Isolator system and method

Abstract

A barrier system having a restricted-access environment, such as an isolator, a feeding apparatus for feeding closure elements into the isolator, a sealing station for sealing containers using the closure elements, and a handling device for transferring the closure elements. The sealing station and the handling device are arranged within the restricted-access environment, and the handling device is configured to transfer a fed closure element from the feeding apparatus to an inspection position within the restricted-access environment. The barrier system may also have an inspection device configured to inspect the closure element at the inspection position and determine whether the closure element has a defect. The handling device is configured to transfer the closure element from the inspection position to the sealing station when the closure element has no defect. Also disclosed is a method for processing closure elements in a restricted-access environment.

1 . A barrier system, the barrier system comprising: a restricted-access environment, a feeding apparatus for feeding closure elements into the restricted-access environment, a sealing station for sealing containers using the closure elements, and a handling device for transferring the closure elements, the sealing station and the handling device are arranged within the restricted-access environment, the handling device is configured to transfer a fed closure element from the feeding apparatus to an inspection position within the restricted-access environment, wherein the barrier system further comprises an inspection device, the inspection device is configured to inspect the closure element at the inspection position and to determine whether the closure element has a defect, and the handling device is configured to transfer the closure element from the inspection position to the sealing station when the closure element has no defect. 
     
     
         2 . The barrier system according to  claim 1 , wherein the feeding apparatus is configured to provide the closure elements on a surface, and the handling device is configured to transfer the closure element from the surface to the inspection position. 
     
     
         3 . The barrier system according to  claim 1 , wherein the barrier system further comprises a disposal device for disposing of defective closure elements, and the handling device is configured to transfer the closure element from the inspection position to the disposal device when the closure element has a defect. 
     
     
         4 . The barrier system according to  claim 1 , wherein the barrier system further comprises a control device for controlling the handling device, and the inspection device comprises the control device and the control device is further configured to determine whether the closure element has a defect. 
     
     
         5 . The barrier system according to  claim 1 , wherein the inspection device further comprises a camera system, the camera system is configured to capture at least one image of the closure element at the inspection position, and the inspection device is configured to determine, on the basis of the at least one captured image, whether the closure element has a defect. 
     
     
         6 . The barrier system according to  claim 1 , wherein the closure elements are formed with a substantially circular cross-section, and the inspection device is configured to inspect the closure element at the inspection position for its roundness. 
     
     
         7 . The barrier system according to  claim 6 , wherein the inspection device is configured to determine, on the basis of the at least one captured image, a parameter which indicates a measure for the roundness of the closure element, and to determine, on the basis of a comparison of the determined parameter with a threshold value, whether the closure element has a defect. 
     
     
         8 . The barrier system according to  claim 6 , wherein the inspection device is configured to determine whether an outer edge of the closure element lies within a tolerance range in the captured image. 
     
     
         9 . The barrier system according to  claim 1 , wherein the sealing station is a crimping station, and the closure elements are crimp caps. 
     
     
         10 . A method for processing closure elements in a restricted-access environment, comprising the steps of:
 feeding the closure elements into the restricted-access environment by means of a feeding apparatus;   first transferring a fed closure element from the feeding apparatus to an inspection position within the restricted-access environment by means of a handling device;   inspecting the closure element at the inspection position by means of an inspection device, wherein the inspection device determines whether the closure element has a defect;   second transferring the closure element from the inspection position to a sealing station within the restricted-access environment by means of the handling device, when the closure element has no defect; and   sealing a container in the sealing station by means of the closure element transferred to the sealing station.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein in the feeding step the feeding apparatus provides the closure elements on a surface, and in the first transferring step the handling device transfers the closure element from the surface to the inspection position. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the method further comprises the steps of:
 third transferring the closure element from the inspection position to a disposal device within the restricted-access environment by means of the handling device, when the closure element has a defect; and   disposing of the closure element transferred to the disposal device by means of the disposal device.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein in the inspecting step a camera system of the inspection device captures at least one image of the closure element at the inspection position, and the inspection device determines, on the basis of the at least one captured image, whether the closure element has a defect. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the closure elements are formed with a substantially circular cross-section, and in the inspecting step the inspection device inspects the closure element at the inspection position for its roundness. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the inspection device determines, on the basis of the at least one captured image, a parameter which indicates a measure for the roundness of the closure element, and determines, on the basis of a comparison of the determined parameter with a threshold value, whether the closure element has a defect. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the inspection device determines whether an outer edge of the closure element lies within a tolerance range in the captured image. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the sealing station is a crimping station, and the closure elements are crimp caps.