Disposable isolator and product conditioning installation comprising such a disposable isolator
Inventors
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11389976-B2
Publication Date
2022-07-19
Expiration Date
Abstract
A disposable isolator including a bottom, a flexible peripheral wall defining a clean and sterile inner volume, a first pair of joining parts forming a first tight junction at the bottom, this first pair including an inner part placed inside the inner volume and suitable for positioning containers, and an outer part placed outside the inner volume and suitable for cooperating by shape matching with a positioning cavity provided on a support table, and a second pair of joining parts forming a second tight junction at the peripheral wall and including an outer part suitable for being connected to a robot, and an inner part suitable for being connected to a manipulating tool, the first and second pairs being designed so that the robot applies the manipulating tool on the containers positioned on the support table.
Core Innovation
The invention concerns a disposable isolator comprising an enclosure with a bottom and a flexible peripheral wall, where the enclosure defines a clean and sterile inner volume. The disposable isolator includes two separate pairs of joining parts that are permanently secured to one another, and the joining parts are designed to compress the enclosure elements and to form tight junctions between inner and outer regions of the enclosure.
A first pair of joining parts comprises an inner first part positioned inside the inner volume to position one or several containers, and an outer first part positioned outside the inner volume that cooperates by shape matching with a positioning cavity provided on a support table. The inner and outer first parts are secured permanently on either side of the bottom so that the bottom is compressed between them and a first tight junction is formed.
A second pair of joining parts, separate from the first pair, comprises an inner second part inside the inner volume connected to a manipulating tool, and an outer second part outside the inner volume connected to a robot. The inner and outer second parts are placed on either side of the peripheral wall and are secured permanently so that the peripheral wall is compressed between them and a second tight junction is formed. The robot applies the manipulating tool to the or each container positioned on the support table by the first pair of joining parts.
Claims Coverage
The provided independent claims establish two main inventive features centered on a disposable isolator and an installation using that isolator. The coverage focuses on the dual, permanently secured joining-pair concept and its tight-junction coupling to both container positioning and robot manipulation.
Disposable isolator enclosure defining clean and sterile inner volume
An enclosure comprising a bottom and a flexible peripheral wall defines a clean and sterile inner volume therebetween.
Permanently secured first joining pair for container positioning tight junction
A first pair of permanently secured joining parts with an inner first part inside the inner volume for positioning one or several containers and an outer first part outside the inner volume cooperating by shape matching with a positioning cavity on a support table, compressing the bottom to form a first tight junction.
Permanently secured second joining pair for robot-to-manipulating-tool tight junction
A separate second pair of permanently secured joining parts with an inner second part inside the inner volume connected to a manipulating tool and an outer second part outside the inner volume connected to a robot, compressing the peripheral wall to form a second tight junction.
Robot applies manipulating tool to containers positioned on the support table
The robot applies the manipulating tool to the or each container positioned on the support table by the first pair of joining parts.
Installation for conditioning products using the disposable isolator
An installation for conditioning products including a disposable isolator, a support table with a positioning cavity suitable for shape matching with the disposable isolator, and at least one robot connectable to the disposable isolator.
Pouch and product transfer tubing connected via tight ports
At least one pouch of products outside the disposable isolator, with product transfer tubing extending from the pouch and being connected to the disposable isolator through tight ports.
The independent-claim core is the disposable isolator with two separate permanently secured joining-pair interfaces: a first joining pair that shape-matches with a support table positioning cavity to compress the bottom and form a tight junction for container positioning, and a second joining pair that compresses the flexible peripheral wall to form a tight junction enabling a robot to apply a manipulating tool inside the sterile volume. The installation coverage further links the isolator to product conditioning context, including product pouches and product transfer tubing connected through tight ports.
Stated Advantages
Provides a clean and sterile inner volume.
Forms a first tight junction for positioning containers via compression of the bottom.
Forms a second tight junction for robot coupling to a manipulating tool via compression of the peripheral wall.
Documented Applications
Conditioning products using an installation that includes a disposable isolator, a support table with a positioning cavity, and at least one robot connectable to the isolator.
Product conditioning involving at least one pouch of products connected to the disposable isolator through tight ports via product transfer tubing.
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