EP4273060A1 - Procédé de fonctionnement d'un dispositif d'emballage pour re-emballer des médicaments se présentant sous forme de comprimés et procédé de fonctionnement d'un dispositif d'emballage - Google Patents

Procédé de fonctionnement d'un dispositif d'emballage pour re-emballer des médicaments se présentant sous forme de comprimés et procédé de fonctionnement d'un dispositif d'emballage Download PDF

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Publication number
EP4273060A1
EP4273060A1 EP22213170.8A EP22213170A EP4273060A1 EP 4273060 A1 EP4273060 A1 EP 4273060A1 EP 22213170 A EP22213170 A EP 22213170A EP 4273060 A1 EP4273060 A1 EP 4273060A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
tablet
fed
tablet container
conveyor
device associated
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
EP22213170.8A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Jürgen GESSNER
Luise KELLERHAUS
Christoph GAILBERGER
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Knapp AG
Original Assignee
Knapp AG
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from DE102022114943.9A external-priority patent/DE102022114943B4/de
Application filed by Knapp AG filed Critical Knapp AG
Priority to US18/855,033 priority Critical patent/US20250256880A1/en
Priority to CA3255579A priority patent/CA3255579A1/fr
Priority to PCT/EP2023/059202 priority patent/WO2023194555A1/fr
Priority to AU2023250036A priority patent/AU2023250036A1/en
Publication of EP4273060A1 publication Critical patent/EP4273060A1/fr
Pending legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B65/00—Details peculiar to packaging machines and not otherwise provided for; Arrangements of such details
    • B65B65/003—Packaging lines, e.g. general layout
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61J—CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
    • A61J1/00—Containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes
    • A61J1/03—Containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes for pills or tablets
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61J—CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
    • A61J1/00—Containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes
    • A61J1/14—Details; Accessories therefor
    • A61J1/16—Holders for containers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B35/00—Supplying, feeding, arranging or orientating articles to be packaged
    • B65B35/10—Feeding, e.g. conveying, single articles
    • B65B35/24—Feeding, e.g. conveying, single articles by endless belts or chains
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B5/00—Packaging individual articles in containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, jars
    • B65B5/04—Packaging single articles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B5/00—Packaging individual articles in containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, jars
    • B65B5/10—Filling containers or receptacles progressively or in stages by introducing successive articles, or layers of articles
    • B65B5/101—Filling containers or receptacles progressively or in stages by introducing successive articles, or layers of articles by gravity
    • B65B5/103—Filling containers or receptacles progressively or in stages by introducing successive articles, or layers of articles by gravity for packaging pills or tablets
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B69/00—Unpacking of articles or materials, not otherwise provided for
    • B65B69/005—Unpacking of articles or materials, not otherwise provided for by expelling contents, e.g. by squeezing the container
    • B65B69/0058—Solid contents
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61J—CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
    • A61J2205/00—General identification or selection means
    • A61J2205/60—General identification or selection means using magnetic or electronic identifications, e.g. chips, RFID, electronic tags

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method for operating a repackaging device for repackaging medications in tablet form.
  • the invention further relates to a method for operating an outer packaging device.
  • a repackaging device for repackaging medications in tablet form is known.
  • This has a variety of transportable tablet containers, which are in EP 2 993 133 A1 are called blister carriers.
  • the blister carrier can hold an original blister pack, often also called a blister pack.
  • the blister carrier has a plurality of compartments, namely the number of depressions usually provided in the plastic or aluminum foil of such an original blister pack, which are closed by the cover foil.
  • the blister carrier is out EP 2 993 133 A1 a plurality of compartments for holding at least one tablet, the respective compartment having an opening closed by a film, a tablet located in the compartment being able to be pushed out of the compartment through the opening while destroying the film.
  • EP 2 993 133 A1 Known device also has a working memory in which some tablet containers can be stored.
  • the main memory has a conveyor device for separating and feeding original blisters packed in blister carriers assigned to a respective original blister type, an intermediate storage with random access for the intermediate storage of the blister carriers and an ejection device for ejecting a defined number of units of a selected medication from the respective original blister into a filling blister . Therefore, it shows EP 2 993 133 A1 known device has a filling device in which a tablet can be removed from a compartment of a tablet container, and a packaging station in which a tablet removed from the tablet container in the filling device can be packaged in a new packaging.
  • the invention was based on the object of proposing a method for operating a repackaging device for repackaging medications in tablet form, which makes it possible to carry out the repackaging more safely and/or makes it possible to carry out the repackaging more quickly and/or makes it possible to do so To carry out repackaging for a larger number of different medications in tablet form.
  • the increasing number of process steps can increase the effectiveness and flexibility of the process.
  • the complexity of the process can be increased so that more complex logistics can be implemented with the process.
  • Feeding a tablet container from the mixing warehouse to the workplace via a feed device associated with the conveyor system makes it possible to provide the operator at the workplace with a tablet container which the operator at the workplace fills with one or more tablets. It is possible that the operator is provided with a completely empty tablet container from the mixing warehouse, which the operator can fill entirely or partially with tablets. However, supplementary or alternative procedures are possible in which an empty tablet container is delivered to the workplace via a separate path, for example a trolley filled with empty tablet containers is pushed next to the workplace. In a preferred embodiment, it is part of the method that at least the feeding of a tablet container from the mixing warehouse to the workplace takes place via a feeding device associated with the conveyor system.
  • Feeding a tablet container from the mixing warehouse to the workplace via a feed device associated with the conveyor system also makes it possible to feed an only partially filled, possibly temporarily stored tablet container stored in the mixing warehouse to the operator at the workplace, who further fills the tablet container with at least one tablet. It is also possible for the operator at the workplace to remove one or more tablets from the tablet carrier containing tablets coming from the mixing warehouse. For example, if the tablet has reached its expiry date or, for example, if the tablet is incorrectly sorted in the tablet carrier or, for example, if the tablet is required for repackaging that the operator carries out at the workplace, for example if an error or breakage has occurred during the automated repackaging and the operator automatically opens an unpacked blister carrier again and refills it and requires certain tablets.
  • Feeding a tablet container from the mixing warehouse to the workplace via a feed device associated with the conveyor system can be used to manage the tablet containers in the mixing warehouse. For example, filling them up with missing tablets before the respective tablet container is delivered to a workstation.
  • Feeding a pack from the mixing warehouse to the workplace via a feed device associated with the conveyor system makes it possible to provide the operator at the workplace with a pack from which he can remove a tablet in order to fill it into a tablet container, for example if the tablet is needed for outer packaging that the operator carries out at the workplace, for example if an error or breakage has occurred during the automated outer packaging and the operator has to do so automatically opens unpacked blister carriers again and refills them and requires certain tablets.
  • By feeding a pack from the mixing warehouse to the workplace it is also possible to remove a pack from the mixing warehouse, for example when it has reached its expiry date.
  • it is part of the method that at least one pack is fed from the mixing warehouse to the workplace via a feed device associated with the conveyor system.
  • Feeding a tablet container from the workplace to the mixing warehouse via a removal device associated with the conveyor system makes it possible to temporarily store tablet containers that are not initially used in the working memory in the mixing warehouse. For example, if a pack is unpacked at the workplace and its tablet is first filled into a first tablet container, which is then fed to a working memory, it is then possible to fill any leftover tablets into another tablet container (or several additional tablet containers), but not to this to supply RAM, but to temporarily store them in the mixed storage. For example, the operator has the option of either sending an opened pack from the workplace to the mixing warehouse or using up the opened pack and filling the tablets into tablet containers, but then storing the unused tablet containers in the mixing warehouse.
  • Feeding a pack from the workplace to the mixing warehouse via a removal device associated with the conveyor system makes it possible to store an opened pack, from which only a few tablets were removed at the workplace, in the mixing warehouse until the further tablets from the opened pack are ready for filling a tablet container are needed.
  • Feeding a pack from the workplace to the mixing warehouse via a removal device associated with the conveyor system also makes it possible to store packs in the mixing warehouse for the first time. It is additionally or alternatively possible for the mixing warehouse to have an independent storage conveyor belt, via which a pack can be stored in the mixing warehouse. In a preferred embodiment, it is part of the method that at least one pack is fed from the workplace to the mixing warehouse via a removal device associated with the conveyor system.
  • Feeding a tablet container from the workstation to the working memory via a conveyor device associated with the conveyor system makes it possible to feed tablet containers that have been filled with tablets at the workstation to the working memory. Tablet containers whose contents have been checked at the workplace can also be delivered to the workplace via this conveyor device.
  • it is part of the method that at least the feeding of a tablet container from the workstation to the working memory takes place via a conveyor device associated with the conveyor system.
  • Feeding a tablet container or pack from the workstation to the workstation via a conveyor device associated with the conveyor system makes it possible to transport tablet containers or packs that should be fed from the workstation to another location, for example the mixing warehouse or the working memory, but in a recognition device.
  • a scanner could not be recognized or read, to be returned to the workplace; for example, to try the recognition process again or, for example, to change something at the workplace in the properties that can be recognized by the recognition process, for example to print out a new barcode and stick it on.
  • Feeding a tablet container from the working memory to the workstation via a conveyor device associated with the conveyor system makes it possible to convey a tablet container to the workstation for refilling. It is also possible for the tablet container to be checked at the workplace, for example whether the filling level of the tablet container stored in a system corresponds to the real filling level of the tablet container. It is also possible to remove tablets from the tablet container at the workplace, for example when they have reached their expiry date, and particularly preferably to replace them with new tablets. In a preferred embodiment, it is part of the method that at least the feeding of a tablet container from the working memory to the workstation takes place via a conveying device associated with the conveying system.
  • Feeding a tablet container from the working memory to the mixing storage via a conveyor device associated with the conveyor system makes it possible to transport tablet containers that are no longer needed in the working memory, for example because it is foreseeable that the tablets of the specific tablet container will not be needed in the next orders for repackaging. to be removed from the main memory and temporarily stored in the mixed storage.
  • it is part of the method that at least that A tablet container is fed from the working memory to the mixing warehouse via a conveyor device associated with the conveyor system.
  • Feeding a tablet container from the main memory to a removal port via a conveyor device associated with the conveyor system makes it possible to remove tablet containers from the system after they have been used in the main memory, for example in order to clean them.
  • it is part of the method that at least the feeding of a tablet container from the working memory to a removal nozzle takes place via a conveying device associated with the conveying system.
  • Feeding a tablet container from a first working memory to a second working memory via a conveyor device associated with the conveyor system makes it possible to exchange the tablet containers between the working memory in devices with two working memories, for example if a tablet container is currently not needed for the orders to be processed in the first working memory, but is needed in the second main memory to process orders.
  • it is part of the method that at least the feeding of a tablet container from a first working memory to a second working memory takes place via a conveying device associated with the conveying system.
  • Feeding a tablet container from the mixing warehouse to the working memory via a conveyor device associated with the conveyor system makes it possible to feed tablet containers that are in stock in the mixing warehouse directly to the working memory without processing at the workplace.
  • it is part of the method that at least the feeding of a tablet container from the mixing storage to the working memory takes place via a conveying device associated with the conveying system.
  • Feeding a tablet container from the mixing warehouse to a removal nozzle via a conveyor device associated with the conveying system allows tablet containers to be removed from the mixing warehouse and removed from the system, for example when they need to be cleaned.
  • it is part of the method that at least the feeding of a tablet container from the mixing storage to a removal nozzle takes place via a conveying device associated with the conveying system.
  • Feeding a tablet container or a pack from the mixing warehouse to the mixing warehouse via a conveyor device associated with the conveying system makes it possible to produce a tablet container or a pack in which it is determined after the start of the removal process from the mixing warehouse that the respective tablet container or the respective pack is is not needed to be stored back in the mixed storage.
  • part of the method is that at least supplying one Tablet container or a pack from the mixing warehouse to the mixing warehouse via a conveyor device associated with the conveyor system.
  • Feeding a tablet container or pack into the mixing warehouse via a storage conveyor belt allows the mixing warehouse to be filled with tablet containers or packs without having to be routed through the workplace. In a preferred embodiment, it is part of the method that at least a tablet container or a pack is fed into the mixing warehouse via a storage conveyor belt.
  • a place is created where an operator can concentrate and efficiently, for example, remove an original blister pack from a pack, for example a box, and insert the removed original blister pack into a blister carrier.
  • An operator can also transfer tablet containers in the form of magazines/canisters to tablets delivered in large-volume packs, such as sacks, at a workplace.
  • a workplace is understood to mean, in particular, a concrete spatial design of an area of the device that can be operated with the method according to the invention, which allows an operator of the device to insert an original blister pack into a tablet container designed as a blister carrier and/or a loose tablet into a tablet container.
  • the workstation has a free space above the work surface, in which there can be devices that are used to insert a Original blister pack can be placed in a tablet container equipped as a blister carrier and/or a loose tablet can be placed in a tablet container into which no partition walls protrude.
  • the free space preferably extends in terms of its horizontal extent over at least 75% of the area of the work surface and in terms of its vertical extent over more than 0.3m, preferably over more than 0.5m and particularly preferably over more than 0.7m.
  • the workstation has a printer.
  • the printer is a label printer.
  • the printer can be used to create labels with an optically readable code, particularly preferably a barcode or a QR code. These labels can, for example, be stuck onto newly filled tablet containers and enable the specific tablet container to be identified later in further process steps within the device.
  • the labels can also be used to appropriately identify packs and tablet containers whose contents have been changed at the workplace, for example by removing a certain number of tablets or by adding (refilling) a number of tablets.
  • the printer is particularly preferably connected to a computer at the workplace and/or integrated into a computer network belonging to the device operable with the method according to the invention.
  • the workstation has a reading device for an optically readable code, particularly preferably a barcode reader or a QR code reader.
  • the reading device is particularly preferably connected to a computer at the workplace and/or integrated into a computer network belonging to the device that can be operated with the method according to the invention.
  • the computer has a display, particularly preferably a screen.
  • the display is particularly preferably connected to a computer at the workplace and/or integrated into a computer network belonging to the device operable with the method according to the invention.
  • the workstation has an input means for a computer, in particular a keyboard or a touchscreen.
  • the input means is particularly preferably connected to a computer at the workplace and/or in a integrated into the computer network belonging to the device that can be operated with the method according to the invention.
  • the workstation has a camera, particularly preferably an image camera or a video camera.
  • the camera is particularly preferably connected to a computer at the workplace and/or integrated into a computer network belonging to the device operable with the method according to the invention.
  • the workplace has an air extractor with which air can be removed from the free space of the workplace.
  • the air extractor can be equipped as an extractor hood, which is arranged above a work surface.
  • the air extractor can also be arranged laterally next to a free space above the work surface.
  • the air extractor is particularly preferably connected to a computer at the workplace and/or integrated into a computer network belonging to the device that can be operated with the method according to the invention.
  • the workstation has tweezers with which tablets can be handled.
  • the workstation has a holding device for a blister carrier, preferably a holding device that can hold several blister carriers next to each other, in particular several blister carriers horizontally next to each other.
  • the workstation has an opening device for a tablet container, by means of which a tablet container can be held in a position in which the compartment of the tablet container is opened.
  • a compartment of a tablet container can be opened automatically.
  • the workstation has an automatic device for removing the packaging (eg clamping device with cutting device) and an automated repackaging device, for example a handling system that repacks the unpacked original blisters into the tablet containers provided.
  • an automatic device for removing the packaging eg clamping device with cutting device
  • an automated repackaging device for example a handling system that repacks the unpacked original blisters into the tablet containers provided.
  • the workplace has a disposal container into which empty packs or empty original blisters or empty tablet containers can be disposed of.
  • the device has several workstations.
  • Embodiments are possible in which two or more workstations are equipped in the same way. This allows every type of activity that is to be carried out at a workplace to be carried out at every workplace.
  • embodiments are also possible in which at least one workstation is equipped differently from another workstation. This makes it possible to equip different workplaces for different types of activities.
  • the feeding device provided according to a preferred embodiment can be used to specifically feed the pack and/or an empty tablet container or an only partially filled tablet container (for refilling) from the mixing warehouse to the operator at the workplace.
  • Process reliability can be increased, particularly in combination with a computerized process control that controls the mixing storage but also the feeding device. This makes it possible to only supply the operator at the workplace with the pack and tablet container on which he is supposed to work. This reduces the possibility of human error.
  • the feed device is a passive feed device.
  • a passive feed device is particularly preferably understood to mean a device that can convey a pack or a tablet container over a conveyor path without the use of drive means.
  • a passive feed device can particularly preferably be a slide or a spiral or a roller conveyor.
  • a passive feed device can, for example, also be a drop tower, for example a shaft, with an insertion opening at the top and an output opening at the bottom, in which the object falls into a soft collecting device, e.g. a cushion, or the fall is slowed down by flaps, or the object falls onto an incline and thus is automatically output to the page.
  • the feed device has a lock that separates the interior of the mixing warehouse from the workplace.
  • the lock is designed so that one side can only be opened when the other side is closed. This means that only the interior of the lock is “taken with you” when the object is handed over.
  • the clean area in particular the interior area of the mixing warehouse, can be provided with a higher air pressure (e.g. via a ventilation system of the mixing warehouse) than the "dirty" area, in particular the area of the workplace, becomes clean when the clean side is opened Air let into the chamber, after closing and opening the dirty side, some clean air flows into the dirty side until the air pressure is completed.
  • the feed device has lighting or clearly visible, switchable identification so that even an inattentive operator can remove the goods to be processed, for example the pack to be processed or the tablet container to be processed, from the correct feed device and/or it is indicated to him that the The goods to be processed have been delivered completely and/or the delivered goods have not yet been completely removed.
  • the start of the feeding device via the feeding device is monitored by sensors, for example to detect overfilling.
  • the feeding device is a trolley on which the tablet containers and/or the pack are located.
  • the end of the feed device is less than 2 m, preferably less than 1.5 m, preferably less than 1 m away from an edge of the work surface when viewed in a horizontal direction. It is particularly preferred if an operator working on the work surface can reach a pack located at the end of the feed device or a tablet container located at the end of the feed device without having to carry out a step, or at least in a few steps.
  • the feed device is directly adjacent to the work surface or ends directly at the work surface, for example a slide opens directly onto an edge of the work surface or possibly even protrudes beyond the edge of the work surface.
  • the end of the feed device is arranged at the level of or slightly above the work surface or slightly below, particularly preferably less than 2 m, preferably less than 1 .5m, preferably less than 1m, preferably less than 0.5m from the surface of the work surface. It is particularly preferred if an operator working at the work surface can reach a pack located at the end of the feeder or a tablet container located at the end of the feeder without bending or stretching.
  • At least one feeding device is provided with which a tablet container and/or a pack can be fed from the mixing warehouse to the workplace.
  • more than one feed device is provided per workstation.
  • less than 10, particularly preferably less than 5, particularly preferably less than 4 feeding devices are provided per workstation.
  • the feeding device has a pneumatic tube.
  • the removal device is a passive removal device.
  • a passive removal device is particularly preferably understood to mean a device that can convey a pack or a tablet container over a conveyor path without the use of drive means.
  • a passive removal device can particularly preferably be a slide or a helix.
  • the discharge device has a passive part and an active part, which is adjacent to the passive part and accepts tablet containers or packs from the passive part.
  • a switch at the end of the passive discharge device, which can allocate the incoming tablet containers to different destinations, for example two or three destinations.
  • the allocation can take place via knowledge of the destination from the control and object tracking (the first arriving goods to destination 2, the second arriving goods too, the third arriving goods to destination 1, ).
  • the switch is preceded by object detection, by means of which a target query can be made in the control (this is 4711, where does it have to go, answer, 4711 to target 2 please).
  • a link can also be made to work processes at the workplace (order 1 is processed, it is ejected to destination 1, then work is carried out on order 2, it is ejected to destination 2, etc.).
  • the removal device is an active removal device.
  • An active removal device is particularly preferably understood to mean a device that can convey a pack or a tablet container over a conveyor path using drive means.
  • the removal device is an elongated conveyor device, for example a conveyor belt, along a conveyor path.
  • the active discharge device can also be a rail on which the pack or tablet containers can be moved along by a pushing or pulling device.
  • the active discharge device can also be a pneumatic tube.
  • a part of the removal device is less than 2 m, preferably less than 1.5 m, preferably less than 1 m away from an edge of the work surface. It is particularly preferred if an operator working on the work surface can place a pack or a tablet container on a part of the discharge device without having to carry out a step, or at least in just a few steps. Embodiments are also possible in which the removal device passes or starts directly adjacent to the work surface.
  • a part of the removal device is arranged at the level of or slightly above or slightly below the work surface, particularly preferably less than 2 m, preferably less than 1.5 m, preferably less than 1m, preferably less than 0.5m, from the surface of the work surface. It is particularly preferred if an operator working at the work surface can place a pack or tablet container on a part of the discharge device without bending or stretching.
  • At least one removal device is provided with which a tablet container and/or a pack can be fed from the workplace to the mixing warehouse.
  • more than one removal device is provided per workstation. In a preferred embodiment less than 10, particularly preferably less than 5, particularly preferably less than 4 removal devices are provided per workstation.
  • Embodiments are conceivable in which the feed device and the discharge device are provided by the same conveyor device. It is therefore conceivable that the same conveyor belt is moved in a feed direction as a feed device and is moved in a backward movement as a discharge device. In a preferred embodiment, however, the feed device is designed separately from the discharge device. This increases the number of possible material flows.
  • conveying devices which transport the tablet container and/or the pack from other locations to other locations than the feeding device and the discharge device
  • designs are possible in which parts of the individual conveying device are provided by the same components as other conveying devices. or the feed device and the discharge device.
  • each conveyor device it is possible for each conveyor device to be provided separately and with its own components.
  • spatial synergies can be created if existing components are used to be part of different conveying devices, or the feed device and/or the discharge device.
  • conveying devices can be formed for parts of the conveying path to be provided by them together with other conveying devices, for example from a delivery location to a switch, in order to then be designed separately from other conveying devices for other parts of the conveying path to be provided by them, for example from the switch to a drop-off point.
  • Feeding a tablet container or pack from the first workstation to the second workstation or vice versa can be used to divide work steps efficiently. For example, at the first workstation a tablet can be taken from the pack into a tablet container and at the second workstation a barcode can be stuck on to identify the tablet container. Feeding a tablet container or pack from the first workstation to the second workstation can alternatively or additionally be used to enable the work from the first workstation to be checked at the second workstation.
  • Such packaging can be strips of tubular bags (sometimes also called tubular blisters) in which bags hang together and each bag contains the tablets to be taken at a specific time.
  • bags can also be provided for one dose if the tablets do not fit into one bag or the number of tablets is too large for the bag to be checked.
  • tablets are packaged individually and the packaging of the tablets that are taken at the same time are tied together.
  • Such packaging can also be box-like containers, the compartments of which are assigned to the times at which the medication or medications located in the respective compartment are to be taken. As a rule, these are filled manually by the patient themselves or relatives or nursing staff.
  • the blister cards can correspond to the box-like containers or have other shapes, such as compartments arranged in a circle, and are preferably adapted for mechanical filling. With blister cards, for example, there is no need for opening flaps or sliders on the individual compartments.
  • the compartments can usually be covered with foil.
  • the outer packaging device used in the method according to the invention is suitable for repackaging medication in tablet form, which is initially available in loose form or in original blisters, into such containers.
  • the outer packaging device used in the method according to the invention has a large number of transportable tablet containers.
  • the tablet containers serve as concrete intermediate storage for the tablet within the outer packaging device.
  • the invention starts at the point where the tablets to be packaged are present either as loose bulk or as bulk packed in sacks or cans or bulk packed in large canisters or in original packaging, in particular original blister packs in outer packaging.
  • the invention assumes that the tablets present in this way are first transferred into transportable tablet containers.
  • the original packaging for tablets for example original blisters or the large-volume packaging for tablets in bulk, is not specifically designed for handling within an outer packaging device.
  • the invention solves this problem and makes it possible to transport the tablets to be repackaged easily within the repackaging device.
  • a blister carrier such as that from, for example, is used as a transportable tablet container EP 2 993 133 A1 is known, understood.
  • a magazine or a cartridge with a compartment in which there is a bed of tablets and which has a dispensing mechanism for dispensing a tablet is known, understood.
  • the tablet container is designed as a magazine, wherein the magazine can accommodate a load of tablets and the magazine has a dispensing mechanism for dispensing a single tablet.
  • the tablet container is designed as a blister carrier, wherein the blister carrier can hold at least one original blister with tablets.
  • the tablet container has a plurality of compartments, the respective compartment being designed to hold a single tablet or a small number of tablets, and the respective compartment having a dispensing mechanism for dispensing a tablet located in the compartment, wherein as a small number of tablets is understood to mean in particular a number of less than 20, preferably less than 10 and particularly preferably less than 6.
  • the respective compartment of the respective tablet container has a dispensing mechanism for dispensing a tablet.
  • a delivery mechanism may be a simple flap, the opening of which may allow the tablet to fall out of the compartment following gravity.
  • the dispensing mechanism can also be specifically equipped to dispense a tablet from a magazine (canister) with a large number of tablets, in particular from a bed of tablets.
  • the delivery mechanism can be designed to be passive. This means that the delivery of the tablet takes place via the delivery mechanism using an externally applied action. For example, a screw that separates the tablets and one Closure opening (slide, flap) can be driven and opened from the outside via a motor or actuator. For example, a slider that closes the respective compartment can be opened by an action from the outside. Or a flap that closes the compartment can be opened.
  • the delivery mechanism is an active delivery mechanism. This means that the delivery mechanism itself has a drive, for example by an electric motor. After receiving a corresponding control command, the delivery mechanism itself can actively deliver a tablet.
  • the respective compartment of the respective tablet container has an opening closed by a film, wherein a tablet located in the compartment can be pushed out of the compartment through the opening, destroying the film.
  • delivery mechanisms are known from original blisters from original tablet packaging.
  • the tablet container can in particular be a blister carrier equipped with an original blister according to Fig. 2 the EP 2 993 133 A1 be.
  • more than five, preferably more than ten, tablet containers can be stored in the main memory.
  • the main memory is designed to be so small that it can only store fewer than 1000, preferably less than 500, preferably less than 400, preferably less than 300, tablet containers.
  • the greater the number of tablet containers that can be stored in the respective working memory the lower the need to move tablet containers from the mixing storage into the working memory for a specific repackaging order.
  • the larger the working memory the more complex a working memory storage device must be designed in order to be able to control the individual storage locations of the tablet containers in the working memory.
  • the longer the travel distances for such a working memory storage device the longer it takes to process the respective repackaging order. In practice it has proven to be It has proven advantageous to equip a working memory with approx. 500 to 800 tablet containers.
  • the main memory is designed in such a way that it allows storage and/or removal from a buffer of the main memory while tablets are removed (dispensed) from the tablet containers at another location in the main memory.
  • the main memory has a sensor system and/or the control, by means of which it is clearly recorded, and cannot be manipulated through negligence, what is where and what the main memory accesses during dispensing.
  • ID chips can be provided on tablet containers that are read by the receiving station.
  • ID chips can be provided on the blister carriers, which are read by a gripper when inserted into the drawer.
  • the main memory can be constructed in such a way that no manual access to the drawers is possible and/or a slip protection device is provided in the drawer.
  • control has knowledge of the types, but preferably also of the filling levels of the tablet containers. This can prevent a tablet from missing during a filling process. Preferably, only jobs for which there are all tablets in the main memory are started.
  • an area similar to a parking space can be provided in the main memory.
  • a new packaging in which the tablets are to be repackaged for example a so-called patient blister, which was initially positioned under an expression unit, can be used if there are missing tablets, for example because a tablet broke or a large number of tablets could not be filled , until the missing tablets are delivered to the parking lot so that production is not stopped. From the parking lot, the patient blister can be placed back under the expression unit when the tablets arrive.
  • the working memory may have specific stamps for squeezing the tablets from the tablet container. For example, a set of 20 stamps can be provided, which are preferably individually replaceable.
  • the working memory can also have various pre-perforating tools, for example six. Operating situations are conceivable in which a tool for carrying out a specific tablet container is not available (missing), is defective or unsuitable and therefore has to be changed. In a preferred embodiment, an order is only processed in the main memory when all tablets are in the main memory and all necessary tools are accessible.
  • the working memory has a filling device in which a tablet can be removed from a compartment of a tablet container.
  • the tablet container is designed such that the dispensing mechanism of the respective compartment is a passive dispensing mechanism
  • the external handling means which are required to effect the dispensing of a tablet in the passive dispensing mechanism are provided on the filling device.
  • the handling means are tailored to the delivery mechanism. If the dispensing mechanism is designed, for example, as a screw with a slider, the handling means are, for example, designed in such a way that they can apply a pushing force to the slider and can push the slider open or, for example, designed in such a way that they can grip the slider and open it and with a Drive can access the screw and move it.
  • the handling means can be designed as plungers that can be extended and can swing the flap open.
  • the tablet container is designed in such a way that the respective compartment has an opening closed by a film, whereby a tablet located in the compartment can be pushed out of the compartment through the opening while destroying the film
  • a plunger can be provided as part of the filling device, which can exert pressure on the tablet located in the compartment from the outside and can thus push it out of the compartment through the opening, destroying the film.
  • the plunger can act on the deformable compartment from the outside, deform it and thereby exert pressure on the tablet located in the deformable compartment and push the tablet out of the compartment through the opening, destroying the film.
  • the filling device is equipped with different handling means so that it can remove a tablet from a compartment of the respective tablet container even with differently designed tablet containers.
  • a means for example an electrical contact or a radio network, can be provided on the filling device, by means of which a control command can be fed to an appropriately equipped receiving means of the tablet container (for example an electrical contact or a receiving antenna on the tablet container).
  • a control command can be fed to an appropriately equipped receiving means of the tablet container (for example an electrical contact or a receiving antenna on the tablet container).
  • an appropriately equipped receiving means of the tablet container for example an electrical contact or a receiving antenna on the tablet container.
  • Embodiments are conceivable in which the filling device has a single station, with the different handling means being arranged in the area of this single station in order to be used depending on the tablet container in order to remove a tablet from a compartment of the tablet container in the tablet container located at this station refer to.
  • Such an embodiment with a focus on a single station reduces the design of the filling device.
  • Focusing on a single station results in the station having a complex structure - particularly when a variety of different designed tablet containers are used.
  • the removal of a tablet from a compartment of a tablet container takes longer in a first construction of a tablet container than in another construction of a tablet container. If only a single station is provided within the filling device, the station is blocked in tablet container designs where it takes longer to remove the tablet.
  • the outer packaging device that can be operated using the method according to the invention has a packaging station in which a tablet removed from the tablet container in the filling device can be packaged in a new packaging.
  • the packaging station has a collection point and printing and a closure.
  • the collection point is in particular the point at which the at least one tablet, usually several tablets, are brought together for a time of administration. This can easily be done using a central funnel, for example. Or through channels that connect the stacked dispensing points of the tablet containers and which end in containers that travel along all channels. It is also possible to drop the tablets successively and collect them in the open compartment of an empty patient blister.
  • each collection is printed with the contents and other information for a point in time (pouch or compartment of a card blister).
  • a PE strip can be placed under the collection point and a second PE strip can be printed and placed over the tablets lying on the collection point and then both strips can be welded.
  • two-stage bonding You first stick with an unprinted or standardized printed film (morning, evening) and then apply a second one Individual layer (patient name, drug name, etc.).
  • Such a procedure allows more flexibility in the material used, for example a first material that is particularly well suited for sealing and a second material that is particularly well suited for printing.
  • a tablet transport device is provided in the outer packaging device that can be operated with the invention.
  • the tablet transport device can transport a tablet removed from the tablet container in the filling device to the packaging station.
  • the tablet transport device is a passive tablet transport device.
  • the tablet transport device can in particular be provided as a shaft or as a group of parallel shafts. Embodiments are conceivable in which the passive tablet transport device has a single shaft.
  • the cross section of this is preferably either the same size as the cross section of the tablet container or preferably slightly larger.
  • the size is preferably matched to the shape of the tablet container so that a tablet falling from the compartment of the tablet container during the removal process can be safely picked up by the shaft and falls down through the shaft to the packaging station.
  • Embodiments are conceivable in which different tablet containers are used which have different numbers of compartments or differently arranged compartments. In such an embodiment, care must be taken to ensure that the passive tablet transport device is designed to transport tablets from any compartment of any tablet container of the outer packaging device to the packaging station.
  • the passive tablet transport device preferably has only one large shaft or a small number of shafts, each of which is selected to be large.
  • the shafts can be aligned vertically, so that a tablet falling from the compartment of the tablet container during removal ideally falls downwards without coming into contact with the shaft walls.
  • Such an embodiment can prevent tablets that hit shaft walls from bursting or breaking.
  • such an embodiment reduces contamination with "drug dust" which may arise when a tablet slides along a shaft wall and is easily rubbed off.
  • a passive tablet transport device can have, for example, angled shafts or, for example, helical shafts.
  • an active tablet transport device has a pre-metering magazine which can move by electric motor from the location where the squeezed-out tablets fall into the pre-metering magazine to a photo station and then through a control mechanism and at the end can move to a transfer point into the patient blister.
  • An active tablet transport device can also have a rotating cup transport.
  • the outer packaging device that can be operated with the method according to the invention has a mixing storage area in which some tablet containers can be stored. This creates the possibility of optimizing the processes in the working memory, the filling device and the packaging station for the process of the targeted removal of tablets from the tablet container and their packaging, in order to provide space for the storage of additional tablets in the specific time window to provide unneeded medication.
  • the mixing storage creates the possibility of separating processes to be carried out on the tablet containers, such as refilling, cleaning or other tasks that are not directly related to the removal from the tablet container and the packaging of the tablet from the main memory, the filling device and the packaging station, and thus to relieve these with regard to the processes to be carried out in them.
  • the mixing storage is designed to be larger than the main memory. This means that more tablet containers can be stored in the mixing warehouse than in the working memory. In a preferred embodiment, the mixing storage is designed to store more than 2,000, particularly preferably more than 5,000, particularly preferably more than 10,000, preferably 25,000, tablet containers.
  • the mixing storage has storage spaces for different tablet containers.
  • the storage spaces for different tablet containers can differ in particular in terms of their overall height, their overall depth or their width.
  • width With regard to the "width" of a storage location, it is particularly important to take into account that in order picking devices it is common for continuous storage areas to be divided into “virtual channels" by the controller operating the order picking device. In such embodiments, a storage location as such on the shelf cannot necessarily be seen with the human eye.
  • the control of the picking device is programmed in such a way that it only places transport containers at certain points along the storage floor and leaves sufficient free spaces between these points in which no tablet containers are placed.
  • width of a storage location can therefore also be realized by correspondingly executing a control operating a picking device and adjusting the width of the “virtual channels” used by it accordingly.
  • the methodology of working with virtual channels is discussed, for example, in EP 1 598 291 A2 described.
  • the mixed storage facility is designed as a picking device.
  • the picking device particularly preferably has a shelf for storing goods.
  • the order picking device has a storage and retrieval device which is suitable for storing goods at specific locations on the shelf, for example at a specific location on a shelf of a shelf, and/or is suitable for storing goods which are at a specific location in the warehouse, for example located in a specific location on a specific shelf in a warehouse.
  • a picking device has a control.
  • the control is designed to control movements of the storage and retrieval machine or movements of components of the storage and retrieval machine, whereby the term "control" in the sense of control technology includes not only control but also regulation and as a generic term for control-related control and control-related regulation should be understood.
  • the mixed storage is particularly preferred in the manner of one of the order-picking devices executed as they look EP 2 826 732 A1 , DE 10 2005 012 910 A1 , EP 2 042 477 A1 and EP 1 564 160 A1 are known.
  • a tablet container and a pack that is different from the tablet container, such as medication packs, are stored in the mixing warehouse.
  • the tablet containers are stored in sorted channels in the mixing warehouse.
  • the property of the tablet container defined via an ID i.e. A matches drug A
  • other (possibly dynamic) properties e.g. the degree of filling, can be used as a type. It is also conceivable that only completely empty tablet containers are stored according to type, because these, for example several tablet containers, can be stored with one handle for refilling.
  • a mixing storage storage device that is different from the feed device and is particularly preferably part of a conveyor system is provided.
  • the mixing storage removal device tablet containers can be removed from the mixing storage.
  • the mixed storage storage device can be designed as a conveyor belt.
  • the mixing warehouse has a storage device that is different from the mixing storage storage device and with which tablet containers and/or packs that are different from the tablet containers, such as medication packs, can be stored in the mixing warehouse.
  • the feeding device begins in the mixing warehouse.
  • the feed device has an initial section.
  • the initial section is preferably arranged within the mixing warehouse.
  • the mixing warehouse has a storage and retrieval device, preferably a movable jaw gripper, with the initial section being arranged in the grip area of the storage and retrieval device.
  • the storage and retrieval unit can place a tablet container or a pack it is holding onto the initial section.
  • the initial section can be, for example, the beginning of a slide or a spiral.
  • the removal device ends in the mixing warehouse.
  • the removal device has an end section.
  • the end section is preferably arranged within the mixing storage.
  • the mixing warehouse has a storage and retrieval device, preferably a movable jaw gripper, with the end section in the grip area of the Storage and retrieval unit is arranged.
  • the stacker crane can pick up a tablet container or a pack it holds from the end section.
  • the end section can be, for example, the end of a conveyor, for example a conveyor belt.
  • empty tablet containers in particular preferred empty blister carriers and/or empty magazines/canisters, are stored in the mixing warehouse.
  • An empty tablet container can be removed from the mixing warehouse via the feed device and fed to the workplace for loading.
  • packs with tablets are stored in the mixing warehouse.
  • a pack can be removed from the mixing warehouse via the feed device and fed to the workplace so that at least one tablet in the pack can be repacked into a tablet container at the workplace.
  • partially filled packs of tablets are stored in the mixing warehouse.
  • completely filled tablet containers are stored in the mixing warehouse.
  • a completely filled tablet container is understood to mean, in particular, a tablet container in which there is at least one tablet in each compartment of the tablet container.
  • a completely filled tablet container can be transported directly from the mixing warehouse to the working storage via a conveyor path of a conveyor system.
  • partially filled tablet containers are stored in the mixing warehouse.
  • a partially filled tablet container is understood to mean, in particular, a tablet container which has more than one compartment and in which at least one tablet is arranged in at least one compartment and in which no tablet is arranged in at least one compartment.
  • a partially filled tablet container can be transported directly from the mixing warehouse to the working storage via a conveyor path of a conveyor system be transported.
  • a partially filled tablet container can be fed to the workplace via the feed device in order to be filled with further tablets.
  • the conveyor system has a conveyor loop and conveyors leading towards or away from the conveyor loop.
  • a conveyor loop is understood to be, in particular, a ring-shaped conveyor.
  • a conveyor loop can also be formed, for example, by two elongated, parallel, oppositely driven conveyors, with converters being provided at the respective ends, which transfer a tablet container and/or a pack from the end of one conveyor to the beginning of the other conveyor can.
  • the feed device and/or the discharge device is part of a conveyor system.
  • the feed device is not part of the conveyor system, but is designed as a passive feed device, for example as a chute, while the discharge device is part of the conveyor system.
  • the discharge device has a conveyor and a converter or a switch, by means of which a tablet container can be transferred from the conveyor, which forms part of the discharge device, to another conveyor of the conveyor system, for example to a conveyor that has a conveyor loop or forms part of a conveyor loop.
  • a conveying path is provided as part of the conveying system, along which a tablet container can be conveyed from the discharge device to the working memory. In this way, tablet containers that have been filled with tablets at the workplace can be made available to the main memory immediately.
  • a conveying path is provided as part of the conveying system, along which a tablet container can be conveyed from the mixing storage to the working storage.
  • a tablet container can be conveyed from the mixing storage to the working storage.
  • a conveying path is provided as part of the conveying system, along which a tablet container can be conveyed from the working memory to a removal nozzle.
  • a conveyor path is provided as part of the conveyor system, along which a tablet container can be conveyed from the working memory to a workstation.
  • the method according to the invention allows the process of dropping a tablet into a pre-dosing magazine and its control to be used.
  • the method according to the invention allows an integrated process to be carried out in which no open tablets are handled outside the outer packaging device. Open tablets are only handled at the workplace associated with the outer packaging device.
  • the method according to the invention allows a procedure in which bulk material is transferred into canisters (tablet containers).
  • the canister can be chosen so that its surface area is as small as possible (narrow, possibly long), its height is as high as possible, but still in such a way that safe ejection is possible.
  • 1 to n canisters with ejectors are mounted in a row.
  • the pre-dosing magazine can move its chambers under one of the canisters, e.g. under canister 2.
  • the pre-dosing magazine can then, for example, move over the blister (typically 4x7 or 5x7) and throw the 7 tablets into the 7 (days of the week) of the 7x4 blister (4 intake times). Then it may be that one tablet of type 4 is needed each day in the evening.
  • the emptied pre-dosing magazine moves with the individual chambers step by step under the ejector and with each ejection a tablet type 4 is placed into a compartment.
  • the weekly blister moves forward 4 positions so that the evening row comes under the path of the pre-dosing magazine.
  • the pre-dosing magazine moves over the weekly blister and ejects the 7 evening tablets. Now, for example, a Type 1 tablet can be added every other day at lunchtime.
  • the pre-dosing magazine moves under the ejector 1, which ejects a tablet.
  • the pre-dosing magazine cycles by 2 (one compartment remains empty), the next tablet is ejected, etc.
  • the patient blister moves back so that "midday” comes under the path of the pre-dosing magazine and the pre-dosing magazine passes over the patient and throws the 3 tablets in the lunch row.
  • tablets of a different type can be added every day in the morning.
  • the pre-dosing magazine moves under each type, the tablets are ejected step by step (only one tablet per compartment) and the patient blister is brought into position and the tablets are ejected.
  • the cover card can be folded or is folded over so that the front side of the blister (short side * blister height) also contains the information that you would like to see (similar to the spine of a book).
  • the canisters are refilled by pulling out the plate with the canisters and changing full canisters for empty canisters or type 4711 for type 5523.
  • the canister may have a chip that uniquely identifies it.
  • the canister In a refill station, the canister can be placed in a reading station, the packaging with the goods can be scanned, the goods can be refilled, the packaging can be scanned again and returned (automatically or manually), while the canister is married to the tablet type in the software and is therefore
  • the contents of the chip are clearly known.
  • the same type is always filled in to prevent cross-contamination and to have a specific ejector for the tablet. In this case, the correctness of the filling is checked by the above process.
  • the canister can also have a fill level control so that a message is sent to the operator when it becomes empty and/or empty.
  • the respective working memory 2 can be a filling device, such as the deblistering device 180 ( Fig. 19 ) contain.
  • a tablet can be removed from a compartment of a tablet container.
  • the working memory 2 also has a packaging station in which a tablet removed from the tablet container in the filling device can be packed in a new packaging, for example using the pre-metering magazine 170 in the filling blister 140 ( Fig. 19 , 22).
  • the working memory 2 also has a tablet transport device which can bring a tablet removed from the tablet container in the filling device to the packaging station.
  • a tablet transport device can, for example, have the pre-metering magazine 170 with its pre-metering compartments 172 according to Fig. 17 , 20 contain.
  • the outer packaging device that can be operated using the method according to the invention also has a mixing warehouse 6.
  • a mixing warehouse 6 In the mixing warehouse 6, some tablet containers and some packages containing tablets can be stored.
  • the outer packaging device that can be operated using the method according to the invention has two workstations 7, at which Operator 8 can work.
  • the operators 8 can unpack tablets or blisters in packs at the workplace 7.
  • a workstation 7 is equipped with a feed device 9 in the form of a slide, with which a tablet container and/or a pack from the mixing warehouse 6 can be fed to the workstation 7.
  • the feed device 9, designed as a slide passes under a conveyor belt 11 which forms part of a discharge device 10.
  • the second workplace 7 has two feed devices 9, each designed as a slide. These feed devices 9 also lead under the conveyor belt 11, which forms part of the discharge device 10.
  • the outer packaging device that can be operated using the method according to the invention has, in addition to the total of three feed devices 9, also a discharge device 10.
  • a tablet container and/or a pack can be fed from the respective workplace 7 to the mixing warehouse 6.
  • the removal device 10 has a conveyor belt 11 that begins at the first workplace 7 and leads past the second workplace 7.
  • Part of the removal device 10 is a switch 12 by means of which a tablet container 1 conveyed along the conveyor belt 11 or a pack conveyed along the conveyor belt 11 can be redirected to the return conveyor belt 13.
  • the return conveyor belt 13 leads from the switch 12 into the mixing warehouse.
  • a tablet container 1 or a pack can therefore be fed from the respective workplace 7 to the mixing warehouse 6 through the removal device 10, namely through the conveyor belt 11, the switch 12 and the return conveyor belt 13.
  • the mixing warehouse 6 is preferably a picking device.
  • the picking device is a picking device according to the EP 2 826 732 A1 , DE 10 2005 012 910 A1 , EP 2 042 477 A1 and EP 1 564 160 A1 known design.
  • the mixed storage 6 has a plurality of shelves 14.
  • the shelves 14 can be arranged on two opposite sides of an aisle 15.
  • the mixing bearing 6 points in the in Fig. 1 illustrated embodiment has two stacker cranes 16.
  • the storage and retrieval machines 16 can move linearly along the aisle 15.
  • the respective storage and retrieval unit 16 preferably has an in Fig. 1 gripper, not shown, which can be moved vertically along a column which forms part of the stacker crane 16.
  • the gripper can also be extended and retracted horizontally relative to the column, so that it can place the tablet containers 1 or packs it holds on a shelf or remove them from a shelf.
  • a stacker crane please refer to the disclosure content of the publications EP 2 826 732 A1 , DE 10 2005 012 910 A1 , EP 2 042 477 A1 and EP 1 564 160 A1 referred to, the contents of which relate to possible designs for a storage and retrieval unit Reference will become part of the description given here of the outer packaging device that can be operated with the method according to the invention.
  • the return conveyor belt 13 ends in the in Fig. 1 illustrated embodiment in the area of the shelves 14 and therefore in a place where the storage and retrieval device 16 can pick up a pack located on the return conveyor belt 13 or a tablet container 1 located on the return conveyor belt 13.
  • the mixing warehouse 6 has a storage conveyor belt 17. Tablet containers and packs placed on this storage conveyor belt 17 can be moved by means of the storage conveyor belt 17 and a converter 18 to an area within the shelves 14, onto which the storage and retrieval device can place the newly stored pack or the newly stored tablet container 1.
  • the mixing warehouse 6 also has a door 19.
  • the mixed storage 6 has walls on the outer sides of the shelves 14 and on the end faces 20.
  • the conveyor belt 11 continues beyond the switch 12. With the part with which the conveyor belt 11 leads beyond the switch 12, the conveyor belt 11 forms part of a conveyor system 22.
  • the conveyor system 22 has a first conveyor path along which a tablet container is conveyed from the switch 12 along the further course of the conveyor belt 11 and a transfer 23 provided at the end of the conveyor belt 11 and along a further conveyor belt 24 to one of the two feed conveyor belts 25 of the working memory 2 can be.
  • a tablet container 1 can therefore be transferred from the respective workstation 7 into one of the two working memories 2 along the first conveying path.
  • the conveyor system 22 further has a second conveyor path, which is formed by the delivery conveyor belt 26, a part of the conveyor belt 11, the transfer 23, a part of the conveyor belt 24 and one of the two feed conveyor belts 25.
  • a tablet container stored in the mixing warehouse 6 can be transferred to one of the two working memories 2.
  • the storage conveyor belt 26 begins at a location between the shelves 14, where the stacker crane 16 can place a tablet container.
  • the conveyor system 22 has a third conveyor path, which is formed by one of the two delivery conveyor belts 27, a part of the conveyor belt 24, the transfer 28, the switch 12 and the return conveyor belt 13.
  • a tablet container located in the working memory can therefore be conveyed back into the mixing warehouse 6.
  • the conveyor system 22 has a fourth conveyor path, which is formed by one of the two delivery conveyor belts 27 and a part of the conveyor belt 24 and which ends at the end of the conveyor belt 24 at the workplace 7.
  • a tablet container 1 located in the working memory can be conveyed to the second of the two workstations 7.
  • the conveyor system 22 further has a fifth conveyor path, which is formed by one of the two discharge conveyor belts 27, a part of the conveyor belt 24 and the transfer 28 and ends in a removal nozzle 50 for empty tablet containers 1.
  • Empty tablet containers 1 can be removed from the removal nozzle 50 and, for example, sent for cleaning.
  • the conveyor system 22 has a sixth conveyor path, which is provided by the delivery conveyor belt 27 of the in the Fig. 1 RAM 2 shown below, part of the conveyor belt 24 and the feed conveyor belt 25 of the in Fig. 1 RAM 2 shown above is formed. Using this sixth conveying path, a tablet container 1 can be relocated from the lower working memory 2 to the upper working memory 2.
  • FIG. 2 The embodiment shown differs from that in Fig. 1 illustrated embodiment essentially due to the elimination of the conveyor system.
  • the switch 12 and the transfer 28 were constructed.
  • a box 29 and a box 30 are provided.
  • the outer packaging device that can be operated with the method according to the invention can be used in the in Fig. 2 illustrated embodiment can be operated in such a way that a tablet container 1 to be supplied to the lower working memory 2 is brought from the conveyor belt 11 over the switch 12 into the box 29 (falls from the conveyor belt 11 into the box 29).
  • a box 32, 33 is provided at the end of the delivery conveyor belt 27.
  • an operator can remove tablet containers from the outer packaging device that can be operated with the method according to the invention and, for example, place them on one of the return conveyor belts 13 or the storage conveyor belt 17, so that these tablet containers are returned to the mixing warehouse 6. If the tablet containers in the boxes 32, 33 are empty, an operator can also feed these tablet containers to a cleaning device, for example.
  • the third embodiment according to Fig. 3 is a further training course in Fig. 2 second embodiment shown.
  • the core of the switch 12 and a working memory 2 with a feed conveyor belt 25 and a delivery conveyor belt 27 were removed.
  • the third embodiment has two workstations 7, although an embodiment with only one workstation 7 is also conceivable.
  • the workstations 7 each have three feed devices 9 in the form of chutes.
  • each of the workstations 7 has a return conveyor belt 13, via which, for example, a tablet container 1 or a pack can be returned to the mixing warehouse 6.
  • the workstations 7 have the boxes 34 into which the tablet containers 1 are thrown from the workstations 7.
  • the tablet containers are thrown from the mixing warehouse 6 into the box 35 via the removal conveyor belt 26.
  • the tablet containers in the boxes 34 and 35 can then be fed into the working memory 2 via the feed conveyor belt 25.
  • the tablet containers can be transported back to the mixing warehouse 6 via the return conveyor belts 13.
  • Tablet containers can be removed from the working memory 2 via the delivery conveyor belt 27.
  • the tablet containers from the working memory 2 can be guided back into the mixing warehouse via the return conveyor belts 13.
  • the workplace 7 has a recording device 43 for a total of five Fig. 17 , 19 known blister carriers 120.
  • the embodiment shown is the conveyor belt 11, which belongs to the discharge device 10, below which the feed devices 9 forming chutes arranged.
  • Fig. 5 shows a variant of the design of the workplace 7 according to Fig. 4 , in which the conveyor belt 11 belonging to the discharge device 10 is arranged above the chutes forming the two feed devices 9.
  • Tablet containers 1 from the mixing warehouse 6, but also packs or empty blister carriers 120, i.e. those blister carriers 120 in which no original blister pack 110 is yet arranged, can be fed to the workplace 7 via the feed devices 9.
  • the operator 8 can remove the original blister packs 110 from the packs at the workplace 7 and insert them into the blister carriers 120.
  • the operator can then place the blister carriers 120 equipped with original blister packs 110 onto the conveyor belt 11.
  • the Fig. 6 shows a further variant of the design of the workplace 7.
  • a feed device 9 designed as a chute is provided.
  • a suction device 21 is provided.
  • a receiving device 44 is provided for a different form of tablet container.
  • a camera 45 is also provided, which looks at the recording device 44 from above.
  • an ejection area 46 is provided, at which tablets can be pressed out of the original blister packs 110 in order to insert the tablets then removed into a tablet carrier 1, which is held in the receiving device 44.
  • the camera 45 can be used to check whether the correct tablet was placed in the correct compartment of a tablet container 1 held in the receiving device 44.
  • Fig. 13 and Fig. 14 show a modification of the workplace: While in the previously described embodiments Fig. 4 to 13 a workplace 7 was assigned to an activity (repacking original blisters into tablet carriers or removing individual tablets and filling them into a generic tablet container 1) is in Fig. 13 and 15 a multifunctional workstation shown. In Fig. 13 takes place in the left half of the Fig. 13 the previously described transferring from packs into tablet container 1 takes place. In the right half of the Fig. 13 A troubleshooting and documentation workstation is shown. The error correction and documentation workstation has a camera 45 with which, after the error has been corrected, it can be proven via image documentation that the blister is correct. Furthermore, a printer system 51 is provided with which the blisters can be reprinted. The troubleshooting area is also connected to the mixing warehouse 6 by the conveyor belt 11 and the feed device 9.
  • the individual medications can be delivered in the original packaging and the original blister packs 110 can be removed from the respective outer packaging (not shown) at the workplace and separated.
  • the isolated original blister packs 110 are assigned to suitable blister carriers 120, which are used to package and store the different medications in their respective original blister packs 110 in the intermediate storage 150.
  • Blister carriers 120 can be provided for all desired types of medication, with different medications with similarly shaped original blister packs 110 being able to be assigned to identical blister carriers 120. It is particularly preferred that external dimensions of all blister carriers 120 are standardized, preferably identical.
  • a blister carrier 120 consists of a carrier part 121 and a cover part 122 articulated by means of a hinge connection 124 or the like.
  • Carrier part 121 and cover part 122 both have a hole pattern 123 that is matched to the respective original blister pack 110.
  • the original blister pack 110 is placed with the foil side up on the hole pattern 123 of the carrier part 121 of the blister carrier 120, as in Fig. 17 is illustrated.
  • the hole pattern 123 accommodates the blister areas 112 of the original blister 110.
  • the lid part 122 is closed, as in Fig. 18 is illustrated.
  • a tablet container 1 is formed from the blister carrier 120 and the original blister pack 110.
  • the external dimensions of the blister carriers 120 are preferably all identical, so that they can be stored and transported efficiently in the interim storage facility 150.
  • Each blister carrier 120 also has an identification device 127 such as an RFID chip 127 for identifying the medication stored in the blister carrier 120.
  • the medications packaged in the blister carriers 120 are, as in Fig. 15 is illustrated, by known conveyors 162 on a conveyor path 160 a drawer storage 150, which is also known per se, in which the blister carriers 120 are stored in an efficient manner in drawers 152, which can be extended and extended by an actuating device 154.
  • Fig. 16 shows the drawer storage 150 with an extended drawer 152.
  • the drawer storage 150 allows selective access to each of the blister carriers 120 stored therein with medications packed therein in the respective original blister 110.
  • the control technology determines the position of the desired medication packaged in one of the blister carriers 120, which is removed from the drawer storage 150 using the actuating device 154 and placed on the conveyor line 166 by means of a conveyor truck 168 the deblistering device 180 is fed, which is shown schematically in Fig. 15 is shown.
  • the blister carrier 120 reaches the deblistering position, where the medications 115 are ejected one after the other into the compartments 174 of a pre-dosing magazine 170 using a suitable ejection plunger 182.
  • a suitable ejection plunger 182 As in Fig.
  • the deblistering device 180 of the exemplary embodiment shown has a plurality of ejection plungers 182, which are arranged, for example, rotatably about an axis.
  • the shape of the ejection plunger 182 is optimized for the smooth ejection of the medication 115 from the respective original blister packs 110 and is adapted in particular to the shape of the openings 123 of the blister carriers 120 used, the shape of the medication 115 and/or the shape of the blister areas 112 of the original blister packs 110.
  • the de-blistering device 180 also preferably has a perforation device 195, which is shown schematically in Fig. 20 is shown and the film of the original blister 110 is perforated at the positions of the blister areas 112. Such a perforation is schematically designated by reference number 111.
  • the pre-dosing magazine 170 shown in the exemplary embodiment of the invention shown has seven pre-dosing compartments 172 corresponding to the seven weekday columns of the filling blister 140, with a different number of compartments 172 also being possible according to the invention.
  • slots are preferably provided for visually checking whether there is a medication 115 in the respective pre-dosing compartment 172 or not.
  • the medications 115 are dispensed from the pre-dosing compartments 172 of the pre-dosing magazine 170 into the corresponding compartments 142 of the patient-specific filling blister 140, as in Fig. 21 is shown schematically.
  • the pre-dosing magazine 170 is positioned above the respective (time of day) line of the filling blister 140 and the medication 115 is placed by pushing back the bottom part 174 of the pre-dosing compartments 172 dropped into the respective receiving compartments 142 of the filling blister 140.
  • the filling blister 140 has receiving compartments 142 arranged in a matrix configuration, which in the exemplary embodiment shown are arranged in four rows corresponding to a number of intake times during a day (morning, midday, evening, night) and seven columns corresponding to the days of a week.
  • the invention is not limited to this special arrangement of the receiving compartments 142 of the filling blister 140.
  • sensor devices 190, 192 such as light barriers are also provided, which check the transfer of the medication from the original blister pack 110 into the pre-metering magazine 170 and further into the respective compartments 142 of the filling blister 140 and generate an error message in the event of an error.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Pharmacology & Pharmacy (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Warehouses Or Storage Devices (AREA)
EP22213170.8A 2022-04-08 2022-12-13 Procédé de fonctionnement d'un dispositif d'emballage pour re-emballer des médicaments se présentant sous forme de comprimés et procédé de fonctionnement d'un dispositif d'emballage Pending EP4273060A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US18/855,033 US20250256880A1 (en) 2022-04-08 2023-04-06 Method for operating a packaging device for packaging medicaments provided in tablet form, and method for operating a packaging device
CA3255579A CA3255579A1 (fr) 2022-04-08 2023-04-06 Procédé pour faire fonctionner un dispositif de suremballage destiné à suremballer des médicaments présents sous la forme de comprimés et procédé pour faire fonctionner un dispositif de suremballage
PCT/EP2023/059202 WO2023194555A1 (fr) 2022-04-08 2023-04-06 Procédé pour faire fonctionner un dispositif de suremballage destiné à suremballer des médicaments présents sous la forme de comprimés et procédé pour faire fonctionner un dispositif de suremballage
AU2023250036A AU2023250036A1 (en) 2022-04-08 2023-04-06 Method for operating a packaging device for packaging medicaments provided in tablet form, and method for operating a packaging device

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE102022108588 2022-04-08
DE102022114943.9A DE102022114943B4 (de) 2022-04-08 2022-06-14 Umverpackungsvorrichtung zum Umverpacken von in Tablettenform vorliegenden Medikamenten und Verfahren zum Betreiben einer Umverpackungsvorrichtung

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EP4273060A1 true EP4273060A1 (fr) 2023-11-08

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EP22213170.8A Pending EP4273060A1 (fr) 2022-04-08 2022-12-13 Procédé de fonctionnement d'un dispositif d'emballage pour re-emballer des médicaments se présentant sous forme de comprimés et procédé de fonctionnement d'un dispositif d'emballage

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EP (1) EP4273060A1 (fr)

Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1564160A1 (fr) 2004-02-16 2005-08-17 KHT Kommissionier- und Handhabungstechnik GmbH Dispositif de stockage d'objets
EP1598291A2 (fr) 2004-05-21 2005-11-23 KHT Kommissionier- und Handhabungstechnik GmbH Dispositif et procédé automatique de stockage d'objets
DE102005012910A1 (de) 2005-03-14 2006-09-21 Kht Kommissionier- Und Handhabungstechnik Gmbh System zum Ein- und Auslagern von Gütern, insbesondere von Kästen, Kartons, gefüllten Säcken und dergleichen
EP2042477A1 (fr) 2006-07-13 2009-04-01 China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation Procédé combinant la production d'éthylène à partir d'éthanol et la conversion catalytique d'hydrocarbures
EP2463205A1 (fr) * 2010-12-07 2012-06-13 Mathis Technologies Dispositif automatise de préparation de lots de produits, a partir de produits conditionnes en blisters, en particulier des médicaments
EP2826732A1 (fr) 2013-07-16 2015-01-21 Apostore GmbH Dispositif de préparation de commandes évolutif comprenant un rack construit à partir de modules
US20150353213A1 (en) * 2013-01-14 2015-12-10 Edwin Kohl Installation for individually tailored filling of blister packs with medication according to predetermined prescription data
EP2993133A1 (fr) 2014-09-08 2016-03-09 Edwin Kohl Installation et procédé de changement d'emballage de différents médicaments à partir de leur blister transparent dans des blisters de remplissage
EP3949934A1 (fr) * 2019-06-07 2022-02-09 Yuyama Mfg. Co., Ltd. Dispositif et système de support d'audit de médicament, et procédé d'audit de médicament

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1564160A1 (fr) 2004-02-16 2005-08-17 KHT Kommissionier- und Handhabungstechnik GmbH Dispositif de stockage d'objets
EP1598291A2 (fr) 2004-05-21 2005-11-23 KHT Kommissionier- und Handhabungstechnik GmbH Dispositif et procédé automatique de stockage d'objets
DE102005012910A1 (de) 2005-03-14 2006-09-21 Kht Kommissionier- Und Handhabungstechnik Gmbh System zum Ein- und Auslagern von Gütern, insbesondere von Kästen, Kartons, gefüllten Säcken und dergleichen
EP2042477A1 (fr) 2006-07-13 2009-04-01 China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation Procédé combinant la production d'éthylène à partir d'éthanol et la conversion catalytique d'hydrocarbures
EP2463205A1 (fr) * 2010-12-07 2012-06-13 Mathis Technologies Dispositif automatise de préparation de lots de produits, a partir de produits conditionnes en blisters, en particulier des médicaments
US20150353213A1 (en) * 2013-01-14 2015-12-10 Edwin Kohl Installation for individually tailored filling of blister packs with medication according to predetermined prescription data
EP2826732A1 (fr) 2013-07-16 2015-01-21 Apostore GmbH Dispositif de préparation de commandes évolutif comprenant un rack construit à partir de modules
EP2993133A1 (fr) 2014-09-08 2016-03-09 Edwin Kohl Installation et procédé de changement d'emballage de différents médicaments à partir de leur blister transparent dans des blisters de remplissage
EP3949934A1 (fr) * 2019-06-07 2022-02-09 Yuyama Mfg. Co., Ltd. Dispositif et système de support d'audit de médicament, et procédé d'audit de médicament

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