Device for use with tray

Abstract

The utility model relates to a device (1) used together with a tray (10), the tray defines at least one sealed containing cabin (12), a product (14) is located in the containing cabin, the tray is at least partially formed by fragile materials (20), and the device is provided with a supporting structure used for supporting the tray. The utility model relates to a device for removing a product from a frangible material (20), comprising a support structure (10) having a receiving compartment aligned with an aperture (8) in the support structure, the device also having an engagement structure for engaging with the receiving compartment in order to destroy the frangible material (20) and to discharge the product from the receiving compartment via the aperture (8), the support structure and the engagement structure being spaced apart in a normal state, and the engagement structure being configured to engage with the receiving compartment in order to disrupt the frangible material (20) in order to discharge the product from the receiving compartment via the aperture (8). And a support structure (15, 16) arranged within the aperture but relatively movable to effect the ejection of the product, the support structure comprising at least one tip (15, 16) arranged within the aperture such that the at least one tip breaks the frangible material (20) when the engagement structure ejects the product.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to a device for pushing out products from a sealed containing compartment of a tray, in particular to a device for taking out batteries from a blister package. Background Art

[0002] In the pharmaceutical industry, tablets are often sold in blister packs (i.e., plastic packaging) in which a receiving compartment is pressed out of a base and, after the tablet is placed in the compartment, the compartment is sealed against the base with a fragile material such as metal foil. Blister packs are a convenient means of dispensing one or more tablets as needed while keeping the remaining tablets sealed in the package.

[0003] Such blister packaging is also used to sell other products, such as battery packs. Specifically, it is known that when button batteries are sold in batches, they are arranged in the receiving compartments of such packaging.

[0004] However, unlike medical packaging, the fragile material of this type of packaging must be relatively difficult to destroy so that the batteries are difficult to degas and prevent them from being opened by children.

[0005] Therefore, fragile materials need to comply with special regulations regarding their destructive capacity.

[0006] Therefore, it is difficult not only for children but also for adults to remove the battery. Utility Model Content

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide a device which is configured to easily take out a product from a storage compartment of a storage compartment type packaging.

[0008] According to the present invention, a device for use with a pallet is provided, wherein the pallet defines at least one sealed receiving compartment, the product is located in the receiving compartment, and the pallet is at least partially formed of a fragile material, the device has a supporting structure for supporting the pallet, the receiving compartment is aligned with a hole in the supporting structure, and the device also has an engaging structure for engaging with the receiving compartment so as to destroy the fragile material and discharge the product from the receiving compartment through the hole, the supporting structure and the engaging structure are spaced apart in a normal state, but can move relative to each other to achieve the discharge of the product.

[0009] The support structure includes at least one prong disposed within the aperture such that the at least one prong breaks the frangible material when the engagement structure ejects the product.

[0010] The utility model is characterized in that the supporting structure comprises at least one prong arranged in the hole, so that when the engaging structure discharges the product, the at least one prong destroys the fragile material.

[0011] Due to the prongs, the fragile material is more easily broken when the engagement structure ejects the product. The fragile material is pressed against the prongs as it passes through the aperture. This results in the fragile material breaking, and the breaking occurs more easily and efficiently.

[0012] According to a particular embodiment of the present invention, the at least one prong extends within a plane defined by the hole.

[0013] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the support structure includes at least two prongs arranged in the hole.

[0014] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the at least two prongs are arranged at opposite positions in the hole.

[0015] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the fragile material includes one of the following materials: for example, cardboard or a plastic film made of PET, PE, or PS, and the fragile material is preferably all cardboard or a plastic film made of PET, PE, or PS.

[0016] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the fragile material forms a single-layer structure or a multi-layer structure. For plastic, the thickness of the single-layer structure or the multi-layer structure is between 0.01 and 0.5 mm, or for cardboard, the thickness of the single-layer structure or the multi-layer structure is at most 1 mm.

[0017] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the at least one pointed tip has a sharp end.

[0018] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the tray includes a blister pack with a product such as a battery, and the receiving compartment is pressed out from the base and is closed by the fragile material extending across the base, and the support structure is arranged to support the blister pack in the form of the receiving compartment standing upright on the support structure.

[0019] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the engagement structure comprises a protrusion providing a surface arranged to initially engage the bottom side of the containment compartment under pressure to deform the bottom side and cause the product to destroy the fragile material.

[0020] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the support structure and the engagement structure define spaced-apart legs of a generally U-shaped member, and the hole of the support structure is located proximate a free end of one of the legs.

[0021] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the protruding piece protrudes inward from a position close to the free end of the other leg.

[0022] According to a particular embodiment of the present invention, the spaced-apart legs are elastically movable toward each other. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0024] - Figure 1 is a top perspective view of a device for use with a battery tray according to the present invention;

[0025] - Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A bottom perspective view of the device for use with a battery tray;

[0026] - Figure 3 yes Figure 1 a side view of the device for use with the battery tray in a first configuration;

[0027] - Figure 4 yes Figure 1 a side view of the device for use with the battery tray in a second configuration;

[0028] - Figure 5 yes Figure 1 A top perspective view of the device;

[0029] - Figure 6 yes Figure 1 A side view of the device; and

[0030] - Figure 7 yes Figure 1 A top view of the device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] Referring to the drawings, a device 1 for manually removing products 14 from a tray 10 is formed as a generally U-shaped member, preferably made by injection molding of a plastic material or by additive manufacturing, defining a pair of spaced-apart, elongated, flat legs 2, 4 integrally connected by a base 6. In the illustrated embodiment, the products 14 are batteries, particularly button cells, and the tray 10 comprises a blister pack.

[0032] The moulding is formed so that the legs 2, 4 are normally in a spaced apart relationship as shown, but can be resiliently moved together for the purposes described below.

[0033] The supporting structure for supporting the tray 10 comprises the upper leg portion 2 of the U-shaped member, while the engaging structure for engaging with the receiving compartment 12 comprises the lower leg portion 4 .

[0034] Relative to the orientation of use as viewed in the figures, upper leg 2 has a circular through-hole 8 proximate its free end 3. Lower leg 4 is formed with an inwardly projecting projection 5 proximate its free end 9, whereby, in a generally spaced relationship, projection 5 is aligned over aperture 8. Projection 5 is integrally formed with lower leg 4. Proximate free end 9 of lower leg 4, projection 5 extends a maximum distance toward upper leg 2 and then defines a surface 7 facing toward upper leg 2, thereby defining a cam surface. Projection 5 has a truncated cone shape.

[0035] As shown, the tray 10 includes a plurality of storage compartments 12, arranged, for example, in two rows. In this embodiment, each row includes five storage compartments 12. Each storage compartment 12 contains a single product 14, particularly a button battery. The fragile material 20 comprises one of the following materials, such as cardboard or a plastic film, such as PET, PE, or PS, preferably entirely made of these materials. The fragile material 20 is formed into a single-layer or multi-layer structure, with a thickness of between 0.01 and 0.5 mm for plastic and up to 1 mm for cardboard.

[0036] In use, the tray 10 is supported on the upper leg 2 between the upper leg 2 and the lower leg 4, with the sealed receiving compartments 12 standing upright relative to the legs 2. One of the receiving compartments 12 is aligned with the hole 8.

[0037] By applying manual pressure, for example by pressing with the thumb on the lower surface of the lower leg 4 and, if necessary, on the end corresponding to the position of the projection 5, the projection 5 is moved towards the sealed receiving compartment 12. The surface 7 of the projection 5 facing its outer end first engages with the underside of the receiving compartment 12, whereby continued manual pressure deforms the plastic material of the receiving compartment 12 and pushes the product 14 against the layer of fragile material to destroy it, thus displacing the product 14 through this layer and the hole 8.

[0038] Surface 7 is designed to allow for the application of minimal force to deform or crush compartment 12, a force that is unlikely to damage the product 14 contained therein. Thus, de-bubbling does not require manual pressure on the blister pack itself, and product 14 can be removed painlessly without damaging fingers or nails. It will be appreciated that when another product 14 is desired, the blister pack can simply be repositioned so that another sealed compartment 12 is aligned with aperture 8.

[0039] According to the present invention, the support structure comprises at least one prong 15 arranged in the hole 8. In the drawings, the support structure comprises two prongs 15, 16 arranged in the hole 8. Preferably, the two prongs 15, 16 are arranged in opposite positions and in opposite directions.

[0040] The prongs 15, 16 project in a plane defined by the hole 8, preferably towards the centre of the hole 8. Furthermore, the prongs 15, 16 project in the same plane as the plane of the upper leg 2.

[0041] Preferably, the prongs 15, 16 have sharp ends and terminate in an edge or spike. In the drawings, the prongs 15, 16 are triangular in shape with an edge at the free end.

[0042] Such a pointed end makes the breaking of the fragile material 20 easier to operate.

[0043] Various modifications may be made without departing from the present invention. For example, the device may be made of materials other than injection-molded plastic materials and may have shapes and sizes different from those described and shown in the figures. Furthermore, the product contained in the containment pod may be other than a battery.

Claims

1. A device (1) for use with a tray (10), the tray (10) defining at least one sealed receiving compartment (12), a product (14) being located in the receiving compartment (12), and the tray (10) being at least partially formed of a fragile material (20), the device (1) having a support structure for supporting the tray (10), the receiving compartment (12) being aligned with an aperture (8) in the support structure, the device (1) further having an engagement structure for engaging with the receiving compartment (12) so as to destroy the fragile material (20) and discharge the product (14) from the receiving compartment (12) via the aperture (8), the support structure and the engagement structure being spaced apart in a normal state but being capable of relative movement to effect discharge of the product (14), characterized in that The support structure includes at least one prong (15, 16) disposed within the aperture (8) such that the at least one prong (15, 16) breaks the fragile material (20) when the engagement structure ejects the product (14).

2. The device (1) for use with a pallet (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that The at least one prong (15, 16) extends in a plane defined by the hole (8).

3. Device (1) for use with a pallet (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The support structure comprises at least two prongs (15, 16) arranged in the hole (8).

4. Device (1) for use with a pallet (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that The at least two prongs (15, 16) are arranged at opposite positions within the hole (8).

5. Device (1) for use with a pallet (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The fragile material (20) comprises one of the following materials: a plastic film or a cardboard.

6. Device (1) for use with a pallet (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that The fragile material (20) forms a single-layer structure or a multi-layer structure having a thickness between 0.01 and 0.5 mm for plastic or up to 1 mm for cardboard.

7. Device (1) for use with a pallet (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The at least one prong (15, 16) has a sharp end.

8. Device (1) for use with a pallet (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The tray (10) includes a blister pack with a product (14), and the receiving compartment (12) is pressed from a base and enclosed by the fragile material (20) extending across the base, the support structure being arranged to support the blister pack in a form in which the receiving compartment (12) is upright on the support structure.

9. Device (1) for use with a pallet (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The engagement structure includes a protrusion (5) providing a surface (7) arranged to initially engage the bottom side of the containment compartment (12) under pressure to deform the bottom side and cause the product (14) to break the fragile material (20).

10. Device (1) for use with a pallet (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The support structure and the engagement structure define spaced-apart legs (2, 4) of a U-shaped member, the aperture (8) of the support structure being located proximate a free end of one of the legs.

11. Device (1) for use with a pallet (10) according to claim 10, characterized in that The engagement structure includes a protrusion (5) providing a surface (7) arranged to initially engage the bottom side of the containment chamber (12) under pressure to deform the bottom side and cause the product (14) to break the fragile material (20), the protrusion (5) projecting inwardly from a position adjacent the free end of the other leg.

12. Device (1) for use with a pallet (10) according to claim 10, characterized in that The spaced-apart legs (2, 4) are resiliently movable toward each other.

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