Abstract
The present disclosure relates to a supporting structure for concurrently supporting a plurality of containers for substances for pharmaceutical, medical or cosmetic applications, having a plurality of receptacles for accommodating the containers therein at least partially. Each of the receptacles has an open upper end for inserting the containers into the receptacles and a lower end having a retaining portion for delimiting an axial movement of the containers in the receptacles. Guiding portions are provided for guiding the containers into the receptacles during insertion. The guiding portions can have upper guiding and positioning portions close to the upper ends of the receptacles and lower guiding and positioning portions close to the lower ends of the receptacles, which are formed separately from each other and delimit a radial movement of the containers in the receptacles.
Claims
1. A supporting structure, comprising a plurality of receptacles, wherein each of the receptacles comprises an open upper end, a lower end, and a centerline along a longitudinal axis, wherein the lower end comprises a retaining portion that projects radially into the receptacle; guiding portions, wherein the guiding portions comprise a plurality of upper guiding portions close to the upper ends of the receptacles and a plurality of lower guiding portions close to the lower ends of the receptacles; a plurality of axial connecting webs associated with each of the plurality of receptacles, wherein each of the axial connecting webs has a portion that is parallel to the centerline; and a plurality of peripheral webs, wherein each of the peripheral webs is associated with one of the plurality of receptacles, wherein the peripheral webs form the upper ends of the associated receptacles, and wherein each of the peripheral webs is connected to the plurality of axial connecting webs associated with the receptacle, wherein the upper guiding portions and the lower guiding portions are not directly connected to each other, wherein the upper and lower guiding portions are one piece with the supporting structure, and wherein the upper and lower guiding portions each project radially inward into the receptacles.
2. The supporting structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein between the plurality of upper guiding portions and the plurality of lower guiding portions in the longitudinal direction of the receptacles is a distance that is larger than the distance between the upper guiding portions and the upper ends of the receptacles and/or larger than the distance between the lower guiding portions and the lower ends of the receptacles.
3. The supporting structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of upper guiding portions and the plurality of lower guiding portions are rigid guiding portions.
4. The supporting structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper guiding portions and/or lower guiding portions have front ends that together enclose an upper or lower circle.
5. The supporting structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper guiding portions are arranged at angles offset to the lower guiding portions, if viewed in a plan view, and wherein the upper and lower guiding portions are not overlapping each other.
6. The supporting structure as claimed in claim 5, wherein the lower guiding portions enclose a catching circle that has a diameter that is larger than the diameter of a circle of smallest diameter enclosed by the upper guiding portions.
7. The support structure as claimed in claim 6, wherein the upper guiding portions have a diameter range extending from the diameter of the circle of smallest diameter enclosed by the upper guiding portions to a diameter of a catching circle enclosed by the upper guiding portions, wherein the lower guiding portions have a diameter range extending from a diameter of a circle of smallest diameter enclosed by the lower guiding portions to the diameter of the catching circle enclosed by the lower guiding portions, wherein the diameter range of the upper guiding portions overlaps with the diameter range of the lower guiding portions.
8. The supporting structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper guiding portions and/or the lower guiding portions are each narrow upper and lower ribs, respectively, extending in the longitudinal direction of the receptacles.
9. The supporting structure as claimed in claim 8, wherein the upper and/or lower ribs have front contact surfaces that each have a profile that is wedge-shaped in longitudinal direction or which is rounded off.
10. The supporting structure as claimed in claim 8, wherein the upper and/or lower ribs have front contact surfaces that each extend downward at an acute angle of inclination relative to the longitudinal direction of the receptacles.
11. The supporting structure as claimed in claim 10, wherein the angle of inclination is in the range between 0° and 3°.
12. The supporting structure as claimed in claim 10, wherein the angle of inclination is in the range between 0.0° and 1.5°.
13. The supporting structure as claimed in claim 10, wherein the angle of inclination is in the range between 0.0° and 0.5°.
14. The supporting structure as claimed in claim 8, wherein the upper and/or lower ribs have front contact surfaces that are concavely curved, or wherein front contact surfaces of the upper and/or lower guiding ribs are respectively convexly curved.
15. The supporting structure as claimed in claim 5, wherein the upper guiding portions and/or the lower guiding portions are each ring segments extending in the longitudinal direction of the receptacles.
16. The supporting structure as claimed in claim 8, wherein the upper guiding ribs or the upper guiding portions are each one piece with an associated one of the peripheral webs.
17. The supporting structure as claimed in claim 16, wherein the peripheral webs protrude from an upper side or base plane of the supporting structure, and wherein the peripheral webs are provided with insertion bevels and have a wedge-shaped profile, if viewed in the longitudinal direction of the receptacles.
18. The supporting structure as claimed in claim 16, wherein each of the peripheral webs is higher at intersection regions of adjacent peripheral webs than at central portions between intersection regions.
19. The supporting structure as claimed in claim 18, wherein the axial connecting webs extend downward from the central portions of the peripheral webs, which are connected with the bottom side of the supporting structure.
20. The supporting structure as claimed in claim 16, further comprising retaining portions that are provided the axial connecting webs, which protrude perpendicularly from the upper side or base plane of the supporting structure and which are connected with intersection regions of respective two or of respective three peripheral webs.
21. The supporting structure as claimed in claim 8, wherein the lower guiding ribs are each one piece with the axial connecting webs.
22. The supporting structure as claimed in claim 21, wherein the axial connecting webs have lower ends that form a circumferential side wall, and wherein the lower guiding ribs are each in one piece with the circumferential side wall formed by the lower ends of the axial connecting webs.
23. The supporting structure as claimed in claim 8, further comprising insertion bevels that are respectively at the upper ends of the upper and/or lower guiding ribs, which extend at an angle relative to the associated upper or lower guiding ribs.
24. The supporting structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the retaining portions are retaining protrusions projecting radially inward, the retaining protrusions enclosing respective openings at the lower ends of the receptacles.
25. The supporting structure as claimed in claim 24, wherein the retaining protrusions are interconnected by bottom webs which enclose the openings at the lower ends of the receptacles.
26. The supporting structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the supporting structure has an upper side or base plane that is planar at least along the edge of the supporting structure, and wherein the receptacles have lower ends that are connected to each other via webs which together span a plane.
27. The supporting structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receptacles are connected with each other by connecting webs, the receptacles being formed in such a manner that two supporting structures of identical configuration can be stacked one on top of the other in such a manner that the receptacles of an upper supporting structure are partially immersed into the receptacles of a supporting structure located underneath and that the connecting webs of an upper supporting structure are supported directly on an upper side or base plane of a supporting structure located underneath.
28. The supporting structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the supporting structure is formed in one piece by injection molding from a plastic material, and wherein the supporting structure with the upper and lower guiding and portions sections is designed in such a manner that a two-part original mold with a lower mold and an upper mold can be used for production by injection molding from the plastic material.
29. The supporting structure of claim 1, wherein the upper and lower guiding portions each project radially inward toward the receptacles along an entire circumference of the receptacles.
30. The supporting structure of claim 29, wherein the upper guiding portions are evenly spaced around the circumference.
31. The supporting structure of claim 1, wherein the open end of the receptacles has a circumference, and the upper guiding portions are spaced around the circumference.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
(1) In the following, the disclosure will be described in an exemplary manner with reference to the enclosed drawings, from which further features, advantages and problems to be solved will become apparent. In the drawings:
(2) FIGS. 1a and 1b show a base unit of a supporting structure according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure in a perspective view, namely without containers and with containers held therein.
(3) FIGS. 1c and 1d show a plan view of the base unit according to FIGS. 1a and 1b without containers and with containers held therein, respectively.
(4) FIGS. 1e and 1f show the base unit of FIG. 1d in a longitudinal section along A-A and along B-B of FIG. 1d, respectively.
(5) FIG. 1g is a perspective plan view of a supporting structure according to the first embodiment with several base units of FIG. 1c.
(6) FIG. 1h is a perspective partial section of a transport and packaging container with a supporting structure according to FIG. 1g.
(7) FIG. 2a shows a base unit of a supporting structure according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure a side view without a container held therein.
(8) FIGS. 2b and 2c show the base unit according to FIG. 2a in a longitudinal section along C-C and along D-D according to FIG. 2a, respectively.
(9) FIG. 2d is a perspective plan view of a supporting structure according to the second embodiment with several base units according to FIG. 2a.
(10) FIG. 2e is a plan view of the supporting structure according to FIG. 2d which is accommodated in a transport or packaging container shown in a partial section.
(11) FIGS. 3a and 3b show a base unit of a supporting structure according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure in a perspective view, namely without containers and with containers held therein, respectively.
(12) FIG. 3c is a plan view of the base unit according to FIG. 3b with a container held therein.
(13) FIGS. 3d and 3e show the base unit according to FIG. 3c in a longitudinal section along A-A and along B-B according to FIG. 3c, respectively.
(14) FIGS. 4a and 4b show a base unit of a supporting structure according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure in a perspective view, namely without a container and with a container held therein.
(15) FIG. 4c is a plan view of the base unit according to FIG. 4b with a container held therein.
(16) FIGS. 4d and 4e show the base unit according to FIG. 4c in a longitudinal section along A-A and B-B according to FIG. 4c, respectively.
(17) FIG. 4f is a perspective plan view of a supporting structure according to the fourth embodiment with several base units according to FIG. 4a.
(18) FIG. 5a shows a base unit of a modified supporting structure according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure in a perspective plan view.
(19) FIG. 5b shows the base unit according to FIG. 5a with a cartridge held therein.
(20) FIG. 5c is a plan view of the base unit according to FIG. 5b with the cartridge held therein.
(21) FIG. 5d is a partial section along A-A in FIG. 5c.
(22) FIG. 5e is a partial section along B-B in FIG. 5c.
(23) FIG. 6a shows a base unit of a modified supporting structure according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure in a perspective view with a cartridge held therein.
(24) FIG. 6b is a plan view of the base unit according to FIG. 6b with the cartridge held therein.
(25) FIG. 6c is a partial section along A-A in FIG. 6b.
(26) FIG. 6d is a partial section along B-B in FIG. 6b.
(27) FIGS. 7a and 7b show a base unit of a modified supporting structure according to a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure in a perspective plan view and in a plan view.
(28) FIGS. 7c and 7d show the base unit according to FIG. 7a in a partial section along A-A in FIG. 7b and along B-B in FIG. 7b. respectively.
(29) FIGS. 7e and 7f show the base unit according to FIG. 7a with a vial held therein in a perspective plan view and in a plan view.
(30) FIGS. 7g and 7h show the base unit according to FIG. 7e in a partial section along A-A in FIG. 7f and along B-B in FIG. 7f, respectively.
(31) FIG. 8a shows a supporting structure according to a further embodiment of the present disclosure in a plan view.
(32) FIG. 8b is a partial section along A-A in FIG. 8a.
(33) FIG. 8c is a partial section along B-B in FIG. 8a. and
(34) FIGS. 9a and 9b show a variation of the base unit according to FIG. 2a in a longitudinal section along C-C and along D-D according to FIG. 2a, respectively.
(35) In the drawings, identical reference numerals designate identical or technically equivalent elements or groups of elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE
(36) FIG. 1g shows the general configuration of a supporting structure 1 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. The supporting structure 1 has an upper side or base plane 2, which generally is formed as a plate and whose circumferential edge is formed flat as shown in FIG. 1g. In the upper side 2, a plurality of openings 5 is formed, which are arranged in rows and columns extending perpendicular to each other, wherein in this exemplary embodiment, the openings 5 of adjacent rows or columns are arranged staggered relative to each other, which enables a higher packing density with the hexagonal arrangement of the peripheral webs 10. A plurality of axial connecting webs 11 protrude perpendicularly from the underside of the supporting structure 1, which are connected to each other at their lower ends via circumferential bottom webs 12. As described in more detail below, receptacles are formed by the axial connecting webs 11 into which the containers can be inserted perpendicularly from above to be accommodated therein. The bottom webs 12 act as retaining portions to support or hold the containers in the receptacles 5 and to delimit their movement within the receptacles in axial direction. At the same time, the axial connecting webs 11 also delimit the radial movement of the containers in the receptacles 5, so that a collision of containers accommodated in directly adjacent receptacles 5 is prevented. The receptacles 5 are used for the storage of pharmaceutical containers, particularly of vials or cartridges.
(37) Access openings 6 in the upper side 2 (cf. FIG. 2d), which are displaced relative to each other on two opposite sides of the supporting structure 1, are used to grip the supporting structure 1.
(38) Together, the bottom webs 12 span a plane, which serves to reinforce the receptacles 5 and the supporting structure 1. The bottom webs 12 enclose circular openings 13 at the lower ends of the receptacles 5.
(39) Peripheral webs 10 protrude perpendicularly from the upper side 2 of the supporting structure 1. These are connected to each other in order to further strengthen the upper side 2, wherein each of them forms the upper end of the receptacles 5 and wherein these together act as a catching funnel in order to ease the insertion of the containers into the receptacles 5, as described below.
(40) The receptacles 5 are formed by respective base units, as shown in FIG. 1a. These base units adjoin directly to each other and together form the upper side of the supporting structure, so that preferably only the edge of the supporting structure is plate-shaped and planar, as shown in FIG. 1g. According to FIG. 1a connecting webs 12a protrude perpendicularly from the lower ends of the axial connecting webs 11, which each connect to a circumferential bottom web 12 of the receptacle 5. The bottom webs 12 extend perpendicularly to the axial connecting webs 11. Six axial connecting webs 11 each delimit a receptacle 5. At their upper ends the axial connecting webs 11 are connected to each other by means of peripheral webs 10, which are aligned with the circumferential edge of the upper side 2. The peripheral webs 10 each have a wedge-shaped profile 100, whereby a ridge 101 is respectively formed at the lower end of the peripheral webs 10, which extends perpendicularly to the upper side of the supporting structure and thus in parallel with the axial connecting webs 11. If viewed in a plan view onto a respective receptacle, the peripheral webs 10 together enclose a circle of a diameter which is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the containers to be accommodated in the receptacles 5.
(41) The peripheral webs 10 serve to separate the receptacles 5 at their upper ends. The clearance between adjacent axial connecting webs 11 is smaller than the outer diameter of the containers to be accommodated in the receptacles 5, so that the axial connecting webs 11 limit the radial displacement of the containers in receptacles 5 and prevent a collision between containers in directly adjacent receptacles 5. The slots 11b between the axial connecting webs 11 enable a visual inspection of the containers accommodated in the receptacles 5. At the same time, a considerable amount of material and weight can be saved because no partition walls are provided between the receptacles 5. Because of the connection of all peripheral webs 10 and of the bottom webs 12 with each other this results in a quite high stiffness of the supporting structure.
(42) As can be seen in FIG. 1a, lower guiding and positioning lugs 20 are provided at the lower ends of the axial connecting webs 11, which protrude radially inwards into the receptacles 5, so that the side walls of the containers do not come into contact with the axial connecting webs 11, but abut directly against the guiding and positioning lugs 20 and so that these are guided by them upon insertion into the receptacles 5. The guiding and positioning lugs 20 are preferably relatively short in comparison to the length of the axial connecting webs 11, but may also extend essentially over the entire length of the axial connecting webs 11 in their longitudinal direction. The axial connecting webs 11 have a hexagonal profile, if viewed in a cross-sectional view (cf. also FIG. 2c), in correspondence to the hexagonal layout of the supporting structure, as shown in FIG. 1g, although other layouts for arranging the receptacles 5 on the supporting structure 1 are generally also conceivable. At the upper ends of the axial connecting webs 11, recesses 14 are formed in the peripheral webs 10, the recesses 14 having side walls which extend perpendicularly to the upper side of the supporting structure, in order to allow the lower connecting webs 12a aligned with them to be demolded from an injection mold. The side walls of the axial connecting webs 11 may be inclined by a small angle of inclination to the center line of the receptacles 5, for example by an angle of about 0.5° to about 5.0°.
(43) As shown in FIG. 1a, a plurality of upper guiding and positioning lugs 15 are disposed at the peripheral webs 10, preferably at their vertical edge 101. These are also relatively short and preferably do not extend beyond the vertical edge 101. The upper guiding and positioning lugs 15 and the lower guiding and positioning lugs 20 are each arranged along the edge of the receptacles 5 at equal angular distances to each other. The upper and lower guiding and positioning lugs 15, 20 are arranged alternately and at different angles, if viewed in a plan view.
(44) The upper and lower guiding and positioning lugs 15, 20 may extend perpendicularly and in parallel with the centerline of the receptacles 5, but may also be inclined at a small angle of inclination relative to the centerline, e.g. at an angle of inclination of the order of max. 0.5° or max. 1.0°. This results in a linear or point-like or two-dimensional contact at the front ends of the upper and lower guiding and positioning lugs 15, 20 at the contact points of the upper and lower guiding and positioning lugs 15, 20 with the outer walls of the containers to be accommodated, e.g. of the vial shown in FIG. 1b.
(45) As can be concluded from the plan view in FIG. 1c, the upper and lower guiding and positioning lugs 15, 20 are each arranged along a circle having a diameter which corresponds to the outer diameter of the containers at least in the region of the lower ends of the receptacles 5, so that the containers with their outer walls abut directly against the lower guiding and positioning lugs 20 or, if necessary, so that the containers are arranged at a very small distance from them. The circle enclosed by the upper guiding and positioning lugs 15 basically may have the same diameter as the circle enclosed by the lower guiding and positioning lugs 20, so that the containers are closely fitted in the receptacles 5 in the region of both the upper guiding and positioning lugs 15 and the lower guiding and positioning lugs 20. In principle, however, the circle enclosed by the upper guiding and positioning lugs 15 may also have a slightly larger diameter than the circle enclosed by the lower guiding and positioning lugs 20, so that the containers may be accommodated with a slightly larger radial clearance in the region of the upper peripheral webs 10 than at their lower ends.
(46) The accommodation of a vial in such a receptacle of a base unit according to the first embodiment is shown in FIGS. 1d to 1f. The vial 51 has a hollow cylindrical body formed by a cylindrical side wall 52, at the upper end of which a shoulder portion 54 is formed, which merges into a narrowed neck portion 55, at the upper end of which a widened rim portion 56 (with or without external thread) is formed with a filling opening 57 formed therein. The lower end of the vial 51 is formed by a bottom 53 which is perpendicular to the side wall 52. It can be seen that the lower end of the side wall 52 abuts directly against the front ends of the lower guiding and positioning lugs 20. Furthermore, the side wall 52 on the upper side of the supporting structure abuts directly against the front ends of the upper guiding and positioning lugs 15.
(47) According to another preferred use, a supporting structure according to the present disclosure serves to hold cartridges 58 upside down in the receptacles 5, as shown in FIGS. 6a to 6d. Cartridges 58 are usually relatively slim and open at both ends. For example, the ejection opening may be provided in the region of the widened upper rim 56 and a filling opening 59 may be provided at the opposite end of the cartridge 58, through which a syringe plug is inserted into the cartridge 58 after filling a liquid into the cartridge 58.
(48) If such a cartridge 58 is accommodated upside down in a receptacle of the base unit described above, as shown in FIG. 6a or as shown in the sectional views according to FIGS. 6c and 6d, the front end of the cartridge 58, including the narrowed neck portion 55 and the widened upper rim 56, extends through the opening 13 in the bottom web 12, including a metal lid 560 crimped on top of it. Here, the metal lid 560 does not come into contact with the bottom web 12, so that no forces are exerted on it and so that the stopper can reliably seal the filling opening 59 of the cartridge 58, even if large axial forces act on the cartridge 58, e.g. during insertion of the syringe plug into the filling opening 59 at the oppose end of the cartridge 58, while the cartridges are accommodated and supported upside down in the receptacles 5. As can be seen in FIGS. 6c and 6d, the neck portions 54 of the cartridges 58 are directly supported on the bottom webs 12. These bottom webs 12 and also the axial connecting webs 11 are designed with a suitable material thickness for absorbing appropriate forces, e.g. during stoppering. In this position, the opposite ends of the cartridges 58 with the filling openings 59 provided there may protrude out of the receptacles 5.
(49) As can be concluded from FIG. 1a, the upper and lower guiding and positioning lugs 15, 20 are formed separately to each other close to the upper and lower ends of the receptacles 5, respectively, i.e. they are designed as separate portions which are independent of each other and are not directly connected to each other or even formed in one piece. Both the upper guiding and positioning lugs 15 and the lower guiding and positioning lugs 20 may thus be arranged at a small distance to the side walls of the containers to be accommodated, so that the packing density of the supporting units can be very high. Relatively long, inclined portions, which were necessary according to the prior art for demolding from an injection mold, are not necessary according to the present disclosure, so that the minimum distances between the molds can be considerably reduced. At the same time, there is a functional separation between the upper guiding and positioning portions 15 and the lower guiding and positioning portions 20, so that in principle a guidance and/or positioning in the region of the upper guiding and positioning portions 15 is possible independently of the guidance and/or positioning in the region of the lower guiding and positioning portions 20.
(50) According to FIG. 1c, the lower ends of the peripheral webs 10 together enclose a circle having a diameter which is larger than the outer diameter of the containers to be accommodated in this region. Here, the lower ends of adjacent peripheral webs 10 enclose the upper end 11a of the axial connecting web 11 in a three-fold symmetry, whereby the generally linear upper ridges of the peripheral webs 10 are connected to the tips 11a of the axial connecting webs 11, which enables a high stiffness of the upper side of a supporting structure. Particularly, forces may be transferred symmetrically sideways to the peripheral webs 10. The peripheral webs 10 are thus higher at the nodes (dead zones of the layout) and thus locally reinforce the upper side of the supporting structure, corresponding to the expected higher loads in these regions. The axial connecting webs 11, which are formed directly underneath these node areas, also increase the rigidity of the supporting structure. Furthermore, a uniform stiffness is achieved by forming both the upper side or base plane of the supporting structure and the bottom plane (contact surface of the containers) in a closed, planar structure. The axial connecting webs 11 connect the upper side or base plane of the supporting structure to the bottom plane and thus form a rigid sandwich structure.
(51) The upper ridges of peripheral webs 10 extend from the axial connecting webs 11 in an arch-shape toward central portions 103 having a smaller height. At these central portions 103 additional connecting webs may be provided for further stiffening, as described in more detail below with reference to FIG. 4a.
(52) Since the side flanks of the wedge-shaped peripheral webs 10 serve as insertion bevels for catching and guiding the containers perpendicularly from above into the receptacles 5. Since the side flanks of the wedge-shaped peripheral webs 10 together form a catching funnel having a significantly larger opening width than the outer diameter of the containers, according to the present disclosure the containers only need to be pre-positioned relative to the receptacles 5 with relatively low precision, e.g. by grippers or robots, which reduces the efforts for automation. After the containers have been pre-positioned relative to the receptacles 5, generally these may be released and slide freely into the receptacles 5.
(53) FIG. 1b shows a vial 51 inserted upright into a receptacle 5 of such a supporting unit. If a vial 51 is inserted perpendicularly from above into the receptacle 5, the lower end of the side wall 52 first reaches the region of the catching funnel formed by the peripheral webs 10. When the vial 51 further approaches, the lower end of the side wall 52 comes in contact with the side flank 102 of a peripheral web 10 or of several peripheral webs 10, and is thus guided into the receptacle 5. When the vial 51 further approaches, the side wall finally comes in contact with the upper guiding and positioning lugs 15 and is thereby precisely centered by them relative to the receptacle 5 and further guided into the receptacle 5. When the vial 51 further approaches, the side wall 52 slides along the upper guiding and positioning lug 15 until finally the lower end of the side wall 52 reaches the region of the insertion bevels 21 at the upper ends of the lower guiding and positioning lugs 20 in order to be gently guided by them in between the lower guiding and positioning lug 20. When the vial 51 further approaches, the sidewall 52 finally slides along the insertion bevels 21 and along the lower guiding and positioning lugs 20, until finally the bottom 53 of the vial 51 rests on the bottom web 12. In this state (cf. FIGS. 1b, 1e and 1f), the transition region between the side wall 52 and the shoulder portion 54 of a vial 51 is located at the height of the upper edge of the peripheral webs 10 and is thus arranged above the upper side of the supporting structure so that the upper ends of the vials 51, in particular the widened upper rims 56, or attached stoppers can be gripped again by grippers or robots in a simple manner. Also if the vials 51 are pulled out perpendicularly upwards out of the receptacles 5, these are precisely guided by the upper and lower guiding and positioning lugs 15, 20. This minimizes undesired material abrasion at the front ends of the guiding and positioning lugs 15, 20 during both insertion and removal of the containers.
(54) As can be concluded from FIGS. 1a, 1c and 1g, the upper ends 11a of the axial connecting webs 11 on the upper side or base plane 2 of the supporting structure 1 represent the highest elevations or the highest points, which are also provided with insertion bevels. The lower ends of the containers thus first cooperate with the insertion bevels at the upper ends 11a of the axial connecting webs 11 when lowered perpendicularly from above onto supporting structure 1 for insertion into receptacles 5. These also play an important role for guidance. Because the upper ends 11a and the axial connecting webs 11 are arranged along the upper end of a respective receptacle 5 in a distributed arrangement, these together effectively catch the containers already at a very early stage of lowering the containers perpendicularly from above in order to guide them into the receptacles. As can be concluded from FIG. 1c, these upper ends 11a or connecting webs 11 are provided in dead zones of the layout of the supporting structure 1, i.e. where adjacent webs 10 intersect each other. The axial connecting webs 11 can therefore be relatively strong without reducing the packing density of the supporting structure 1. Since the axial connecting webs 11 contribute significantly to the stiffness of the supporting structure 1, the wall thickness of the peripheral webs 10 can be minimized according to the present disclosure, which not only effectively increases the packing density that can be achieved, but which also helps to significantly reduce the material costs and the total weight of the supporting structure 1.
(55) As shown in FIG. 1h, the upper side 2 of the supporting structure 1 is further reinforced by a circumferential edge 3, which protrudes perpendicularly downwards from the upper side 2. In order to further reinforce the supporting structure, also two stiffening ribs may be provided on the rear of the upper side 2.
(56) A supporting structure 1, as described above, can be used for storage and transport of pharmaceutical containers such as vials or cartridges. For handling, the supporting structure 1 can be gripped and guided by grippers or the like via access openings 6 (cf. FIG. 2d). The pharmaceutical containers can be further processed or treated while being supported by the supporting structure 1 as described above. For sterile transport, such a supporting structure may be stored as a so-called nest in a tub-shaped transport or packaging container 70 (so-called tub), as shown in FIG. 1h, which may be of the kind disclosed in EP 2 868 593 A1 of the Applicant, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference for disclosure purposes.
(57) According to FIG. 1h, the transport and packaging container 70 is configured essentially as a box or tray and has a bottom 71, a circumferential side wall 72 protruding perpendicularly from it, a step 73 protruding substantially perpendicularly from it, a circumferential upper side wall 74 and an upper rim 75, which is formed as a flange and has corners 76 which are suitably rounded. Such a transport and packaging container 70 is preferably made of a plastic material, in particular by plastic injection molding technology, preferably of a clear, transparent plastic material, in order to enable a visual inspection of the containers 51 held by the supporting structure 1. The transport and packaging container 70 may be closed or sealed by means of a gas-permeable plastic film, in particular by means of a plastic film formed from a gas-permeable mesh of plastic fibers and in particular a Tyvek® film.
(58) FIGS. 2a-2c show the general structure of a base unit of a supporting structure according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure, in which the axial connecting webs 11 have a hexagonal profile and are formed in one piece with the peripheral webs 10.
(59) FIG. 2d shows a supporting structure according to the second embodiment with such base units. As a difference to the first embodiment, supporting structures of identical configuration may be concatenated with each other, as disclosed in more detail in WO2014/009037 A1 of the Applicant, the content of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference. According to FIG. 2d, a plurality of protrusions 30 and recesses 35 are formed alternately along the two longitudinal sides of the supporting structure 1 and at regular intervals from each other, each of which having a triangular or polyhedral base area, if viewed in a plan view, and being formed corresponding to each other. A latching of two supporting structures 1 can be achieved by a form-fit coupling of protrusions 30 and recesses 35 in the manner of a dovetail coupling. FIG. 2e shows the accommodation of such a supporting structure 1 in a transport and packaging container 70, as described above.
(60) FIGS. 3a-3c show the general configuration of a base unit of a supporting structure according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure, in which the upper ends 11a of the axial connecting webs 11 are formed in rhombic form. Such a configuration is particularly suitable for a supporting structure in which the receptacles are arranged in rows and columns extending perpendicularly thereto in alignment without lateral offset.
(61) The receptacles 5 are limited by only four axial connecting webs 11, wherein retaining protrusions 12b protrude perpendicularly therefrom at their lower ends. As a difference to the previous embodiments, these retaining protrusions 12b are not connected to each other via a bottom web, although such a bottom web may in principle also be provided here. However, an adequate stiffness may still be achieved by appropriate material thickness of the lower ends of the axial connecting webs 11 and of the retaining protrusions 12b. Such a supporting structure 1 is suitable e.g. for holding vials, as shown in FIGS. 3d and 3e.
(62) FIGS. 4a-4c show the general configuration of a base unit of a supporting structure according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure, where, as a difference to the afore-mentioned embodiment, two types of axial connecting webs 11, 110 are provided. The axial connecting webs 11 extend from the intersection points of the upper peripheral webs 10 first radially outwards and inclined downwards, in order to merge into a portion extending in parallel with and perpendicularly to the centerline of the receptacle 5. The upper guiding and positioning lugs 15 protrude radially inwards into the receptacles 5 from the intersection points of the upper peripheral webs 10. If viewed in a side view, the upper peripheral webs 10 have a triangular jagged course, with upper ends close to the intersection points of the upper peripheral webs 10 and with lower ends at central portions 103 of the peripheral webs 10. Although the peripheral webs have a constant thickness, i.e. no wedge-shaped profile, the material thickness in the axial direction of the receptacles 5 at the central portions 103 is larger, because at these central portions 103 the axial connecting webs 103 begin and because the transition region between the central portions 103 and the axial connecting webs 11 is generally of triangular shape. Due to the lower height of the peripheral webs 10 at the intersection points of adjacent peripheral webs and due to the greater height at the central portions 103, also a locally adapted stiffness of the peripheral webs 10 may be generated, comparable to a simple beam in bending, in which a deflection can be reduced by making the material thicker towards the center (corresponding to the region at the central portions 103) and thus an efficient reinforcement is accomplished. This effect is further enhanced by the axial connecting web 11.
(63) In this embodiment, the lower ends of the axial connecting webs 11, 110 are connected to each other, e.g. via the lower connecting webs 12a shown, so that also the underside of the supporting structure has a high stiffness.
(64) FIGS. 4d and 4e show the accommodation of a vial 51 in such a base unit in a longitudinal section along A-A and B-B, respectively, according to FIG. 4c. FIG. 4f shows a supporting structure 1 comprising a plurality of such supporting units, which is provided with protrusions 30 and recesses 35 along the edge according to the second embodiment.
(65) A supporting structure 1, as described above, can be formed in one piece particularly by injection molding from a plastic material.
(66) FIG. 5a shows a base unit of a modified supporting structure according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure in a perspective plan view. This is configured to accommodate a cartridge 58 therein upside down, as shown in FIG. 5b and as described above with reference to FIG. 6a.
(67) FIGS. 7a and 7b show a base unit of a modified supporting structure according to a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure in a perspective plan view and in a plan view. In this embodiment, the receptacles 5 are cup-shaped, with axial connecting webs 11 and slots 11b formed alternately on the side wall. In extension of the slots 11b, upper guiding and positioning lugs 15 are formed on the circumferential peripheral web 10 on the underside of the base plane, at the upper ends of which insertion bevels 15b are inclined relative to them. These extend up to the beveled edge 102, which further assists the catching of the containers upon insertion into the receptacles 5. Lower guiding and positioning portions 20 are formed at the lower ends of the axial connecting webs 11. These may protrude from the axial connecting webs 11 radially inwards into the receptacles 5. According to a preferred embodiment, the lower guiding and positioning portions 20 are formed directly by the inner surfaces of the axial connecting webs 11. Thus, there is an angular offset and a functional separation between the upper and lower guiding and positioning portions 15, 20. The slots 11b are provided so that the upper guiding and positioning lugs 15 can be trimmed from the lower tool half during injection molding, so that they extend only over a short portion in the longitudinal direction of the receptacles 5. The upper and lower guiding and positioning portions 15, 20 are arranged alternately and angularly offset relative to each other, if viewed in a plan view.
(68) FIGS. 7c and 7d show the base unit according to FIG. 7a in a partial section along A-A in FIG. 7b and along B-B in FIG. 7b, respectively. FIGS. 7e to 7h show the accommodation of a vial in such a base unit in different drawings.
(69) FIGS. 9a and 9b show another variation of the basic unit according to FIG. 2a. The two sectional views according to FIGS. 9a and 9b, respectively, show the area of an upper and lower guide respectively, which is formed jointly by the upper guiding and positioning portions 15 and lower guiding and positioning portions 20, respectively. Due to the lead-in chamfers formed on the upper and lower guiding and positioning portions 15, 20 respectively, one can assign to each guide a catching circle 60a or 61a (shown in dashed lines) having a catching diameter CD or cd and a circle 60b or 61b (shown in solid lines) with a diameter SD or sd. The catching diameter CD corresponds to the diameter of the circle 60a, in which a container inserted from above is caught by the upper guide. The catching diameter cd corresponds to the diameter of the circle 61a in which a container inserted from above is caught by the lower guide.
(70) Since the guiding and positioning portions 15 and the lower guiding and positioning portions 20 can be formed independently of each other according to the present disclosure, the catching diameter cd of the catching circle 61a of the guide formed by the lower guiding and positioning portions 20 may be larger than the smallest diameter SD of the upper guide formed by the upper guiding and positioning portions 15.
(71) Such a configuration would only be possible for a conventionally manufactured injection molded part having upper and lower guiding and positioning portions if the upper and lower guiding and positioning portions are arranged at an angular offset, which is not necessary according to the present disclosure. With one or more upper and lower guiding and positioning portions, which are arranged so as to overlap with each other if viewed in a plan view, the diameter of the guides formed by these guiding and positioning portions can only be reduced monotonously in the case of a conventional injection molded part. Any undercutting would cause problems during demolding.
(72) On the other hand, the present disclosure makes it possible to design the diameter progression of the upper and lower guide independently of each other. Accordingly, the smallest diameter SD of the upper guide can be designed narrower, which would not be possible in the prior art due to the demolding bevel over the full length.
(73) Similarly, the catching diameter cd of the lower guide can also be designed relatively large, which would also not be possible according to the prior art due to the full length of the demolding bevel due to the boundary condition that the diameter can only be reduced downwards.
(74) As a result, a container can be simply inserted into the receptacles according to the present disclosure and is very precisely positioned not only in the area of the lower guide formed by the lower guiding and positioning portions but also in the area of the upper guide formed by the upper guiding and positioning portions.
(75) As can be readily concluded from a comparison of FIGS. 9a and 9b, the diameter range SD<d<CD of the upper guiding and positioning portions 15, ranging from the diameter SD of the circle 60b of smallest diameter enclosed by the upper guiding and positioning portions 15 to the diameter CD of a catching circle 60a enclosed by the upper guiding and positioning portions 15, may overlap with the diameter range sd<d<c of the lower guiding and positioning portions 20, ranging from the diameter sd of the circle 61b of smallest diameter enclosed by the lower guiding and positioning portions 20 to the diameter cd of a catching circle 61a enclosed by the lower guiding and positioning portions 20. This overlap of the two diameter ranges can be about 1 mm and preferably about 2 mm.
(76) As described above in an exemplary manner with reference to FIG. 1h, a supporting structure according to the present disclosure together with the containers held on it may be accommodated in a transport or packaging container. In particular, the transport or packaging container may be closed or sealed by means of a gas-permeable plastic film, in particular by means of a plastic film formed from a gas-permeable mesh of plastic fibers and in particular a Tyvek® film.
(77) However, a supporting structure according to the present disclosure is basically also suitable for so-called tray solutions, particularly for vials, as shown in FIGS. 8a to 8c as an example.
(78) According to FIGS. 8a to 8c, the supporting structure 1 is formed as an accommodating member in which the plurality of receptacles are formed as truncated cone receptacles 5 in a regular arrangement as a single piece. In order to be accommodated, the vials 51 (as an example for a pharmaceutical container) are accommodated in the receptacles 5 of the accommodating member 1 with their upper ends directed towards the bottoms 41 of the receptacles 5 while a direct contact of adjacent vials 51 is prevented. Here, the vials 51 are completely accommodated in the receptacles 5, i.e. they do not protrude beyond the edge of the supporting structure 1. The lengths of the receptacles 5 are preferentially matched to the vials 51 in such a manner that the bottoms of the vials 51 are flush with the edge of the supporting structure 1. The above-mentioned insertion bevels and guiding ribs are formed on the inside of the side walls 40.
(79) In order to form a transport structure, a supporting member may be placed on the accommodating member and be connected to it in such a manner that the bottoms of the vials accommodated in the accommodating member are covered. The supporting member is preferably formed by a base plate having a flat supporting surface facing the receptacles, on which the bottoms of the vials 51 are directly supported.
(80) For such a tray system, the accommodating member and the supporting member generally may be produced of plastic material by injection molding, wherein the insertion bevels and guiding ribs may assist the demolding of the accommodating member in the manner described above.
(81) If a non-sterile transport of the pharmaceutical containers is sufficient, the accommodating member may be formed by connecting it to the supporting member to form a non-sterile transport structure. If a sterile transport of the pharmaceutical containers is desired, the open side of the accommodating member may also be closed by a sealing film, for example by gluing along a flange-like edge of the accommodating member, possibly with additional welding spots to form a sterile transport structure.
(82) For a sterile transport, such a transport or packaging container, together with other similar transport or packaging containers if necessary, may be placed in at least one sterile packaging bag and packed sterile against the environment. The at least one sterile packaging bag may have a gas-permeable portion or may even be made entirely of it, which is formed in particular by a mesh of plastic fibers such as polypropylene fibers (PP).
(83) As will be readily apparent to the skilled person when studying the above description, due to their shape and dimensions the upper and lower guiding and positioning lugs, which act as upper and lower guiding and positioning portions, are essentially to be regarded as rigid, stiff structures which do not deform significantly when the containers are guided. The choice of material also contributes to this effect. The upper and lower guiding and positioning lugs are preferably designed as relatively narrow upper and lower ribs in order to ensure the highest possible packing density of the supporting structure. However, the upper and lower guiding and positioning lugs are not so narrow or short that the upper and lower guiding and positioning lugs deform and buckle themselves when guiding the containers. When guiding the containers, the upper and lower guiding and positioning lugs can be displaced slightly, if necessary, due to the general flexibility of the supporting structure itself, i.e. in particular due to the flexibility of the axial connecting webs and of the lower connecting webs.
(84) Preferred dimensions of the upper and lower guiding and positioning lugs disclosed above are as follows:
(85) the width of a single upper and/or lower guiding and positioning lug conveniently is in the range between 0.5 mm and 5 mm;
(86) the width of a single upper and/or lower guiding and positioning lug is preferably in the range between 1 mm and 2 mm;
(87) the length of a single upper and/or lower guiding and positioning lug conveniently is in the range between 0.5 mm and 20 mm;
(88) the length of a single upper and/or lower guiding and positioning lug is preferably in the range between 5 and 20 mm;
(89) the angular circumference of a single upper and/or lower guiding and positioning lug is conveniently in the range between 1° and 90°;
(90) the angular circumference of a single upper and/or lower guiding and positioning lug is preferably in the range between 5° and 20°.
(91) The above-mentioned dimensions in axial direction of the receptacles refer in particular to commercial lengths of vials, cartridges or syringe bodies for the storage of pharmaceutical drugs.
(92) As explained above, a simple injection molding process is used to produce the one-piece supporting structure, while a simple mold with an upper mold and a lower mold is used, which conveniently does not have additional sliders to create complex undercuts or even double-walled structures on the supporting structure. This may result in certain restrictions regarding the geometry of the supporting structure. In particular, there can be no double-walled structure with a cavity in between in one direction of the supporting structure, for example in the axial direction of the receptacles or of axial connecting webs or transverse to them.
(93) While the present disclosure has been described with reference to one or more particular embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope thereof. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from the scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this disclosure.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
(94) 1 supporting structure 2 upper side or base plane of supporting structure 2a bottom 3 upper rim 4 rounded corner region 5 opening or receptacle 6 access opening 10 peripheral web 100 wedge-shaped profile of peripheral web 10 101 vertical edge 102 insertion bevel/side flank of peripheral web 10 103 central section of peripheral web 10 11 axial connecting web 11a upper end of axial connecting web 11/point of intersection of peripheral webs 10 11b slot between axial connecting webs 11 110 second axial connecting web 12 bottom web 12a lower connecting web 12b retaining protrusion 13 opening 14 recess 15 upper guiding and positioning lug 15a front end of upper guiding lug 15 15b insertion bevel 16 guiding surface 17 gap 20 lower guiding and positioning lug 21 insertion bevel 30 protrusion 31 front side wall of protrusion 30 32 side wall in transition region of protrusion 30 35 recess 36 front side wall of recess 35 37 side wall in transition region of recess 35 40 side wall of receptacle 5 41 bottom of receptacle 5 50 outer contour of vial 51 vial/container 52 side wall 53 bottom 54 shoulder portion 55 narrowed neck portion 56 upper rim 560 crimped-on metal lid 57 filling opening 60a catching circle, formed by the upper guiding and positioning portions 15 60b circle of smallest diameter, formed by the upper guiding and positioning portions 15 61a catching circle, formed by the lower guiding and positioning portions 20 61b circle of smallest diameter, formed by the lower guiding and positioning portions 20 70 transport and packaging container 71 bottom of transport and packaging container 70 72 lower side wall of transport and packaging container 70 73 step of transport and packaging container 70 74 upper side wall of transport and packaging container 70 75 upper rim of transport and packaging container 70 76 rounded corners of transport and packaging container 70
