EP3927272A1

EP3927272A1 - Stacking device for mesh sterilizing trays

Info

Publication number: EP3927272A1
Application number: EP20707588.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Dennis Görz; Bianca Rosin; Eva Streit; Timo Knittel
Original assignee: Aesculap AG
Current assignee: Aesculap AG
Priority date: 2019-02-22
Filing date: 2020-02-20
Publication date: 2021-12-29
Also published as: WO2020169778A1; DE102019104599A1; CN113473939A; US20220054216A1; US11806173B2

Abstract

A stackable mesh tray (1) for receiving medicinal products, preferably for sterilization, has a mesh tray base (2) and upward-extending mesh tray sidewalls (4, 6) arranged at the mesh tray base (2). The mesh tray base (2), on its underside, has an all-around projection in the edge portions which holds at least two mesh trays (1) in position with respect to each other in a length and width direction of the mesh tray (1) when the mesh trays are stacked, the projection of a first mesh tray (1) engaging the mesh tray sidewalls (4, 6) of a second mesh tray (1).

Description

Stacking device for sterilizing mesh trays

description

The present disclosure relates to a stackable sieve tray for receiving medical products, in particular for sterilization or insertion into one

Sterile container.

Background of the invention

Sterilizing trays must be known to be transported in a

Processing unit for medical products or for sterilization in

Sterile barrier systems are stored. In order to take up as little storage space as possible, it is necessary to be able to stack these sieve trays as space-saving and safely as possible.

State of the art

For example, sterilizing sieve trays are known which are used for

Stacking function require an additional element. The additional element must be attached to the sterilizing sieve tray, for example using a clamping device. DE 10 2012 016 970 A1 discloses a sieve basket which can be connected to at least one second sieve basket via flat clamping springs or clamps. The clamps point inwards and are locked into openings formed in the screen basket walls. Alternatively are also

Sterilizing sieve trays are known in which the stacked sieve trays are supported against one another via sieve tray feet. If soft packaging is used as the sterile barrier system, this point load acting on the sieve tray feet can cause damage. If the previously known stackable sterilization trays are also closed with a lid and with Stacked lids, there is no side stop, which allows the upper, stacked sieve tray to slip easily.

Brief description of the invention

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a sieve tray

to provide, which enables a secure stacking of the sieve trays with and without the sieve tray lid.

This object is achieved by a stackable sieve tray according to claim 1.

The (stackable) sieve tray according to the invention for receiving

Medical products, preferably for sterilization, have a sieve tray base and sieve tray side walls which are arranged on the sieve tray base and extend essentially perpendicular thereto. On an outer / underside of the sieve tray bottom, a circumferential shoulder, in particular integrally / in one piece, is formed in its edge areas, which fixes at least two sieve trays to one another in a stacked state in a length and width direction of the sieve tray. For this purpose, the circumferential shoulder of a first upper sieve tray is in engagement with the sieve tray side walls of a second lower sieve tray. This integral design of the sieve tray enables several sieve trays to be stacked securely on top of one another without having to provide additional components on the sieve trays.

According to the invention, the stackable sieve bowl can be designed such that a width of the circumferential shoulder essentially corresponds to a thickness of the sieve bowl side wall. If the outer sides of the stacked sieve trays are essentially flush with one another, this reduces the

Space requirement of stacked sieve trays and facilitates the handling of a stack of trays. In addition, it is advantageous if the circumferential shoulder is essentially conical. In other words, the circumferential shoulder extends outward from the sieve bowl bottom and tapers conically in the process, so that the inner cross-sectional area defined by the circumferential shoulder extends in the direction of extent of the circumferential shoulder decreases. The conicity of the surrounding paragraph also facilitates the

Stacking of two sieve trays, as the paragraph acts as an additional guide for the

Stacking works and the stacked sieve trays are also centered to one another.

In an embodiment according to the invention, the stackable sieve bowl furthermore has at least one rotatable on a sieve bowl side wall

hinged handle and a sieve bowl closing sieve bowl lid. On the sieve bowl cover, a substantially circumferential, but exposed / interrupted shoulder in a region of the handle bar is formed, in which at least two sieve bowls, of which at least one sieve bowl, preferably the lower sieve bowl, is closed with the sieve bowl cover stacked state fixed to each other in that the shoulder of the sieve bowl cover is in engagement with the shoulder of the upper sieve bowl. The sieve bowl cover also has a circumferential, cantilevered edge exposed in the area of the handle, which encloses an upper edge of the sieve bowl side walls when the sieve bowl cover is placed on the sieve bowl. This has the advantage that even when using a sieve tray with a sieve tray lid, it is guaranteed to be stacked securely on top of one another and a possible slipping of the sieve trays with respect to one another can be prevented. Slipping of the

Sieve bowl cover on the sieve bowl can be prevented by reaching around the sieve bowl side walls through the protruding edge of the sieve bowl cover.

In an embodiment according to the invention, the sieve bowl cover is offset downwards in the area of the handle, i.e. Depressed in a trough-shaped manner inwards, so that the handle bar can be lowered into the trough in a folded position and thus closes essentially flush with the surface of the sieve bowl cover, which enables the sieve trays to be stacked securely on top of one another with the handle bars hinged to them without having to make complex changes to the sieve bowl have to.

Here, in the center of the receiving area of the handle bar, which is offset downwards / inward, in the sieve tray cover, a handle bar depression is formed. The The handle recess improves the handling of the sieve bowl, since the handle bow can be easily grasped in the folded-in state even with the sieve bowl lid placed on it.

Brief description of the figures

1 is a perspective view of a stackable sieve tray according to a preferred embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a section of the stackable mesh tray according to the preferred embodiment;

3 is a side view of two stackable mesh trays in accordance with the preferred embodiment;

4 is a detail of a sieve tray cover of a stackable sieve tray according to the preferred embodiment;

Fig. 5 is a flow diagram of a method of making the stackable mesh tray;

Fig. 6 is another flow diagram of the method of making the stackable mesh tray; and

Figure 7 is yet another flow diagram of the method of making the stackable mesh tray.

Description of a preferred embodiment

An embodiment of the present disclosure is described below on the basis of the accompanying figures. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a stackable sieve tray 1 according to a preferred embodiment. The sieve bowl 1 has an im

Essentially rectangular sieve bowl base 2 and sieve bowl side walls 4, 6 arranged on the sieve bowl base 2 and extending upward.

The sieve tray base 2 is made from a (perforated) metal plate into which a large number of openings 10 are punched next to one another, the material of the sieve tray base 2 remaining between the openings 10 in the form of narrow webs 9. In the preferred exemplary embodiment, the openings 10 are designed as elongated holes with rounded corners, but can also have a square or rectangular cross section. Analogously to the sieve tray bottom 2, the sieve tray side walls 4, 6 are also designed with elongated perforations 10 and webs 9 that remain between them.

Alternatively, the sieve bowl bottom 2 and the sieve bowl side walls 4, 6 can also be designed in any other shape. For example, it is possible to design these without perforations 10 or to build them up from a grid-like or net-like structure, which is created in that a large number of metal wires running parallel to one another with a large number of metal wires also running parallel to one another and perpendicular to the first metal wires be intertwined so that square or rectangular openings are created between the metal wires.

On two opposing sieve tray side walls 4, preferably the two sieve tray side walls 4, which are arranged on short sides of the rectangular sieve tray bottom 2, is in each case centrally on an upper one

At the end / end section a handle bar 12 is articulated for rotation. According to the

In the preferred embodiment, the handle bar 12 is arranged on the sieve shell side wall 4 in such a way that it is in a folded-in state

Projecting substantially perpendicular to the sieve tray side wall 4 onto an inside of the sieve tray 1. In a folded-out state, the handle bar 12 extends upwards essentially parallel to the sieve tray side wall 4. Fig. 2 is a side view of a section of the stackable sieve tray 1 according to the preferred embodiment. In the edge regions of the sieve tray bottom 2, a circumferential shoulder / frame-shaped recess 13 is formed on its underside, which sets the sieve tray bottom 2 down towards its center. A width B1 of the shoulder / recess 13 in the area of the sieve tray bottom 2 essentially corresponds to a thickness of the sieve tray side walls 4, 6, so that, as can be seen in FIG. 3, sieve trays 1 stacked on top of one another according to the preferred embodiment in one length - and the width direction of the sieve bowl 1 can be fixed to one another in that the shoulder 13 of the upper sieve bowl 1 is in engagement with the sieve bowl side walls 4, 6 of the lower sieve bowl 1.

In addition, the shoulder 13, as can be seen in FIG. 2, is in the preferred one

Embodiment conical. I.e. in its direction of extent (downward in FIG. 2) an inner cross-sectional area defined by the shoulder 13 decreases.

A width B2 at an end section of the shoulder 13 facing away from the sieve tray bottom 2 is thus greater than the width B1.

In Fig. 2 it can also be seen that the paragraph 13 in a side view in

Essentially follows the shape of an arccotangent. I.e. paragraph 13 indicates in

Area of the sieve bowl base 2 has a first radius with a concave curvature and on the end portion of the shoulder 13 facing away from the sieve bowl base 2 a second radius with a convex curvature.

In other words, if at least two sieve trays 1 according to the

Preferred embodiment are stacked one on top of the other, the shoulder 13 of the sieve tray bottom 2 of the upper sieve tray 1 is supported by the sieve tray side walls 4, 6 of the lower sieve tray 1 that the two sieve trays 1 can be prevented from slipping relative to one another in the stacked state. Of

Furthermore, according to the preferred exemplary embodiment, the sieve trays 1 are designed such that the sieve tray side walls 4, 6 of the lower and upper In the stacked state, the sieve bowl 1 is essentially flush with the surface of one another, as shown in FIG. 3.

In other words, the sieve tray bottom 2 is preferably provided with a frame-shaped, circumferential recess 13 by compression molding, which results in a type of base attachment / base extension that can be pressed into another, preferably structurally identical, sieve tray with a substantially precise fit / with little play, and so on couple both sieve trays to one another in the manner of toy building blocks of known design.

4 shows a section of a sieve tray cover 14 for closing a stackable sieve tray 1 according to the preferred exemplary embodiment. In this case, the sieve bowl cover 14, analogously to the sieve bowl 1, has an essentially rectangular shape, on the edge regions of which a circumferential edge / frame / bead 16 protruding onto an outside is formed. The upwardly protruding edge 16 is designed essentially in an arch / bead / strip shape. A width of the protruding edge 16 corresponds to the thickness of the sieve tray side walls 4, 6, so that the protruding edge 16, when the sieve tray cover 14 is placed on the sieve tray 1, the sieve tray side walls 4, 6 on both sides (inside and outside) outside) and fixes the sieve bowl cover 14 to the sieve bowl 1 in the length and width direction of the sieve bowl 1.

In other words, the protruding edge 16 of the sieve bowl cover 14 engages around the sieve bowl side walls 4, 6 like a tongue or groove when the sieve bowl 1 is closed with the sieve bowl cover 14, so that the sieve bowl 1 and the sieve bowl cannot slip. Cover 14 is prevented from each other.

Analogous to the sieve bowl 1, the sieve bowl cover 14 is made of a metal plate into which a large number of openings 10 are punched next to one another, the material of the sieve bowl cover 14 remaining between the openings 10 in the form of narrow webs 9. The

In the preferred exemplary embodiment, openings 10 are provided as elongated holes Executed rounded corners, but can also have a square or rectangular cross-section.

Alternatively, the sieve bowl cover 14 can also be designed in any other shape. For example, it is possible to design this without perforations 10 or only partially with perforations 10 or to build it up from a network-like structure, which is created in that a plurality of metal wires running parallel to one another with a plurality of metal wires also running parallel to one another and perpendicular to the first metal wires Metal wires are intertwined in such a way that square or rectangular openings are created between the metal wires.

In FIGS. 1 and 4 it can be seen that the sieve tray cover 14 is not formed with openings 10 over its entire surface. A central surface of the sieve bowl cover 14 is designed here as a closed surface. This central area is, however, only shown as a closed area without perforations for the sake of clarity, and the sieve tray cover 14 is in the

preferred embodiment, as described above, designed with openings 10 over its entire surface.

As can be seen in Fig. 4, a circumferential shoulder / depression 17 is also formed on the sieve bowl cover 14, which results from the frame-like edge 16 protruding upwards with respect to the central surface of the sieve bowl cover 14 and essentially the cross section of the Corresponds to the soil process. It is thus possible to stack at least two sieve trays 1 on top of one another, even if the lower sieve tray 1 is closed with the sieve tray cover 14, since in this case the shoulder (bottom extension) 13 on the sieve tray bottom 2 of the upper sieve tray 1 with the Paragraph / depression 17 of the sieve bowl cover 14 comes into engagement. As a result, as described above, a lateral slipping of the lower sieve bowl 1 including the sieve bowl cover 14 and the upper sieve bowl 1 can be prevented. In addition, in the middle of the short sides of the sieve bowl cover 14, a section of the sieve bowl cover 14 is offset downwards in a trough-like manner via a further paragraph, so that the handle bar 12 when the sieve bowl cover 14 is placed on the sieve bowl 1 and the handle bar 12 is in the folded-in state, is essentially flush with the surface in a handle bar receiving area (recessed grip) 18 formed by removing the sieve bowl cover 14 and does not protrude beyond the sieve bowl cover 14. The depth of the handle bar receiving area 18 preferably corresponds essentially to a thickness of the handle bar 12.

In order to be able to easily place the sieve tray cover 14 on the sieve tray 1, a handle recess 20 is also formed in an area of the handle bar receiving area 18 close to the sieve tray side wall. A width of the handlebar recess 20 essentially corresponds to a depth of the articulation of the handlebar 12, so that the handlebar 12 simply slides through the handlebar recess 20 when the sieve tray cover 14 is placed on the sieve tray 1 and can then be folded in.

To prevent unintentional lifting of the sieve tray cover 14 from the sieve tray 1, a handle closure element 22 is arranged in the middle of an edge area of the handle bar receiving area 18 in the direction of the center of the sieve tray cover 14. In the preferred exemplary embodiment, this handle bar closure element 22 has a recess which receives and holds the handle bar 12 in the folded-in state and thus fixes the sieve tray cover 14 on the sieve tray 1. Alternatively, the handlebar closure element 22 can also be designed such that the handlebar 12 is clamped in the folded-in state between the handlebar closure element 22 and a wall of the handlebar receiving area 18 and is thus fixed.

In addition, in the unfolded state of the handle bar 12, the sieve tray cover 14 can be gripped by the handle bar closure elements 22 and lifted. This also improves the handling of the sieve bowl 1 and the

Sieve bowl lid 14. FIG. 5 shows a first possibility of a process sequence for producing the sieve bowl 1 in chronological order. Here, laser cutting I, punching II (also punch-nibbling, if the part to be punched out is only partially punched and partially broken), rolling III, embossing V, bending IV and welding VI take place chronologically one after the other.

6 shows a second possibility of a process sequence chronologically.

Laser cutting I, punching II (also punching-nibbling, if the part to be punched is only partially punched and partially broken), rolling III, bending IV, embossing V and welding VI run chronologically

one after the other.

A third possibility of a method sequence for producing the sieve bowl 1 is shown chronologically in FIG. 7. Laser cutting I, punching II (also punching-nibbling, if the part to be punched out is only partially punched and partially broken), rolling III, an embossing and bending step V and welding VI take place in chronological order.

To produce the sieve bowl, a rectangular sheet metal blank with any shape and a material thickness of around 0.5 mm to 2 mm, preferably around 1.5 mm, is cut along a cutting contour during laser cutting I, creating a sieve bowl base area. After a punching or punching-nibbling step II, there is a perforated starting shape with the punched openings 10. In practice, the sheet metal has certain characteristics after cutting I and punching II

Residual stresses on which lead to a deformation of the original shape. As a result, the rolling III is now to be carried out, which rolls / smoothes the sheet metal so as to obtain a perforated plane.

During the embossing V, which produces the desired three-dimensional structure in the manner of a braided imitation, the circumferential shoulder 13 is formed. After bending IV, a sieve shell shape is obtained, which is finally determined by welding VI. In other words, after the sieve shell side walls 4, 6 have been bent over, they are welded.

As can be seen in Fig. 5 to 7, the process sequences of the various Fierstell options differ in the chronological sequence of the individual process steps, in particular bending IV and embossing V. Thus, according to the first and second possibility, the embossing V can be done before or after

Bending IV can be performed. Alternatively, the embossing V and the bending can also be carried out in a single processing step (cf. FIG. 7).

Claims

Expectations

1. Sieve tray (1) for receiving medical products, preferably for

Sterilizing with a sieve tray base (2) and upwardly extending sieve tray side walls (4, 6) arranged on the sieve tray base (2), characterized in that

the bottom of the sieve tray (2) has a circumferential shoulder or recess (13) on its underside in the edge areas, which is provided and designed for two sieve trays (1) in a stacked state in a length and width direction of the sieve tray (1) to one another to be fixed in that the shoulder (13) of a first sieve tray (1) engages with the sieve tray side walls (4, 6) of a second sieve tray (1).

2. Stackable sieve tray (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that a width (B1) of the circumferential shoulder (13) corresponds to a thickness of the Siebschalen- side wall (4, 6).

3. Stackable sieve bowl (1) according to claim 1, further with at least one handle bar (12) which is rotatably articulated on a sieve bowl side wall (4, 6), and a sieve bowl cover (14) closing the sieve bowl (1), characterized in that a circumferential shoulder (17) exposed in a region of the handle bar (12) is formed on the sieve bowl cover (14), the at least two sieve bowls (1), of which at least one sieve bowl (1), preferably the lower sieve bowl (1), with the sieve bowl cover (14) is closed, fixed to each other in the stacked state by the shoulder (17) of the

Sieve bowl cover (14) with the shoulder (13) of the upper sieve bowl (1) engages.

4. Stackable sieve bowl (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the sieve bowl cover (14) further has on its outside a circumferential, in the region of the handle bar (12) exposed, cantilevered edge (16) when the sieve bowl cover (14) is placed on the sieve bowl (1) it encloses an upper edge of the sieve bowl side walls (4, 6).

5. Stackable sieve bowl (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the sieve bowl cover (14) is offset downwards in the area of the handle bar (12) and forms a handle bar receiving area (18) so that the handle bar (12) in a folded position flush with the surface of the sieve tray cover (14.

6. A stackable sieve bowl (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that a handle bow recess (20) is formed in the middle of the downwardly offset handle bracket receiving area (18) in the screen bowl cover (14).