EP3144618B1 - Freeze-drying system slide and freeze drying system - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a freeze dryer slide and a freeze dryer.

Freeze-drying plants are designed in many cases for discontinuous operation and consist predominantly of a drying chamber and a connected thereto via a closable opening condenser chamber, wherein the material to be dried is received in a plurality of drying vessels, vials, ampoules or trays to carry out drying on a footprint within a drying chamber. In the drying chamber a plurality of such shelves are arranged vertically displaceable one above the other in a frame at a distance. After a large number of each containing a certain amount of drying material drying vessels must be introduced into the drying chamber and removed after completion of the drying process in a drying process, depending on the size of the freeze-drying plant, both for loading and for unloading the drying vessels is the use automated working devices usual, which must already be determined when ordering the equipment today, whether the loading and / or unloading should be done by hand or by means of appropriate automated devices working. Retrofitting a manually to be loaded and / or unloading freeze dryer on an integrated automated process is not possible today or only at great expense.

In view of the temperature sensitivity of the material to be dried, but in particular due to the need aseptisch perfect conditions for all plant components that come into contact with the drying material, in the concept of a loading and unloading special attention must be paid to how their nature and Operation from the viewpoint of aseptic production represents.

From the WO 2005/121671 A1 a freeze-drying plant is known, in which the drying vessels are transported on a conveyor belt in a position in front of the inlet opening of the housing of this system, to be subsequently introduced in rows in a direction perpendicular to the feed direction of the conveyor belt for the purpose of carrying out the drying process in the housing. To move the drying vessels a device is used which consists of two on either side of a located in a loading position extending guides mounted, interconnected by a sliding bar carriage, the sliding bar both set up for insertion of the drying vessels and for pushing out the drying vessels after drying is. For this purpose, the sliding bar between a lowered active, that is intended to rest against the drying vessels and an inactive raised, that is, to override the upstanding on the footprint drying vessels position to be pivoted about an axis parallel to the footprint extending axis. To push out the drying vessels, the sliding bar is thus first pivoted to the inactive position, retracted above the drying vessels in the housing and finally pivoted on the opposite side of the input opening back of the group of drying vessels in its active position, in which it is available for pushing out , The problem due to the running over of the drying vessels, in particular due to unavoidable abrasion, is the maintenance of aseptic conditions.

The from the DE 103 07 571 A1 Known lyophilization plant is characterized in that for rowwise insertion into the housing of the first on a conveyor belt drying vessels in a direction perpendicular to the feed direction of the conveyor belt, a slider is provided, wherein additionally a sliding bar is arranged, which extends parallel to the slide and by means of two laterally along the guided in the loading and unloading position guided chain hoists in the housing and is extendable from this. The sliding bar is in turn pivotable about a horizontal axis at its ends between a lowered active, that is, to rest against the group of upstanding drying vessels applied position and a raised inactive, that is to say for driving over the group position.

Finally, out of the DE 60 2004 003 692 T2 a further freeze-drying plant is known, in which for the serial insertion of drying vessels in the system, a retractable into the housing through the inlet opening slider is provided, wherein in the housing inserted group of drying vessels during insertion rests against a likewise retractable into the housing bar, which causes a stabilization of the upright position of the drying vessels. The beam is supported at both ends on a respective carriage and at this pivotable between a lower active, applied to the drying vessel position and an upper inactive, for driving over the group of drying vessels position determined. The slider and the bar can be moved out of the housing completely. During a pushing out of the drying vessels, the beam acts as an ejector, whereas the slide performs a stabilizing function.

It is an object of the invention to propose a freeze dryer slide and a freeze dryer with an improved drive concept.

This object is achieved in a freeze-drying equipment carriage with the features of claim 1 and a freeze dryer with the features of claim 11. Further embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische teilweise geschnittene Darstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Gefriertrocknungsanlage;

Fig. 2

eine Ansicht der Gefriertrocknungsanlage in einer horizontalen Ebene II-II der Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

eine perspektivische Darstellung der Gefriertrocknungsanlage gemäß Fig. 1 ohne deren Gehäuse;

Fig. 4

eine vergrößerte perspektivische Teildarstellung des zum Ein- und Ausschieben benutzten Schlittens als Teil der Gefriertrocknungsanlage gemäß Fig. 1;

Fig. 5

eine perspektivische Teildarstellung der seitlichen Führungen der Trocknungs-gefäße der Gefriertrocknungsanlage gemäß Fig. 1;

Fig. 6

eine perspektivische Teildarstellung der Schlittenführungen der Gefriertrock-nungsanlage gemäß Fig. 1;

Fig. 7

eine perspektivische unterseitige Teildarstellung der Gefriertrocknungsanlage gemäß Fig. 1;

Fig. 8

eine vergrößerte Teilansicht einer Einzelheit A der Fig. 7;

Fig. 9

eine perspektivische unterseitige Teildarstellung der Gefriertrocknungsanlage gemäß Fig. 1;

Fig. 10

eine vergrößerte Teilansicht einer Einzelheit B der Fig. 9;

Fig. 11-17

jeweils aufeinanderfolgende Betriebsphasen der Gefriertrocknungsanlage gemäß Fig. 1 beginnend mit der Öffnung der Tür des Gehäuses bis zum Ausstoßen einer Gruppe von Trocknungsgefäßen zum Ende einer Trocknungsbehandlung.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the embodiment shown in the drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

a perspective partially sectioned view of a freeze-drying plant according to the invention;

Fig. 2

a view of the freeze-drying plant in a horizontal II-II level Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3

a perspective view of the freeze-drying plant according to Fig. 1 without the case;

Fig. 4

an enlarged partial perspective view of the slide used for insertion and removal as part of the freeze-drying plant according to Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 5

a partial perspective view of the lateral guides of the drying vessels of the freeze-drying plant according to Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 6

a partial perspective view of the carriage guides the freeze-drying plant according to Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 7

a perspective underside partial view of the freeze-drying plant according to Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 8

an enlarged partial view of a detail A of Fig. 7 ;

Fig. 9

a perspective underside partial view of the freeze-drying plant according to Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 10

an enlarged partial view of a detail B of Fig. 9 ;

Fig. 11-17

each successive operating phases of the freeze-drying plant according to Fig. 1 beginning with the opening of the door of the housing until the ejection of a group of drying vessels to the end of a drying treatment.

With 1 is in Fig. 1 a freeze-drying plant referred to, inter alia, consisting of a housing 3 arranged in a drying chamber 2 and a slidably mounted on rails 4 in the direction of arrows 5, a loading and unloading device carrying unit 6 is. The assembly 6 together with rails and the housing 3 are arranged on a common base plate 7 and it is the assembly 6 - apart from maintenance - usually firmly docked to the housing.

8 denotes a conveyor belt via which drying vessels, which contain the substance to be treated by freeze-drying, can be fed in the direction of the arrow 9, thus perpendicular to the direction of the arrows 5.

On the top 10 of the assembly, parallel to the rails 4 and the arrows 5, further rails 11 extend, in the direction of a provided with a closable door 12 opening 13 of the housing 3 out. To close and open the door 12 a drawing not shown drive is provided.

Slidably mounted on the rails 11 in the direction of the arrows 5 is a guide unit 14, which on the upper side two mutually parallel, one to be described in more detail below Carriage 15 receiving guides 16 carries. Also superimposed on the rails 11 in the direction of the arrows 5 is a loading bridge 17 which also carries guides 18 on the upper side, the function of which will be explained below. The carriage 15 can be moved along the mutually identical guides 16, 18.

The guides 16, 18 are dimensioned and arranged in conjunction with the displaceability of the guide unit 14 and the loading bridge 17 in the direction of the arrows 5 with the proviso that the carriage 15 in a front-side limit position or loading position on the side facing away from the housing 3 of the conveyor belt 8 is displaceable.

The drying chamber 2 is equipped in a conventional manner with an arrangement of mutually parallel, horizontally extending shelves 19 which are held vertically movable in a frame 20 and each serve to set up a drying substance containing drying vessels and after completion of the drying process from the Are to lead out drying chamber 2.

Within the drying chamber 2 is a height position corresponding to the loading and unloading of a footprint 19, hereinafter referred to as the displacement plane, wherein each of the shelves is movable in this displacement plane. This is the height position within the drying chamber in which, with the door open, 12 drying vessels can be introduced or carried out into the drying chamber 2 in a manner which will be explained below, by means of the slide 15.

In Fig. 2 and all following drawing figures corresponding function elements are numbered accordingly, so that to that extent can be dispensed with repeated descriptions.

The top view according Fig. 2 as well as the representation according to Fig. 3 show an adjusting plate 19, which is located in the loading position. In this displacement plane, there are further guides 21, 22, the nature of which corresponds to that of the guides 16, 18. By moving the guide unit 14 and the loading bridge 17 is thus for the carriage 15 a traversing range beginning with the front-mentioned limit position to a rear-side limit position within the housing 3, the unloading position, by pushing together the guides 21, 22 representable. The guides 21, 22 are slidably disposed within the housing 3 in its longitudinal direction, whereas their height position is fixed.

The in Fig. 4 shown, laterally held in the guides 16 carriage 15 is characterized on its front side 23 and on this opposite in the direction of the arrows 5 back 24 by mutually identical guide surfaces, which are intended to bear on the on or auszuschiebenden drying vessels. The bearing of the carriage 15 in the guides 16 is effected by wheels 25 which are connected by a toothed belt 26 with each other, wherein the timing belt 26 additionally has an external toothing, which with a corresponding profiling of the guides 16 and other guides 18, 21, 22 in Intervention is. All drive and control components of the carriage 15 are housed in a flat housing 27 whose height corresponds approximately to that of the guides 16 and thus less than that of a drying vessel fails.

In particular, within the carriage 15, a battery-powered electric drive can be used, to charge it in the loading position a non-contact, z. B. inductively effective charging station 28 is set up. ( Fig. 1 )

In order to achieve a safe upright position of the drying vessels, the width of the surface available for standing up should correspond to an integer multiple of the diameter or a comparable dimension of a drying vessel. In addition, the individual, pushed onto the loading bridge 17 rows of drying vessels should be laterally offset by half a diameter measure to each other to achieve optimum packing density. In this way, a mutual support effect of the drying vessels can be represented with each other.

For this purpose are according to Fig. 5 the loading bridge 17 with side guides 29 and the footprint 19 with side guides 30, 31 equipped. These each form lateral guide edges for the drying vessels and are arranged so as to be displaceable transversely to the insertion direction, thus in the direction of the arrows 32, so that insofar adjustment to different dimensions of the drying vessels is possible. For the lateral adjustment of the side guides 29 to 31 each drives are provided.

There is always a footprint 19 in the displacement plane, which in a below with reference to the FIGS. 6 to 10 secured manner described.

Each of the shelves 19 is provided in the corner region of its rectangular base with outstanding also rectangular, extending in the plane of the respective footprint 19 lugs 33, each of which is provided with an approximately semicircular, open to the peripheral outside recess 34. These recesses 34 serve in conjunction with vertically extending rods 35 of the frame 20 of the vertical guidance of the shelves 19. In this way, an exact vertical guidance of the shelves 19 is shown.

With 36, 37 are two, mutually associated carriage referred to, which are motor-displaceable parallel to the arrows 5 and are in communication with the respective guides 21, 22. In this way, a longitudinal displacement of the guides 21, 22 shown within recesses 38 between each two lugs 33.

The longitudinal displaceability of the guides 21, 22 given in this way is set up with the proviso that in an in Fig. 6 shown first boundary position, the opposite end faces of two successive guides 21, 22 are spaced from each other, whereas in a second limit position these end faces lie directly against each other, thus forming a continuous approximately continuous guide path for the carriage 15.

The first limit position is characterized in that the shelves 19 are vertically freely displaced. The second limit position is characterized in that a footprint 19 is located in the above-mentioned loading and unloading or displacement plane and is secured in this form-fitting manner. For this purpose, the in Fig. 7 left-side end plates 39, 40 ( Fig. 7 . 8th ) of the carriage 36, 37 equipped with horizontally extending, a support function fulfilling bolt 41.

Fig. 8 shows the carriage 36 in the first limit position, wherein it can be seen that a vertical movement of the shelves 19 is not hindered by the bolt 41. Fig. 10 on the other hand shows the carriage in the second limit position, wherein it can be seen that now a bolt 41 facing portion of a projection 33 rests on the bolt 41, thus preventing further downward movement of the adjusting plate 9.

The following are with reference to the FIGS. 11 to 17 the movements of a working cycle of the freeze-drying plant 1, starting with the serial insertion of Drying vessels in the freeze-drying plant and ending with the pushing out of the drying vessels are described after completion of the drying process from the system.

According to Fig. 11 the door 12 of the housing 3 has been moved vertically to its open position, wherein, as Fig. 12 shows, the guides 21, 22 are shifted to their second limit position, thus frontally adjacent to each other and forming a continuous guide for the carriage 15 within the drying chamber 2.

The guide unit 14 is also displaced together with the loading bridge 17 in the direction of the arrows 5, with the proviso that the loading bridge 17 and thus their guides 18 abut the end face on the guides 21 within the drying chamber 2, so that the loading bridge 17 partially into the drying chamber. 2 has been moved into it.

In this initial position, a first row of drying vessels 42 passes via the conveyor belt 8 into a position in front of the carriage 15, which is thus located on the side facing away from the housing 3 of the conveyor belt 8.

By subsequently providing rows of drying vessels 42 cyclically via the conveyor belt 8, optionally with respective backward displacement of the guide unit 14 on the rails 11 in the direction of the housing 3, these rows are successively moved by means of the carriage 15 on the loading bridge 17 on the in the loading position, first top shelf 19 of the plurality of shelves 19 is pushed into the drying chamber 2 until it has reached its full capacity on drying vessels 42. The placement of the drying vessels takes place here in a manner known per se with the proviso that successive rows are positioned offset in the direction of insertion perpendicular to this direction, by intermittent transverse displacement by means of a displacer 43, so that an optimal packing density is achieved. This state of complete loading of the loading surface 19 located in the loading position is in Fig. 14 shown.

In the Fig. 15 shown loaded footprint 19 is thus opposite to its position in Fig. 14 has been raised so that now under this a new footprint 19 is in the loading position and the process of batch loading can be continued until the state of charge of the drying chamber 2 is completed.

According to Fig. 15 is then the carriage 15 in the rearward direction, that is moved from the on the latter footprint 19 away, and then this process is repeated after transfer of the next footprint 19 in the loading position until all shelves 19 are loaded to the initial lowest and after Retraction of the loading bridge 17 from the drying chamber 2 and closing the door 12, the method of freeze-drying can be carried out in a conventional manner.

After completion of the freeze-drying process is in the loading position, which corresponds to the unloading, namely below the loaded shelves 9 optionally after their vertical displacement an empty shelf level set, followed by opening the door 12 and moving the guide unit 14 and inserting the dock leveler 17 in the drying chamber 2, the guides 18, 21, 22 are pushed together in the longitudinal direction, in turn, based on a continuous displacement possibility for the carriage 15. This is then retracted into this empty shelf level, this case thus the loaded shelves 19 unterfahrend, namely down to its rear, the door 12 opposite limit position within the drying chamber 2. Subsequently, located immediately above the initial empty shelf level loaded shelf 19 in the Lowering plane and secured in this position positively by moving the guides 16, 18 in their second limit position. The carriage 15 is now on the back of the group of drying vessels 42, which the door 12 is opposite. This position of the carriage is in Fig. 16 shown.

The carriage 15 is now driven for the purpose of pushing out the drying vessels on the loading bridge 17 on the conveyor belt 8, on which the treated by freeze drying drying vessels 42 are discharged in the direction of arrow 9.

The carriage 15 is then retracted after emptying the bottom shelf 19 along a now empty shelf 19 again in the drying chamber 2 to its rear end position, in this case the next to be unloaded footprint 19 unterfahrend. The latter footprint is then lowered into the unloading position and secured in this form-fitting, whereupon the unloading process is continued with the cooperation of the carriage 15 and the conveyor belt 8. The shelves 19 are thus unloaded successively by means of only one carriage, wherein the carriage 15 is always under loaded loading surfaces 19, so that in this respect aseptic conditions are respected.

For one embodiment of the invention, the freeze-drying plant has a drying chamber 2 set up in a housing 3 and an arrangement of displaceably arranged in the drying position 2 in a rack 20 for setting up drying vessels 42 containing drying surfaces. The housing 3 has at least one opening 13 which can be closed by a door 12. There is a loading and unloading device for the drying vessels 42 outside the drying chamber 2, which at least one in guides 16, 18, 21, 22 mounted, by means of its, a first movable leading edge forming back 24 for insertion of the drying vessels 42 in the drying chamber. 2 equipped carriage 15 has. Due to the height position of the opening 13, at least one horizontal displacement plane is defined, in which the guides 16, 18, 21, 22, occupying a fixed height position, extend. The arrangement of the adjusting plates 19 is vertically displaceable with the proviso within the drying chamber 2, that in the displacement plane insertion of the carriage 15 by under driving loaded shelves 19, thus avoiding a direct or indirect driving over loaded shelves 19 into a rear-side limit position in the drying chamber 2 and after lowering each of the next higher loaded shelf 19 in the displacement plane a possibility of pushing out the drying vessels 42 through the opening 13 from the drying chamber 2 out by means of a second movable leading edge forming front side 23 of the carriage 15 is shown.

The displacement plane in the drying chamber 2 and on the loading and unloading device is preferably defined by the fixed height position of the guides 16, 18, 21, 22.

It is possible here that the loading and unloading device comprises a conveyor belt 8, whose conveying direction extends transversely to a direction of insertion of the drying vessels 42 in or the pushing out of the drying vessels 42 from the drying chamber 2.

Preferably, the loading and unloading device has a loading bridge 17 carrying the guides 18, which can be inserted into the drying chamber 2 for the purpose of connection to the guides 21.

For a further development of this idea, a front-side limit position of the carriage 15 is arranged on the loading and unloading device.

It is possible here that the front-side limit position is located on a side of the conveyor belt 8 opposite the drying chamber 2.

It is possible that a power supply and / or control of the drive via the guides 16, 18, 21, 22 is set up.

It is possible that side guides 29, 30, 31 for the in the drying chamber 2 on or auszuschiebenden this drying vessels 42 are provided which are arranged perpendicular to the direction of a push-in or Ausschiebens, wherein the guides 16, 18, 21 , 22 are fixedly arranged in this direction.

It is also possible that the loading and unloading device is supported on a structural unit 6, which is arranged in a direction away from the drying chamber 2 or in the direction of this movable.

Alternatively or cumulatively, it is possible that an arrangement of specified by bolts 41 supports for a footprint in the displacement plane is present, so that the height position of the located in the displacement plane footprint 19 is independent of the frame 6 can be displayed, the system of the conditions between one of the footprint 19 in the displacement plane engages under active position and an inactive this non-intermeshing position is movable.

In a method for operating a freeze-drying plant of the type described above, the drying vessel 2 containing drying substance to be dried drying substance 42 by means of the back 24 of the carriage 15 in the sliding plane rows successively pushed onto the footprint 19 to be loaded until the loading process of this footprint 19 is completed. By cyclically lifting, namely transferring the next shelves 19 in the displacement plane of the loading process following shelves 19 is continued until completion of the loading of the drying chamber 2. To unload the drying chamber 2, the carriage 15 is retracted in the displacement plane by moving under loading loaded shelves 19 to its rear limit position in the drying chamber 2 after completion of the drying process. The respectively undershot footprint 19 is lowered into the displacement plane. The standing on the located in the displacement plane footprint 19 drying vessels 42 are by means of the front side 23 of the carriage 15 on the Opening 13 is ejected. The process of inserting the carriage 15 in the displacement plane in the drying chamber 2 by respectively driving under a loaded, located above the sliding plane shelf 19 to the rear limit position, lowering the loaded shelf 19 in the sliding plane and pushing out the drying vessels 42 on the Opening 13 cyclically until the completion of the unloading operation of the drying chamber 2 is then repeated.

It is possible that only a carriage is needed, the front and back of each form a movable leading edge for the drying vessels to represent the process of insertion into the drying chamber and the process of pushing out of the drying chamber. It is also possible that an insertion of the carriage in the drying chamber with the aim of bringing a door of the housing facing the front side for pushing out the drying vessels in the starting position, which corresponds to the rear limit position, is always connected to an under riding laden shelves. Since it is thus impossible to drive over loaded loading spaces, there are no problems which arise with an unavoidable abrasion associated with the movement of the carriage, so that aseptic conditions are ensured.

The retraction of the carriage in the drying chamber at the beginning and during the successive unloading of the shelves takes place in a displacement plane, which may be an empty shelf, the pressure plate of the arrangement of shelves or the space below the pressure plate. The floor space to be unloaded is initially undercut and then lowered into the displacement plane, whereupon the unloading process follows.

Possibly, the guides intended to support the carriage are arranged in a fixed height position and define the position of the displacement plane.

For a further embodiment, a conveyor belt forms part of the loading and unloading device, the conveying direction of which extends transversely to the entry or extension direction.

Instead of a conveyor belt and a trolley may be used, the size of which depends on the footprint and in addition to the said guides also has a specific for the carriage parking position. Such a trolley has no conveyor belt.

The loading and unloading device comprises, for a further embodiment, a loading bridge whose guides interact during storage of the carriage with the guides within the drying chamber.

The carriage preferably has a second limit position located outside the drying chamber. This position can be used as parking position during the drying process. It is set up starting from the drying chamber beyond the conveyor belt if it is also to be used for loading at the same time. In other cases, it can also be set up on the dock leveler.

Different variants of a drive of the carriage are possible. Here is an electric drive is used, which may also be a linear drive. In the case of a battery-powered drive, a preferably inductive charging station may be arranged in the second limit position.

Further embodiments relate to the drive including the guides associated therewith. A traction with the guides is thereafter preferably mediated via a toothed belt, which surrounds a plurality of wheels and in this way is also suitable for driving over gaps in segments of the guides. It is essential that the drive has a flat-building, all components including a control receiving housing whose height corresponds to that of the guides.

The housing of the carriage is preferably designed as a hermetically sealed, in particular watertight unit, which is accessible within the drying chamber a CIP cleaning process (clean in place).

It is possible that a second, a Gegenhaltefunktion fulfilling and otherwise identical carriage is provided, which is also included in the guides. Both carriages can have a parking position on the loading and unloading device and it can be spent in the sliding plane always one of the two carriages in a sliding position and the other in a suitable position for performing a counter holding function. An advantage may be the exercise of a counter holding function in drying vessels with a low resistance to riot.

A further embodiment relates to the guides intended for receiving the carriage. These are segmented in the longitudinal direction and displaceable relative to each other. They can simultaneously be designed as lateral guide edges for the drying vessels, so that in conjunction with an additional displaceable arrangement perpendicular to their longitudinal extension a simple adaptation to different dimensions of the drying vessels is possible, thus mediating a safe Aufstandposition this in the transverse direction to a pushing in or pushing out and at the same time preventing jamming and wedging, thus producing less rejects at the drying vessels.

Between the guides, depending on the shape of the drying vessels, eg. As in a shell drying, a gap remain that corresponds to the space required for the suspension of the shelves. The guides must therefore not necessarily be moved to a frontal investment position. Also, as previously stated, the carriage is to some extent suitable for traversing spaces between segments of the guides.

To move the segments of the guides vacuum-tight encapsulated gear units are provided, which are arranged outside the drying chamber arranged drive units. In principle, the displacement movement of said segments can also be represented structurally in a different manner, for example linked to the drive of the carriage. Also, an intermediate space between two segments can be bridged by moving telescopically extendable intermediate elements in these intermediate spaces.

As an alternative to the provision of a transverse displacement of the guides, it is also possible to provide special lateral guides which are displaceably arranged independently of the guides intended to receive the carriage.

It may be provided for Auflagerung the loading and unloading unit particular unit, which is arranged in the direction of the drying chamber and away from this, thus movable parallel to the direction of a pushing in or out. This embodiment can be used particularly advantageously for maintenance purposes. This assembly may be arranged displaceably on rails, for example.

The freeze dryer has been described above in connection with a drying chamber that is loaded and unloaded through only one orifice. The subject invention can also be used in such a system, which is designed for a passthrough operation and is therefore provided with two opposing openings, each associated with a loading and unloading.

The further embodiment of the freeze-drying plant is directed to the known representation of a system of requirements for the located in the displacement plane footprint. This allows independent height positioning of the displacement plane in the drying chamber and is exemplified by an arrangement of bolts, which is fulfilled between an active position in which a support function is fulfilled, and an inactive position in which no support function, relative to the footprint in the displacement plane are movable.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Freeze drying plant

2

drying chamber

3

casing

4

rails

5

arrows

6

unit

7

baseplate

8th

conveyor belt

9

arrow

10

top

11

rails

12

door

13

opening

14

Guide unit

15

carriage

16

guide

17

leveler

18

guide

19

footprint

20

frame

21

guide

22

guide

23

front

24

back

25

Wheel

26

toothed belt

27

casing

28

charging station

29

cornering

30

cornering

31

cornering

32

arrows

33

approach

34

recess

35

pole

36

carriage

37

carriage

38

recess

39

endplate

40

endplate

41

bolt

42

drying vessel

43

displacer

Claims (15)

1. Freeze-drying system carriage (15) with an electrical drive for displacing the carriage, characterised in that the carriage comprises a battery and that the drive is fed via the battery.
2. Freeze-drying system carriage (15) according to claim 1, characterised in that a non-positive connection of the electrical drive with guides (16; 18, 21, 22) is transmitted via a toothed belt (26) which surrounds several running wheels (25).
3. Freeze-drying system carriage (15) according to claim 2, characterised in that the toothed belt (26) is suitable for travelling over gaps in segments of the guides (16; 18, 21, 22).
4. Freeze-drying system carriage (15) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the supporting of the freeze-drying system carriage (15) is done in or on guides (16) by running wheels (25) which are interconnected via a toothed belt (26), where the toothed belt (26) additionally has an outer toothing, which are engageable with a corresponding profiling of the guides (16; 18, 21, 22).
5. Freeze-drying system carriage (15) according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterised in that the guides (16; 18, 21, 22) are realised as segmented in a longitudinal direction and are displaceable relative to one another.
6. Freeze-drying system carriage (15) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a housing (27) of the freeze-drying system carriage (15) is realised as a hermetically closed watertight unit.
7. Freeze-drying system carriage (15) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the battery is chargeable via a contact-free charging station (28).
8. Freeze-drying system carriage (15) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the contact-free charging station (28) is an inductively working charging station.
9. Freeze-drying system carriage (15) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the freeze-drying system carriage (15) is a flat construction unit accommodating all components of the electrical drive and its control, the construction height of which at the maximum corresponds to that of the guides (16).
10. Freeze-drying system carriage (15) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised by a radio link between the electrical drive and a control device arranged outside a drying chamber (2) set up for a control of the electrical drive.
11. Freeze-drying system (1) with a freeze-drying system carriage (15) according to one of the preceding claims.
12. Freeze-drying system (1) according to claim 11, characterised in that the charging station (28) is arranged in a limiting position of the battery-fed electrical drive arranged outside a drying chamber (2) and used as a parking position during the drying process.
13. Freeze-drying system (1) according to claim 12, characterised in that the limiting position is realised on the far side of a conveyor belt (8) when viewing from the drying chamber (2), where this limiting position at the same time is used for loading.
14. Freeze-drying system (1) according to claim 12, characterised in that the limiting position is arranged on a loading stage (17).
15. Freeze-drying system (1) according to one of claims 11 to 14, characterised by a second carriage fulfilling a counter-holding function and accommodated in or on the guides (16, 18, 21, 22).

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