US 5,488,815 A · Apparatus and method for sterilization and secondary packaging

Abstract

An apparatus for the sterilization and secondary packaging into cartons of arrays of blister packages, each of which contains at least one hydrophilic contact lens immersed in a sterile aqueous solution. More specifically, disclosed is an apparatus adapted to provide for the assembly of paired arrays of blister packages which are suitably interleaved and transported in batches of predetermined quantities within one or more trays. These trays are transported to a sterilization chamber for sterilizing the arrays of blister packages, and from which the sterilized arrays of blister packages in which at least the contents thereof are maintained in a sterile condition, and which are then transported to a locale for implementing the secondary packaging thereof into sealable cartons. Also disclosed is a method of sterilizing and thereafter implementing the secondary packaging into cartons of predetermined quantities of arrays of blister packages, each of which contains a hydrophilic contact lens immersed in a sterile aqueous solution, so as to provide a clean environment for the arrays of blister packages.

Claims106

Dependent claims

An apparatus for the sterilization of arrays of interconnected blister packages each containing a contact lens in a sterile environment;

comprising:
(a) a pick-up and rotating arrangement for receiving successive pairs of said arrays and orienting each of said pairs into predetermined relationship with each other;
(b) a shuttle conveyor assembly including support structure for a plurality of said oriented pairs of arrays;
a transfer element operatively associated with said pick-up and rotating arrangement and said shuttle conveyor assembly for sequentially transferring said plurality of oriented pairs of arrays from said pick-up and rotating arrangement to said support structure on said conveyor shuttle assembly;
(c) at least one tray having a series of adjacently located rows of array-receiving spaces for housing one said pair of arrays in respectively each said space, said at least one tray being movable into position proximate said shuttle conveyor assembly;
(d) a pusher structure operatively associated with said shuttle conveyor assembly for transferring a predetermined quantity of said arrays from said support structure into the spaces in said at least one tray;
(e) a sterilization chamber for receiving said at least one tray;
and a transport installation for conveying said at least one array-filled tray into said sterilization chamber for the sterilization of the arrays of blister packages housed in said at least one tray in said chamber.

5 more elements

An apparatus for the secondary packaging into cartons of arrays of interconnected blister packages each containing a contact lens in a sterile environment, a plurality of said arrays being arranged in rows of spaces in at least one tray;

comprising:
(a) transport means for conveying said at least one tray from a sterilization chamber in which said arrays are collectively sterilized;
(b) a shuttle conveyor assembly for receiving said arrays from said at least one tray;
said shuttle conveyor assembly including an endless conveyor belt having a plurality of spaced outwardly extending fingers along the peripheral extent thereof, said transport means conveying said at least one tray to said shuttle conveyor assembly;
(c) pivoting means for tilting said at least one tray into an upended position at said shuttle conveyor assembly to successively align vertically oriented rows of spaces in said at least one tray with the spaces between the finger along a vertical run of said endless conveyor belt;
(d) a pusher structure including a plurality of spaced protrusions being extendable into the spaces of said at least one tray for transferring the arrays in each row of spaces into aligned spaces between the fingers on the vertical run of said endless conveyor belt;
(e) a cartoner including positioning means for successively aligning open-ended cartons with an upper horizontal run of said endless conveyor belt;
and
(f) a sliding pusher mounted for reciprocation proximate said upper run of the endless belt conveyor for transferring successive predetermined numbers of arrays from said upper horizontal run of the endless conveyor belt into a respective carton in said cartoner.

6 more elements

An apparatus for the sterilization and secondary packaging into cartons of arrays of interconnected blister packages each containing a contact lens in a sterile environment;

comprising:
(a) a pick-up and rotating arrangement for receiving successive pairs of said arrays and orienting each of said pairs into predetermined relationship with each other;
(b) a shuttle conveyor assembly including support structure for a plurality of said oriented pairs of arrays;
a transfer element operatively associated with said pick-up and rotating arrangement and said shuttle conveyor assembly for sequentially transferring said plurality of oriented pairs of arrays from said pick-up and rotating arrangement to said support structure on said conveyor shuttle assembly;
(c) at least one tray having a series of adjacently located rows of array-receiving spaces for housing one said pair of arrays in respectively each said space, said at least one tray being movable into position proximate said shuttle conveyor assembly;
(d) a pusher structure operatively associated with said shuttle conveyor assembly for transferring a predetermined quantity of said arrays from said support structure into the spaces in said at least one tray;
(e) a sterilization chamber for receiving said at least one tray;
and a transport installation for conveying said at least one array-filled tray into said sterilization chamber for the collective sterilization of the arrays of blister packages housed in said at least one tray within said chamber;
(f) transport means for conveying said at least one tray from said sterilization chamber in which sterilizing of said arrays has been completed;
(g) a further shuttle conveyor assembly for receiving said sterilized arrays from said at least one tray;
said further shuttle conveyor assembly including an endless conveyor belt having a plurality of spaced outwardly extending fingers along the peripheral extent thereof, said transport means conveying said at least one tray to said shuttle conveyor assembly;
(h) further pivoting means for tilting said at least one tray into an upended position at said further shuttle conveyor assembly to successively align vertically oriented rows of spaces in said at least one tray with the spaces between the finger along a vertical run of said endless conveyor belt;
(i) a further pusher structure including a plurality of spaced protrusions being extendable into the spaces of said at least one tray for transferring the arrays in each row of spaces into aligned spaces between the fingers on the vertical run of said endless conveyor belt;
(j) a cartoner including positioning means for successively aligning open-ended cartons with an upper horizontal run of said endless conveyor belt;
and
(k) a sliding pusher mounted for reciprocation proximate said upper horizontal run of the endless belt conveyor for transferring successive predetermined numbers of arrays from said upper horizontal run of the endless conveyor belt into a respective carton in said cartoner.

13 more elements

A method for the sterilization of arrays of interconnected blister packages each containing a contact lens in a sterile environment;

comprising:
(a) actuating a pick-up and rotating arrangement for receiving successive pairs of said arrays and orienting each of said pairs into predetermined relationship with each other;
(b) actuating a shuttle conveyor assembly including support structure for a plurality of said oriented pairs of arrays through a transfer element operatively associated in synchronism with said pick-up and rotating arrangement and said shuttle conveyor assembly for sequentially transferring said plurality of oriented pairs of arrays from said pick-up and rotating arrangement to said support structure on said conveyor shuttle assembly;
(c) moving at least one tray having a series of adjacently located rows of array-receiving spaces for housing one said pair of arrays in respectively each said space into position proximate said shuttle conveyor assembly;
(d) displacing a pusher structure operatively associated with said shuttle conveyor assembly for transferring a predetermined quantity of said arrays from said support structure into the spaces in said at least one tray;
and
(e) conveying said at least one array-filled tray into a sterilization chamber for the collective sterilization of the arrays of blister packages housed in said at least one tray in said chamber.

4 more elements

A method for the secondary packaging into cartons of arrays of interconnected blister packages each containing a contact lens in a sterile environment, a plurality of said arrays being arranged in rows of spaces in at least one tray;

comprising:
(a) conveying said at least one tray from a sterilization chamber in which said arrays are collectively sterilized;
(b) actuating a shuttle conveyor assembly for receiving said arrays from said at least one tray;
said shuttle conveyor assembly including an endless conveyor belt having a plurality of spaced outwardly extending fingers along the peripheral extent thereof, and conveying said at least one tray to said shuttle conveyor assembly;
(c) tilting said at least one tray into an upended position at said shuttle conveyor assembly to successively align vertically oriented rows of spaces in said at least one tray with the spaces between the finger along a vertical run of said endless conveyor belt;
(d) extending a pusher structure including a plurality of spaced protrusions into the spaces of said at least one tray for transferring the arrays in each row of spaces into aligned spaces between the fingers on the vertical run of said endless conveyor belt;
(e) successively aligning open-ended cartons with an upper horizontal run of said endless conveyor belt;
and
(f) reciprocating a sliding pusher said upper run of the endless belt conveyor for transferring successive predetermined numbers of arrays from said upper horizontal run of the endless conveyor belt into a respective one of said cartons.

6 more elements

A method for the sterilization and secondary packaging into cartons of arrays of interconnected blister packages each containing a contact lens in a sterile environment;

comprising:
(a) actuating a pick-up and rotating arrangement for receiving successive pairs of said arrays and orienting each of said pairs into predetermined relationship with each other;
(b) activating a shuttle conveyor assembly including support structure for a plurality of said oriented pairs of arrays through a transfer element operatively associated in synchronism with said pick-up and rotating arrangement and said shuttle conveyor assembly for sequentially transferring said plurality of oriented pairs of arrays from said pick-up and rotating arrangement to said support structure on said conveyor shuttle assembly;
(c) moving at least one tray having a series of adjacently located rows of array-receiving spaces for housing one said pair of arrays in respectively each said space into position proximate said shuttle conveyor assembly;
(d) displacing a pusher structure operatively associated with said shuttle conveyor assembly for transferring a predetermined quantity of said arrays from said support structure into the spaces in said at least one tray;
(e) conveying said at least one array-filled tray into a sterilization chamber for the collective sterilization of the arrays of blister packages housed in said at least one tray within said chamber;
(f) conveying said at least one tray from said sterilization chamber in which sterilizing of said arrays has been completed;
(g) indexing a further shuttle conveyor assembly for receiving said sterilized arrays from said at least one tray;
said further shuttle conveyor assembly including an endless conveyor belt having a plurality of spaced outwardly extending fingers along the peripheral extent thereof, said transport means conveying said at least one tray to said shuttle conveyor assembly;
(h) tilting said at least one tray into an upended position at said further shuttle conveyor assembly to successively align vertically oriented rows of spaces in said at least one tray with the spaces between the fingers along a vertical run of said endless conveyor belt;
(i) extending a further pusher structure including a plurality of spaced protrusions into the spaces of said at least one tray for transferring the arrays in each row of spaces into aligned spaces between the fingers on the vertical run of said endless conveyor belt;
(j) successively aligning open-ended cartons with an upper horizontal run of said endless conveyor belt;
and
(k) transferring successive predetermined numbers of arrays from said upper horizontal run of the endless conveyor belt into a respective therewith aligned carton.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus and method for sterilization and secondary packaging

Life of this patent

Apparatus and method for sterilization and secondary packaging

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims106