EP3358538A1 - Storage and dispensing station for a blister packaging machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a storage and dispensing station for a blister dispenser for drug portions in which the deposition of drug dust is reduced. The storage device according to the invention comprises a base part (100), at least one contact means (124) with which a supply and delivery station can be electrically coupled to a blister machine and with which electrical charges can be discharged to a blister machine, one on the base part (100). arranged storage container (200) with a receiving space (202) for drug portions enclosing housing (210) having a circular cylindrical receiving space (211), a bottom surface (220) and in the circular cylindrical receiving space (211) of the housing (210) rotatably arranged singulating ( 230), and a drive (110, 111, 112) for moving the separating device (230). According to the invention, it is provided that the separating device (230) is electrically conductive at least in its outer surface (231) coming into contact with the medicament portions to be separated, and that a conducting device is provided, via which the electrically conductive outer surface (231) of the separating device (230) electrically is conductively coupled to the contact means (124).

Description

The present invention relates to a storage and dispensing station for a blister machine for drug portions.

Modern blister machines, such as those in the WO 2013/034504 A1 are disclosed, comprise, depending on the expansion stage of the blister machine, several hundred storage and dispensing stations. In each of these, a plurality of drug portions of a particular drug are stored, and on request, individual portions of medication can be dispensed. With the blister machines stored in the supply and dispensing stations drug portions are patient-individual according to the medically prescribed intake times compiled and blistered.

For assembling a plurality of medicament portions, corresponding supply and dispensing stations for dispensing one or more medicament portions are activated by means of a control device of the blister machine. To deliver a medication portion, a medication portion stored in a storage container is separated with a separating device of the storage and dispensing station and transferred via a dispensing opening to a guide device of the blister machine. By means of the guide device, the dispensed drug portion, optionally with the interposition of a collecting device, a packaging device is supplied, which blisters individual or multiple drug portions.

The separating device arranged in a section of the storage container is usually designed in the form of a rotor which has a plurality of channels extending in the axial direction through the separating device. Above the singling device is a receiving space for the medicament portions to be separated.

For separating medicament portions, the separating device is rotated by a drive. The rotation of the singling device leads to co-rotation of at least part of the medicament portions stored in the reservoir, so that they come into contact with one another and with the singling device and an inner wall of the reservoir in the singling process. It regularly comes to tiny flakes in the drug portions and there is a kind of drug dust, which settles on the singler and on the wall of the reservoir.

An accumulation of drug dust in the reservoir is undesirable because it makes it difficult to clean the reservoir. Furthermore, there is a risk that the drug dust is introduced into other components of the blister machine and it is optionally blistered with alien drug portions, which can lead to allergic reactions, for example, in sensitive patients.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a storage and dispensing stations for a blister machine, in which the deposition of drug dust is reduced.

This object is achieved by a storage and dispensing station according to claim 1. The storage and dispensing station according to the invention for a blister machine comprises a base part, via which the supply and dispensing station is usually attached to a blister machine, at least one contact means with which the supply - And dispensing station is electrically coupled with a blister machine and via which electrical charges are discharged to the blister, a arranged on the base reservoir, which has a receiving space for drug portions enclosing housing, which has a circular cylindrical receiving space, a bottom surface and in the circular cylindrical receiving space comprising rotatably arranged singulating device with a plurality of extending in the axial direction through the singularizing means channels and a coupling means, and a drive for moving the singling device.

According to the invention, it is provided that the separating device is electrically conductive at least in the case of an outer surface coming into contact with the medicament portions to be separated, and that a conducting device is provided, via which the electrically conductive outer surface of the separating device is electrically conductively coupled to the contact means.

According to the invention, therefore, there is always an electrical connection between the electrically conductive outer surface of the separating device and the contact means, via which electrical charges are transferable to the blister machine.

As already explained above, rotating the singulating device when separating or separating a medicament portion leads to co-rotation of at least part of the medicament portions stored in the reservoir. This results in a friction between drug portions with each other and a friction between drug portions and the singulator and an inner wall of the reservoir. It has been found that the aforementioned friction is sufficient to cause an electrostatic charge, in particular the singulator.

As a result of the configuration of the singulating device according to the invention and provision of the line device designed according to the invention, the electrostatic charge of the singling device can be dissipated via the contact means to the blister machine, which forms or has a reference potential for the singling device. The reduction of the electrostatic charge of the singulator causes the drug dust formed during singulation no longer or only to a lesser extent adheres to this. This will clean the Singulating facilitated and it is avoided that falling or torn accumulations of drug dust from the supply and delivery station are carried in other parts of the blister machine.

It has also been found that the aforementioned electrostatic charge causes drug portions of electrostatically charged components of the supply and dispensing station to become attracted and no longer free to slide along these components. As a result, the channels no longer reliably fill with drug portions, especially with smaller portions of medication. Discharge of electrostatic charges causes an attraction of the drug portions on the components is omitted, the drug portions can slide freely into the channels.

The separating device is arranged in the circular cylindrical receiving space of the housing. Depending on the exact configuration of the receiving space and the separating device, it may be completely accommodated in the receiving space, but it is possible for an upper portion of the separating device to project out of the circular-cylindrical receiving space.

With the contact means, a storage and dispensing station is electrically coupled to the blister machine, in such a way that electrical charges are discharged to the blister machine. With electrical coupling of the dispensing and storage station with a blister machine (via the contact means), the singling device is thus grounded.

The exact design of the contact means and how exactly charges are dissipated depends on the exact design of the relevant components of the supply and dispensing station. Accordingly, the contact means can be arranged in the base part or the storage container, which can be designed as a common component or as separate, connectable components.

In the storage and dispensing stations commonly used with the blister machine according to the above-mentioned WO-font the base part and the reservoir are designed as separate but coupled components, wherein the reservoir is attachable to the base part. For refilling of drug portions or cleaning of components of the reservoir this can be easily detached from the base and then cleaned and / or refilled plugged.

The base part is detachably connected to the blister machine, wherein electrical contacts between blister machine and base part, for example a power supply for a drive and / or a line for a control unit of the supply and dispensing station, can be designed as plug connectors.

To avoid further components, it is provided in a preferred embodiment of the supply and discharge station according to the invention that the contact means is at least partially provided by means of a ground line, which is coupled to a motor of the drive, or designed as such. In this embodiment, an already existing component or group of components, namely the grounding of the motor of the drive, also used for discharging electric charges. For example, it is customary to install the motor on a stable support plate. According to the invention, this is carried out at least partially conductive and provided with a ground line, can be removed via the charges from the engine.

According to the invention, the singulation device is electrically conductive at least in the case of the outer surface coming into contact with the medicament portions to be separated. In a cost-effective embodiment of the singulating device, the electrically conductive outer surface of the singling device is designed as a surface-conductive coating. In this case, a low-cost, non-conductive material can be used as the carrier material, and only in the areas which come into contact with the medicament portions to be separated can the be provided more costly conductive coating, which is then electrically conductively coupled via the conduit means with the contact means.

In the aforementioned embodiment, an electrically conductive coating is applied to a base body. In an alternative embodiment, it is provided that the separating device consists of an electrically conductive material, preferably an electrically conductive plastic, at least in its electrically conductive outer surface. This conductive region is then coupled to the contact means again. Depending on the material and manufacturing costs, it may also be advantageous for the singulation device to consist entirely of a conductive material.

In order for the electrostatic charge to be dissipated, it is necessary in the present invention to provide a conduction device, via which the electrically conductive outer surface of the singulation device is electrically conductively coupled to the contact means, via which the electrical charge is dissipated to a blister machine. In a structurally very simple embodiment, the aforementioned line device comprises a slip ring arranged in the bottom surface and / or in a housing section forming the circular-cylindrical receiving space and a contact element arranged in the singulation device. By means of the contact element, an electrical connection between the separating device and the slip ring is produced, which in turn is electrically conductively coupled to the contact means. The contact element may be, for example, a type of spring contact which bears temporarily or permanently against the slip ring. The slip ring itself may be formed without interruption, but it is also possible that the slip ring is formed by different segments, which are only temporarily in contact with the contact element. These segments can then be interconnected or individually, optionally under Interposition of a node to be coupled to the contact means.

The aforementioned embodiment is structurally simple, but requires the provision or use of other components. In a preferred embodiment, it is provided that the conduit means comprises an electrically conductive drive hub, an electrically conductive drive shaft, a motor and an electrically conductive coupling means, wherein the electrically conductive outer surface of the singulator is electrically conductively coupled to the coupling means and wherein the motor with the Contact means is coupled. In this embodiment, existing components are designed to be conductive in such a way that the electrical charge of the singulation device can be dissipated via them.

The motor of the drive of the supply and dispensing station is usually coupled via a line to the central power supply of the blister machine. The motor is further connected via the contact means with a blister machine, and this contact means provides for grounding of the motor. Charges that are transmitted via the coupling means, the drive hub and finally the drive shaft to the engine, can be discharged to the blister machine.

Due to the electrostatic charge of the separating device, the drug dust settles mainly on or on this. As already explained above, the electrostatic charging also causes a certain adhesion of the medicament portions to the separating device, so that the penetration of medicament portions into the channels is made more difficult. In the friction due to the separation process, however, other components of the storage and dispensing station electrostatically charged so that it is provided in a preferred embodiment that in contact with drug portions passing surfaces of the bottom surface of the circular cylindrical portion of the housing and / or others Sections of the housing are electrically conductive and are electrically coupled to the contact means. Again, it is again possible to provide the aforementioned components or component sections with an electrically conductive coating or to provide them completely made of an electrically conductive material. The coupling with the contact means, via which the electrical charges are finally removed at the blister machine, can be produced by any means known to those skilled in the art.

• Figuren 1a und 1b eine erste Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrats- und Abgabestation mit separatem Basisteil und Vorratsbehälter zeigen;
• Figur 2 eine Schrägansicht eines Vorratsbehälters gemäß der ersten Ausführungsform zeigt;
• Figur 3 eine Schnittansicht des Vorratsbehälters gemäß der ersten Ausführungsform zeigt;
• Figur 4 eine Detailansicht einer Vereinzelungseinrichtung innerhalb eines Vorratsbehälters zeigt;
• Figur 5 eine weitere Schnittansicht eines auf ein Basisteil aufgesetzten Vorratsbehälters gemäß erster Ausführungsform zeigt;
• Figur 6 eine Schnittansicht der ersten Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrats- und Abgabestation zeigt;
• Figur 7 eine Explosionsdarstellung eines Überganges der Vereinzelungseinrichtung/Antrieb bei einer zweiten Ausführungsform zeigt; und
• Figur 8 eine Schnittansicht der zweiten Ausführungsform der Vorrats- und Abgabestation zeigt.

In the following, preferred embodiments of the supply and dispensing station according to the invention are explained in more detail with reference to the drawing, in which

• FIGS. 1a and 1b show a first embodiment of the storage and dispensing station according to the invention with a separate base part and reservoir;
• FIG. 2 shows an oblique view of a reservoir according to the first embodiment;
• FIG. 3 a sectional view of the reservoir according to the first embodiment shows;
• FIG. 4 shows a detail view of a singulator within a reservoir;
• FIG. 5 a further sectional view of a mounted on a base part reservoir according to the first embodiment shows;
• FIG. 6 shows a sectional view of the first embodiment of the supply and dispensing station according to the invention;
• FIG. 7 shows an exploded view of a transition of the singulator / drive in a second embodiment; and
• FIG. 8 a sectional view of the second embodiment of the supply and discharge station shows.

FIGS. 1a and 1b show oblique views of a first embodiment of the storage and dispensing station according to the invention. In the first embodiment, the supply and discharge station comprises a base part 100 and a Reservoir 200, which are designed as separate components in the first embodiment.

In the embodiment shown, the base part 100 is part of a composite of five base parts 100. In alternative embodiments, the base parts may be implemented separately from one another. The components mentioned in the following description of the base part 100 are present in each base part 100, irrespective of whether they are composite-like (as in FIGS FIGS. 1a and 1b ) or separately.

Each base part 100 according to the first embodiment comprises a lower portion 130 and an upper portion 120. The upper portion 120 includes a projection 121, on which a reservoir 200 can be pushed. For this purpose, a lower housing portion of the reservoir 200 is adapted to the geometry of the projection 121.

At an in FIG. 1b shown, formed from a housing part of the upper portion 120 and the lower portion 130 end face of a base member 100, this is attached to a (not shown) Blisterautomaten. In the aforementioned end face, a chute 140 is formed, via which separated medicament portions are transferred from a supply and delivery station to a guide device within the blister machine. The chute 140 extends through the base member 100 to the projection 121 in which an opening 123 for receiving a drug portion is formed.

In the aforementioned end face of the base part 100, a contact means 124 is provided, with which the storage and dispensing station can be electrically coupled to the blister machine and via which electrical charges are discharged to the blister machine. In the illustrated embodiment, the contact means 124 is disposed in the face portion of the upper portion of the base member 100, in an alternative embodiment, the contact means 124 may also be disposed in the face portion of the lower portion 130. Alternatively, the contact means, for example, as Plug or the like be executed. Furthermore, it is possible to arrange the contact means in this case with a corresponding configuration of the reservoir. It is essential that electrical charges can be delivered to the (not shown) blister via the contact means.

At the in FIGS. 1a and 1b In the embodiment shown, a contact element 122 is arranged in the projection, which is electrically coupled on the one hand to the contact means 124 and on the other hand to the electrically conductive outer surface of a singulation device (not shown here). In the embodiment shown, the contact element is part of the conduit means.

The use of the contact element is due to the exact configuration of the conduit device of the first embodiment. Alternatively, the conduit device can also be provided in such a way that the use of a contact element formed as a separate component is unnecessary (see embodiments described below). The position is not limited to the illustrated, the contact element may also be formed outside of the projection.

FIG. 2 shows an oblique view of the storage container according to the first embodiment of the storage and dispensing station according to the invention. As already with reference to the FIGS. 1a and 1b set forth, the base member 100 and the reservoir 200 are designed as separate components of the supply and delivery station in the first embodiment. The reservoir 200 includes a housing 210 having a housing (in FIG FIG. 3 2) (receiving space section), a lower section 212 and a gripping element 214. The storage container 200 further comprises a cover 213, which can be removed inter alia for refilling of medicament portions.

FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of the reservoir according to the first embodiment. On the basis of this sectional view, the arrangement of a separating device 230 in the receiving space 211 of the receiving portion 217 of the housing 210 can be seen. The Singulation device 230 is formed as a kind of rotor having a plurality of protrusions 234 and channels 235, which extend in the axial direction through the singulator 230. In the embodiment shown, the channels 235 are defined by the projections 234 on a central component of the singulator 230, so that the channels are open to the outer periphery of the singulator.

The singulator 230 includes a central conical top surface 232 which defines, together with the housing 210, a medicament portion receiving space 202. Due to the conical design of the top surface slide on this resting drug portions toward the channels 235th

In the embodiment shown, a step is formed between the conical top surface 232 and the protrusions 234 so that a type of annulus is formed in the region above the channels and the protrusions. A corresponding annulus may promote the delivery of drug portions into the channels for drug portions of a particular shape.

Like this on the "left" side of the FIG. 3 can be seen, the bottom surface 220 has a discharge opening 221, via which separated drug portions through an opening 123 in the projection 121 of the base member 100 (see FIG. 1a ) are fed to the chute 140.

Likewise, in the "left" side of FIG. 3 can be seen, above the discharge opening 221, a retaining portion 216 of a retaining means 215 is inserted into the annular space. For this purpose, an opening is provided in the circular cylindrical portion 211 of the housing 210. The function of the retention means, and in particular the retention portion, is to retain drug portions disposed in the receiving space 202 above the delivery port when a channel 235 is aligned with the delivery port 221.

A separation of drug portions takes place by moving a channel containing a defined number of drug portions via the discharge opening 221, so that the defined number of Medicament portions can be discharged from the aligned channel. The retention portion 216 prevents overlying drug portions from also being dispensed so as to ensure that only the number of drug portions disposed in a channel is always dispensed.

Like this FIG. 3 can be seen, the separating device 230 further comprises a coupling means 240, with which the separating device 230 can be coupled to a drive, via which the separating device can be rotated to separate drug portions. In the embodiment shown, the coupling means is designed as a separate component, but alternatively it can also be provided that the coupling means is an integral part of the singulation device 230.

According to the invention, the singling device is electrically conductive at least in its outer surface which comes into contact with the medicament portions to be separated. In the first embodiment, it is provided that the singulation device has a surface-conductive coating 231.

For deriving the electrical charges from the singulator to the contact means 214 (see FIG. 1b ), via which the charges are then delivered to the blister machine, a conduit means is provided according to the invention. In the first embodiment, the conduit device comprises a contact element 236, 237 arranged in the singulation device 230.

At the in FIG. 3 In the embodiment shown, the separating device 230 is almost completely accommodated in the receiving space 211. The projections 245 terminate below the opening of the receiving space 211, so that a kind of annulus is formed over this. In alternative embodiments, however, the receiving space (or the separating device) may also be designed so that the projections exceed the upper opening of the receiving space. Unless the projections and channels like in FIG. 3 are formed, that is, the channels are open to the outer periphery of the singulator, in such an embodiment, drug portions (also) can enter from the side into the channels. The exact configuration of the receiving space and the separating device is dependent on the medicament portions to be separated.

In FIG. 4 two variants of the arrangement of the contact element are shown; once the contact element at the outer region of a projection 234 and once in the bottom surface of a projection 234 is arranged. An electrical coupling with a slip ring 222, 215 arranged in the bottom surface 220 and / or the receiving portion 217 is produced with the contact element. The arrangement of the aforementioned slip rings in the bottom surface 220 and the receiving portion 217 is in the FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrated.

FIG. 5 shows a further sectional view of a mounted on a base member reservoir according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 shows a sectional view of the complete supply and delivery station according to the first embodiment

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate in particular the coupling between the executed as a separate components base 100 and reservoir 200. The reservoir 200 is pushed at its lower portion 212 on the projection 121 of the base member 100, to which the lower portion 212 is adjusted accordingly.

FIG. 6 further illustrates the coupling between the singulator 230 and a drive disposed in the base. The drive comprises a motor 112, a drive shaft 111 and a drive hub 110. An outer contour of the drive hub 110 interacts non-positively with an inner contour of the coupling means 240 which, in turn, interacts with the singulation device itself via a corresponding connection. In alternative embodiments, the coupling means 240 may be an integral part of the singulator 230.

The singulator 230 is at the FIGS. 5 and 6 shown in a delivery position. A channel is aligned with the dispensing opening 221 in the bottom surface 220, drug portions disposed in the channel fall through the dispensing opening 221 into the chute 140 and from there into the interior of the blister machine.

The retaining portion 216 of the retaining element 215 is introduced into the annular space above the channel aligned at the discharge opening 221 and ensures that no further medicament portions slip out of the receiving space.

FIG. 7 shows an exploded view of the transition singulator 230 / drive in a second embodiment of the storage and dispensing station according to the invention. In an opening in the projection 121 of the upper portion of the base part, the outer contour of the drive hub 110 can be seen. Over this, the coupling means 240 can be seen and above this the separating device 230. Also in this embodiment, the coupling means 240 is formed as a separate component with respect to the singulator 230.

FIG. 8 shows a sectional view through the second embodiment, wherein a major part of the reservoir is omitted, in particular to illustrate the coupling between the singulator and drive.

In the base part 100, an electric motor 112 is arranged centrally, which is connected via a line 113 to the contact means 124. The contact means is used in this case, inter alia, as a power supply for the electric motor 112. Further, via the contact means further components in the interior of the base part or of the reservoir with a (not shown) control means may be connected. For example, the slide 140 or the discharge opening in the bottom of the reservoir, a (not shown sensor) to be assigned, which determines whether a drug delivery is actually delivered in a singulation process.

The electric motor 112 comprises a drive shaft 111 which ends in a drive hub 110. The drive hub 110 has an outer contour (see FIG. 7 ), which cooperates positively and releasably with an inner contour 241 of the coupling means 240. The coupling means 240 is (releasably) connected to the singulator.

The type of connection between the drive hub 110 and the coupling means 240 of the singulating device ensures that the reservoir can be easily lifted off the base part without further work steps. Although in the embodiment shown, the coupling means is formed separately with respect to the singulator 230, but when lifted, there remains a connection between the coupling means 240 and the singler.

According to the invention, it is provided that a line device is provided, via which the electrically conductive outer surface 231 of the singulation device 230 is electrically conductively coupled to the contact means. In the second embodiment, the coupling means 240, the drive hub 110, the drive shaft 111, and the electric motor 110 constitute components of the conduit means.

The coupling means 240 is electrically conductive and conductively connected to the electrically conductive outer surface 231 of the singulator 230. This can be achieved, for example, by using a singulator that is made entirely of a conductive material (for example, an electrically conductive plastic). Alternatively, leads may be provided from the outer surface to the coupling means. The drive hub and the drive shaft are also electrically conductive, with what has been said above with regard to the exact execution.

The electrostatic charge generated during separation or separation can be dissipated via the outer surface of the separating device to the coupling means, from there to the drive hub and drive shaft. From the drive shaft, the charge is via the engine and the line 113 can be discharged to the contact means 124, via which the charge is finally discharged to the blister machine or can be discharged.

In this embodiment, no extra components for discharging the charge are necessary, due to the configuration of existing components, the construction of a potential difference is avoided, adhesion of drug dust and other fine impurities reduced. The separating device and / or other components of the storage container (circular-cylindrical section 211 of the housing, the housing 210 itself) coming into contact with medicament portions are virtually grounded via the blister machines.

Claims (7)

Supply and delivery station for a blister machine for medicament portions, comprising
a base part (100),
at least one contact means (124) with which a supply and delivery station can be electrically coupled to a blister machine and with which electrical charges can be discharged to a blister machine,
a storage container (200) arranged on the base part (100) a housing (210) enclosing a medicament portion receiving space (202) having a circular cylindrical receiving space (211) and a bottom surface (220), a separating device (230) which is rotatably arranged in the circular-cylindrical receiving space (211) of the housing (210) and which comprises a plurality of channels (235) extending in the axial direction through the separating device (230) and a coupling means (240), and a drive (110, 111, 112) for moving the singulator (230),
characterized,
in that the separating device (230) is electrically conductive at least in its outer surface (231) coming into contact with the medicament portions to be separated; and
that conduit means is provided through which the electrically conductive outer surface (231) of the separating device (230) is electrically coupled to the contact means (124). Storage and dispensing station for a medicament-portion blister machine according to claim 1,
characterized,
in that the contact means (124) is provided at least in sections by means of a ground line which is coupled to a motor (112) of the drive. Supply and dispensing station (1) for a medicament portion blister machine according to claim 1 or 2,
characterized,
that the electrically conductive outer surface (231) of the separating device (230) is formed as a planar conductive coating. Supply and dispensing station (1) for a medicament-portion blister machine according to one of claims 1 - 3,
characterized,
in that the separating device (230) consists of an electrically conductive material, preferably an electrically conductive plastic, at least at its electrically conductive outer surface (231). Supply and dispensing station (1) for a medicament-portion blister machine according to one of claims 1 - 4,
characterized,
in that the conduit device comprises a slip ring (222, 215) arranged in the bottom surface (220) and / or in a housing section (217) forming the circular cylindrical receiving space, and a contact element (236, 237) arranged in the separating device (230). Supply and dispensing station (1) for a medicament-portion blister machine according to one of claims 1 - 4,
characterized,
in that the conduit device comprises an electrically conductive drive hub (110), an electrically conductive drive shaft (111), a motor (112) and an electrically conductive coupling means (240), the electrically conductive drive hub (110) Outer surface of the separating device (230) is electrically conductively coupled to the coupling means (240) and wherein the motor (112) is electrically conductively coupled to the contact means (122). Storage and dispensing station (1) for a medicament-portion blister machine according to claim 5,
characterized,
that outer surfaces of the bottom surface (220) and / or the housing (210) which come into contact with medicament portions are electrically conductive and are electrically coupled to the contact means (124).

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