EP1255679A1

EP1255679A1 - Flexible container for packaging, transporting, storing and distributing product packings, especially product packings of medicaments

Info

Publication number: EP1255679A1
Application number: EP00979632A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Sergio Molon
Original assignee: Exper Automation SpA
Current assignee: Exper Automation SpA
Priority date: 1999-11-29
Filing date: 2000-11-27
Publication date: 2002-11-13
Also published as: AU1705401A; WO2001040067A1; KR20020081676A; JP2003515506A

Abstract

The invention relates to a flexible container for packaging, transporting, storing and distributing product packings, especially product packings of medicaments. Said container comprises a bag defined by a tubular wall (2, 11), closed at its bottom and provided at its top with an overlapping tongue (3, 12) that closes on the top of the bag. At least one of the overlapping parts is linked with a top strip (4, 5; 13) that consists of a rigid material.

Description

BENDING CONTAINER FOR THE PACKAGING, DELIVERY, STORAGE AND DISTRIBUTION OF PRODUCT PAC KU • GEN, IN PARTICULAR OF MEDICINAL PRODUCTS

The present invention relates to a flexible container for packaging, transferring, storing and distributing products, in particular medicinal products, according to the characterizing part of claim 1.

As is known, fan-like containers are used for the transfer, adjustment, storage of packs of the monodose unit of medicaments in ampoules, orally, disposable syringes and other objects which are packaged, for example, by the packaging machine, known under the name Calypso pick up the products according to discrete quantities in precisely defined specialists. The known system has the disadvantage that, in the case of different cans, either containers with different dimensions or containers with excess space are transported with empty compartments. The entire system is therefore very rigid in its use and not in its ability to accommodate constantly changing variables.

The object of the present invention is therefore to eliminate the deficiency of the containers of the aforementioned type and to propose a container which is capable of flexibly displaying products of different sizes in this way. increase that it is possible to reduce the space requirement of the container even when empty as well as that for the container occupied by the product to be transported to a minimum. In addition, a way is to be sought in order to keep the processing and assembly costs of the product itself within a maximum.

By providing a container, in particular in the form of a bag, in which at least a part of the upper, self-closing tab is attached to a rigid head strip, it is possible to close the other part of the tab at first, with the possibility that Hang the head piece together with the hanging bag in the manner of a hanging file, for example on a support frame.

In one of the embodiments, only one of the two parts of the tab is firmly attached to a single head strip, with the possibility of connecting the second part of the tab to the first, for example by welding. In a variant, a tear thread is inserted between the two tab parts in such a way that the sachet can be opened quickly in order to remove the contents, for example, of a medicament, a syringe, etc.

This first version is especially for a rigid cardboard head strip, whereas the sachet is made of a paper material is executed.

In a second embodiment, two head strips are provided, each of which is connected, for example by hot welding, to one of the tab parts of the bag opening. In this case, a strip according to Velcro ^{® is} provided in the area of the upper edge within the pocket opening, so that the sack can be closed on this strip, while both head strips serve for the opening. In this case, the head strips are made of a rigid plastic, while the sack itself is made of a thermoplastic material. Advantageously, the rigid headstrip can be used for affixing writings, characters and illustrations both via a label and by printing to indicate the features of the content, the destination, the manufacturer, etc.

In a further embodiment and the object according to the invention consists of two plastic elements which, when assembled, form the finished container. The upper, rigid part carries the sack like a bellows and holds the latter in a pocketed position to prevent the contents from escaping. The tooth-like end of the closing device holds, using the short lever, the upper side of the rigid edge of the sack. The connection is integrally connected to the base, ie to the rigid upper part. The 0 ff now gs before is pressure on the side facing away from the closing device, where a hinged circular tab with the required space is excluded. Due to the finger pressure exerted on the long lever of the locking device, the tooth holding the bag underneath is pivoted. The sack is pushed open in the open position thanks to the spring energy of the profiled flat spring made of plastic in the form of two horns and under constant pressure on the rigid edge of the sack. The opening takes place snap-in in the highest opening position forced by end stop segments of the movable sectors, that is to say the cha-ni erarti arms of the edge. The sachet in the open position allows the automatic introduction of medication from the Hyperion machine or by hand from the picking station. The same applies to taking the medication from the inside by inserting a hand. The closing process takes place on a simple ice by printing the rigid edge on the face, ie the stick of the sachet, until the tooth of the vision device snaps into place. Simultaneously with the closing process, the profiled flat spring underneath is forced into the retracted position.

The shape of the rigid part is divided into two parts:

The lower part: bellows-like receptacle for the bag. In the area of the inside of the Bags, ie the rigid wall of the container, is expediently perforated in such a way that air completely allows the interior of the container itself and therefore also cleaning for complete cleaning outside and inside.

Upper part or head part: it is widened compared to the lower part, etc. by two downward projections or hooks, on the opposite edges of the underside, which allow the hanging of the entire object between two guides in the manner of a hanging file. There is a breakthrough or hole on the left side to insert a finger for carrying. The complete locking and opening device is located in the middle. On the right-hand side is the usable area for attaching the adhesive label with the data of the patient for whom it is intended, a pr of I 1 ch 1 itz is located in the middle of the space intended for the label To allow the latter to be withdrawn or to keep the entire container in a horizontal position for a counter-bearing for support in the mentioned opening.

A profiled flat spring is excluded between the lower and upper part. Whole parts of the rigid top are described as described obtained by a single mold with a single sprinkling process.

The sack consists of three parts:

Transparent part. The overall levels are transparent. The right, left and lower side are folded into two sectors and have the front side merging into the mounting frame for each of the three sides.

Attachment point of the bag. The profile of the frame must be rigid and counter-profiled to the rigid part. Clamping the bag with the rigid rear part must have the characteristic of a secure clamping and the simple assembly and disassembly of the elements.

The upper rigid edge part. The individual sectors belong to this sector. The sections are connected to one another only via sharp, kidney-like articulations of the same material, with a reduced thickness at the folding point. At the same time, the highest degree of flexibility in the vertical direction and the highest level of flexibility in the axial direction are such that film hinges are formed which are well known to the plastic technician. The ends of the arms each end with a cylindrical bolt zen of the same material. The junction is between the portion of the edge end and the body of the cylindrical part that continues to develop at the ends. These bolts are provided for hooking in the area of the receptacle on the rear, rigid plane, for example in consoles which protrude from the rigid part. The inclusion must allow the bolt to rotate completely depending on how the bag is developed in the closing and opening window.

Further features and details of the container according to the invention emerge from the following description of its embodiment, which are shown in the figures of the accompanying drawing. Show it,

FIG. 1 shows the container according to the invention in a first embodiment for a front view,

FIG. 2 shows the same container from FIG. 1 in rear view,

3 shows the container according to the invention in a second embodiment in the front, and

FIG. 4 the container from FIG. 3 m rear view, FIG. 5 shows an end view of a third embodiment of the invention according to the container,

FIG. 5 shows a side view of the flexible part of the container from FIG. 5,

FIG. 7 the rigid part of the container according to the invention from FIG. 5,

FIG. 8 shows an end view of the flexible part of the container from FIG. 5,

FIG. 9 shows the drawing of the container according to the invention from FIG. 5 in

Closed position,

FIG. 10 shows the arrangement of FIG. 9 itself together with the pivot bearing thereof, and

FIG. 11 shows the arrangement of the container according to the invention from FIG. 9 in the open position.

A container 1 is shown overall in FIGS. 1 and 2. It consists of a tube wall made of transparent plastic 2. A part of the self-closing tab 3 of the tube wall 2 is fixedly attached to a support section 8 of a head strip 4, while the other part of the tab 3 is attached to a support section 8 of a Headpiece 5 is welded, as shown in Figure 2 Darge.

Between the parts of the upper plate 3, a strip of Velcro ^® 9 is mounted such that the container in a removable manner is kept closed on its inner side. If the head piece 4 and 5 are gripped with one hand each, the latter being removed, the strip 9 can be torn into the opening in order to be closed again at any time.

This version is particularly indicated for the complete plastic version and for reusing the same container several times.

3 and 4, on the other hand, show a container 10 which is formed from a tube wall made of paper-like material, for example translucent, which is closed at the bottom by a bottom and has an upper flap 12, a part of which is a self-closing flap 12 is fixedly attached to a support section 16 of a head strip 13. This extends horizontally beyond the tube wall 11 itself to form hooks 14 and 15 laterally opposite the bag in order to hang the container itself in the manner of a hanging file.

The after inserting the opposite to be packed The free part of the upper flap 12 is fastened to the other part of the flap fastened by the head piece 16 along a welding strip 17, for example by means of hot sealing. A tear thread 18 is inserted between the inner sides of the parts of the self-closing tab 12 in order to be able to open the container itself in order to pull out the product contained in it.

This latter form is particularly indicated to be carried out in cardboard and is intended as a so-called input container, either to be brought to a landfill or to be incinerated.

As shown in FIGS. 5 to 11, the reference number 101 indicates a finding according to a container in its entirety.

This container 101 consists of a rigid part 102 and a flexible part 103.

The flexible part 103 has a base 104 and, in the use position, vertical tabs, the free edges of which are provided with connecting rods 105, 106, which may be provided with undercut or snap-like cams.

The upper edge of the flexible part 103 is attached to arms 107 and 108 articulated in a manner similar to that in 109 and 110 and to a beam 111. Each arm 107 and 108 is hinged at one end to the corresponding end of the beam 111 and at the other end each arm 107, 108 has a pivot pin 12 and 13, the pivot pins 112 and 113 have mutually parallel axes which are perpendicular to the plane in which the edge of the flexible part 102, or the arms 107 and 108 and the beam 111 lie. The hinges 109 and 110 are preferably film hinges which are designed together with the injection molding of the arms 107 and 108 such that the arms 107 and 108 can be pivoted according to the arrows 114 and 115, by the hinges 109 and 110 being interconnected with arms 107 and 108 shortened.

The sections near the bolts 112 and 113 of the arms 107 and 108 are provided with locking lugs 116.

As shown in FIG. 7, the rigid part 103 of the container is essentially formed by a plate 117 which has slots 118 arranged on three sides of a U, with the beams 105, 106 or in any case with the U-shaped edge of the flexible part 103 can be coupled.

Breakthroughs 119 are also excluded in the plate 117, which penetrate the outside with the inside of the container formed by the rigid part 102 and the flexible part 103. The table 117 is also formed by a head part 140, from which two brackets 120 and 121 extend below its upper edge. A support receptacle 122 is provided in each bracket 120, 121 and is intended to receive bolts 112 and 113, respectively, to allow arms 107 and 108 to be pivoted about bolts 112 and 113.

Between the brackets 120 and 121 are made of the material of the plate 117 elastic horns 123 and 124, which extend from a central, common section 125 and protrude from one of their seats 126 in order to be in a non-loaded condition on the locking lugs 116 substantially extended position of the arms 107 and 108 to engage.

In addition, a tooth 127 extends cantilevered from the head part 114 via a lever (not shown), which can hook onto the beam 111 in a folded-back position of the arms 107 and 108 by the two horns 123 and 124 being preloaded into the seat 126 be pressed.

The lever of the tooth 127 is preferably carried by a flap 129 which is punched out of the head part 140 in order to be pivoted about an axis 129 parallel to the beam 111. Thus, to release the tooth 127, the flap 128 can simply be printed in such a way that the tooth 127 is released from the beam 111.

The head part 140 expediently extends laterally in order to form the corresponding hooks 130 in order to allow the use of the board 117 in the manner of a hanging file of a known type.

A hole 131 is also recessed from the head part 140 in order to be able to comfortably grip or also hook the board 117. On the side facing away from the hole with respect to a horizontal central axis, a recess 132 is provided in order to engage a counter bearing as soon as the board 117 is suspended in the hole 131, in order to hold the board itself in a horizontal position or for comfort to remove a label attached to the head part 114 to identify the product contained in the container.

Numerous variations and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The use of the invention according to the container is not limited to the field of pharmaceuticals. For example, it could also be used for the exhibition and sale of products in general in large magazines.

Claims

1 HP ATENT REQUESTS

1. Flexible container for packing, transferring, storing and distributing product packs, in particular medicinal products, characterized in that it comprises a sack formed by a tube wall (2, 11; 103) which is closed at the bottom and has a self-closing, overlapping tab (3, 12; 111, 113), of which at least one of the overlapping parts is connected to a head strip (4, 5; 13; 140) made of rigid material.

2. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that only a single part of the tab (12) on the head strip (13) is fixedly connected to which the second part of the tab can be firmly connected.

A container according to claim 2, characterized in that the free part of the tab is fastened, which is carried by the head part under heat sealing with the interposition of a tear thread.

A container according to claim 1, characterized in that each tab part (3) is welded to a head strip (4, 5).

5. A container according to claim 4, characterized in that connecting means are provided between the inner sides of the tab parts.

6. A container according to claim 5, characterized in that the connecting means are formed by a strip of the Velcro ^® type.

7. A container according to claim 1 and 2, characterized in that the head strip is formed by a rigid cardboard, while the tube wall is formed by flexible paper.

8. A container according to claim 4, characterized in that the head strips are formed by a rigid plastic, while the tube wall is formed by a flexible plastic.

9. Container according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the rigid head strip is used for the attachment of letters, characters and illustrations both via a label and by printing in order to apply the features of the content, the destination, the manufacturer, etc. to admit.

10. A container according to claim 1, characterized in that it consists of a rigid part (102), a flexible, with the (102), a flexible part (103) connected to the rigid part (102) with a floor (104) to form a receiving space with access on the side facing away from the floor (104) and from an opening - and Schi i eßungseinmichung of the access exists, which brings the edge in the access from a position of a stable high opening in a Schlliessess 1 lun g, in which the edge of the access on the rigid part is closed to itself.

11. A container according to claim 10, characterized in that the opening and closing device by s cha r nie rarti ge (109 and 110) articulated arms (107 and 108) and a bar (111) is formed, which at the access edge of the flexible part (103), each arm (107 and 108) being articulated at one end to the respective end of the beam (111) and at the other end having a pivot pin (112 and 113) with axes which are perpendicular to the plane , in which the arms (107 and 108) and the beam (111) lie, the arm sections (107 and 108) in the vicinity of the bolts (112 and 113) being provided with locking lugs (116), the bolts (112 and 113) are rotatably supported by two brackets (120 and 121), with elastic horns (123 and 123), which differ from a central one, being recessed between the brackets (120 and 121) from the material of a sheet (117). extend common section (125) and protrude from one of their seats (126) to engage the latches (116) in a substantially extended position of the arms (107 and 108) in the unloaded condition, whereby rigid Part (102) also extends over a lever projecting a tooth (127) which can be brought into engagement with the bar (111) in a folded-back position of the arms (107 and 108), in which the two horns (123 and 124) are pressed into the seat (126) thereof under elastic preload.

12. A container according to claim 10, characterized in that the lever of the tooth (127) is carried by a flap (129) punched out of the head (140) of the rigid part (102) about an axis (129) to be pivoted, which is parallel to the beam (111) such that the flap (128) must be actuated in the direction of lifting the tooth (127) to release the tooth (127).

13. Container according to the preceding claims 10 - 12, characterized in that the walls of the flexible part (103), the parts of the opening and closing device and the elements for connection to the rigid part in one piece of a plastic via a fuel injection gu s sve r driving are executed.

14. Container according to claim 10-13, characterized in that the walls of the flexible part are transparent.

15. A container according to claim 10-14, characterized in that the hinges (109 and 110) are film hinges which are carried out together with the injection molding of the arms (107 and 108).

16. A container according to claim 10-15, characterized in that the section of the rigid, one of the walls of the container forming part is provided with ventilation breakthroughs.

17. A container according to claim 10-16, characterized in that the head piece (104) of the rigid part (102) has suspension hooks in the manner of a hanging file.