WO2017198318A1

WO2017198318A1 - Flexible rotor for use in a canister and method for manufacturing such a rotor

Info

Publication number: WO2017198318A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/061493
Authority: WO
Inventors: Arie van Wijngaarden; Caroline VAN WIJNGAARDEN
Original assignee: Canister Solutions B.V.
Priority date: 2016-05-20
Filing date: 2016-05-20
Publication date: 2017-11-23

Abstract

Rotor for use in a canister arranged for automatically feeding tablets, wherein the rotor comprises a base part arranged to cooperate with a driving shaft, a cylindrical body having a top surface for guiding tablets and a plurality of partition portions extending from the outer circumferential surface of said body for forming a plurality of pockets for tablets there between, wherein the body of the rotor is assembled from a plurality of body parts, wherein the body parts define the shape and size of the pockets.

Description

Flexible rotor for use in a canister and method for manufacturing such a rotor

The invention relates to a rotor for use in a canister arranged for automatically feeding tablets, wherein the rotor comprises a base part arranged to cooperate with a driving shaft, a cylindrical body having a top surface for guiding tablets and a plurality of partition portions extending from the outer circumferential surface of said body for forming a plurality of pockets there between. The invention further relates to a method for manufacturing such as rotor and the parts of such a rotor.

An automated medicine dispensing device, also called automated dispensing cabinet (ADC), unit- based cabinets (UBCs), automated dispensing devices (ADDs), automated distribution cabinets or automated dispensing machines (ADMs), is a computerized drug storage and packaging device arranged to pack different types of medicines in accordance with a predetermined patient specific recipe. The automated medicine dispensing device thereto comprises a plurality, typically from 50 to 400, of medicine feeding canisters, also referred to as tablet cassettes, each containing a different type of medicine.

Such a canister typically comprises a housing which defines a container as storage for storing a plurality of tablets, pills, capsules or other medicine units. Near the bottom of the container, a feeding mechanism is arranged to individually feed the tablets to a discharge, for instance in the form of a discharge opening in the canister.

The feeding mechanism typically comprises a rotor which rotates in a correspondingly shaped recess near the bottom of the canister. The rotor has pockets shaped in accordance with the tablets held in the container. These pockets are typically defined by a plurality of partition portions or ribs extending from the outer circumferential surface of a cylindrical body of the rotor. Due to the placement of the partition portions along the circumferential surface of the rotor, each pocket is arranged and sized, in terms of width, height and depth, to receive one tablet only. The tablets are guided into these pockets by the top surface of the rotor, which is for instance conically shaped to this end. The pockets are successively aligned with the discharge upon rotation of the rotor for discharging the single tablet held in the pocket. For rotating the rotor, a base part of said rotor is arranged to receive a driving shaft of the automated medicine dispensing device, such that the canister can feed a tablet upon engagement of the driving shaft.

To ensure that a tablet is fed by the canister, a registration unit, for instance an optical registration unit, is typically provided near the discharge of the canister which determines whether a tablet is discharged upon rotation of the driving shaft. The discharge of the canister is coupled to transporting means of the dispensing device, for instance a gutter or endless belt, for transporting the discharged tablet to a packaging mechanism in the dispensing device.

It is important that only a single tablet fits in a pocket of the rotor to ensure that only a single tablet is discharged at a time. The pocket is thereto shaped in accordance with the tablet to be received such that only one tablet fits within one pocket. A rotor is therefore customized to a specific shape and size of a tablet and nowadays approximately 500 different types of rotors are available. In the canister, the rotor rotates within a cylindrically shaped wall, wherein the diameter of said wall substantially corresponds to the outer diameter of the partition portions of the rotor. A space is thus defined between the rotor and the wall. In other words, the pocket of a rotor is further enclosed by said wall of the canister.

It is a problem that if a new type of tablet, in terms of shaped and size, is supplied to a user of an ADC, also a new type of rotor has to be supplied by the manufacturer of the canister. This supply takes time and in the meantime, it is not possible to feed the new tablet automatically with a canister in the ADC. In these situations, irregularly shaped tablets are typically fed using a tray in an ADC. These trays need to be filled and double checked manually by the user, such that the supply of these tablets takes extra time. It is a goal of the present invention, next to other goals, to at least partially solve the above mentioned problem and/or to provide a improved, versatile and/or efficient rotor for use in a canister.

This goal, amongst other goals, is met by a method according to appended claim 1. More specifically, this goal, amongst other goals, is met by rotor for use in a canister arranged for automatically feeding tablets, wherein the rotor comprises a base part arranged to cooperate with a driving shaft, a cylindrical body having a top surface for guiding tablets and a plurality of partition portions extending from the outer circumferential surface of said body for forming a plurality of pockets for tablets there between, wherein the body of the rotor is assembled from a plurality of body parts, wherein the body parts define the shape and size of the pockets. A rotor, preferably the body thereof, which can be assembled from a plurality of body parts allows the user to customize the design of the rotor by choosing the suitable body parts. By interconnecting these body parts, a rotor can be assembled which is customized to a specific tablet. The body parts, or at least one thereof, hereby define the shape and size of the pockets. By specifying the shape and size of a pocket, which is arranged for receiving one tablet only, the rotor can be customized to a specific tablet. As will be explained in greater detail below, a plurality of differently shaped body parts is provided, wherein each type of body part defines a different shape and size of a pocket in assembled state of the rotor. It is hereby preferred if the body parts are arranged for manual interconnection. This allows the user to assemble the rotor without the use of any tools or specific equipment. It is preferred if after interconnection of the body parts, the parts cannot be separated, i.e. that the connection is irreversible. This provides a durable rotor. Upon interconnection, at least one member of the body parts thereto preferably deforms irreversibly for obtaining a durable connection. An efficient interconnection is obtained if the body parts are interconnected using a snap-fit connection. A snap-fit connection allows efficiently interlocking the body parts. Preferably, a first body part is provided with a protrusion, wherein a second body part is provided with a hole for receiving said protrusion. Preferably, the protrusion is oversized with respect to said hole such that upon interconnection, said protrusion and/or hole deforms for interlocking the parts.

According to a preferred embodiment of the rotor, a body parts is disc shaped. Stacking a plurality of disc shaped body parts then allows assembling a body of a rotor. By choosing the amount of body parts to be stacked, i.e. connected along a central or rotational axis of the rotor, and/or by selecting a body part with a suitable height, the height of the body, and therewith also of the pockets, can be chosen freely. An efficient interconnection is then achieved if the disc shaped body parts are interconnected along the upper and lower surfaces for forming the body of the rotor. The upper and lower surfaces are then preferably arranged to interlock using a snap-fit connection as described above. The protrusions and holes are hereto preferably provided on the lower and the upper surfaces of a body part.

According to a preferred embodiment, the body parts for forming the pockets are provided with a plurality of partition portions extending from the outer circumferential surface of said body part. By combining a number of these pocket body parts and/or by selecting a body part with a suitable height, the height of the pockets can be chosen freely in dependence of the size of the tablet.

As described above, the rotor is provided in the lower region of the canister and is arranged to feed one tablet at the time to the discharge. The rotor hereby extends in the lower region of the area, or container, holding the plurality of tablets. The top surface of the rotor is then preferably specifically arranged for guiding the tablets from the top surface in a radially outwardly direction towards the pockets which are located at the circumferential surface of the body of the rotor. The top surface of the rotor is preferably formed by a top part having said top surface, wherein said top part is arranged to be assembled together with the other body parts for forming the body, more preferably using the same type of snap-fit connection as described. The top surface is preferably conically shaped for guiding tablets from the container in the canister towards the pockets and may be provided with guiding grooves.

The pockets are shaped and sized specifically for a type of tablet and the pockets are arranged such that a tablet can be receiving only in an orientation substantially corresponding to a predetermined orientation. In other words, a tablet preferably only fits within in the pocket, more specifically the space enclosed by the rotor and the cylindrical wall of the canister as described above, in one unique orientation.

In order to ensure that the tablets are correctly aligned for receipt in the pockets, it is preferred if the rotor, preferably the body thereof, further comprises an aligning section extending between the top surface and the section of the body provided with the partition portions. Seen along the rotation axis of the rotor, the aligning section is located between the top surface and section provided with the pockets. The aligning section preferably has a cylindrical outer surface. The height of the aligning section, seen along the rotation axis, preferably substantially corresponds to the maximum dimension, i.e. width, length or height, of the tablet. The height of this section can efficiently be customized by the user when the aligning section is formed by at least one alignment body part, preferably a plurality of alignment body parts. By choosing the number of alignment body parts and/or parts having a specific height, which may be interconnected in the same manner as the earlier described body parts, the height of the aligning section can be chosen freely.

The body of the rotor is preferably assembled from at least one disc shaped alignment body part, which preferably has a cylindrical outer surface, and at least one pocket body part, which is provided with a plurality of partition portions extending from the outer circumferential surface of said pocket body part. By combining the suitable body parts, or a number of body parts, a rotor can be customized to the tablet. The depth of the partition portions, seen along a radial direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the rotor, defines the depth the pocket. The outer surfaces of the partition portions then define the outer surface of the pocket section of the rotor. The outer surfaces of the portions preferably extend along a cylindrical surface for efficient rotation within the cylindrical wall of the canister as described above. This outer diameter is thus determined by the diameter of the cylindrical wall of the canister and is thus canister specific. The pockets are preferably substantially U-shaped, seen in the radial plane perpendicular to the rotation axis of the rotor, wherein the legs of the U-shape are formed by the side walls of the partition portions. The surface of the pockets, corresponding to the base of the U-shape, then has a second diameter which is smaller than the outer diameter of the partition portions.

In order to ensure a smooth transition from the alignment section to the pocket section, it is preferred if the partition portions of a body part have an outer diameter, seen with respect to the rotation axis, and wherein the surface of the pockets have a second diameter smaller than the outer diameter, wherein the outer diameter of the cylindrical outer surface of the alignment body part substantially corresponds to said second diameter. The diameter of the alignment section is then preferably substantially flush with the surface of the pocket, i.e. the base of the U-shaped pocket as described above. The outer surfaces of the partition portions then preferably extend radially from the substantially cylindrically shaped combined surface of the pockets and the alignment section. For rotating the rotor, the base part of said rotor is arranged to receive a driving shaft of the automated medicine dispensing device, such that a canister provided with the rotor can feed a tablet upon engagement of the driving shaft. The shape of such a base part is as such known. Preferably also the base part is constructed as a separate part, such that the base part can be combined with the respective body parts, such as the parts forming the pockets, the alignment section and the top surface. The base part is then preferably provided with connection means for connecting to another body part. A reliable connection is obtained if a body part, preferably the body part forming the pockets, is annularly shaped, wherein the base part is arranged to engage and connect to the recess of the annular body part. The base part can then partially be received with the annular opening of the body part.

An efficient interconnection is obtained if an cylindrical outer surface of the base part for engagement with the inner surface of the annular body part and said inner surface of the body part are provided with cooperating protrusions and recesses. The base part may for instance be provided with ribs extending the vertical direction, which are received in grooves in the body part or vice versa. An easy interconnection while still ensuring a durable connection is obtained if the rib tapers in the direction of connection, preferably along the rotation axis.

The invention further relates to the body parts for forming a rotor as defined above. Specifically, the invention further relates to a disc shaped body part, preferably for forming a rotor as defined above, wherein the disc shaped body part is provided with a plurality of partition portions extending from the outer circumferential surface of said body part for forming a plurality of pockets there between. As described above, these partitions portions preferably define U-shaped pockets, seen in plane of the disc shaped body part, wherein the base of the U-shape forms the surface of the pocket and wherein the legs of the U-shape are formed by the side walls of the partition portions.

To be able to efficiently interlock the body parts as described above, it is preferred if the upper and lower surface of the disc shaped body part are arranged to interlock with a further body part using a snap-fit connection. As mentioned above, the lower surface of the body may be provided with a protrusions or a hole, wherein the other upper surface is provided with the other of the protrusion or the hole, wherein the hole is arranged to receive a protrusion of a further disc shaped body part.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the disc shaped body part has an annular shape. This saves material and further allows efficient connection of the base part as described above. The invention further relates to a kit of parts comprising a plurality of different types of disc shaped body parts as defined above, wherein each type of disc shaped body is arranged to form a rotor having a different size and shape of pockets for receiving tablets. From the kit of parts, the user can select the suitable parts, preferably in dependence of the size and shape of the tablet to be held in a canister, for assembling a rotor. The parts can be chosen such that a tablet fits accurately in the pockets as defined by the rotor. This ensures that only one tablet at the time is fed by a canister provided with assembled rotor.

The width of a pocket is determined by the distance between two partition portions extending from the outer surface of the body, i.e. the distance between the legs of the U-shaped pocket as mentioned above. By varying this distance, the pocket can be adapted to tablets having different widths. Therefore, according to preferred embodiment, the partition portions of a body part extend at a mutual distance with respect to each other from the outer circumferential surface, wherein the mutual distances of at least two types of disc shaped body parts are different. Preferably, the kit comprises body parts having distances between the partition portions varying from 3 - 12 mm. Most preferably, the kit comprises body parts having distances between the partition portions of 3, 4,5,6,7,8,9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 mm.

In order to be able to closely accommodate tablets having different heights, it is also preferred if the depth, seen in the radial direction with respect to the central axis of the body part, can be chosen in accordance with the tablet size. This depth is defined by the length of the legs of the U- shaped pocket, i.e. the length of the partition portions extending form the outer surface. Therefore, according to preferred embodiment, the partition portions of a body part have an outer diameter, seen with respect to the central axis of the body part, and wherein the surface of the pockets have a second diameter smaller than the outer diameter, wherein the second diameters of at least two types of disc shaped body parts are different. The depth, i.e. the distance at which the partition portions extend from the surface of the pocket, can then be chosen by selecting the proper body part. The outer diameter defined by the portions does not need to change if the kit is specifically for a type of canister, as this size is determined by the canister. The outer diameter may for instance be 64 mm. The depth of the pockets, and thus the difference in the outer diameter and the second diameter, preferably varies between 2 - 6 mm between types in the kit. Most preferably, the kit comprises body parts having depths of 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 mm.

For ensuring a proper alignment as already described above, it is preferred if the kit further comprises a plurality of types of alignment body parts for forming an aligning section in a rotor extending between the top surface and the section of the body provided with the partition portions, wherein an alignment body part has a cylindrical surface having an outer diameter, wherein the outer diameters of least two types of alignment body parts are different. By selecting the proper alignment body part, which is preferably also disc shaped, the aligning section can be assembled in accordance with the shape and size of the tablet. To ensure a proper transition between the alignment section and the pocket, it is preferred that the surface of the alignment section is substantially flush with the surface of the pocket as described above. The different second diameters of the two types of disc shaped body parts therefore preferably correspond to the different outer diameters of the two types of alignment body parts. In other words, for each different second diameter for the disc shaped body part, a correspondingly sized alignment body part having a corresponding diameter is provided.

Although the height of a pocket and/or the alignment section, seen along the rotation axis of the rotor, can be adapted by choosing the right amount of body parts having the same height, it is preferred if the body parts have a height, and wherein the height of least two types of body parts are different. Less parts are then needed to assemble the rotor. It is preferred if the kit comprises body parts, more preferably both alignment body parts and body parts for forming the pockets, having height varying between 3 - 5 mm. Most preferably, the kit comprises body parts having heights of 3, 4 and 5 mm. It is preferred if the kit comprises a permutation of body parts with varying depths and widths of the pocket to be formed, and preferably also with varying body part height. In other words, each body part within the variation of widths within the preferred range is also provided in different variations in terms of depths of the pocket to be formed. Each of these variations is further preferably provided in different variations in terms of height. A further preferred embodiment of the kit of parts according to the invention comprises at least one top part as defined above and/or at least one base part as defined above.

The invention further relates to a canister provided with a rotor and/or body parts as defined above. The invention further relates to a method for manufacturing a rotor for a canister as defined above for a tablet having a shape and a size, comprising selecting from the kit of parts as defined above a type and amount of body part for forming a rotor with pockets in accordance with the shape and size of the tablet and assembling said parts for manufacturing said rotor. The present invention is further illustrated by the following Figures, which show a preferred embodiment of the rotor according to the invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way, wherein:

- figures 1 and 2 show a rotor in a canister, in perspective cross-section view and a cross- section view respectively;

- figure 3 shows the rotor in the bottom the canister in top view;

- figure 4 shows the rotor in exploded view; and

- figures 5 and 6 show different parts for assembling the rotor.

In figures 1 and 2, a canister 100 is shown which is arranged to hold a plurality of tablets 200 (of which only a few are shown in figure 1) in a container 101. Near the bottom part of the container 101, a circumferential wall 102 is provided in which a rotor 1 rotates. The relation between the wall 102 and the rotor 1 is clearly visible in figure 3. The rotor 1 functions as feeding mechanism for feeding one tablet at the time from the container 101 towards a discharge 103. At the top part of the rotor 1 , a guiding surface is provided on a top part 2 which is provided with grooves 21 which guide the tablets 200 in the radial direction R indicated in figure 1 with respect to the rotation axis A of the rotor 1. Below the top part 2, an aligning section 3 is provided which aligns the tablet 200 with respect to pockets 43 formed in a pocket section 4. With reference to figure 2, the height h3 of the aligning section 3 substantially corresponds to the length of a tablet 200. As is clear from figure 1 , a pocket 43 of the rotor 1 is shaped such that one tablet 200 exactly fits within a pocket 43. The width w (see figure 3) of a pocket 43 thereto substantially corresponds to a width w2 of the tablet 200. Also the depth d of a pocket 43 substantially corresponds to the depth d2 of a tablet 200. Also the height h4 of a pocket (see again figures 1 and 2) substantially corresponds to the height (or at least the maximum dimension) of the tablet 200.

Along the pocket section 3 of the rotor 1, the body 10 of the rotor 1 is provided with a plurality of partition portions 41 which extend from the surface 42 of the body 10. The distance w between the portions 41 define the width w of the pockets 3, while the distance between the outer surface 41c of the portions 41 and the surface 42 of the body 10 defines the depth d of the pockets 43. The pockets 43 are U-shaped, wherein the base of the U-shape is formed by the surface 42 of the body 10, also forming the surface of the pocket 43, and wherein the side walls 41a of the portions 41 form the legs of the U-shape. The outer surfaces 41c of the portions extend along a cylindrical surface having a diameter d2 (see figure 2) which is somewhat smaller than the inner diameter dl of the circumferential wall 102. The diameter d3 of the surface 42 is again smaller. This diameter d3 corresponds to the diameter of the guiding section 3. The space between the surface 42, the side walls 41a of the portions 41 and the inner surface of the wall 102 is shaped to almost exactly fit one tablet 200. Upon rotation of the rotor 1, the different pockets 43 will successively be aligned with the discharge 103, such that by rotation of the rotor 1, a tablet 200 can be selectively discharged from discharge 103. Discharge 103 is connected to a suitable conveyor of an automated dispensing cabinet (ADC). Rotation o the rotor 1 takes place by a base part 5 which is arranged to receive a driving shaft of the ADC. As seen in figures 2 and 4, the base part 5 comprises a tubular lower part 53 arranged for receiving therein the driving shaft and a flange part 54 provided with tapering ribs 55. The tubular lower part 53 is provided with a groove 52 in which a O-ring can be inserted which engages a lower surface 104 of the canister 100 for limiting movement of the rotor 1 in the canister 1 along the rotation axis A. As can be seen in figures 2 and 4, both the aligning section 3 and the pocket section 4 provided with the pockets 43 are formed from different body parts 30a-c, 40a-c respectively. This allows customizing the rotor 1 to a specific tablet 200 as will be explained below.

The pocket section 4 is assembled from a plurality, in this case three, pocket body parts 40 which have an annular shape having a top surface 45, a lower surface 46, inner surface 47 and outer surface 41c defined by the portions 41 as discussed above. As is explained with reference to figure 3, a surface 42 is provided with a plurality of portions 41 forming (parts of) pockets 43 there between.

The body parts 30 of the aligning section 3 are also annularly shaped and are provided with a top surface 35, lower surface 36, inner surface 37 and cylindrical outer surface 31c. The diameter d31 (see figure 5) of a body part 30a corresponds to the diameter d31 of the surface 42 or the distance between two opposing surfaces 42 to form a smooth surface between the aligning section 3 and a pocket 43. Back to figure 4, the body parts 30, 40, but also the top part 20 and the base part 5 are arranged to be interconnected using a snap-fit connection.

The top surfaces 35, 45 of the body parts 30, 40 are hereto provided with protrusions 39a which are arranged to be received in holes 39b arranged in lower surfaces 36, 46 of the body parts 30, 40. The lower surface 26 of the top part 20 is also provided with holes. The holes 39b and protrusions 39a are provided staggered on the surfaces. The protrusions 39a have a hexagonal cross section which is slight oversized with respect to the diameter of the holes 39b. Upon insertion of the protrusions 39a in the holes 39b, the protrusions 39a and/or the walls of the holes 39 will deform, thereby achieving a durable locking between the parts.

An outer surface of the flange part 54 is provided with ribs 55 which taper in the direction of the rotation axis A of the rotor 1. The diameter of the flange part 54 corresponds to the inner diameter of the annular parts 30, 40, such that the flange part 54 can be received in the annular body parts 30, 40. The inner surfaces 36, 37 of the body parts 30, 40 are provided with grooves 38 which are arranged to receive the tapering ribs 55 of the base part 5. The lowest body part in the rotor 1 will thus connect to the base part 5 by receiving the flange part 54 and its ribs 55 in the grooves 48 of the inner surface 47 of the annular part 40.

Also shown in figure 4 is a body part 6 having a relative small height, in this example 1 mm. This part can be used to fine tune the position of the different parts in a rotor in accordance with specific guiding features in the canister 1 (not shown). In this example, the part 6 is only provided with holes 69b.

By forming a rotor 1 from different body parts 30, 40, it is possible to customize a rotor 1 to a specifically sized tablet 200. In figures 5 and 6, two differently sized body parts 30, 40 are shown. In figure 5, a body part 40a for forming pockets 43 is shown which is arranged to receive a relatively small tablets. The depth da, i.e. the distance between the outer diameter d2 and the diameter d31 is hereby smaller than in the body part 40b of figure 6. Also the distance wb between the portions 41 is larger in the body part 40b than in the body part 40a. Also the height of the parts may vary. The part 40a for instance has a height ha which is smaller than the height hb of the part 40b. A kit of parts for assembling a rotor 1 is provided with a plurality of variations of body parts, each having different widths wa, wb, different depths da, db and different heights ha, hb. For a specific type of canister 100, the outer diameter d2 remains the same. For each variation in depth da, db, a body part 30 having a corresponding diameter d31 is provided, such that the diameters of the body parts for forming the aligning section and the diameters d31 of the surfaces 42 of the body parts 40 correspond.

Therefore, by choosing a body part 40 for forming a pocket section 4 having a width w and a depth d corresponding to the size of the tablet and choosing the right amount of body parts such that the height h4 (see figure 2) corresponds to the size of the tablet, the shape and size of pockets 43 of a rotor 1 can be chosen freely. By providing different body parts 30, 40 having different heights ha, hb, less parts are needed to customize the heights h3, h4 of the respective sections 3 and 4.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment shown, but extends also to other embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. It should for instance be noted that the rotor is not limited for with only tablets in the strict sense. The term tablet as used herein includes (parts of) pills, capsules or other medicine units.

Claims

1. Rotor for use in a canister arranged for automatically feeding tablets, wherein the rotor comprises a base part arranged to cooperate with a driving shaft, a cylindrical body having a top surface for guiding tablets and a plurality of partition portions extending from the outer circumferential surface of said body for forming a plurality of pockets for tablets there between, characterized in that the body of the rotor is assembled from a plurality of body parts, wherein the body parts define the shape and size of the pockets.

2. Rotor according to claiml , wherein the body parts are interconnected using a snap-fit

connection.

3. Rotor according to claim 2, wherein a first body part is provided with a protrusion, wherein a second body part is provided with a hole for receiving said protrusion for interlocking said first and second body parts.

4. Rotor according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a body part is disc shaped and

wherein the disc shaped body parts are interconnected along the upper and lower surfaces for forming the body of the rotor.

5. Rotor according to claim 4, wherein the body parts for forming the pockets are provided with a plurality of partition portions extending from the outer circumferential surface of said body part.

6. Rotor according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the body further comprises an

aligning section extending between the top surface and the section of the body provided with the partition portions, wherein the aligning section has a cylindrical surface and wherein the aligning section is formed by at least one alignment body part.

7. Rotor according to at least claims 4 and 6, wherein the alignment body part has a cylindrical outer surface.

8. Rotor according to at least claims 5 and 7, wherein the partition portions of a body part have an outer diameter, seen with respect to the rotation axis, and wherein the surface of the pockets have a second diameter smaller than the outer diameter, wherein the outer diameter of the cylindrical outer surface of the alignment body part substantially corresponds to said second diameter.

9. Rotor according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a top part defining said top surface of the rotor, wherein said top part is arranged to be assembled together with the other body parts for forming the body.

10. Rotor according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the body part forming the pockets is annularly shaped, wherein the base part is arranged to engage and connect to the recess of the annular body part.

11. Rotor according to claim 10, wherein an cylindrical outer surface of the base part for

engagement with the inner surface of the annular body part and said inner surface of the body part are provided with cooperating protrusions and recesses.

12. Disc shaped body part for forming a rotor according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the disc shaped body part is provided with a plurality of partition portions extending from the outer circumferential surface of said body part for forming a plurality of pockets there between.

13. Disc shaped body part according to claim 12, wherein the upper and lower surface of the disc shaped body part are arranged to interlock with a further body part using a snap-fit connection.

14. Disc shaped body part according to claims 12 or 13, wherein the lower surface of the body is provided with a protrusions or a hole, wherein the other upper surface is provided with the other of the protrusion or the hole, wherein the hole is arranged to receive a protrusion of a further disc shaped body part.

15. Disc shaped body part according to any of the claims 12 - 14, wherein the disc shaped body part has an annular shape.

16. Kit of parts comprising a plurality of different types of disc shaped body parts according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each type of disc shaped body is arranged to form a rotor having a different size and shape of pockets for receiving tablets.

17. Kit of parts according to claim 16, wherein the partition portions of a body part extend at a mutual distance with respect to each other from the outer circumferential surface, wherein the mutual distances of at least two types of disc shaped body parts are different.

18. Kit of parts according to claim 16 or 17 wherein the partition portions of a body part have an outer diameter, seen with respect to the central axis of the body part, and wherein the surface of the pockets have a second diameter smaller than the outer diameter, wherein the second diameters of at least two types of disc shaped body parts are different.

19. Kit of parts according to any of the claims 16 - 17, further comprising a plurality of types of alignment body parts for forming an aligning section in a rotor extending between the top surface and the section of the body provided with the partition portions, wherein an alignment body part has a cylindrical surface having an outer diameter, wherein the outer diameters of least two types of alignment body parts are different.

20. Kit of parts according to claims 18 and 19, wherein the different second diameters of the two types of disc shaped body parts correspond to the different outer diameters of the two types of alignment body parts.

21. Kit of parts according to any of the claims 16 - 20, wherein the body parts have a height, and wherein the height of least two types of body parts are different.

22. Kit of parts according to any of the claims 16 - 21, further comprising at least one top part as defined in claim 9 and/or at least one base part as defined in claim 10 or 11.

23. Canister provided with a rotor or body parts according to any of the preceding claims.

24. Method for manufacturing a rotor for a canister according to any of the preceding claims 1 -

11 for a tablet having a shape and a size, comprising selecting from the kit of parts according to any of the claims 16 - 22 a type and amount of body part for forming a rotor with pockets in accordance with the shape and size of the tablet and assembling said parts for manufacturing said rotor.