Packaging line for pre-filled syringes and automated packaging process

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11465794-B2
Application number	US-201816769125-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 4, 2018
Priority date	Dec 4, 2017
Publication date	Oct 11, 2022
Grant date	Oct 11, 2022

Abstract

A packaging line implemented for packaging a pre-filled syringe is disclosed having a NSD mounting station, a PFS delivery arrangement adapted to automatically deliver a pre-filled syringe to the NSD mounting station, and a NSD delivery arrangement adapted to automatically deliver a needle safety device to the NSD mounting station. The NSD mounting station is arranged to automatically assemble the needle safety device to the pre-filled syringe. A NSD visual inspection station is adapted to automatically identify a pre-filled syringe with an unfit needle safety device and to automatically eliminate the identified pre-filled syringe from the packaging line. A re-insertion station is further provided to receive a pre-filled syringe with a needle safety device and to automatically feed the received pre-filled syringe, preferably from a rejected secondary packaging, back into the packaging line, after the NSD mounting station and before the NSD visual inspection station.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A packaging line implemented for packaging a pre-filled syringe, comprising:
a needle safety device (NSD) mounting station;
a pre-filled syringe (PFS) delivery arrangement positioned before the NSD mounting station and configured to automatically deliver a pre-filled syringe to the NSD mounting station;
a needle safety device (NSD) delivery arrangement positioned before the NSD mounting station and configured to automatically deliver a needle safety device to the NSD mounting station;
a needle safety device (NSD) visual inspection station; and
a re-insertion station,
wherein the NSD mounting station is arranged to automatically assemble the needle safety device to the pre-filled syringe,
wherein the NSD visual inspection station is positioned after the NSD mounting station and configured to automatically identify a pre-filled syringe with an unfit needle safety device and to automatically eliminate the identified pre-filled syringe from the packaging line, and
wherein the re-insertion station is configured to receive a pre-filled syringe with a needle safety device and to automatically feed the received pre-filled syringe into the packaging line after the NSD mounting station and before the NSD visual inspection station.

2. The packaging line of claim 1 , comprising a transport switch arrangement configured to switch delivery to the NSD visual inspection station between the NSD mounting station and the re-insertion station.

3. The packaging line of claim 1 , comprising a syringe labelling station configured to automatically equip a pre-filled syringe with a label.

4. The packaging line of claim 3 , comprising a label visual inspection station positioned after the syringe labelling station and configured to automatically identify a pre-filled syringe with an unfit label and to automatically eliminate the identified pre-filled syringe from the packaging line.

5. The packaging line of claim 1 , comprising a secondary packaging arrangement positioned after the NSD visual inspection station and configured to case the pre-filled syringe in a secondary packaging.

6. The packaging line of claim 5 , wherein the secondary packaging arrangement comprises a packaging visual inspection station configured to automatically identify an unfit secondary packaging and to automatically eliminate the identified secondary packaging from the packaging line.

7. The packaging line of claim 5 , wherein the secondary packaging arrangement comprises a packaging labelling station configured to automatically equip the secondary packaging with a label.

8. The packaging line of claim 7 , comprising a packaging label visual inspection station configured to automatically identify a secondary packaging with an unfit label and to automatically eliminate the identified secondary packaging from the packaging line.

9. The packaging line of claim 1 , wherein the re-insertion station comprises a feeding ramp configured to receive the pre-filled syringe with the needle safety device and to let slide the pre-filled syringe in the packaging line.

10. The packaging line of claim 1 , wherein the NSD visual inspection station comprises a camera directed to a pre-filled syringe delivered from the NSD mounting station and a control unit configured to automatically evaluate the images of the camera and to automatically initiate elimination of a pre-filled syringe from the packaging line if an unfit needle safety device is identified.

11. An automated process of packaging a prefilled syringe, comprising the steps of:
automatically delivering a pre-filled syringe to a needle safety device (NSD) mounting station;
automatically delivering a needle safety device to the NSD mounting station;
automatically assembling the needle safety device to the pre-filled syringe;
automatically identifying a pre-filled syringe with an unfit needle safety device;
automatically eliminating the identified pre-filled syringe from the packaging line; and
receiving pre-filled syringes with needle safety devices and automatically feeding the received pre-filled syringes in the packaging line, after the NSD mounting station and before a needle safety device (NSD) visual inspection station.

12. The automated process of claim 11 , comprising the steps of:
stopping automatically delivering a pre-filled syringe to the NSD mounting station, if pre-filled syringes with needle safety devices are received by the re-insertion station, and
feeding the pre-filled syringes received by the re-insertion station in the packaging line, before the NSD visual inspection station.

13. The automated process of claim 11 , comprising the step of redirecting the pre-filled syringes with needle safety devices received by the re-insertion station from a secondary packaging arrangement positioned after the NSD visual inspection station.

14. The automated process of claim 13 , comprising the step of letting the pre-filled syringes with needle safety devices slide in the packaging line through a feeding ramp of the re-insertion station.

15. The automated process of claim 13 , comprising the step of equipping a secondary packaging with a label, by the secondary packaging arrangement, and automatically identifying a secondary packaging with an unfit label, by a packaging label visual inspection station.

16. The automated process of claim 15 , wherein the pre-filled syringes with needle safety devices contained in a secondary packaging with an unfit label are redirected to the re-insertion station.

Assignees

• Hoffmann La Roche
• Bausch Stroebel Maschf Ilshofen Gmbh Co Kg
• Bausch Stroebel Maschinefabrik Ilshofen Gmbh Co Kg

Inventors

• Schaffner Patrick
• Felder Marcel
• Käser Jürg
• Meier Reto
• Mahler Jürg
• Emmert Wolfgang

Classifications

• B65B65/003 Primary

  Packaging lines, e.g. general layout · CPC title

• A61M2205/60

  with identification means · CPC title

• B65B35/24

  by endless belts or chains {(B65B35/205 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• A61M5/3202

  Devices for protection of the needle before use, e.g. caps (A61M5/50 takes precedence; for infusion spikes A61M5/1626; protectors for sharps A61B50/3001) · CPC title

• A61M5/002

  Packages specially adapted therefor, e.g. for syringes or needles, kits for diabetics (needle protection, e.g. caps, A61M5/3202; for sharps A61B50/3001) · CPC title