Patent Grant
10336479
The present invention relates generally to a packaging structure for storing and transporting a plurality of containers for storage of substances for medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic applications, in particular of vials, ampoules or cartridges, and relates in particular to a method and packaging structure, whereby a high packing density of the containers and a simple and inexpensive processing of the containers can be accomplished.
Medication containers, for example vials, ampoules or cartridges, are widely used as containers for preservation and storage of medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic preparations to be administered in liquid form, in particular in pre-dosed amounts. These generally have a cylindrical shape and have a bottom or lower edge so that the containers can be placed perpendicular and upright on a flat surface. Such containers can be made of plastic or glass and are available in large quantities at low costs. In order to fill the containers under sterile conditions as efficiently as possible concepts are increasingly used according to which the containers are already packaged in a transport or packaging container at the manufacturer of the containers under sterile conditions, which are then unpackaged and further processed at a pharmaceutical company under sterile conditions, in particular in a so-called sterile tunnel.
For this purpose, various transport and packaging containers are known from the prior art, in which a plurality of medication containers are concurrently arranged in an irregular or regular arrangement, for example in a matrix arrangement along rows and columns extending perpendicular thereto. The regular arrangement has advantages in the automated further processing of the containers, because a glass-to-glass-contact of the containers can be prevented and because the containers can be transferred to processing stations at controlled positions and in a predetermined arrangement, for example to processing machines, robots or the like. However, the regular arrangement of the containers also has disadvantages, in particular because the maximum packing density (closest packing) of the containers cannot be accomplished.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,118,167 B2 discloses a transport and packaging container and a packaging concept, wherein the further processing of the containers is always performed in such a way that the supporting structure is first taken out the transport and packaging container and that the containers are then removed from the supporting structure and isolated and are transferred individually to the processing stations on a conveyor, in particular a conveyor belt, and further processed there. This limits the speed in the further processing that can be attained. Particularly during the isolation of the containers by means of cell wheels or the like, it always happens that individual containers abut uncontrollably, leading to an undesirable abrasion and consequently to contamination of the interior of the containers or of the processing station and to a deterioration of the outer appearance of the containers, which is undesirable.
GB 2478703 A discloses a supporting structure for supporting a plurality of vials for applications in gas or liquid chromatography. The supporting structure consists of two plates in which a plurality of receptacles are formed for accommodating the vials therein and which can be folded to each other for closing. The receptacles of the two plates are offset to each other so that the containers are stapled in order to double the packing density, but in order to enable a good access to the containers in the unfolded position.
US 20110132797 A1 discloses a transport container for vials for microbiological samples, consisting of a plurality of box-shaped segments, which can be plugged together to form the transport container. The vials are inserted into trough-shaped receptacles on the top of a respective segment and are disposed in an accommodating space formed by the segments when plugging together two adjacent segments. However, measures for sealing the interior are not disclosed.
FR 2595667 discloses a box-shaped container, into the lower segment of which a plurality of ampoules can be inserted, wherein the segment can be sealed against the environment by means of a cover that can be plugged on. However, measures for sealing the interior of the container are not disclosed.
US 20090100802 A1 discloses the use of a tray, wherein a direct glass-to-glass contact of the containers is prevented by means of rings on the bottom or also by means of an insert having receptacles for the containers. To further prevent a glass-to-glass contact of the containers, a sleeve enshrouding the transport container is used, in which a vacuum prevails, so that the sleeve is also pressed into the gaps between directly adjacent containers. Also with this concept, however, a maximum packing density of the containers in the transport container cannot be attained.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,537,189 discloses a transport assembly for a temporary storage of vials during freeze-drying. The transport assembly comprises a base, a frame inserted therein having no bottom and a box-shaped upper part. This transport assembly serves to ensure that the vials can be pushed directly onto the bottom of a freeze dryer by means of the frame. However, the vials are only accommodated in this transport assembly temporarily, but are not packaged therein.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,243,049 A discloses a similar transport assembly comprising a tray which is designed to be open on one side, and a frame inserted therein having a movable traverse bar, which serves for clamping the vials in the frame. By means of the frame, the vials are jointly inserted into the tray so as to be pushed into the freeze dryer finally.
Further packaging structures are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,100,263 B3 and US 20110277419 A.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple, cost effective and reliable method for packaging containers of the abovementioned type, which enables a high packing density of the containers and a simple and inexpensive further processing of the containers. Further, there is to be provided a corresponding packaging structure for a plurality of containers, wherein the same packaging structure preferably shall be suitable for containers of different shapes and dimensions.
According to the present invention there is provided a method for packaging a plurality of containers for substances for medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic applications in a packaging structure, which comprises an upper part and a lower part and forms a box-shaped receptacle in which the containers are accommodated, the containers having a cylindrical side wall and a bottom or a lower edge extending perpendicularly to the side wall thereof, comprising the steps of: disposing the plurality of containers directly on a flat surface so that the containers are supported or rest perpendicularly on the flat surface; inserting the plurality of containers into the upper part or into the lower part of the packaging structure by sliding the plurality of containers on the flat surface into the upper part or lower part and by placing the upper part on the upper ends of the containers, wherein the upper part is box-shaped and the lower part is flat (e.g. is formed at least in sections as a plate) or box-shaped; and sealing the packaging structure comprising the upper and lower part and the containers accommodated therein by insertion into a sleeve or re-sealable bag of a plastic material or by means of a gas-permeable plastic foil; wherein side walls of the upper part and/or lower part projecting perpendicularly from the base of the lower part and/or of the upper part serve as guiding devices during the insertion of the plurality of containers into the upper part or lower part.
Thus, the packaging structure can be assembled of a few simple parts and is therefore inexpensive and easy to handle. The containers can be inserted into the packaging structure simply by sliding on a supporting surface without the necessity of additional complicated intermediate steps, such as isolation or gripping of the containers. Here, side walls of the upper part and/or lower part can be used simultaneously as lateral guiding devices for guiding the containers upon insertion into the upper part and/or lower part, which automatically allows for a precise guidance of the containers in correspondence to the packaging structure subsequently formed and helps to save further efforts when handling of the containers.
The arrangement or array of the containers in the packaging structure can be defined particularly by the geometry of the box-shaped lower part and/or upper part. For example, if a rectangular arrangement of a plurality of containers in m rows and n columns, extending perpendicularly, is desired, at a known outer diameter of the containers, the clearance between the side walls or between the front walls and rear walls of the lower or upper part simply needs to correspond exactly to the m-fold or n-fold maximum outer diameter of the containers in order to implement a supporting of the containers free of clearance and without the possibility of a displacement of the containers relative to each other and relative to the side walls of the lower or upper part, when the side walls themselves are formed of a non-elastic material. In a corresponding manner the geometry of the box-shaped lower part and/or upper part may also be specified if the containers shall be arranged in the packaging structure for example in a hexagonal close-packed (hcp) positioning.
Because open ends of the containers at their upper and/or lower ends are possibly directly covered by means of the upper and/or lower part or by means of an intermediate part, the intrusion of disturbing particles into the containers in the packaging structure during a temporary storage or handling of the containers or during the transport of the containers can be prevented. It may be sufficient for this purpose, if the intermediate part is formed by a flat plate or foil. Conveniently, however, the intermediate part comprises, at least in sections, vertically projecting side walls preventing a lateral slippage of the intermediate part from the containers.
Further, according to the present invention a sterile and aseptic packaging of the containers is possible in a simple manner by additionally packaging and sealing the packaging structure comprising the upper and lower parts and the containers accommodated therein by insertion into a sterile sleeve or into a re-sealable bag made of a plastic material or by means of a gas-permeable plastic foil. Even then, the packaging structure can be sealed and re-opened quickly and at low costs. Preferably, the sleeve or sealable bag or the gas-permeable plastic foil enables sterilizing the containers while these are accommodated in the packaging structure. To this end one or more perforations or through-holes may be provided in the upper part and/or lower part at a suitable position through which a gas can flow for sterilizing the containers. For sealing the packaging structure, the gas-permeable plastic foil may also be selectively bonded directly only to those parts of the packaging structure, which are provided with the perforations. Or the sleeve or re-sealable bag is formed like a hood and is made of a gas-permeable plastic foil, as described below, which is suitably connected to the structure formed by the upper and lower parts to form the packaging structure.
According to a further embodiment, the upper part and/or the lower part are configured and provided in such a way that the containers are in a direct contact with each other in the box-shaped receptacle and cannot be displaced relative to each other. In contrast to the prior art, according to which a direct contact of the containers is prevented by complicated supporting structures for hygienic and aesthetic reasons, according to the present invention there exists a direct contact of the containers with each other in the box-shaped receptacle. According to the invention, however, this is implemented in such a way that the containers permanently contact each other and cannot be displaced relative to each other during storage, transport and handling of the packaging structure. In this surprisingly simple manner, according to the present invention also undesired scratches and the intrusion of particles due to material abrasion from the side walls of the containers can be reliably prevented. For this purpose, it is advantageous if the containers have a cylindrical and smooth side wall, without any protrusions in the circumferential direction.
Because the containers are in a direct contact with each other in the packaging structure, further a maximum packing density of the containers can be implemented which offers considerable economic advantages. Here, depending on the manner of their positioning on the lower part, the containers can be positioned on the lower part in rows and columns extending perpendicularly thereto or in rows extending in mutually diagonal directions. However, in general the containers may be arranged in any other arrangement, in particular in so-called close packings, such as a hexagonal close-packing (hcp) or trigonal close-packing (tcp). The containers may also take these close packings automatically when loading the packaging structure, e.g. when they are pushed from a conveyor belt or the like into a box-shaped lower or upper part, without requiring additional positioning means.
According to a further embodiment, the containers are disposed on the bottom of the lower part or on a flat surface between at least three side walls of the lower part in an arrangement of a shape, which corresponds to the shape of the box-shaped receptacle formed by the packaging structure, if viewed in a plan view. If the side walls of the lower part are not yet connected to each other, they can then be connected with each other in a subsequent step to form the box-shaped receptacle. Subsequently, also the upper part may be placed directly on the upper ends of the containers in the box-shaped receptacle of the lower part in order to complete the packaging structure.
Alternatively, the containers are disposed between at least three side walls of an accommodation jig on the lower part or on a flat surface in such a manner that the geometry and arrangement of the containers is defined by the side walls of the accommodation jig. Thus, after removal of the accommodation jig a gap is formed along the side edges of the array of containers into which the side walls of the upper part engage when placing the upper part on the upper ends of the containers or into which a pusher may engage for displacement of the containers into the packaging structure.
According to a further embodiment, the containers may also be displaced by means of a pusher which engages into the gaps between the containers, for example, row-wise by means of a strip-shaped pusher.
According to a further embodiment, the upper part placed onto the upper ends of the containers, or alternatively also a corresponding box-shaped intermediate part, may be used to push the containers from a flat surface on which they were initially stored and suitably located, for example from a conveyor belt or from a supporting surface, onto the bottom of the lower part of the packaging structure. When moving the containers the geometry and arrangement of the containers is reliably maintained.
For the aforementioned pushing of the containers into the lower part it is of advantage, if at least one front and/or rear side wall of the lower part is removed or at least opened, in particular folded downward or folded laterally, to such an extent that the upper side of the bottom of the lower part is flush with the upper side of the supporting surface which is disposed laterally and on which the containers were placed previously in the desired geometrical arrangement, particularly on a conveyor belt disposed laterally, from which the containers are pushed into the lower part.
According to a further embodiment, front side tabs of the lower part can be secured in an unfolded position and a front side wall and/or a rear side wall of the lower part is/are secured in a folded-down position when the containers are pushed onto the bottom of the lower part. This can be accomplished by means of suitable folding of material sheets from which the lower part is formed by folding, or by means of suitable positive-locking structures or frictional structures on the front side tabs of the lower part and on the front side wall and/or rear side wall of the lower part. Thus, the containers can be freely pushed into the lower part, since interfering side walls of the lower part can be temporarily held back.
According to a further embodiment, instead of the box-shaped upper part, first a box-shaped intermediate part having a bottom and side walls projecting perpendicularly therefrom is placed on the upper ends of the containers and the box-shaped upper part is placed on the intermediate part only at a final stage to complete the packaging structure. The intermediate part reliably prevents the intrusion of particles into the containers via openings at their upper ends at each stage of the handling of the containers and can also be used for pushing the containers in the manner described above.
According to a further embodiment, the bottom of the upper part and/or of the lower part and/or the side walls of the upper part and/or of the lower part has perforations, which are sealed by means of a gas-permeable plastic foil at an appropriate stage of the process, in particular by a mesh made of synthetic fibers such as polypropylene fibers (PP) or a Tyvek® protective film. This gas-permeable plastic foil may also be added subsequently, for example it may be bonded on the edges of the perforations. Thus, a sterile and aseptic packaging of the containers in the packaging structure is accomplished. Sterilization of the containers may also be accomplished within the packaging structure by providing a gas for the sterilization of the containers that flows from outside via the plastic foil and the box-shaped receptacle of the packaging structure into the interiors of the containers. An ethylene oxide gas named ETO may be used as a sterilizing gas. Ethylene oxide gas kills bacteria, viruses and fungi, and hence can be advantageously used for the fumigation of heat-sensitive substances. As an alternative gas, formaldehyde or a hydrogen peroxide vapor named VHP may be used. Hydrogen peroxide acts as a sterilizing agent, may be produced in an advantageously simple and cost-effective manner by active evaporation of an aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution and thus may be used to sterilize the outer region of the bag. In order to achieve a high biological decontamination rate of the microorganisms, a defined high concentration of >5% to 50% is required. Finally, the packaging structure may be sealed additionally in a tube (sleeve) or placed in a bag that can be sealed.
According to a further embodiment, a hood made of the gas-permeable plastic foil may be placed on the upper or lower part, which is connected circumferentially with an edge of the upper or lower part by means of adhesive bonding or heat sealing, wherein the gas-permeable plastic foil is in particular a mesh made of synthetic fibers, for example, of polypropylene fibers (PP), or a Tyvek® protective film, as explained above.
According to a further embodiment, the lower part and the upper part may be detachably connected with each other, in particular latched to one another. In this embodiment the containers may be held reliably in the packaging structure without a front and/or rear side wall of the lower part or of the upper part.
According to a further embodiment, the lower part and the upper part may be detachably connected with each other by positive-locking or by friction, in particular by clamping.
For a detachable connection, according to a further embodiment guiding structures may be used which extend in the longitudinal direction of the lower part along side walls of the lower part and which are guided by side walls of the upper part during the insertion of the lower part into the upper part. In particular, these guiding structures may be of a rectangular design in profile and may be accommodated by positive locking or friction by correspondingly shaped side wall portions of the upper part, in particular by clamping.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a packaging structure having a corresponding design. This is preferably used for storage, stocking, also for temporary stocking during handling or processing of containers, and for the transport of containers for substances for medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic applications, in particular of vials, ampoules or cartridges.
According to a further embodiment, the lower part may advantageously consist of a material or be provided with a slide coating having a coefficient of friction with respect to the material of the container, in particular with respect to glass, of less than 0.6. The material or the slide coating may consist of a polymer and an adhesion promoter layer. In such an embodiment, the containers can be inserted reliably into the packaging structure with an advantageously low force.
According to a further embodiment, the side walls of the lower part and/or of the upper part are of an elastic design, so that the containers are accommodated in the box-shaped receptacle to be biased against each other and so that a slippage of the containers relative to each other and relative to the side walls of the lower part or upper part is prevented in a simple manner. The biasing of the containers may also be relatively weak as a result of the design of the side walls of the lower part and/or of the upper part and is in any case substantially below a maximum load that would lead to breakage or damage of the side walls of the containers in the packaging structure. The dimensions of the side walls of the lower part and/or of the upper part can be set such that they need to be widened slightly for insertion of the containers into the box-shaped receptacle formed by them. Alternatively, the side walls may also be connected with each other only after the placing of the containers in the desired arrangement and with elastic biasing relative to each other to form the respective box-shaped receptacle.
For this purpose releasable connection types may be used, such as folding and nesting of side wall portions, but also non-releasable connection types may be used, such as riveting or adhesive bonding.
According to a further embodiment additionally or alternatively an insert is formed within the box-shaped receptacle of the packaging structure, which is of an elastic design at least in sections, so that the containers are accommodated and biased against each other elastically in the box-shaped receptacle in the manner described above and so that a slippage of the containers relative to each other and relative to the side walls of the lower or upper part is prevented.
According to a further embodiment the side walls of the lower part and/or of the upper part and/or of the aforementioned insert are provided at least in sections from a thermoplastic, thermosetting or elastomeric plastic material, which is foamed or formed as a twin-walled sheet with hollow chambers. Such plastic materials are available at low costs, may be produced and processed easily with the desired dimensions and elastic characteristics and enable a sterile, aseptic packaging of the containers.
For completing the packaging structure, according to a further embodiment a hood of the gas-permeable plastic foil is placed on the upper part or lower part, which is circumferentially connected to an edge of the upper or lower part, in particular by means of adhesive bonding or heat sealing, wherein the gas-permeable plastic foil is particularly a mesh made of synthetic fibers such as polypropylene fibers (PP) or a Tyvek® protective film, as set forth above. For sterilizing the containers accommodated in the packaging structure, a gas may flow via the gas-permeable plastic foil and via corresponding apertures or perforations in the upper or lower part and, if necessary, in the above-mentioned intermediate part.
The invention is described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, from which further features, advantages and problems to be solved will become apparent. In the drawings:
In the drawings, identical reference numerals designate identical or substantially equivalent elements or groups of elements.
Because according to
Further examples of a medication container in the sense of the present application are ampoules, carpoules (cartridges) or syringes or injection containers.
In the sense of the present invention, such containers are used for the storage of substances or agents for medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic applications, which are to be stored in one or several components in solid or liquid form in the container. Especially in the case of glass containers storage periods can amount many years, notably depending on the hydrolytic resistance of the glass type used. While, in the following, cylindrical containers are disclosed, it should be noted that the containers, in the sense of the present invention, may also have a different profile, for example a square, rectangular or polygonal profile. If containers 2 in the sense of the present invention do not have a substantially flat bottom 3, in any case a circumferential edge is formed at a height of the container 2 so that the containers can be displaced on a supporting surface, if these are supported vertically on the supporting surface.
According to
As shown in
In this way finally the packaging structure shown in
The containers are preferably accommodated in the lower part or in the upper part of the packaging structure 1 without play, i.e. they are accommodated therein in such a manner that they cannot be displaced, neither relative to each other nor relative to the side walls or bottoms of the lower and upper part. For this purpose, a clamping (mechanical biasing) of the containers in the box-shaped receptacle of the packaging structure 1 is not mandatory. Rather, the box-shaped receptacle of the lower part and/or of the upper part may also be mated to the arrangement of the containers—assuming a direct wall-to-wall contact of all containers—so precisely that any relative displacement of the containers relative to each other is excluded.
According to a preferred embodiment, the containers may be accommodated in the box-shaped receptacle of the lower part and/or of the upper part in a clamped state (a permanent mechanical, elastic biasing against each other). For this purpose, an elastic insert may be inserted into the lower part and/or upper part, which biases the containers accommodated therein permanently, so that they are held clamped in the packaging structure. Such an elastic insert may extend, for example, like the strip-shaped insert 38 shown in
Such partition walls or separating strips may also be used for pushing the containers when forming the packaging structure according to the present invention, e.g. for displacing entire rows of containers, as explained below.
According to
As will be readily apparent to the person skilled in the art, the bottom 51 is not absolutely necessary for this purpose. Rather, the accommodating jig 50 may also be disposed on a flat surface (not shown), on which the containers are then pushed.
Subsequently, the U-shaped spacer is removed, as shown in
According to
As shown in
In this procedure, it is advantageous if the lower ends or bottoms of the containers are always pushed on a flat support surface that has no elevations. This can be accomplished either by accommodation of the accommodating jig 50 (see
In this embodiment, the containers are accommodated in the upper part 10 preferably without play and with a direct wall-to-wall contact. In particular, the containers may also be held clamped in the upper part 10. In the latter case, the clamping of the containers in the upper part 10 particularly may be such that the upper part together with the containers accommodated therein in a clamped state is raised and inserted into a lower part, rather that the upper part 10 displaces the containers. Basically, the containers may also be accommodated in the packaging structure loosely and with lateral play.
As will readily be apparent to the person skilled in the art, also the front end of the accommodating jig 50 (see
According to
As shown in
Alternatively, the containers 2 may also be pushed out of the box-shaped lower part 20 in rows or individually by means of a strip-shaped plate. Such a strip-shaped plate may in particular also be a partitioning strip, which prevents a collision of directly adjacent containers in the packaging structure, as set forth above. Such a partitioning strip may also consist of an elastic material, as set forth above.
As shown in
The aforementioned through holes or perforations may in principle be provided also in the bottom of the lower part, wherein the containers may slide easily over the bottom into the lower part and pushed out of it again if the grid of the aforementioned mesh structure 11a is appropriate.
The lower part 20 is formed by folding of a plastic sheet having a bottom 21 and two lateral clamping webs 200 at each end of which a rectangular protrusion 201 is formed. The clamping webs 200 are connected to the bottom 21 via a film hinge and can thus be folded. In the corner regions of the rectangular bottom 21 mushroom-shaped protrusions 203 (or openings) are formed which engage with correspondingly shaped openings 202 (or mushroom-shaped protrusions) of the extension 201 after folding the lateral clamping webs 200. The lower part 20 is preferably formed as an injection molding member from a plastic material. In the area 209 of bottom 21 indicated by dotted lines (or also in the upper part 10) through holes may be formed as a grid structure of a plurality of intersecting webs, which can be sealed by means of a gas-permeable plastic foil, in particular by means of a mesh made of synthetic fibers, and by means of which the containers in the packaging structure can be sterilized by a gas flowing in, as described above.
The packaging process begins according to
For this purpose, according to
Opening of this packaging structure 1 is performed in reverse sequence, wherein the first step, namely releasing the mushroom-shaped protrusions 203 from the openings of the protrusions 201 and pivoting back of the lateral clamping webs 200, is shown in
According to
This state, in which the upper part 10 is positively accommodated or clamped in the edge portions of the upper part 10 is shown in the right-hand part II of the greatly enlarged partial section of
In order to permit simple insertion of the lower part 20 into the upper part 10, the edge portions of the upper part 10 may be adjusted according to the left part I of
To further seal the packaging structure, according to the enlarged partial sectional view of a further embodiment, as shown in the
Such a sealing between the upper and lower part may, of course, also be provided in all other embodiments described herein at a suitable location to seal the packaging structure against the environment, preferably to seal the packaging structure sterile.
For forming the packaging structure 1, according to
For opening the packaging structure 1, the above procedure is carried out in reverse sequence, i.e. the front side lugs 26b (see
The upper part 10 is preferably formed as a thermal molding member of a plastic material.
The openings 240 can be sealed by a plastic foil, in particular a gas-permeable plastic film, as described above, whereby a sterile packaging structure is formed.
Of course, the upper and lower part 10, 20 may also be arranged reversed for forming the packaging structure so that the containers 2 rest on the bottom 11 of the upper part 10 with their front ends upside down and that the upper part 10 is then inserted into the lower part 20. In the orientation shown in
Referring to
For sealing or sterile packaging of the structure formed by base plate 70 and upper part 10 a box-shaped hood 80 is used which has a bottom, a circumferential side wall 81 and a horizontal flange 83. The enlarged partial section in
First, in step S1, the plurality of containers is inserted into the upper or lower part of the packaging structure. This can be done by placing a plurality of containers on a flat surface and then pushing the containers into the upper or lower part, wherein the side walls thereof can serve as guiding devices for guiding the containers automatically to the desired arrangement. A closest packing can be achieved automatically, for example, during insertion of the containers by means of a pusher or the like. Alternatively, the containers can be arranged in a box-shaped upper or lower part, for example by putting on the upper or lower part, wherein the side walls of the upper or lower part serve as guiding devices for the containers to define the arrangement of the containers therein. Alternatively, the containers can be inserted into the upper or lower part of the packaging structure in principle also by means of any transport device, particularly by means of gripping arms or belt conveyors.
For insertion of the containers, the upper or lower part can be used, into which the containers are first inserted. The containers and/or the upper or lower part accommodating the latter can also be inserted by means of a pusher or the like. For this purpose, it may be of advantage if a gap remains in the packaging structure between the upper and lower part or an intermediate part, which is the case for example in the packaging structure according to
Subsequently, in step S3, the sealing of the packaging structure is performed. For this purpose, the upper or lower part with the containers accommodated therein can be pushed into the corresponding lower or upper part. Or the upper part is simply placed on the lower part with the containers accommodated therein and is possibly further connected to the lower part, for example by inserting tabs provided on the top or bottom into corresponding apertures or recesses provided at the lower or upper part. A processing of the containers in an intermediate step S2 may be performed before this step, while these are accommodated in the upper or lower part of the packaging structure, e.g. a heat treatment, sterilization or filling of the containers with a substance.
Finally, the packaging structure can be sealed in step S4 in order to complete the packaging structure, for example by insertion into a tube or into sealable bag of a suitable sterile plastic material, or by placing on and connecting a hood, as described above with reference to
The opening of the packaging structure in step S5 and a further processing of the containers in step S6 may follow as a further method steps. These steps can be carried out at purchaser of the packaging structure, for example at a producer of pharmaceuticals.
In this method, there is no need to turn the containers, contrary to the prior art, but these can be transported and further processed in the same orientation.
Furthermore, preferably the containers can be pushed out of the packaging structure free of particles. Free of particles in the sense of the present application means in particular that no foreign particles of a diameter greater than 20 microns remain in the container.
Preferred Materials and Methods of Manufacturing
As elastic inserts, partition walls or side walls for biasing the containers against each other or for elastically clamping the containers in the packaging structure as described above, preferably elastic or compressible foamed plastic materials are used, in particular thermoplastic foams (e.g. PS-E PP-E and PVC-E), elastomeric foams (e.g. soft PUR foam, NBR) or thermosetting foams (e.g. rigid PUR foam, PF).
The plastic foams can be produced particularly by foam extrusion, a molding process, by a thermoplastic foam molding process (TSG) or, when using PUR foams, also by continuous belt foaming, discontinuous RSG (reaction foam molding), RIM (reaction injection molding) or low-pressure processes and high-pressure processes or RRIM (Reinforced Reaction Injection Molding).
In any case, the upper or lower part that accommodates the containers in a clamped state is formed at least in sections of a thermoplastic, thermosetting or elastomeric plastic material, which has a certain elasticity. More preferably, the material Akylux® is considered for use, which consists of polypropylene with twin-walled sheets. Akylux® is durable and reusable, mold resistant and moisture resistant, suitable for hygienic applications, because no fiber formation occurs at the surface, shock-absorbing, sufficiently rigid, chemically inert, non-toxic (the raw material as well as most colors are food-safe), 100% recyclable, printable (for example, by screen printing or flexo printing), resistant against gamma rays (tested with a load of 25 kGy), allows a sterilization process with ethylene oxide (gas), allows a thermal treatment (e.g. for 72 hours between 50° C. and 60° C. depending on the conditions of use), has a sufficiently high softening point (Vicat: 145° C. at 10N (ISO R 306)) and a sufficiently high melting point (160° C.-165° C. (DSC)).
The bottom particularly of the lower part or of the planar support surface used, on which the containers are temporarily disposed, may be coated with a sliding layer to facilitate the above-insertion of the upper part with the containers accommodated therein into the lower part, as described above. The sliding layer may consist of a polymer and a layer of a bonding agent. The sliding layer should preferably consist at least of a mixture of an aromatic silane and an aliphatic silane. Other suitable materials for the lower part are, for example, polyamide or polyoxymethylene (POM).
As will become apparent to the person skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing description, various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the general spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications shall be covered by the scope of protection of the present invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2014 106 197 | May 2014 | DE | national |
This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/EP2015/059832 filed on May 5, 2015, which claims priority of the German patent application no. 10 2014 106 197.7 “Method for packaging a plurality of containers for substances for medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic applications, and packaging structure,” filed on May 5, 2014, the whole content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
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| 20170073091 A1 | Mar 2017 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/EP2015/059832 | May 2015 | US |
| Child | 15343796 | US |
