KR102504910B1 - Storage and Dispensing Station for a Blister Dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a storage and dispensing station for a blister packaging machine for medicaments with reduced accumulation of medicament powder. A storage and dispensing station according to the present invention for a blister packaging machine can electrically connect the base 100, the storage and dispensing station to the blister packaging machine and allow charge to be dissipated into the blister packaging machine. At least one contact means 124, a housing 210 that surrounds a receiving chamber 202 for medicine and has a cylindrical receiving chamber 211 and a bottom surface 220, the cylindrical receiving chamber of the housing 210 ( 211) having the individualization device 230 rotatably disposed on the base portion 100, and a storage container 200 disposed on the base portion 100, and driving devices 110, 111, and 112 for moving the individualization device 230. do. According to the present invention, the individualization device 230 conducts electricity, at least with its outer surface 231 in contact with the medicament to be individualized, and the electrically conductive outer surface 231 of the individualization device 230 is connected to the contact means. 124 with a conductor arrangement that couples in an electrically conductive manner.

Description

Storage and Dispensing Station for a Blister Dispenser}

The present invention relates to a storage and dispensing station for a blister packaging machine for pharmaceuticals.

A modern blister packaging machine, such as for example disclosed in WO 2013/034504 A1, includes hundreds of storage and dispensing stations depending on its expansion stage. In each case, a plurality of medicaments of a particular medicament are stored therein and the individual medicaments can be dispensed directly on demand. Medications stored in the storage and dispensing station are assembled and blister packed by a blister packaging machine individually for each patient according to the medically prescribed dosing time.

A storage and dispensing station suitable for dispensing one or more individual medicaments is operated by a blister packaging machine control to bring the plurality of medicaments together. For dispensing the medicament, the medicament stored in the storage container is separated by a singulating device of the storage and dispensing station and moved through the dispensing opening to the guiding device of the blister packaging machine. The dispensed medicines are transported to a packaging device that blister-packs individual or a plurality of medicines using a guide device and, if necessary, interposing a collecting device therebetween.

The singulation device disposed in one portion of the container is generally designed in the form of a rotor having a plurality of channels extending axially through the singulation device. Above the individualization device is a receiving chamber for the medicament to be separated.

To separate the medicament, the individualization device is rotated by a driving device. Rotation of the individualization device causes at least a portion of the medicament stored in the container to rotate simultaneously to bring them into contact with each other and also with the individualization device and the inner wall of the container during the separation process. In doing so, slight flaking of the drug occurs, resulting in a kind of drug dust that remains on the walls of the individualization device and storage container.

The accumulation of drug powder in the storage container is undesirable because it makes cleaning of the container more difficult. There is also a risk that the powdered medication may migrate into other parts of the blister packaging machine and possibly be blistered with other types of medication, causing allergic reactions, for example in sensitive patients.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a storage and dispensing station for a blister packaging machine in which accumulation of pharmaceutical powders is reduced.

This object is achieved by a storage and dispensing station according to claim 1 of the present invention. A storage and dispensing station according to the present invention for a blister packaging machine generally includes a base that secures the storage and dispensing station to the blister packaging machine, the storage and dispensing station can be electrically connected to the blister packaging machine and the charge is at least one contact means enabling dissipation into a blister packaging machine, a housing enclosing a receiving chamber for the medicament and having a cylindrical receiving chamber and a bottom surface, rotatably disposed in the cylindrical receiving chamber, through an individualizing device. It includes an individualization device having a plurality of channels extending in a direction, a storage container disposed on a base having a coupling means, and a driving device for moving the individualization device.

According to the present invention there is provided for the individualization device to conduct electricity at least in the case of an outer surface in contact with the medicament to be separated, and a conductor arrangement for coupling the electrically conductive outer surface of the individualization device to the contact means in an electrically conductive manner. Provided.

Thus, according to the invention, there is always an electrical connection between the electrically conductive outer surface of the individualization device and the contact means through which an electric charge can be transferred to the blister packaging machine.

As already mentioned above, the rotation of the singulation device causes at least a portion of the medicament stored in the container to rotate simultaneously during separation or singulation of the medicament. This causes friction between the medicaments and between the medicament and the individualization device and the inner wall of the container. It has been established that the above friction is sufficient to influence the electrostatic charge of the singulation device in particular.

As a result of the design of the individualization device according to the invention and the supply of the conductor device according to the invention, the static charge of the individualization device can be dissipated to the blister packaging machine through the contact means, which has a reference potential for said individualization device. or form it The reduction of the electrostatic charge of the individualization device has the effect that the drug powder produced during singulation no longer adheres to it or less adheres to it. This simplifies cleaning of the individualization device and prevents deposited medicament powders or accumulations of loose medicament powders from being transferred from the storage and dispensing station to other parts of the blister packaging machine.

It is also clearly established that the aforementioned static charge causes the medicament to be attracted to the electrostatically charged parts of the storage and dispensing station and can no longer slide or slide freely along these parts. Particularly in the case of smaller medicaments, this leads to the channel no longer being reliably filled with medicament. Discharging the static charge prevents attraction of the drug to the components and allows the drug to slide freely into the channel.

The singulation device is disposed within a cylindrical receiving chamber of the housing. Depending on the exact design of the receiving chamber and individualization device, it can be completely accommodated within the receiving chamber. However, it is also possible that the upper end of the singulation device protrudes from the cylindrical receiving chamber.

The storage and dispensing station is electrically coupled to the blister packaging machine by means of contact, i.e. the electrical charge can be dissipated into the blister packaging machine. When the storage and dispensing station is coupled to the blister packaging machine (via contact means), in doing so the individualization device is grounded.

The exact design of the contact means and exactly how the charge is dissipated is related to the correct design of the relevant parts of the storage and dispensing station. The contact means can thus be designed as a common component or as separate connectable components and can be arranged in the base or in the storage container.

In storage and dispensing stations generally used with blister packaging machines according to the WO publication mentioned above, the base and the storage container are designed as separate but combinable parts, and the storage container can be slid onto the base. . To fill with medication or to clean parts of the container, it can simply be released from the base and then refitted when cleaned and/or refilled.

The base part is releasably connected to the blister packaging machine, and electrical contact between the blister packaging machine and the base part, for example a supply of power for the drive unit and/or cables for the control unit of the storage and dispensing station, is provided. Can be designed as a plug-in connector.

In order to avoid elongation of the parts, a preferred embodiment of the storage and dispensing station according to the invention is at least partly provided with contact means formed by a ground wire connected to the motor of the drive or the like. In this embodiment, the component or group of components present in any case, namely the grounding of the motor of the drive unit, is also used to dissipate static charge. Thus, for example, it is common to mount the motor on a stable supporting plate. According to the invention it is designed to be at least partially conductive and has a ground wire capable of dissipating the charge from the motor.

According to the present invention the individualization device is electrically conductive, at least in the case of its outer surface in contact with the medicament to be individualized. In a cost effective embodiment of the singulation device, the electrically conductive outer surface of the singulation device is formed with a planar conductive coating. Here a cost-effective non-conductive material can be used as the carrier material and a higher cost coating coupled to conduct electricity to the contact means by means of a conductor device may be provided only in the areas in contact with the medicament to be individualized. can

In the above mentioned embodiment the electrically conductive coating is applied to the base body. In an alternative embodiment, the singulation device is made of an electrically conductive material, preferably an electrically conductive plastic, at least for its electrically conductive outer surface. Then this conductive area is again connected to the contact means. Depending on the material and cost of manufacture, it may also be advantageous for the singulation device to consist entirely of conductive material.

In the present invention, it is necessary to provide a conductor device that electrically conductively couples the electrically conductive outer surface of the singulation device to a contact means that dissipates the charge into the blister packaging machine, so that the static charge can be dissipated. In a structurally very simple embodiment, the above-mentioned conductor device comprises a slip ring disposed on the bottom surface and/or a housing part forming a cylindrical receiving chamber, and a contact element disposed on the individualization device. include An electrical connection is made between the singulation device and the slip ring using the contact element, resulting in an electrically conductive connection of the slip ring to the contact element. The contact element can be, for example, a kind of spring contact temporarily or permanently placed on a slip ring. The slip ring itself can be formed without any breaks, but it is also possible that the slip ring is formed from different parts that are only in temporary contact with the contact element. These parts can then be connected to each other or individually, if desired, with a node point between them, to the contacting means.

The embodiments mentioned above are structurally simple, but have or require the use of additional components. In a preferred embodiment, the conductor device includes an electrically conductive drive shaft, an electrically conductive drive shaft, a motor, and an electrically conductive coupling means, the electrically conductive outer surface of the singulation device being electrically connected to the coupling means; and Provided that the motor is connected to the contact means. In this embodiment, the existing components are designed to be conductive so that the charge of the singulation device can be dissipated therewith.

The drive motors of the storage and dispensing stations are usually connected by cables to the central power supply of the blister packaging machine. The motor is also connected to the blister packaging machine by contact means, and this contact means ensures that the motor is grounded. In this way, the electric charge transmitted to the motor, the drive hub and finally the drive shaft by the coupling means can be dissipated into the blister packaging machine.

Because of the electrostatic charge of the individualization device, most of the drug powder is deposited on or on the individualization device. As already mentioned above, static electricity also causes a certain adhesion of the medicament to the individualization device, thus making it more difficult for the medicament to enter the channel. However, since other parts of the storage and dispensing station are also electrostatically charged due to the friction generated by the singulation process, in a preferred embodiment the bottom surface, the cylindrical part of the housing and/or other parts of the housing in contact with the medicament are electrically conductive and the contact means electrically connected to Here too it is possible to provide the above components or component parts with an electrically conductive coating or to provide that they are entirely made of an electrically conductive material. The connection with the contact means through which the charge is finally dissipated into the blister packaging machine can be provided by any means known to those skilled in the art.

A preferred embodiment of the storage and dispensing station according to the present invention is described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
1a and 1b show a first embodiment of a storage and dispensing station according to the present invention having a separate base and storage container.
2 shows a perspective view of the storage container according to the first embodiment.
3 shows a cross-sectional view of the storage container according to the first embodiment.
4 shows a detailed view of the individualization device inside the storage container.
5 further shows a cross-sectional view of the storage container fixed on the base according to the first embodiment.
6 shows a sectional view of said first embodiment of a storage and dispensing station according to the present invention.
Figure 7 shows an exploded view of the storage/drive transition of a second embodiment.
8 shows a cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of the storage and dispensing station.

1A and 1B show a perspective view of a first embodiment of a storage and dispensing station according to the present invention. In a first embodiment the storage and dispensing station comprises a base 100 and a storage container 200, which in the first embodiment are designed as separate parts.

In the illustrated embodiment the base 100 is part of a combination of five bases 100 . In an alternative embodiment the bases may be implemented separately from each other. The components referred to in the following description of the base portion 100 are included in each base portion 100, regardless of whether each of the base portions is implemented as a combination (as in FIGS. 1A and 1B) or individually. exist.

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

The face of the base portion 100 shown in FIG. 1B and formed by the housing portions of the top portion 120 and the bottom portion 130 is secured to a blister packaging machine (not shown). A chute 140, which transfers the separated medications from the storage and dispensing station to the guide device in the blister packaging machine, is formed on the front side thereof. The chute 140 extends through the base portion 100 to the protruding portion 121, and the protruding portion 121 is formed with an opening 123 for receiving medicine.

The said front side of the base part 100 is provided with contact means 124, by means of which the storage and dispensing station can be electrically connected to the blister packaging machine and through which the charge can be dissipated into the blister packaging machine. . In the illustrated embodiment, the contact means 124 is disposed on the front portion of the top of the base portion 100. In an alternative embodiment, the contact means 124 may also be disposed on the front side of the lower portion 130. Alternatively, the contact means can be designed, for example, as a plug or the like. Also, with a suitable design of the storage vessel it is possible to arrange the contacting means therein. An important point is that the charge can be dissipated to the blister packaging machine (not shown) through the contact means.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B , the contact element 122 is electrically connected to the contact means 124 on the one hand and to an electrically conductive outer surface (not shown) of the singulation device on the other hand. placed on the protrusion. In the illustrated embodiment the contact element is part of a conductor device.

The use of the contact element is necessitated by the precise design of the conductor device of the first embodiment. Alternatively, the conductor device may be provided so that it is not necessary to use a contact element formed from separate parts (see the embodiment described below). The location is also not limited to the illustrated location, and the contact element may be formed outside the protrusion.

2 shows a perspective view of a storage vessel according to a first embodiment of a storage and dispensing station according to the present invention. As already mentioned with reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B , in a first embodiment the base 100 and the storage container 200 are designed as separate parts of the storage and dispensing station. The storage container 200 includes a housing 210 having a portion 217 (retaining chamber portion) surrounding a cylindrical accommodating chamber 211 (shown in FIG. 3), a lower portion 212 and a handle 214. . The container 200 also includes, among other things, a cover 213 that can be removed to fill the medicament.

3 shows a cross-sectional view of the storage container according to the first embodiment. Referring to this sectional view, the arrangement of the individualization device 230 in the receiving chamber 211 of the receiving portion 217 of the housing 210 can be seen. The singulation device 230 may be formed as a type of rotor having a plurality of protrusions 234 and a plurality of channels 235 extending axially through the singulation device 230 . In the illustrated embodiment, the channel 235 is defined by a protrusion 234 in the central portion of the individualization device 230 so that the channel is open to the outer circumference of the individualization device.

In addition to the housing 210, the individualization device 230 includes a central conical cover surface 232 defining a receiving chamber 202 for the medicament. As a result of the conical design of the cover surface the medicament placed on it slides towards the channel 235 .

In the illustrated embodiment, a step is formed between the conical cover surface 232 and the protrusion 234, thus forming a sort of annular chamber in the space above the channel and protrusion. A corresponding annular chamber may make it possible to feed the medicament into the channel in the case of a medicament having a specific shape.

As can be seen from the “left” side of FIG. 3, the bottom surface 220 is a distribution that allows the separated medicament to be supplied to the chute 140 through an opening 123 in the protrusion 121 of the base 100. It has an opening 221 (see FIG. 1A).

As can be further seen on the left side of FIG. 3 , a retaining section 216 of retaining means 215 is introduced in the annular chamber above the dispensing opening 221 . In addition, an opening is provided in the cylindrical portion 211 of the housing 210 . The role of the retention means, in particular the retention portion, is to retain the medicament located in the receiving chamber 202 above the dispensing opening 221 when the channel 235 is aligned with the dispensing opening 221 .

Separation and dispensing of medicaments is performed by moving a channel containing a defined number of medicaments over the dispensing opening 221 to allow a defined number of medicaments to be dispensed from the linearly arranged channels. The retention portion 216 prevents the overlying medicament from dispensing as well, thus ensuring that only as many medicaments as there are located in the channel are dispensed.

As can be seen in FIG. 3 , the individualization device 230 further includes a coupling means 240 capable of coupling the individualization device 230 to a driving device capable of rotating the individualization device to separate the medicine. . In the illustrated embodiment the coupling means is designed as a separate part. However, as an alternative, it may also be provided that the coupling means is a built-in part of the individualization device 230 .

According to the present invention the individualization device is electrically conductive at least in the case of its outer surface in contact with the medicament to be individualized. In a first embodiment it is provided that the singulation device has a planar conductive coating 231 .

According to the present invention, a conductor device is provided to divert the charge from the singulation device to the contact means 214 (see Fig. 1b), which is then used to dissipate the charge into the blister packaging machine. In a first embodiment the conductor device includes contact elements 236 , 237 disposed on the singulation device 230 .

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 , the individualization device 230 is almost completely housed within the receiving chamber 211 . The protrusion 245 ends below the opening of the receiving chamber 211, thus creating a kind of annular chamber above it. However, in an alternative embodiment the receiving chamber (or the individualization device) may be designed such that the protrusion protrudes above the top opening of the receiving chamber. As long as the protrusions and channels are designed as in FIG. 3 , ie the channels open to the outer periphery of the individualization device, in such an embodiment it is (also) possible for medication to enter the channels from the side. The exact design of the containment chamber and individualization device is determined by the medicament to be individualized.

4 shows two variants of the arrangement of the contact elements. In one case the contact element is arranged on the outer part of the protrusion 234 and in another case it is arranged on the bottom surface of the protrusion 234 . Electrical connection with the slip rings 222 and 215 disposed on the bottom surface 220 and/or the receiving portion 217 is made by the contact element. The arrangement of the slip ring on the bottom surface 220 and the receiving portion 217 is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 .

5 further shows a cross-sectional view of the storage container fixed on the base according to the first embodiment. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of a complete storage and dispensing station according to the first embodiment.

5 and 6 show the coupling between the base part 100 and the storage container 200, which are designed as separate parts in particular. The container 200 is pushed with its lower end 212 over the protrusion 121 of the base 100, and for this purpose the lower end 212 is suitably matched.

Figure 6 further illustrates the coupling between the singulation device 230 and the drive arranged on the base. The driving device includes a motor 112, a driving shaft 111 and a driving device hub 110. The outer contour of the drive hub 110 works in a frictional manner together with the inner contour of the coupling means 240, which in turn, by means of a suitable connection, the individualization device group. interact with itself In an alternative embodiment, coupling means 240 may be an integral part of singulation device 230 .

5 and 6 the individualization device 230 is shown in a dispensing position. A channel is aligned with the dispensing opening 221 in the bottom surface 220 and the medication located in the channel falls through the dispensing opening 221 into the chute 140 and from there into the interior of the blister packaging machine. will be conveyed

Above the channels arranged in line with the dispensing opening 221, the retention portion 216 of the retention means 215 is introduced into the annular chamber and ensures that no more medicament escapes from the receiving chamber.

Figure 7 shows an exploded view of the singulation device 230/drive transition of a second embodiment of a storage and dispensing station according to the present invention. The outer contour of the drive hub 110 can be seen in the opening in the projection 121 of the upper end of the base. Above this can be seen the coupling means 240 and above this the singulation device 230 . In this embodiment, the coupling means 240 is also designed as a separate part with respect to the individualization device 230.

Figure 8 shows a cross-sectional view of the second embodiment, in which most of the storage container has been omitted in order to specifically illustrate the coupling between the singulation device and the driving device.

An electric motor 112 connected to the contact means 124 by a cable 113 is disposed in the center of the base 100 . In this case, among other things, the contacting means is used to power the electric motor 112. Also, the base or other components in the container may be connected to a control device (not shown) via contact means. For example, a sensor (not shown) that determines whether or not medication has actually been dispensed in a dispensing operation may be associated with a dispensing opening in the chute 140 or the bottom of the receptacle.

The electric motor 112 includes a drive shaft 111 terminating in a drive hub 110 . The drive hub 110 has an outer contour which interlocks with the inner contour 241 of the coupling means 240 and operates in a releasable manner (see Fig. 7). The coupling means 240 is (releasably) connected to the individualization device.

The type of connection between the drive hub 110 and the coupling means 240 of the singulation device ensures that the storage container can be easily removed from the base without further operating steps. Although in the illustrated embodiment the contact means is designed separately with respect to the singulation device 230, the connection between the contact means 240 and the singulation device is maintained when removed.

In accordance with the present invention, a conductor arrangement is provided which electrically conductively couples the electrically conductive outer surface 231 of the singulation device 230 to the contact means. In the second specific example, the coupling means 240, the drive hub 110, the drive shaft 111 and the electric motor 112 constitute parts of the conductor device.

The coupling means 240 is electrically conductive and connected in an electrically conductive manner to the electrically conductive outer surface 231 of the singulation device 230 . This can be achieved, for example, by using a singulation device made entirely of conductive material (eg electrically conductive plastic). Alternatively, a cable may be provided to the coupling means from the outer surface. The drive hub and drive shaft are also electrically conductive, and the above apply with respect to correct design.

Static electricity generated during separation or singulation can be dissipated from the outer surface of the singulation device to the coupling means and from there through the drive hub and drive shaft. Charges can be dissipated from the drive shaft to the contact means 124 via the motor and cable 113, whereby the charges can be finally dissipated or dissipated in the blister packaging machine.

No additional components are needed to dissipate the charge in this embodiment. Accumulation of the potential difference is prevented by the design of the existing parts, and chemical powder adhesion and other fine contamination are prevented. The individualization device and/or other parts of the container that come into contact with the medicine (the cylindrical portion 211 of the housing, the housing 210 itself) are actually grounded through the blister packaging machine.

Claims (5)

base 100;
at least one contact means (124) capable of electrically connecting the storage and dispensing station to the blister packaging machine and allowing charge to be dissipated into the blister packaging machine;
One housing 210 having a cylindrical accommodating chamber 211 and a bottom surface 220 and surrounding an accommodating chamber 202 for medicine, rotatably to the cylindrical accommodating chamber 211 of the housing 210 The individualization device 230 having a plurality of channels 235 extending in the axial direction through the arranged individualization device 230, and the storage container 200 having a coupling means 240 and disposed on the base portion 100, and
Including driving devices (110, 111, 112) for moving the individualization device (230),
the individualization device 230 conducts electricity within the case, at least of its outer surface 231 in contact with the medicament to be individualized; and
In a storage and dispensing station for a blister packaging machine for pharmaceuticals provided with a single conductor device coupling the electrically conductive outer surface (231) of the individualization device (230) to the contact means (124) for conduction of electricity,
slip rings 222 , 215 where the conductor device is disposed within the bottom surface 220 and/or within the housing portion 217 forming the cylindrical receiving chamber 211 , and contact elements disposed within the singulation device 230 . A storage and dispensing station (1) for a pharmaceutical blister packaging machine, characterized in that it includes (236, 237).
2. Storage and dispensing station (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the contact means (124) is provided at least partly as a ground wire connected to the motor (112) of the drive unit.
Storage and dispensing station according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the electrically conductive outer surface (231) of the individualization device (230) is formed of a planar conductive coating. One).
Storage and dispensing station (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the individualization device (230) is made of an electrically conductive material, at least within the casing of its electrically conductive outer surface (231). ).
2. Bliss for medicine according to claim 1, characterized in that the surface of the bottom surface (220) and/or the surface of the housing (210) in contact with the medicine is electrically conductive and electrically connected to the contact means (124). Storage and dispensing station (1) for the packaging machine.

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