Storage container for a storage and dispensing station, and method for adapting the storage container

Abstract

The present invention relates to a storage container (1) for an automatic blister packaging machine, comprising a housing (10) with an upper housing portion (11) and a lower housing portion (12), the housing portions (11, 12) defining a receiving space (20); comprising a singulation device (30) which is located in the lower receiving-space portion (21) and has a plurality of channels (32) which are open to the outer circumference (39) of a main body (38), are separated by vertical projections (31) and extend vertically through the main body; and comprising a holding device (40) which has a fastening device (41) and a holding portion (43, 46), wherein each projection (31) has a plurality of vertically spaced, horizontal, radially inwardly extending slots (33a, 33b, 33c) which are open to the outer circumference and form a plurality of slot planes, and wherein the storage container (1) comprises a holding-device fastening means (50) with which the holding device (40) can be height-adjusted and rotationally secured with respect to the housing in such a way that the holding portion (43) is held in any desired slot plane. The storage container according to the invention decreases the number of singulation devices / storage containers that have to be stored.

Description

[0001] Storage container for a storage and dispensing station and method for adapting the storage container

[0002] The present invention relates to a storage container for a storage and dispensing station for small items, in particular individual portions of medicines or food supplements, as well as a method for adapting such a storage container to the small items to be dispensed.

[0003] 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 can store, for example, several drug portions of a specific drug, and individual drug portions can be dispensed upon request. The blister pack machines combine and blister pack the drug portions stored in the storage and dispensing stations for each patient, according to the dosage times prescribed by the physician.

[0004] To put together the medication portions, the corresponding storage and dispensing stations are controlled to dispense one or more medication portions. When a storage and dispensing station is controlled, a single medication portion is separated by a separating device located in the storage container of the storage and dispensing station and transferred via a dispensing opening in the storage container to a guide device of the blister packaging machine. By means of the guide device, a dispensed medication portion is fed, if necessary with the interposition of a collecting device, to a packaging device, which blisters one or more medication portions according to a doctor's prescription.For the isolation of medication portions stored in a storage container of a storage and dispensing station, the isolation device comprises a rotor with a large number of channels, which are usually arranged on the outer circumference of the rotor and defined by webs. The dimensions of the channels must be adapted to the respective medication portions to be isolated in such a way that the medication portions in a channel can only be arranged one above the other, but not next to each other. The channels can, for example, be dimensioned so 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 base 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.To prevent additional drug portions stored in or above the channel from also being dispensed, i.e., to prevent an unknown number of drug portions from being dispensed, a holding section of a holding device is guided or arranged above the channel in the area above the dispensing opening and is aligned with the dispensing opening. The holding section is arranged above the channel in such a way that only one drug portion can be arranged below the holding section.

[0005] In an alternative design, all of the webs have a horizontal slot which together define a "slot plane". In this design, the holding section is held in this slot plane above the discharge opening. When the singling device rotates, the slots in the webs rotate over the holding section. The channels and slots are tailored to the small piece goods to be singulated so that only a defined number of small piece goods - usually exactly one small piece goods - can be stored in a channel section below the slot plane. The need to adapt the channels or channel sections means that in known storage containers, at least the singling device has to be replaced if the size of the small piece goods to be singulated changes. This is time-consuming and also requires that a large number of singling devices / storage containers must always be kept on hand.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a storage container that reduces the number of separating devices / storage containers that need to be stored. Furthermore, a method for adapting a storage container to different medication portions is to be provided.

[0007] The object is achieved by a storage container for a storage and dispensing station for a blister machine according to claim 1 and a method for adapting a storage container for a storage and dispensing station to different small-piece goods to be separated.

[0008] The storage container according to the invention comprises a housing with an upper housing section and a lower housing section and a base plate with a discharge opening, wherein the housing sections define a receiving space for receiving small piece goods and a lower receiving space section of the receiving space is circular-cylindrical. Furthermore, the storage container comprises a separating device arranged in the lower receiving space section with a circular-cylindrical base body with a plurality of channels open to the outer circumference of the base body, separated by vertical webs and adapted to small piece goods to be separated, extending vertically through the base body and also a holding device with a fastening device and a holding section which is held above the discharge opening in the lower receiving space section.Depending on its dimensions, the singling device takes up more or less space in the receiving space for piece goods, whereby the dimensions depend on the type and shape of the piece goods to be singulated. If the singling device is relatively "flat", it may only take up a lower area of ​​the lower receiving space section. With a taller singling device, it may happen that it fills the entire lower receiving space section and may even protrude into the upper receiving space section above it. The area of ​​the receiving space not occupied by the singling device, i.e. usually the area "above" the singling device, is used to receive the small piece goods to be singulated.

[0009] According to the invention, each web has a plurality of vertically spaced, horizontal, inwardly extending slots which are open towards the outer circumference and are designed to receive the holding section of the holding device and form a plurality of slot planes. The slots of each slot plane are vertically aligned with one another, and the slot planes are vertically spaced from one another. The number of slots depends on the expected variability of the small item goods to be separated and their type. As a rule, two or more slots are provided. Furthermore, the storage container according to the invention has a holding device fastening with which the holding device can be arranged relative to the housing in such a way that its height can be adjusted and is secured against rotation, that the holding section is held in any slot plane.

[0010] By providing several slot levels and a holding device attachment for height-adjustable adjustment of the holding device, the same separating device can be used for differently shaped small piece goods. If "small" small piece goods are to be separated, the holding device is arranged using the holding device attachment so that the holding section of the holding device engages in the lowest slot level. For larger small piece goods, correspondingly higher slot levels are used. If three slot levels are provided, three different size categories of small piece goods can be used. Provided that the small piece goods only differ in height and that the three size categories occur with equal frequency, only 1 / 3 of the storage containers need to be stored compared to the number of storage containers with only one row of slots.

[0011] A key feature of the invention is that the holding device is generally height-adjustable, as it must be adapted to the slot plane to be used. This means that the holding device must be able to be attached at different vertical positions so that the holding section is held securely against rotation in the slot plane above the dispensing opening. The exact positioning of the holding device by means of the holding device attachment depends on the specific application.

[0012] If, for example, small items (here in particular portions of medicine or individual portions of food supplements) which do not generate any abrasion or dust are regularly separated using a storage container, i.e. the small items or medicines are in the form of capsules or coated tablets, it is advantageous for the lower housing section to have a plurality of housing slots arranged vertically one above the other, through which the holding section of the holding device extends into the lower receiving space section. In this case, the holding device fastening is formed by a plurality of fastening means assigned to the housing slots, with which the holding device is held so as to be height-adjustable and secured against rotation relative to the housing. These fastening means can, for example, be simple small bores into which the holding device orA fastening section of the holding device is secured with a pin or a screw. Such storage containers have the advantage that at least the housing can be manufactured very easily using existing tools. Existing storage containers can also be easily adapted; only the separating device needs to be replaced (and the holding device fastening must be provided, which, however, can be achieved without great effort).

[0013] In such a case, it is particularly preferred that the lower housing section has a vertically extending fastening projection, in which the fastening means are arranged. If, for example, bores or openings are provided as fastening means, the provision of a fastening projection has the advantage that the entire lower housing section does not have to have a correspondingly increased wall thickness.

[0014] As already explained, the holding section of the holding device held above the discharge opening ensures that only a defined quantity of small piece goods (usually only one), namely that in the channel section below the slot level, is discharged via the discharge opening. Those arranged in the channel section above are prevented by the holding section from entering the lower channel section (and thus from being discharged via the discharge opening). The holding section can be made from an appropriately shaped, non-elastic material. If a channel with an occupied lower channel section and one arranged above it (in short the "upper" channel section) is rotated "over" or towards the holding section (if this channel is aligned with the discharge opening), the holding section lifts the small piece goods in the upper channel section. This can cause small particles of the small piece goods to be abraded.If the positioning (i.e. height) of the holding section is not sufficiently adapted to the size or shape of the small piece goods, it can happen that small pieces are rubbed off (in the case of coated tablets (i.e. coated tablets) or tablets) or that a small piece goods in the form of a pharmaceutical capsule is damaged. To avoid this, a preferred embodiment provides that the holding device is elastically deformable at least in sections and is designed such that a small piece goods arranged in a channel aligned with the dispensing opening is pressed against a wall of the channel via the holding section and is thus prevented from moving vertically by frictional engagement. To achieve this flexibility, a section of the fastening device of the holding device can be designed to be flexible.Alternatively, it is conceivable for the holding section itself to be elastically deformable – for example, it could be designed like a type of brush. This then presses the small items against the wall of the channel, so that the frictional connection prevents them from entering the lower channel section. This prevents the small items from being lifted and thus the risk of damage or abrasion. This design is particularly advantageous for very sensitive small items.

[0015] However, if the storage container is used with small items that are prone to abrasion (medicines in loose tablet form), providing a plurality of housing slots may not be advantageous because these can allow abrasion to escape from the storage container, contaminating the other storage container and the blister pack machine as such. In an alternative preferred embodiment, it is therefore provided that the holding device fastening is formed by at least one vertical fastening arranged in the lower housing section and interacting with the lower receiving space section, with which the holding device is or can be arranged completely within the lower receiving space section in such a way that it is height-adjustable and secured against rotation that the holding section is held in any slot plane.By eliminating all housing slots and locating the retaining device entirely within the housing, the escape of abrasion debris is prevented. The vertical fastening can be provided, for example, by a permanent magnet that interacts with a counterpart in the fastening device of the retaining device.

[0016] When adapting the storage container to a new size category, it is necessary to reposition the holding device. To do this, the holding section must be moved from the current slot plane and inserted into the new one. In order to be able to do this quickly and easily, a preferred embodiment provides for the at least one vertical fastening to be designed as a vertical groove open to the lower receiving section, which extends through the lower housing section into an upper receiving space section and has an opening thereto. Furthermore, it is provided that the fastening device of the holding device has at least one fastening means which is height-adjustable in the vertical groove and coupled to the holding section.The upper receiving space is shaped at the opening in such a way that the holding device (including the separating device) can be moved into and out of the vertical groove via the fastening device.

[0017] With such an embodiment, the separating device, including the holding device, can simply be pulled upwards out of the housing - due to the vertical groove being open at the top, no connection or mounting needs to be loosened for removal. The holding device itself is held vertically by the slot plane used, and the holding device is secured against rotation by the fastening means of the fastening device.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment, the holding device fastening comprises two vertical fastenings, each arranged next to the discharge opening at or in the lower housing section. The provision of two correspondingly arranged vertical fastenings ensures optimal positioning and fixation (against rotation with the separating unit) of the holding device.

[0019] To prevent the vertical groove from causing damage to the small items being separated, a preferred embodiment provides for a vertical groove to have contact protection in the opening area to the lower receiving space section. This can, for example, be a rubber lip extending into the opening area from both sides. It must be ensured that the fastening device of the holding device is movable in the vertical guide.

[0020] The object is further achieved by a method according to patent claim 9. In the method according to the invention for adapting a storage container for a storage and dispensing station according to one of claims 6 - 8 to small piece goods to be separated, the separating device is first moved together with the holding device at least far enough out of the housing that the holding section can be moved out of the slot plane. Based on the circumference of the small piece goods to be separated, a new slot plane is then determined in which the holding section is to be arranged and the holding device is then positioned with respect to the separating device such that the holding section is arranged in the new slot plane.The separating device, together with the positioned holding device, is then moved into the lower housing section, wherein the at least one fastening means is moved over the opening into the at least one vertical groove, and the separating device, together with the holding device, is moved into the lower housing section up to a predetermined stop. According to the invention, the storage container can be quickly adapted to new small-piece goods to be separated without changing the separating device. Although it may also happen that "only" changing the slot plane is not sufficient as an adaptation, for the majority of adaptations the adaptation can be carried out quickly using the method according to the invention, and the number of separating devices / storage containers to be stored can thus be considerably reduced.

[0021] In order to prevent the vertical grooves from causing damage to small items to be separated, a preferred embodiment provides that after the separation device including the holding device has been moved up to a predetermined stop, a removable filling means is pushed into each vertical groove.

[0022] In the following, preferred embodiments of the storage container according to the invention for a storage and dispensing station of a blister machine as well as a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention for adapting a storage container are described with reference to the drawing, in which

[0023] Figures 1A and 1B show oblique views of the first embodiment, wherein Figure 1B shows a sectional view,

[0024] Figures 2A and 2B show partial sectional views of the first embodiment, wherein the separating device is shown uncut,

[0025] Figures 3A and 3B show oblique views of the separating device according to the first embodiment including small piece goods and holding device,

[0026] Figure 4 shows a plan view of the separating device without small piece goods,

[0027] Figures 5A and 5B oblique views of the second

[0028] embodiment, wherein Figure 5B shows a sectional view,

[0029] Figure 6 shows a plan view of the second embodiment,

[0030] Figure 7 is a side sectional view of the second

[0031] Design with separating device shows,

[0032] Figures 8A and 8B show partial sectional views of the second embodiment, Figure 9A shows an oblique view of the separating device including the holding device of the second embodiment,

[0033] Figure 9B shows a side view of the separating device including the holding device of the second embodiment, and Figures 10A - 10F schematically show various stages of the method according to the invention for adapting a storage container to small piece goods to be separated.

[0034] 1A and 1B show oblique views of a first embodiment of the storage container 1 according to the invention, with Figure 1B showing a sectional view. The storage container 1 comprises a housing 10 with an upper housing section 11 and a lower housing section 12, with the two housing sections 11, 12 defining a receiving space 20 for receiving small items. This receiving space 20 comprises a lower, internally circular, cylindrical receiving space section 21 (see Figure 1B) and an upper receiving space section 22, the circumference of which projects beyond the circumference of the lower receiving space section 21. The storage container 1 further comprises a base frame 16 on which the lower housing section 12 is arranged. A handle 17 extends between the base frame 16 and the upper housing section 11 for simplified handling of the storage container. As shown in Fig.1A, the lower housing section 12 in the illustrated embodiment has a vertically extending fastening projection 15, in or on which a holding device fastening 50 is arranged, which in the illustrated embodiment has a plurality of fastening means 52 in the form of bores or openings. Alternatively, it is conceivable, for example, that the fastening means are designed as small permanent magnets. Furthermore, three horizontal housing slots 13 are arranged in the lower housing section 12 and extend through the lower housing section.

[0035] The storage container 1 further comprises a holding device 40, which comprises a fastening device 41, a fastening section 44 and a holding section 43 (see in particular Figure 1B). The holding device 40 is coupled to the holding device fastening 50 via the fastening section 44, wherein in the embodiment shown this coupling can be effected by a screw or a plug which engages into a fastening means 52 through an opening in the fastening section. The holding section 43 is arranged on the fastening device 41 and, in the embodiment shown, extends through the lower housing slot 13 into the lower receiving space section 21.

[0036] As can be seen in Figure 1B, the lower housing section or the lower receiving space section 21 is delimited by a base plate 18 which has a discharge opening 19 through which small items can be discharged from the storage container. The base plate 18 also has a central opening in which a coupling element 60 is arranged, to which a separating device shown in the following figures is detachably fastened. The coupling element 60 interacts in the lower region with a drive of a discharge station (not shown) for rotating the separating device.

[0037] Figures 2A and 2B show two further sectional views of the first embodiment, with Figure 2A being an oblique view and Figure 2B being a side view. In the views of Figures 2A and 2B, a separating device 30 is arranged in the lower receiving space section 21. The separating device 30 and its arrangement are described in particular below; for a detailed description of the components not explicitly mentioned below but provided with reference symbols, reference is made to the description of Figures 1A and 1B.

[0038] As can be seen in particular from Figure 2B, the separating device 30 extends substantially over the entire height of the lower receiving space section 21. The separating device 30 thus occupies a part of the receiving space 20, with the remaining space of the receiving space 20 serving to receive small piece goods. In alternative embodiments, the separating device can be designed to be less high, so that a region of the lower receiving space section can also serve to receive small piece goods. Alternatively, the separating device can

[0039] 30 extend at least partially into the upper receiving space section 22.

[0040] The separating device 30 itself comprises, as can also be seen from Figures 3A, 3B and 4, a circular cylindrical base body 38 with a plurality of open to the outer circumference 39 (see Figure 4) of the base body 38, by vertical webs

[0041] 31 separate channels 32 which extend vertically through the base body and are adapted to the small items to be separated. In the embodiment shown, the separating device comprises eight channels, the exact number depending on the size or shape of the small items to be separated and the size of the storage container itself. In the embodiment shown, each web 31 has three vertically arranged, horizontal slots 33a, 33b, 33c which extend radially inwards and are open towards the outer circumference 39 and which are each designed to receive the holding section 43 of the holding device 40, as shown in the previous figures. The majority of the slots 33a, 33b, 33c each form a slot plane, i.e. all slots 33a form a slot plane, etc. , so that in the embodiment shown three slot levels are formed.In the embodiment shown, the webs 31 are divided into four web sections 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d by the slots, the three slots being arranged at the same distance from one another so that the web sections 31b, 31c are of the same size. In alternative embodiments, the slots can be spaced apart from one another at different distances in the vertical direction. The base body 38 of the separating device 30 has, above the webs 31, a conical surface 35 with a plurality of projections 37 which serve to feed the small piece goods arranged in the receiving space to the channels. In the embodiment shown, the separating device has, above the channels 32 or webs 31, an annular groove 36 (cf. in particular Figure 2B), which also serves to feed the small piece goods to the channels 32.As can be seen particularly in Figure 2B, the separating device 30 is coupled to the coupling element 60 in the base plate. The separating device is rotated by a drive (not shown) via this coupling element.

[0042] As already described above, for the separation of small piece goods, it is necessary that when a channel rotates, only a certain number (usually only one small piece) of small piece goods are dispensed via the dispensing opening 19. For this purpose, the holding section 43 is arranged in the channel above the dispensing opening, which prevents uncontrolled dispensing of small piece goods. Figures 2B, 3A and 3B show the arrangement of the holding section 43 in the slot plane formed by the lower slots 33c, and it can be seen that the small piece goods arranged "above" the holding section 43 are prevented from further vertical movement downwards.In particular, it can be seen in Figure 3B that the small piece goods 6 (3), 6 (2), 6 (1) arranged above the holding section 43 are prevented from further vertical movement downwards; only the small piece goods 6 (4) can be dispensed via the dispensing opening.

[0043] In the illustrated embodiment, the holding section 43 is formed by a plurality of elastically deformable bristles which, on the one hand, can prevent vertical movement of small items not to be dispensed by the small items resting on the bristles. In particular, if the positioning of the holding device and thus of the holding section 43 is not optimally adapted to the height of the small parts to be separated (in practice, the reverse is the case), it is also possible, with a holding section 43 having a plurality of elastically deformable bristles, that these bristles press a small item not to be dispensed against a channel wall and thus prevent dispensing.

[0044] With alternative designs of the holding section, this type of holding of small-unit goods is not possible; if the holding section is made of a solid material, the small-unit goods lying above are "held" by being pushed upwards by the holding section. The small-unit goods are thus spatially separated. However, this can lead to damage to delicate piece goods.

[0045] With the illustrated embodiment of the storage container according to the invention, it is possible to quickly adapt it to small piece goods of different heights. As can be seen in particular in Figure 2B, the holding section 43 of the holding device 40 is guided through the lower housing slot 13 into the lower receiving space section 21. In the event that the small piece goods to be separated are "longer", the holding device 40 can simply be detached from the holding device fastening 50, the holding section 43 inserted into a corresponding housing slot 13, and the holding device 40 reattached. Thus, the storage container according to the first embodiment can be used for small piece goods of three different size classes, so that fewer storage containers / singling devices need to be kept on hand for the operation of a blister machine with a storage container according to the invention.The number and arrangement of the slots per web 31 depends on the specific application and may differ from that according to the first embodiment.

[0046] Figures 5A and 5B show oblique views of the second embodiment of the storage container according to the invention, with Figure 5B showing a sectional view. Figure 6 shows a plan view of the second embodiment. In the aforementioned figures, the separating device has again been omitted. In the following description of the second embodiment of the storage container according to the invention, only those features which differ from the first embodiment are described in detail. Identical features are not described again in detail, so that in the following description of the figures, not all reference symbols used in the figures are mentioned. For a detailed description of these features, reference is made to the first embodiment.

[0047] The second embodiment of the storage container according to the invention differs from the first embodiment in the design and fastening of the holding device. As can be seen in Figure 5A, in the second embodiment two fastening projections 15a, 15b run vertically on the outer wall of the lower housing section 12. As can be seen in Figures 5B and 6, the holding device is fastened in this embodiment by means of two vertical fastenings (which together form the holding device fastening), which in this embodiment are designed as two vertical grooves 51a, 51b open towards the lower receiving section 21. As can already be seen from Figures 5B and 6, fastening means 42a, 42b are arranged in the vertical grooves 51a, 51b and are connected to a holding section 46 of the holding device.In the illustrated embodiment, the vertical grooves 51a, 51b each have a partially circular section in which correspondingly round sections of the fastening means 42a, 42b are arranged. Adjoining the round section of the fastening means is a web-shaped section, which is finally connected to the holding section 46.

[0048] In other embodiments, the vertical grooves and the fastening devices can be designed differently, it being important that the holding device itself is arranged in a height-adjustable and twist-proof manner via the fastening devices in the vertical grooves. The holding section 46 differs in this embodiment in that it is not formed from elastic bristles, but from an inelastic material. This design of the holding section is determined by the type of attachment of the holding section to the lower housing section. The design of the holding section also means that the small item goods are spatially separated by the holding section itself when a channel is rotated onto the holding section for delivering a small item. The small item goods stacked on top of one another in a channel that is not rotated using the holding section are separated by lifting the upper small item goods.Therefore, the design according to the first embodiment may be preferable, particularly for sensitive small-piece goods. As indicated in the upper section of the vertical groove 51a in Figure 5B, this can have a contact guard 54a, for example in the form of elastic bristles, in an opening region 53a to the lower receiving space section 21. These are intended to prevent abrasion on a small piece to be separated as it is guided past a vertical groove in a channel. Furthermore, Figure 5B shows that the vertical groove 51a extends to an opening 52a in the upper receiving space section 22.

[0049] Figure 7 shows a side sectional view of the second embodiment with a (non-sectioned) separating device. Figure 7 largely corresponds to Figure 2B of the first embodiment, only the holding device differs, with the holding section 46 and one of the fastening means, namely the fastening means 42b, being shown in particular.

[0050] Figures 8A and 8B show partial sectional views of the second embodiment, wherein these figures particularly illustrate the arrangement and guidance of the holding device in the storage container. Figure 8A shows how the holding section 46 of the holding device is guided in the vertical groove 51b via the fastening means 42b. In the vertical section through the singling device, it can be seen that the cut small piece goods 6 (3) rests on the holding section 46. Figure 8B completely omitted and in particular the separation of the small piece goods 6 (3), 6 (4) by the holding section 46 can be seen. Indicated in the vertical groove 51a is a filler 70a which is intended to protect small piece goods to be singulated from damage when they are guided past the vertical groove 51a.

[0051] Figure 9A shows an oblique view and Figure 9B a side view of the separating device including the holding device of the second embodiment. Both figures particularly illustrate the arrangement and alignment of the holding device relative to the slot planes of the separating device. In both figures it can be seen that the holding section 46 engages in the lower slot plane (formed by the slots 33c). Furthermore, it can be seen in particular in Figure 9A that the holding section 46 is connected to the fastening means 42a, 42b via fastening webs 47a, 47b. In the second embodiment of the storage container, the fastening means 42a, 42b are guided in a height-adjustable manner in the vertical grooves (not shown). The vertical fixing of the holding device relative to the separating device is achieved by guiding the holding section in a slot plane.Twisting of the holding device itself is prevented by the mounting of the fastening devices in the vertical grooves.

[0052] Figures 10A - 10F schematically show various steps of a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention for adapting a storage container to small piece goods to be separated, the method being described with regard to the second embodiment. Figures 10A - 10F only show regions of a cut-open storage container, and in these regions only the components essential for understanding the method are shown. Likewise, only some of the components are identified by reference numerals in the figures, namely those which are necessary for the following description.

[0053] Figure 10A shows an initial situation. In the singling device 30, the holding section 46 engages in the lower slot level formed by the slots 33c. Three small piece goods 6 (1), 6 (2), 6 (3) are arranged above the holding section 46. Below the holding section, a small piece good 6 (4) is indicated, which is shown only for illustrative purposes (in fact, it would already have been dispensed via the dispensing opening arranged below the holding section). Since the holding section engages in the lowest slot level, the illustrated combination of singling device / holding device is suitable for singling small piece goods of the smallest size class.

[0054] If small-piece goods of a larger size category are to be separated, the separating device 30 with the holding device 40 must be removed from the housing. This is shown in Figure 10B.

[0055] In order to be able to separate small-piece goods of a higher size category, the holding section 46 must be moved to a "higher" slot level. In Figure 10C it can be seen that the holding section 46 has been moved to the slot level defined by the slots 33b. The space below the holding section of the holding device is now suitable for larger small-piece goods.

[0056] After the holding device has been repositioned, the separating device must be moved back into the housing with the repositioned holding device. Figure 10D shows how the fastening means 42a is inserted through the opening 52a into the vertical groove 51a.

[0057] Via the guide of the fastening devices of the holding device, the separating device 30, together with the relocated holding device, is guided back into the housing until the separating device rests against a predetermined stop of the housing. This is illustrated in Figure 10E. Figure 10F schematically shows that the adapted storage container, by being relocated into the (middle) slot plane defined by the slots 33b, is suitable for small-piece goods of a larger size category. A small-piece good 7(1) is indicated above the holding section 46, and a small-piece good 7(2) is indicated below the holding section; the small-piece goods 7(1), 7(2) are approximately 50% larger than the small-piece goods 6(1) - 6(4). Relocating the storage container to the slot plane defined by the slots 33a would achieve the largest or highest size category.The method according to the invention can thus be used to adapt the storage container to small piece goods from three different size categories, so that only one storage container needs to be kept available for the separation of small piece goods of different size categories.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Storage container (1) for a storage and dispensing station for a blister machine, comprising: a housing (10) with an upper housing section (11) and a lower housing section (12) and a base plate (18) with a dispensing opening (19), wherein the housing sections (11, 12) define a receiving space (20) for receiving small piece goods and a lower receiving space section (21) of the receiving space (20) is circular-cylindrical, a separating device (30) arranged in the lower receiving space section (21) with a circular-cylindrical base body (38) with a plurality of channels (32) open to the outer circumference (39) of the base body (38), separated by vertical webs (31) and adapted to small piece goods to be separated, extending vertically through the base body, a holding device (40) with a fastening device (41) and a holding section (43, 46) ,which is held above the discharge opening (19) in the lower receiving space section (21), characterized in that each web (31) has a plurality of vertically spaced, horizontal, radially inwardly extending and open to the outer circumference slots (33a, 33b, 33c) which are designed to receive the holding section (43, 46) of the holding device (40) and form a plurality of slot planes, that the storage container (1) comprises a holding device fastening (50) with which the holding device (40) can be adjusted in height and, can be arranged in a rotationally secured manner to the housing, such that the holding section (43) is held in any slot plane.

2. Storage container (1) for a storage and dispensing station for a blister machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower housing section (11) has a plurality of slots (13) arranged vertically one above the other, through which the holding section (43) of the holding device (40) extends into the lower receiving space section (21), and in that the holding device fastening (50) is formed by a plurality of fastening means (52) assigned to the housing slots (13), in which the holding device (40) is held in a height-adjustable and rotationally secured manner relative to the housing.

3. Storage container (1) for a storage and dispensing station for a blister machine according to claim 2, characterized in that the lower housing section (12) has a vertically extending fastening projection (15) in which the fastening means (52) are arranged.

4. Storage container (1) for a storage and dispensing station for a blister machine according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the holding device (40) is elastically deformable at least in sections and is designed such that a small piece of goods arranged in a channel (32) aligned with the dispensing opening (19) is pressed against a wall of the channel via the holding section (43). and is thus prevented from vertical movement by frictional engagement.

5. Storage container (1) for a storage and dispensing station for a blister machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the holding device fastening is formed by at least one vertical fastening arranged at the lower housing section (12) and interacting with the lower receiving space section (21), with which the holding device (40) can be arranged in such a height-adjustable and rotationally secured manner completely within the lower receiving space section (21) that the holding section (43) is held in any slot plane.

6. Storage container (1) for a storage and dispensing station for a blister machine according to claim 5, characterized in that the at least one vertical fastening is designed as a lower receiving section (21) open vertical groove (51a, 51b) is formed, which extends through the lower housing section (12) into an upper receiving space section (22) and has an opening (52a, 52b) to this, and in that the fastening device (41) of the holding device (40) has at least one fastening means (42a, 42b) which is height-adjustable in the vertical groove and coupled to the holding section (46), wherein the upper receiving space (22) is shaped at the opening such that the holding device (40) can be moved into and out of the vertical groove via the fastening means (42a, 42b).

7. Storage container (1) for a storage and dispensing station for a blister machine according to one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that the holding device fastening has two vertical fastenings which are arranged opposite one another next to the dispensing opening (19) in the lower housing section (12).

8. Storage container (1) for a storage and dispensing station for a blister machine according to one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that a vertical groove (51a, 51b) has a contact protection (54a, 54b) in an opening area (53a, 53b) to the lower receiving space section (21).

9. A method for adapting a storage container (1) for a storage and dispensing station according to one of claims 6-8 to small-unit goods (6) to be separated, wherein the separating device (30) together with the holding device (40) is moved out of the housing (10) at least far enough that the holding section can be moved out of the slot plane, based on the circumference of the small-unit goods to be separated, a new slot plane is determined in which the holding section (46) is to be arranged, the holding device (40) is positioned with respect to the separating device (30) so that the holding section (46) is arranged in the new slot plane, the separating device together with the positioned holding device is moved into the lower housing section, wherein the at least one fastening means (42a, 42b) is moved via the opening (52a, 52b) into the at least one vertical groove (51a, 51b), the separating device, including the holding device, is moved into the lower housing section up to a predetermined stop.

10. A method for adapting a storage container (1) for a storage and dispensing station according to claim 9, characterized in that after the separating device, including the holding device, has been moved up to a predetermined stop, a detachable filling means is pushed into each vertical groove (51a, 51b).

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