BE1017811A5 - TRANSPORT, STORAGE AND PROTECTION DEVICE. - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a packaging (10) for storing and / or transporting and / or holding in an upright suspended position objects (20) provided with flanges, said packaging comprising a tray (30), said tray (30) comprising a plurality of rails (31) arranged next to each other so as to form a plurality of openings (32) for holding and storing said objects (20) by their flanges. The tray (30) also includes a hanging wall parallel to the plurality of apertures for preventing said objects from emerging from said tray (30) when the tray (30) pivots about a horizontal axis. The packaging of the invention may also include a box (40) for supporting the tray (30) and a flange (60) for wrapping the tray (30).

Description

TRANSPORT, STORAGE AND PROTECTION DEVICE

Object of the invention

The present invention relates to a device for storing, transporting and protecting containers of medical products. The invention relates, more particularly, to a device related to the storage, protection and transport of syringes or any other object provided with flanges or collars stored, suspended in vertical position.

BACKGROUND

Currently, containers of medical products, such as glass syringes, are packaged by manufacturers in a form called "nest" and delivered under sterile conditions. Delivering syringes in a "nest" format means delivering syringes that have been packaged on a plastic tray mainly comprising a support plate, hereinafter called nest tray which is formed of a matrix of openings, each these openings supporting a syringe. This nest tray is typically supported by a plastic box hereinafter called nest box which protects the syringes (see for example HYPAK® SCF®, Becton, Dickinson and Company of Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, USA). This packaging is, in addition, covered with a plastic film and is then ready for sterilization.

When the syringes are delivered in the "nest" format to a pharmaceutical company, they must be handled to be filled one by one. After removing the plastic film from each package, using automated equipment, each nest tray is removed from its corresponding nest box and the syringes are then filled one by one. After the filling step, it is necessary firstly to label each syringe in order to define the medical product contained and secondly, to inspect the syringes to detect any contamination of the product as well as cracks. or possible claws in the syringes. Other operations may be required such as the addition of needle protectors or plugs. The inspection is conventionally carried out by means of an optical sensor system (or a camera) which inspects the syringes one by one. However, according to the usual practice and because of technical limitations (quantity of syringes, difficulties to label and / or to inspect the syringes placed in the central part of the nest plateau ... etc.), the syringes are first of all removed from the nest board before being tagged and / or checked. Thus, when the syringes are finally labeled and / or controlled, they are then further manipulated and stored either directly in the nest box without being stored on the nest tray, or in a different medium named, hereinafter, comb tray (see FIG. US 6,012,595 described hereinafter), the latter has multiple elongated fingers to keep the syringes suspended by their collars. It should be noted that after labeling and / or inspection, the syringes are no longer reinserted into the nest tray because it is more efficient and easy to store them in the comb tray which is purchased separately. Nest-type packaging, such as HYPAK® SCF®, is therefore not suitable for automated handling because it requires complex machines. On the other hand, in the context of a semi-automatic manipulation (with human assistance), it is difficult to exceed the rates of more than 6000 syringes per hour. However, if on the one hand comb trays are preferable to trays nests for storing syringes faster and easier, they are, on the other hand, not suitable for transporting and storing syringes. Indeed, when the comb trays are stored on top of each other in vertical columns, some parts of the syringes may be damaged or broken, because of their direct contact with the underside of the packaging placed above. In order to avoid this problem, the comb trays must be placed in additional specific boxes and provided with lids with an inner locking flange.

It is clear that there is a need for a tray capable of resolving the limitations and disadvantages of current media and allow to proceed more easily and quickly storage, transport and delivery of medical containers. In particular, there is the need for a tray which makes it easier and more secure to hold syringes suspended in a vertical position, making the handling of large quantities of syringes more efficient and easy during sterilization processes. filling, labeling and / or inspection, carried out by highly automated machines.

STATE OF THE ART

Document US 2001/0052476 A1 discloses a device for transporting medical containers comprising a rigid plastic tray having a multitude of openings for receiving and supporting containers such as syringes or ampoules. However, this device has the following drawbacks. This tray is not compatible with an automated machine because introducing or removing containers from such a medium requires time. On the other hand, when a container, such as a syringe, is stored in one of the openings of this tray, the friction between this opening and the needle shield of the syringe may cause damage to the needle of the syringe. syringe or compromise the sterility of the containers or medical products they contain.

Also known from US 6,012,595 a system for storing syringes. This storage system includes a box and a tray made of a set of elongated fingers connected to a common stop. These fingers draw several parallel channels that support the syringes by their collars. However, this storage system is not able to support the syringes when the tray is removed from the box and turned vertically upside down. In addition, this plate requires a specific box having a lid provided with an inner locking rim for securing said plate because the channels are not rigid enough and can be easily deformed, which can cause the syringes to fall and be damaged. In addition, the tray mentioned in US 6,012,595 is manufactured by a molding process, the latter being a long and expensive process. In addition, this storage system is not suitable for automatic handling at high speed, because it requires the use of a complex automatic machine capable of handling this specific box and this particular tray. Finally, this storage system requires a particular type of tray for a given type of syringe (that is to say a syringe with a given diameter or a syringe with a given type of collar), in order to protect the syringes against falls and damage. This has the consequence that to be compatible with the four types of syringes most commonly used, it is necessary to manufacture four different types of storage systems.

It is also known from EP 1088566 B1 a device for handling identical objects (syringes and the like) in a suspended position. This device is an improvement of the device described in US 6,012,595. The improvement consists in the addition of a hinged lid on the body of the box that can be easily put in the closed or open position and that is provided with openings allowing the easy movement of the medical containers. However, because of the complexity of the hinged lid, the automatic manipulations of such a device, in order to remove the syringes from their packaging, take time and are difficult to achieve. It must be finally noticed that this device is manufactured by means of long and complex manufacturing processes.

The present invention aims to provide a device for storing, protecting and transport sterilized objects to be sterilized or not having all the disadvantages of the prior art. In particular, the invention aims to provide a device for securely storing, protecting and transporting a large quantity of medical containers and which is suitable for storage one above the other. Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for supporting the containers in the vertical and inverted hanging position. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device that can be easily manipulated by automated means for the purpose of removing containers from said devices quickly and securely. Finally, another object of the present invention is to provide a device compatible with syringes irrespective of their length, type of collar and diameter, for example equally accepting syringes of 6.85 mm and 8.15 mm diameter or having flanges of different shapes.

[0009] Nowadays, the containers of liquid medical product containers are typically provided in the form of a block of 1200 X 1000 mm, pallet format (EuroPallet format), in accordance with the UIC 435-2 standard. This means that several container packages are arranged next to each other and one above the other. Therefore, another object of the present invention is to provide a device for storing, protecting and transporting medical containers and suitable for storage next to one another and in a column on top of one another and protecting said containers from storage. damage or contaminations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention, a packaging for storage and / or transport and / or support in a vertical suspended position of objects which have flanges is provided. This package comprising a tray, said tray comprising a plurality of rails arranged side by side so as to form a plurality of openings for supporting and storing the objects by their flanges. According to the invention, the plate comprises an upper wall parallel to the plurality of openings. This prevents objects from coming off the board when it is turned around a horizontal axis.

Preferably, this plurality of rails is fixed rigidly to said upper wall so that the plurality of openings is not deformed. This prevents objects from falling, especially when manipulated by automata.

Advantageously, the plate comprises secondary rails to prevent objects from moving left or right relative to the openings.

More preferably, the secondary rails have a V-shaped section.

Preferably, said plate can be obtained by an extrusion process leaving two open sides.

Advantageously, said plate is made of extruded polycarbonate, which allows sterilization in an autoclave at 121 ° C without deformation.

More advantageously, said plate is made of transparent extruded polycarbonate to allow a visual control of said objects.

Preferably, said plate comprises, in the lower part of said upper wall, ribs for separating said objects from said lower part of the upper wall when said plate is upside down.

Advantageously, this upper wall of the plate has perforations to facilitate the sterilization of said packaging by means of a steam sterilization process or by ionization.

According to a second aspect of the invention, a package comprising a tray according to the first aspect of the invention and a box is provided. This box has an upper opening, a bottom, side walls and a step formed between said upper opening and said side walls for supporting said plate, thereby removing the ends of the objects from the bottom. This packaging is characterized in that said box comprises peripheral walls of concave shape extending outwards so that when said packaging is placed side by side with another packaging of the same type and that their peripheral walls of concave shape extending outwardly bear against each other, said outwardly extending concave peripheral walls prevent said packs from being superimposed.

Preferably, said plate comprises in the upper part of said upper wall, secondary ribs to maintain stable the bottom of the box of a package which is placed on the.paroi upper plateau of a second packaging of the same type, when these packages are arranged one above the other.

Advantageously, said box comprises in its side walls at least one recess for grasping and easily removing said tray from said box.

More preferably, said recess is located in a corner of said box.

More advantageously, said box has a parallelepipedal shape.

Preferably, said box comprises perforations in said peripheral walls to facilitate the sterilization of said packaging by means of a steam sterilization process, by ΙΈΤΟ, or by irradiation.

According to a third aspect of the invention, a package, comprising a tray according to the first aspect of the invention and a flange, is provided. This collar is adapted to wrap said tray and said objects it contains.

Preferably, said flange comprises supports to allow to stack in the inverted position several trays containing objects.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, a method for storing and / or transporting and / or supporting in an upright suspended position objects which have flanges is also provided. This method comprises the steps of: • providing a tray, said tray being adapted to the insertion or removal of said objects by a lateral side of said tray and having an upper wall; Manipulate said tray by automated means.

More advantageously, said handling step also comprises the steps of: • grasping said plate; • turn the plate upside down; • hold said objects in a fixed position during a sterilization process.

Other aspects and advantages of embodiments of the invention will be discussed with reference to the figures and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Fig.1 and Fig.1 'are, respectively, a perspective view from above and a perspective view from below of a support plate according to the invention.

Fig.2 is a sectional side view of the plate of Fig.1.

Fig.2 'is a sectional side view of the tray of Fig.1 supporting syringes.

Fig.3 is a side view of the tray of Fig.1 supporting syringes.

Fig.4 is a perspective view from above of a box according to the invention.

Fig.5 is a perspective view from above of the tray of Fig.1 in use with the box of Fig.4, forming a packaging according to a second aspect of the invention.

Fig.6 is a sectional side view of the packaging of Fig.5 in use with syringes therein.

Fig.6 'is a sectional side view of the same package as Fig.5.

Fig.7 is a perspective sectional view of the packaging of Fig.5.

Fig.8 is another perspective sectional view of the packaging of Fig.5 supporting syringes.

Fig.9 is a sectional view of the packaging of Fig.6 in use with syringes therein.

Fig.10, Fig.11 and Fig.12 are respectively: a side view, a view from above and a perspective view of several packings of the same type as the packaging of Fig.6, which are arranged side by side side by side according to the second aspect of the invention.

[0042] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of several packages of the same type as the packaging of FIG. 6, which are arranged side by side and on top of each other in accordance with the second aspect of the invention.

Fig.14 and Fig.15 are respectively a perspective view and a side view of several packages of the same type as that of Fig.6, arranged one above the other, in accordance with the second aspect of the invention.

Fig.16 is a side view of a plurality of support trays of Fig.1, which are arranged one above the other.

Fig.17 is a side view of several boxes of Fig.4, which are stacked one above the other.

Fig.18 is a perspective view of several packages of the same type as the packaging of Fig.6, which are arranged on a pallet (EuroPallet format) side by side and one above the other.

Fig.19 is a perspective view from above and a perspective view of a support plate supported by a particular type of box, according to a third aspect of the invention. Fig.19 'is a perspective view from above of the same tray turned upside down

Fig.20 is a perspective view of a tray in use with a box and with syringes therein, forming a package in accordance with a particular variant of the invention.

Fig.21 is a perspective view of several packages in use in the inverted position in which each support plate is supported by a particular type of flange, according to another embodiment of the invention.

Detailed description of the invention

Figures 1 and 1 are, respectively, a perspective view from above and a perspective view from below of a support plate 30, according to a first aspect of the invention. This plate 30 makes it possible to transport and hold in an upright suspended position objects provided with flanges, wings, flanges, or other protuberances ... (hereinafter generally described as flanges). These objects may be, for example, medical syringes made of glass or plastic.

As shown in FIG. 2, said plate 30 is composed of a series of rails 31 arranged next to each other, for the purpose of forming a plurality of openings 32 for supporting and storing a series of syringes 20. In use, as clearly shown in FIG. 2 and 3, the syringes 20 slide in the rails 31 and are supported by their flanges 21 in a vertical position. suspended. Said plate 30 also comprises secondary rails 33 which have a V-shaped sectional view in order to prevent the syringes 20 from moving laterally with respect to these openings 32. This particular shape of the secondary rails 33 provides a point stable reference for automatic or manual manipulations that require precise positioning of the plate 30. The width of the openings 32 can be chosen to accommodate several types of syringes. For example, the applicant has experimented that by giving the opening 32 a width of 8.8 mm, with a tolerance of +0.1 mm, -0.3 mm, one can support indifferently syringes of 6.85 and 8,15 mm in diameter, with good stability, during transport, storage and transfer operations.

According to an important aspect of the invention, the plate 30 is manufactured by an extrusion process, which has the consequence that said plate 30 is open at both ends and has an upper wall 34 which prevents the syringes 20 out of said plate 30 when it is rotated about a horizontal axis.

This upper wall 34 comprises in its lower part and inside the openings 32, ribs 35 V-shaped, to optimize the sterilization processes of the syringes 20 in the following manner. Since the tray 30 can be inverted without dropping the syringes 20, it is possible to perform a sterilization process, such as steam sterilization, keeping the syringes 20 in an upright inverted position. The advantage of sterilizing the syringes in an inverted vertical position is to avoid the accumulation of water in the syringes. Said ribs separate the flanges 21 of the inverted syringes from the upper wall 34 of said plate 30, which has the consequence that the sterilization is more efficient because the steam can easily reach the inner parts of the syringe 20. In addition, at the At the end of the steam sterilization, the residual water can be easily evacuated. In addition, this upper wall 34 comprises in its upper part V-shaped secondary ribs 36 for maintaining stable the packages arranged one above the other, as shown in Fig.14 and Fig.15.

The plate 30 is manufactured, for example, extruded polycarbonate. Preferably, said tray 30 is made of a transparent extruded polycarbonate so as to allow visual inspection of the syringes 20 stored in said tray 30. It should be noted that the manufacture of this tray 30, by extrusion processes, is more easier, cheaper and faster than the molding processes required by the devices of the prior art.

According to a particular form of the present invention, the dimensions of the plate 30 are: 20 × 23 cm, so as to be dimensionally compatible, for example, with the current support boxes described below.

As shown in Fig.4 and Fig.5, according to a second aspect of the invention, the tray 30 is adapted to be used with and supported by a box 40, forming a package 10. Said box 40 comprises outwardly extending concave peripheral walls 41. These outwardly extending concave peripheral walls each comprise at least one and preferably two vertically extending portions 47, so that box 40 can be arranged side by side with another box of the same type so that the vertically extending portions 47 of these boxes rest on each other leaving spaces 50 between them, as clearly shown in FIG. Fig. 11, Fig.12 or Fig.13. The vertical extent of these portions 47 avoids overlap, even when two adjacent boxes 40 are not exactly at the same level.

Said box 40 also comprises an upper opening 42, a bottom 43, side walls 44 and a portion 45. formed between said upper opening 42 and said side walls 44 to support the plate 30 and to separate the syringes 20 contained in said plate 30, bottom 43 of said box 40, as shown in FIG. 9. It is indeed important to protect the accessories mounted on the syringes, such as needles or needle shields, from contact with the box.

As illustrated in Fig.6 and Fig.6 \ when the tray 30 is inserted into a box 40, so as to form a closed package 10, the upper part of said package is wider than its lower part so when a first packaging 10 covers a second of the same type, the bottom 43 of the box 40 of the first packaging rests stably on the upper wall 34 of the tray 30 of the second packaging.

Referring again to Fig.4 and Fig.5, said box 40 also comprises in its side walls 44, at its four corners, recesses 46 to allow easy grasping and removing, when necessary, the plate 30 as shown more clearly in Fig.6, Fig.6 ', Fig.7 and Fig.8.

According to this second aspect of the invention, the vertical portions 47 have a shape as shown in FIG. 10, so that when the tray 30 is inserted into the box 40, so as to form a closed package 10, when such a package is placed side by side with another packaging of the same type, the respective portions 47 of each box lean against each other leaving a space 51 between the corners of said packages.

The presence of the spaces 50 and 51 avoids the superposition of the packages 10, which has the effect of substantially reducing the risk of damage or breakage of the stored syringes even when several packages are arranged side by side and / or one above the other as shown in Fig.11, Fig.12 and Fig.13.

It should be noted that the tray 30 according to the invention is fully compatible with the boxes of the prior art, like box 40 according to the invention is fully compatible with the trays of the prior art (as the trays nests or comb trays). In addition, since the tray 30 is manufactured by an extrusion process, other trays of different sizes can be easily and quickly obtained.

As shown in FIG. 16, a plurality of support trays 30 can be easily arranged one above the other after use since the V-shaped secondary ribs 36 of a tray interlock with the secondary rails. 33 of the corresponding sub-adjacent plateau.

As shown in Fig.17, several support boxes 40 can be easily nested into each other after use.

[0065] Fig.18 is a perspective view showing a storage of several packages 10 of the same type on a pallet (EuroPallet format) side by side and one above the other.

According to a third aspect of the invention and as shown in Fig.19 and Fig.19 ', the plate 30 is adapted to be used with a flange 60 and supported by it to wrap said plate 30 and the syringes 20 it contains. In use, this flange 60 supports said plate 30 and makes it easier to handle the plate 30 by firmly holding said syringes 20, even when said plate 30 is upside down.

According to a variant of the first and second aspects of the invention and as shown in FIG.20, said upper wall 34 of the plate 30 and the side walls 44 of the box 40 have perforations 81 and 82 to facilitate the sterilization of the package (for example steam sterilization, by ΙΈΤΟ or irradiation).

According to a variant of the third aspect of the invention and as shown in FIG.21, said flange 60 comprises supports, such as plates 83 allowing the superposition, for their sterilization, in the inverted position, several trays 30 containing syringes 20.

An advantage of the present invention is that the tray can rotate about a horizontal axis without dropping the syringes and this without adding additional element as a lid.

Another advantage of the present invention is that the syringes can be transported easier and safer because the lateral movements of the syringes are limited.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it is particularly suitable for cooperating with fully automated machines and thus reduces time and costs at all stages of the transport and storage process. In addition, the plate according to the invention is suitable for high speed and long distance manipulation by anthropomorphic robots, due to its low mechanical inertia. Finally, the tray according to the invention has a symmetry front / rear which has many advantages, both for their manufacture, which can be performed by extrusion, for handling, which allows the filling and unloading by one or the other side. The trays of the invention allow a higher storage density than the known supports.

Claims (19)

1. A packaging (10) for storage and / or transport and / or support in a suspended vertical position of objects (20) which have flanges (21), said packaging comprising a tray (30), said tray Device (30) comprising a plurality of rails (31) arranged side by side so as to form a plurality of openings (32) for supporting and storing said objects (20) by their flanges (21), characterized in that said plate ( 30) comprises an upper wall (34) parallel to said plurality of openings (32) to prevent said objects (20) from coming out of said tray (30) when the latter pivots about a horizontal axis, and said rails (31) allow the sliding of said objects (20) thereon. The package (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that said plurality of rails (31) is rigidly attached to said top wall (34) so that said plurality of openings (32) do not deform thereby preventing said objects (20) from falling. The package (10) according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that said tray (30) comprises secondary rails (33) to prevent said objects (20) from moving laterally with respect to said openings (32). 4. The packaging (10) according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that said secondary rails (33) have a V-shaped section. · ...... 5. The packaging (10) according to any preceding claim characterized in that said tray (30) is obtainable by an extrusion process leaving two sides open. 6. The packaging (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said tray (30) is made of extruded polycarbonate. 7. The packaging (10) according to claim 6 characterized in that said plate (30) is made of transparent extruded polycarbonate. 8. The packaging (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said plate (30) comprises in the lower part of said upper wall (34) ribs (35) for separating said objects (20) from said upper wall (34) when said tray (30) is upside down. 9. The package (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said upper wall (34) of the tray (30) has perforations (81) to facilitate the sterilization of said package (10). The package (10) according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a box (40) with an upper opening (42), a bottom (43), side walls (44) and a step (45) formed between said upper opening (42) and said side walls (44) for supporting said plate (30), thereby separating the lower ends of said objects (20) from said bottom (43), characterized in that said box (40) comprises peripheral walls of concave form extending outwardly (41) from the sidewalls (44) and having a vertically extending portion (47) such that when said box (40) is disposed side by side with another box of the same type and that their respective outwardly extending concave-shaped peripheral walls (41) bear against each other, said outwardly extending concave peripheral walls (41) prevent said boxes from becoming overlap. 11. The packaging (10) according to claim 10 characterized in that said plate (30) comprises in the upper part of said upper wall (34) secondary ribs (36) for maintaining stable the bottom (43) of the box ( 40) of a packaging (10) which is placed on the upper wall (34) of the tray (30) of a second packaging (10) of the same type, when these packages are arranged one above the other. 12. The packaging (10) according to claim 10 or 11 characterized in that said box (40) comprises in its side walls (44) at least one recess (46) for easily grasping and removing said tray (30) from said box (40). 13. The packaging (10) of claim 12 characterized in that said at least one recess (46) is located in a corner of said box (40). 14. The packaging (10) according to any one of claims 10 to 13 characterized in that said box (40) has a parallelepiped shape. The package (10) according to any one of claims 10 to 14 characterized in that said box (40) has perforations (82) in said peripheral walls (44) to facilitate sterilization of said package (10). 16. The packaging (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it comprises a flange (60) for wrapping said plate (30) and said objects (20) it contains. 17. The packaging (10) according to claim 16, characterized in that said flange (60) comprises supports (83) to allow to stack in the inverted position several trays (30) containing objects (20). 18. A method for storing and / or transporting and / or supporting in an upright suspended position objects (20) having slits (21), the method comprising the steps of: • providing a tray (30) having a plurality of rails (31) forming openings (32), said plate (30) being adapted for insertion or removal of said objects (20) by each of the ends of said openings (32) and having an upper wall (34); Manipulating said tray (30) by automated means. 19. The method according to claim 18, characterized in that said manipulating step also comprises the steps of: • grasping said plate (30); • turn said plate (30) upside down; • hold said objects (20) in a fixed position during a sterilization process.