Storage container for a storage and dispensing station

Abstract

The invention relates to a storage container for a storage and dispensing station for small items, in particular pharmaceuticals or dietary supplements. In known storage containers, the small items to be separated regularly get stuck below the base of the singulation device. The storage container according to the invention solves this problem and comprises a housing (10) with a circular cylindrical section (11), a singulation device (30) arranged in the circular cylindrical section (11) of the housing (10) with several channels (32) and a base (36), and a retention element (40).According to the invention, the base surface (36) of the singulation device (30) is provided, at least in sections, with a plurality of depressions (37) and / or elevations to reduce a possible contact area between the base surface and the small items, wherein the shape and size of these depressions and elevations are selected such that electrostatic attraction between small items and the base surface (36) is reduced.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a storage container for a storage and dispensing station for small items, in particular pharmaceuticals or nutritional supplements.

[0002] Modern blister pack machines, such as those disclosed in WO 2013 / 034504 A1, comprise, depending on their configuration, several hundred storage and dispensing stations. These stations each store a number of medication portions of a specific medication, and individual medication portions can be dispensed upon request. The blister pack machines assemble and blister pack the medication portions stored in the storage and dispensing stations for each patient individually, according to the physician's prescribed dispensing times.

[0003] To assemble the medication portions, corresponding storage and dispensing stations are controlled to dispense one or more medication portions. When controlling a storage and dispensing station, a single medication portion is separated using a separating device located in the storage container of the storage and dispensing station. This device transfers the individual medication portion to a guide device of the blister packer via a dispensing opening in the storage container. The guide device then feeds a dispensed medication portion, possibly with the interposition of a collecting device, to a packaging device, which blisters individual or multiple medication portions according to a physician's instructions.

[0004] To separate the medication portions stored in a storage container of a storage and dispensing station, the separating device comprises a rotor with a plurality of channels, which are usually arranged on the outer circumference of the rotor. The dimensions of the channels must be adapted to the respective medication portions to be separated in such a way that the medication portions can only be arranged one above the other in a channel, but not next to each other. The channels can, for example, be dimensioned such that only one medication portion can be accommodated in one channel. To dispense a medication portion from a channel, one channel is moved over the dispensing opening in the bottom surface of the housing of the storage container, and the medication portion arranged in the channel (at the lowest point) slides or falls into the dispensing opening due to gravity.In order to prevent further medication portions stored in or above the channel from also being dispensed, i.e. to prevent an unknown number of medication portions from being dispensed, a retaining section of a retaining means or separator is guided or arranged at least in or above the channel in the area above the dispensing opening and is aligned with the dispensing opening. The retaining section is arranged in or above the channel in relation to the height of the channel in such a way that only one medication portion can be arranged below the retaining section. If the retaining section is guided into the channel in order to separate the lowest medication portion from those arranged above it, projections separating individual channels have a slot which accommodates the retaining section.If the retaining section is arranged or guided above the channels, it is usually guided only slightly above the upper ends of the projections, so that it is avoided that further medication portions enter the channel when the medication portion is dispensed.

[0005] In known storage containers, the separating device is arranged in a section of the housing of the storage container that is at least circularly cylindrical on the inside and comprises a base surface facing the housing bottom surface. To ensure the most friction-free rotation of the separating device and to ensure the diversion of, for example, pharmaceutical debris, a gap is always formed between the housing bottom surface and the base surface of the separating device. During the separation process itself, the pharmaceutical and nutritional supplement portions rub against each other and against components of the storage container, whereby these components and the pharmaceutical and nutritional supplement portions become electrostatically charged, resulting in an electrostatic attraction between them.Due to this electrostatic attraction, if a channel is aligned with the dispensing opening on the housing base, it may happen that the medication portion (hereinafter referred to simply as medication portion, but the same applies to food supplements and corresponding small items) does not fall through the dispensing opening due to gravity, but instead is pulled under the base during the actual dispensing process or possibly even during movement across the housing base and becomes stuck there. The result is a non-dispensing or delayed dispensing of the medication portion, which leads to an incorrect combination of medication portions. One delayed dispensing results in two incorrect combinations - one combination is missing a medication portion, and another subsequent combination contains one too many medication portions.The second variant, in particular, is particularly critical due to undesirable interactions between certain types of medication. Storage containers of the aforementioned type, in which these problems can occur, are disclosed, for example, in EP 3 389 022 A1 and US 2016 / 001956 A1. US 2016 / 001956 A1 discloses a medication dispensing device that dispenses medication portions by rotating a storage container, with a bar attached to a rotating plate being responsible for separating the medications.

[0006] In addition, medication particles are transported to a separate dispensing area by vibrations and prevented from entering the rotor area by a raised portion. JP 5 577033 B2 relates to a medication storage container that dispenses medication by rotation. The underside of the rotor includes raised portions that serve to guide the rotor along a predefined path and reduce friction. A staggered arrangement of side walls in the dispensing opening prevents electrically charged medication from sticking. US 2002 / 195459 A1 discloses an automated pill dispensing system in which pills are stored vertically in tube-like containers that have guide elements on the inside to reduce friction between the pills and the inside of the tube.

[0007] A storage container is also known from US 2011 / 163112. This document discloses solving the problem of medication portions sticking to the base of the housing by providing a dispensing opening with a special shape.

[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide a storage container for a storage and dispensing station for small items, in which faulty dispensing of medication is avoided due to a medication portion getting stuck on the base surface of the separating device.

[0009] This object is achieved by a storage container according to claim 1. The storage container according to the invention for a storage and dispensing station for small piece goods comprises a housing enclosing a receiving space for small piece goods, having an inner circular-cylindrical section and a housing base surface having a dispensing opening, a separating device arranged in the circular-cylindrical section with a plurality of channels for receiving at least one small piece of goods and having a base surface facing the housing base surface, wherein the base surface has dispensing openings of the channels. The storage container further comprises a retaining means having a positioning means and a retaining section, wherein the positioning means holds the retaining means above the dispensing opening.

[0010] According to the invention, the base surface of the separating device has, at least in sections (and in particular in the area of ​​the discharge openings of the channels), a plurality of depressions and / or elevations to reduce a possible contact area between the base surface and the small piece goods, the shape and size of which are selected such that an electrostatic attraction between the small piece goods and the base surface is reduced.

[0011] According to the invention, depressions and / or elevations are mentioned, since with a flat base surface, one always determines the other – if the depressions predominate, the elevations are the "prominent" feature; if the elevations predominate, the depressions are the prominent feature. It is essential that the reduction in the contact area leads to reduced electrostatic attraction, thus preventing drug portions from being drawn into or adhering to the base surface. The design of the depressions / elevations also depends on the shape of the drug portions to be separated – for example, if flat, circular drug portions are to be separated, depressions should not be selected so that the flat drug portion with the flat section fits more or less precisely into a depression.However, the expert can immediately choose the appropriate depressions / elevations based on the exact shape and other characteristics of the medicinal product portions to be separated.

[0012] The reduction of the contact surface reduces a possible electrostatic attraction between the base surface and the drug portion, no retraction or adhesion occurs, and incorrect dispensing of drug portions is avoided.

[0013] In a particularly easy-to-manufacture preferred embodiment, in which the channels are defined as outwardly open channels on the outer circumference of the separating device by a plurality of webs, depressions / elevations are arranged in the webs. Due to the rotational movement during separation and the arrangement on the outer circumference, in such a case, the "pulling in" regularly occurs under a web, so it is advisable to provide the web with depressions / elevations. However, additional depressions / elevations can also be arranged on the remaining, usually annular section of the base surface, particularly in the area of ​​the channel discharge opening.

[0014] As already explained above, the precise design of the recesses / elevations depends on the precise structure of the separating device and the medication portions to be separated. However, the problem of the portions being pulled into or caught on the base surface occurs particularly with light, flat, or oval medication portions. In a preferred embodiment, in which the recesses are particularly easy to manufacture, the recesses (or at least some of them) are designed as radial grooves. Alternatively or additionally, the recesses can be designed as coaxial grooves.

[0015] Regardless of the precise design of the recesses / elevations, it is regularly necessary to clean the separating device—either because it needs to be replaced or because too much drug debris has accumulated in the reservoir. In a preferred embodiment, in which recesses can be cleaned particularly easily and thoroughly, the radial grooves are open to the outer periphery of the separating device. Furthermore, this design makes it particularly easy to incorporate the grooves.

[0016] In the following, a preferred embodiment of the storage container according to the invention is described with reference to the attached drawing, in which Figures 1a, 1b and 2 show various oblique views of the preferred embodiment, Figure 3shows a plan view of the preferred embodiment, wherein the separating device is omitted, Figures 4a and 4b Show sectional views of the preferred embodiment, wherein Figure 4b the interior of the separation device is illustrated, Figure 5 a combination of separation device and restraint device, Figure 6 shows a side view of the separating device when dispensing a portion of medicine, and Figures 7a and 7b Show detailed views of the separation device.

[0017] Figures 1a, 1b and 2show various oblique views of a preferred embodiment of the storage container 1 according to the invention. The storage container 1 according to the invention comprises a housing 10 enclosing a receiving space 2 for medicament portions, which has an inner circular-cylindrical section 11 in the lower section. The storage container 1 further comprises a base plate 12 and a lid 14, which is arranged on the housing 10 during operation of the storage and dispensing station and can be removed for refilling. In order to facilitate handling of the storage container 1, it comprises a handle 13 in the "front" area. As is particularly evident in Figure 2As can be seen, a separating device 30 with a surface 31 facing the receiving space 2 is arranged in the inner circular-cylindrical section 11. In the embodiment shown, three projections 34 are arranged on the surface 31, which ensure movement of the medicament portions within the receiving space and thus promote sliding of medicament portions into channels 32. In the embodiment shown, the channels are arranged on the outer circumference of the separating device 30. The channels are defined by a plurality of webs 33, which are arranged on a base body of the separating device. The webs themselves can be attached, but they can also be formed by milling the channels 32 out of the base body.

[0018] Figure 3 shows a plan view of the preferred embodiment, wherein the separating device 30 is omitted in this plan view. As shown in Figure 3As can be seen, the housing comprises a housing base surface 15 in which a dispensing opening 16 is arranged. "Under" the dispensing opening is a connecting means 17, via which the dispensed drug portion is transferred to a guide device (not shown). In order to dispense a drug portion from a channel, the separating device is Figure 3 indicated coupling means 50 is rotated such that a channel is arranged above the dispensing opening 16, so that a drug portion arranged in a channel falls through the dispensing opening 16 and the connecting means 17 due to gravity.

[0019] Figures 4a and 4b show sectional views of the preferred embodiment of the storage container according to the invention, wherein Figure 4b the interior of the separation device is visible. As shown in Figures 4a and 4bAs can be seen, the separating device 30 is held in the circular-cylindrical section 11 via the coupling means 50. It can also be seen that between a base surface 36 (see Figure 4b ) of the separating device, which in the embodiment shown is annular in shape due to the coupling with the coupling means 50, and the housing base surface 15, a gap is formed into which drug portions can be drawn if necessary. In the embodiment shown, the base surface of the separating device further comprises regions formed by the webs 33, as can be seen more clearly in the following figures.

[0020] Due to the electrostatic charge of the drug portions and / or the separating device, the electrostatic attraction between them can cause a drug portion to adhere to the base surface 36, particularly in the area of ​​the webs. To prevent this, the invention provides for reducing a possible contact area between the drug portion and the base surface by introducing depressions / elevations into the base surface. As can be seen in Figure 4b As can already be seen, radial grooves 37 are provided in the embodiment shown, which ensure such a reduction.

[0021] In the Figures 4a and 4bIt is further indicated that a retaining section 41 of the retaining means 40 is guided via a slot in the circular-cylindrical section 11 of the housing into the area above the dispensing opening 16 and is always aligned with the dispensing opening. This ensures that, in the embodiment shown, the retaining section is always held above the channel openings, which are rotated toward the dispensing opening for dispensing a medicament portion. Entry of further medicament portions into the aligned channel is not possible, even if no more medicament portions are present in the aligned channel.Due to this alignment of the retaining section, only as many medication portions as are arranged in the channel can pass from the aligned channel into the dispensing opening at a time. Typically, the channels are adapted to the medication portions in such a way that only one medication portion is arranged in each channel below the retaining section. The retaining section 41 of the retaining means 40 is held by a positioning means 42, which in the embodiment shown is attached to the outside of the housing. However, the precise design and arrangement of the retaining means is irrelevant to the present invention.

[0022] Figure 5 shows a detailed view of the combination of separating device 30 / retaining means 40 and it is illustrated how the retaining section 41 above a receiving opening of a channel prevents the entry of further drug portions into this channel.

[0023] As mentioned at the beginning, it can happen, particularly with light and / or flat medication portions, that they are not dispensed via the dispensing opening, but are drawn into the gap between the base of the separating device and the housing base due to electrostatic attraction. Due to a possible electrostatic attraction between the base and a medication portion to be separated, it is also possible that the medication portion is not dispensed due to gravity during a dispensing situation, but is drawn by electrostatic attraction forces under the section of the base, which is then arranged above the dispensing opening, in the situation where a part of the base of the separating device is rotated over the dispensing opening 16. A corresponding situation is described in Figure 6, in which the separating device 30 and the guide means are shown in a side view. The actual drug portion 3 to be dispensed does not fall through the connecting means 17, but rather adheres beneath the "free" portion of the base surface of the separating device, wherein this base surface portion is formed by a web 33 in the embodiment shown.

[0024] Figures 7a and 7bshow further views of the separating device according to the preferred embodiment. It can be seen that a possible contact area between the drug portion and the base surface is reduced by radial grooves 37, thereby reducing electrostatic attraction - drawing in or sticking (as in Figure 6a) is avoided with appropriate selection of the recesses. In the embodiment shown, the radial grooves are primarily formed in the area of ​​the webs 33, since the situation shown in Figure 6a causes the majority of incorrect dispensing. As shown in the Figures 6 and 7a, 7b As can be seen, the radial grooves are open to the outside, thus providing an outlet opening that allows for easy insertion into the base. Furthermore, such open grooves are also easy to clean thoroughly – drug debris can be moved outward from the groove.

[0025] In alternative embodiments, additional grooves can be arranged in the inner annular region of the base surface; alternatively (or additionally), the grooves can also be coaxial. In still other embodiments, the reduction in the contact area can be achieved, for example, by providing the base surface sections of the webs 33 with a plurality of small elevations—such a design of the base surface can also provide the required reduction in the electrostatic attraction between the base surface and the drug portion.

Claims

1. Storage container (1) for a storage and dispensing station for small piece goods, comprising: a housing (10) enclosing a receiving space (2) for small piece goods, including a circular cylindrical section (11) and a housing bottom surface (15) having a dispensing opening (16), a separating device (30) situated in the circular cylindrical section (11) of the housing (10) including a plurality of channels (32) for receiving at least one small piece good and including a base area (36) facing the housing bottom surface (15), the base area (36) having dispensing openings (38) of the channels (32), and a retaining means (40) including a positioning means (42) and a retaining section (41), the positioning means (42) holding the retaining means (40) over the dispensing opening (16), characterized in that the base area (36) of the separating device (30) has a plurality of depressions (37) and / or elevations, at least in sections, to reduce a possible contact area between the base area and small piece good, the shape and size of which is selected in such a way that an electrostatic attraction between small piece goods and the base area (36) is reduced.

2. The storage container (1) for a storage and dispensing station for small piece goods according to claim 1, wherein the channels (32) on the outer circumference of the separating device (30) are defined by a plurality of webs (33), characterized in that depressions / elevations are situated in the webs (33).

3. The storage container (1) for a storage and dispensing station for small piece goods according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the depressions are designed as coaxial grooves.

4. The storage container (1) for a storage and dispensing station for small piece goods according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the depressions are designed as radial grooves.

5. The storage container (1) for a storage and dispensing station for small piece goods according to claim 4, characterized in that the radial grooves are open to the outer circumference of the separating device (30).

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