Support structure, transport structure and transport or packaging container supporting a plurality of containers

Abstract

The invention relates to a support structure for simultaneously supporting a plurality of containers, the support structure having a plurality of receiving portions for at least partially accommodating the containers therein, wherein the receiving portions each have an upper end of an opening for introducing the containers into the receiving portions and a lower end, the lower end having a support portion for limiting axial movement of the containers in the receiving portions and being provided with a guide portion for guiding the containers when inserted into the receiving portions. The guide portion is formed as an upper guide and positioning portion near the upper end of the upper portion of the receiving portion and a lower guide and positioning portion near the lower end of the lower portion of the receiving portion, which are formed separately from each other and limit radial movement of the containers in the receiving portions. The functional separation between the upper and lower guide and positioning portions enables a significantly smaller minimum spacing between adjacent receiving portions and a significantly higher packing density when manufactured by means of injection molding. The receiving portions can be manufactured with smaller tolerances. The insertion bevel significantly simplifies the introduction of the containers into the receiving portions.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of patent application 201810090673.9, filed on January 25, 2018, entitled "Support structure for supporting multiple containers, transport structure and transport or packaging container".

[0002] Cross-reference to related applications This application claims priority to German patent application 10 2017 101 398.9, filed on January 25, 2017, entitled “Haltestruktur zum gleichzeitigen Halten einer Mehrzahl von Behältern für Substanzen für Pharmazeutische,medizinische oder kosmetische Anwendungen, Transportgebilde und Transport- oder Verpackungsbehälter mit selbiger (support structure, transport structure and transport or packaging container having the same for supporting multiple containers of substances for pharmaceutical, medical or cosmetic applications), the entire contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] The present invention relates to a support structure for simultaneously supporting multiple containers of substances for pharmaceutical, medical or cosmetic applications, as well as a transport structure or a transport or packaging container having such a support structure and the containers supported thereon. Background Technology

[0004] Pharmaceutical containers, such as vials, caprills, or ampoules, are widely used as containers for storing medical, pharmaceutical, or cosmetic preparations in liquid form, especially in pre-diluted liquid form. They are typically cylindrical in shape or have at least one cylindrical portion, and can be made of plastic or glass and are readily available inexpensively. To fill these containers under aseptic conditions as economically as possible, they are increasingly supplied to pharmaceutical filling companies in aseptic packaging by container manufacturers, thus eliminating the need for cleaning and sterilization at the pharmaceutical filling company. For this purpose, the containers must be unpacked under aseptic conditions at the pharmaceutical filling company, for example, at the pharmaceutical company, and then processed further. Increasingly, a production concept is also being used in which the container remains in a support structure of the aseptic packaging during the filling process, and the container is filled while still arranged in the support structure, which is part of the aseptic packaging. In addition to the actual filling process, other sub-processes may be performed, such as weighing, placement and pressing, freeze-drying, and finally sealing the container with a stopper, during which the container remains supported in the support structure. This places many additional requirements on the support structure, especially on the accuracy of the container's position within the support structure.

[0005] CN 103359348-A discloses a tray-type support structure having a bottom on which a plurality of vertical locating pins are disposed, allowing a container to be accommodated between the locating pins without contacting each other. The support structure is formed of plastic by injection molding. The vertical locating pins also serve as guides to introduce the container into the receiving portion formed by the locating pins.

[0006] WO 2016 / 135051 A1 discloses another support structure designed as a so-called nest, capable of being accommodated in a basin-shaped transport or packaging container (also referred to as a basin). Multiple receiving sections are formed on the underside of this support structure, their bottoms interconnected, with vertical locating pins protruding from the bottom. Containers can be accommodated between these locating pins without contacting each other. The vertical locating pins also serve as guides to introduce the container into the receiving sections formed by the locating pins.

[0007] EP 2448541 B1 discloses another support structure, which includes a tubular receiving portion formed by a sidewall that protrudes vertically from the upper side of the support structure.

[0008] Other support structures are disclosed in the applicant's patent documents EP 2868593 A1, EP 2848882 A1, WO 2014 / 072019 A2 and EP2740537 A1.

[0009] US 5996818 A and US 4124122 A each disclose a support for a test tube. The test tube is centrally located in a hemispherical recess at the bottom of the support and is positioned by means of perforated plates arranged at two different levels. These perforated plates are not guides or positioning elements in the sense of this application, as very careful alignment is required to insert the test tube into the holes of the perforated plates. The support structure is not formed in one piece.

[0010] EP 3136109 A1, published after the priority date of this application, discloses a separate cylindrical receiving section that clips into a retaining bracket. The receiving section has S-shaped, resilient clips that hold the container in place at its upper and lower ends. The support structure is not a one-piece design.

[0011] Another support structure for a Capule is disclosed in EP 2 448 541 B1. The guiding and positioning parts in the sense of this application are not disclosed.

[0012] Introducing a container from above into the receiving section of the support structure always requires very precise pre-positioning of the container relative to the receiving section, which is a complex task.

[0013] Because the aforementioned support structure is made of plastic through injection molding or deep drawing, the receiving part has certain geometric deviations, such as those caused by twisting, draft angles, roundness, concentricity, etc. These deviations result in a larger gap between the container and the support structure, which in turn causes the container to have greater freedom of movement within the receiving part. Subsequent reprocessing in the tooling is very complex, thus making certain geometric deviations unavoidable.

[0014] In particular, the demolding ramp causes the container to tilt more in the receiving section, which makes the automated filling process, especially the placement of the crimp, particularly in the case of relatively slender containers, such as when placing the crimp for a Capule.

[0015] Due to the demolding process during injection molding of the support structure, a correspondingly large demolding ramp must be provided at the point where the support structure shrinks to the core of the injection mold for the bag or receiving portion. The angle of the demolding ramp must be approximately 2°. However, this large demolding ramp, especially in the case of relatively slender containers, such as Capule containers, leads to relatively inaccurate guidance and results in lower packaging density. A relatively large minimum spacing must thus be maintained between the various receiving portions of the support structure, which limits the achievable packaging density. Additionally, this minimum spacing depends on the mechanical measures used to reinforce the support structure. However, these measures typically result in a higher weight and higher material cost for the support structure.

[0016] For different types of containers (e.g., vials, caprills, syringes), the same glass tube half-structure is typically used. If these different types of containers are now grouped according to their common (tube) outer diameter, it is found that these containers have different nesting layouts and support structures with varying packaging densities. More precisely, the spacing between the various receiving sections is typically different for the common (tube) outer diameter of the containers for the aforementioned reasons. This increases the workload of automated processing: for example, containers must be positioned at different locations using grippers, robotic arms, or the like, corresponding to the positions of the receiving sections of the respective type of support structure. Summary of the Invention

[0017] The object of this invention is to provide an improved support structure for simultaneously supporting multiple containers of substances used in pharmaceutical, medical, or cosmetic applications. This structure can be easily and cost-effectively manufactured, avoids glass-to-glass contact between containers held on the support structure in a simple manner, enables high packaging density, and allows for precise container positioning. Preferably, the containers can be easily and reliably inserted into the receiving portion of the support structure. Other aspects of the invention relate to transport structures or transport or packaging containers including such support structures, as well as aseptic packaging structures.

[0018] According to the aspects described below, a support structure is provided for simultaneously supporting multiple containers of substances for pharmaceutical, medical, or cosmetic applications; a transport structure consisting of such a support structure and multiple containers of substances for pharmaceutical, medical, or cosmetic applications held therein; a transport or packaging container including such a support structure; and an aseptic packaging structure for aseptic transport of multiple containers of substances for pharmaceutical, medical, or cosmetic applications.

[0019] According to the present invention, a support structure is provided for simultaneously supporting multiple containers, particularly vials or capules, of substances used in pharmaceutical, medical, or cosmetic applications. The structure includes multiple receiving portions for partially or completely accommodating the containers, such that the upper or lower end of the container protrudes axially from or does not protrude axially from the receiving portion. Each receiving portion includes an upper end and a lower end with an opening for inserting the container into the receiving portion. The lower end has a retaining portion for restricting axial movement of the container within the receiving portion, i.e., holding the container axially within the receiving portion. Additionally, a guide portion is provided for guiding the container into the receiving portion during insertion.

[0020] According to the present invention, the guide portion includes an upper guide and positioning portion near the upper end of the receiving portion and a lower guide and positioning portion near the lower end of the receiving portion, wherein the upper guide and positioning portion and the lower guide and positioning portion are formed separately and configured to restrict the radial movement of the container in the receiving portion. Here, the upper and lower guide and positioning portions are formed integrally with the support structure.

[0021] Because the upper and lower guide and positioning sections are designed as separate, independent parts that are not directly connected to each other or even one-piece designs, functional separation between the upper and lower guide and positioning sections can be achieved according to the present invention. In fact, especially when using injection molding, the guide and positioning sections are typically designed as one piece and must be tilted at a relatively large distance to allow the support structure to be completely demolded from the injection mold. According to the present invention, the upper and lower guide and positioning sections can be designed to be relatively short. This typically means a relatively large minimum distance between the receiving parts, while according to the present invention, the upper and lower guide and positioning sections can be designed to be relatively short, thus greatly reducing the minimum distance between the receiving parts and significantly increasing the achievable packaging density. This advantage is particularly evident in support structures used to support relatively elongated pharmaceutical containers.

[0022] Another advantage of this functional separation is that, according to the invention, the guide and receiving portions can be manufactured with very small tolerances. Because the outer diameter of the container to be contained is given relatively precise control for manufacturing purposes, the degrees of freedom of movement and positional errors of the contained container can be minimized due to the precise design of the guide and receiving portions. The container can thus be pre-positioned more precisely relative to the receiving portion, resulting in less material wear and thus fewer particles in the area of ​​the support structure when the container is inserted into the receiving portion. This advantage also applies to transportation, as the container can be tightly contained in the receiving portion and therefore experiences less back-and-forth movement during transport.

[0023] Because the guide and positioning parts according to the invention do not need to extend along the entire length of the receiving part, material can be saved during manufacturing, making the support structure according to the invention lighter and more torsional resistant. It also reduces production costs because simpler and more cost-effective molds can be used, especially for production using injection molding.

[0024] In principle, it may be sufficient to provide a single guide and positioning part near the upper and lower ends of the corresponding receiving part. This single guide and positioning part may also be provided with one or more radially inwardly extending protrusions to appropriately restrict the radial movement of the container. Such protrusions are arranged at equal angular distances from each other along the periphery of the receiving part and, when viewed in a top view, are preferably arranged alternately near the upper and lower ends of the corresponding receiving part.

[0025] The restriction on the radial freedom of movement of the container within the receiving section reduces the impact velocity and thus the force generated in the event of a collision between the container and the sidewall or portion of the sidewall of the receiving section during transport. These reduced normal forces result in less friction and material abrasion (particle formation) not only during the storage of the container in the receiving section but also when the container is inserted into the receiving section. Furthermore, the very precise guidance of the container according to the invention enables very precise removal of the container from the receiving section, for example, by lifting the container using a pre-positioned gripper. The guide ribs designed in this manner also allow for precise adjustment and matching in subsequent stages of geometric deviations, such as twisting, roundness, and concentricity, caused by the injection molding process used to produce the support structure.

[0026] According to the present invention, the very precise positioning and guidance of the container in the receiving section enables higher packaging density, especially in the case of long, thin, or narrow containers, because with increased restrictions on the degrees of freedom of movement, glass-to-glass contact between containers becomes more impossible. The packaging size can therefore be narrowed.

[0027] Because the container's degrees of freedom of movement are significantly reduced within the receiving section, the required guide length can also be reduced. This is important, for example, in the case of long, thin, or narrow containers, such as Capule or syringe barrels, as these often only allow the lower half to be guided into the receiving section. Due to the highly precise positioning and guidance of the container according to the invention, glass-to-glass contact can still be reliably guaranteed. Therefore, materials can also be saved according to the invention.

[0028] According to a preferred embodiment, there are no separators between adjacent receiving sections to prevent collisions between containers in adjacent receiving sections, such as the peripheral sidewalls that typically prevent collisions between containers in directly adjacent receiving sections. Instead, due to the very precise positioning and alignment by the upper and lower guide and positioning sections according to the invention, this separator function is completely unnecessary. Thus, radial support for the container in the receiving section can be provided solely by the upper and lower guide and positioning sections. For this purpose, the upper and lower guide and positioning sections are formed at sufficiently stable points in the support structure, particularly at the edges of the circular openings on the upper side of the support structure and at the lower ends of the connecting webs that project vertically from the upper side of the support structure.

[0029] According to another embodiment, the distance between the upper and lower guide and positioning portions along the longitudinal direction of the receiving portion is greater than the distance between the upper guide and positioning portion and the upper end of the receiving portion and / or greater than the distance between the lower guide and positioning portion and the lower end of the receiving portion. This distance substantially corresponds to the axial length of the receiving portion, and the guide and positioning portions themselves are preferably arranged at relatively short distances from the upper and lower ends of the receiving portion. For optimal guide length, the upper guide and positioning portions are preferably arranged at the height above the support structure or only a very small distance below the upper side, i.e., in the region where the support structure is most stable. Furthermore, the lower guide and positioning portions are preferably located at the bottom of the receiving portion to directly support the container at the lower end of the receiving portion. Thus, for example, in the case of transportation, undesirable tilting of the container in the receiving portion can also be minimized, resulting in further reduction of material wear due to friction between the container and the sidewalls or retaining web of the receiving portion.

[0030] According to another embodiment, the upper and lower guide and positioning portions, due to their shape and size, serve as rigid or non-flexible guide and positioning portions for guiding and positioning the container. The upper and lower guide and positioning portions are sufficiently wide and long to ensure that they do not significantly deform or yield when guiding the container. The upper and lower guide and positioning portions can be slightly adjusted as needed when guiding the container due to the general flexibility of the support structure itself, particularly due to the axial connecting web and the lower connecting web.

[0031] According to another embodiment, the upper and / or lower guide and positioning portions protrude radially inward into the receiving portion, such that the cylindrical sidewall of the container is not radially supported by contact with the sidewall of the receiving portion or the retaining web, but only has point contact with a small number of guide and positioning portions, which helps to further minimize material wear. The front ends of the upper and / or lower guide and positioning portions of the corresponding receiving portions preferably together surround the upper and lower circles, respectively, with a diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the container to be received in the corresponding area of ​​the upper or lower guide and positioning portion, or slightly larger than this outer diameter, for example, by one-tenth or a few tenths of a millimeter, to minimize friction and material wear. The required guide length of the guide and positioning portions can also be shortened by significantly reducing the degree of freedom of movement of the container in the receiving portion. This is important, for example, in the case of particularly small, long, thin, and slender containers, such as medicine bottles or syringe barrels, where often only the lower half can be inserted into the receiving portion. However, due to the very precise positioning and guidance of the container according to the invention, collisions between containers in adjacent receiving portions can be reliably avoided. Therefore, material can also be saved according to the invention.

[0032] Here, the diameters of the aforementioned upper and lower circles are preferably the same, which makes it easier to demold the support structure from the injection molding mold and further minimizes the undesirable tilting of the container in the receiving part.

[0033] According to another embodiment, when viewed in a top view, the upper guide and positioning portions of the receiving portion and the lower guide and positioning portions of the receiving portion are arranged at an angular offset, wherein the upper and lower guide and positioning portions do not overlap. This provides a significant advantage, particularly when producing support structures from plastic material by injection molding, because the support structure, together with the upper and lower guide and positioning portions, can be demolded from the injection mold in a single step. Because the upper and lower guide and positioning portions are arranged at different angles and do not overlap, they do not interfere with each other during demolding.

[0034] According to another embodiment, at least one upper and lower guide and positioning portion, and preferably multiple upper and lower guide and positioning portions, are provided to each receiving portion, arranged at a constant angular distance from each other and distributed around the receiving portion. This enables symmetrical multi-point support of the container within the receiving portion. Preferably, viewed in a top view, the upper and lower guide and positioning portions are arranged alternately, which facilitates demolding of the aforementioned support structure.

[0035] According to another embodiment, the upper and lower guide and positioning portions are designed as narrow upper and lower guide ribs, respectively, extending longitudinally along the receiving portion and radially inward into the receiving portion. For this purpose, the front contact surfaces of the upper and lower guide ribs can be wedge-shaped or rounded, which helps to further minimize the contact surface between the container and the corresponding guide and positioning portions when the container is supported in the receiving portion, thereby further minimizing undesirable material wear on these contact surfaces.

[0036] According to another embodiment, the front contact surfaces of the upper and / or lower guide ribs are respectively provided with wedge-shaped profiles or rounded edges in the longitudinal direction, which can achieve precise positioning of the container and minimize material wear on the contact surfaces.

[0037] According to another embodiment, the front contact surfaces of the upper and lower guide ribs extend downward at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal direction of the receiving portion. The front surfaces of the guide ribs can further center the container when inserted vertically from above the support structure. For this purpose, a small angle of inclination of these inclined front surfaces is sufficient. For example, the angle of these inclined front surfaces is in the range of 0° to 3°, preferably in the range of 0.0° to 1.5°, and more preferably in the range of 0.0° to 0.5°.

[0038] According to another embodiment, the front contact surfaces of the upper and / or lower guide ribs are concavely curved to correspond to the outer contour of the container, so that the cylindrical sidewall of the container abuts against the front contact surfaces of the upper and / or lower guide ribs not in a point-like manner, but in a linear contact area, thereby enabling more precise positioning.

[0039] According to another embodiment, the front contact surfaces of the upper and / or lower guide ribs are alternately formed in a convex and curved manner, contacting the cylindrical sidewall of the container in a basically point-like manner.

[0040] According to another embodiment, the upper and / or lower guiding and positioning portions are designed as annular segments that extend in the longitudinal direction of the receiving portion and protrude radially inward into the receiving portion. The radius of curvature of the annular segments matches the outer diameter of the container to partially contact the container, so that the cylindrical sidewall of the container abuts against the front contact surface of the upper and / or lower guiding ribs not as a point but as a linear contact area, thereby achieving more precise positioning.

[0041] According to another embodiment, the upper guide ribs are designed as a single piece with the peripheral edge webs, which define the upper ends of the corresponding receiving portions in the radial direction. Here, especially when the edge webs completely surround the edges of the corresponding receiving portions and / or when they are directly or indirectly connected to each other via connecting webs, the edge webs can be used to further reinforce the support structure, especially the upper side of the support structure.

[0042] According to another embodiment, the edge webs project substantially vertically from the upper side of the support structure, wherein each edge web is provided with an insertion ramp. The insertion ramps allow the container to be better guided when inserted vertically into the receiving portion of the support structure from above, enabling it to be inserted smoothly and without significant friction or lateral forces. The insertion ramps act as a trapping funnel, capturing the end of the container and guiding it along the direction of the upper guide and positioning portion when inserted vertically into the receiving portion of the support structure. For this purpose, the edge webs are not necessarily formed as peripheral webs. Instead, it is sufficient for several edge webs or guide structures to be arranged along the edges of the respective receiving portions at a distance from each other, wherein the distance between these edge webs or guide structures is less than the outer diameter of the container. Therefore, according to the invention, the container needs to be pre-positioned relative to the receiving portion with lower precision, which further reduces the effort involved in operating the container. The container can still be reliably inserted into the receiving portion.

[0043] Generally, the insertion ramp can begin directly at the upper end of the edge web to reduce the effective distance between the edge webs to the dimension between the upper guide and positioning parts (Durchmesser). However, in principle, the insertion ramp can also begin at a certain distance from the upper end of the edge web, so that the opening width of the receiving part at the upper end of the edge web can then be maximized to effectively capture the container when inserted into the receiving part.

[0044] Generally, the insertion bevel can also be concave and curved, but it is preferably formed as a flat, inclined surface at the upper end of the guide rib, which makes it easier for the support structure to be removed or demolded from the injection mold during injection molding production. For this purpose, the insertion bevel can have a wedge-shaped profile when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the receiving portion.

[0045] According to another embodiment, the height of the edge web at the intersection of adjacent edge webs is greater than the height at the center between the two intersection areas, which further minimizes the material usage and weight of the support structure. However, the container can still be effectively captured at the highest part of the edge web, i.e., in the intersection area, and can be effectively guided vertically from above into the receiving part of the support structure upon insertion. Preferably, the upper edge of the edge web is continuously concave or, for example, triangular. Due to the smaller height of the edge web at the center, locally adjustable stiffness of the structure can also be achieved, comparable to that of a simple bent beam, where deflection can be reduced and thus effective reinforcement can be achieved by reinforcing material towards the center (corresponding to the area at the intersection).

[0046] According to another embodiment, an additional axially connecting web extends downward from the center of the edge web, connecting to the lower side of the support structure, particularly to provide additional support for the edge web at the center. Due to this additional support, the center of the edge web, despite its lower height and inherent rigidity, can still be sufficiently stiff. Simultaneously, the additional connection between the upper and lower sides via the additional axially connecting web allows for further reinforcement of the support structure.

[0047] According to another embodiment, four or preferably six edge webs define the upper end of the receiving portion in the radial direction. This automatically results in fourfold or sixfold symmetry of the corresponding receiving portions, which not only makes it easier to insert the container into the receiving portion but also further increases the rigidity of the support structure, especially when the edge webs are connected to each other. Retaining portions that limit the axial movement of the container in the receiving portion can be provided on axially connecting webs that project vertically from the upper side of the support structure or from the base surface and connect to the intersection areas of two or preferably three edge webs respectively. The connecting webs are suitably connected to the bottom side or bottom of the support structure, which further increases the rigidity of the support structure, especially its torsional and bending strength. Preferably, the lower guide ribs are designed as a single piece with these axially connecting webs.

[0048] If further processing of the container is considered when it is housed in the receiving part of the support structure, then the rigidity of the retaining protrusion is quite considerable, such that, for example, the plug can be pressed into the filling opening of the capel, which is supported on the retaining protrusion at the end opposite to the filling opening, as described below.

[0049] According to another embodiment, the lower end of the aforementioned axially connecting web forms a peripheral sidewall of the receiving portion, or is widened to form such a peripheral sidewall, wherein the lower guide ribs are formed integrally with the peripheral sidewall formed by the lower end of the axially connecting web. The aforementioned lower guide ribs or lower guide and positioning portions can be designed integrally with this peripheral sidewall at the lower end of the axially connecting web.

[0050] According to another embodiment, the upper ends of the upper and / or lower guide ribs are respectively provided with insertion ramps, which extend obliquely relative to the corresponding upper or lower guide rib. During insertion, the container slides even more smoothly along the guide ribs into the receiving part, which helps to further reduce material wear.

[0051] According to another embodiment, the insertion ramp is inclined relative to the upper and / or lower guide ribs at an angle between 5° and 45°, preferably between 10° and 15°, and more preferably between 12.5° and 14.5°. This enables effective capture of the container during insertion into a plane perpendicular to the support structure, and also ensures reliable insertion into the receiving portion formed by the lower guide rib. Here, the transition region to the guide rib can be angled, but it can also be curved.

[0052] According to another embodiment, the insertion ramp is inclined at a larger angle relative to the central axis of the receiving portion than the guide rib. Because the angle of inclination of the guide rib relative to the central axis of the receiving portion is negligible or at least very small, especially within approximately one degree, the difference in angles is essentially equal to the angle of inclination of the insertion ramp.

[0053] According to another embodiment, the retaining portion is designed as a retaining protrusion projecting radially inward, wherein the retaining protrusion surrounds a corresponding opening at the lower end of the receiving portion. For this purpose, the retaining protrusions are preferably connected to each other by a bottom web to form a peripheral bottom web, which respectively forms a through opening. This allows for further material savings and weight reduction while still achieving high rigidity on the lower side or bottom of the support structure. Furthermore, the end of the container housed in the receiving portion can be accessed from the lower side of the support structure. The shape of the opening is preferably adapted to the outer contour of the container in that region, and even more preferably, this shape is circular, which further enhances the rigidity of the lower side or bottom of the support structure.

[0054] According to another embodiment, the support structure is configured to support a cape having a cylindrical base and an upper end with a constricted neck and an adjacent shoulder that transitions into the cylindrical sidewall of the container. Here, the opening width of the aforementioned opening matches the upper end of the cape in such a way that the upper end of the cape extends through the opening, and the shoulder of the cape is directly supported on the retaining protrusion or the bottom web to limit axial displacement of the cape within the receiving portion when it is inverted and received in the receiving portion.

[0055] Generally speaking, a capel can also be designed as a so-called two-chamber capel, which has a bypass that protrudes radially from the sidewall of the cylindrical matrix.

[0056] The injection port of the cape can be closed with a plug and sealed with a cap or lid, such as a crimped metal cap, which also allows contact with the diaphragm (pre-crimped cape) during crimping. The opening width at the lower end of the receiving portion can be designed such that the front end of the cape, together with the plug and the crimped metal cap, can extend fully through the opening, so that the cape is supported on the retaining protrusion only in the shoulder area. The opening is preferably circular or formed to correspond to the contour of the cape.

[0057] According to another embodiment, the upper side or base surface of the support structure is flat and particularly plate-like, at least along the edge of the support structure, and the lower ends of the receiving parts are connected to each other by webs that together define a plane. The support structure is thus constructed approximately in a sandwich design, with "perforated plates" on the upper and lower sides, essentially formed as a single unit and connected to each other via the aforementioned axially connected webs to increase the rigidity of the upper and lower sides. This design is particularly advantageous for the surface loads generated by already filled medical containers, such as vials or caprills. This is because higher axial loads then cause the upper side of the support structure to be compressed, while the lower side is stretched. The greater the rigidity of the upper and lower sides, and the greater the distance between the upper and lower sides, the less the support structure bends under load.

[0058] According to another embodiment, the edge of the support structure is additionally reinforced by a sidewall that projects vertically from the upper side of the support structure. Preferably, the edge is integrally formed with the upper side, and in particular has a T-shaped profile.

[0059] According to another preferred embodiment, the support structure is designed to accommodate a nest of multiple containers, preferably multiple medical containers, especially multiple vials or capre.

[0060] According to another preferred embodiment, the receiving parts are connected to each other by connecting webs to further strengthen the support structure. The receiving parts are designed in such a way that two support structures with the same structure can be stacked one on top of the other, such that the receiving part of the upper support structure is partially sunk into the receiving part of the lower support structure, and the connecting web of the upper support structure is directly supported on the upper side or base of the lower support structure.

[0061] According to another preferred embodiment, the length of the receiving portion is matched to the length of the container in such a way that the upper or lower end of the container protrudes from the receiving portion and is therefore freely accessible from above the supporting structure. This can be used for further processing or handling of the container while it is housed in the receiving portion and supported on the supporting structure. For example, the container may be temporarily held in a holder at a processing station, such as at a pharmaceutical filling company, while material is filled into the container held on the supporting structure via a filling opening. Alternatively, a plug may be pushed into the end of the container to close it, while the container is held by the supporting structure. Alternatively, the end protruding from the receiving portion may be used to contact the container and remove it from the receiving portion.

[0062] According to another embodiment, the support structure is formed from a single piece of plastic by injection molding. The aforementioned inclined guide ribs and / or insert ramps can effectively assist in the demolding of the support structure from the injection molding mold.

[0063] According to another aspect of the invention, a transport structure for containers is provided, the transport structure comprising a combination of a support structure as described above and a plurality of containers for pharmaceutical, medical or cosmetic applications held therein, wherein the containers are at least partially housed in a receiving portion of the support structure and held axially at the support structure, as described above.

[0064] According to another alternative embodiment, the support structure is designed as a receiving element in which a plurality of receiving portions are arranged in a regular, one-piece, truncated cone shape, such that the container is received in the receiving portion with its upper end oriented toward the bottom of the receiving portion, while preventing direct contact between adjacent containers received in the receiving portions of the receiving element. The receiving element can be used as a holding tray for containers and can also be directly sealed, for example, by a sealing film, for the aseptic transport and storage of containers.

[0065] The receiving part is preferably matched to the length of the container in such a way that the container is completely contained within the receiving part, i.e., its ends do not protrude from the receiving part.

[0066] According to another embodiment, a support member is also provided for covering the bottom of a container housed in a receiving member, wherein the support member is formed of a substrate having a flat support surface facing the receiving portion.

[0067] Here, the aforementioned housing and support components can be produced from plastic by injection molding.

[0068] According to another aspect of the invention, a transport structure for containers is provided, the transport structure comprising a combination of a support structure as described above and a plurality of containers for pharmaceutical, medical or cosmetic applications held therein, wherein the containers are housed in a receiving portion and held axially at the support structure.

[0069] According to another aspect of the invention, a transport or packaging container for a plurality of containers of a substance for pharmaceutical, medical or cosmetic applications is provided, the transport or packaging container being box-shaped, wherein the support structure as described above, together with the containers held therein, is housed within the box-shaped transport or packaging container to hold the plurality of containers within the transport or packaging container.

[0070] In particular, transport or packaging containers can be closed or sealed with breathable plastic films, especially with breathable plastic fiber meshes and especially Tyvek® films.

[0071] Furthermore, for aseptic transport and storage, an aseptic packaging structure can be provided, comprising at least one transport structure or at least one transport or packaging container as described above, and including a container contained therein, wherein the at least one transport structure or at least one transport or packaging container is contained within at least one aseptic bag and aseptically packaged relative to the environment. Here, the at least one aseptic bag may include a breathable portion, which is formed, in particular, by a mesh of plastic fibers, such as polypropylene fibers (PP). Attached Figure Description

[0072] The present invention is described below by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, from which other features, advantages, and tasks to be solved will also be derived. The accompanying drawings show: Figure 1a and 1b A perspective view of the basic unit of the support structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention is shown, namely, having and not having containers therein; Figure 1c and 1d Showing according to Figure 1a and 1bA top view of the basic unit, which has or does not have a container supported therein; Figure 1e and 1f Show respectively according to Figure 1d basic unit along Figure 1d Longitudinal section view of AA or BB; Figure 1g It is based on the first embodiment and has according to Figure 1c A top-view perspective of the supporting structure of multiple basic units; Figure 1h It is based on Figure 1g A partial sectional perspective view of the supporting structure of the transport and packaging containers; Figure 2a A side view of a basic unit of a support structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention is shown, wherein no container is held therein; Figure 2b and 2c Show respectively according to Figure 2a basic unit along Figure 2a Longitudinal cross-sectional views of CC and DD; Figure 2d It is based on the second embodiment and has according to Figure 2a A top-view perspective of the supporting structure of multiple basic units; Figure 2e It is based on Figure 2d A top view of the support structure housed in a transport or packaging container, which is shown in partial cross-section. Figure 3a and 3b A perspective view of the basic unit of the support structure according to a third embodiment of the present invention is shown, namely, containers having and not having containers supported therein; Figure 3c Showing according to Figure 3b A top view of the basic unit and the container supported therein; Figure 3d and 3e Show respectively according to Figure 3c basic unit along Figure 3c Longitudinal cross-sections of AA and BB; Figure 4a and 4b A perspective view of the basic unit of the support structure according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention is shown, namely, having no container and having a container therein for support. Figure 4c Showing according to Figure 4b A top view of the basic unit and the container supported therein; Figure 4d and4e Show respectively according to Figure 4c basic unit along Figure 4c Longitudinal cross-sections of AA and BB; Figure 4f The fourth embodiment is shown having Figure 4a A top-view perspective of the supporting structure of multiple basic units; Figure 5a A top perspective view of a modified basic unit according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention is shown; Figure 5b Showing according to Figure 5a The basic unit and the capule held therein; Figure 5c It is based on Figure 5b The basic unit and the top view of the capule held therein; Figure 5d Show along Figure 5c A partial cross-sectional view of AA; Figure 5e Show along Figure 5c A partial cross-sectional view of BB; Figure 6a A perspective view showing the basic unit of a modified support structure according to a third embodiment of the present invention and the capillary held therein; Figure 6b Showing according to Figure 6a The basic unit and the top view of the capule held therein; Figure 6c Show along Figure 6b A partial cross-sectional view of AA; Figure 6d Show along Figure 6b A partial cross-sectional view of BB; Figure 7a and 7b Top perspective view and top view view of the basic unit of the modified support structure according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention are shown respectively; Figure 7c and 7d Show respectively according to Figure 7a basic unit along Figure 7b AA and along Figure 7b A partial cross-sectional view of BB; Figure 7e and 7f Show respectively according to Figure 7a The basic unit and the vial held therein, top-view perspective and top-view. Figure 7g and 7h Show respectively according to Figure 7e basic unit along Figure 7f AA and along Figure 7f A partial cross-sectional view of BB; Figure 8a A top view of a support structure according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown; Figure 8b It is along Figure 8a A partial cross-sectional view of AA; Figure 8c It is along Figure 8a A partial cross-sectional view of BB; and Figure 9a and 9b Show each according to Figure 2a basic unit along Figure 2a Longitudinal cross-sections of CC and DD.

[0073] In the accompanying drawings, the same reference numerals denote the same or technically equivalent elements or groups of elements. Detailed Implementation

[0074] Figure 1g The general construction of a support structure 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention is shown. This support structure 1 is generally formed as a plate and its periphery is formed as follows: Figure 1g The diagram shows a flat upper side or base surface 2. Multiple openings 5 ​​are formed in the upper side 2, arranged in rows and columns extending perpendicularly to each other. In this embodiment, the openings 5 ​​in adjacent rows or columns are staggered relative to each other, which allows for higher packaging density in the case of a hexagonal arrangement of the edge webs 10. Multiple axially connected webs 11 protrude vertically from the lower side of the support structure 1, these webs 11 being interconnected at their lower ends via peripheral bottom webs 12. As explained in more detail below, the axially connected webs 11 form receiving portions into which containers can be vertically inserted from above for containment. The bottom webs 12 serve as retainers to support or hold the container in the receiving portion 5 and restrict its axial movement within the receiving portion. Simultaneously, the axially connected webs 11 also restrict radial movement of the container in the receiving portion 5, thus preventing collisions between containers contained in directly adjacent receiving portions 5. The receiving portions 5 are used for the storage of pharmaceutical containers, particularly vials or capreats.

[0075] The contact opening 6 in the upper 2 is used to contact the support structure 1 (see Figure 2d The contact openings are displaced relative to each other on two opposite sides of the support structure 1.

[0076] The bottom web 12 together define a plane, which serves to further reinforce the receiving part 5 and the support structure 1. The bottom web 12 surrounds a circular opening 13 at the lower end of the receiving part 5.

[0077] Edge webs 10 protrude vertically from the upper side 2 of the support structure 1. These edge webs are connected to each other to further reinforce the upper side 2, wherein each edge web forms the upper end of the receiving part 5, and wherein these edge webs together serve as a capturing funnel to facilitate the insertion of a container into the receiving part 5, as described below.

[0078] The receiving unit 5 is formed from corresponding basic units, such as Figure 1a As shown. These basic units are directly adjacent to each other and together form the upper side of the support structure, such that preferably only the edges of the support structure are plate-like and flat, as... Figure 1g As shown. According to Figure 1a A connecting web 12a protrudes vertically from the lower end of the axially connecting web 11, and is connected to the bottom web 12 of the periphery of the receiving portion 5. The bottom web 12 extends perpendicularly to the axially connecting web 11. Every six axially connecting webs 11 define one receiving portion 5. At their upper ends, the axially connecting webs 11 are connected to each other by edge webs 10, which are aligned with the edges of the periphery of the upper side 2. The edge webs 10 each have a wedge-shaped profile 100, wherein a ridge 101 is formed at the lower end of each edge web 10, which extends perpendicularly to the upper side of the support structure and thus parallel to the axially connecting webs 11. Viewed in top view, the respective receiving portions are enclosed by the edge webs 10 together in a circle whose diameter is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the container to be received in the receiving portion 5.

[0079] Edge webs 10 separate the receiving sections 5 at their upper ends. The gap between adjacent axially connected webs 11 is smaller than the outer diameter of the container to be received in the receiving section 5, such that the axially connected webs 11 restrict radial displacement of the container in the receiving section 5 and prevent collision between containers in directly adjacent receiving sections 5. The slits 11b between the axially connected webs 11 allow for visual inspection of the containers received in the receiving section 5. Simultaneously, significant material and weight savings are achieved because no partition walls are provided between the receiving sections 5. Due to the interconnection between all edge webs 10 and bottom webs 12, this results in a considerably high rigidity of the support structure.

[0080] As in Figure 1a It can also be seen that a lower guide and positioning protrusion 20 is provided at the lower end of the axial connecting web 11, which protrudes radially inward into the receiving part 5, so that the sidewall of the container does not contact the axial connecting web 11, but directly abuts against the guide and positioning protrusion 20, and is guided by it when the container is inserted into the receiving part 5. The guide and positioning protrusion 20 is preferably relatively short compared to the length of the axial connecting web 11, but it can also extend substantially along the entire length of the axial connecting web 11 in its longitudinal direction. The axial connecting web 11 has a hexagonal profile when viewed in cross-sectional view (see also...). Figure 2c), corresponding to the hexagonal layout of the supporting structure, such as Figure 1g As shown, however, other arrangements for arranging the receiving portion 5 on the support structure 1 are generally conceivable. At the upper end of the axial connecting web 11, a recess 14 is formed in the edge web 10, the recess 14 having a sidewall extending perpendicular to the upper side of the support structure, so as to allow the lower connecting web 12a aligned therewith to be demolded from the injection molding mold. The sidewall of the axial connecting web 11 may be inclined at a small angle relative to the centerline of the receiving portion 5, for example, at an angle of about 0.5° to about 5.0°.

[0081] like Figure 1a As shown, a plurality of upper guide and positioning protrusions 15 are arranged at the edge web 10, preferably at its vertical edge 101. These upper guide and positioning protrusions 15 are also relatively short and preferably do not extend beyond the vertical edge 101. The upper guide and positioning protrusions 15 and the lower guide and positioning protrusions 20 are arranged at the same angular spacing from each other along the edge of the receiving portion 5. The upper and lower guide and positioning protrusions 15, 20 are alternately arranged at different angles when viewed in the top view.

[0082] The upper and lower guide and positioning protrusions 15, 20 may extend vertically and parallel to the centerline of the receiving portion 5, but may also be inclined at a small angle relative to the centerline, for example, at an angle on the order of a maximum of 0.5° or a maximum of 1.0°. The upper and lower guide and positioning protrusions 15, 20 are positioned relative to the container to be received, for example in… Figure 1b The contact points on the outer wall of the vial 51 shown result in linear, dotted, or two-dimensional contact at the front ends of the upper and lower guide and positioning protrusions 15, 20.

[0083] If it is possible to Figure 1c As shown in the top view, the upper and lower guide and positioning protrusions 15 and 20 are respectively arranged along circles, the diameter of which corresponds to the outer diameter of the container at least in the region at the lower end of the receiving portion 5, such that the outer wall of the container directly abuts against the lower guide and positioning protrusion 20, or, if necessary, the container is arranged at a very small distance from it. The circle surrounded by the upper guide and positioning protrusion 15 can substantially have the same diameter as the circle surrounded by the lower guide and positioning protrusion 20, such that the container is tightly fitted into the receiving portion 5 in the regions of the upper guide and positioning protrusion 15 and the lower guide and positioning protrusion 20. However, in principle, the circle surrounded by the upper guide and positioning protrusion 15 can also have a slightly larger diameter than the circle surrounded by the lower guide and positioning protrusion 20, such that the container is accommodated in the region of the upper edge web 10 with a slightly larger radial clearance than at its lower end.

[0084] exist Figures 1d to 1f The image shows a vial housed in a receiving portion of the basic unit according to the first embodiment. The vial 51 has a hollow cylindrical body formed by a cylindrical sidewall 52, at its upper end forming a shoulder 54 that transitions into a constricted neck 55. At the upper end of the constricted neck, a widened edge 56 (with or without external threads) is formed, wherein a filling opening 57 is formed. The lower end of the vial 51 is formed by a bottom 53 perpendicular to the sidewall 52. It can be seen that the lower end of the sidewall 52 directly abuts against the front end of the lower guide and positioning protrusion 20. Furthermore, the sidewall 52 on the front side of the support structure directly abuts against the front end of the upper guide and positioning protrusion 15.

[0085] According to another preferred application, the support structure according to the invention is used to hold the Capule 58 upside down in the receiving part 5, such as Figures 6a to 6d As shown in the diagram. The capule 58 is generally relatively long and narrow and open at both ends. For example, an injection port may be provided in the area of ​​the widened upper side 56, and a filling port 59 may be provided at the opposite end of the capule 58, through which a syringe is crimped and inserted into the capule 58 after liquid has been filled into the capule 58.

[0086] If such a Capule 58 is housed upside down in the receiving section of the aforementioned basic unit, as in Figure 6a Or according to Figure 6c and 6d As shown in the cross-sectional view, the cape 58 includes a constricted neck 55 and a widened upper side 56. The front end (including a metal cap 560 pressed against its top) extends through an opening 13 in the bottom web 12. Here, the metal cap 560 does not contact the bottom web 12, such that no force is applied to the cape while it is inverted and supported in the receiving portion 5, and the stopfen can reliably seal the filling port 59 of the cape 58, even if a large axial force acts on the cape 58, for example, during the insertion of a syringe into the filling port 59 at the opposite end of the cape 58. Figure 6c and 6d As can be seen, the neck 54 of the capule 58 is directly supported on the bottom web 12. To absorb appropriate forces, such as during plug placement, the bottom web 12 and the axially connecting web 11 are designed with appropriate material thickness. At this location, the opposite ends of the capule 58 and the filling port 59 therein can protrude from the receiving portion 5.

[0087] If it is possible to Figure 1aAs can be seen, the upper and lower guide and positioning protrusions 15 and 20 are formed separately from each other near the upper and lower ends of the receiving part 5, respectively. That is, they are designed as independent, separate parts and are not directly connected to each other or formed as a single piece. The upper guide and positioning protrusion 15 and the lower guide and positioning protrusion 20 can thus be arranged at a small distance from the sidewall of the container to be received, allowing for a very high packaging density of the support unit. According to the invention, the relatively long inclined portion required for demolding from the injection molding mold according to the prior art is not needed, making it possible to greatly reduce the minimum distance between the receiving parts. At the same time, the functional separation between the upper guide and positioning part 15 and the lower guide and positioning part 20 allows, in principle, guidance and / or positioning in the region of the upper guide and positioning protrusion 15 to be independent of guidance and / or positioning in the region of the lower guide and positioning protrusion 20.

[0088] according to Figure 1c The lower ends of the edge webs 10 together surround a circle whose diameter is larger than the outer diameter of the container to be housed in this region. Here, the lower ends of adjacent edge webs 10 surround the upper ends 11a of the axially connected webs 11 in a triple symmetry, wherein the essentially linear upper ridge of the edge webs 10 connects to the top end 11a of the axially connected webs 11, which enables high rigidity on the upper side of the support structure. In particular, forces can be symmetrically transmitted laterally to the edge webs 10. The edge webs 10 thus locally reinforce the upper side of the support structure at the nodes (dead zones of the layout) and thus correspond to the higher loads expected in these areas. The axially connected webs 11, formed directly below these node areas, also increase the rigidity of the support structure. Furthermore, uniform rigidity is obtained by forming the upper or base surface and bottom surface (contact surface of the container) of the support structure in a closed planar structure. The axially connected webs 11 connect the upper or base surface of the support structure to the bottom surface and thus form a rigid sandwich structure.

[0089] The upper ridge of the edge web 10 extends in an arc shape from the axially connecting web 11 toward the center portion 103, which has a lower height. At these center portions 103, additional connecting webs may be provided for further reinforcement, as described below. Figure 4a As detailed above.

[0090] Because the sides of the wedge-shaped edge web 10 serve as insertion ramps, they are used to vertically capture the container from above and guide it into the receiving section 5. Since the sides of the wedge-shaped edge web 10 together form a capturing funnel with an opening width significantly larger than the outer diameter of the container, according to the invention, the container only needs to be pre-positioned relative to the receiving section 5 with relatively low precision, for example by a gripper or robotic arm, which reduces the need for automation. After the container has been pre-positioned relative to the receiving section 5, it can generally be released and freely slide into the receiving section 5.

[0091] Figure 1b A vial is shown inserted upright into the receiving portion 5 of this support unit. If the vial 51 is inserted vertically into the receiving portion 5 from above, the lower end of the sidewall 52 first reaches the area of ​​the capture funnel formed by the edge web 10. As the vial 51 approaches further, the lower end of the sidewall 52 contacts the side edge 102 of one or more edge webs 10 and is thus guided into the receiving portion 5. As the vial 51 approaches further, the sidewall finally contacts the upper guide and positioning protrusion 15, thereby precisely aligning it relative to the receiving portion 5 and further guiding it into the receiving portion 5. As the vial 51 approaches further, the sidewall 52 slides along the upper guide and positioning protrusion 15 until the lower end of the sidewall 52 finally reaches the area of ​​the guide ramp 21 at the upper end of the lower guide and positioning protrusion 20, from which it is gently guided between the lower guide and positioning protrusions 20. As the vial 51 approaches further, the sidewall 52 finally slides along the insertion ramp 21 and along the lower guide and positioning protrusion 20 until the bottom 53 of the vial 51 finally contacts the bottom belly 12. In this state (see...) Figure 1b , 1e The transition area between the sidewall 52 and shoulder 54 of vial 51 is located at the height of the upper edge of the edge web 10, and thus positioned above the support structure, allowing the upper end of vial 51, particularly the widened upper edge 56, or the attached plug, to be easily re-accessed by a gripper or robotic arm. Furthermore, if vials 51 are pulled vertically upwards from the receiving section 5, they are precisely guided by the upper and lower guide and positioning protrusions 15, 20. This minimizes undesirable material wear at the tips of the guide and positioning protrusions 15, 20 during container insertion or removal.

[0092] If it is possible to Figure 1a , 1cAs derived in 1g, the upper end 11a of the axially connected web 11 on the upper side of the support structure 1 or the base surface 2 represents the highest point or highest position, and it is also provided with an insertion ramp. When the lower end of the container descends vertically from above to be inserted into the receiving part 5, it therefore first engages with the insertion ramp at the upper end 11a of the axially connected web 11. This also serves an important guiding function. Because the upper end 11a and the axially connected web 11 are arranged in a dispersed manner along the upper end of the corresponding receiving part 5, they together effectively capture the container at a very early stage of its vertical descent from above, guiding it into the receiving part. If it is possible to... Figure 1c As derived from this, these upper ends 11a or connecting webs 11 are positioned in the dead zones of the layout of the support structure 1, i.e., where adjacent edge webs 10 intersect each other. The axially connecting webs 11 thus allow for relative rigidity without reducing the packing density of the support structure. Because the axially connecting webs 11 significantly contribute to the rigidity of the support structure 1, the wall thickness of the edge webs 10 can be minimized according to the invention, which not only effectively increases the achievable packing density but also helps to significantly reduce the material cost and overall weight of the support structure 1.

[0093] like Figure 1h As shown, the upper side 2 of the support structure 1 is further reinforced by a peripheral edge 3 that protrudes vertically downward from the upper side 2. To further reinforce the support structure, two reinforcing ribs can also be provided on the back side of the upper side 2.

[0094] As previously mentioned, the support structure 1 can be used for storing and transporting medical containers, such as vials or capreats. For operation, the support structure 1 can be utilized via contact opening 6 (see...). Figure 2d The container is contacted and guided by grippers, etc. The pharmaceutical container can continue to be processed or handled while being supported by the support structure 1 as described above. For aseptic transport, this support structure can be stored as a so-called nest in a basin-shaped transport or packaging container 70 (so-called basin), such as... Figure 1h As shown, it could be, for example, the type disclosed in the applicant’s EP 2 868 593 A1, the contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference for the purpose of disclosure.

[0095] according to Figure 1hThe transport and packaging container 70 is essentially configured as a box or pallet, and has a bottom 71, peripheral sidewalls 72 projecting vertically therefrom, steps 73 projecting substantially vertically therefrom, upper peripheral sidewalls 74, and a top edge 75 formed as a flange, the corners 76 of which are suitably rounded. This transport and packaging container 70 is preferably made of plastic material, particularly by plastic injection molding technology, and preferably of a bright, transparent plastic material, to allow for visual inspection of the container 51 held by the support structure 1. The transport and packaging container 70 can be closed or sealed by a breathable plastic film, particularly by a plastic film formed of a breathable mesh of plastic fibers, and especially Tyvek® film.

[0096] Figures 2a-2c The general structure of the basic unit of the support structure according to the second embodiment of the present invention is shown, wherein the axially connected web 11 has a hexagonal profile and is formed in one piece with the edge web 10.

[0097] Figure 2d A support structure having such a basic unit according to a second embodiment is shown. Unlike the first embodiment, support structures of the same construction can be interconnected, as specifically disclosed in the applicant's WO 2014 / 009037 A1, the contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference. Figure 2d Along the two longitudinal sides of the support structure 1, a plurality of protrusions 30 and recesses 35 are alternately formed at uniform intervals. In a top view, each protrusion has a triangular or polygonal base surface and is formed to correspond to the other. The two support structures 1 can be locked together by the protrusions 30 and recesses 35 in a dovetail-coupled shape. Figure 2e This support structure 1 is shown to be housed in a transport and packaging container 70, as previously described.

[0098] Figures 3a-3c The diagram illustrates the general construction of a basic unit of a support structure according to a third embodiment of the invention, wherein the upper end 11a of the axially connected web 11 is formed in a rhomboid shape. This construction is particularly suitable for support structures in which receiving portions are arranged in rows and columns extending perpendicularly thereto, aligned without lateral offset.

[0099] The receiving section 5 is defined only by four axially connected webs 11, with retaining protrusions 12b extending vertically from the axially connected webs 11 at their lower ends. Unlike the previous embodiment, these retaining protrusions 12b are not connected to each other via a bottom web, although such a bottom web could theoretically be provided here. However, appropriate rigidity can still be achieved through suitable material thickness at the lower ends of the axially connected webs 11 and for the retaining protrusions 12b. Such a support structure 1 is suitable, for example, for holding vials, such as in... Figure 3d and3e As shown in the image.

[0100] Figures 4a-4c The general construction of the basic unit of the support structure according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention is shown, wherein, unlike the previous embodiments, two types of axially connecting webs 11, 110 are provided. The axially connecting web 11 begins at the intersection of the upper edge webs 10 and extends radially outward and obliquely downward to transition to a portion that extends vertically parallel to the centerline of the receiving portion 5. The upper guiding and positioning protrusion 15 protrudes radially inward from the intersection of the upper edge webs 10 into the receiving portion 5. Viewed in a side view, the upper edge webs 10 exhibit a triangular serrated orientation, with their upper ends near the intersection of the upper edge webs 10 and their lower ends at the center portion 103 of the edge webs 10. Although the edge webs have a constant thickness, i.e., a non-wedge profile, the material thickness of the receiving portion 5 in the axial direction at the center portion 103 is greater because the axially connecting webs 11 begin at these center portions 103 and because the transition region between the center portion 103 and the axially connecting webs 11 is generally triangular. Due to the smaller height of the edge webs 10 at the intersection of adjacent edge webs and the larger height at the center 103, a locally appropriate stiffness comparable to that of a bent simply supported beam can be achieved in the edge webs 10. This is achieved by making the material towards the center thicker (corresponding to the area at the center 103), which reduces skewness and thus provides effective reinforcement. This effect is further enhanced by the axially connected webs 11.

[0101] In this embodiment, the lower ends of the axially connected webs 11 and 110 are connected to each other, for example via the lower connecting web 12a shown, so that the lower side of the support structure also has high rigidity.

[0102] Figure 4d and 4e respectively along Figure 4c The longitudinal cross-sectional views of AA and BB show that vial 51 is contained in such a basic unit. Figure 4f A support structure 1 comprising multiple such support units is shown, which has protrusions 30 and recesses 35 according to the second embodiment.

[0103] As mentioned above, the support structure 1 can be formed from a single piece of plastic by injection molding.

[0104] Figure 5a A top perspective view shows a basic unit of a modified support structure according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. This basic unit is configured to accommodate an inverted medicine bottle 58, as shown in the figure. Figure 5b As shown and as referenced above. Figure 6a As stated above.

[0105] Figure 7a and 7b A top perspective view and a top view are shown of the basic unit of a modified support structure according to a fifth embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the receiving portion 5 is cup-shaped, with axially connecting webs 11 and slits 11b alternately formed on the sidewalls. In the extension of the slits 11b, upper guide and positioning protrusions 15 are formed on the peripheral edge webs 10 below the base surface 2, with insertion ramps 15b inclined relative to their upper ends. These insertion ramps extend to an inclined edge 102, which further supports the capture of the container upon insertion into the receiving portion 5. Lower guide and positioning portions 20 are formed at the lower end of the axially connecting webs 11. These lower guide and positioning portions can protrude radially inward from the axially connecting webs 11 into the receiving portion 5. According to a preferred embodiment, the lower guide and positioning portions 20 are formed directly from the inner surface of the axially connecting webs 11. Therefore, there is an angular offset and functional separation between the upper and lower guide and positioning portions 15, 20. A slit 11b is provided so that the upper guide and positioning protrusion 15 can be trimmed from the lower half of the mold during injection molding, so that it extends along the longitudinal direction of the receiving part 5 in a shorter portion. When viewed in a top view, the upper and lower guide and positioning parts 15, 20 are arranged alternately and at angular offsets from each other.

[0106] Figure 7c and 7d Show respectively according to Figure 7a basic unit along Figure 7b AA and along Figure 7b A partial cross-sectional view of BB. Figures 7e to 7h The vials are shown in different views within such basic units.

[0107] Figure 9a and 9b It shows according to Figure 2a Another variation of the basic unit. According to Figure 9a and 9b The two cross-sectional views show the areas of the upper and lower guide portions, which are formed together with the upper guide and positioning portion 15 and the lower guide and positioning portion 20, respectively. Since beveled surfaces are formed on the upper guide and positioning portion 15 and the lower guide and positioning portion 20, each guide portion can be given a capture circle 60a or 61a (shown in dashed lines) with a capture diameter CD or cd and a circle 60b or 61b with a diameter SD or sd. The capture diameter CD corresponds to the diameter of circle 60a, in which a container inserted from above is captured by the upper guide portion. The capture diameter cd corresponds to the diameter of circle 61a, in which a container inserted from above is captured by the lower guide portion.

[0108] Since the upper guiding and positioning part 15 and the lower guiding and positioning part 20 according to the present invention can be formed independently of each other, the capture diameter cd of the capture circle 61a of the guiding part formed by the lower guiding and positioning part 20 can be larger than the minimum diameter SD of the upper guiding part formed by the upper guiding and positioning part 15.

[0109] Such a configuration only accepts such conventionally manufactured injection-molded parts that have an upper guiding and positioning part and a lower guiding and positioning part and the upper guiding and positioning part and the lower guiding and positioning part are arranged with an angular offset, which is not necessary according to the present invention. When one or more upper guiding and positioning parts and lower guiding and positioning parts are arranged to overlap each other when viewed from a top view, the diameters of the guiding parts formed by these guiding and positioning parts can monotonically decrease in the case of conventional injection-molded parts. During the demolding process, any undercut will cause problems.

[0110] On the other hand, the present invention enables the diameter progressions of the upper guiding part and the lower guiding part to be designed independently of each other. Therefore, the minimum diameter SD of the upper guiding part can be designed to be narrower, which is not feasible in the prior art due to the demolding slope over the entire length.

[0111] Similarly, the capture diameter of the lower guiding part can also be designed to be relatively large, which is also not feasible in the prior art due to the boundary condition that the diameter can only decrease downward over the entire length of the demolding slope.

[0112] As a result, according to the present invention, the container can be simply inserted into the receiving part and can be very precisely positioned not only in the area of the lower guiding part formed by the lower guiding and positioning part but also in the area of the upper guiding part formed by the upper guiding and positioning part.

[0113] As can be easily obtained from the comparison of Figure 9a and 9b the diameter range SD < d < CD from the diameter SD of the circle 60b of the minimum diameter surrounded by the upper guiding and positioning part 15 to the diameter CD of the capture circle 60a surrounded by the upper guiding and positioning part 15 of the upper guiding and positioning part 15 can overlap with the diameter range sd < d < c from the diameter sd of the circle 61b of the minimum diameter surrounded by the lower guiding and positioning part 20 to the diameter cd of the capture circle 61a surrounded by the lower guiding and positioning part 20 of the lower guiding and positioning part 20.

[0114] As in the previous example reference Figure 1hThe support structure according to the invention, and the container held thereon, can be accommodated in a transport or packaging container. In particular, the transport or packaging container can be closed or sealed by a breathable plastic film, especially by a plastic film formed of a breathable mesh of plastic fibers, and especially Tyvek® film.

[0115] However, the support structure according to the invention is also essentially applicable to so-called tray solutions, especially for small bottles, such as those in... Figures 8a to 8c As shown in the example.

[0116] according to Figures 8a to 8c The support structure 1 is formed as a receiving member, wherein a plurality of receiving portions are arranged regularly and formed as a single piece in the shape of a truncated cone receiving portion 5. The receiving portion 5 is surrounded by a peripheral sidewall 40. For receiving, a vial 51 (as an example of a medicine container) is received in the receiving portion 5 of the receiving member 1 with its upper end oriented toward the bottom 41 of the receiving portion 5, while preventing direct contact between adjacent vials 51. Here, the vial 51 is completely received in the receiving portion 5, i.e., it does not protrude beyond the edge of the support structure 1. Preferably, the length of the receiving portion 5 matches the vial 51 in such a way that the bottom of the vial 51 is flush with the edge of the support structure 1. The aforementioned insertion bevel and guide rib are formed here on the inner side of the sidewall 40.

[0117] To form a transport structure, a support member can be placed on and connected to the receiving member in such a way that the bottom of the vial contained in the receiving member is covered. The support member is preferably formed of a substrate having a flat support surface facing the receiving part, on which the bottom of the vial 51 is directly supported.

[0118] For such pallet systems, the housing and support components are typically produced from plastic material by injection molding, where insert bevels and guide ribs can assist in demolding the housing in the manner described above.

[0119] If non-sterile transport of the medical container is sufficient, then the container can be formed by connecting it to the support to create a non-sterile transport structure. If sterile transport of the medical container is desired, then the open side of the container can also be sealed with a sealing film, for example by gluing along the flange-like edge of the container, or, if necessary, by additional welding points to form a sterile transport structure.

[0120] For aseptic transport, such transport or packaging containers (if necessary) are placed together with other similar transport or packaging containers in at least one aseptic outer packaging bag and packaged aseptically relative to the environment. The at least one aseptic outer packaging bag may have a breathable portion or may even be made entirely of a breathable portion, which is formed, in particular, of a plastic fiber mesh, such as a polypropylene fiber (PP) mesh.

[0121] As will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reviewing the foregoing description, due to their shape and size, the upper and lower guide and positioning protrusions, serving as the upper and lower guide and positioning parts, are essentially considered rigid structures that do not deform significantly when guiding the container. Material selection also contributes to this effect. The upper and lower guide and positioning protrusions are preferably designed as relatively narrow upper or lower ribs, respectively, to ensure the highest possible packaging density of the support structure. However, the upper and lower guide and positioning protrusions should not be too narrow or too short so that they themselves deform and yield when guiding the container. When guiding the container, the upper and lower guide and positioning protrusions can be slightly displaced as needed due to the general flexibility of the support structure itself, particularly due to the general flexibility of the axial connecting web and the lower connecting web.

[0122] The preferred dimensions of the upper and lower guide and positioning protrusions are as follows: The width of the individual upper and / or lower guide and positioning protrusions is suitably in the range of 0.5 mm to 5 mm; The width of a single upper and / or lower guide and positioning protrusion is suitably in the range of 1 mm to 2 mm; The length of a single upper and / or lower guide and positioning protrusion is suitably in the range of 0.5 mm to 20 mm; The length of a single upper and / or lower guide and positioning protrusion is suitably in the range of 5 mm to 20 mm; The circumferential angle of the individual upper and / or lower guide and positioning protrusions is suitably in the range of 1° to 90°; The circumferential angle of the single upper and / or lower guide and positioning protrusion is preferably in the range of 5° to 20°.

[0123] The aforementioned dimensions of the receiving section in the axial direction specifically refer to the commercial length of vials, bottles, or syringes used for storing pharmaceuticals.

[0124] As mentioned earlier, a simple injection molding process is used to produce one-piece support structures, using simple molds with upper and lower molds, which conveniently eliminates the need for additional sliders to generate complex undercuts or even double-walled structures on the support structure. This may result in certain limitations regarding the geometry of the support structure. In particular, double-walled structures and cavities between them may be absent in one direction of the support structure, such as in the axial direction of the receiving portion or the axially connected web, or laterally thereto.

[0125] List of reference numerals 1. Supporting structure 2. The upper side of the base surface of the supporting structure 2a Bottom 3 Above 4. Rounded corner area 5. Opening or receiving section 6. Contact opening 10 Marginal web 100 wedge-shaped profile of the marginal web 10 101 Vertical Edge 102 Insertion bevel / side of edge web 10 103 The central part of the marginal web 10 11 Axial connection web 11a Intersection of the upper end / edge web 10 of the axially connected web 11 11b Axially connecting slits between webs 11 110 Second axial connecting web 12 Bottom web 12a Lower connecting web 12b Maintain protrusion 13 Opening 14. Depression 15. Upper guiding and positioning protrusions 15a The front end of the upper guiding and positioning protrusion 15 15b Inserting the inclined plane 16 Guide Surfaces 17. Gap 20. Lower guiding and positioning protrusions 21 Insert the inclined plane 30. Protrusion 31 Front sidewall of protrusion 30 32 Sidewall in the transition area of ​​protrusion 30 35. Depression 36. Front sidewall of recess 35 37 Sidewall in the transition region of recess 35 40 Side wall of receiving part 5 41 Bottom of receiving unit 5 Outer contours of 50 small bottles 51 vials / containers 52 Sidewall 53 Bottom 54 Shoulders 55. Neck retraction 56 Above 560-degree press-fit metal cap 57 Fill the opening The capturing circle formed by the upper guide and positioning part 15 of 60a The circle with the smallest diameter formed by the upper guide and positioning part 15 of 60b The capturing circle formed by the lower guide and positioning part 20 of 61a The circle with the smallest diameter formed by the lower guide and positioning part 20 of 61b 70 Transport and Packaging Containers 71 The bottom of the transport and packaging container 70 72. Lower sidewall of transport and packaging container 70 73. Steps on transport and packaging containers 70. 74. Upper sidewall of transport and packaging container 70 75 The top of the transport and packaging container 70 76. Rounded corners of transport and packaging containers.

Claims

1. A support structure for simultaneously supporting multiple containers (51) of a substance for pharmaceutical, medical, or cosmetic applications, said support structure comprising multiple receiving portions (5) for at least partially receiving said containers therein, wherein Each of the receiving portions (5) has an upper opening for inserting the container into the receiving portion and a lower end having a retaining portion (12, 12b) for restricting the axial movement of the container in the receiving portion, and A guide section (15, 20) is provided to guide the container during insertion into the receiving section. Its features are, The guide portion includes an upper guide and positioning portion (15) near the upper end of the receiving portion and a lower guide and positioning portion (20) near the lower end of the receiving portion. The upper guide and positioning portion and the lower guide and positioning portion are formed separately from each other and restrict the radial movement of the container in the receiving portion, wherein The upper guide and positioning part (15) and the lower guide and positioning part (20) are formed in one piece with the support structure; and The receiving part (5) is connected to each other by connecting webs. The receiving part is formed in such a way that two support structures with the same structure can be stacked on top of each other in this way, so that the receiving part of the upper support structure is partially sunk into the receiving part of the support structure below it, and the connecting web of the upper support structure is directly supported on the upper side or base of the support structure below it.

2. The support structure according to claim 1, in, The distance between the upper guide and positioning part (15) and the lower guide and positioning part (20) along the longitudinal direction of the receiving part (5) is greater than the distance between the upper guide and positioning part (15) and the upper end of the receiving part (5) and / or greater than the distance between the lower guide and positioning part (20) and the lower end of the receiving part.

3. The support structure according to any one of the preceding claims, in, The upper guide and positioning part (15) and the lower guide and positioning part (20) serve as rigid guide and positioning parts due to their shape and size, for guiding and positioning the container (51) of the substance for pharmaceutical, medical or cosmetic applications.

4. The support structure according to any one of the preceding claims, in, Each of the upper guide and positioning portions (15) and / or the lower guide and positioning portions (20) protrudes radially inward into the receiving portion (5), wherein the front ends of the upper guide and positioning portions (15) and / or the lower guide and positioning portions (20) together surround the upper circle or the lower circle, the diameter of which is equal to or slightly larger than the outer diameter of the container (51) to be contained in the corresponding region of the upper guide and positioning portion (15) or the lower guide and positioning portion (20).

5. The support structure according to any one of the preceding claims, in, In the top view, the upper guide and positioning part (15) is arranged at an angle offset from the lower guide and positioning part (20), and the upper guide and positioning part and the lower guide and positioning part do not overlap each other.

6. The support structure according to any one of the preceding claims, in, Multiple upper guide and positioning parts (15) and lower guide and positioning parts (20) are assigned to each of the receiving parts (5), and the upper guide and positioning parts and the lower guide and positioning parts are arranged around the receiving parts at a constant angular distance from each other.

7. The support structure according to claim 5 or 6, in, Each of the upper guide and positioning portions (15) and / or the lower guide and positioning portions (20) is formed as a narrow upper or lower rib extending in the longitudinal direction of the receiving portion and protruding radially inward into the receiving portion.

8. The support structure according to claim 7, in, The front contact surfaces of the upper rib (15) and / or lower rib (20) are respectively formed with a profile that tapers or rounds along the longitudinal direction.

9. The support structure according to claim 7 or 8, in, The front contact surfaces of the upper rib (15) and / or lower rib (20) extend downward at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal direction of the receiving portion.

10. The support structure according to claim 9, in, The tilt angle is in the range of 0° to 3°, preferably in the range of 0.0° to 1.5°, and more preferably in the range of 0.0° to 0.5°.

11. The support structure according to claim 7, in, The front contact surfaces of the upper rib (15) and / or lower rib (20) are respectively configured as concave bends corresponding to the outer contour of the container, or the front contact surfaces of the upper guide rib (15) and / or lower guide rib (20) are respectively formed as convex bends.

12. The support structure according to claim 5 or 6, in, The upper guide and positioning part (15) and / or the lower guide and positioning part (20) are respectively configured as annular segments, which extend in the longitudinal direction of the receiving part (5) and protrude radially into the receiving part (5), wherein the radius of curvature of the annular segment matches the outer diameter of the container to partially contact the container.

13. The support structure according to any one of claims 7 to 12, in, The upper guide rib (15) or the upper guide and positioning part (15) is formed in one piece with the peripheral edge web (10), and the edge web (10) defines the upper end of the corresponding receiving part (5) in the radial direction.

14. The support structure according to claim 13, in, The edge web (10) protrudes from the upper side or base surface (2) of the support structure, wherein the edge web is provided with an insertion ramp (102) and has a wedge-shaped profile (100) when viewed along the longitudinal direction of the receiving portion.

15. The support structure according to claim 13 or 14, in, The height of the edge web (10) at the intersection region (11a) of adjacent edge webs is greater than the height at the center (103) between the two intersection regions.

16. The support structure according to claim 15, in, An additional axial connecting web (110) extends downward from the center portion (103) of the edge web, the center portion (103) being connected to the bottom side of the support structure.

17. The support structure according to any one of claims 13 to 16, in, The retaining part (12, 12b) is provided at the axial connecting web (11), which protrudes vertically from the upper side or base surface (2) of the support structure (1) and is connected to the intersection area of ​​the corresponding two or three edge webs (10).

18. The support structure according to any one of claims 7 to 17, in, The lower guide ribs (20) are formed in one piece with the axial connecting web (11), which protrudes vertically from the upper side (2) of the support structure (1).

19. The support structure according to claim 18, in, The lower end of the axially connected web (11) forms a peripheral sidewall, wherein the lower guide ribs (20) are formed in one piece with the peripheral sidewall formed by the lower end of the axially connected web.

20. The support structure according to any one of claims 7 to 19, in, Insertion bevels (15b, 21) are formed at the upper ends of the upper guide rib (15) and / or the lower guide rib (29), respectively, and the insertion bevels (15b, 21) extend obliquely relative to the corresponding upper guide rib or lower guide rib.

21. The support structure according to any one of the preceding claims, in, The retaining portion is formed as a retaining protrusion (12b) that extends radially inward, and the retaining protrusion (12b) surrounds a corresponding opening (13) at the lower end of the receiving portion (5).

22. The support structure according to claim 21, in, The retaining protrusions (12b) are connected to each other by a bottom web (12), which surrounds the opening (13) at the lower end of the receiving part (5).

23. The support structure according to claim 21 or 22, in, The container is in the form of a capel, which has a cylindrical base and an upper end with a constricted neck (55) and a shoulder (54), the shoulder (54) being adjacent to the constricted neck and transitioning into the cylindrical sidewall (52) of the container, wherein the opening (13) has an opening width matching the upper end of the container (52) such that the upper end of the container extends through the opening, and the shoulder of the container is directly supported on the retaining protrusion (12b) or the bottom web (12) for restricting axial movement of the container in the receiving part when the capel is inverted and accommodated in the receiving part.

24. The support structure according to any one of the preceding claims, in, The upper side or base surface (2) of the support structure is flat at least along the edge of the support structure, and the lower ends of the receiving parts are connected to each other via webs (12), the webs together defining a plane.

25. The support structure according to any one of the preceding claims, in, The length of the receiving part (5) is adapted to the length of the container (51) in such a way that the upper or lower end of the container protrudes from the receiving part and can freely contact the support structure from above.

26. The support structure according to any one of the preceding claims, in, The support structure (1) is formed from a single piece of plastic material by injection molding, wherein the support structure (1) having the upper guide and positioning part (15) and the lower guide and positioning part (20) is designed in such a way that it can be produced from the plastic material by injection molding using a two-piece master mold having an upper mold and a lower mold.

27. A transport structure comprising a combination of a support structure according to any one of the preceding claims and a plurality of containers (51) thereon for a substance for a pharmaceutical, medical or cosmetic application, wherein the containers are at least partially housed in the receiving portion (5) and held on the support structure (1) in an axial direction.

28. The transport structure according to claim 27, which does not directly or indirectly reference claim 23, in, The container is a vial (51) held upright in the receiving part, with the upper guide and positioning part (15) supporting the vial near the shoulder (54) and the lower guide and positioning part (20) supporting the vial near the bottom (53).

29. The transport structure according to claim 27, in, The container is in the form of a capule, having a cylindrical base and an upper end with a constricted neck (55) and a shoulder (54), the shoulder (54) being adjacent to the constricted neck and transitioning into the cylindrical sidewall (52) of the container, wherein the capule is received upside down in the receiving portion, and wherein the opening width of the opening (13) is matched to the upper end of the container (52) in such a way that the upper end of the container extends through the opening, and the shoulder of the container is directly supported on the retaining protrusion (12b) or the bottom web (12) to restrict axial movement of the container in the receiving portion.

30. The support structure according to any one of claims 1 to 24, in, The support structure is formed as a receiving member, in which a plurality of receiving parts (5) are arranged regularly and formed as a single piece in a truncated cone shape, such that the container is oriented with its upper end toward the bottom of the receiving part and is accommodated in the receiving part without direct contact between adjacent containers accommodated in the receiving part of the receiving member, wherein The receiving part (5) is matched with the length of the container so as to accommodate the entire container therein. And among them The support structure further includes a support member for covering the bottom of the container housed within the housing, wherein The support member is formed from a substrate having a flat support surface facing the receiving portion.

31. A transport structure comprising a combination of a support structure according to claim 30 and a plurality of containers (51) thereon holding a substance for pharmaceutical, medical or cosmetic applications, wherein the containers are housed in the receiving part (5) and held on the support structure (1) in an axial direction.

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