Abstract:
The invention relates to a device for filling and sealing containers, including a filling device for filling at least one container, a sealing device for sealing at least one container and a transport device for conveying at least one fillable container to the filling and locking devices and displacement means for modifying a distance between the filling and locking devices in a transport direction.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a 35 USC 371 application of PCT/EP 2006/062185 filed on May 10, 2006. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an improved container filling and sealing device. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     DE-A-103 30 700 discloses a package filling and sealing machine which includes several processing stations. The processing stations are each equipped with a robot; the robots of each processing station have structurally identical robot mechanics. A processing station for the filling process operates independently of a processing station that attaches a seal to a still-open end of a syringe. 
     SUMMARY AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION 
     The container filling and sealing device according to the invention has the advantage over the prior art that an immediate sealing can occur after the filling. Since the filled syringes remain open for only a very short span of time, this reduces the probability of contamination. It is also possible to increase the output by changing the distance between the filling devices and the sealing devices in the transport direction of the containers to be filled. 
     In a suitable modification, a three-axis robot is used as the moving mechanism to move the filling device. Such robots are sufficiently known and have fast operating speeds, This makes it possible to further increase the output of the container filling and sealing device. 
     In a suitable modification, the transport device is operated in a synchronized fashion. Particularly for a synchronously operated transport device, the possibility of a variable distance between the filling device and sealing device represents a further optimization with regard to a short dwell time of the filled containers and with regard to output capacity. In addition, the device can be adapted to different processing steps in that the distance between the filling device and the sealing device is selected to be large enough to permit the filled containers to be withdrawn for the purpose of in-process controls after the filling. 
     In a suitable modification, the moving mechanism is triggered as a function of the speed of the transport device. Thus, the containers can be filled and/or sealed during the ongoing transport. 
     In a suitable modification, only the filling device can be moved in the transport direction, whereas the sealing device assumes a fixed position in relation to the transport device and can only be moved in the vertical direction for the sealing. This selected constellation does permit further optimization of the costs of the device, but increases the time between filling and sealing since an empty row lies between them. 
     Advantageous modifications of the container filling and sealing device according to the invention are disclosed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Two exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in greater detail below, with reference to the drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the container filling and sealing device according to the invention, in the “filling last row, sealing penultimate row” position, 
         FIG. 2  shows the device according to  FIG. 1  in the “filling first row, sealing last row” position, 
         FIG. 3  shows the device according to the  FIG. 1  in the “in-process control” position, 
         FIG. 4  shows a second exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention, and 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of the device according to  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In the first exemplary embodiment according to the invention in  FIGS. 1-3 , a number of elongate nests  16  containing a plurality of containers  18  is shown. The nests  16  loaded with containers are transported in a transport direction (arrow V in  FIG. 1 ) to various processing stations on a transport device  14 . Each nest  16  has an elongate axis extending in the transport direction and a horizontal array of openings holding the plurality of containers  1  within the nest  16 . The array of openings are arranged in adjacent rows extending transversely to the axis of the nest. The open containers are filled by a filling device  10  that supplies the containers with fluid via filling needles  22  arranged in a row. As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the row of filling needles extends transversely, to the axis of the nests and parallel to the adjacent rows of openings in the nests. A moving device  28  is able to move the filling device  10  at least in the transport direction of the transport device  14  and in the vertical direction. This makes it possible to achieve a variable distance between the filling needles  22  of the filling device  10  and a sealing device  12 . The sealing device  12  is composed at least of insertion tubes  24  and rods  26  that are used to seal the filled containers  18 . As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the row of insertion tubes and rods extends transversely to the axis of the nests and parallel to the adjacent rows of openings in the nests. In addition, another moving device  30  is provided, which enables a movement of the sealing device  12  likewise in the transport direction and in the vertical direction. This same device is also shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , albeit in different positions, as will be explained below. During the procedure, a centering device is placed under the respective nest  16  with the containers  18  in order to hold the containers  18  in a definite, stable position. 
     The second exemplary embodiment in  FIGS. 4 and 5  differs from the preceding one in that the moving device  30 ′ of the sealing device  12  permits only a movement in the vertical direction, but not in the transport direction. A corresponding linear guidance is shown in  FIG. 4 . A robot is used as the moving device  28  of the filling device  10  and moves the filling needles  22  in the transport direction, perpendicular to the transport direction, and in the vertical direction. 
     The first exemplary embodiment according to the invention operates as follows: the nests  16  holding the containers  18  are transported through one after another. Consequently, several nests  16  with containers  18  are arranged in series in centering devices. They are moved to the work stations one after another. Then a simultaneous filling and sealing occurs by means of the filling device  10  and the sealing device  12 . According to the invention, the filling needles  22  can then also execute a movement in the transport direction. The transport device  14  executes a synchronized movement in order to always move the containers  18  precisely under the sealing device  12 . The movement of the filling needles  22  of the filling device  10  can compensate for the offset between the nests  16 . Thus, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the last row of the first nest  16  is filled and at the same time, the row immediately following is sealed by the sealing device  12 .  FIG. 2  shows the next work step. The filling device  10  then moves to the next nest  16  in order to fill the next row there. The transport device  14  moves one position further in order to seal the next row. Because the distance between the filling device  10  and the sealing device  12  is selected to be variable, the filling device  10  can already start the filling of the next nest  16 , thus increasing the output. The moving device  30  produces the sealing motion with the insertion tube  24  and rod  26 . 
     The variable position of the filling needles  22  allows them to also be used for filling containers  18  that are situated somewhat farther away in order to then subject them to an in-process control, as shown in  FIG. 3 . This can be necessary, for example, if the containers  18  must be removed for weighing after the filling and before the sealing. This is not possible with stations that are situated directly one after another. The above-described device is preferably suitable for a synchronized operation of the transport device  14 . It could also, however, be used for a continuously running transport device. 
     The device shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5  differs from the preceding one only with respect to the moving device  30 ′ of the sealing device  12 . In this instance, it does not permit a movement of the sealing device  12  in the transport direction. The nests  16  are moved as a function of the sealing position. The moving device  28  of the filling device  10  is embodied in the form of a robot, which, in addition to vertical and horizontal movements, can also execute movements in the transport direction. This makes it possible, in principle, to also reach the various operating positions shown in  FIGS. 1 through 3 . 
     The containers  18  to be filled can be syringes, for example. 
     The foregoing relates to a preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention, it being understood that other variants and embodiments thereof are possible within the spirit and scope of the invention, the latter being defined by the appended claims.