Device and Method for Packing Syringes in Nests

Abstract

A device for packing syringes in nests comprising means of setting the syringes to the right pitch and first means of gripping the said syringes set to the said pitch. The device is characterised in that it also comprises a transport chain with links having the said pitch, in closed circuit and in movement at least about two driving axes, the said gripping means being in movement synchronised with the movement of the chain, in order to pick up a predetermined quantity of syringes in movement from the said chain,

1 . Device for packing syringes in nests comprising:
 means of setting the syringes to the right pitch, arranged to separate and move the brought syringes to the said pitch,   first means of gripping the said syringes ( 4 ) set to the said pitch, having a gripping position in which the gripping means grip a predetermined quantity of syringes ( 4 ) and a release position in which the gripping means release the said predetermine quantity of syringes in order to arrange them in nests,   characterised in that it also comprises a transport chain with links having the said pitch, in closed circuit and moving at least around two drive spindles, arranged to transport and move the syringes coming from the pitch-setting means, each link being arranged to house at least part of a syringe, and in that the said first gripping means pass from the release position to the gripping position, in movement synchronised with the movement of the chain, in order to take off a predetermined quantity of syringes in movement from the said chain.   
   
   
       2 . Device according to  claim 1 , also comprising a transfer wheel arranged to load the syringes set to the right pitch by the said pitch-setting means in the said transport chain. 
   
   
       3 . Device according to  claim 1 , in which the said links in the chain are connected together by a pivot point enabling the links to be able to move with respect to one another unidirectionally from an axis (X) of the chain passing through each pivot point. 
   
   
       4 . Device according to  claim 1 , in which the said links in the chain are connected together by a pivot point enabling the links to move with respect to one another bidirectionally from an axis X of the chain passing through each pivot point. 
   
   
       5 . Device according to  claim 1 , in which each link has a cross section substantially identical to the cross section of the syringe to be packed. 
   
   
       6 . Device according to  claim 1 , in which each link arranged to house at least part of a syringe comprises a lateral entry or exit opening for the syringe facing a syringe set to the right pitch by the said pitch-setting means. 
   
   
       7 . Device according to  claim 6 , in which the said opening has a width adjusted with respect to the cross section of the syringe to be housed in the said link. 
   
   
       8 . Device according to  claim 1 , in which each link has a top surface provided with a projection arranged to lock the said syringe housed in the said link. 
   
   
       9 . Device according to  claim 1 , also comprising a conveyor preferably external to the said transport chain in closed circuit for transporting nests to be packed or that have been packed. 
   
   
       10 . Device according to  claim 1 , in which the said pitch-setting means are supplied by syringe feed means, in particular by a conveyor or a transporter belt. 
   
   
       11 . Device according to  claim 1 , comprising second means of gripping the said syringes set to the right pitch, having a gripping position in which the second gripping means grip a predetermined quantity of syringes and a release position in which the second gripping means release the said predetermined quantity of syringes in order to arrange them in nests, the said second gripping means passing from the release position to the gripping position, in movement synchronised with the movement of the chain, in order to take off a predetermined quantity of syringes in movement from the said chain. 
   
   
       12 . Device according to  claim 1 , in which the number of driving spindles is at least four and in which the said chain comprises more than one outward section and more than return section. 
   
   
       13 . Device according to  claim 12 , in which the said first and second gripping means are synchronised and pass from the release position to the gripping position and grip the said syringes together and release them in the nest together, the said first and second gripping means being arranged to take off the said moving syringes from the chain, each on a different outward section or each on a different return section. 
   
   
       14 . Device according to  claim 1 , also comprising a device for ejecting syringes at the end of the circuit. 
   
   
       15 . Device according to  claim 1 , in which the said means of setting the syringes to the right pitch, the said transport chain with links having the said pitch, the said transfer wheel and possibly the said ejection device are arranged on an exchangeable platform. 
   
   
       16 . Method of packing syringes in nests, comprising the steps of:
 bringing and setting to the right pitch syringes to be packed in a pitch-setting zone with obtaining of syringes set to the right pitch,   gripping of the syringes set to the right pitch by gripping means,   movement of the syringes picked up to the said nests in which the said syringes are to be packed by the gripping means,   characterised in that it also comprises transportation by a chain of the syringes between the said pitch-setting zone and a picking-up zone and in that the picking up by the gripping means is carried out in motion and, in a cyclic manner, comprises a phase of approaching the said chain by the gripping means, a gripping phase and a phase of moving the picked-up syringes towards the said nests with the release of the syringes in the aforementioned nest.