JP6928090B2 - Storage container for storage and discharge stations for drug potions - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a storage container for drugs, particularly a storage container for a storage / discharge station for drugs.

For example, a recent blister packaging machine as disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes hundreds of storage / discharge stations depending on the scale of the blister packaging machine. These machines can store multiple drug potions of a particular drug and eject the individual drug potions upon request. Using this blister packer, the drug potions stored in the storage / discharge container are collected and individually blister-packed for each patient according to the time of drug administration specified by the doctor.

To collect multiple drug potions, a corresponding storage / discharge station for discharging one or more drug potions is activated by a blister packaging machine control device. In order to discharge the drug portion, the drug portion stored in the storage container is separated by the individualizing device of the storage / discharge station and moved to the discharge opening of the guide device of the blister packaging machine. The discharged drug portion is conveyed to the packing device by the guide device with a recovery device as necessary, and the packing device blister-packs individual or a plurality of drug portions.

The disassembling device, which is located in a section of the storage container, is usually formed in the form of a rotor. The outer circumference of the rotor is defined by a plurality of protrusions. A channel extending parallel to the rotation axis of the rotor is formed between each pair of the protrusions. The width and radial depth of these protrusions are precisely adapted to the drug portion to be split. Therefore, within the channel, the drug potions can only be placed one on top of the other and not adjacent to each other. A channel can contain only one or more drug potions, depending on its axial length.

Above the individualizer, the housing of the storage container defines a receiving space for the drug portion to be individualized. The disassembling device, or in some cases the central body of the disassembling device, comprises a top surface that abuts the receiving space containing the drug portion to be dissected. This top surface is typically conical in design for the purpose of guiding the drug potion into the channel opening. In addition, proper design of the top surface prevents the drug potion from remaining stationary on it, making it impossible to individualize.

In order to eject the drug portion, a channel containing at least one ejectable drug portion, where appropriate function is present, is rotated by partial rotation of the disassembling device beyond the discharge opening, resulting in the drug portion. Is dropped from the channel through the discharge opening by gravity and further transported. Retention means are provided on or in the channel to prevent multiple drug potions from being ejected when the channel is properly oriented with respect to the ejection opening.

Despite the conical design of the top surface of the body of the individualizer, this top surface is such that the drug potion does not slide or enter the channel, i.e. the channel does not accept the ejected drug potion. Can be placed on top. As a result, the drug portion is not discharged even if a typical discharge procedure (partial rotation of the individualizing device) is performed.

Therefore, in order to avoid an error when combining a plurality of drug potions, it is necessary to detect the actual discharge of the drug potion. If a discharge failure (a state in which one drug portion is not discharged) is detected, another discharge procedure must be performed, which delays the combination of multiple drug portions. The rate at which a blister packer combines drug potions and blister packs decreases with the frequency of ejection failures.

International Publication Patent No. 2013/034504A1

An object of the present invention is to provide a storage container for a storage / discharge station with a reduced frequency of discharge failures.

According to the present invention, this problem is solved by a storage container for a storage / discharge station, as claimed in claim 1. A storage container according to the invention comprises a housing and a cylindrical body rotatably disposed within the cylindrical section of the housing, which has a cylindrical section and accommodates a receiving space for a drug portion. It is provided with an individualizing device to have.

The cylindrical body, at least in part, characterized by conical top and the body outer packaging surface, the said body outer packaging surface on which is formed a plurality of protrusions, the plurality of projections, circumferential width K _B and A channel with a radial depth _KT is defined, and the outer contours of the plurality of protrusions define a cylindrical outer inclusion surface, which is usually interrupted by the channel.

According to the present invention, _{a protrusion having a height V H} and an outer contour V A _K is arranged in the center of the conical upper surface, and the protrusion is _{the maximum diameter between the outer contour V A K} and the outer capsule surface. as direction distance V _Amax is less than twice the circumferential width K _B channels are formed.

As a result of the placement and configuration of the protrusions, two drug potions (assuming the width of the channel is only slightly larger than the maximum drug diameter, as is common in the prior art), the outer contour V. _In the region between the AK and the cylindrical section of the housing, they cannot be placed flat on the top surface adjacent to each other in the radial direction.

Such placement of the two drugs is a reason for ejection failure, especially in the case of flat, circular drug potions. This is because a plurality of drug potions are placed on the outer periphery of the drug potions arranged radially adjacent to each other, and the above two drugs are arranged radially adjacent to each other. This is because the corresponding pressure is applied to the portion so that the drug portion abutting the housing cannot enter the channel of the disassembling device which also abuts the housing.

The maximum radial distance between said protrusions outer contour V _AK with the outer packaging surface of, for less than twice the circumferential width K _B channels radial arrangement of two drugs portions adjacent to each other are discharged It is prevented from causing the failure of the drug and the drug potion can enter the channel unimpeded.

If the criteria presented above are met, the exact configuration of the protrusion will depend on the particular shape of the drug portion to be fragmented. The outer contour of the protrusion depends on the exact shape of the protrusion. The maximum radial distance between the outer contour and the outer encapsulation surface can be uniform (eg for cylindrical protrusions) or angled (for cylindrical protrusions with an angled bottom). It can also be a dependency. A cylindrical configuration of the protrusion is preferable. This type of protrusion is relatively easy to implement during the manufacture of the individualizer.

In certain preferred developments, it is also conceivable that the protrusions have a circular shape. Thereby, at least in part, a cylindrical or conical protrusion can be realized. When the protrusions are formed in this way, there is no risk of damaging the drug portion placed on the outer contour when the rotational movement required for individualization is performed.

As described above, a cylindrically formed protrusion is preferable. In certain particularly preferred embodiments, the protrusions are designed to be at least partially vertical. At the transition between the conical top surface and the protrusion, a curved transition may be provided, for example, to prevent the accumulation of debris and / or drug residues.

In certain preferred embodiments of the storage container, the protrusion has at least a partially conical top surface. The top surface thus designed prevents the drug potion from remaining on it and directs the drug potion to the outer region of the disintegrator and to the opening of the channel.

As mentioned above, the meaning and purpose of the protrusion is to prevent the two drug potions from being placed radially adjacent to each other. Depending on the exact shape of the drug potion, the height of the protrusion can be sufficient with only a small portion of the radius of the drug potion.

However, it is preferred that the _{overhang has a height V H} greater than 1/2 _{of the radial depth KT} of the channel, especially when fragmenting a "flat" disc-shaped drug portion. This prevents the drug potion from sliding onto the protrusion, at least in part, when the appropriate pressure is applied, causing the two drug potions to be radially adjacent to each other on the top surface and the protrusion. Is guaranteed to be placed.

The channel for accepting the individualized drug portion is usually open to the outer encapsulating surface of the individualizer defined by the outer contour of the protrusion, and the radial channel depth is Fits the maximum "height" of the drug potion.

In one preferred embodiment, which can be specifically employed for flat disc-shaped drug portions, an annular space is formed above the protrusion, which is bounded by the cylindrical body and has a diameter of the annular space. The directional width preferably corresponds to the radial channel depth.

Since the configuration of the annular space allows the drug to enter only in the direction of entering the channel, the annular space assists in aligning the drug potions to enter the channel. This type of annular space is of particular significance in the case of disc-shaped drug potions. This is because it is difficult to move the disc-shaped drug potion from the conical upper surface into the channel without using the annular space.

As mentioned above, the disc-shaped drug portion is usually oriented so that its flat side faces the conical upper surface. Whether the drug potion is rested on the top surface or the top surface rotates away from the placed drug potion depends on the filling level of the storage container.

At high filling levels, the pressure of the placed drug potion is high and the placed drug potion impedes movement into the channel or annular space. In order to facilitate the "tipping" of the disc-shaped drug portion into the channel or annular space, in one preferred embodiment, a plurality of ridges are disposed on the conical upper surface of the cylindrical body. It is particularly preferred that these ridges be radially oriented with respect to the channel.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the storage container according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

1a and 1b show perspective views of preferred embodiments of storage containers according to the present invention. 1c and 1d show top views of preferred embodiments of storage containers. 2a-2d show various cross-sectional views of preferred embodiments. 3a-3c show a plurality of different views of the individualizing apparatus according to a preferred embodiment. FIG. 4 shows the arrangement of the individualizers within the cylindrical housing section.

1a and 1b show perspective views of a preferred embodiment of a storage container 1 according to the invention for a storage / discharge station for drug potions. 1c and 1d show a top view of the storage container, and the individualizing device 30 which can be confirmed from above in FIG. 1c is omitted in FIG. 1d. In FIGS. 1b to 1d, the cover 13, which can be seen in FIG. 1a, is omitted in order to better see the inside of the storage container.

The storage container 1 according to the preferred embodiment illustrated herein surrounds a receiving space 2 for a drug portion and comprises a housing 10 having a cylindrical section 11 and a lower section 12. The housing 10 comprises a removable lid 13 whose bottom is defined by a bottom surface 20 having a discharge opening 21 for a drug portion (see in particular FIG. 1d). The bottom surface 20 has an additional central recess 22, in which a connecting means 37 that interacts with the individualizing device 30 is disposed (see also FIG. 1d). In the embodiments shown herein, the connecting means 37 is formed as a separate component, but it can also be formed integrally on the individualizing device 30. The connecting means 37 interacts with a driving means (not shown) of the storage / discharge station and uses the driving means to rotate the individualizing device to provide an individualized drug portion.

In the illustrated embodiment, the drive means is disposed not in the storage container itself, but in a control unit (not shown) of the storage / discharge station. The storage container is usually formed as a separate part from the control unit, which allows the control unit to be refilled or filled with a new type of drug, usually leaving the control unit on the blister packer. The storage container can be removed using the handle 14.

As can be seen in FIG. 1c, the individualizing device 30 is disposed in the cylindrical section 11 of the housing. The disassembling device 30 includes a cylindrical body (see, eg, FIG. 3a), which has a conical top surface 32 and a body outer packaging surface, on which a plurality of channels 35 are defined. The protrusion 34 is formed. The outer contour of the protrusion 34 forms a cylindrical outer packaging surface, which is interrupted by the channel 35 and abuts on the housing wall of the cylindrical section 11.

In the illustrated embodiment, the individualizing device is formed as a rotor of some sort, and the arrangement and configuration of the protrusions 34 allows the channel 35 to be disposed on the outer packaging surface. In other embodiments, the channels can also be formed so as not to open relative to the outer packaging surface of the individualizing device.

In the illustrated embodiment, the protrusion is formed integrally with the body. Alternatively, these protrusions can be attached to the body as separate parts, which allows the individualizing device itself to be adapted to different drug portions as needed.

As shown in FIG. 1c, the plurality of raised portions 39 are arranged on the conical upper surface 32 so as to always be adjacent to the channel 35. These ridges 39 facilitate the fall of the drug portion into the channel 35, as described in more detail with reference to the following figures.

As shown in FIG. 1b, the holding means 15 is shown on the cylindrical section 11 of the housing, which holds the holding section extending through the slit 16 into the cylindrical section 11 of the housing 10. Have.

The storage / discharge station comprising the storage container 1 according to the present invention further comprises a component that regulates or controls the discharge or individualization of the drug portion. The above-mentioned driving means for moving the disassembling device 30 and a sensor (also not shown) for monitoring the discharge of the drug portion are usually arranged in a control unit (not shown). However, in alternative embodiments, they may also be part of a storage container, in which case they will typically be located within the bottom housing section 12 of the storage container.

As shown in FIG. 1c, the individualizing device includes a raised portion 40 in the center on the conical upper surface, which will be described in more detail with reference to the following figures.

2a-2d show various cross-sectional views of the storage container according to the invention, of the embodiments described in more detail herein. The individualizing device 30 includes a protrusion 40 at the center on the main body 31. The protruding portion 40 is formed integrally with the main body 31. In other embodiments, the protrusions 40 can be formed as separate parts and, for example, screwed to the body 31. The protrusion 40 has a circular bottom surface and is designed to have a cylindrical shape parallel to the rotation axis of the individualizer in the central section 42.

In the illustrated embodiment, the protrusion 34 has a two-part structure and surrounds the axial gap 34a. The holding section 15a of the holding means 15 engages with the gap 34a. The holding means 15 is disposed on the cylindrical section 11 of the housing 10 so that the holding section 15a is always disposed so as to cover the discharge opening 21 (see particularly FIGS. 2c and 2d). Such an arrangement of the holding section 15a of the holding means 15 allows the drug portion placed above the holding section in the channel 35 to be placed in the channel 35 when the channel of the individualizer is oriented towards the discharge opening 21. Guaranteed to be retained. When the channel is oriented towards the discharge opening, only the drug potion located below the retention section is discharged.

The conical upper surface 32 is not directly adjacent to the surface of the protrusion 34, and the protrusion is offset downward so that the cylindrical body 31 on the inside and the housing 10 on the outside are above the top surface of the protrusion. An annular space 38 defined by the cylindrical section 11 is formed. This annular space assists in guiding the drug portion to channel 35, as described in more detail with reference to the following figures.

3a to 3c show detailed views of the storage container individualizing device 30 according to the present invention. Singulation apparatus 30 includes a conical top surface 32, and a main body outer hull surface in which a plurality of protrusions 34 formed thereon, a cylindrical body 31, the protrusion 34, a circumferential width K _B And a channel with a radial depth _{KT is defined.} In the illustrated embodiment, the protrusion is formed integrally with the cylindrical body 31. The outer contour of the protrusion forms a cylindrical outer encapsulation surface 36 represented as a dashed circle in FIG. 3b, interrupted by the channel 35.

As shown in FIGS. 3a and 3c, the protrusion 34 has a circumferentially extending annular void 34a to which the holding section of the holding means can engage, as described with reference to FIGS. 2a-2d.

In the illustrated embodiment, the protrusion 34 is offset downward with respect to the conical top surface, thereby defining the inside of the protrusion by the body outer packaging and the outside by the cylindrical section 11 of the housing. An annular space 38 is formed (see FIG. 4).

A plurality of ridges 39 are disposed on the conical upper surface, which can assist the drop of the drug potion into the channel. This is shown in FIG. 3c, in which the drug portion 5 is shown resting on the ridge 39. This ridge allows the flat-shaped drug potion to fall from the "left" side into the annular space. In this way, the ridges help place the drug potion in the annular space and finally in the channel quickly and easily.

Further, a protrusion 40 having a circular bottom surface and a vertically oriented cylindrical section 42 is formed in the center of the conical upper surface, and the cylindrical section 42 is terminated by the conical upper surface 43. In the illustrated embodiment, the vertical cylindrical section 42 _{forms the outer contour VAK} / 41 of the protrusion 40. Outer contour 41 of the projecting portion 40 determines the outer contour V _AK, between the envelope surface 36 defined by the projecting portion, the maximum radial distance V _Amax. Depending on the configuration of the protrusions, this maximum radial distance can vary with angle (if the cylindrical section has, for example, a square bottom), or (as illustrated in the case of a cylindrical configuration). Can be uniform.

FIG. 3c shows another connecting means 37 in the lower section, the individualizing device 30 is connected to a driving means (not shown) via the connecting means 37, and the individualizing device is connected by the connecting means. , Can be rotated stepwise for individualization of drug potions. The connecting means 37 can be formed as a separate component, or can be integrated with the main body 31 of the individualizing device.

According to the present invention, the maximum radial distance of the above, less than twice the circumferential width K _B of the channel 35. As shown in FIG. 4, this prevents the two drug potions 5 from being placed flat on the conical top surface in a state of being radially adjacent to each other, thereby preventing the drug potions from being clogged on the top surface. Will be done.

Claims (9)

A storage container (1) for a storage / discharge station for drug potions:
A housing (10) having a cylindrical section (11) and surrounding a receiving space (2) for the drug portion;
An individualizer (30) having a cylindrical body (31) rotatably disposed within the cylindrical section (11) of the housing (10).
With
The cylindrical main body (31) has, at least partially, a conical upper surface (32) and a main body outer packaging surface, and a plurality of first protrusions (34) are formed on the main body outer capsule surface. The first protrusion (34) defines a channel (35) having a circumferential width KB and a radial depth KT, and the outer contours of the plurality of first protrusions (34) are the channels. A cylindrical outer capsule surface (36) interrupted by (35) is defined.
A second protrusion (40) with a height VH and an outer contour VAK is disposed in the center of the conical upper surface (32).
Storage for drug potions, characterized in that the maximum radial distance VAmax between the outer contour VAK and the outer capsule surface (36) is less than twice the circumferential width KB of the channel (35). -Storage container for the discharge station (1). The storage container (1) for a storage / discharge station for a drug portion according to claim 1, wherein the second protrusion (40) is formed in a cylindrical shape. The storage container (1) for a storage / discharge station for a drug portion according to claim 2, wherein the second protrusion (40) has a circular shape. A storage container (1) for a storage / discharge station for a drug portion according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the second protrusion (40) is formed at least partially vertically. .. The storage for a drug portion according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the second protrusion (40) has at least a partially conical upper surface (43). Storage container for discharge station (1). Any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the second protrusion (40) has a height VH greater than 1/2 of the radial depth KT of the channel (35). Storage container for storage / discharge station for drug portion according to (1). A claim, wherein an annular space (38) is formed above the first protrusion ( 34 ), and the annular space (38) is internally defined by the cylindrical body (31). A storage container for a storage / discharge station for a drug portion according to any one of 1 to 6 (1). One of claims 1 to 7, wherein a plurality of ridges (39) are at least partially disposed on the conical upper surface (32) of the cylindrical body (31). Storage container for storage / discharge station for drug portion according to (1). The storage container (1) for a storage / discharge station for a drug portion according to claim 8, wherein the ridge (39) is radially oriented with respect to the channel (35). ).

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