EP3354589B1 - Support structure for simultaneously holding of a plurality of containers for substances for medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic applications, transport assembly and transport or packaging containers with same - Google Patents

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a holding structure according to the preamble of claim 1 for simultaneously holding a plurality of containers for substances for pharmaceutical, medical or cosmetic applications and a transport structure according to claim 15 or a transport or packaging container according to claim 17 with such a holding structure and containers held on it.

STATE OF THE ART

Medicinal containers, such as small bottles, ampoules or carpules, are used on a large scale as containers for keeping and storing medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic preparations administered in liquid form, in particular in pre-dosed amounts. These generally have a cylindrical shape or at least a cylindrical section, can be made of plastics or glass and are available in large quantities at low cost. In order to fill the containers as economically as possible under sterile conditions, the container manufacturer is increasingly supplying the container to the filler in sterile packaging, so that the filler does not have to clean and sterilize the container. For this purpose, the containers have to be unpacked under sterile conditions by the filler, for example a pharmaceutical company, and then processed further. Manufacturing concepts are also increasingly being used in which the containers are also Filling process remain in the support structure of the sterile packaging and the containers are filled while they are in a support structure, which is part of the sterile packaging. In addition to the actual filling process, further sub-processes such as weighing, plugging, lyophilizing and finally sealing the containers with the plugs can also take place while the containers are held in the holding structure. This results in numerous additional requirements for the support structure, in particular for the accuracy of the position of the containers in the support structure.

CN 103359348-A discloses a holding structure designed as a trough-shaped holding tray (tray), with a base on which a plurality of vertical positioning pins are provided, between which the containers can be accommodated without touching one another. The holding structure is formed from a plastic by injection molding. At the same time, the vertical positioning pins act as guide sections for inserting the containers into the receptacles formed by the positioning pins.

WO 2016/135051 A1 discloses a further holding structure which is designed as a so-called nest and can be accommodated in a trough-shaped transport or packaging container (also referred to as a tub). A plurality of receptacles are formed on the underside of the support structure, the bottoms of which are connected to one another, with vertical positioning pins projecting from the bottoms, between which the containers can be accommodated without touching one another. At the same time, the vertical positioning pins act as guide sections for inserting the containers into the receptacles formed by the positioning pins.

EP 2448541 B1 discloses another support structure having tubular receptacles formed by side walls that project perpendicularly from a top of the support structure.

Other support structures are in the references EP2868593A1 , EP 2848882 A1 , WO 2014/072019 A2 and EP 2740537 A1 disclosed to the applicant.

US5996818A and US4124122A each disclose a support structure (rack) for test tubes. The test tubes are in hemispherical wells at the bottom of the Racks are centered and positioned using perforated panels arranged on two different levels. The perforated plates do not constitute guiding and positioning sections within the meaning of the present application because inserting the test tubes into the perforated plate holes requires very careful aiming. The holding structure is not formed in one piece.

The Post-Released EP 3136109 A1 discloses individual cylindrical receptacles clipped into a mounting rack. The receptacles have S-shaped spring clamp tabs that hold the containers clamped at the top and bottom of the receptacles. The holding structure is not formed in one piece.

Another support structure for cartridges is in the EP 2 448 541 B1 disclosed. Upper guiding and positioning sections within the meaning of the present application are not disclosed.

Disclosed in the prior art U.S. 2004/0195193 A1 (Base for the preamble of claim 1) further a frame for receiving and transporting sample tubes in an automated analyzer. The frame contains a series of parallel, open-topped chambers, each chamber containing two sets of resilient tabs integrally formed with the chamber walls and at different heights within the chamber.

With the aforementioned holding structures, inserting the containers from above into the receptacles of the holding structures always requires very precise pre-positioning of the containers relative to the receptacles, which is complex.

Due to the production of the above-mentioned holding structures by means of an injection molding or deep-drawing process from a plastic, the receptacles have a certain geometric deviation, for example due to distortion, draft angles, roundness, concentricity, etc. These deviations lead to an increased play between the container and the holding structure, which requires more freedom of movement for the containers in the receptacles. Subsequent post-processing in the tool is very complex here, so that certain geometric deviations cannot be avoided.

In particular, due to the draft angles, there is increased tilting of the containers in the receptacles, which entails difficulties for the automated filling process and in particular for setting the stoppers, especially in the case of comparatively long and slender containers, for example when setting the stoppers in carpules.

Due to the ejection process during injection molding of the support structures, correspondingly large draft angles must be provided for the shrinking pockets or receptacles of the support structures on the cores of injection molds, with the angle of inclination of the draft angles having to be approximately 2°. However, such large draft angles cause relatively imprecise guidance, especially in the case of relatively long and slender containers, for example in the case of carpules (cartridges), and result in a lower packing density. Comparatively large minimum distances must therefore be maintained between the individual receptacles of the holding structure, which limits the packing density that can be achieved. The minimum distances can also be determined by mechanical measures to stiffen the holding structure. However, such measures for stiffening the holding structure usually result in a higher weight and a higher cost of material for the holding structure.

The same glass tube semi-finished products are usually used for different types of containers (e.g. vial, carpule, syringe body). If you now divide the containers of different types into groups according to their common (pipe) outside diameters, you will find that they have different nest layouts and thus packing densities of the holding structures. On the contrary, the distances between the individual receptacles are usually different for a common (pipe) external diameter of the containers for the aforementioned reasons. This also increases the effort involved in automating machining processes: for example, containers have to be positioned at different positions using grippers, robots or the like, corresponding to the positions of the receptacles of a respective type of holding structure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved support structure for simultaneously holding a plurality of containers for substances for pharmaceutical, medical or cosmetic applications, which can be manufactured simply and inexpensively, glass-to-glass contact between those held on the support structure Avoids containers in a simple manner, enables a high packing density and enables the containers to be positioned precisely, with preference being given to a simple and reliable method Insertion of the container into the receptacles of the support structure should be allowed. Further aspects of the present invention relate to transport structures or transport or packaging containers and a sterile packaging structure with such a holding structure. These objects are achieved by a support structure according to claim 1, a transport structure

Claim 15 and solved by a transport or packaging container according to claim 17. Further advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

According to the present invention, a holding structure according to claim 1 for simultaneously holding a
Provided a plurality of containers for substances for pharmaceutical, medical or cosmetic applications, in particular vials or carpules, with a plurality of receptacles in which the containers can be partially or completely received, so that the upper or lower ends of the containers protrude axially from the receptacles or don't do this. The receptacles each have an open upper end for inserting the containers into the receptacles and a lower end with a holding section, the holding section serving to limit the axial mobility of the containers in the receptacles, i.e. the containers are axially secured in the withhold recordings. Furthermore, guide sections are provided in order to guide the containers when they are inserted into the receptacles. According to the invention, the guide sections include upper guide and positioning sections provided near the upper ends of the seats and lower guide and positioning sections provided near the lower ends of the seats, the upper guide and positioning sections being separate from the lower guide and positioning sections are formed and designed to limit radial mobility of the containers in the receptacles. The upper and lower guiding and positioning sections are formed in one piece with the holding structure.

Because the upper and lower guiding and positioning sections are designed separately from one another as mutually independent sections and are not directly connected to one another or even designed in one piece, a functional separation between the upper guiding and positioning sections and the lower guiding and positioning sections is made possible according to the invention. While conventional in particular in the production by an injection molding process, the guide and positioning sections are formed in one piece and must be formed beveled over a relatively large distance in order to allow the holding structure to be removed from an injection mold at all, the upper and lower guide and positioning sections can each be relatively short according to the invention be formed. While conventionally this required relatively large minimum distances between the receptacles, the upper and lower guiding and positioning sections can each be made relatively short according to the invention, so that the minimum distances between the receptacles can be significantly reduced and the achievable packing density can be greatly increased according to the invention. This advantage becomes particularly clear in the case of holding structures for accommodating relatively long and slender pharmaceutical containers.

A further advantage of this functional separation is that, according to the invention, the guides and receptacles can be produced with very small tolerances. Since the outer diameter of the container to be accommodated is specified relatively precisely due to the manufacturing process, the freedom of movement and inaccurate positioning of the accommodated container can be restricted to a minimum due to the likewise very precise design of the guides and receptacles. The containers can thus be pre-positioned more precisely relative to the receptacles, which when inserting the containers into the receptacles leads to less material abrasion and thus to fewer particles in the area of the holding structure. This advantage also applies to transport, because the containers can be held tightly in the receptacles with less play and can therefore move back and forth less strongly during transport.

Because the guiding and positioning sections according to the invention also do not have to extend over the entire length of the receptacles, material can also be saved during production, which also makes a holding structure according to the invention lighter and more torsion-resistant. The outlay for production is also reduced because simpler and more cost-effective forms can be used, in particular for production by plastic injection molding.

In principle, it can be sufficient if a single guiding and positioning section is close to the upper and lower end of a respective receptacle is provided. Such a single guiding and positioning section can also be provided with one or more radially inwardly extending projections in order to sufficiently limit the radial mobility of the containers, such projections being particularly preferably distributed at equal angular distances from one another along the circumference of the receptacles and preferably, viewed in plan, are arranged alternately near the upper and lower ends of the respective receptacle.

The restriction of the radial freedom of movement of the containers in the receptacles reduces the impact speeds and thus the forces when the containers collide with the side walls or side wall sections of the receptacles during transport. These reduced normal forces then in turn result in smaller frictional forces and less material abrasion (formation of particles) when the containers are stored in the receptacles, but also when they are inserted into the receptacles. Furthermore, the very precise guidance of the containers which is possible according to the invention also enables the containers to be removed from the receptacles very precisely, for example by lifting the containers by means of pre-positioned grippers. Guide ribs designed in this way also allow geometric deviations, such as distortion, roundness, concentricity, etc., which are caused by the injection molding process for producing the holding structure, to be subsequently precisely adapted and coordinated.

The very precise positioning and guidance of the containers in the receptacles according to the invention enable the packing density to be increased, particularly in the case of long, thin or slender containers, since glass-to-glass contact of containers becomes less likely as freedom of movement becomes increasingly restricted. The pitch can thus be narrower.

With greatly reduced freedom of movement of the containers in the receptacles, the required guide length can also be reduced. This is relevant, for example, in the case of long, thin or slender containers, such as carpules or syringe barrels, especially with small formats, because these can often only be inserted into the receptacles up to the lower half. Due to the very precise positioning and guidance of the containers according to the invention, it can nevertheless be reliably guaranteed that there is no glass-to-glass contact. Thus, according to the invention, material can also be saved.

According to a preferred embodiment, no partition walls are provided between adjacent wells to prevent collision of containers in immediately adjacent wells, such as in the form of peripheral side walls which conventionally prevent collision of containers in immediately adjacent wells. On the contrary, this separating function can be omitted entirely due to the very precise positioning and centering according to the invention by the upper and lower guiding and positioning sections. The containers can therefore be radially supported in the receptacles exclusively by the upper and lower guiding and positioning sections. For this purpose, they are formed on sufficiently stable structures of the support structure, in particular on the edge of circular openings on the top side of the support structure and on the lower ends of connecting webs that protrude perpendicularly from the top side of the support structure.

According to a further embodiment, the distance between the upper and lower guiding and positioning sections in the longitudinal direction of the receptacles is greater than the distance between the upper guiding and positioning sections and the upper ends of the receptacles and/or greater than the distance between the lower guiding and positioning sections the lower ends of the recordings. This distance expediently corresponds essentially to the axial length of the receptacle, while the guiding and positioning sections themselves are preferably arranged at comparatively small distances from the upper or lower end of the receptacles. For an optimal guide length, the upper guide and positioning sections are preferably arranged at the level of an upper side of the holding structure or at only a very small distance below it, ie in an area in which the holding structure is most stable. Further, the lower guiding and positioning portions are preferably located at the bottom of the turrets to support the containers proximate the lower ends of the turrets. In this way, undesired tilting of the containers in the receptacles can also be minimized, for example during transport, which leads to a further minimization of material abrasion due to the containers rubbing against the side walls or holding webs of the receptacles.

According to a further embodiment, the shape and dimensions of the upper and lower guiding and positioning sections act as rigid or non-flexible guiding and positioning sections for guiding and positioning the containers. The upper and lower guiding and positioning portions are formed sufficiently wide and long that the upper and lower guiding and positioning portions are not substantially deformed or yielded even when the containers are guided. When guiding the containers, the upper and lower guiding and positioning sections can be slightly adjusted at most due to the general flexibility of the holding structure itself, ie in particular the axial connecting webs and lower connecting webs, as explained below.

According to the invention, the upper and/or lower guiding and positioning sections each protrude radially inwards into the receptacles, so that the cylindrical side walls of the containers are not radially supported by contact with side walls or holding webs of the receptacles, but only point contact with only a few guiding and There are positioning sections, which further helps to minimize material abrasion. The front ends of the upper and/or lower guiding and positioning sections of a respective receptacle together preferably enclose an upper or lower circle with a diameter that corresponds to the outer diameter of the container to be accommodated in the respective area of the upper or lower guiding and positioning sections corresponds to or is slightly larger than this outer diameter to minimize frictional forces and material wear, for example by one or a few tenths of a millimeter. With greatly reduced freedom of movement of the containers in the receptacles, the necessary guide length of the guide and positioning sections can also be reduced. This is relevant, for example, in the case of long, thin or slender containers, such as carpules or syringe barrels, especially with small formats, because these can often only be inserted into the receptacles up to the lower half. Due to the very precise positioning and guidance of the containers according to the invention, a collision of containers in adjacent receptacles can nevertheless be reliably avoided. Thus, according to the invention, material can also be saved.

The diameter of the aforementioned upper and lower circles is preferably the same, which in particular further facilitates removal of the holding structure from an injection mold and further minimizes undesired tilting of the containers in the receptacles.

According to a further embodiment, when viewed from above the receptacles, the upper guiding and positioning sections of a receptacle are each arranged at an angle offset to the lower guiding and positioning sections of the receptacle, with the upper and lower guiding and positioning sections not overlapping. This offers significant advantages, especially when manufacturing the support structure by injection molding from a plastic, because the support structure can be demoulded from an injection mold in one step, including the upper and lower guiding and positioning sections. Because the upper and lower guiding and positioning sections are angularly offset from each other and do not overlap, they do not interfere with each other during demoulding.

According to a further embodiment, at least one upper and lower guiding and positioning section and preferably a plurality of upper and lower guiding and positioning sections are assigned to the receptacles, which are distributed around the receptacles at constant angular distances from one another. This enables symmetrical multi-point support of the containers in the receptacles. Preferably, the upper and lower guiding and positioning sections are arranged alternately when viewed from above, which makes the aforementioned demoulding of the holding structure even easier.

According to one of two alternatives of the holding structure according to the invention, the upper and lower guiding and positioning sections are each designed as narrow upper and lower guiding ribs, which extend in the longitudinal direction of the receptacles and protrude radially inwards into the receptacles. The front contact surfaces of the upper and lower guide ribs can each be tapered or rounded, which further helps minimize the contact surface between the container and the respective guide and positioning section when it is supported in the receptacle and thus further minimize unwanted material abrasion on these contact surfaces.

According to a further embodiment, front contact surfaces of the upper and/or lower guide ribs each have a wedge-shaped profile or are rounded in the longitudinal direction, which enables precise positioning of the containers and minimal material abrasion of the containers on the contact surfaces.

According to a further embodiment, front contact surfaces of the upper and lower guide ribs each extend downwardly at an acute angle of inclination relative to the longitudinal direction of the receptacles. The front surfaces of the guide ribs can provide further centering of the containers when inserting from vertically above the support structure. For this purpose, even small angles of inclination of these beveled front surfaces can be sufficient. For example, the angle of inclination of these beveled front surfaces may be between 0° and 3°, more preferably between 0.0° and 1.5° and even more preferably between 0.0° and 0.5°.

According to a further embodiment, front contact surfaces of the upper and/or lower guide ribs are concavely curved to correspond to the outer contour of the container, so that a cylindrical side wall of the container is not point-shaped but has a linear contact area on the front contact surfaces of the upper and/or lower guide ribs rests, whereby an even more precise positioning can be achieved.

According to a further embodiment, front contact surfaces of the upper and/or lower guide ribs are each alternatively designed with a convex curvature in order to bear essentially point-like on the cylindrically designed side wall of the container.

According to a further embodiment, the upper and/or lower guiding and positioning sections are each designed as ring segments which extend in the longitudinal direction of the receptacles and protrude radially inwards into the receptacles, with a radius of curvature of the ring segments being matched to the outer diameter of the containers in order to abut against the containers, so that a cylindrical side wall of the container is not in each case a punctiform but a linear one Contact area rests against the front contact surfaces of the upper and / or lower guide ribs, whereby an even more precise positioning can be achieved.

According to a further embodiment, the upper guide ribs are each formed in one piece with a circumferential edge web which radially delimits the upper end of a respective receptacle. The edge webs can serve to further stiffen the holding structure, in particular an upper side of the holding structure, in particular if they are formed completely around the edge of a respective receptacle and/or are firmly connected to one another directly or indirectly via connecting webs or the like.

According to a further embodiment, the edge webs protrude essentially perpendicularly from an upper side of the holding structure, the edge webs each being provided with an insertion bevel. Due to the insertion bevels, the containers can be guided even better when being inserted vertically from above into the receptacles of the holding structure, in order to slide into the receptacles gently and without major frictional forces and lateral forces. The insertion bevels act as a kind of catching funnel to catch the ends of the containers when they are being inserted vertically from above into the receptacles of the holding structure and to guide them in the direction of the upper guiding and positioning sections. For this purpose, the edge webs do not necessarily have to be circumferential. Rather, it can be sufficient if several edge webs or guide structures are arranged spaced apart from one another along the edge of a respective receptacle, the distances between such edge webs or guide structures being smaller than the outer diameter of the container. According to the invention, the containers therefore have to be pre-positioned less precisely relative to the receptacles, which further reduces the effort involved in handling the containers. The containers can still be reliably inserted into the receptacles.

In principle, the insertion bevels can begin directly at the upper end of the edge webs in order to reduce the effective distance between the edge webs to the diameter between the upper guide and positioning sections. In principle, however, the insertion bevels can only begin at a certain distance from the upper ends of the edge webs, so that the opening width of the recordings at the upper Ends of the edge webs can then be maximal in order to efficiently capture the containers when they are inserted into the receptacles.

In principle, the insertion bevels can also be concave, but are preferably flat, inclined surfaces on the upper ends of the guide ribs, which considerably facilitates demoulding of the holding structure according to the invention from an injection mold during production by injection molding. For this purpose, the insertion bevels, viewed in the longitudinal direction of the receptacles, can in particular have a wedge-shaped profile.

According to a further embodiment, the edge webs at crossing areas of adjacent edge webs have a greater height than at central sections between two crossing areas, which further minimizes the use of material and the weight of the holding structure. The containers can nevertheless be effectively caught at the highest sections of the edge webs, ie in the crossing areas, and can be efficiently guided into the receptacles of the holding structure when being inserted vertically from above. To this end, it is preferred if the upper edge of the edge webs is continuously curved in a concave manner or, for example, runs in the shape of a triangle. The reduced height of the edge webs at the central sections also allows a locally tailored stiffness of the structure to be created, comparable to a simple bending beam, where deflection can be reduced by strengthening the material towards the center (corresponding to the area at the crossing areas ) and thus causes efficient amplification.

According to a further embodiment, further axial connecting webs extend downwards from the central sections of the edge webs and are connected to an underside of the holding structure, in particular in order to additionally support the edge webs on the central sections. Due to this additional support, the central sections of the edge webs can still be sufficiently stiff despite their lower height and inherent rigidity. At the same time, the additional connection of the upper side to the lower side via the additional axial connecting webs enables the holding structure to be further reinforced.

According to a further embodiment, four or preferably six edge webs in each case delimit the upper ends of the receptacles in the radial direction. This results in automatically a fourfold or sixfold symmetry of the respective receptacles, which not only further facilitates the insertion of the containers into the receptacles, but also further increases the rigidity of the holding structure, especially when the edge webs are connected to one another. The holding sections, which limit the axial mobility of the containers in the receptacles, can be provided on axial connecting webs which protrude perpendicularly from an upper side or a base plane of the holding structure and are connected to crossing areas of two or preferably three edge webs. The connecting webs are expediently connected to an underside or a base of the holding structure, which further increases the rigidity of the holding structure, in particular a torsional and bending rigidity of the same. The lower guide ribs are preferably each formed in one piece with these axial connecting webs.

If further processing of the containers is planned while they are accommodated in the receptacles of the holding structure, the rigidity of these holding projections can be considerable, so that, for example, plugs can be pressed over the filling openings of carpules, while the carpules are on the holding projections at the ends opposite the filling openings are supported as follows.

According to a further embodiment, lower ends of the aforementioned axial connecting webs form a circumferential side wall or these are widened to form such a circumferential side wall of the receptacles, with the lower guide ribs each being formed in one piece with the circumferential side wall formed by the lower ends of the axial connecting webs. In this case, the aforementioned lower guide ribs or guide and positioning section can be formed in particular in one piece with this peripherally formed side wall at the lower ends of the axial connecting webs.

According to a further embodiment, insertion bevels are formed at the upper ends of the upper and/or lower guide ribs, which extend inclined relative to the associated upper or lower guide ribs. When inserting, the containers slide even more gently along the guide ribs into the receptacles, which helps to further reduce material abrasion.

According to a further embodiment, the insertion bevels are at an angle in the range between 5° and 45°, more preferably in the range between 10° and 15° and even more preferably in the range between 12.5° and 14° relative to the upper and/or lower guide ribs. inclined at 5°. On the one hand, this enables the containers to be caught efficiently when they are inserted perpendicularly to the plane of the holding structure and, on the other hand, they can be reliably inserted into the receptacles formed by the guide ribs located underneath. The transition area to the guide ribs can be angled, but can also be arched.

According to a further embodiment, the insertion bevels are inclined at a greater angle of inclination to the central axis of the receptacles than the guide ribs. Since the angle of inclination of the guide ribs to the central axis of the receptacles is negligible or at least very small, in particular in the range of about only one degree, the difference in angle of inclination essentially corresponds to the angle of inclination of the insertion bevels.

According to a further embodiment, the holding sections are designed as holding projections projecting radially inwards, the holding projections enclosing respective openings at the lower ends of the receptacles. For this purpose, the retaining projections are preferably connected to one another via base webs in order to form circumferential base webs, in each of which a through-opening is formed. As a result, material and weight can be further saved and a high rigidity of the underside or the bottom of the holding structure can nevertheless be achieved. Furthermore, access to the end of a container accommodated in the receptacle is also possible from the underside of the holding structure. The shape of the openings is preferably adapted to the outer profile of the container in this area and is even more preferably circular, which further increases the rigidity of the underside or bottom of the holding structure.

According to a further embodiment, the holding structure is designed to hold carpules which have a cylindrical base body and an upper end with a narrowed neck section and an adjoining shoulder section which merges into a cylindrical side wall of the container. The opening width of the aforementioned openings is on the upper ends of the carpules coordinated so that the top ends of the carpules extend through the openings and the shoulder portions of the carpules rest directly on the retaining projections or bottom ridges to limit axial mobility of the carpules in the receptacles when the carpules are received upside down in the receptacles .

In principle, the carpules can also be designed as so-called double-chamber carpules with a bypass that protrudes radially from a side wall of the cylindrical base body.

The ejection openings of the carpules can be closed with a stopper and sealed with a cover or closure, for example by means of a crimped-on metal cover, which still allows access to a septum in the stopper (precrimped cartridge). The opening widths of the aforementioned openings at the lower ends of the receptacles can be dimensioned such that the front end of the carpule with the stopper and the metal cover crimped on can extend completely through this opening, so that the carpules are only in the area of the shoulder section on the retaining projections are supported. The opening is preferably circular for this purpose, or in accordance with the profile of the carpule.

According to a further embodiment, an upper side or a base plane of the holding structure is flat and in particular plate-shaped at least along the edge of the holding structure, the lower ends of the receptacles being connected to one another via webs which together span a plane. The holding structure is thus constructed in a sandwich design, so to speak, and has a substantially closed "perforated plate" on the top and bottom, which are connected to one another via the aforementioned axial connecting webs in order to increase the rigidity of the top and bottom . This structure is particularly favorable with regard to a surface load, as is generated by filled pharmaceutical containers, for example vials or carpules. This is because the upper side of the holding structure is compressed by the then higher axial load, but the underside of the holding structure is stretched. The stiffer the top and bottom are, and the greater the distance between the top and bottom, the less the support structure flexes overall under load.

According to a further embodiment, the edge of the holding structure is additionally reinforced by a side wall which protrudes perpendicularly from its upper side. This edge is preferably formed in one piece with the upper side, in particular with a T-shaped profile.

According to a preferred further embodiment, the holding structure is designed as a nest for accommodating the plurality of containers therein, preferably pharmaceutical containers, in particular vials or carpules.

According to a preferred further embodiment, the receptacles are connected to one another by means of connecting webs for further stiffening of the retaining structure, with the receptacles being designed in such a way that two retaining structures of the same design can be stacked one on top of the other in such a way that the receptacles of an upper retaining structure partially fit into the receptacles of a retaining structure located below immerse and that the connecting webs of an upper support structure are supported directly on a top or base level of a support structure located below.

According to another preferred embodiment, the length of the receptacles is matched to the length of the containers in such a way that the upper or lower ends of the containers protrude from the receptacles and are therefore freely accessible from above the holding structure. This can be used for further processing or treatment of the containers while they are received in the receptacles and held on the holding structure. For example, a nest can be held temporarily in a holding frame of a process station, for example at a pharmaceutical filling station, while the substance is filled into the containers held on the holding structure via the filling openings. Or plugs are pressed into the ends of the containers to close the containers while the containers are held on the support structure. Or the ends protruding from the receptacles can be used to grip the containers and remove them from the receptacles.

According to the invention, the holding structure is formed in one piece by injection molding from a plastic. The aforementioned inclined guide ribs and / or

Introductory bevels can effectively support the removal of the holding structure from an injection mold.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transport structure for containers, consisting of a combination of the support structure as set out above, and a plurality of containers for substances for pharmaceutical, medical or cosmetic applications held thereon, the containers being held in the receptacles of the Retaining structure are at least partially included and are held axially secured to the support structure, as explained above.

According to a further alternative embodiment, the support structure is formed as a receptacle part in which the plurality of receptacles are integrally formed as frusto-conical receptacles in a regular array such that the containers have their tops directed toward the bottoms of the receptacles and preventing direct contact of adjacent containers can be accommodated in the receptacles of the receiving part. The receiving part can serve as a holding tray (so-called tray) for the containers and can also be sealed directly for sterile transport and storage of the containers, for example by means of a sealing film.

The receptacles are preferably matched to the lengths of the containers in such a way that the containers are completely received in the receptacles, ie their ends do not protrude from the receptacles.

According to a further embodiment, a support part is also provided in order to cover the bottoms of the containers accommodated in the receiving part, the support part being formed by a base plate with a flat support surface which faces the receptacles.

In this case, the aforementioned receiving part and the supporting part can be formed by injection molding from a plastic.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a container transport assembly comprising a combination of the support structure such as as described above, and a plurality of containers for substances for pharmaceutical, medical or cosmetic applications held thereon, the containers being received in the receptacles and held axially secured to the support structure.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transport or packaging container for a plurality of containers for substances for pharmaceutical, medical or cosmetic applications, wherein the transport or packaging container is box-shaped, with a holding structure, as stated above, in the box-shaped Transporting or packaging container is accommodated together with the containers held thereon to hold the plurality of containers in the transporting or packaging container.

The transport or packaging container can be closed or sealed in particular by means of a gas-permeable plastic film, in particular by means of a plastic film which is formed from a gas-permeable mesh of plastic fibers and is in particular a ^Tyvek® film.

For sterile transport and storage, a sterile packaging structure can also be provided, with at least one transport structure, as set out above, or with at least one transport or packaging container, as set out above, and with the containers accommodated therein, the at least one transport structure or the at least one transport or packaging container is accommodated in at least one sterile outer packaging bag and packaged in a sterile manner against the environment. In this case, the at least one sterile outer packaging bag can have a gas-permeable section, which is formed in particular by a mesh made of plastic fibers, such as polypropylene fibers (PP).

CHARACTER OVERVIEW

Fig. 1a und 1b

eine Grundeinheit einer Haltestruktur gemäß einer ersten Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung in einer Perspektivansicht, und zwar ohne Behälter und mit darin gehaltenem Behälter;

Fig. 1c und 1d

eine Draufsicht auf die Grundeinheit gemäß den Figuren 1a und 1b ohne bzw. mit darin gehaltenem Behälter;

Fig. 1e und 1f

die Grundeinheit gemäß der Fig. 1d in einem Längsschnitt entlang von A-A bzw. B-B gemäß der Fig. 1d;

Fig. 1g

eine perspektivische Draufsicht auf eine Haltestruktur gemäß der ersten Ausführungsform mit mehreren Grundeinheiten gemäß der Fig. 1c;

Fig. 1h

in einem perspektivischen Teilschnitt einen Transport- und Verpackungsbehälter mit einer Haltestruktur gemäß der Fig. 1g;

Fig. 2a

in einer Seitenansicht eine Grundeinheit einer Haltestruktur gemäß einer zweiten Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung ohne darin aufgenommenem Behälter;

Fig. 2b und 2c

die Grundeinheit gemäß der Fig. 2a in einer Schnittansicht entlang von C-C bzw. D-D gemäß der Fig. 2a;

Fig. 2d

eine perspektivische Draufsicht auf eine Haltestruktur gemäß der zweiten Ausführungsform mit mehreren Grundeinheiten gemäß der Fig. 2a;

Fig. 2e

eine Draufsicht auf die Haltestruktur gemäß der Fig. 2d, die in einem Transport- oder Verpackungsbehälter aufgenommen ist, der in einem Teilschnitt dargestellt ist;

Fig. 3a und 3b

eine Grundeinheit einer Haltestruktur gemäß einer dritten Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung in einer Perspektivansicht, und zwar ohne Behälter und mit darin gehaltenem Behälter;

Fig. 3c

eine Draufsicht auf die Grundeinheit gemäß der Fig. 3b mit darin gehaltenem Behälter;

Fig. 3d und 3e

die Grundeinheit gemäß der Fig. 3c in einem Längsschnitt entlang von A-A bzw. B-B gemäß der Fig. 3c;

Fig. 4a und 4b

eine Grundeinheit einer Haltestruktur gemäß einer vierten Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung in einer Perspektivansicht, und zwar ohne Behälter und mit darin gehaltenem Behälter;

Fig. 4c

eine Draufsicht auf die Grundeinheit gemäß der Fig. 4b mit darin gehaltenem Behälter;

Fig. 4d und 4e

die Grundeinheit gemäß der Fig. 4c in einem Längsschnitt entlang von A-A bzw. B-B gemäß der Fig. 4c;

Fig. 4e

eine perspektivische Draufsicht auf eine Haltestruktur gemäß der vierten Ausführungsform mit mehreren Grundeinheiten gemäß der Fig. 4a;

Fig. 5a

eine Grundeinheit einer modifizierten Haltestruktur gemäß der vierten Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung in einer perspektivischen Draufsicht;

Fig. 5b

die Grundeinheit gemäß der Fig. 5a mit einer darin gehaltenen Karpule;

Fig. 5c

eine Draufsicht auf die Grundeinheit gemäß der Fig. 5b mit der darin gehaltenen Karpule;

Fig. 5d

einen Teilschnitt entlang A-A in der Fig. 5c;

Fig. 5e

einen Teilschnitt entlang B-B in der Fig. 5c;

Fig. 6a

eine Grundeinheit einer modifizierten Haltestruktur gemäß der dritten Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung in einer perspektivischen mit einer darin gehaltenen Karpule;

Fig. 6b

eine Draufsicht auf die Grundeinheit gemäß der Fig. 6b mit der darin gehaltenen Karpule;

Fig. 6c

einen Teilschnitt entlang A-A in der Fig. 6b;

Fig. 6d

einen Teilschnitt entlang B-B in der Fig. 6b;

Fig. 7a und 7b

eine Grundeinheit einer modifizierten Haltestruktur gemäß einer fünften Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung in einer perspektivischen Draufsicht und in einer Draufsicht;

Fig. 7c und 7d

die Grundeinheit gemäß der Fig. 7a in einem Teilschnitt entlang A-A in der Fig. 7b bzw. entlang B-B in der Fig. 7b;

Fig. 7e und 7f

die Grundeinheit gemäß Fig. 7a mit einem darin aufgenommenen Vial in einer perspektivischen Draufsicht und in einer Draufsicht;

Fig. 7g und 7h

die Grundeinheit gemäß der Fig. 7e in einem Teilschnitt entlang A-A in der Fig. 7f bzw. entlang B-B in der Fig. 7f;

Fig. 8a

eine Haltestruktur gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung in einer Draufsicht;

Fig. 8b

einen Teilschnitt entlang A-A in der Fig. 8a;

Fig. 8c

einen Teilschnitt entlang B-B in der Fig. 8a; und

Fig. 9a und 9b

eine Variante zur Grundeinheit gemäß der Fig. 2a in einer Sschnittansicht entlang von C-C bzw. D-D gemäß der Fig. 2a.

In the following, the invention will be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, from which further features, advantages and objects to be achieved will emerge. Show it:

Figures 1a and 1b

a basic unit of a holding structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention in a perspective view, namely without a container and with a container held therein;

Figures 1c and 1d

a plan view of the base unit according to the Figures 1a and 1b without or with a container held therein;

Figures 1e and 1f

the basic unit according to the Fig. 1d in a longitudinal section along AA or BB according to the Fig. 1d ;

1g

a top perspective view of a support structure according to the first embodiment with a plurality of basic units according to FIG 1c ;

Fig. 1h

in a perspective partial section a transport and packaging container with a support structure according to 1g ;

Figure 2a

in a side view a base unit of a support structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention without a container accommodated therein;

Figures 2b and 2c

the basic unit according to the Figure 2a in a sectional view along CC and DD according to the Figure 2a ;

Fig. 2d

a top perspective view of a support structure according to the second embodiment with several basic units according to FIG Figure 2a ;

Figure 2e

a plan view of the support structure according to FIG Fig. 2d accommodated in a transport or packaging container shown in partial section;

Figures 3a and 3b

a basic unit of a holding structure according to a third embodiment of the present invention in a perspective view, namely without a container and with a container held therein;

3c

a plan view of the base unit according to FIG Figure 3b with container held therein;

Figures 3d and 3e

the basic unit according to the 3c in a longitudinal section along AA or BB according to the 3c ;

Figures 4a and 4b

a basic unit of a holding structure according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention in a perspective view, namely without a container and with a container held therein;

Figure 4c

a plan view of the base unit according to FIG Figure 4b with container held therein;

Figures 4d and 4e

the basic unit according to the Figure 4c in a longitudinal section along AA or BB according to the Figure 4c ;

Figure 4e

a top perspective view of a holding structure according to the fourth embodiment with several basic units according to FIG Figure 4a ;

Figure 5a

a basic unit of a modified support structure according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention in a perspective plan view;

Figure 5b

the basic unit according to the Figure 5a with a carpule held therein;

Figure 5c

a plan view of the base unit according to FIG Figure 5b with the carpule held therein;

Figure 5d

a partial section along AA in the Figure 5c ;

Figure 5e

a partial section along BB in the Figure 5c ;

Figure 6a

a base unit of a modified support structure according to the third embodiment of the present invention in a perspective view with a carpule held therein;

Figure 6b

a plan view of the base unit according to FIG Figure 6b with the carpule held therein;

Figure 6c

a partial section along AA in the Figure 6b ;

Figure 6d

a partial section along BB in the Figure 6b ;

Figures 7a and 7b

a basic unit of a modified support structure according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention in a perspective plan view and in a plan view;

Figures 7c and 7d

the basic unit according to the Figure 7a in a partial section along AA in the Figure 7b or along BB in the Figure 7b ;

Figures 7e and 7f

the basic unit according to Figure 7a with a vial accommodated therein in a perspective plan view and in a plan view;

Figures 7g and 7h

the basic unit according to the Figure 7e in a partial section along AA in the Fig. 7f or along BB in the Fig. 7f ;

Figure 8a

a holding structure according to a further embodiment of the present invention in a plan view;

Figure 8b

a partial section along AA in the Figure 8a ;

Figure 8c

a partial section along BB in the Figure 8a ; and

Figures 9a and 9b

a variant of the basic unit according to the Figure 2a in a Ssectional view along CC or DD according to the Figure 2a .

In the figures, identical reference symbols designate elements or groups of elements that are identical or have essentially the same effect.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The 1g Figure 12 shows the general structure of a support structure 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The support structure 1 has an overall plate-shaped top or base plane 2, the peripheral edge according to the 1g just trained. In the top 2, a plurality of openings 5 are formed, which are arranged in rows and columns perpendicular thereto, wherein in this embodiment, the openings 5 of adjacent rows or columns are offset from one another, which in the hexagonal arrangement of the edge webs 10 a allows for higher packing densities. A plurality of axial connecting webs 11 protrude perpendicularly from the underside of the holding structure 1 and are connected to one another at their lower ends via circumferential bottom webs 12 . As explained in more detail below, the axial connecting webs 11 form receptacles into which the containers can be inserted vertically from above in order to be accommodated therein. The bottom webs 12 act as holding sections in order to support or hold the containers in the receptacles 5 and to limit their axial mobility in the receptacles. At the same time, the axial connecting webs 11 also limit the radial mobility of the containers in the receptacles 5, so that a collision of containers that are received in immediately adjacent receptacles 5 is prevented. The receptacles 5 serve to receive pharmaceutical containers therein, in particular vials or carpules.

Access openings 6 in the upper side 2 are used to grip the holding structure 1 (cf. Fig. 2d ), which are provided offset to one another on two opposite sides of the holding structure 1.

The bottom webs 12 jointly span a plane, which serves to further stiffen the receptacles 5 and the holding structure 1 . The bottom ridges 12 enclose circular openings 13 at the lower ends of the receptacles 5 .

Edge webs 10 protrude perpendicularly from the upper side 2 of the holding structure 1 . These are connected to each other to further stiffen the top 2, each forming the upper end of the seats 5 and acting as a whole as a hopper to facilitate the insertion of the containers into the seats 5, as explained below.

The recordings 5 are formed by respective basic units, such as those in FIG Fig. 1a is shown. These basic units are directly adjacent to one another and together form the upper side of the holding structure, so that preferably only the edge of the holding structure is plate-shaped and flat, as in FIG 1g shown. According to the Fig. 1a stand from the lower ends of the axial connecting webs 11 lower connecting webs 12a perpendicularly, which each connect to a circumferential bottom web 12 of the receptacle 5. The bottom web 12 extends perpendicularly to the axial connecting webs 11. Six axial connecting webs 11 delimit a receptacle 5. At their upper ends, the axial connecting webs 11 are connected to one another via edge webs 10, which are arranged flush with the peripheral edge of the upper side 2. The edge webs 10 each have a wedge-shaped profile 100, with an edge 101 being formed at the lower end of the edge webs 10, which edge extends perpendicularly to the upper side of the holding structure and thus parallel to the axial connecting webs 11. When viewed from above on a respective receptacle, the edge webs 10 together enclose a circle whose diameter is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the containers to be received in the receptacles 5 .

The edge webs 10 are used to separate the receptacles 5 at their upper ends. The clear width between adjacent axial connecting webs 11 is smaller than the outer diameter of the containers to be accommodated in the receptacles 5, so that the axial connecting webs 11 limit the radial mobility of the containers in the receptacles 5 and a collision between containers in immediately adjacent receptacles 5 is prevented. Via the slots 11b between the axial connecting webs 11, a visual inspection of the containers accommodated in the receptacles 5 is possible. At the same time, in considerable amount of material and weight can be saved because no partitions between the recordings 5 are provided. By connecting all the edge webs 10 and the bottom webs 12 to one another, a very high level of rigidity of the holding structure can be achieved overall.

How to continue in the Fig. 1a As can be seen, lower guide and positioning lugs 20 are provided at the lower ends of the axial connecting webs 11, which protrude radially inward into the receptacles 5, so that the side walls of the containers do not come into contact with the axial connecting webs 11, but directly to the guide and positioning lugs 20 and are guided by them when inserted into the receptacles 5. The guiding and positioning lugs 20 are preferably relatively short in comparison to the length of the axial connecting webs 11, but in principle they can also essentially extend over the entire length of the axial connecting webs 11 in their longitudinal direction. Viewed in cross section, the axial connecting webs 11 preferably have a hexagonal profile (see also Figure 2c ), corresponding to the hexagonal layout of the support structure, as shown in the 1g shown, with other layouts for arranging the receptacles 5 on the holding structure 1 being conceivable in principle. At the upper ends of the axial connecting webs 11, recesses 14 are formed in the edge webs 10, the side wall of which extends perpendicularly to the upper side of the holding structure in order to enable the lower connecting webs 12a, which are aligned with them, to be demolded from an injection mold. The side walls of the axial connecting webs 11 may be inclined at a small angle of inclination to the center line of the receptacles 5, for example at an angle of the order of about 0.5° to about 5.0°.

Like in the Fig. 1a shown, a plurality of upper guiding and positioning lugs 15 are arranged on the edge webs 10, preferably on their vertical edge 101. These are also relatively short and preferably do not protrude beyond the vertical edge 101 . The upper guiding and positioning lugs 15 and the lower guiding and positioning lugs 20 are distributed along the edge of the receptacles 5 at equal angular distances from one another. The upper and lower guide and positioning lugs 15, 20 are each arranged alternately and angularly offset from one another, viewed in plan view.

The upper and lower guide and positioning lugs 15, 20 can extend perpendicularly, parallel to the center line of the receptacles 5, but can in principle also be inclined at a small angle of inclination relative to the center line, for example by an angle of inclination of the order of max. 0.5 ° or max. 1.0°. This results in the contact points of the upper and lower guiding and positioning lugs 15, 20 with the outer wall of the container to be accommodated, for example in the Fig. 1b shown vials 51, a linear or point-shaped or even surface contact at the front ends of the upper and lower guiding and positioning lugs 15, 20.

How to see in the top view 1c can be seen, the upper and lower guide and positioning lugs 15, 20 are each arranged along a circle, the diameter of which at least at the lower ends of the receptacles 5 corresponds to the outer diameter of the containers in this area, so that the containers with their outer wall directly against the lower Abut guide and positioning lugs 20 or at most are arranged at only a very small distance from them. In this case, the circle enclosed by the upper guiding and positioning lugs 15 can basically have the same diameter as the circle enclosed by the lower guiding and positioning lugs 20, so that the containers are in the area of both the upper guiding and positioning lugs 15 and the lower guiding and positioning tabs 20 are snugly received in the receptacles 5. In principle, however, the circle enclosed by the upper guiding and positioning lugs 15 can also have a slightly larger diameter than the circle enclosed by the lower guiding and positioning lugs 20, so that in the area of the upper edge webs 10 the containers have a slightly larger radial play in the Recordings 5 are recorded than at their lower ends.

The inclusion of a vial in such a recording of a base unit according to the first embodiment is in the Figures 1d to 1f shown. The vial 51 has a hollow cylindrical body formed by a cylindrical side wall 52 at the top of which is formed a shoulder portion 54 which merges into a narrowed neck portion 55, at the top of which is a widened rim portion 56 (with or without external threads) with a filling port 57 formed therein. The lower end of the vial 51 is formed by a floor 53 which is perpendicular to the side wall 52 . It can be seen that the lower end of the side wall 52 is in direct contact with the front ends of the lower guiding and positioning lugs 20 . Furthermore, the side wall 52 rests directly on the front ends of the upper guiding and positioning lugs 15 on the upper side of the holding structure.

According to a further preferred use, a holding structure according to the present invention serves to hold carpules 58 upside down in the receptacles 5, as shown in FIGS Figures 6a to 6d shown. Carpules 58 are usually designed to be relatively slim and are designed to be open at both ends. The ejection opening can be provided in the area of the widened upper edge 56 and a filling opening 59 can be provided at the opposite end of the carpule 58 through which a syringe stopper is inserted into the carpule 58 after a liquid has been filled into the carpule 58 .

When such a carpule 58 is received upside down in a receptacle of the base unit described above, as in FIG Figure 6a or in the sectional views according to Figures 6c and 6d shown, the front end of the carpule 58, including the narrowed neck portion 55 and the widened upper edge 56, extends through the opening 13 in the bottom ridges 12, including a metal lid 560 crimped thereon. The metal lid 560 does not come into contact with the bottom ridges 12, so that no forces are exerted on it and the stopper can securely close the filling opening 59 of the carpule 58, even if large axial forces act on the carpule 58, for example when inserting syringe stoppers into the filling opening 59 at the opposite end of the carpule 58 while the latter is upside down is added and supported in the recordings 5. How to Figures 6c and 6d can be seen, the neck sections 54 of the carpules 58 are supported directly on the bottom webs 12 . These bottom webs 12 and also the axial connecting webs 11 are designed with a suitable material thickness to absorb suitable forces, for example when setting the plug. In this position, the opposite ends of the carpules 58 with the filling openings 59 provided there can protrude from the receptacles 5 .

How to Fig. 1a can be seen, the upper and lower guide and positioning lugs 15, 20 are formed separately from each other near the upper and lower ends of the receptacles 5, so they are separated as independent sections formed from each other and not directly connected to each other or even formed in one piece. Both the upper guiding and positioning lugs 15 and the lower guiding and positioning lugs 20 can thus be arranged at only a small distance from the side wall of the container to be accommodated, so that the packing density of the holding units can be very high. Relatively long, inclined sections, which were conventionally necessary for demolding from an injection mold, are not required according to the invention, so that the minimum distances between the receptacles 5 can be significantly reduced. At the same time, there is a functional separation between the upper guiding and positioning sections 15 and the lower guiding and positioning sections 20, so that basically guiding and/or positioning in the area of the upper guiding and positioning lugs 15 is independent of the guiding and/or positioning in the area of the lower guide and positioning lugs 20 is possible.

According to the 1c the lower ends of the edge webs 10 as a whole enclose a circle whose diameter is larger than the outer diameter of the container to be accommodated in this area. The lower ends of adjacent edge ridges 10 enclose the upper end 11a of the axial connecting ridge 11 in a three-fold symmetry, with the generally linear upper ridges of the edge ridges 10 being connected to the tips 11a of the axial connecting ridges 11, resulting in a high overall rigidity of the upper side a support structure allows. In particular, forces can be diverted symmetrically laterally to the edge webs 10. The edge webs 10 are thus formed higher in the node points (dead areas of the layout) and thereby locally stiffen the upper side of the holding structure, corresponding to the greater loads to be expected in these areas. The axial connecting webs 11, which are formed directly under these node areas, also increase the rigidity of the holding structure. Furthermore, a rigidity is generated in the area in that both the upper side or base plane of the holding structure and the bottom plane (contact area of the containers) are formed in a closed, flat structure. The axial connecting webs 11 connect the top or base plane of the holding structure to the bottom plane and thus form an inherently rigid sandwich structure.

The upper ridges of the edge webs 10 extend from the axial connecting webs 11 in an arcuate manner towards central sections 103 with a lower height. at these central sections 103 additional connecting webs can be provided for further stiffening, as follows with reference to Figure 4a described in more detail.

The side flanks of the wedge-shaped edge webs 10 serve as insertion bevels for catching and guiding the containers when they are inserted vertically from above into the receptacles 5. Since the side flanks of the wedge-shaped edge webs 10 form a catch funnel with a significantly larger opening width than the outer diameter of the containers, the containers need to be according to the invention only relatively roughly pre-positioned relative to the recordings 5, for example by grippers or robots, which reduces the automation effort. After the containers have been pre-positioned relative to the receptacles 5, they can in principle also be released and slide freely falling into the receptacles 5.

The Fig. 1b shows a vial 51 inserted upright into a receptacle 5 of such a holding unit. When a vial 51 is inserted vertically into the receptacle 5 from above, the lower end of the side wall 52 first reaches the area of the catch funnel formed by the edge webs 10 . As the vial 51 approaches further, the lower end of the side wall 52 finally comes into contact with the side flank 102 of one edge ridge 10 or a plurality of edge ridges 10 and is guided into the receptacle 5 as a result. As the vial 51 approaches further, the side wall finally comes into contact with the upper guide and positioning lugs 15 and is precisely centered by them relative to the receptacle 5 and guided further into the receptacle 5 . As the vial 51 approaches further, the side wall 52 slides along the upper guide and positioning lugs 15 until finally the lower end of the side wall 52 reaches the area of the insertion bevels 21 at the upper ends of the lower guide and positioning lugs 20, in order to gently move away from them to be guided between the lower guide and positioning lugs 20. As the vial 51 approaches further, the side wall 52 finally slides along the insertion bevels 21 and the lower guide and positioning lugs 20 until finally the bottom 53 of the vial 51 rests on the bottom web 12 . In this state (cf. figures 1b , 1e and 1f ) the transition area between the side wall 52 and the shoulder section 54 of a vial 51 is at the level of the upper edge of the edge webs 10 and is thus arranged above the upper side of the holding structure, so that the upper ends of the vials 51, in particular the widened upper edges 56, or the plugs placed on them can easily be gripped again by grippers or robots in order to remove the vials 51 to be removed from the mounts vertically upwards. When pulling the vials 51 vertically upwards out of the receptacles 5, they are guided precisely by the upper and lower guiding and positioning lugs 15, 20. Undesirable abrasion of material at the front ends of the guiding and positioning lugs 15, 20 can thus be minimized both when inserting and removing the containers.

How to Figures 1a , 1c and 1g can be seen, the upper ends 11a of the axial connecting webs 11 on the top or base plane 2 of the support structure 1 represent the highest elevations or the highest points, which are also provided with insertion bevels. The lower ends of the containers therefore initially interact with the insertion bevels on the upper ends 11a of the axial connecting webs 11 when lowering from vertically above onto the holding structure 1 for insertion into the receptacles 5 . They also play an important leadership role. Since the upper ends 11a and the axial connecting webs 11 are distributed along the upper end of a respective receptacle 5, they together effectively catch the containers at a very early stage of lowering the containers from vertically above in order to place them in the receptacles to lead. How to 1c can be seen, these upper ends 11a or connecting webs 11 are arranged in dead areas of the layout of the support structure 1, namely where adjacent edge webs 10 intersect. The axial connecting webs 11 can therefore be made relatively strong without the packing density of the holding structure 1 being reduced as a result. Because the axial connecting webs 11 contribute significantly to the rigidity of the support structure 1, the wall thicknesses of the edge webs 10 can be made thin according to the invention, which not only effectively increases the achievable packing density, but also helps to significantly reduce the cost of materials and the overall weight of the support structure 1.

Like in the Fig. 1h shown, the top 2 of the support structure 1 is further reinforced by a peripheral edge 3 which protrudes perpendicularly from the top 2 downwards. To further stiffen the holding structure, two stiffening ribs can also be provided on the back of the top side.

A holding structure 1, as described above, can be used to store and transport pharmaceutical containers, such as vials or carpules. To the The holding structure 1 can be handled by means of the access openings 6 (cf. Fig. 2d ) are gripped and guided by grippers or the like. The pharmaceutical containers can be further processed or treated while supported by the support structure 1 as described above. For sterile transport, such a holding structure can be stored as a so-called nest in a trough-shaped transport or packaging container 70 (so-called tub), as in FIG Fig. 1h shown, which may be of the sort shown in the EP 2 868 593 A1 is disclosed to the applicant, the content of which is hereby included by way of reference for disclosure purposes.

According to the Fig. 1h the transport and packaging container 70 is essentially box-shaped or trough-shaped and has a base 71, a peripheral side wall 72 projecting perpendicularly therefrom, a step 73 projecting therefrom essentially at right angles, a peripheral upper side wall 74 and an upper Edge 75, which is formed like a flange and whose corners 76 are suitably rounded. Such a transport and packaging container 70 is preferably made of a plastic, in particular by plastic injection molding technology, preferably of a clear, transparent plastic, in order to enable a visual inspection of the container 51 held by the holding structure 1 . The transport and packaging container 70 can be closed or sealed using a gas-permeable plastic film, in particular using a plastic film which is formed from a gas-permeable mesh of plastic fibers and is in particular a ^Tyvek® film.

The Figures 2a - 2c Fig. 12 shows the general structure of a basic unit of a support structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention, in which the axial connecting ribs 11 have a hexagonal profile and are integral with the peripheral ribs 10. Figs.

The Fig. 2d shows a holding structure according to the second embodiment with such basic units. Deviating from the first embodiment, identically designed retaining structures can be linked together, such as those shown in more detail in FIG WO2014/009037 A1 is disclosed to the applicant, the content of which is hereby expressly included by way of reference. According to the Fig. 2d are along the two longitudinal sides of the support structure 1 a plurality of projections 30 and recesses 35 are formed alternately and at regular intervals from one another, which, viewed in plan view, each have an overall triangular or polyhedral base area and are formed to correspond to one another. Two holding structures 1 can be hooked by a form fit of the projections 30 and recesses 35 in the manner of a dovetail connection. Figure 2e shows the inclusion of such a support structure 1 in a transport and packaging container 70, as described above.

The Figures 3a - 3c Fig. 12 shows the general structure of a basic unit of a support structure according to a third embodiment of the present invention, in which the upper ends 11a of the axial connecting bars 11 are formed in a diamond shape. Such a configuration is particularly suitable for a holding structure in which the receptacles are arranged in rows and columns running perpendicular thereto without any lateral offset.

The receptacles 5 are delimited by only four axial connecting webs 11, at the lower ends of which retaining projections 12b protrude perpendicularly from them. Deviating from the previous embodiments, these holding projections 12b are not connected to one another via a bottom web, although such a bottom web can in principle also be provided here. Sufficient rigidity can nevertheless be achieved by means of a suitable material thickness of the lower ends of the axial connecting webs 11 and of the retaining projections 12b. Such a holding structure 1 is suitable, for example, for holding vials, as in FIGS Figures 3d and 3e shown.

The Figures 4a - 4c Figure 12 shows the general structure of a basic unit of a support structure according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, in which, different from the previous embodiments, two types of axial connecting bars 11, 110 are provided. Starting from the crossing points of the upper edge webs 10, the axial connecting webs 11 initially extend radially outwards and obliquely downwards, in order to merge into a section extending parallel to the center line of the receptacle 5 and perpendicularly. The upper guiding and positioning lugs 15 protrude radially inwards into the receptacles 5 from the crossing points of the upper edge webs 10 . Viewed from the side, the upper edge webs 10 have a triangular jagged edge course, with upper ends near the crossing points of the upper edge webs 10 and lower ends at central sections 103 of the edge webs 10. Although the edge webs have a constant thickness, i.e. no wedge-shaped profile, the material thickness in the axial direction of the receptacles 5 is at the central sections 103 is larger because the axial connecting webs 11 attach to these central sections 103 and the transition area between the central sections 103 and the axial connecting webs 11 is triangular in shape overall. Due to the lower height of the edge webs 10 at the crossing points of adjacent edge webs and the greater height at the central sections 103, a locally adapted rigidity of the edge webs 10 can also be generated, comparable to a simple bending beam, in which deflection can be reduced by using the Material reinforced towards the center (corresponding to the area at the central portions 103) thus providing efficient reinforcement. This effect is further intensified by the axial connecting web 11 .

In this embodiment, the lower ends of the axial connecting webs 11, 110 are connected to one another, for example via the illustrated lower connecting webs 12a, so that the underside of the holding structure also has a high degree of rigidity.

The Figures 4d and 4e show the inclusion of a vial 51 in such a basic unit in a longitudinal section along AA or BB according to FIG Figure 4c . The Fig. 4f shows a support structure 1 with a plurality of such support units, which according to the second embodiment is provided with projections 30 and recesses 35 along the edge.

A holding structure 1, as described above, can be formed in one piece from a plastic, in particular by injection molding.

Figure 5a 12 shows a basic unit of a modified support structure according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention in a top perspective view. This is designed to receive a carpule 58 upside down therein, as in FIG Figure 5b shown and above with reference to FIG Figure 6a described.

The Figures 7a and 7b show a basic unit of a modified support structure according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention in a perspective view Top view and in a top view. In this embodiment, the receptacles 5 are cup-shaped, axial connecting webs 11 and slots 11b being formed alternately on the side wall. As an extension of the slots 11b, upper guide and positioning lugs 15 are formed on the peripheral edge ridge 10 on the underside of the base plane 2, at the upper ends of which are formed insertion bevels 15b inclined thereto. These extend as far as the beveled edge 102, which further assists in catching the containers when they are inserted into the receptacles 5. Lower guiding and positioning sections 20 are formed at the lower ends of the axial connecting webs 11 . These can project radially inwards from the axial connecting webs 11 into the receptacles 5 . According to a preferred embodiment, the lower guiding and positioning sections 20 are formed directly from the insides of the axial connecting webs 11 . Thus, there is an angular offset and a functional separation between the upper and lower guiding and positioning sections 15, 20. The slots 11b are provided so that the upper guiding and positioning lugs 15 can be trimmed from the lower mold half during injection molding, so that they only extend over a short section in the longitudinal direction of the receptacles 5. The upper and lower guiding and positioning sections 15, 20 are arranged alternately and angularly offset from one another, viewed in plan view.

The Figures 7c and 7d show the basic unit according to the Figure 7a in a partial section along AA in the Figure 7b or along BB in the Figure 7b . The Figures 7e to 7h show the inclusion of a vial in such a basic unit in different representations.

The Figures 9a and 9b show another variant of the basic unit according to the Figure 2a . The two cuts according to the Figure 9a 9b and 9b respectively show the area of an upper and lower guide jointly formed by the upper guide and positioning sections 15 and the lower guide and positioning sections 20, respectively. Due to the insertion bevels formed on the upper and lower guide and positioning sections 15, 20, each guide can be given a catch circle 60a or 61a (shown in broken lines) with a catch diameter CD or cd and a circle 60b or 61b 61a ( shown in solid lines) with a diameter SM or sm. The catch diameter CD corresponds to the diameter of the circle 60a in which a Container entering from above is caught by the top guide. The catching diameter cd corresponds to the diameter of the circle 61a in which a container inserted from above is caught by the lower guide.

According to the present invention, since the guide and positioning portions 15 and the lower guide and positioning portions 20 can be formed independently, the catch diameter cd of the catch circle 61a of the guide formed by the lower guide and positioning portions 20 can be larger than the smallest diameter SD of that of the upper ones Be guiding and positioning sections 15 formed upper guide.

Such a configuration would only be possible with a conventionally produced injection molded part with upper and lower guiding and positioning sections if the upper and lower guiding and positioning sections are angularly offset, which is not necessary according to the invention. Because with one or more upper and lower guiding and positioning sections, which are arranged overlapping in plan view, the diameter of the guides formed by these guiding and positioning sections can only decrease monotonously downwards in a conventional injection molded part. An undercut would lead to problems when demoulding.

On the other hand, the invention makes it possible to design the course of the diameter of the upper and lower guides independently of one another. Accordingly, the smallest diameter SD of the upper guide can be designed narrower, which would not be possible in the prior art because of the draft angle over the full length.

Likewise, the catch diameter cd of the lower guide can also be designed to be relatively large, which would also not be possible in the prior art because of the draft angle over the full length because of the boundary condition that the diameter can only decrease downwards.

As a result, according to the invention, a container can be easily inserted into the seats and not only in the area of the lower guiding and positioning sections formed lower guide but also positioned very precisely in the area of the upper guide formed by the upper guide and positioning sections.

How to compare the Figures 9a and 9b can be easily seen, the diameter range SD < d < CD of the upper guide and positioning sections 15, which is from the diameter SD of the circle 60b with the smallest diameter, which is enclosed by the upper guide and positioning sections 15, to the diameter CD of one of of the upper guiding and positioning sections 15 enclosed capture circle 60a overlap with the diameter range sd < d < cd of the lower guiding and positioning sections 20, the diameter sd of a circle 61b with the smallest diameter enclosed by the lower guiding and positioning sections 20 is, up to the diameter cd of the capturing circle 61a enclosed by the lower guiding and positioning sections 20. This overlap of the two diameter ranges can be about 1 mm and more preferably about 2 mm.

As exemplified above using the Fig. 1h described, a support structure according to the present invention can be received in a shipping or packaging container along with the containers supported thereon. The transport or packaging container can be closed or sealed in particular by means of a gas-permeable plastic film, in particular by means of a plastic film which is formed from a gas-permeable mesh of plastic fibers and is in particular a ^Tyvek® film.

However, a holding structure according to the present invention is basically also suitable for so-called tray solutions, in particular for vials, such as those shown in FIGS Figures 8a to 8c is shown.

According to the Figures 8a to 8c For example, the holding structure 1 is designed as a receiving part in which the plurality of receptacles are integrally formed as frustoconical receptacles 5 in a regular arrangement. The receptacles 5 are closed by peripheral side walls 40 . For receiving, the vials 51 (as an example of a pharmaceutical container) are directed with their upper ends towards the bottoms 41 of the receptacles 5 and preventing direct contact of adjacent vials 51 in the recordings 5 of the receiving part 1 was added. The vials 51 are completely accommodated in the receptacles 5, ie they do not protrude beyond the edge of the holding structure 1. The lengths of the receptacles 5 are preferably matched to the vials 51 in such a way that the bottoms of the vials 51 are flush with the edge of the holding structure 1 . The insertion bevels and guide ribs described above are formed on the inside of the side walls 40 .

To form a transport structure, a support part can also be placed on the receiving part and connected to it in such a way that the bottoms of the vials received in the receiving part are covered. In this case, the support part is preferably formed by a base plate with a flat support surface which faces the receptacles and on which the bases of the vials 51 are directly supported.

For such a tray system, the receiving part and the supporting part can in principle be produced from a plastic by injection molding, with the insertion bevels and guide ribs being able to support the removal of the receiving part from the mold in the manner described above.

If non-sterile transport of the pharmaceutical container is sufficient, the receiving part can be formed by connecting it to the support part to form a non-sterile closed transport structure. If sterile transport of the pharmaceutical containers is desired, the open side of the receiving part can also be sealed with a sealing film, for example by sticking it along a flange-like edge of the receiving part, possibly with additional spot welds, to form a sterile transport structure.

For sterile transport, such a transport or packaging container, possibly together with other transport or packaging containers of the same type, can be accommodated in at least one sterile outer packaging bag and packaged in a sterile manner with respect to the environment. The at least one sterile outer packaging bag can have a gas-permeable section or even be formed entirely by this section, which is formed in particular by a mesh of plastic fibers, such as polypropylene fibers (PP).

As will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art when studying the above description, the upper and lower guiding and positioning lugs acting as upper and lower guiding and positioning sections are essentially to be regarded as rigid, rigid structures due to their shape and dimensions Do not deform the containers significantly. The choice of material also contributes to this. It is true that the upper and lower guide and positioning lugs are each preferably designed as relatively narrow upper and lower ribs in order to enable the highest possible packing density of the holding structure. However, the upper and lower guiding and positioning lugs are not designed so narrow or short that the upper and lower guiding and positioning lugs deform and yield when the containers are guided. When guiding the containers, the upper and lower guiding and positioning lugs can be slightly adjusted at most due to the general flexibility of the holding structure itself, ie in particular the axial connecting webs and the lower connecting webs.

• die Breite einer einzelnen oberen und/oder unteren Führungs- und Positionierungsnase liegt zweckmäßig im Bereich zwischen 0,5 mm bis 5 mm;
• die Breite einer einzelnen oberen und/oder unteren Führungs- und Positionierungsnase liegt bevorzugt im Bereich zwischen 1 mm bis 2 mm;
• die Länge einer einzelnen oberen und/oder unteren Führungs- und Positionierungsnase liegt zweckmäßig im Bereich zwischen 0,5 mm bis 20 mm;
• die Länge einer einzelnen oberen und/oder unteren Führungs- und Positionierungsnase liegt bevorzugt im Bereich zwischen 5 bis 20 mm;
• der Winkelumfang einer einzelnen oberen und/oder unteren Führungs- und Positionierungsnase liegt zweckmäßig im Bereich zwischen 1° bis 90°;
• der Winkelumfang einer einzelnen oberen und/oder unteren Führungs- und Positionierungsnase liegt bevorzugt im Bereich zwischen 5° bis 20°.

Preferred dimensions of the dimensions of the upper and lower guide and positioning lugs disclosed above are as follows:

• the width of an individual upper and/or lower guiding and positioning lug is expediently in the range between 0.5 mm and 5 mm;
• the width of a single upper and/or lower guiding and positioning lug is preferably in the range between 1 mm and 2 mm;
• the length of an individual upper and/or lower guiding and positioning lug is expediently in the range between 0.5 mm and 20 mm;
• the length of a single upper and/or lower guiding and positioning lug is preferably in the range between 5 and 20 mm;
• the angular extent of a single upper and/or lower guiding and positioning lug is expediently in the range between 1° and 90°;
• the angular extent of a single upper and/or lower guiding and positioning lug is preferably in the range between 5° and 20°.

The aforementioned dimensions in the axial direction of the receptacles relate in particular to commercially available lengths of vials, carpules or syringe bodies for storing active pharmaceutical sites.

As stated above, a simple injection molding process is used to produce the one-piece holding structure, during which a simply designed master mold with an upper and a lower mold is used, but not with additional slides for the design of complex undercuts or even double-walled structures on the holding structure. This may necessitate certain limitations with regard to the geometry of the holding structure. In particular, there can be no double-walled structure with a cavity in between in one direction of the holding structure, for example the axial direction of the receptacles or axial connecting webs or also transversely thereto.

Reference List

1

holding structure

2

Top or ground plane of support structure

2a

Floor

3

upper edge

4

rounded corner area

5

opening or admission

6

access opening

10

edge bar

100

wedge-shaped profile of edge bar 10

101

vertical edge

102

Lead-in bevel / side flank of edge bar 10

103

central section of ridge 10

11

axial connecting bar

11a

upper end of axial connecting web 11 / crossing point of edge webs 10

11b

Slot between axial connecting webs 11

110

second axial connecting bridge

12

bottom walkway

12a

lower connecting bar

12b

retaining projection

13

opening

14

recess

15

upper guide and positioning nose

15a

front end of upper guide lug 15

15b

lead-in bevel

16

guide surface

17

gap

20

lower guiding and positioning nose

21

lead-in bevel

30

head Start

31

front side wall of protrusion 30

32

Side wall in the transition area of projection 30

35

recess

36

front side wall of recess 35

37

Side wall in the transition area of recess 35

40

Side panel of shot 5

41

Bottom of shot 5

50

Outer contour of vial

51

vial / container

52

Side wall

53

Floor

54

shoulder section

55

narrowed neck section

56

upper edge

560

crimped metal lid

57

filling hole

60a

Catching circle formed by the upper guide and positioning lugs 15

60b

Smallest diameter circle formed by the upper guide and positioning lugs 15

61a

Catching circle formed by the lower guide and positioning lugs 20

61b

Smallest diameter circle formed by the lower guide and positioning lugs 20

70

Transport and packaging containers

71

Bottom of transport and packaging container 70

72

lower side wall of transport and packaging container 70

73

Level of transport and packaging container 70

74

upper side wall of transport and packaging container 70

75

upper edge of transport and packaging container 70

76

rounded corner area of transport and packaging container 70

CD

Diameter of catch circle 60a

SD

diameter of circle with smallest diameter 60b

CD

Diameter of catch circle 61a

sd

diameter of circle with smallest diameter 61b

Claims (17)

1. Retaining structure for simultaneously holding a plurality of containers (51) for substances for pharmaceutical, medical or cosmetic applications, with a plurality of receptacles (5) for receiving said containers therein at least in sections, wherein said containers have a cylindrical base body with a predetermined outer diameter, wherein

   the receptacles (5) each have an open upper end for inserting the containers into the receptacles and a lower end with a retaining section (12, 12b) to limit the axial mobility of the containers in the receptacles, and

   guide sections (15, 20) are provided for guiding the containers during insertion into the receptacles, wherein

   the guide sections comprise upper guide and positioning sections (15) near the upper ends of the receptacles and lower guide and positioning sections (20) near the lower ends of the receptacles, which are formed separately from each other and limit a radial mobility of the containers in the receptacles,

   characterized in that the retaining structure is formed in one piece from a plastic by injection molding,

   wherein the upper (15) and/or lower guiding and positioning sections (20) are each formed as, respectively, lower or upper guiding and positioning nose (15, 20), which project radially inward into the receptacles (5), or as, respectively, narrow upper or lower guiding rib (15, 20), extending in the longitudinal direction of the receptacles and each projecting radially inwardly into the receptacles.
2. Retaining structure according to claim 1, wherein a distance between the upper and lower guiding and positioning sections (15, 20) in the longitudinal direction of the receptacles (5) is greater than the distance of the upper guiding and positioning sections (20) from the upper ends of the receptacles (5) and/or is greater than the distance of the lower guiding and positioning sections (15) from the lower ends of the receptacles.
3. Retaining structure according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper and lower guiding and positioning sections (15, 20), due to their shape and dimensions, act as rigid guiding and positioning sections for guiding and positioning the containers (51) for substances for pharmaceutical, medical or cosmetic applications.
4. Retaining structure according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein front ends of the upper and/or lower guiding and positioning sections (15, 20) in each case jointly enclose, respectively, an upper and lower circle having a diameter equal to or slightly larger than the outer diameter of the containers (51) to be held in the respective area of the upper and lower guiding and positioning sections (15, 20).
5. Retaining structure according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, as seen in plan view, the upper guiding and positioning sections (15) are angularly offset from the lower guiding and positioning sections (20) and the upper and lower guiding and positioning sections do not overlap.
6. Retaining structure according to claim 5, wherein the diameter (cd) of a catch circle (61b) enclosed by the lower guiding and positioning sections (20) is larger than the diameter (SD) of a smallest diameter circle (60b) enclosed by the upper guiding and positioning sections (15).
7. Retaining structure according to claim 6, wherein the diameter range of the upper guiding and positioning portions (15) extending from the diameter (SD) of the smallest diameter circle (60b) enclosed by the upper guiding and positioning portions (15) to the diameter (CD) of a catching circle (60a) enclosed by the upper guiding and positioning portions (15), overlaps with the diameter range of the lower guiding and positioning sections (20) extending from the diameter (sd) of a smallest diameter circle (61b) enclosed by the lower guiding and positioning portions (20) to the diameter (cd) of the catching circle (61a) enclosed by the lower guiding and positioning sections (20).
8. Retaining structure according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the receptacles (5) each have associated therewith a plurality of upper and lower guiding and positioning sections (15, 20), each of which are distributed around the receptacles at constant angular distances from one another.
9. Retaining structure according to any one of claims 4 to 8, wherein front contact surfaces of the upper and/or lower guiding ribs (15, 20) are each formed with a profile tapering in a wedge shape in the longitudinal direction or are rounded, and/or

   wherein front contact surfaces of the upper and/or lower guiding ribs (15, 20) each extend downwardly inclined at an acute angle of inclination relative to the longitudinal direction of the seats, which is in the range between 0° and 3°, or

   wherein front contact surfaces of the upper and/or lower guiding ribs (15, 20) are each concavely curved corresponding to the outer contour of the containers, or

   wherein front contact surfaces of the upper and/or lower guiding ribs (15, 20) are each convexly curved, and/or

   wherein the upper and/or lower guiding and positioning sections (15, 20) are each formed as ring segments extending in the longitudinal direction of the receptacles (5) and projecting radially inwardly into the receptacles (5), a radius of curvature of the ring segments being matched to the outer diameter of the containers so as to abut the containers in sections.
10. Retaining structure according to claim 9, wherein the upper guiding ribs (15) or the upper guiding and positioning sections (15) are each formed integrally with a circumferential edge web (10) which radially bounds the upper end of a respective receptacle (5), wherein the edge webs (10) project from an upper side or base plane (2) of the retaining structure, are provided with insertion slopes (102) and have a wedge-shaped profile (100) as viewed in the longitudinal direction of the receptacles.
11. Retaining structure according to claim 10, wherein the retaining sections (12, 12b) are provided on axial connecting webs (11) projecting perpendicularly from an upper side or base plane (2) of the retaining structure (1) and connected to intersection regions of two or three edge webs (10), respectively, wherein

    the lower guiding ribs (20) are each formed integrally with axial connecting webs (11) which project vertically from an upper side (2) of the retaining structure (1), and

    lower ends of the axial connecting webs (11) form a circumferential side wall, wherein the lower guiding ribs (20) are each formed integrally with the circumferential side wall formed by the lower ends of the axial connecting webs.
12. Retaining structure according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein insertion slopes (15b, 21) are formed at upper ends of the upper and/or lower guiding ribs (15, 20), respectively, which extend inclinedly relative to the associated upper and lower guiding ribs, respectively.
13. Retaining structure according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the retaining sections are formed as radially inwardly projecting retaining projections (12b), the retaining projections being interconnected by bottom webs (12) enclosing the openings (13) at the lower ends of the receptacles (5).
14. Retaining structure according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the receptacles (5) are connected to one another by means of connecting webs, wherein the receptacles are designed in such a way that two holding structures of identical design can be stacked on top of one another in such a way that the receptacles of an upper retaining structure are partially immersed in the receptacles of a retaining structure located therebelow, and that the connecting webs of an upper retaining structure are supported directly on an upper side or base plane of a retaining structure located therebelow.
15. Transport structure consisting of a combination of the retaining structure according to one of the preceding claims and a plurality of containers (51) held thereon for substances for pharmaceutical, medical or cosmetic applications, wherein the containers are received in the receptacles (5) at least in sections and are held axially secured to the retaining structure (1),

    wherein the containers are vials (51) received upright in the receptacles, wherein the upper guiding and positioning sections (15) support the vials near the shoulder sections (54) and the lower guiding and positioning sections (20) support the vials near the bottom (53); or

    wherein the containers are formed as cartridges with a cylindrical base body and have an upper end with a narrowed neck portion (55) and a shoulder sections (54) adjoining the neck portion and merging into a cylindrical side wall (52) of the containers, wherein the carpules are received upside down in the receptacles, and wherein the opening width of the openings (13) is matched to the upper ends of the receptacles (52) such that the upper ends of the containers extend through the openings and the shoulder sections of the containers are directly supported on the retaining projections (12b) or bottom webs (12) to limit the axial mobility of the containers in the receptacles.
16. Retaining structure according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the retaining structure is formed as a receptacle part in which the plurality of receptacles (5) are integrally formed as frustoconical receptacles in a regular arrangement so that the containers can be received in the receptacles of the receptacle part with their upper ends directed towards the bottoms of the receptacles and with prevention of direct contact of adj acent containers, wherein

    the receptacles (5) are adapted to the lengths of the containers so as to completely receive the containers therein, and wherein

    the retaining structure further comprises a support part for covering bottoms of the containers received in the receptacle part, wherein

    the support part is formed by a base plate with a flat support surface facing the receptacles.
17. Transport or packaging container for a plurality of containers (51) for substances for pharmaceutical, medical or cosmetic applications, said transport or packaging container being box-shaped, characterized by a retaining structure (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12 received in said box-shaped transport or packaging container together with the containers held thereon for holding said plurality of containers in said transport or packaging container (50), wherein
    the transport or packaging container is closed or sealed by means of a gas-permeable plastic film formed from a gas-permeable braid of plastic fibers.

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