CN117120335B

CN117120335B - Storage and dispensing station for blister packaging machine and method for placing same on dispensing station

Info

Publication number: CN117120335B
Application number: CN202280027088.9A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 哈迪·施密特-埃林格尔; 托马斯·云格尔
Original assignee: Becton Dickinson Rowa Germany GmbH
Current assignee: Becton Dickinson Rowa Germany GmbH
Priority date: 2021-03-31
Filing date: 2022-03-15
Publication date: 2025-12-09
Anticipated expiration: 2042-03-15
Also published as: KR20230162781A; EP4067245A1; WO2022207301A1; JP2024514303A; EP4067245C0; EP4067245B1; CN117120335A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a storage and dispensing station for blister packaging machines for small goods that can be sorted. Known storage and dispensing stations occasionally experience erroneous dispensing when storage containers are placed on the dispensing station. In order to avoid this, the storage and dispensing station comprises a storage container (1) with a sorting device (30) having a coupling device (40) with a lower coupling section (42) and a holding device with an actuator. The storage and dispensing station further comprises a dispensing station (100) on which the storage containers (1) are detachably arranged, the dispensing station having a rotary drive (150) with a shaft (151) and a hub (152) supported on the shaft, and a mouthpiece (125) for interaction with the actuating member (51). The opening member (125) is designed as a notch in the dispensing station and the actuating member (51) is designed as a corresponding uniform vertical protrusion such that the interaction between the hub (152) and the lower coupling section (42) defines an effective coupling-engagement depth (KET) and the interaction between the actuating member (51) and the opening member (125) defines an effective holding-engagement depth (HET) such that the coupling-engagement depth (KET) is greater than the holding-engagement depth (HET).

Description

Storage and dispensing station for blister packaging machine and method for placing same on dispensing station

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a storage and dispensing station for blister packaging machines for dispersible small goods, in particular pharmaceutical and nutritional supplement parts, and a method of placing storage containers of a storage and dispensing station of a blister packaging machine onto a dispensing station.

Background

Modern blister packaging machines, for example as disclosed in WO2013/034504A1, comprise hundreds of storage and distribution stations according to the expansion level of the blister packaging machine. In these storage and distribution stations are stored a plurality of dispersible small items, respectively, each of which can be distributed as desired. The small pieces are typically pharmaceutical and nutritional supplement portions.

The use of blister packaging machines makes it possible, for example, to combine pharmaceutical parts stored in a storage and dispensing station, patient-specifically, in accordance with the times of administration prescribed by a doctor, and to pack them in blisters. For combining a plurality of pharmaceutical parts, the respective storage and dispensing stations are manipulated by means of the control device of the blister pack machine to dispense one or more pharmaceutical parts. For dispensing the pharmaceutical parts, the pharmaceutical parts stored in the storage containers are separated by the sorting means of the storage and dispensing station and delivered through the dispensing opening of the guide means of the blister packaging machine. The dispensed drug portions are transported by means of a guiding device to a packaging device, optionally with an intermediate access to a collecting device, which packages one or more drug portions in blisters.

For dispersing the pharmaceutical parts stored in the storage containers of the storage and dispensing station, the sorting device comprises a plurality of channels, which are usually arranged on the outer circumference of the sorting device base body. The channels are adapted in terms of their dimensions to the individual portions to be dispersed, so that the portions can only be stacked one above the other in the channel, but not arranged side by side. The channels may be dimensioned, for example, such that only one portion of the medicament can be accommodated in the channel.

To dispense a portion of the medicament from the channel, the channel is moved over a dispensing opening in the bottom surface of the reservoir housing, while the portion of the medicament disposed in the channel (lowermost) slides into or falls into the dispensing opening due to gravity. In order to avoid that further portions of the medicament stored in or above the channel are also dispensed, i.e. that an unknown quantity of portions of the medicament is dispensed, the restraining member of the restraining section or separator is guided or arranged at least into or onto the channel in the area above the dispensing opening, which channel is aligned with the dispensing opening. The restriction section is arranged in or above the channel with reference to the height of the channel, such that only one dose can be arranged below the restriction section. If the restriction section is guided into the channel, the projection separating the respective channels has a narrow slit accommodating the restriction section in order to separate the lowermost medicament portion from the medicament portion arranged above it. If the restriction section is arranged or guided over the channel, it is often guided only a little way up the upper end of the protrusion, thereby avoiding that other portions of the medicament enter the channel when dispensing the medicament.

The storage and dispensing station typically includes a dispensing station that is typically removably connected to the blister packaging machine. The storage and dispensing station also includes a storage container that is removably disposed on the dispensing station for ease of recharging and/or replacement. Small items often slide into the aforementioned channels of the sorting apparatus during recharging. Since the restraining section closes the passage of the sorting device aligned with the dispensing opening, no small items can fall out of the storage container during actual refilling. The sorting device is normally prevented from rotating by a holding device, which is effective in the unseated state.

A problem with known storage and dispensing stations is that small items are accidentally dispensed while the storage containers are being placed. The sorting device is aligned by the coupling device with the hub of the drive arranged in the dispensing station when it is placed. By the rotation caused here, it may happen, depending on the nature and arrangement of the channels, that the filled channels (not closed by the restriction sections) are turned over the dispensing opening, after which small pieces of goods are dispensed. Although this problem does not occur at every placement, it is very confusing to even only sporadically and accidentally dispense small pieces of goods as they are dispensed into the blister packaging machine.

Disclosure of Invention

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a storage and dispensing station in which unintentional dispensing of small items during placement of storage containers onto the dispensing station is precluded. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a method of placing storage containers on a dispensing station wherein this problem is eliminated.

This object is solved on the one hand by a storage and dispensing station for blister packaging machines. The storage and dispensing station according to the invention comprises a storage container having a housing enclosing a receiving space, the housing having an inner cylindrical section and a bottom surface with a central coupling opening, and a sorting device arranged in the inner cylindrical section of the housing, the sorting device having a plurality of channels extending vertically through the sorting device and a coupling device extending into the central coupling opening, the coupling device having a lower coupling section. The storage container further comprises a holding device comprising a holding member and an actuating member, wherein the holding member in a locked position prevents rotation of the sorting device and in a released position allows rotation of the sorting device and is movable between these positions.

The storage and dispensing station according to the invention further comprises a dispensing station on which the storage containers are detachably arranged, said dispensing station having a rotary drive with a shaft and a hub supported on the shaft for force-transmitting interaction with the lower coupling section. The dispensing station further comprises an opening member for interaction with the actuating member of the holding means.

It is furthermore provided that the lower coupling section, the hub, the actuating element and the opening element are stacked one above the other, so that, when the storage container is arranged on the dispensing station, before an effective interaction between the actuating element and the opening element exists, this interaction causes the holding device to be moved into the release position, an effective interaction taking place between the lower coupling section and the hub. Since in the release position the coupling means (and thus the sorting means) are only possible to rotate, it is according to the invention necessary that the hub is rotatable in the unpowered state, so that the hub (and not the sorting means) can be rotated into the coupling position when an interaction between the hub and the lower coupling section is initiated. The possibility of an alignment that causes accidental dispensing, i.e. an alignment (by rotation) of the coupling means (and thus the sorting means) to the hub, is thus exactly prevented. When aligning the coupling means with or to the hub, only (and only) the hub has to be rotated. Unlike in the storage and dispensing stations according to the prior art, the alignment causes an accidental rotation of the sorting device and thus a possible dispensing of small items.

According to the invention, the opening element is designed as a recess in the dispensing station and the actuating element is designed as a corresponding uniform vertical projection, the interaction between the hub and the lower coupling section defines an effective coupling-engagement depth and the interaction between the actuating element and the opening element defines an effective holding-engagement depth (HET), and the coupling-engagement depth (KET) is greater than the holding-engagement depth (HET). By arranging the engagement depth according to the invention, it is ensured that the coupling-interaction is always triggered before the holding-interaction (and thus the holding device is moved to the release position). This is furthermore achieved by a particularly simple, purely mechanical component.

In a preferred embodiment, which is simple in construction, the hub and the opening element have the same height of action relative to the vertical axis of the dispensing station, while the lower coupling section has a depth of action relative to the vertical axis of the storage container below the depth of action of the actuating element. The term "height of action" refers to the "height" or position within the dispensing station from which interaction with a corresponding conforming member (e.g., a hub < - > lower coupling section) occurs. The "depth of action" correspondingly describes the "depth" or position in the storage container from which an interaction with the corresponding component can take place.

In an alternative embodiment, which is also structurally simple, the lower coupling section has the same depth of action as the actuating element with respect to the vertical axis of the storage container. The hub has an active height above the active height of the opening with respect to the vertical axis of the dispensing station.

The object is also solved by a method of placing a storage container of a storage and dispensing station of a blister packaging machine onto a dispensing station. According to the invention, a dispensing station is provided with a rotary drive hub and an opening element, wherein the opening element is designed as a cutout in the dispensing station. Furthermore, a storage container is provided, which has a housing enclosing a receiving space, which has an inner cylindrical section and a bottom surface with a central coupling opening, a sorting device arranged in the inner cylindrical section of the housing, which has a plurality of channels extending vertically through the sorting device and a coupling device extending into the central coupling opening, which has a lower coupling section and a holding device with a holding element and an actuating element, wherein the holding device prevents the sorting device from moving by means of the holding element and wherein the actuating element is designed as a vertical projection corresponding to a cutout in the dispensing station. The storage container is then arranged on the dispensing station, wherein an effective interaction between the lower coupling section and the hub is first triggered, wherein the hub is or can be adapted to the coupling section by rotation at the beginning of the interaction and a form-fit and/or force-fit is produced between the hub and the coupling section, and subsequently an effective interaction between the actuating element and the opening element is triggered, wherein the holding element is released at the beginning of the interaction, so that the sorting device can be rotated.

According to the invention, the interaction between the hub and the lower coupling section is triggered in that the hub and the lower coupling section are connected in a force-and/or form-fitting manner to produce an effective coupling engagement depth (KET), while the interaction between the actuating element and the opening element is triggered in that the actuating element is guided into the opening element and the holding element is released therefrom and an effective holding engagement depth (HET) is produced, wherein the coupling engagement depth (KET) is greater than the holding engagement depth (HET).

Drawings

The storage and dispensing station according to the invention and the method according to the invention are described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

Figure 1 shows an oblique view of a first embodiment of a storage and dispensing station according to the invention,

Fig. 2a and 2b show detailed views of a first embodiment, wherein parts of the storage container are omitted,

Figures 3a-3d show different views of the storage container of the first embodiment of the storage and dispensing station,

Figures 4a and 4b show oblique views of the coupling means/holding means combination,

Figure 5 shows a top view of the coupling means/holding means combination,

Figure 6 shows a horizontal section through the coupling means/holding means combination,

Fig. 7 shows a cross-section through a first embodiment of a storage and dispensing station according to the invention, wherein parts of the storage container are omitted,

Fig. 8a and 8b show a detail view of the section in fig. 7, wherein the coupling means/retaining means combination is pushed vertically upwards,

Fig. 9a and 9b show a sectional view through a second embodiment of the storage and dispensing station according to the invention, wherein the components of the storage container are omitted again and wherein the coupling means/retaining means combination is pushed vertically upwards in fig. 9b,

FIG. 10 shows a cross-sectional view through a third embodiment of a storage and dispensing station according to the present invention, an

Fig. 11a and 11b show sectional detail views, wherein the coupling device/holding device combination is also displaced vertically upwards in these views.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows an oblique view of a first embodiment of a storage and dispensing station according to the invention, which has a storage container 1 and a dispensing station 100. In the embodiment shown, the dispensing station 100 is part of a five-pack of dispensing stations 100, wherein such packs are often fixed as a whole to a blister packaging machine in order to simplify the placement of the dispensing stations on the blister packaging machine. In alternative embodiments the distribution stations may be separate from each other or combined in a kit having a different number of distribution stations. The components mentioned in the following description of the distribution stations are present in each of the distribution stations 100, respectively, whether the distribution stations are implemented in a joined-together fashion as shown in fig. 1 or as separate.

Each distribution station 100 includes a lower section 130 and an upper section 120. The upper section 120 includes a boss 121 onto which the storage container can be placed. For this purpose, the lower housing section of the storage container 1 is adapted to the shape of the projection 121. The boss 121 includes an opening 123 which, when the storage container 1 is received, is aligned with a dispensing opening in the bottom surface of the storage container housing, as described with reference to the storage container of the following figures. The small pieces of goods drop from the channel through the dispensing opening into the opening 123 of the boss 121 during sorting. The upper section 120 of the dispensing station 100 further comprises a vertical section 122 by means of which the dispensing station can be fixed to a blister packaging machine.

Each dispensing station further comprises a mouthpiece 125, which in the first embodiment shown in fig. 1 is designed as a recess in the boss 121. The exact design of the orifice member 125 will be described in more detail with reference to the following figures. The boss 121 includes another opening through which the hub 152 of the drive extends and which cooperates with the storage container as described with reference to later figures.

The storage container 1 mounted on the dispensing station 100 comprises in the embodiment shown a housing 10 which comprises an inner cylindrical section 11. The upper part of the housing is provided with a cover plate 13 which can be removed for refilling of the small goods. The storage container in the lower section comprises a base plate 12 which is adapted to the shape of the dispensing station and the boss 121. The storage container further comprises a handle 14 with which the storage container can be removed from the dispensing station and replaced for easy handling.

In the detail view shown in fig. 2a, the housing 10 is mainly omitted together with the inner cylindrical section 11, it being recognized that the sorting device 30 is arranged in the inner cylindrical section, and that a plurality of channels 32 are provided on the outer periphery thereof, wherein the channels are each separated by webs 33. The sorting device 30 has a conical surface, which in the embodiment shown has three ridges. Both the conical design of the surface and the aforementioned ridge serve to guide small pieces of goods located above into the channel 32 when the sorting device is rotated.

The sorting device 30 is also omitted from the detail view shown in fig. 2b, and the coupling device 40 and the holding device 50, which are otherwise rotationally fixedly connected to the sorting device, are identified, both of which are described more precisely with reference to the following figures. As can be seen in fig. 2b, the vertical section of the holding device 50 extends into the opening 125.

Fig. 3a to 3d show different views of the storage container 1 of the first embodiment of the storage and dispensing station, wherein the storage container is shown in its mounted state and the dispensing station has been omitted for reasons of clarity. As can be seen in fig. 3b, the housing 10 (and also the sections of the inner cylindrical section 11) encloses a receiving space 2 for small items to be dispensed. In fig. 3b, a restraint 60 can also be identified, which is fastened to the vertical wall section of the housing by means of a fastening section 61. The constraint 60 further comprises a constraint section 62, indicated only in fig. 3b, which is guided into the inner cylindrical section through a narrow slit in the inner cylindrical section 11 and will avoid small items from sliding down into a channel which is aligned with the dispensing opening 22 in the bottom surface 20 of the housing (see fig. 3c for this). As can be seen in fig. 3c, the bottom surface 20 comprises a coupling opening 21 through which the lower coupling section 42 of the coupling device 40 extends, as can be seen in fig. 3 d. As can also be seen in fig. 3d, the holding device 50 is arranged at a point close to the lower coupling part Duan Zhou in a section described in detail below. In fig. 3d, the holding device is shown in a released state with respect to the coupling device 40 (and thus also the sorting device 30), which means that the holding device does not inhibit the rotation of the coupling device and thus also the sorting device.

Fig. 4a and 4b show oblique views of the coupling device 40/holding device 50 combination, wherein the installation state is again shown. As can be seen in particular in fig. 4b, the coupling device 40 comprises an upper section 41, by means of which the coupling device can be connected (detachably) to the sorting device (and in operation). The lower section of the coupling device 40 is formed by a lower coupling section 42 having an opening which in the embodiment shown extends through the entire coupling device, as can be seen in fig. 5. The lower coupling section 42 comprises a tab 43 by means of which a force-fit and/or form-fit can be produced with a hub of a drive in a dispensing station, which hub is described in detail with reference to the following figures. The coupling device 40 also comprises, in the embodiment shown, a circumferential recess 44, the bottom side of which is not circular in the case of the recess shown, but is designed as a polygon. The retaining element 54 of the retaining means can engage into this recess. As is indicated in fig. 4b and 5, the holder in the embodiment shown comprises a toothed, slightly curved surface, whereby a form fit and a force fit with the bottom surface of the recess 44 can be created. In the state shown in fig. 4a, 4b, 5 and 6, no such engagement occurs, the holding means do not inhibit the rotation of the coupling means and thus of the sorting means.

The holding device 50 comprises, in addition to the holding element 54, a tab 52 which is designed as a partial curve and which ends in one end in a vertical actuating element 51 which, as described in detail with reference to the following figures, can interact with an opening element of the dispensing station to release or lock the holding device. Opposite the actuator 51, the holding device has a fixing piece 53. In the embodiment shown, the fastening element can be fastened from below in an opening 123 of a boss 121 of the dispensing station, as is indicated in fig. 3 d.

It is already clear in the views of fig. 4a, 4b, 5 and 6 how the holding means can inhibit the rotation of the coupling means and thus of the sorting means. In the embodiment shown, the webs are designed to be elastic and to be prestressed toward the locking position. If the retaining means is no longer pushed into the release position by the actuator 51, the resilient tab 52 presses the retaining member 54 into the recess 44 of the coupling element, so that a force-fit and/or form-fit takes place between the retaining member 54 and the bottom surface of the recess 44, thereby preventing movement of the coupling element. When the actuator is "idle", which means that such a locking position is always present when the storage container is completely removed from the dispensing station.

Fig. 7 shows a cross-section through a first embodiment of the storage and dispensing station, wherein parts of the storage container, such as the housing and the bottom surface, are omitted. According to the invention, the problem of accidental dispensing of small goods in the storage and dispensing station, which is caused by the rotation of the sorting device when the storage containers are placed, is solved by stacking the lower coupling section 42 of the coupling device 40, the hub 152, the actuating element 51 of the holding device and the opening element 125 exclusively above each other, to be precise by the effective interaction between the lower coupling section and the hub first occurring when the storage containers are placed, whereby the shaft of the drive is aligned with the coupling device by means of the hub being rotatable in the unpowered state. According to the invention, the sorting device does not rotate, since no interaction between the actuating element and the opening element has occurred yet, which is required for releasing or removing the holding element. According to the invention, the rotation of the sorting device (by the coupling device) is only performed if the coupling device has interacted with the hub and the hub (and not the sorting device) is rotated during such interaction. Many specific embodiments of the aforementioned structural elements are possible in order to achieve this. For example, it is conceivable to trigger the interaction between the actuating element and the opening element by means of a grating or an electrical contact. But these embodiments are relatively expensive in construction and prone to error.

In a preferred embodiment of the storage and dispensing station according to the invention, an alternative route, more precisely a purely mechanical route, is thus chosen. The actuating member of the holding device is designed as a kind of projection, whereas the mating member, i.e. the opening member 125, is designed as a recess in the boss 121, wherein in a preferred embodiment the recess has a specific shape.

The preferred embodiments of the storage and dispensing station according to the invention, which are more specifically described in the following figures, have in common that the interaction between the hub 152 and the lower coupling section 42 of the coupling device 40 defines an effective coupling-engagement depth (KET) and the interaction between the actuating element 51 of the holding device 50 and the opening element 125 defines an effective holding-engagement depth (HET), wherein the coupling-engagement depth is greater than the holding-engagement depth. The result of this is that the aforementioned principle is always fulfilled when the storage container is placed on the dispensing station, i.e. the interaction between the lower coupling section and the hub causes the braking to be released by the interaction between the actuating member and the opening member, i.e. immediately before the retaining member is removed from the coupling device.

A cut through the first embodiment is shown in fig. 7. In this section, the storage containers are arranged in operation on the dispensing station. The effective coupling-engagement depth (KET) is defined by the lower edge (depth of action) of the lower coupling section and the upper edge (height of action) of the hub 152. This effective coupling-engagement depth (KET) is shown on the left in dashed lines in FIG. 7. As defined according to the invention, the effective holding-engagement depth (HET) indicated on the right with the dashed line is smaller than the effective coupling-engagement depth. This effective holding-engagement depth is defined by the lower edge (depth of action) of the actuating member 51 and the upper active edge (height of action) of the opening member 125. As already explained, the release of the holding device is triggered purely mechanically in the preferred embodiment described here. For this purpose, the actuating element has to be moved through the opening element, that is to say the retaining element no longer prevents the coupling device from rotating, which means that the retaining element has to be moved away from the rotational axis of the coupling device. With regard to the embodiment of the holding device which is more precisely shown in the preceding figures, it can be said that it has to be "pulled up". The opening element 125 has an inclined section (active section), as can be seen in fig. 8b, the active height of which begins at its upper end. When the actuating element is moved into the opening element during the placement of the storage container, this inclined section causes the actuating element (see fig. 7) to move outwards from the drawing plane, whereby the retaining element is released from the coupling device, whereby a rotation is enabled.

In fig. 7 it can also be seen that the hub 152 is supported on the shaft 151 of the rotary drive 150. The hub 152 is rotationally fixedly connected with the shaft 151 and extends through an opening 121a in the boss 121 of the storage container.

In fig. 8a the detail close-up of the section in fig. 7 is reproduced, wherein the coupling means and the holding means have been moved upwards a distance such that the actuating member has not yet engaged into the opening member, which means that no effective interaction has occurred between them. However, as can be seen from the observation of the lower coupling section 42 and the hub 152, an effective interaction between the tab 43 and the hub 152 already takes place at the "instant" shown in fig. 8a, which means a positive or positive fit between these two elements. However, this interaction can occur because the coupling device is not yet prevented from rotating by the retaining device, more precisely the retaining element 54, and when this interaction is triggered, the hub 152 is first turned "into position". When the hub has been rotated and the coupling/holding device combination continues to move downwards, thus continuing to place the storage container, an interaction also occurs between the actuating member 51 and the opening member 125, which means that the holding member is released from the coupling device and the rotation is allowed to proceed. In fig. 8b, it can be seen that the opening element 125 has an inclined section (active section) 126, which causes a displacement of the actuating element 51 and thus of the holding element 54 via the web 52. When the storage container is in its final position, which is shown in fig. 7, both sets of interactions take place or have already taken place, wherein the different engagement depths determine the order of the interactions.

Fig. 9a and 9b show a sectional view through a second embodiment of the storage and dispensing station according to the invention, wherein the components of the storage container are omitted again, and wherein the coupling device/holding device combination is pushed vertically upwards in fig. 9 b. In this embodiment, the principle according to the invention is achieved by increasing the active height of the boss 152 (relative to the first embodiment) and locating it above the surface of the boss 121. In this way, the interaction between the hub 152 and the lower coupling section 42 takes place first and then the interaction between the actuating element 51 and the opening element 125 takes place, the depth of engagement KET, HET and their relationship to one another corresponding in the second embodiment to the first embodiment.

Fig. 10 shows a sectional view through a third embodiment of the storage and dispensing station according to the invention, while fig. 11a and 11b show a detail view of the section in fig. 10, wherein the coupling device/holding device combination is also shown in these figures in a vertically displaced manner. In this embodiment, the principle according to the invention is achieved by reducing the depth of action of the actuator 51 relative to the first and second embodiments.

With reference to the third embodiment, an embodiment of the method according to the invention is described hereinafter. In a preferred embodiment of the method for placing storage containers 1 of a storage and dispensing station onto a dispensing station 100, a dispensing station 100 and storage containers 1 are first provided. In this supplied state the holding means of the storage container are in the locking position and the dispensing of small goods due to the rotation of the sorting device cannot take place. The storage containers 1 are then arranged on the dispensing station 100, which is illustrated in fig. 11a, 11b and 10. In the process of arrangement, an effective interaction is first triggered between the coupling section 42 and the hub 152, wherein the hub 152 is rotationally adapted (or can be adapted) to the coupling section 42 at the beginning of the interaction, and a form-fit and/or force-fit is produced between the hub 152 and the coupling section. An effective interaction is then triggered between the actuating element 51 and the opening element 125, wherein the holding element 54 is released at the beginning of the interaction, so that the separating device 30 can be rotated. In the third embodiment shown, the opening element 125 is designed as a recess or depression in the dispensing station and the actuating element is designed as a corresponding uniform vertical projection. The aforementioned interaction between the hub 152 and the lower coupling section 42 is triggered in such a way that the hub 152 and the lower coupling section 42 are connected in a force-fitting and/or form-fitting manner to produce an effective coupling-engagement depth KET. The interaction between the actuating element 51 and the opening element 125 is triggered in that the actuating element 51 is guided into the opening element 125 and the holding element 54 is released in this case, wherein an effective holding-engagement depth HET is produced. As explained above, the coupling-engagement depth KET is greater than the holding-engagement depth HET.

Claims

1. A storage and distribution station for blister packaging machines, which has:

Storage container (1), the storage container having

A housing (10) surrounding the accommodating space (2), the housing having an inner cylindrical section (11) and a bottom surface (20) having a central coupling opening (21).

A sorting device (30) is arranged within the inner cylindrical section (11) of the housing (10), the sorting device having a plurality of vertically extending channels (32) passing through the sorting device and a coupling device (40) extending into the central coupling opening (21), the coupling device having a lower coupling section (42).

A holding device (50) having a retainer (54) and an actuator (51), wherein the retainer (50) prevents the sorting device (30) from rotating in a closed position and allows the sorting device (30) to rotate in a released position;

and a distribution station (100), wherein the storage container (1) is detachably arranged on the distribution station, the distribution station having

A rotary actuator (150) having a shaft (151) and a hub (152) supported on the shaft for force-transmitting interaction with the lower coupling section (42), and

An opening (125) for interacting with the actuator (51) of the holding device,

The lower coupling section (42), the hub (152), the actuator (51), and the opening (125) are stacked vertically such that when the storage container (1) is placed on the distribution station (100), before there is effective interaction between the actuator (51) and the opening (125), the interaction causes the holding device to move to the release position, effective interaction occurs between the lower coupling section (42) and the hub (152), and the hub (152) can rotate in a non-energized state.

The opening (125) is designed as a notch within the distribution station, and the actuator (51) is designed as a corresponding vertical protrusion. The interaction between the hub (152) and the lower coupling section (42) defines an effective coupling-engagement depth (KET), and the interaction between the actuator (51) and the opening (125) defines an effective retention-engagement depth (HET), and the coupling-engagement depth (KET) is greater than the retention-engagement depth (HET).

2. The storage and distribution station for a blister packaging machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the hub (152) and the opening (125) have the same operating height relative to the vertical axis of the distribution station (100), and the lower coupling section (42) has an operating depth relative to the vertical axis of the storage container (1) below the operating depth of the actuator.

3. The storage and distribution station for a blister packaging machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower coupling section (42) and the actuator (51) have the same working depth relative to the vertical axis of the storage container (1), and the hub (152) has an working height relative to the vertical axis of the distribution station (100) above the working height of the opening (125).

4. A method for placing a storage container (1) of a storage and distribution station of a blister packaging machine onto a distribution station (100), wherein

A distribution station is provided, the distribution station having a hub (152) of a rotary drive (150) and an opening (125), wherein the opening (125) is designed as a notch within the distribution station.

Provide a storage container (1), the storage container having

A housing (10) surrounds the accommodating space (2), the housing having an inner cylindrical section (11) and a bottom surface (20) having a central coupling opening (21).

A sorting device (30) is arranged within the inner cylindrical section (11) of the housing (10), the sorting device having a plurality of channels (32) extending vertically through the sorting device and a coupling device (40) extending into the central coupling opening (21), the coupling device having a lower coupling section (42), and

A holding device (50) having a holding member (54) and an actuator (51), wherein the holding device (50) prevents the sorting device (30) from rotating by the holding member (54) and wherein the actuator (51) is designed as a vertical protrusion corresponding to a notch in the distribution station.

The storage container is placed on the distribution station (100).

When making the aforementioned arrangement, firstly

Effective interaction is triggered between the coupling section (42) and the hub (152), wherein at the start of the interaction, the hub (152) is adapted to the coupling section (42) by rotation and a form fit and/or force fit is generated between the hub (152) and the coupling section, and then effective interaction is triggered between the actuator (51) and the opening (125), wherein at the start of the interaction, the retainer (54) is released, thereby allowing the sorting device (30) to rotate.

Its features are,

The interaction between the hub (152) and the lower coupling section (42) is triggered in such a way that the hub (152) and the lower coupling section (42) are force-fitted and/or form-fittedly connected to generate an effective coupling-engagement depth (KET).

The interaction between the actuator (51) and the opening (125) is triggered in such a way that the actuator (51) is guided into the opening (125) and the retainer (54) is released therefrom, wherein an effective retain-engagement depth (HET) is generated and the coupling-engagement depth (KET) is greater than the retain-engagement depth (HET).