermined quantity
of medicinal liquid from the cylinder 100 through the tube 96 and
the needle 94 into the syringe 14. The cylinder 100 contains a
relatively large amount of the medicinal liquid so that the plunger
112 can be moved upwardly incrementally a number of times to fill a
corresponding number of the syringes 14 before the cylinder 100 is
empty. When the cylinder is empty, it can be removed and replaced
by a full one or it can be filled in place with the apparatus shown
in FIG. 2. In this instance, when the cylinder 100 is empty, a
three-way valve 130 is turned to enable the cylinder 100 to
communicate with an upwardly-extending neck 132 of the valve 130
rather than with the line 96. The neck 132 is connected through a
needle 134 with the interior of a medicinal supply container 136,
the needle 134 projecting through a rubber diaphragm 138 on top of
the container. When the rack 126 is then moved downwardly to
retract the plunger 112, it draws a new supply of medicinal liquid
from the container 136 into the cylinder 100 without removing the
cylinder. The valve 130 can then be turned back to connect the
cylinder with the line 96 and the operation can begin again. With
the relatively small medicinal supply containers now commercially
available, several may be needed to fill the cylinder 100. However,
the machine according to the invention will make larger supply
containers possible and practical since the diaphragm is pierced
only once, by the needle 134, rather than by a multiplicity of
syringe needles.
The plunger 112 is moved incrementally upwardly in the cylinder 100
through a unique, variable drive arrangement. Accordingly, the rack
126 projects through an opening 140 in the platform 64 of the base
12 and is backed up by a lower wall 142. A pinion 144 meshes with
the rack 126 and is connected through a commercially-available
one-way clutch 146 with a drive shaft 148. The clutch 146 is
designed so that when the shaft 148 rotates in a clockwise
direction, as viewed in FIG. 3, it accordingly rotates the pinion
144 which moves the rack 126 and the plunger 112 upwardly. When the
shaft 148 is moved in a counterclockwise direction, however, the
pinion 144 remains stationary. Rather than the clutch 146, the
shaft 148 can be in two parts and connected by an
electromagnetically-operated clutch which can be selectively
operated.
A travel arm 150 is affixed to the shaft 148 and moves in an
arcuate manner as the shaft rotates in either direction. When the
shaft 148 is driven, and the arm 150 is in the position shown in
FIG. 2, the shaft rotates until the arm 150 moves downwardly to a
position in which an end 152 engages a positive stop in the form of
an adjusting block 154. The block 154, in turn, is connected
through a slot 156 of a vertical bar 158 to an indicator block 160
by means of an adjusting thumbscrew 162. When the screw 162 is
loosened, the indicator block 160 and the stop block 154 can be
moved up and down to any predetermined position. The position is
shown by a pointer 164 on the block 160 associated with indicia
indicated at 166 located on a side wall 168 of the base 12. When
the shaft 148 is disengaged from the drive, the arm 150 is then
moved back to its original position by a spring 169 connected
between the arm and the platform 64. The original position of the
arm 150 is determined by a fixed stop 170 extending inwardly from
the bar 158.
From the above, it will be seen that when the shaft 148 is driven
in a clockwise direction, it similarly moves the plunger 144 and
causes liquid to be dispensed from the cylinder 100 through the
tube 96 to the syringe 14, until the arm 150 moves into contact
with the stop block 154. When the drive for the shaft 148 is
disengaged, the spring 169 returns the arm 150 to the upper
position against the stop 170. During this counterclockwise
movement of the arm 150, the shaft 148 is similarly rotated, but
the pinion 144 remains stationary and so does the rack 126 and the
plunger 112. Consequently, through each reciprocatory motion of the
arm 150 and each incremental drive of the shaft 148, the plunger
112 moves upwardly a predetermined distance in the cylinder 100 and
dispenses a predetermined amount of medicinal liquid to the syringe
aligned with the needle 94. The dispensing of the liquid through
the needle 94 only occurs when the needle is in the syringe and the
member 80 is in the lower position.
When the cylinder 100 is empty and is to be refilled, the plunger
rod 114 is retracted to its lowest position to draw a fresh supply
of liquid into the cylinder. To accomplish this, the shaft 148 is
moved inwardly toward the right, as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3, to
move the pinion 144 out of engagement with the rack 126 so that the
rack can be pushed downwardly. This can be accomplished by a
suitable handle 171 of FIG. 3 which is pushed in by the operator.
When the handle is released, a spring 172 of FIG. 3 moves the shaft
148 and the pinion 144 back to the original position with the
pinion and the rack 126 again engaged.
The filling operation of the syringe begins when one of the
syringes 14 moves into the filling position at the station 44. At
that time, a feeler arm of a limit switch LS2 engages the syringe
barrel 16 and closes the switch. The limit switch causes a pulse to
be fed to a solenoid SOL.l (FIG. 3) which retracts a dog 174 from
an offset 176 in a control disc 178. The release of the dog 174
from the offset 176 causes a commercially-available wrap spring
clutch 180 to engage and connect a drive shaft 182 with a drive
train, to be discussed subsequently. The shaft 182 is then driven
through an angle of 180.degree. until the dog 174, which was
immediately released after being retracted, contacts another offset
diametrically opposite the offset 176 in the control disc 178. This
accordingly stops the shaft 182.
During this movement, the crank arm 90, connected to a cam 184 on
the shaft 182, moves the reciprocable member 80 downwardly to move
the needle 94 into the syringe 14 at the station 44. In this
position, a control arm 186 on the shaft 182 contacts a feeler arm
of a limit switch LS3 which closes to energize an electromagnetic
clutch C2 to engage the drive train with the shaft 148. At the same
time, the limit switch LS3 energizes a timer which, when timed out,
de-energizes the clutch C2. The time that the clutch is energized,
however, is sufficient for the shaft 148 to be driven to the extent
that the arm 150 moves a distance sufficient for the end 152 to
contact the stop block 154 where it remains until the timer times
out and the clutch C2 is dis-engaged. At that time, the spring 169
returns the arm 150 and the shaft 148 to the original position,
ready for the next reciprocatory filling motion.
When the timer which dis-engages the clutch C2 times out, it also
pulses the solenoid SOL.l again to temporarily retract the dog 174
and to enable the shaft 182 to again rotate 180.degree. and raise
the supply needle 94 from the syringe 14 at the station 44. At this
time, the control arm 186 contacts a fourth limit switch LS4 which
readies the machine for another cycle. The turntable control is in
series with the limit switch LS4 to prevent indexing unless the
switch LS4 is closed. This prevents possible indexing when the
supply needle 94 is in one of the syringes 14.
The drive train for the filling apparatus 46 will now be discussed.
Referring to FIG. 3, a motor 324 has a drive shaft 326 which,
through a drive sprocket 328, a chain 330, and a driven sprocket
332, rotates an intermediate shaft 334. This rotates an
intermediate sprocket 336 which, through a chain 338, drives a
sprocket 340 which drives the shaft 182 through each of its
180.degree. movements when the dog 174 is released and the clutch
180 is engaged.
A drive sprocket 342 on the intermediate shaft 334, through a chain
344, drives a sprocket 346 located on a second intermediate shaft
348. A drive sprocket 350 affixed to the shaft 348 then drives,
through a chain 352, a sprocket 354 which is rotatably mounted on
the shaft 148. When the clutch C2 is engaged, the sprocket 354
drives the shaft 148 and the pinion 144 until the arm end 152
contacts the stop block 154. The clutch C2 then simply slips until
it is de-energized.
Various modifications of the above described embodiment of the
invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art and it is to
be understood that such modifications can be made without departing
from the scope of the invention, if they are within the spirit and
the tenor of the accompanying claims.
* * * * *