KR20060109356A - Liquid ejection method and liquid ejection device - Google Patents

Abstract

Pressurisable container for storing and ejecting liquid, the container comprising a) a front wall having or surrounding a cavity corresponding to the form of an open vessel, b) an opening in the front wall adapted for ejection of the liquid from the container, said opening defining a container axis, c) optionally a sealing over the opening adapted for temporary use, and d) a rear wall closing and sealing the open part of the front wall vessel to confine a space for the liquid in the container, the rear wall running at least partially perpendicular to the container axis and being displaceable or deformable for movement towards the opening to pressurize the container liquid. The front wall is substantially rigid in relation to the rear wall, the rear wall before pressurizing the container is substantially flat or substantially single-curved and the rear wall is deformable under stretching to substantially fill out the container cavity. The invention also relates to methods for container manufacture and devices and methods for ejecting liquid from the containers.

Description

Liquid ejection method and liquid ejection apparatus {METHOD AND DEVICE FOR EJECTING LIQUID FROM A CONTAINER}

1A-1G are schematic cross-sectional views of various container designs and features useful for single or multiple container devices;

2a to 2c are rear enlarged cross-sectional views of a disc shaped multi-container structure with 14 containers distributed around the disc periphery;

3A-3D are partial cross-sectional perspective views of a disk similar to that of FIG. 2, showing the rear wall and the release film, FIG.

4A and 4B are partial cross-sectional and perspective views, respectively, of an interior portion of a disc-shaped multi-container dispenser device;

Liquid containers designed to hold and store liquids as well as to transfer or discharge liquids tend to be much more complicated when the control demands on the transfer pattern increase. While the complexity and cost of a pump system, for example, can be accommodated under certain circumstances, such as recycling or multiple dosing devices, these conditions are not always present. For example, by providing a single sealed container for each liquid dosage to be transported, precise control of dosage and sterile conditions are managed under such unit dosage environments, for example until use is moved in medical transport applications and where price is a critical constraint. It is desirable to maintain. These design constraints are even more severe, depending on additional conditions of transport quality, for example, for transport pressure, liquid velocity, precise targeting, jet coherence, rapid stream ramp up, rapid transport, small losses, accurate dosing, etc. Can be done. For example, in order to impart a high jet velocity or degree of atomization, high chamber pressures require a specially designed thick wall or complex support for the chamber, thereby counteracting the cost, or rupture, instability of the openings. Or by dislocation to counter targeting. Jet adhesion may require accurate opening channels that conflict with minimal material and fabrication conditions. High dosing precision requires complete chamber emptying and low losses and requires rapid pressure gradients, placing high demands on controlled collapse of the pressurized walls and cavity stability. Secondary elements also need to be considered. For example, it is common to provide a temporary seal over the opening to completely seal the container prior to use, and the device needs to be present for rupture and removal of the seal in connection with transport. Also, with the exception of such container characteristics, some rigidity and additional structure may be required to hold the container in the transport device fixture or seat. In addition, to avoid handling individual unit dosage containers, it is desirable to provide a unit of a multi-connected container for continuous firing at the dispenser device, which unit feeds and stabilizes the individual container at the device launch position. May require additional structural stiffness and features. There is a need for both efficient production of container parts as well as reasonable filling and sealing of containers under high purity and even aseptic conditions.

The proposals of the prior art have met the above requirements only in limited scope. U. S. Patent No. 4,090, 642 discloses a tape with multiple pockets for flowable materials, and liquids with low transport and control requirements due to the fact that the flowable material is only pressed onto the tape surface for contact application to the skin. Indicates dispensing. US Pat. No. 5,497,763 relates to a system comprising a similar multidose tape for aspirating misted liquids. The transfer requirements are still low when the fog is made with a separate vibrator and the demand on the tape for liquid outflow through the porous membrane is reduced. Similarly, GB 2255918 relates to droplet formation for inhalation purposes, but liquid misting here occurs by forcing the liquid through a narrow container opening. Despite the higher demands, the proposed container is a separate collapsible container or blister type sheet with multiple containers and requires heavy support in the dispensing device when pressure is applied to the domed back wall. However, the collapse of the container cannot be completely controlled. In addition, for the above-mentioned purposes, liquid targeting is not required because no liquid targeting is required, and droplets of mist are passively introduced into the lungs by the patient with respect to inhalation and even cause the stream to be redirected. International Patent Publication WO 90/13328, British Patent GB 2242134, German Patent DE 19500726, International Patent Publication WO 97/04827, US Patent 4,811,731, US Patent 5,207,217, US Patent 5,415,162 As illustrated in European Patent No. EP 469814, European Patent EP 129985 and US Patent 4,627,432, the same applies to powder inhalers, and also that no misting occurs and is not emitted from the nozzle-like opening. Is different. Therefore, such a requirement is not considered, and a container design suitable for such purpose has not been proposed. WO 96/00050 and EP 224352 relate to the generation of streams of droplets which are actually released and targeted towards the eye and which can cross the air gap by their inertia. Typically, however, the dispenser device required is complex and has not been proposed for individual unit dosing containers with integral transfer nozzles. WO 96/06581 and WO 97/23177 propose such unit dosage containers for similar eye treatment purposes. Although valuable in many respects, the proposed container design resembles what is already known and discussed, namely a flexible band or complex separate container with multiple blistered pockets having a bulb type wall to collapse.

Therefore, there is a need for an improved unitary unit dosage sealed container system suitable for both liquid storage and liquid transfer under high control and quality requirements.

The present invention relates to a compressible container for storing and ejecting liquids, which container is suitable for ejecting liquid from the container, the front wall having or surrounding a cavity corresponding to the shape of an open container, Seals and seals the openings of the front wall defining the container axis, optionally on openings suitable for temporary use, and the open portions of the front wall container to form a space for the liquid in the container, And a rear wall extending at least partially vertically and displaceable and deformable to move towards the opening to pressurize the container liquid. The present invention also relates to a method for producing a container, and an apparatus and method for ejecting a liquid from a container.

In all embodiments of FIG. 1 except as shown in FIG. 1F, the front wall is formed from a plate-like structure, which is flat in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1D and 1E and curved with a concentric surface in FIGS. 1C and 1G. have. Various useful shapes are shown in the figures, but for the sake of clarity, not all necessary or preferred parts are shown in all figures.

In FIG. 1A, the container 110 includes a front wall 111 having substantially parallel front and rear surfaces. The front wall 111 has a cavity 112 in the form of a container having a rear opening 114 opposite the front container surface 113. The cross section of the cavity shown is generally in the form of a circular segment. An opening 115 defining the container axis 116 provides a fluid connection between the interior and exterior of the cavity at the front wall front side. The opening 115 is here shown as a substantially constant cross-sectional channel with a thin inner film 117 that is formed from the material left in the injection molding and acts as a temporary seal that bursts upon cavity pressurization. The deformable rear wall 118 covers the rear opening 114 of the cavity container with a seal (not shown). The back wall is originally formed from a flat sheet material, shown here as a discontinuous curve in the form of a number of bends 119, extending perpendicular to the drawing plane, where the bends are required to stretch the back wall material when pressed into the container cavity. Act to reduce it.

FIG. 1B shows a container designed similarly to FIG. 1A, with the opening 125 slightly converging and by means of a temporary seal in the form of a tearable or peelable sheet 127 sealed to the front surface of the front wall. What is covered on the front surface of the front wall is different. The back wall 128 is shown as a film with a continuous curved portion 129 and provides an additional volume provided to the container when confined by the back container opening 124, where the dashed line is equivalent to the back surface of the front wall. Shown in height, it also adds a surface to the rear wall that limits its elongation. The curve of the rear wall portion 129 can be formed from flat sheet material if the curve is constantly perpendicular to the drawing plane, and for cylindrical cover surfaces, it may require a double curved material when in spherical form. have.

FIG. 1C shows a container formed in the front wall 131 in the form of a cylindrical portion having essentially a single curved front and rear surface centered on the cylindrical axis 133 and an opening 135 on the convex surface outside the cylindrical portion. 130 is shown. Also shown is a cavity 132 with a cylindrical portion 134 terminating in spherical segment portion 137, which is symmetrically centered in opening 135 and axis 136. The back wall 138 is formed from a continuously curved single curved material and is suitable for the inner surface of the cylinder of the front wall 131, and thus is more suitable than the corresponding flat sheet on the cavity container opening shown by the dotted line 139. The surface is larger.

1D shows a container having a front wall 141 having a cavity 142, wherein the container surface of the cavity 142 has a cylindrical portion 143 and a flat bottom portion 144. On the front surface of the front wall, there is also shown an opening 145 having a suitable opening and a peripheral recess 146 which acts to prevent direct contact between the release film 147 and its sealing surface 148. The surface is disposed in a ring outside the recess 146.

FIG. 1E shows a container 150 having a cavity in the form of a circular segment centered on the midpoint 153 of the circle, as in FIGS. 1A and 1B. The radial construction line 154 drawn from the point 153 intersects perpendicularly with the inner surface 155 of the cavity 152 and when measured along these construction lines perpendicular to the container surface, the wall thickness is determined by the cavity axis 156. Is shown to increase laterally away from (solid line portion of line 154). In contrast, FIG. 1F illustrates that the cavity 162 has a front wall 161, which is shaped to give a constant wall thickness, as measured along construction line 164 centered on point 163 in the same manner as FIG. 1E. An embodiment of a container 160 formed therein is shown. This figure also shows a longer opening 165, with a converging portion 166 and a straight portion 167 having a generally constant cross section. For the sake of clarity, the dividing line is omitted in these figures.

FIG. 1G shows a container 170 formed in the front wall 171 in the form of a basically cylindrical portion having a single curved front and rear surface centered on the cylindrical axis 173, as in FIG. 1C. . However, in this embodiment, the opening 175 is disposed on the concave surface inside the cylindrical portion. The back wall 178 is formed from a single curved material that is continuously curved and is suitable for the cylindrical outer surface of the front wall 171, thus having a larger surface than the corresponding flat sheet on the cavity 172 container. Temporary sealing film 177 covering opening 175 is also formed from a single curved sheet of material.

All container embodiments shown in FIGS. 1A-1G may be used as a single separate container or may be part of a multiple container structure by joining in the form of similar or different containers by laterally extending the front wall shown. .

2A-2C show a rear view, a cross-sectional view, and a partial enlarged view of a disk-shaped multi-container front wall structure having 14 containers distributed around the disk periphery. The disk 200 may have a peripheral front wall structure 210 with containers, a slightly offset central auxiliary portion 230 with actuation and retention devices, and a transition portion 250 with peeling and guiding devices. In the illustrated embodiment, the front wall structure 210 whose plate shape is the basic shape includes fourteen identical cavities 220 having a front side 211 and a back side 212 and in the form of a generally circular segment, the cavity Rear rim 221 is slightly rounded. The cavity opening 222 is slightly converging and a small recess 223 is provided to form an initial appearance on the front side 211 of the front wall structure 210. The auxiliary portion 230 may have a central shaft hole 231 for support and operation with a key surface 232 that provides non-rotational symmetry to facilitate operation. The hole 231 is slightly conical and preferably converges from rear to front to facilitate actuator insertion and centering. The spacing ridge 233 acts to provide a gap between the discs when stacked, ie, during sterilization. The transition portion 250 acts to allow the penetration of the release tool from the rear side to the front side to converge slightly forward and lift the temporary seal in the form of a release film (not shown). The cooperation between the tool and the bore also acts as a guide device to center the cavity relative to the ram head of the dispenser device. In the illustrated cavity arrangement, a flat rear wall film (not shown) can be positioned above the cavity backside to seal the container after filling. Each cavity may be sealed with a separate film portion but it is also possible to use a single sheet covering all the cavities. Preferably this film is radially limited to the front wall portion 210 of the disk, leaving the transition portion 250 and the auxiliary portion 230 uncovered. A typical overall thickness of the front wall plate may be about 2 mm and the depth of the cavity is about 1.5 mm.

3A-3D show a disk device similar to FIG. 2. Fig. 3A is a perspective view of the disc front side, Fig. 3B is a perspective view of the rear side, Fig. 3C is a sectional view from the outer edge of the disc before ejection to the center, and Fig. 3D is a similar sectional view of the cavity after use. As in FIG. 2, the disc has a peripheral front wall structure 310 with containers, a slightly laterally offset central auxiliary portion 330 with actuation and retention devices and a transition portion 350 with peeling and guiding devices. Has All details common to FIG. 2 are not repeated. Also in this embodiment, there are fourteen identical cavities 320 in the form of generally circular segments with cavity openings 322 with front side recesses 323. The hole 311 acts to facilitate handling of the disk during manufacture and filling. The secondary portion 330 has teeth 332 which are symmetrically arranged so that the disk is attached to the corresponding toothed working axis of the dispenser device without considering the positioning of any individual container or disc portion. It has a central shaft hole 331 for support and operation. The transition portion 350 has a bore 351 that acts to allow the release tool to penetrate from the rear side to the front side to lift the temporary seal in the form of the described release film. A single flat rear wall film 370 cut in the form of a ring and radially limited to the front wall structure 310 covers all the cavity backsides to seal the container. As shown in FIG. 3A, a release film 390 is attached to the disc front side to cover all cavity openings 322. The release film comprises an integral central ring portion 391 formed in a star form from a single flat sheet and concentrically attached to the secondary disk portion 330 from which a ring portion tongue 392, one for each cavity, is provided. Under the covering of the bore 351 passes through the transition portion 350 and extends further in the radial direction to extend radially to cover the cavity opening 322. Initially all cavity openings 322 are covered by tongues 392. When liquid from one of the containers is dispensed, an unsealing tool (not shown) is moved from the disc rear side to the anterior side through the corresponding bore 351, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3D, Lift the corresponding tongue 392 'to release and expose the corresponding cavity opening 322. The container contents are then ejected by pressing the rear wall 370 under extension from the flat state shown in FIG. 3C to the cavity filled state shown in FIG. 3D.

4A and 4B show a dispenser device for a multi-container disc as described in connection with FIG. 3. Device 400 is shown without any casing portion of the housing. The device receives the disk 410 on its front side, to the right of the figure. The apparatus may have a sheet 420 for a disc that incorporates a disc support shaft 421 having teeth 422 corresponding to the teeth of the disc central opening. The shaft 421 has a support gear wheel 423 that cooperates with a control gear wheel 424 coupled to a thumb wheel 425 to sequentially advance individual containers to the described ejection position. The thumb wheel may be manually operated or may be coupled to an instrument (not shown) to automatically increment in conjunction with a motor operating cycle. It is ensured that the pawl and ratchet mechanism 426 can only rotate in one direction to occupy a predetermined position and to avoid reusing an already empty container. These parts may also be provided with metrology means or other auxiliary means (not shown) that require disk replacement. In the figure, the lowermost disc portion is an active ejection position (not shown), which may include additional support or guides (not shown) for the disc for forward and backward movements, such as to balance the force from the ram. 427). Preferably such support structure can be arranged on the door device of the housing for disc insertion. In this position the cavity is centered relative to the ram 430. The ram has a ram head 431 having a circular segment front shape suitable for container cavity shape. The ram head is part of the ram head support 432 and also includes the bore in FIG. 3 for the described purpose of lifting the temporary sealing film from the container opening and centering and stabilizing the container cavity with respect to the ram head 431. An unsealing and guiding tool in the form of a probe pin 433 arranged to penetrate the bore corresponding to 351 is supported in the disk 410. The probe pin 433 extends further forward than the ram head 431 to perform this function before the ram head hits the rear wall of the container. The ram further includes screw-screws 434 for pushing the ram axially forward and backward. The ram is fixed against axial rotational movement by a guide (not shown) of the flat lower surface 435 of the ram head support 432. The apparatus further includes a motor and powertrain system 450 for operation of the ram movement. The drive nut 451, which is arranged to rotate but is fixed axially, has an internal screw-screw 452 for cooperating with the ram outer screw-screw 434 to move the ram axially with the rotation of the drive nut. . Angular viscous damper 453 has a fixed portion 454 and a rotating portion 455 coupled to the driving nut 451 to rotate with the driving nut. The drive nut 451 has an external gear tooth 456 on which the drive nut can be rotated. Rotatingly disposed motor housing 460 has an outer gear 461 that is larger than the diameter of drive nut 456. A motor spring 462 is disposed inside the motor housing 460, and the motor spring 462 extends through the open portion 463 of the motor housing 460 to the left side of the drawing (not shown). Can be locked against rotation. A catch wheel 464 having a rim groove 465 cooperating with an arming pin 466 of a hand accessible safety switch 467 is firmly and concentrically mounted to the motor housing 460. Attached. The firing system 470 incorporates a release system (not shown) with a firing button 471 having two actuating positions, and as shown in the drawing, actuation of the first portion of the firing button is performed by a probe pin ( The motor and powertrain system 450 advances the ram such that 433 completely removes the temporary sealing film without any contact between the container rear wall and the ram head 431, and the second actuation of the launch button 471 causes the ram to move forward. Head 431 causes the forward movement into the container cavity to complete. Typical propulsion speeds for the ram during ejection can be about 2 mm of movement for a time of about 50 ms, for example about a cavity depth of about 1.5 mm.

The invention is not limited to the described and illustrated embodiments, but may vary within the scope of the appended claims.

According to the invention there is provided a front wall having or enclosing a cavity corresponding to the shape of an open container, in a front wall suitable for ejecting liquid from the container, an opening forming the container axis, an optional seal on the opening suitable for temporary use. A rear wall for sealing and sealing the open portion of the front wall container to define a space for the liquid in the container, the rear wall being at least partially orthogonal to the container axis and displaced to move towards the opening to compress the container liquid. A liquid ejection method and a liquid ejection apparatus using a container are provided which are possible or deformable.

Claims (38)

A method of ejecting liquid from a container, comprising: a front wall having or enclosing a cavity corresponding to the shape of an open container, an opening in the front wall suitable for ejecting liquid from the container, the opening forming a container axis; C) an optional seal on the opening suitable for temporary use, and a rear wall for sealing and sealing the open portion of the front wall container to define a space for the liquid in the container, the rear wall being at least partially on the container axis. Wherein the liquid ejection method is orthogonal to and displaceable or deformable to move towards the opening for compressing the container liquid, Pressurizing the container by moving the rear wall at least partially towards the opening and axially at a speed sufficient to eject liquid through the opening; Elastically or inelastically stretching said rear wall to increase its surface; Liquid jet method. The method of claim 1, Said stretching step comprises stretching said rear wall from a flat or single-curve to a double curve form Liquid jet method. The method of claim 1, Deforming the rear wall until the stretching step substantially corresponds to the cavity shape. Liquid jet method. The method of claim 1, Substantially discharging the liquid in the container Liquid jet method. The method of claim 1, The liquid is ejected from the opening at a speed of at least 5 m / sec, preferably at least 10 m / sec Liquid jet method. The method of claim 1, The liquid is in the form of droplets of diameter less than about 20 microns Liquid jet method. The method of claim 1, Characterized in that the liquid is ejected in the form of a close jet Liquid jet method. The method of claim 1, Characterized in that the liquid is passed through the air at a distance no less than 1 cm before hitting the target surface Liquid jet method. The method of claim 1, Characterized in that the liquid is allowed to strike the eye Liquid jet method. The method of claim 1, Characterized in that the liquid is allowed to strike a smooth surface for its at least partial penetration Liquid jet method. A device for ejecting liquid from a container, the apparatus comprising: a front wall having or enclosing a cavity corresponding to the form of an open container, an opening in a front wall suitable for ejecting liquid from the container, the opening defining a container axis; C) an optional seal on the opening suitable for temporary use, and a rear wall for sealing and sealing the open portion of the front wall container to define a space for the liquid in the container, the rear wall being at least partially on the container axis. 10. A liquid ejection device, orthogonal to and displaceable or deformable to move towards an opening for compressing a container liquid, A housing having a seating portion for a container suitable for receiving a container having a distance of at least 0.5 mm between the rear wall and the front wall front surface; A ram arranged in the axial direction of movement substantially in the container of the seating portion with respect to the housing; An actuator operable to drive the ram; Liquid ejecting device. The method of claim 11, When positioned in the seating portion, the container substantially exposes the entire portion of the rear wall surface covering the cavity towards the ram. Liquid ejecting device. The method of claim 11, The seating portion is configured to permit replacement of the container therein Liquid ejecting device. The method of claim 13, The seating unit is configured to be replaced by sequentially feeding containers in the multi-container unit into the seating unit. Liquid ejecting device. The method of claim 14, The seating portion comprises a track, wherein the container is fed into the track. Liquid ejecting device. The method of claim 14, The seating portion is characterized in that the sequential feeding is made by the rotation of the multi-container unit having a container arranged in a circular pattern Liquid ejecting device. The method of claim 11, A guide device is arranged to ensure alignment between the ram and the container cavity Liquid ejecting device. The method of claim 17, And the guide device comprises a lock that is releasable between the container and the housing or seating portion. Liquid ejecting device. The method of claim 17, And the guide device comprises a lock that is releasable between the container and the ram. Liquid ejecting device. The method of claim 19, And a structure for locking the container when the locking device moves in the direction of movement of the ram. Liquid ejecting device. The method of claim 11, Wherein the ram comprises a ram head and a ram piston. Liquid ejecting device. The method of claim 21, The front portion of the ram head is substantially homogenous with the container cavity Liquid ejecting device. The method of claim 21, At least the ram head front portion is made of a soft material suitable for the container cavity Liquid ejecting device. The method of claim 21, The actuator is arranged to displace the ram piston Liquid ejecting device. The method of claim 11, The actuator comprises an electrical device for driving the ram Liquid ejecting device. The method of claim 11, The actuator comprises a mechanical device for driving the ram Liquid ejecting device. The method of claim 26, The mechanical device comprises at least one spring for storing energy Liquid ejecting device. The method of claim 11, The actuator comprises a transmission including at least one drive force conversion device; Liquid ejecting device. The method of claim 28, Characterized in that the transmission comprises a screw and nut device Liquid ejecting device. The method of claim 11, Characterized in that a damper is configured to carry out the ram movement. Liquid ejecting device. The method of claim 11, And the release tool is arranged to break or remove the seal on the container opening. Liquid ejecting device. The method of claim 31, wherein Characterized in that the tool is arranged at the rear of the container when it is positioned in the seat and arranged for forward movement during unsealing. Liquid ejecting device. The method of claim 32, The tool is arranged to pass through or past the front wall during its forward movement to break the seal Liquid ejecting device. The method of claim 33, wherein The tool and the container configured to cooperate as a guide device arranged to ensure alignment between the ram and the container cavity. Liquid ejecting device. The method of claim 32, The tool is connected to the ram for joint movement with the ram Liquid ejecting device. 36. The method of claim 35 wherein The tool is connected to the ram such that the ram strikes the seal before the ram strikes the container. Liquid ejecting device. The method of claim 11, 40. The container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 39, characterized in that Liquid ejecting device. The method of claim 11, A liquid according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that arranged to enable the ejection of the liquid Liquid ejecting device.

Images