Storage and distribution station for blister machines (Blisterautomat)

Abstract

The present invention relates to a storage and dispensing station for a blister machine for scalable small-piece articles. In known storage and dispensing stations, mis-dispensing sometimes occurs when placing a storage container on the dispensing station. To avoid this, the storage and dispensing station comprises a storage container (1) with a singulation device (30) with a coupling device (40) with a lower coupling part (42) and a holding device with an actuating means. The storage and dispensing station further comprises a dispensing station (100) on which the storage container (1) is releasably arranged, the dispensing station (100) comprising a rotary drive (150) with a shaft (151) and a hub (152) seated on said shaft, and an opening means (125) for interacting with the actuating means (51). The opening means (125) is configured as a notch in the dispensing station and the actuating means (51) is configured as a corresponding vertical nose, whereby the interaction between the hub (152) and the lower connecting portion (42) defines an effective interlocking engagement depth (KET), and the interaction between the actuating means (51) and the opening means (125) defines an effective retention engagement depth (HET), whereby the interlocking engagement depth (KET) is greater than the retention engagement depth (HET).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a storage and dispensing station for a blister machine for individualized small-piece articles, especially for medicaments and dietary supplement portions, and to a method for setting a storage container of the storage and dispensing station of a blister machine on a dispensing station.

Background Art

[0002] Modern blister machines include hundreds of storage and dispensing stations depending on the expansion stage of the blister machine, as disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1. A plurality of individualized small-piece articles are stored in each of these blister machines, and individual small-piece articles can be dispensed as needed. The small-piece articles are usually medicaments and dietary supplement portions.

[0003] By means of the blister machine, for example, a medicament portion stored in a storage and dispensing station can be compounded and packed according to the date of the administration time prescribed by a doctor for each patient. Appropriate storage and dispensing stations are controlled by a control device of the blister machine for compounding a plurality of medicament portions, and for dispensing one or more medicament portions. For dispensing a medicament portion, the medicament portion stored in a storage container is sorted by an individualized device of the storage and dispensing station and transferred to a guiding device of the blister machine through a dispensing opening. By means of the guiding device, the dispensed medicament portion is supplied, optionally with an intermediate connection of a compounding device, to a packaging device for packing individual or a plurality of medicament portions.

[0004] To individualize drug portions stored in storage containers of a storage and distribution station, the individualizing device includes multiple channels, which are typically located on the outer perimeter of the individualizing device's body. Each of these channels is adapted to accommodate the drug portions to be individualized, such that, in terms of their dimensions, the drug portions are arranged within the channel only vertically, but not side-by-side. The channels can be sized, for example, so that only drug portions can be accommodated within them.

[0005] To distribute drug potions from the channel, the channel is moved over a distribution opening at the bottom of the storage container housing, and drug potions placed in the channel (at the bottom) slide or fall into the distribution opening due to gravity. To prevent further drug potions stored in or above the channel from being distributed, i.e., to prevent an unknown number of drug potions from being distributed, a holding means or a holding portion of a separator is guided or positioned in or above the channel, at least aligned with the distribution opening, within the area above the distribution opening. The holding portion is positioned in or above the channel such that, with respect to the height of the channel, only drug potions can be placed below the holding portion. If the holding portion is guided within the channel to separate the bottom drug potion from the drug potions placed above it, the individual protrusions separating the channel have slits that accommodate the holding portion. If the holding portion is positioned or guided above the channel, this holding portion is usually guided only slightly over the upper end of the protrusions, thereby preventing further drug potions from reaching the channel during drug potion distribution.

[0006] Typically, a storage and distribution station includes a distribution station that is usually detachably connected to a blister machine. The storage and distribution station further includes a storage container, which is detachably positioned on the distribution station for easy reloading and / or replacement. During reloading, small pieces of articles slide regularly into the channels of the individualizing device. Since the channels of the individualizing device, which are aligned with the distribution opening, are locked by a holding mechanism, small pieces of articles cannot fall out of the storage container during normal reloading. The rotation of the individualizing device is normally prevented by a holding device that operates when the device is not set.

[0007] However, known storage and distribution stations have a problem in that small pieces of articles are sometimes unintentionally distributed when the storage containers are set. When setting, the individualizing device is aligned with the hub of the drive unit located in the distribution station via a coupling device. The rotation that occurs at this time can cause the loaded (not locked by the holding part) channel to rotate to the top of the distribution opening, depending on the characteristics and arrangement of the channel, and then the small pieces of articles may be distributed. While this problem does not occur with every set, as the small pieces of articles reach the blister machine during distribution, unwanted distribution, even if only occasionally, is very annoying. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2013 / 034604 Pamphlet [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0009] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a storage and distribution station in which the undesirable distribution of small pieces of articles is eliminated when the storage container is set on the distribution station. Furthermore, an object of the present invention is to provide a method for setting the storage container on the distribution station in which this problem is eliminated. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] This problem is, on the one hand, solved by the storage and distribution station for a blister machine according to claim 1. The storage and distribution station according to the present invention includes a storage container having a housing that surrounds a storage space and has a bottom surface having a cylindrical portion and a central connecting opening inside, and an individualizing device having an individualizing device disposed within the cylindrical portion inside the housing, the individualizing device comprising a plurality of channels extending vertically through the individualizing device and a connecting device extending into the central connecting opening and having a lower connecting portion. The storage container further includes a retaining device comprising retaining means and operating means, the retaining device being movable between these positions, preventing the rotation of the individualizing device in a locked position, and allowing the rotation of the individualizing device in an released position.

[0011] The storage and distribution station according to the present invention is a distribution station on which storage containers are detachably disposed, and further includes a rotary drive unit comprising a shaft and a hub seated on the shaft and for force transmission interaction with a lower connecting portion. The distribution station further includes an opening means for interacting with an operating means for a holding device.

[0012] The lower coupling portion, hub, actuating means, and releasing means are further intended to be coordinated with each other so that, when the storage container is placed on the distribution station, an effective interaction occurs between the lower coupling portion and the hub before an effective interaction occurs between the actuating means and the releasing means, which results in the holding device moving to the released position. Since the coupling device (and consequently the individualizing device) can only rotate in the released position, according to the present invention, it is necessary that the hub is rotatable in the current-free state, so that when the interaction between the hub and the lower coupling portion begins, the hub can rotate to the coupling position (and the individualizing device cannot). In other words, the possibility of unintended distribution, i.e., alignment of the coupling device (and consequently the individualizing device) to the hub (via rotation), is prevented. When aligning the coupling device with or to the hub, only the hub must (and can) rotate. In contrast, in storage and distribution stations from the prior art, alignment can result in unintended rotation of the individualizing device and, in some cases, the distribution of small pieces of articles.

[0013] According to the present invention, the release means is configured as a notch in the distribution station, the actuation means is configured as a corresponding vertical nose, the interaction between the hub and the lower coupling portion defines an effective coupling engagement depth, the interaction between the actuation means and the release means defines an effective holding engagement depth (HET), and the coupling engagement depth (KET) is intended to be greater than the holding engagement depth (HET). By forming the engagement depth according to the present invention, it is ensured that the coupling interaction is always the first to become effective before the holding interaction (and consequently the movement of the retaining device to the release position) begins. This is further achieved in particular by simple, purely mechanical components.

[0014] In a preferred structurally simple embodiment, the hub and the release mechanism have the same effective height with respect to the vertical axis of the distribution station, and the lower connecting portion has an effective depth lower than the effective depth of the operating mechanism with respect to the vertical axis of the storage container. The term "effective height" refers to the "height" or position within the distribution station from which interaction with corresponding components (e.g., hub <-> lower connecting portion) occurs. "Effective depth" corresponds to the "depth" or position within the storage container from which interaction with corresponding components may occur.

[0015] Similarly, in an alternative embodiment that is structurally very simple, the lower connecting portion and the actuation mechanism have the same effective depth with respect to the vertical axis of the storage container. The hub has an effective height greater than the effective height of the release mechanism with respect to the vertical axis of the distribution station.

[0016] This problem is further solved by the method for setting a storage container of a blister machine storage and distribution station on a distribution station according to claim 4. According to the present invention, a distribution station is provided comprising a hub and an opening means for a rotary drive unit, the opening means comprising a notch in the distribution station. A storage container is further provided comprising a housing that surrounds a storage space and has a bottom surface having a cylindrical portion and a central connecting opening inside; an individualizing device disposed within the cylindrical portion inside the housing, comprising a plurality of channels extending vertically through the individualizing device and a connecting device extending into the central connecting opening and having a lower connecting portion; and a holding device comprising a holding means and an operating means, wherein the holding means prevents the rotation of the individualizing device via the holding means, and the operating means is configured as a vertical nose corresponding to a notch in the distribution station. In this case, the storage container is placed on the dispensing station, and first an effective interaction begins between the lower coupling portion and the hub, at which point the hub rotates to fit or can fit the coupling portion, establishing a morphological and / or frictional connection between the hub and the coupling portion, and subsequently an effective interaction begins between the actuating means and the release means, at which point the retaining means is released, thereby allowing the individualizing device to rotate.

[0017] According to the present invention, the interaction between the hub and the lower connecting portion begins with the formation of an effective coupling engagement depth (KET) by frictional and / or geometric coupling between the hub and the lower connecting portion, and the interaction between the actuating means and the releasing means begins with the actuating means being guided into the releasing means, in which case the retaining means is disengaged, thereby forming an effective retaining engagement depth (HET), where the coupling engagement depth (KET) is greater than the retaining engagement depth (HET).

[0018] The storage and distribution station and the method according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the attached drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0019] [Figure 1] Perspective view of the first embodiment of the storage and dispensing station according to the present invention. [Figure 2a] Detailed view of the first embodiment, with a part of the storage container removed. [Figure 2b] Detailed view of the first embodiment, with a part of the storage container removed. [Figure 3a] Various views of the storage container of the first embodiment of the storage and dispensing station. [Figure 3b] Various views of the storage container of the first embodiment of the storage and dispensing station. [Figure 3c] Various views of the storage container of the first embodiment of the storage and dispensing station. [Figure 3d] Various views of the storage container of the first embodiment of the storage and dispensing station. 4] [Figure 4a] Perspective view of the combination of the connecting device / holding device. [Figure 4b] Perspective view of the combination of the connecting device / holding device. [Figure 5] Plan view of the combination of the connecting device / holding device. [Figure 6] View showing a horizontal cross-section of the combination of the connecting device / holding device. [Figure 7] Cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of the storage and dispensing station according to the present invention, with a part of the storage container removed. [Figure 8a] Detailed view of the cross-section from FIG. 7, where the combination of the connecting device / holding device is vertically displaced upward. [Figure 8b] Detailed view of the cross-section from FIG. 7, where the combination of the connecting device / holding device is vertically displaced upward. [Figure 9a] Cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of the storage and dispensing station according to the present invention, where again a part of the storage container is removed. [Figure 9b]Figure 9b is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the storage and distribution station according to the present invention, in which a portion of the storage container is similarly removed, and the coupling device / holding device combination is displaced vertically upward. [Figure 10] This is a cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of a storage and distribution station according to the present invention. [Figure 11a] This is a detailed cross-sectional view, and the combination of the connecting device and the holding device is shown as being vertically displaced in this diagram as well. [Figure 11b] This is a detailed cross-sectional view, and the combination of the connecting device and the holding device is shown as being vertically displaced in this diagram as well. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0020] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a storage and distribution station according to the present invention, comprising a storage container 1 and a distribution station 100. In the illustrated embodiment, the distribution station 100 is part of a combination of five distribution stations 100, and such a combination is regularly fixed to the blister machine as a whole to facilitate the installation of the distribution stations in the blister machine. In alternative embodiments, the distribution stations can be separated from each other or combined into a combination comprising a different number of distribution stations. The components of the distribution station described below are present in each distribution station 100, regardless of whether they are combined as shown in Figure 1 or configured separately.

[0021] Each distribution station 100 includes a lower portion 130 and an upper portion 120. The upper portion 120 includes a projection 121 on which a storage container can be set. For this purpose, the lower housing portion of the storage container 1 is conformed to the geometry of the projection 121. The projection 121 includes an opening 123, which is aligned within the bottom surface of the housing of the storage container when the storage container 1 is set in the distribution opening, as described with reference to the following drawings. During individualization, small piece articles fall from the channel through the distribution opening into the opening 123 of the projection 121. The upper portion 120 of the distribution station 100 further includes a vertical portion 122, which allows the distribution station to be fixed to the blister machine.

[0022] Each distribution station further includes an opening means 125, which in the first embodiment shown in Figure 1 is configured as a recess within a projection 121. The exact configuration of this opening means 125 will be described in more detail with reference to the following drawings. The projection 121 includes a further opening through which the drive hub 152 extends and which works in conjunction with the storage container, as described with reference to the following drawings.

[0023] The storage container 1, set on the distribution station 100, includes a housing 10 in the illustrated embodiment, which has a cylindrical internal section 11. The upper housing section is provided with a lid 13, which can be removed to reload small piece articles. The lower section of the storage container includes a bottom plate 12, which is conformed to the geometry of the distribution station and the protrusion 121. The storage container further includes a grip 14 for easy handling, which allows the storage container to be removed from the distribution station and re-set.

[0024] In the detailed view shown in Figure 2a, the housing 10, including the cylindrical internal portion 11, has been removed, and it can be seen that an individualizing device 30 is located inside the cylindrical internal portion, with numerous channels 32 provided on its outer circumference. In this case, each of these channels is separated by a web 33. In the illustrated embodiment, the individualizing device 30 has a conical surface with three protrusions. Both the conical shape of the surface and the aforementioned protrusions are used to guide overlapping small pieces of articles into the channels 32 when the individualizing device rotates.

[0025] In the detailed view shown in Figure 2b, the individualization device 30 has also been removed, and the coupling device 40 and holding device 50, which are normally non-rotatably connected to the individualization device, can be seen. Refer to the following drawings for a more accurate depiction of both. In Figure 2b, it can already be seen that the vertical portion of the holding device 50 extends into the release means 125.

[0026] Figures 3a–3d show various views of the storage container 1 of a first embodiment of the storage and distribution station, showing the storage container in a set state, with the distribution station removed for clarity. As can be seen from Figure 3b, the housing 10 (and also a portion of the internally cylindrical section 11) surrounds a storage space 2 for small piece articles to be individualized. In Figure 3b, a holding means 60 is further recognized, fixed to a vertical wall portion of the housing via a fixing portion 61. The holding means 60 further includes a holding portion 62, merely indicated in Figure 3b, which is inserted into the internally cylindrical section 11 by a slit, above the distribution opening 22 in the bottom surface 20 of the housing (see Figure 3c for this), in a channel aligned with the distribution opening. As can be seen in Figure 3c, the bottom surface 20 includes a connecting opening 21, through which, as can be seen in Figure 3d, a lower connecting portion 42 of a connecting device 40 extends. Similarly in Figure 3d, a retaining device 50 having the parts described in more detail below is located near the lower connecting portion. In Figure 3d, the retaining device is shown detached from the connecting device 40 (and consequently the individualizing device 30), that is, the retaining device does not block the rotation of the connecting device and consequently the individualizing device.

[0027] Figures 4a and 4b show perspective views of the coupling device 40 / retaining device 50 combination, again showing it in its set state. As is particularly evident in Figure 4b, the coupling device 40 includes an upper portion 41 through which the coupling device is (disconnectably) connected to (and connected during operation) the individualizing device. The lower portion of the coupling device 40 is formed by an opening provided by a lower coupling portion 42, which, in the illustrated embodiment, extends through the entire coupling device, as is evident in Figure 5. The lower coupling portion 42 includes a web 43 through which a frictional and / or geometric coupling of the drive unit of the distribution station with the hub, which will be described in more detail with reference to the following drawings, can be established. In the illustrated embodiment, the coupling device 40 further includes a circumferential groove 44, the bottom of which is polygonal rather than circular in the illustrated groove. The retaining means 54 of the retaining device can engage with these grooves. In the illustrated embodiment, the retaining means includes a toothed, slightly curved surface, as suggested in Figures 4d and 5, thereby enabling a geometric and frictional connection with the bottom surface of the groove 44. In the state shown in Figures 4a, 4b, 5 and 6, such engagement does not occur, and the retaining device does not lock the rotation of the coupling device and, consequently, the individualizing device.

[0028] The retaining device 50 includes, in addition to the retaining means 54, a partially curved web 52 which terminates at one end on a vertical actuation means 51, which can interact with the release means of the distribution station to detach or fix the retaining device, as this is described in more detail with reference to the following drawings. Opposite the actuation means 51, the retaining device has a fixing means 53. In the illustrated embodiment, this fixing means can be fixed from below into the opening 123 of the projection 121 of the distribution station, as indicated in Figure 3d.

[0029] Figures 4a, 4b, 5, and 6 already show how the retaining device can prevent the coupling device and, consequently, the individualizing device from rotating. In the illustrated embodiment, the web is configured to be elastic and pre-forced toward the locked position. When the retaining device is no longer pushed toward the released position via the actuari 51, the elastic web 52 presses the retaining 54 into the groove 44 of the coupling device, thereby creating a frictional and / or geometric coupling between the retaining 54 and the bottom surface of the groove 44, thereby preventing the coupling device from rotating. Such a locked position is always present when the actuari is "free," that is, always present when the storage container is completely removed from the dispensing station.

[0030] Figure 7 shows a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the storage and distribution station. Here, several parts of the storage container, such as the housing and bottom, have been removed. The present invention solves the problem in the storage and distribution station of small pieces being unintentionally distributed due to the rotation of the individualizing device when setting the storage container, by specially coordinating the lower coupling portion 42 of the coupling device 40, the hub 152, the operating means 51 of the retaining device, and the release means 125 with respect to each other. More specifically, when setting the storage container, an effective interaction occurs first between the lower coupling portion and the hub, so that the hub is rotatable in the current-free state, and the shaft of the drive unit is adjusted to align with the coupling device when aligning the coupling portion. Rotation of the individualizing device is not possible according to the present invention because, when the above interaction occurs, the interaction between the operating means and the release means has not yet occurred, and this interaction is necessary to detach or remove the retaining means. According to the present invention, the rotation of the individualizing device (via the coupling device) is released only when the coupling device has already interacted with the hub, and the hub has rotated (and the individualizing device has not rotated) during the course of this interaction. To achieve this, numerous special embodiments of the above components are possible. For example, the interaction between the actuation means and the release means could be triggered by an optical switch or an electrical contact. However, these embodiments are structurally relatively cumbersome and vulnerable to failure.

[0031] Therefore, in a preferred embodiment of the storage and distribution station according to the present invention, a different approach, more specifically a purely mechanical approach, is taken. The operating means of the retaining device is configured as a kind of nose, and the opposing member, namely the release means 125, is configured as a recess in the projection 121, which in a preferred embodiment has a special geometric shape.

[0032] In the storage and distribution stations according to the present invention in preferred embodiments precisely described by the following drawings, the interaction between the hub 152 and the lower coupling portion 42 of the coupling device 40 commonly defines the effective coupling engagement depth (KET), and the interaction between the operating means 51 and the release means 125 of the holding device 50 defines the effective holding engagement depth (HET), where the coupling engagement depth is greater than the holding engagement depth. As a result, the above principle is always satisfied when setting a storage container on the distribution station, namely, the effective interaction between the lower coupling portion and the hub occurs for the first time before the interaction between the operating means and the release means releases the brake, i.e., before the holding means is removed from the coupling device.

[0033] Figure 7 shows a cross-sectional view of the first embodiment. In this cross-sectional view, the storage container is positioned on the dispensing station in an operational state. The effective coupling engagement depth (KET) is defined by the lower edge (effective depth) of the lower coupling portion and the upper edge (effective height) of the hub 152. This effective coupling engagement depth (KET) is shown on the left by a dashed line in Figure 7. As intended by the present invention, the effective retaining engagement depth (HET), shown on the right by a dashed line, is smaller than the effective coupling engagement depth. This effective retaining engagement depth is defined by the lower edge (effective depth) of the actuation means 51 and the effective upper edge (effective height) of the release means 125. As already described, in the preferred embodiment described herein, the disengagement of the retaining device is performed purely mechanically. To this end, it is necessary to move the actuation means by the release means, more specifically, so that the retaining means no longer obstructs the rotation of the coupling device. That is, the retaining means must move away from the axis of rotation of the coupling device. With respect to the embodiment of the retaining device accurately shown in the drawings above, it can be said that this needs to be "bent open". To achieve this, the opening means 125 has an inclined portion (working portion) as can be seen in Figure 8b, where the effective height of the opening means begins at its upper end. When the operating means is moved into the opening means when the storage container is set, this inclined portion moves the operating means out of the drawing plane (related to Figure 7), thereby disengaging the holding means from the coupling device and releasing the rotation.

[0034] In Figure 7, it is further recognized that the hub 152 is seated on the shaft 151 of the rotary drive unit 150. The hub 152 is immovably coupled to the shaft 151 and extends through the opening 121a into the projection 121 of the storage container.

[0035] Figure 8a reproduces a detailed cross-sectional record from Figure 7, where the coupling device and the retaining device have been moved upward to such an extent that engagement of the operating means with the releasing means has not yet occurred. That is, no effective interaction between them has yet occurred. However, as can be seen from the lower coupling portion 42 and hub 152, at the “time point” shown in Figure 8a, an effective interaction between the web 43 and the hub 152 has already occurred. That is, a frictional or geometric coupling has occurred between these two elements. However, since the coupling device is still held in place by the retaining device, more precisely by the retaining means 54, at the start of this interaction, the hub 152 may have been rotated to a “predetermined position” so that this interaction could occur. Once the hub has rotated and the coupling means / retaining device combination is moved further downward, that is, as the storage container is further set, an interaction also occurs between the operating means 51 and the releasing means 125. That is, the retaining means is moved away from the coupling device and the rotation is released. In Figure 8b, it is recognized that the release mechanism 125 has an inclined portion (acting portion) 126, which causes the movement of the actuating mechanism 51 and, consequently, the movement of the retaining mechanism 54 via the web 52. When the storage container shown in Figure 7 is in its final position, both interactions are occurring or will occur. In this case, different engagement depths determine the order of these interactions.

[0036] Figures 9a and 9b show cross-sectional views of a second embodiment of the storage and distribution station according to the present invention, in which a portion of the storage container is removed, and in Figure 9b, the coupling / holding device combination is displaced vertically upward. In this embodiment, the principle according to the present invention is achieved by increasing the working height of the hub 152 (compared to the first embodiment) and placing it above the surface of the projection 121. In this way, the interaction between the hub 152 and the lower coupling portion 42 occurs first, followed by the interaction between the actuation means 51 and the release means 125. The engagement depths KET, HET and their relationships correspond in the second embodiment to those of the first embodiment.

[0037] Figure 10 shows a cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of the storage and distribution station according to the present invention, and Figures 11a and 11b show detailed views of the cross-section from Figure 10. In these drawings, the coupling / holding device combination is also shown displaced vertically. In this embodiment, the principle of the present invention is achieved by reducing the effective depth of the operating means 51 compared to the first and second embodiments.

[0038] With reference to a third embodiment, embodiments of the method according to the present invention are described below. In a preferred embodiment of the method for setting a storage container 1 of a storage and distribution station on a distribution station 100, the distribution station 100 and the storage container 1 are first provided. In this state of provision, the holding device of the storage container is in a locked position, and the distribution of small piece articles by rotation of the individualizing device is not possible. Next, the storage container 1 is placed on the distribution station 110, which is evident in Figures 11a, 11b and 10. In this arrangement, an effective interaction first begins between the connecting portion 42 and the hub 152, at which point the hub 152 is fitted (or can be fitted) to the connecting portion 42 by rotation, and a morphological and / or frictional coupling between the hub 152 and the connecting portion is established. Subsequently, an effective interaction begins between the actuating means 51 and the release means 125, at which point the holding means 54 is released, thereby allowing the individualizing device 30 to rotate. In the illustrated third embodiment, the release means 125 is configured as a notch or recess in the distribution station, and the actuating means is configured as a corresponding vertical nose. The above interaction between the hub 152 and the lower coupling portion 42 begins with the formation of an effective coupling engagement depth KET by frictional and / or geometric coupling between the hub 152 and the lower coupling portion 42. The interaction between the actuating means 51 and the release means 125 begins with the actuating means 51 being guided into the release means 125, in which case the retaining means 54 is disengaged, and an effective retaining engagement depth HET is formed. As described above, the coupling engagement depth KET is greater than the retaining engagement depth HET.

Claims

1. A housing (10) that surrounds the containment space (2) and has a bottom surface (20) which has a cylindrical part (11) inside and a central connecting opening (21), The individualizing device (30) is located inside the cylindrical portion (11) of the housing (10), and comprises a plurality of channels (32) extending vertically through the individualizing device and a connecting device (40) that extends into the central connecting opening (21) and has a lower connecting portion (42), A storage container (1) comprising a holding device (50) having a holding means (54) and an operating means (51), the holding device (50) preventing the rotation of the individualizing device (30) in the locked position and allowing the rotation of the individualizing device (30) in the released position, and The distribution station (100) on which the storage container (1) is arranged in a detachable manner is located above it. A rotary drive unit (150) comprising a shaft (151) and a hub (152) seated on the shaft and for interaction of force transmission with a lower connecting portion (42), The release means (125) for interaction with the operating means (51) of the holding device, A distribution station (100) equipped with, A storage and distribution station for a blister machine having, The lower connecting portion (42), the hub (152), the operating means (51), and the release means (125) are coordinated with each other such that, when the storage container (1) is placed on the dispensing station (100), an effective interaction occurs between the lower connecting portion (42) and the hub (152) before an effective interaction occurs between the operating means (51) and the release means (125) that causes the retaining device to move to the release position, and the hub (152) is rotatable in the absence of current. In a storage and distribution station for a blister machine, The release means (125) is configured as a notch in the distribution station, and the actuation means (51) is configured as a corresponding vertical nose. The interaction between the hub (152) and the lower connecting portion (42) defines the effective coupling engagement depth (KET), and the interaction between the actuating means (51) and the release means (125) defines the effective retaining engagement depth (HET), and A storage and dispensing station for a blister machine, characterized in that the coupling engagement depth (KET) is greater than the holding engagement depth (HET).

2. The storage and distribution station for a blister machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the hub (152) and the release means (125) have the same effective height with respect to the vertical axis of the distribution station (100), and the lower connecting portion (42) has an effective depth lower than the effective depth of the operating means with respect to the vertical axis of the storage container (1).

3. The storage and distribution station for a blister machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower connecting portion (42) and the operating means (51) have the same effective depth with respect to the vertical axis of the storage container (1), and the hub (152) has an effective height greater than the effective height of the opening means (125) with respect to the vertical axis of the distribution station (100).

4. A method for setting a storage container (1) of a blister machine storage and distribution station onto a distribution station (100), A distribution station is provided which includes a hub (152) and a release means (125) of a rotary drive unit (150), wherein the release means (125) is configured as a notch in the distribution station. A housing (10) that surrounds the containment space (2) and has a bottom surface (20) which has a cylindrical part (11) inside and a central connecting opening (21), The individualizing device (30) is located inside the cylindrical portion (11) of the housing (10), and comprises a plurality of channels (32) extending vertically through the individualizing device and a connecting device (40) extending into the central connecting opening (21) and having a lower connecting portion (42), A holding device (50) comprising a holding means (54) and an operating means (51), wherein the holding device (50) prevents the rotation of the individualizing device (30) via the holding means (54), and the operating means (51) is configured as a vertical nose corresponding to a notch in the distribution station, A storage container (1) is provided, The storage container (1) is placed on the distribution station (100), When arranging as described above, first An effective interaction begins between the connecting portion (42) and the hub (152), and as the interaction begins, the hub (152) rotates to fit the connecting portion (42), establishing a morphological and / or frictional connection between the hub (152) and the connecting portion, and subsequently, an effective interaction begins between the operating means (51) and the releasing means (125), and as the interaction begins, the retaining means (54) is released, thereby enabling the rotation of the individualizing device (30). In the method, The interaction between the hub (152) and the lower connecting portion (42) begins when an effective coupling engagement depth (KET) is formed by the frictional and / or morphological coupling between the hub (152) and the lower connecting portion (42). The interaction between the actuating means (51) and the releasing means (125) begins when the actuating means (51) is guided into the releasing means (125), at which point the retaining means (54) is disengaged and an effective retaining engagement depth (HET) is formed. The method is characterized in that the coupling engagement depth (KET) is greater than the holding engagement depth (HET).

Images