EP3156337B1 - Method for operating a packaging device and packaging device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method of operating a single-drug-portion packaging device, and to a packaging device by which the aforementioned method can be carried out.

Corresponding packaging devices, which are also referred to as blister machines, are known from the prior art. For example, this describes WO 2013/034504 A1 one in pharmacies and hospitals or, with appropriate dimensioning, also in blister centers usable Blisterautomaten, the drug compilations of several drug portions patient individually according to the medically prescribed intake times compiles. The device packs order data corresponding drug compositions (which may consist of only a single portion or a plurality of individual drug portions) in bags formed from a packaging material web, so-called blister bags, said bags serving as a strand of blister bags (also referred to as blister tubing) the packaging device for further use leave. A blister bag regularly corresponds to a time of administration of a patient, ie contains all portions of medication that a patient must take at a given time of day. The known single-drug-portion packaging device comprises a plurality of drug-portion supply and dispensing devices which cooperate with a plurality of guide means which are moved past the supply and dispensing devices by a transport means. Of the guide means, the drug portions are usually supplied to a packaging station, in which the above-mentioned blister packs shaped and the individual drug portions in the forming of the Blister bags are inserted into this. Due to the use of the plurality of stocking and dispensing devices and the use of a plurality of guide means passing the stocking and dispensing devices, a plurality of different drug combinations, all of which may comprise all of the drug portions stored in the stocking and dispensing devices, can be simultaneously getting produced.

By way of the number of storage and dispensing devices used in the packaging device and the guide devices moved past them, the number of simultaneously producible drug compositions and the number of simultaneously storable different drug portions can be determined. In the event that a different drug is stored per storage and dispensing device, as many drugs may be stored in the packaging device as these storage and dispensing devices comprises. However, since different drugs are requested at different times, it is usually the case that various drugs are stored in several of the storage and dispensing facilities.

The transport device for moving the guide devices along the stocking and dispensing devices has at least one transporting means to which the guide devices are fastened. This transmission means may for example be formed as a toothed belt, which is moved between a drive axle and a deflection axis and has a plurality of holders, to which the guide means are attached. The storage and dispensing devices are usually arranged in a matrix, ie a plurality of storage and dispensing devices are arranged one above the other. The guide means are designed accordingly and have a plurality of receiving openings which correspond to corresponding discharge openings of the storage and dispensing devices, and in alignment of the delivery - to the Receiving openings can take place a transfer of drug portions of the storage and dispensing to the management institutions. Due to the matrix-like arrangement of the storage and dispensing devices, the guide means have a certain height and thus a certain weight. Depending on the number of guide devices, the total weight of the guide means used is significant, so that the means of transport of the transport means is under a considerable tension, and for the drive, ie the movement of the guide means, a considerable effort is required.

In particular, in packaging devices with a plurality of guide devices, and the voltage required on the means of transport, it may happen that the transport breaks. Without the corresponding counterforce, the means of transport with the associated guide means is pulled over the drive axle "guidelessly" through the packaging device, and in this uncontrolled movement, the guide means can become wedged within the packaging device and cause considerable damage in the packaging device.

From the US 2008/0257692 A1 For example, a method for checking a crack in a conveyor is known. In order to detect a crack, detectable conduit means are arranged in the interior of the conveying means and their passage is determined by a detector. At each pass, a counter is reset and as soon as it exceeds a threshold, the transport is stopped. The threshold is exceeded if a conduit is damaged by a tear of the means of transport.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method for operating a packaging device for individual drug portions, wherein the risk of damage to the packaging device is reduced in a malfunction of a transport means of the guide means. It is a further object of the present invention Invention to provide a corresponding packaging device.

The object is achieved by a method for operating a packaging device according to claim 1. The packaging device used in the method according to the invention comprises a plurality of guide devices which are attached to at least one transport means of a transport device. According to the invention, the guiding devices are moved along a plurality of storage and dispensing devices in which medicament portions can be stored, wherein dispensing openings of the stocking and dispensing devices are aligned with receiving openings of the guiding devices, wherein the at least one transporting device of the transporting device is a drive axle coupled to a motor is driven and returned at a deflection axis, wherein the motor is coupled to a control device.

The transport means has in the circumferential direction a plurality of markings arranged at predetermined intervals, and / or the deflection axis has a plurality of markings arranged at predetermined intervals.

According to the invention, at least one distance or time difference (hereinafter "difference") is determined between two markings, the determined difference is compared with a corresponding nominal value, the nominal value corresponding to the difference in error-free operation of the transport device, and upon determination of a deviation exceeding a threshold value between the Setpoint and the difference determined the drive axle stopped.

The markings provided on the means of transport and / or the deflection axis according to the invention may be markings which are detected, for example, by a proximity sensor, ie a sensor system which operates without contact with the markings without contact. Depending on the precise management of the method and the design of the implementation of the Inductive, capacitive, magnetic or optical proximity sensors can be used. Alternatively, it is possible, for example, to use light barriers which detect a passage of a marking. If the transport device is faultless, the means of transport moves at a predetermined speed between the drive axle driven by the motor and the deflection axle. In this case, the motor applies a certain force to the movement of the means of transport, and there is a certain tension in the means of transport. Due to the uniform movement of the means of transport are always measured between predetermined markers time differences that are within a certain range by a predetermined setpoint.

Now tears the means of transport, for example, due to the high tensile stress, the speed of movement of the means of transport, the speed of the means of transport depending on the location of the crack and the detection of the time difference may be smaller or larger than the desired value, d. H. The speed of the means of transport may increase or decrease in a crack depending on location, but in any case the time difference deviates from a predetermined setpoint.

Once such a deviation is registered, the drive shaft is stopped to prevent further movement of the transport means, and thus the guide means, by the packaging device.

The markings can be provided on the means of transport itself and / or on the deflection axis. The markings may for example be provided by spaced components on the deflection roller or a transport means. It is also conceivable that both markings are provided by only one component, wherein the "beginning" and the "end" of the component is determined. Based on the values assigned to the "beginning" and the "end", the difference can then be determined.

Also, the time difference between two predetermined markings of the deflection axis will change at a crack of the means of transport, d. H. the rotational speed will change, so that such a crack can also be detected on the basis of the markings on the deflection axis.

As an alternative to determining a time difference between two markings, the path difference between two markings can be determined. Position values of the motor and / or the drive axis are used for this purpose.

The motor coupled to the drive axle carries out a predetermined number of rotation steps (number of steps per revolution) for a complete revolution of the drive axle, the current position being increased with each rotation step. After completion of a complete revolution, the current position (of the motor and / or the drive axle) can be set to zero, alternatively it can easily be increased further without resetting.

In order to determine the path difference, the current position (of the motor or the drive axle) in the detection of the first mark and the current position (of the motor or the drive axle) are compared in the detection of the second mark. In a faultless operation of the transport device, the determined difference (taking into account a specific error tolerance) always corresponds to the desired value. In case of malfunction, a deviation results due to a slowing down or acceleration of the deflection axis or a means of transport. If, for example, the means of transport slows down more rotational steps are detected between two markings than usual, since the motor and the drive axis continue to move "normally", but the markers move more slowly and thus more turning steps have passed before the second mark is detected.

In the method according to the invention, the movement of the guide means by the packaging device is automatically stopped when a malfunction of the transport device is determined, according to the invention this Malfunction based on deviations of a difference between two marks, which are provided on the transport means and / or the deflection roller, is determined.

If the packaging device for carrying out the method according to the invention comprises only one means of transport, the difference between two predetermined markings on the means of transport or two markings on the deflection axis can be detected.

However, if only one means of transmission is present, it may happen that a second mark is never reached, namely when the malfunction causes the means of transport to abruptly stop. Although such an abrupt stop is unlikely, but in order to be able to determine it, it is provided in a preferred embodiment that when determining the distance or time difference between two markings, the determination is terminated after exceeding a predetermined Abbruchwertes and the drive shaft is stopped. This abort value can correspond, for example, to the sum of the set value and the threshold value. However, other values can also be specified. In any case, it is ensured that the control device does not wait too long for the determination of the second mark in a case described above. Even in such a case, it is thus ensured that the transport device is stopped after a certain time or rotational speed of the drive axle or of the engine in order to avoid damage within the device.

If the device comprises at least two transport means, which is preferred on account of the height of the guide means, the difference between two markings of the same transport means can be determined. Alternatively, it is conceivable to determine the difference between two predetermined markings which are arranged on different transport means, ie between a first mark on a first transport means and a second mark on a second transport means. When determining the difference between two marks on different means of transport can not Only the crack of a means of transport can be determined, in which the difference deviates abruptly from the desired value, it can also be determined a slow slip in one of the means of transport, which can lead to a slow misalignment of the guide means, which in turn can lead to that Hooking guide devices in the transport device and damage them more or less.

Since the damage occurring during the occurrence of a tear of a means of transport within the packaging device can be considerable, it is provided in a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, in which the transport device comprises several means of transport, that differences between two markings of at least two transport means are determined determined differences with a corresponding setpoint and / or compared with each other, wherein the setpoint corresponds to the difference in error-free operation of the transport device, and when determining a threshold exceeding a deviation between a setpoint and a detected difference or between the differences themselves the drive axis is stopped. In this particular embodiment, therefore, the differences between markings are monitored in both means of transport, so that the crack of one of the two means of transport can be detected very quickly. Alternatively or additionally, the differences themselves can be compared. These are approximately the same in a faultless operation of the transport devices (and with an appropriate choice of the marks) and have only a slight deviation from each other. If one of the transport means tears, the differences between two predefined markings on the means of transport also deviate from one another, so that this value can also be used to stop the packaging device.

According to the invention, when determining a deviation exceeding a threshold, the Drive axle is stopped. In a preferred embodiment, it is further provided that when determining a deviation exceeding a threshold, the drive axle and the deflection axis are stopped. Depending on the exact configuration of the deflection axis and the transport means is due to the at least prevailing friction between the surface of the deflection axis and the surface of the transport ensured by the fact that the transport is stopped in the deflection axis, which is particularly for packaging devices, the very long transport have, is advantageous.

To stop the deflection axis, this may have a simple lock, which is triggered by the control device when a deviation exceeding a threshold is determined.

In a further preferred embodiment, in which the transport device has at least one transport means guide, it is provided that, upon determination of a deviation exceeding a threshold, the movement of a transport means is stopped at the at least one transport means guide. A corresponding embodiment of the method according to the invention is particularly suitable when very long means of transport are used, as in these horizontal support may possibly be necessary. The transport means guide, which is in engagement with the guided by her means of transport, either by friction or for example via a toothing on the inner surface of the means of transport and in the transport guide can act on determination of a threshold exceeding divergence braking on the means of transport, whereby the Damage to the packaging device is further reduced.

As already indicated, the difference between the inventively provided markings can be determined with a variety of sensor systems, the choice of the exact execution of the packaging device is dependent. The usable sensor systems are known in the art, so that will be omitted here for a more detailed description. In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, it is provided that the markings of the deflection axis are provided by teeth of a deflection roller of the deflection axis. Although the use of a pulley prefers the use of a means of transport with a corresponding toothing, but this is the case regularly in view of the need for the drive of the means of transport. By using the teeth of the guide roller as markers, it is not necessary to provide additional markings, in addition to the already existing. In a further embodiment, it is accordingly provided that the markings of a transport means are provided by teeth on a toothing of the transport means, wherein the teeth can cooperate with teeth of a deflection roller of the deflection axis, but this is not absolutely necessary.

The markers used according to the invention for determining a path or time difference can be provided by a tooth (beginning and end of the tooth) or two teeth in the deflection roller or the transport means.

Due to the matrix-like arrangement of the storage and dispensing devices, the guide devices are guided vertically through the packaging device, and due to the necessity of movement of the guide means on the at least one transport means, they have, at least in the region of the deflection axis, a certain distance from each other. If the transport device functions correctly, the guide devices are guided parallel to one another through the packaging device. A misalignment of the guide means indicates a malfunction caused by a slippage in one of the means of transport, should several be used, or by the rupture of a means of transport. In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, it is provided that the markings of a means of transport Edges are provided by guide means attached to the means of transport. In each case, two edges of a guide device form a mark. If the difference between the two markings is measured, for example with a light barrier, the gap between two parallel guide means can be used to measure the difference. With a uniform vertical orientation of the guide means on the at least one transport means, the vertical, parallel spaces between the guide means, taking into account certain structurally related deviations, very similar, so that the differences do not differ significantly from each other. When a misalignment of the guide means due to a slip on a means of transport or the crack of a means of transport can be measured with the measuring device, due to the changed orientation of the free space, only another difference, and if the deviation from the setpoint exceeds a threshold , This can be used to determine a malfunction of the transport device, which leads according to the invention to a stop of the drive axle.

The invention is further achieved by a packaging device according to claim 8. The packaging device according to the invention comprises a plurality of storage and dispensing devices, in each of which a kind of drug portions is stored, and a transport device with at least one transport, said at least one transport of the transport device of a coupled to a motor drive shaft and driven back at a deflection axis, wherein the motor is coupled to a control device.

The packaging device further comprises a plurality of guide means, which, if necessary detachably, are fastened to the at least one transporting means and which have a plurality of receiving openings which, upon movement of the guide means, are located at delivery openings of the supply and Dispensiereinrichtungen be aligned or moved past, and at least one packaging device, which are supplied via the guide means drug portions. This packaging device usually transfers the medicament portions into the blister packs already described above. The packaging device may be arranged inside the packaging device, alternatively it is also possible that the packaging device is arranged in a component, which is separated from the actual packaging device.

According to the invention, the transport means in the circumferential direction and / or the deflection axis markings, and the packaging device comprises at least one sensor system coupled to the control device, with which path or time differences (hereinafter "differences") between two markings can be determined. These two markings may be, as already explained with reference to the method, two markings on the deflection axis, two markings on a means of transport, or two markings, one of which is arranged on a means of transport.

The control device according to the invention is designed such that the determined difference is comparable to a desired value, wherein the desired value corresponds to the difference in error-free transport device, and that the control device stops the drive axle upon determination of a deviation exceeding a threshold deviation.

By way of example, the sensor system can be any proximity sensor, the exact configuration of the sensor system in turn being dependent on the design of the packaging device as such. As sensor systems, for example, the sensor systems already described with reference to the method in question.

In a preferred embodiment of the packaging device according to the invention, the transport device has at least two transport means, wherein the at least two Transport means are each assigned a sensor system, with which a difference between two markings of a means of transport can be determined, wherein the control device is designed in this embodiment such that the differences are compared with a desired value and / or with each other, and that the control device upon determination of a deviation exceeding the threshold stops the drive axle. In this embodiment, the two transportation means are monitored for a crack, so that it is ensured that damages based on a tear of a transportation means are prevented as much as possible. Alternatively or additionally, the deviations of the two similar differences determined (that is, two path differences or two time differences) can be taken into account, which can further enhance safety.

In a preferred embodiment, the packaging device according to the invention comprises at least one transport means guide which is coupled to the control device and which can stop the movement of a transport means when a deviation exceeding a threshold value is determined. The transport means guide can thus also contribute to the transport being stopped quickly and reliably upon detection of a crack, whereby damage in the packaging device can be avoided.

In a preferred embodiment, the markings of the deflection axis are provided by teeth of a deflection roller of the deflection axis. According to the invention it is thus provided in this embodiment that are used as markings components that are provided anyway for the operation of the transport device, d. H. no additional components are necessary to provide the markings.

Accordingly, it is provided in another embodiment that the markings of a means of transport are provided by teeth of a toothing on the transport means. In a further embodiment, it is provided that the markings of a transport means are provided by edges of guide means attached to the transport means. As already explained above, it is possible in such an embodiment to determine a misalignment of the guide device, which indicates a malfunction of the transport device, which may be caused by a tear of a means of transport or by a slip in a means of transport.

• Figur 1 eine isometrische Ansicht einer ersten Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Verpackungsvorrichtung zeigt;
• Figur 2 eine isometrische Ansicht einer zweiten Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Verpackungsvorrichtung zeigt;
• Figur 3 eine Unteransicht der ersten und zweiten Ausführungsform zeigt;
• Figur 4 eine schematische Draufsicht auf eine dritte Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Verpackungsvorrichtung zeigt;
• Figur 5 eine schematische Seitenansicht der dritten Ausführungsform zeigt; und
• Figuren 6a und 6b schematische Ansichten einer vierten Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Verpackungsvorrichtung zeigen.

In the following, preferred embodiments of the packaging device according to the invention and of the method according to the invention will be described with reference to the attached drawing, in which:

• FIG. 1 an isometric view of a first embodiment of the packaging device according to the invention;
• FIG. 2 an isometric view of a second embodiment of the packaging device according to the invention;
• FIG. 3 shows a bottom view of the first and second embodiments;
• FIG. 4 shows a schematic plan view of a third embodiment of the packaging device according to the invention;
• FIG. 5 shows a schematic side view of the third embodiment; and
• Figures 6a and 6b show schematic views of a fourth embodiment of the packaging device according to the invention.

FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of a first embodiment of the packaging device according to the invention, wherein in this illustration, a plurality of components of the packaging device, which are immaterial to the invention, are omitted (such as outer cladding elements). The packaging device comprises a central support structure with a horizontal upper support element 2a and a horizontal one lower support element 2b. The two horizontal support elements are connected to each other via two usually vertical support elements 3a and 3b. Two support elements 4a, 4b arranged orthogonally to this element are arranged below the lower horizontal support element 2b, via which support elements 4a, 4b are arranged FIG. 1 shown portion of the packaging device according to the invention is attached to outer further (not shown) supporting elements. In the right front part of the packaging device, a plurality of storage and dispensing devices 20 arranged in a matrix are shown, in each of which a plurality of medicament portions can be stored, and which are fastened in a manner not shown to further components of the packaging device which are not essential to the invention , "Behind" the plurality of storage and dispensing 20, a plurality of guide means 10 is arranged, of which only one guide means in the FIG. 1 is recognizable.

The guide devices are fastened to fastening means 112, 122 by two transport means 110, 120 of a transport device 100. In the embodiment shown, the transport means 110, 120 are circulating conveyor belts or belts which are guided on drive rollers 141, 142 of a drive axle 140 and guide rollers 151, 152 of a deflection axle 150.

The drive axle 140 is coupled to a motor 130 and can be moved and stopped over it. The engine 130 in turn is equipped with a (in FIG. 1 not shown) control means coupled and this can transmit the current engine position, wherein the engine position can be used to determine a path difference between two marks. For this purpose, the motor position is determined upon detection of the first and second markings and a difference is determined on the basis of these two values, which is then compared with a setpoint value.

Under the transport device 100 a collecting conveyor 200 is arranged, which also a Transport means 190 includes, which is formed in the embodiment shown as a circulating conveyor belt. This transport belt is driven by a drive roller 143, which is also driven by the drive axle 140 described with reference to the transport device 100. The transporting means 190 comprises a plurality of fastening means 192, on each of which a collecting device 90 is arranged.

In the embodiment shown, the drive roller 143 of the collection conveyor 200 and the drive rollers 141, 142 of the conveyor 100 are attached to the same drive axle 140 so that the transport means of the conveyor 100 and the collection conveyor 200 (assuming an equal radius of the drive rollers ) are moved at the same speed. The attachment means 112, 122, 192 of the transport means of the two transport means are aligned so that the collection means 90 are moved below the guide means, i. H. the medicament portions dispensed into the guiding device 10 in the storage and dispensing devices 20 are transferred to the collection devices arranged under the guide devices and moving at the same speed.

As it is in FIG. 1 can be clearly seen, the transport means 110, 120 of the transport device 100 do not extend over the entire "length" of the collecting conveyor 200. In the area above the collecting conveyor 200, in which the transport device 100 does not extend, other components be arranged the packaging device. For example, it is conceivable to arrange auxiliary dispensing devices in this region, specifically for drug portions which are so rarely requested that storage in a supply and dispensing device is not expedient.

In the "left" section of the first embodiment of the packaging device according to the invention is below the collecting conveyor 200 arranged a packaging device 50. In the packaging device, the drug portions received in the collection devices 90 are flashed and led out of the packaging device as a blister tube 51.

In order to be able to quickly recognize a tear of a means of transport, the packaging device in the embodiment shown comprises three sensor systems 60, 70, 80. Differences between two predetermined markings 121 of the transport means 120 can be detected with the sensor system 80 arranged at the vertical support element 3a. The same applies to the sensor system 70, which is arranged at the upper horizontal support member 2a. With the sensor system 60, which is arranged in the region of the deflection roller 151 at the upper support element 2a, differences between two predetermined markings of the deflection roller 151 of the deflection axis 150 can be determined. As markings come here the teeth themselves (the difference between two teeth) or two points of a tooth (beginning and end of the tooth and difference between them) in question. As already described, the differences determined by the control device are compared with nominal values, and as soon as a deviation exceeding a threshold value is determined, the two transporting means 110, 120 are stopped via the drive axle 140.

FIG. 2 shows an isometric view of a second embodiment of the packaging device according to the invention, wherein also in this representation for the invention unessential elements are omitted.

The second embodiment largely corresponds to the first embodiment, only the arrangement of the sensor systems 60, 70, 80 differs slightly, wherein in this embodiment two sensor systems, namely the sensor systems 70, 80, are arranged on the vertical support element 3a.

at FIG. 2 In particular, the parallel arrangement of the plurality of guide means 10 can be seen, of which only on the "rear" side of the packaging device some are shown. Usually, guide devices 10 are arranged in all holding elements 112, 122.

In the first and the second embodiment, three sensor systems are provided in each case, wherein two of these time differences between markings of the means of transport and a difference of markings in the deflection axis or roller detect. In alternative embodiments, it is conceivable that only one sensor system is used, in particular when a transport device is provided with only one means of transport. However, as already indicated, it is common due to the length of the guide means 10 that at least two means of transport are used. Furthermore, the collective transport device shown in the two embodiments shown is not essential to the invention, but has been shown by way of example only. Thus, it is also conceivable that the circulating guide devices all at a certain point in the packaging device, the collected drug portions delivered to another device via which they are supplied to a packaging device.

FIG. 3 shows a bottom view of the first and second embodiments, wherein in this illustration, in particular the arrangement of the guide means 10 with respect to the storage and dispensing devices 20 is shown. As can be seen, in the illustration shown, all of the illustrated guide means 10 are aligned with an opposing supply and dispensing device 20 (in this area the collectors are omitted), and in the illustrated orientation of the guide means on the supply and dispensing devices, the transfer takes place the medicament portions from the supply and dispensing 20 to the guide means 10 instead. Depending on the direction of movement of the transport means, the guide means 10 to "left" or "right" with respect to the supply and Dispensing 20 moves, and as soon as a guide device 10 has arrived at a subsequent supply and dispensing device 20, again drug portions can be transferred to this guide device. In the bottom view shown, it should be noted that the storage and dispensing devices 20 are arranged in a matrix, ie, a plurality of further storage and dispensing devices is arranged "above" the illustrated dispensing and dispensing devices 20.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic plan view of a third embodiment of the packaging device according to the invention, in this embodiment, the support structure in the upper horizontal support member 2a further orthogonal to the support member 2a support elements 5a, 5b, 5c, with which the transport device can be mounted within the packaging device , In the embodiment shown, the transport means 100 has a plurality of teeth 113 of a toothing arranged on the inner circumference of the transport means. The guide roller 151 and the drive roller 141 also have a plurality of teeth 145, 155 which are in engagement with the teeth of the transport means. In this embodiment, the teeth 113 and the teeth 155 of the transport means 110 and the deflection roller 151 serve as markings, whereby between two predetermined markings with the merely indicated sensor systems 60, 70 differences can be determined, which in turn are used for comparison with a predetermined desired value. Alternatively, to determine a difference, the "beginning" of a tooth (113a, 155a) and the "end" of a tooth (113b, 155b) may be used, ie, the two markings necessary for detection will not be separated by two separate components (two teeth in this Case), but provided by the same component.

In practical terms, for example, the beginning of a tooth (first marking) is registered by the corresponding sensor system as a positive flank and the end of the tooth as a negative flank. Between these flanks becomes determines a time difference or a path difference, wherein the position of the motor or the drive axis at the time of the positive and the negative edge is used to determine the path difference.

Only indicated in this illustration is that guide means 10 are arranged on the outer circumference of the transport means 110, which are also shown in this illustration in the transfer position with respect to the storage and dispensing devices 20. In this illustration, a dispensing opening 21 of a supply and dispensing device 20 is also indicated.

FIG. 5 shows a side view of in FIG. 4 illustrated third embodiment, wherein some of the in FIG. 4 shown components are omitted for clarity. In FIG. 5 It can be seen that in the third embodiment, two transport means are provided, and the transport means 110 and 120, a sensor system 70, 80 associated with each. In the embodiment shown, the sensor systems are designed as light barriers, each having a transmitting unit 70a, 80a and a receiver unit 70b, 80b. Differences between the markings 111 and 121 can be determined with the sensor systems 70, 80, wherein these markings are, for example, those already shown in FIG FIG. 4 shown teeth of the teeth can act on the inner circumference of the transport. As shown, the sensor systems 70, 80 are coupled via a line 41 to a controller 40, which in turn is coupled to a motor 130 which drives and, if necessary, stops the drive axle 140.

In this embodiment, the collective transport device is again provided with a transport means 190, on which a plurality of collection devices 90 is arranged, under the actual transport device. As can be seen, the collection means 90 are aligned with the guide means 10, and due to the fact that the transport means 190 of the collective transport means As well as the two transport means 110, 120 of the actual transport means are moved over the same drive shaft 140 with equal drive rollers, the collection means 90 move at the same speed as the guide means 10, so that in the area in which the transport means above the collecting transport means extends, always drug portions of the guide device can be transferred to the collection devices. On the "left" side, below the collection transport device, the packaging device 50 is shown schematically, in which medicament portions are transferred from the collection devices 90 and flashed.

FIGS. 6a, 6b show two schematic side views of a fourth embodiment of the packaging device according to the invention. As can be seen, three sensor systems 60, 70, 80 are provided in this embodiment. In contrast to the abovementioned embodiments, in this embodiment, markings required, inter alia, for edges 12a, 12b, 13a, 13b of two adjacent guide devices 10 'and 10 "are provided for determining a difference FIG. 6a the guide means are vertically parallel and spaced from each other, this representation representing the faultless condition of the packaging device. The sensor system 60 is formed in this embodiment, for example, as a light barrier with a transmitting unit 60a and a receiver unit 60b, wherein the distance between the adjacent guide elements or the difference between an interruption of the light beam 60c can be determined via the light barrier.

In the embodiment shown, two further sensor systems 70, 80 are also shown, wherein the sensor systems are not designed to determine differences between two markings on the same transport means, but differences between two markings of the two transport means 110, 120. As it is in FIG. 6a to is recognizable, the marks 111, 121 of the two transport means 110, 120 are arranged perpendicular to each other without offset. This arrangement was chosen only as an example. It is only necessary that a difference between two predetermined markings is measured, the arrangement of which is not relevant to each other.

at FIG. 6b a malfunction of the packaging device is shown. As can be seen, the guide means 10 are no longer shown vertically, but slightly obliquely, which may be due to the fact that one of the transport is torn, or that over a period of time a slip has taken place in one of the means of transport. As can be seen, the same difference (distance) between them can no longer be determined via the sensor system 60 due to the skewed or inclined position of the guide devices 10 'and 10 ", so that a comparison with a desired value results in a deviation indicates a malfunction of the packaging device, whereupon the drive shaft 140 is stopped by the control device The same applies to the two sensor systems 70 and 80, since the offset of the formerly stacked markers 111, 121 no longer determines the "same" differences between them but a difference that is only half as large in relation to the schematic representation.

at FIG. 6a an alternative to the collective transport device shown in the other embodiments is shown. Thus, it is conceivable, for example, to transfer the medicament portions via a, for example, designed as a slide drug supply 91 from the guide means to the packaging device at a certain point in the packaging device. For this purpose, it is of course necessary that the guide means have a (not shown) closing mechanism, which is only then opened, when a guide device reaches a predetermined position within the packaging device.

Claims (14)

1. Method for operating a packaging device for individual pharmaceutical portions, comprising
   a plurality of guide units (10) which are fastened to at least one transport means (110, 120) of a transport unit (100), wherein
   the guide units (10) are moved along a plurality of supply and dispensing units (20), delivery openings (21) of the supply and dispensing units (20) being aligned with receiving openings (11) of the guide units (10), the at least one transport means (110, 120) of the transport unit (100) being driven by a drive axle (140) which is coupled to a motor (130) and returned via a deflection axle (150), the motor (130) being coupled to a control unit (40),
   characterized in that the transport means (110, 120) in the peripheral direction and/or the deflection axle (150) have/has a plurality of markings (111, 121, 155, 113, 113a, 113b, 155a, 155b, 12a, 12b, 13a, 13b) spaced at predefined intervals,
   at least one travel difference or time difference between two markings (111, 121, 155, 113, 123, 113a, 113b, 155a, 155b, 12a, 12b, 13a, 13b) is determined,
   the determined difference is compared to a corresponding setpoint value, whereby the setpoint value corresponds to the difference when the transport unit (100) is functioning without error, and
   the drive axle (140) is stopped when a deviation between the setpoint value and the determined difference is ascertained which exceeds a threshold value.
2. Method for operating a packaging device for individual pharmaceutical portions according to Claim 1, characterized in that during the determination of the travel difference or time difference between two markings (111, 121, 155, 113, 123, 113a, 113b, 155a, 155b, 12a, 12b, 13a, 13b), the determination is ended after a predefined termination value is exceeded, and the drive axle (140) is stopped.
3. Method for operating a packaging device for individual pharmaceutical portions according to Claim 1, characterized in that the transport unit (100) includes multiple transport means (110, 120), wherein
   time differences between two markings (111, 121, 113, 123, 113a, 113b, 155a, 155b, 12a, 12b, 13a, 13b) of at least two transport means (110, 120) are determined,
   the determined time differences are compared to a corresponding setpoint value and/or to one another, whereby the setpoint value corresponds to the time difference for error-free functioning of the transport unit (100),
   and when a deviation between a setpoint value and a determined time difference or between the time differences is ascertained which exceeds a threshold value, the drive axle is stopped (140).
4. Method for operating a packaging device for individual pharmaceutical portions according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the drive axle (140) and the deflection axle (150) are stopped when a deviation is determined.
5. Method for operating a packaging device for individual pharmaceutical portions according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the transport unit (100) has at least one transport means guide,
   wherein the movement of a transport means (110, 120) for the transport means guides is stopped when a deviation is determined.
6. Method for operating a packaging device for individual pharmaceutical portions according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the markings of the deflection axle (150) are provided by teeth (155) of a deflection roller (151, 152).
7. Method for operating a packaging device for individual pharmaceutical portions according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the markings of a transport means (110, 120) are provided by teeth (113, 123) on the transport means (110, 120).
8. Method for operating a packaging device for individual pharmaceutical portions according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the markings of a transport means (110, 120) are provided by edges (12a, 12b, 13a, 13b) of guide units (10', 10") which are fastened to the transport means.
9. Packaging device for individual pharmaceutical portions, comprising
   a plurality of supply and dispensing units (20),
   a transport unit (100) having at least one transport means (110, 120), the at least one transport means (110, 120) of the transport unit (100) being driven by a drive axle (140) which is coupled to a motor (130) and returned via a deflection axle (150), the motor (130) being coupled to a control unit (40),
   a plurality of guide units (10) which are fastened to the at least one transport means (110, 120), and which have a plurality of receiving openings (11) which are aligned with delivery openings (21) of the supply and dispensing units (20) when the guide units (10) move,
   at least one packaging unit (50) which is supplied with pharmaceutical portions via the guide units (10),
   characterized in that the at least one transport means (110, 120) in the peripheral direction and/or the deflection axle (140) have/has markings (111, 121, 155, 113, 123, 113a, 113b, 155a, 155b, 12a, 12b, 13a, 13b),
   and that the packaging device (1) has at least one sensor system (60, 70, 80), coupled to the control unit (40), with which travel differences or time differences between two markings may be determined, and
   that the control unit (40) is designed in such a way that the determined difference may be compared to a setpoint value, whereby the setpoint value corresponds to the difference for an error-free transport unit (100), and that the control unit (40) stops the drive axle (140) when a deviation is determined which exceeds a threshold value.
10. Packaging device for individual pharmaceutical portions according to Claim 9, characterized in that the transport unit (100) has at least two transport means (110, 120), a sensor system (70, 80) being associated with the at least two transport means (110, 120) with which a difference between two markings of a transport means (110, 120) may be determined,
    wherein the control unit is designed in such a way that the determined differences may be compared to a setpoint value and/or to one another, and that the control unit (40) stops the drive axle (140) when a deviation is determined which exceeds a threshold value.
11. Packaging device for individual pharmaceutical portions according to Claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the transport unit (100) has at least one transport means guide which is coupled to the control unit (40), and which stops the movement of a transport means when a deviation is determined.
12. Packaging device for individual pharmaceutical portions according to one of Claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the markings (155a, 155b) of the deflection axle (150) are provided by teeth (155) of a deflection roller (151, 152).
13. Packaging device for individual pharmaceutical portions according to one of Claims 9 to 12, characterized in that the markings (113a, 113b) of a transport means (110, 120) are provided by teeth (113, 123) on the transport means.
14. Packaging device for individual pharmaceutical portions according to one of Claims 9 to 12, characterized in that the markings of a transport means are provided by edges (12a, 12b, 13a, 13b) of guide units (10', 10") which are fastened to the transport means.

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