WO2019092356A1

WO2019092356A1 - Device for loading/distributing objects in a storage container for such objects, uses of such a device and method for loading and distribution

Info

Publication number: WO2019092356A1
Application number: PCT/FR2018/052739
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gerard WOODHOUSE; Laurent MARCHADIER
Original assignee: I-Meds Healthcare
Priority date: 2017-11-10
Filing date: 2018-11-06
Publication date: 2019-05-16
Also published as: FR3073507A1; EP3706703A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for loading/distributing objects in a storage container for such objects, the storage container being of the type comprising: a case comprising an opening through which objects pass; a drum which, together with the case, forms a container for storing objects; the case and the drum being mounted so as to be rotatable relative to each other; characterised in that the loading/distributing device (1) comprises: at least one member for immobilising either the case or the drum relative to the loading/distributing device (1), and at least one drive motor device for rotating, step by step, either the case or the drum.

Description

OBJECT LOADER / DISTRIBUTOR DEVICE IN A STORAGE TANK OF SUCH OBJECTS, USES OF SUCH A DEVICE, AND LOADING AND DISTRIBUTING METHOD

The invention relates to a loader / distributor device objects in a tank -particularly in a secure reservoir- storage and distribution of such objects, including objects at least partly solid. It can be solid objects in the form of at least one particle. They may be objects formed of a solid mass. It may also be solid objects having a solid outer shell and an inner core or a content which may be in the form of a solid in the divided state, for example in the form of a powder or granules, or a paste or in liquid form. Nothing also prevents that at least one such object is in the packaged state in a package or in a blister. They may be objects or products intended to be administered to a human or animal, such as medicaments and / or foods (for example food croquettes for an animal) and / or food supplements. With regard to medicaments or food supplements, the objects or products may be in divided solid dosage form such as for example tablets, cachets, capsules, capsules, pills, lozenges, dragees. The invention also relates to the use of such a loader / distributor device and a method for loading and distributing such objects in a storage tank for such objects. The invention particularly relates to a device loader / dispatcher of drugs in a reservoir - particularly in a secure reservoir - storage and distribution of such drugs.

The automated administration of such drugs and / or such foods and the control of their distribution constitute a major challenge for the health and / or development of a human being or animal left in the absence of a third person accompanying.

With regard to animal feed, for example for pets or farm animals, it is essential to be able to control the timing of food rations and to control the intake of food. regular of these food rations. Good health and harmonious development of animals depend on it.

As regards the medical field, it is generally accepted that the home care of a patient in his personal and / or family environment contributes at least partly to the successful pharmacological treatment of a large number of pathologies. A current trend is to seek to perform in the patient's home, treatments usually administered as an outpatient in health facilities. However, in addition to the psychological impact of home care on the patient, the pharmacological treatment itself and the rigor with which the medical prescription is respected - in particular the hours of medication - contribute to the other part of the success of the patient. such treatments. This is particularly the case for medicinal treatments for neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease and cancers treated orally. Thus, reliable solutions are sought for distributing the medicaments of a treatment to a patient maintained at home, to establish the traceability of the distribution of drugs relating to this treatment performed in the patient's home outside the context of a patient. establishment, to provide a real-time or near-real-time follow-up of the proper administration of this treatment and to control medication times. This is particularly the case of therapeutic or diagnostic treatments in which a given action is linked to an earlier action by a time limit that must be strictly observed.

In general, the dispensing of medication to a patient maintained at home is carried out by means of a device dispensing such drugs contained in a container (also called pill box). This container containing such drugs is usually prepared by an authorized person, for example by a pharmacist in a pharmacy, and transmitted to the patient by any appropriate means. Therefore, a secure distribution of such drugs contained in a dispensing container is obtained on the condition that the loading of the container and the distribution of drugs in the container are themselves secure. For this purpose, FR 2 971 420 discloses a device loader / distributor of drugs in a pill box, the pill pillar being in the form of a circular bowl having a plurality of radial partitions forming a plurality of compartments for receiving and storing drugs. This device allows successive filling of each compartment of the pill organizer by successively placing each compartment of the bowl vertically to an opening opening of a drug guide channel to a compartment. When the filling is complete, an adhesive sealing film is stuck on the open side of the pillbox, closing the compartments of the pillbox.

This known device poses several problems.

When filling the pill organizer, all compartments of the pill organizer are open and accessible so that the secure distribution of a given medicine in a given compartment is not perfectly ensured. There is nothing to exclude that a medicine directed towards a particular compartment of the pillbox inadvertently leads to another compartment of the pillbox. This is all the more so that the filling of the pill organizer is achieved by rotation of the pill box successively in the clockwise and counterclockwise directions resulting in a risk of ejection of drugs from one compartment to another adjacent compartment. In addition, any attempt to correct a non-compliant distribution of drugs in the pill organizer requires the opening of the loader / dispatcher device, leaving open all compartments of the pill and allowing exchanges of drugs between the different compartments. This results in a significant risk to the health of the patient for whom the drug treatment is intended. The distribution of drugs in the pill box of FR 2 971 420 and the maintenance of the drugs in this pillbox are therefore not completely secure.

In addition, the use and manual positioning of an adhesive closure film of the pillbox of FR 2 971 420 is problematic since drugs placed in the pill pillar can adhere to an adhesive portion of this adhesive film shutter imperfectly. positioned on the pillbox. This results in a risk of loss and / or degradation of the drugs and a risk important for the health of the patient for whom the drug treatment is intended.

The pillbox of FR 2 971 420 is a weekly pillbox for single use that is not recyclable. After use, it shows traces of glue used for bonding the sealing film and sealing film fragments. The pillbox of FR 2 971 420 is neither reusable in the state nor even recyclable.

The pill dispenser of FR 2 971 420 does not exhibit a mechanical resistance, in particular an impact resistance and / or a mechanical resistance to crushing which is (are) sufficient to allow it to be conveyed to the patient's home by any means secure routing.

The invention aims to overcome these disadvantages.

US2016 / 081883 discloses a drug dispensing device and the use of this dispensing device as a drug feeder / dispatcher device in a plurality of drug reservoirs, wherein the dispensing device is held inverted on a support so that the dispensing drugs in the lower position of the dispensing device extends in the upper position of the loader / distributor device. Drug reservoirs in accordance with US2016 / 081883 do not permit safe delivery of the medication reservoir to a patient's home. Nothing prevents the free rotation of the carousel in the tank or the inappropriate and uncontrolled release of drugs. In fact, the use of the device according to US2016 / 081883 is limited to dispensing medication from a plurality of reservoirs placed in the dispensing device and reloading this plurality of reservoirs in the dispensing device. US2016 / 081883 poses neither the problem of routing to the home of a patient drugs distributed in a storage cassette and dispensing drugs or the problem of the secure use of such a cassette.

The invention also aims to overcome these disadvantages. The object of the invention is therefore to propose a loader / distributor device for objects - particularly drugs - in a reservoir of storing such objects and a method of loading and distributing objects - especially drugs - in a storage tank of such objects allowing secure loading and distribution of such objects in the storage tank.

The object of the invention is to propose such a charger / distributor device for objects in a reusable storage tank.

The object of the invention is to propose such a loader / distributor device of objects in a mechanical strength storage tank adapted to allow the transport of the storage tank containing such objects by any unsecured conveyance means.

The object of the invention is also to propose such an object loader / distributor device which is at least as easy to use as known loader / distributor devices, which is ergonomic and compact.

The object of the invention is generally to propose such an object loader / distributor device and a method for loading and distributing such objects in a storage tank that makes it possible in the long term to monitor in real time or in quasi-time. real of the good administration of these objects and to control their setting times.

The invention aims in particular to provide such a device loader / dispatcher of drugs and a method of dispensing drugs in a drug storage tank helping to allow remote monitoring of the distribution of drugs to a patient maintained at home and / or geographically and / or isolated.

In this regard, the invention aims at providing such a device loader / dispatcher of drugs and a method of loading and distribution of drugs in a storage tank ultimately allowing the establishment of a traceability of acts of dispensing drugs in the patient's home and outside the context of a care proxy institution.

In this respect, the invention aims to propose such a device loader / dispatcher of medicines and a process of loading and distribution of drugs in a storage tank contributing ultimately to allow an exchange with persons entitled to receive them - especially doctors, nurses, nurses, carers, family-, information relating to the patient's attendance at pharmacological treatment.

In this regard, the invention aims at providing such a device feeder / dispatcher of drugs and a method of loading and distribution of drugs in a storage tank ultimately contributing to allow or facilitate the home care of patients benefiting from pharmacological treatment.

In this regard, the invention aims at providing such a device loader / dispatcher of drugs and a method of loading and distribution of drugs in a storage tank constituting a secure upstream extension essential in the procedure of dispensing drugs to the home of a patient.

In this regard, the invention aims at providing such a device loader / dispatcher of drugs and a method of loading and distribution of drugs in a storage tank ultimately contributing to allow a patient at home to respect as accurately as possible a medical prescription.

In this regard, the invention aims to provide such a device loader / dispatcher of drugs and a method of loading and distribution of drugs in a storage tank ultimately contributing to a control of compliance with the medical prescription by the patient.

In this regard, the invention aims at providing such a device feeder / dispatcher of drugs and a method of loading and distribution of drugs ultimately contributing to the establishment and / or strengthening of follow-up between a patient and his medical circle and / or family.

To do this, the invention relates to a device loader / dispatcher of objects - especially drugs - in a storage tank of such objects, the storage tank being removable and of the type comprising:

a casing, in particular a rigid casing, comprising a single orifice for the passage of objects;

a drum, particularly a rigid drum;

o forming with the housing an object storage enclosure; o comprising a plurality of cells arranged to form with the housing, a plurality of object storage compartments, the cells, the housing and the orifice being arranged and dimensioned so that in any relative position of the housing and the drum in wherein the housing and the drum are stationary relative to each other, at most one compartment extends opposite the housing orifice;

the housing and the drum being rotatably mounted relative to each other so that by rotation of the casing and the drum relative to each other, each compartment is brought successively opposite the orifice of the housing whereby each compartment is adapted to successively receive at least one object passing through this orifice;

the loader / distributor device comprising:

At least one immobilizing device for rotating one of the casing and the drum in the feeder / distributor device, and;

At least one driving device driving in stepwise rotation of the other of the housing and the drum;

• an opening / closing flap of the loader / distributor device;

characterized in that the opening / closing flap is adapted to be able, in a first position, said open position, of the opening / closing flap, to receive a removable storage tank and to immobilize this removable storage tank relative to to the opening / closing flap and, in a second position, said distribution position, in which the leaf is in the closed position of the loader / distributor device, one of the casing and the drum can be rotated with respect to the other by the motor device. The invention applies to the loading and distribution of objects or products, including objects or products at least partly solid in a storage tank. The invention applies to objects or products in a purely solid state, that is to say formed of a solid mass, where appropriate in the form of at least one particle, or objects or products in a purely liquid state or objects or products in an intermediate state to a solid state and a liquid state, especially in the form of a paste. The invention also applies to objects or products of which a part is in the solid state and a part is in the liquid state. It may also be objects or products having a solid outer shell and an inner core or a content that may be in the form of a solid in the divided state, for example in the form of a powder or granules. or a paste or in liquid form. Nothing prevents that at least one such object is in the packaged state in a package or in a blister. Nothing prevents a part of the objects or products is in the gaseous state, in particular trapped in the heart of an object or product in the solid state and / or trapped in the heart of a product in the liquid state. They may be objects or products intended to be administered to a human or animal, such as medicaments and / or foods (for example food croquettes for an animal) and / or food supplements. With regard to medicaments or food supplements, the objects or products may be in divided solid dosage form such as for example tablets, cachets, capsules, capsules, pills, lozenges, dragees. The invention therefore applies to the loading and distribution of objects or products in the non-purely gaseous state in a storage tank.

The invention applies in particular to objects or products intended to be consumed - especially ingested - by the man or the animal according to a predetermined or determinable product catch sequence and for which the control of the distribution in a reservoir storage for the purpose of distribution, administration and / or traceability of the objects or products must be ensured. These may be objects (medicines) formulated for medical use (in humans) or for veterinary use (in the animal). It can also be food products, such as dry foods (croquettes) for animal feed. It can be food supplements, such as vitamins, trace elements for food or feed. They may also be products whose traceability must be ensured, for example, narcotics - in particular, products listed in one of the tables of the 1961 Convention on Narcotic Drugs - for their controlled, medical and / or veterinary.

The invention applies in particular to any drug in the non-purely gaseous state, that is to say to any drug in a solid or liquid dosage form adapted to be dispensed to a patient. It may be a drug in a solid dosage form such as, for example, tablets, cachets, capsules, capsules, pills, lozenges, dragees, suppositories. It may be a medicine packed in a blister. Medication to be distributed in a storage tank by means of a loader / distributor device according to the invention may be identical or different. It may be different drugs, different dosage forms and / or comprising separate active substances and / or dosages of different active substances. It can also be identical drugs, that is to say drugs comprising the same active substance (s), with the same dosage of the substance (s) active (s) and under the same form (s) galenic (s). It may be drugs in a solid dosage form in the divided state such as a powder. It may also be a dough-like solid which can be distributed in a storage tank by means of a feeder / distributor device - in particular a device feeder / distributor of drugs - according to the invention. It can also be a drug in the liquid state.

The storage tank is of the type comprising a housing-in particular a rigid housing-and a drum-in particular a rigid drum-associated with each other, movable in rotation relative to each other so that at most one compartment of the storage tank is open on the outside of the storage tank. Advantageously and according to the invention, the storage tank is a removable storage tank. The removable storage tank allows the establishment of an empty removable storage tank, that is to say, free of objects-especially drug-free, the distribution and distribution of objects-especially drugs- in the empty removable tank and its at least partial filling and extraction of a removable tank comprising objects distributed in the removable tank for the transport of the removable tank and objects distributed in the removable tank to the recipient of the objects - in particular with a patient receiving the drugs-.

The charger / distributor device according to the invention makes it possible to securely distribute objects in each compartment of a storage tank of such objects, in particular with a view to the distribution of these objects. Such a loader / distributor device makes it possible to distribute objects in compartments of a storage tank of such products, eliminating the risk of misallocation compared to a recommendation.

The charger / distributor device according to the invention is designed to allow a distribution of objects in the compartments of a storage tank of such objects in a secure manner, that is to say without risk of error in the distribution of objects, the storage tank simultaneously having at most one compartment - that is to say no compartment or a single compartment - in the open position and capable of receiving objects.

The loader / distributor device according to the invention comprises at least one immobilizing member of one of the housing and the drum relative to the loader / distributor device and at least one driving device for rotating the step by step of the other of the casing and the drum.

The immobilizing member of the housing or the drum relative to the loader / distributor device can be of any type. It can be a reversible immobilizer. It may be a reversible immobilizer by hooking between two complementary fastening elements, a first fastening element being carried by the loader / distributor device, the other attachment element being carried by the housing or by the drum. It may be a mechanical immobilization member, for example of the type with hooks and loops - known under the name "Velcro ^® " -. The feeder / dispatcher device may have the hooks and the housing or drum may have loops. However, there is nothing to prevent the loader / distributor device from presenting the loops and the housing or the drum having the hooks. It may be a mechanical immobilization member by snap. It can also be a reversible adhesive immobilizer. Nothing prevents that at least one immobilizing member is a magnetic immobilization member.

The engine device of the loader / distributor device according to the invention is adapted to enable successively placing each compartment of the storage tank facing the housing orifice by rotation of a predetermined angle value depending on the number of compartments. and dimensions of each compartment, from a predetermined initial relative position of the drum with respect to the housing, this predetermined initial relative position being established when the storage tank is placed in the loader / distributor device and in which the Enclosed shutter compartment extends opposite and obstructs the crankcase orifice.

In certain advantageous embodiments in accordance with the invention, each immobilizing member is an immobilization member in rotation of the casing in the loader / distributor device. In these advantageous embodiments in accordance with the invention, each motor device is a driving device for rotating the drum in rotation with respect to the stationary housing.

Nothing prevents that, in other advantageous embodiments according to the invention, each immobilizing member is an immobilization member in rotation of the drum. In these other advantageous embodiments in accordance with the invention, each motor device is a driving device driving in step rotation of the housing relative to the stationary drum. In these two embodiments, the displacement of one or the other of the housing or the drum allows that at most one compartment of the storage tank extends opposite the orifice of the casing whereby only this compartment is adapted to receive at least one object passing through this orifice. The distribution of objects - especially drugs - is thus secured in that this distribution corresponds perfectly to a prescription-in particular to a medical prescription-, each group of objects distributed in each compartment of the storage tank being in accordance with this requirement.

In certain advantageous embodiments in accordance with the invention, each motor device has a rotary drive shaft for rotating the drum relative to the housing, having a substantially horizontal axis of rotation when the loader / distributor device is placed in a position of distributing objects in a storage tank of such objects. In these advantageous embodiments according to the invention, the storage tank also has an axis of rotation of one or the other of the housing and the drum relative to the other of the housing and the drum which is substantially horizontal . In these advantageous embodiments in accordance with the invention, the storage tank and the housing of the storage tank are of cylindrical shape of revolution, with a substantially horizontal axis of symmetry, the orifice of the casing extending radially on the housing . In these advantageous embodiments according to the invention, the casing orifice extends in the upper position of the casing when the storage tank is assembled with the loader / distributor device so that the objects introduced into the feeder / distributor device are guided and driven passively by gravity to the storage tank.

Nothing prevents, however, that in other advantageous embodiments in accordance with the invention, each motor device has a rotary motor shaft substantially vertical axis of rotation. In these advantageous embodiments according to the invention, the storage tank also has an axis of rotation of one or the other of the housing and the drum relative to the other of the housing and the drum which is substantially vertical. In these advantageous embodiments in accordance with the invention, the storage tank and the housing of the storage tank are of cylindrical shape of revolution, with a substantially vertical axis of symmetry, the housing opening extending on a main face. planar longitudinal end of the housing.

In certain advantageous embodiments in accordance with the invention, the loader / distributor device comprises an object guide duct between an inlet adapted to receive such objects and an outlet capable of delivering these objects into the storage tank. In certain advantageous embodiments in accordance with the invention, the guide duct may be formed of one or more material (s) compatible with (s) contact with the objects - in particular the drugs -. The guide duct may be formed of one or more material (s) selected from the group consisting of glass, ceramics, polymeric materials, especially thermoplastic materials and thermosetting materials. The material forming the guide duct may be selected from the group consisting of polyethylenes (PE), polypropylenes (PP), polycarbonates (PC), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polylactic acid (PLA), polyoxymethylenes (POMs), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) -including natural ABS-, butadiene-modified styrene butadiene-reduced acrylonitrile butadiene (M-ABS), polystyrene (PS) expanded state or not (in the dense state), poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET), polycaprolactam (PA-6), poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), polyamides (PA) and copolymers, for example styrene-butadiene (SBR or impact polystyrene) and styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN) and mixtures of at least two of these polymeric materials in all proportions. Nothing prevents the guide duct from being formed from a recycled material.

In certain advantageous embodiments in accordance with the invention, the guide duct is a duct for the passive guide of objects driven by gravity towards the storage tank, the outlet of the guide duct opening opposite the orifice of the casing. In these advantageous embodiments in accordance with the invention, the guide duct has a slope always negative - especially continuously negative - allowing gravity driven objects between the inlet and the outlet of the guide duct. In these embodiments, a charger / distributor device according to the invention does not require and does not include a specific device for moving and driving the objects to the storage tank.

The guide duct has a transverse cross section of any shape since the guide duct allows the transport of objects to the storage tank. The transverse cross section of the guide duct may have any suitable shape. It can be square or rectangular. It can also be substantially circular.

In some advantageous embodiments according to the invention, the entry of objects is flared shape forming a funnel. Deposition of objects in the inlet of the guide duct and their introduction into the guide duct are facilitated.

In certain advantageous embodiments in accordance with the invention, the immobilizer of one of the casing and the drum in the loader / distributor device is a rotational immobilizer of one of the casing and the drum. by rotational locking of one of the housing and the drum in a receptacle adapted to receive one of the housing and the drum and having an inner surface of contact with an outer surface of one of the housing and the drum, the surface internal contact of the receptacle and the outer surface of one of the housing and the drum being complementary shapes and self-locking - in particular self-locking in rotation - relative to each other. The immobilizing member of one of the casing and the drum is thus an immobilizing member by blocking relative to each other non-circular complementary shapes, in particular complementary polygonal shapes, chosen to be self-locking in rotation relative to each other. For example, one of the housing and the drum form an anti-rotation flat surface opposing the rotation of one of the housing and the drum relative to the immobilizing member having a complementary flat surface and with respect to the device charger / splitter. In some advantageous embodiments according to the invention, the immobilizing member and the receptacle adapted to receive one of the housing and the drum are supported by the opening / closing flap.

In certain advantageous embodiments in accordance with the invention, the immobilizing member of one of the housing and the drum is adapted to cooperate with the storage tank and to allow its positioning in the loader / distributor device only in a single relative position with respect to the loader / distributor device adapted to allow a drive in step rotation of one of the housing and the drum by the motor device and a distribution of objects in the storage tank. In these embodiments, the immobilizing member of one of the housing and the drum is a keying member adapted so that the storage tank is, when introduced into the loader / distributor device, inevitably positioned in the device loader / distributor in an orientation that allows the distribution and distribution of objects in the storage tank. The receptacle on the one hand and one of the casing and the drum of the storage tank on the other hand have complementary shapes and dimensions, the receptacle acting as a keying member for the assembly of the storage tank in the receptacle of the loader / distributor device.

In these advantageous embodiments according to the invention, the drive device for rotating in step with the other of the housing and the drum has a rotary motor shaft positioned so that a free end of the motor shaft The rotary drive cooperates with one of the housing and the drum and is capable of driving it in rotation when the removable storage tank is assembled to the loader / distributor device and the motor device is activated.

In certain advantageous embodiments in accordance with the invention, the motor device is a device for rotating the drum in relation to the casing by a predetermined angle value. Any type of suitable motor device can be used. In certain advantageous embodiments in accordance with the invention, the driving device driving in step rotation of the drum relative to the housing according to a predetermined angle value comprises:

- An electric gear motor driving in rotation along a first axis of rotation of a wheel, said driving wheel, provided on one of its main faces with a peripheral lug and a raised central cylinder;

- a Maltese cross rotatably mounted on a second axis of rotation, integral with a toothed coaxial wheel having an integer number (p) of teeth and having a plurality (r) of radial grooves uniformly distributed on the Maltese cross and driven in rotation by the peripheral lug of said driving wheel cooperating in translation with one of the radial grooves;

- A pinion rotatably mounted on a third axis of rotation and carrier integral with the rotary drive shaft for rotating the drum relative to the housing.

Said driving wheel may have a peripheral notch adapted to cooperate with a photoelectric sensor fork interrupting the drive in rotation of said drive wheel after a rotation of said drive wheel with an angle value of 2π (one turn on herself). The rotation of said driving wheel with an angle value of 2π is accompanied by a rotation of the Maltese cross with a value of 2π / ηι, m being a natural number representative of the number of grooves of the cross from Malta. The central cylinder of said driving wheel also cooperates with the Maltese cross to block any rotation of the Maltese cross and the toothed coaxial wheel when said driving wheel is stationary. The pinion has a number (d) of teeth chosen so that the ratio d.r / p is equal to the number of cells of the storage tank.

The charger / dispatcher device comprises a push button for activating the motor device producing a predetermined angle value rotation.

In certain advantageous embodiments in accordance with the invention, the loader / distributor device comprises an interface of communicating at least one information. The communication interface may include any type of screen. Nothing prevents the communication interface includes an information printing printer. In some embodiments, the communication interface makes it possible, in cooperation with an electronic card for controlling the loader / distributor device, to assist in regular monitoring of the distribution of objects in the storage tank.

In some advantageous embodiments in accordance with the invention, the charger / distributor device comprises a connection unit to at least one digital data communication link with at least one remote server. The communication link may be a digital data communication link from the loader / dispatcher device to a remote server and / or a digital data communication link from a remote server to the loader / dispatcher device. It is therefore possible to predict that digital data chosen from the group formed:

data representative of the objects, in particular drugs, to be distributed in the removable storage tank;

data representative of personal data relating to the recipient of the removable storage tank in which objects will be distributed;

data representative of the angular position of the drum relative to the housing in the removable storage tank;

data representing the position of the pinion of the motor device of the loader / distributor device;

data representative of the position of the rotary motor shaft;

data representative of the angular position of said driving wheel of the motor device;

are received, evaluated and stored by a device separate from the loader / distributor device according to the invention, for example by a remote computing device to which loader / distributor device according to the invention is connected by a digital data communication link (for example by the network Internet, said digital data being recorded on the Internet (in the cloud cloud)). Such data may be accessed remotely by a third party and provide the latter with an assessment of the regularity of operation of the loader / dispatcher device. The charger / distributor device according to the invention is an electronic device. It comprises at least one electronic card for controlling the loader / distributor device adapted to control at least one motor device for driving in stepwise rotation of one of the casing and the drum.

The storage tank is a removable storage tank. Such a removable storage tank is adapted to be placed in the empty state in the feeder / distributor device for loading and distribution of objects in the removable storage tank and to be removed from the feeder device / splitter when objects have been distributed in the removable storage tank for transporting the removable storage tank to its recipient.

In some embodiments according to the invention, the feeder / distributor device is free of objects storage tank - particularly drugs. It is dissociated from any removable storage tank. In other embodiments according to the invention, the charger / distributor device comprises an object storage tank which is removable. It is assembled with the removable storage tank.

In some embodiments according to the invention, the storage tank comprises:

an axial passage extending along the axis of rotation of the drum;

a blocking device adapted to be able to:

o in a first position, said locking position, prevent the relative rotation of the drum and the housing, and;

o in a second position, said rotational position, allow the relative rotation of the drum and the housing;

the locking device comprising at least one pusher arranged with respect to the axial passage so that it can be moved: . by a release member introduced into the axial passage; . to a position of the pusher, said unlocking position, wherein the locking device is in said rotational position;

the unlocking member is a rotary motor shaft of the motor device, introduced into the axial passage when the loader / distributor device is in said distribution position, whereby the locking device is in said rotational position and allows the relative rotation of the drum and the housing, each pusher of the locking device being moved by the rotary motor shaft so that each pusher is moved into said unlocking position.

In these advantageous embodiments according to the invention, the opening / closing flap being in said open position and the removable storage tank being immobilized with respect to the opening / closing flap, the unlocking member is not introduced into the axial passage of the storage tank and the locking device is in said locking position and prevents the relative rotation of the housing and the drum.

In these embodiments, in said distribution position, in which the leaf is in the closed position of the loader / distributor device, each pusher of the locking device is in said unlocking position, the locking device is in said rotational position. and one of the housing and the drum can be rotated relative to the other by the motor device.

According to some embodiments, the storage tank that can be assembled to the loader / distributor device has a closed closing compartment-that is to say non-opening-adapted to be placed and extend facing the orifice of the housing so as to obstruct this orifice during transport of the object storage tank comprising objects, the housing and the drum being locked in rotation with respect to each other.

In certain embodiments in accordance with the invention, the loader / distributor device comprises an imaging device capable of forming at least one digital image representative of a medication intake, before the introduction of said taking of drugs in a compartment. a removable storage tank for such drugs. Such an imaging device makes it possible to form a digital image of each drug intake introduced into each compartment of the reservoir. Such an imaging device makes it possible to ensure the traceability of the loading operations of the reservoir, by allowing the identification of the drugs of a medication intake, before the introduction of the drug intake in the reservoir. The charger / distributor device also comprises a digital image storage device, each digital image being associated on the one hand with a drug intake before it is introduced into a compartment of the reservoir and on the other hand with a serial number or a date (day, hour, minute, second ...) of filling a compartment of the tank.

The invention also extends to a method of distributing objects - particularly drugs - in a removable storage tank for such objects, in which:

a loader / distributor device according to the invention is chosen, and

the opening / closing flap being in said open position, the removable reservoir is selected and put in place in the loader / distributor device so as to immobilize this removable reservoir with respect to the opening / closing flap; removable tank comprising:

■ a housing -in particular a rigid housing- comprising a single orifice for the passage of objects;

^■ a drum - especially a rigid drum -;

the housing and the drum being rotatably mounted relative to each other so that by rotation of the housing and the drum relative to each other, each compartment is brought successively opposite the orifice of the housing, whereby each compartment is adapted to receive successively through this orifice at least one object passing through this orifice;

the opening / closing flap is placed in said distribution position whereby the removable reservoir is positioned with respect to the motor device so that one of the casing and the drum can be rotated relative to the other by the engine device;

at least one object is introduced into the guide duct.

Advantageously and according to the invention, a triggering member of the driving device for driving in stepwise rotation of the casing or of the drum is actuated, whereby a compartment is placed facing the orifice of the casing and at least one object is introduced. in the guide duct.

In certain advantageous embodiments of a method according to the invention, an identifier identifying at least one identification data of the storage tank is placed on the storage tank, at least one datum relating to the therapeutic treatment to which the drugs contained in the storage tank are intended, at least one identifying data of the person-in particular the patient- for which the storage tank is intended. In a method according to the invention, such an identifier is prepared and applied to the storage tank after the loading and the distribution of objects in the storage tank. The identifier may be an inscription of the name, surname or nickname of the patient. It may be a photograph of the patient, an identification number, etc.

In some advantageous embodiments of a method according to the invention, the identifier comprises at least one component selected from the group formed:

electronic components capable of transmitting data by radiofrequency-in particular microcircuits or RFID tags;

- Optically readable code components -including bar codes, two-dimensional codes such as QR codes, three-dimensional codes, and; - magnetically readable code components.

In certain embodiments in which a transmission is effected by radiofrequency, at least one identifier of the storage tank is adapted to be able to communicate according to any communication protocol, for example chosen from the group formed by the BLUETOOTH ^® protocols, WI protocols. -FI, radio protocols, called "UNB", ultra-narrowband multikilometrics for radio frequency data transmission and low bit rate exchange protocols.

Advantageously and according to the invention, the device loader / dispatcher of objects - particularly drugs - according to the invention is autonomous. According to these embodiments of the invention, the charger / distributor device comprises an independent power supply circuit. Advantageously and according to the invention, the power supply circuit is selected from the group consisting of power supply circuits comprising a source of continuous electrical energy and circuits comprising a connection to a connection cord to a distribution network of electrical energy (sector), and their combinations. The power supply circuit of the charger / distributor device may incorporate at least one battery or at least one battery. It may be provided with a mains connection cord for reloading. The independent power supply circuit is connected to the various components and circuits of the charger / distributor device to deliver the appropriate electrical power. It can be a voltage source and / or a current source, preferably stabilized. The charger / distributor device according to the invention is therefore an autonomous device, that is to say it incorporates its own power supply.

The invention also relates to any use of a device loader / dispatcher of objects-especially drugs- according to the invention. In particular, the invention relates to any use of a loader / dispatcher device of objects - particularly drugs - according to the invention for charging and distributing objects in a storage tank for such objects. The invention also relates to a device loader / dispatcher of objects -including drugs- in a storage tank for such objects, a method of distributing objects in a storage tank and the use of a loader / distributor device of objects characterized, in combination or not, by all or some of the features mentioned above or hereafter. Whatever the formal presentation given, unless expressly stated otherwise, the various features mentioned above or hereafter shall not be considered as closely or inextricably linked together, the invention may relate to only one of those structural or functional features, or only some of these structural or functional features, or only part of one of these structural or functional features, or any grouping, combination or juxtaposition of all or part of these structural or functional features .

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following non-limiting description of some of its possible embodiments and which refers to the appended figures in which:

- Figure 1 is a general perspective view of a loader / dispatcher device objects in a storage tank of such objects according to one embodiment of the invention, the storage tank not being shown;

FIG. 2 is a medial sagittal sectional view of a loader / distributor device of objects according to a particular embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a sagittal sectional view passing through the storage tank of an object loader / distributor device assembled to this object storage tank according to a particular embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view passing through the axis of rotation of the drum relative to the housing of a storage tank. assembled to a loader / distributor device objects according to the invention;

- Figure 5 is an exploded representation of a particular variant of an object storage tank that can be assembled with a loader / distributor device according to the invention;

- Figure 6 is a detail of an object storage tank as shown in exploded view in Figure 5, and;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a detail of the charger / distributor device shown in FIG.

In the figures appended to the detailed description which follows, the proportions of the loader / distributor device, the storage tank and the elements - in particular the mechanical elements constituting the loader / distributor device are not necessarily respected.

A device 1 loader / dispatcher objects-especially drugs- in a storage tank of such objects according to the invention shown in Figure 1 without storage tank is a self-supporting device comprising a housing 38 resting integrally on a base 39 of stabilization of the device 1 loader / distributor. The base 39 is adapted to rest on a piece of furniture or on a support, for example on a piece of furniture or a support of a pharmacy or a laboratory of preparation in pharmacy. It can be equipped on the underside with a non-slip material. According to a particular embodiment, the housing 38 and the base 39 may be formed of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). The outer face of the housing 38 and the base 39 may be glossy or matte, smooth or rough. The housing 38 has a face 40 before presenting a screen 41 as a man / machine interface. The screen 41 is adapted to display any type of information that may be useful to the pharmacist or the pharmacy preparer, for example the details of a medical prescription, an identification of a drug or one of its and / or identification of the treating physician. The front face 40 of the housing 38 is inclined relative to the vertical so that the reading of the screen 41 is facilitated closely but also at a distance from the device 1 loader / distributor.

The device 1 loader / distributor shown in FIG. on the front face 40 of the housing 38, a push button 42 dimensioned to be actuated by the person-especially the pharmacist- responsible for loading and distribution of objects in the storage tank. The actuation of the button 42 push allows, when a drug intake (s) has been introduced into one of the compartments of the storage tank, to control the actuation of a drive device rotation drive not to no drum relative to the storage tank housing, closing this compartment and opening a new compartment of the storage tank. The new compartment is thus brought opposite the casing orifice and an outlet 17 of a guide duct 15 in response to instructions transmitted to this person via the screen 41. The guide duct 15 also comprises a top entry 16 of funnel objects for receiving such objects and guiding in the guide duct.

The device 1 loader / distributor also has on one of the two side faces a flap 23 for opening / closing the device 1 loader / distributor and loading a storage tank (not shown in Figure 1). The flap 23 opening / closing extends on the left side of the device 1 loader / distributor shown in Figure 1, the front of the device 1 loader / distributor being determined by the front face 40 of the housing 38. Nothing prevents however, to provide that the opening / closing flap extends on the right side of the housing, the constituent elements of the device 1 loader / distributor being adapted accordingly. The flap 23 for opening / closing the device 1 loader / distributor shown in Figure 1 has a window 44 for viewing the presence of a storage tank in the device 1 loader / distributor according to the invention.

The opening / closing flap 23 has on its main face directed towards the inside of the loader / distributor device 1, a receptacle 25 forming a receiving basket of a storage tank, the receptacle 25 being mounted integral with the leaf 23 'open close. It is possible that the receptacle 25 has a shape adapted to cooperate with the storage tank and guide its introduction into the receptacle 25 so that the storage tank can be placed in the receptacle 25 only in a single possible orientation adapted to allow:

closing the opening / closing wing 23,

the appropriate positioning of the storage tank with respect to a rotary motor shaft of the drive device for rotating the drum relative to the housing when the opening / closing flap 23 is folded down in the closed position of the loader / distributor device 1 , and;

- An immobilization of the housing of the storage tank relative to the device 1 loader / distributor in a suitable position for rotation of the drum relative to the housing, placing and maintaining facing and in communication with a housing orifice and the output 17 of a conduit 15 for guiding objects.

The device 1 loader / distributor shown in Figure 1 is also equipped with at least one guiding pin parallel rails 45 guiding the leaf 23 opening / closing moving between an opening position of the flap 23 opening / closure in which a storage tank can be introduced in a suitable orientation into the receptacle 25 and a closing position of the opening / closing leaf 23.

A detail of the flap 23 for opening / closing the device

1 loader / distributor according to the invention as shown in Figure 1, is shown in Figure 7 in the assembled state with a removable storage tank 10. The opening / closing leaf 23 has two pairs of guide rails 45 of the leaf 23 relative to the loader / distributor device, each pair of guide rails 45 being adapted to cooperate with a guide pin and be guided in translation by relative to this guide pin during the tilting (opening or closing) of the leaf 23. The leaf 23 also has two lateral pivots 101, each pivot 101 being adapted to cooperate with a recess of the loader / distributor device for securing the leaf 23 and the loader / distributor device and to allow a rotation of the leaf 23 relative to the loader / distributor device according to a passing axis of rotation by the two lateral pivots 101 and by the receiving recesses of the lateral pivots 101.

The flap 23 of opening / closing of the loader / distributor device forms, on its internal face extending facing the motor device, a member 11 for immobilizing the storage tank 10 which is removable relative to the loader / distributor device and immobilization (relative to the leaf 23) of the casing 2 of the removable storage tank 10 with which the loader / distributor device is assembled. The immobilizing member 11 forms, in cooperation with the leaf 23, the receptacle 25 formed by a strip for holding the removable storage tank 10 in position with an upper opening of flared shape allowing easy insertion and guiding of the reservoir. 10 storage in the immobilizing member 11.

The strip comprises a section extending substantially parallel to the plane of the leaf 23 and two transverse sections 60 extending both perpendicularly to the plane of the leaf 23. At least one of the two sections 60, in particular each section 60, forms a receiving guide of the storage tank 10 and has a shape complementary to the shape of a rigid lining 27 of the peripheral housing 2, whereby the housing 2 is locked in rotation when the storage tank 10 is assembled with the loader / distributor device and a rotary motor shaft, passing through a cut 100 of the strip, extends in an axial passage 75 of the storage tank 10 and causes the drum to rotate relative to the immobilized housing. The leaf 23 has an expansion 99 shaped so that when the flap 23 of opening / closing is in the closed position, at least a portion of the expansion 99 is interposed between the transmitter and the receiver of a photoelectric sensor, so that the closing state of the leaf 23 of the device 1 loader / distributor is validated.

A device 1 loader / dispatcher objects-especially drugs- according to the invention is shown in Figure 2 in sagittal section substantially median. It has an outer envelope 63 for protecting the constituent elements of the device 1 loader / distributor. It presents a circuit power supply unit comprising a power supply card 46, a connector 47 for connecting a power cord to an electrical power distribution network (mains) and an electric battery or accumulator 48. It may be provided with a mains connection cable for recharging. The power supply circuit is connected to the various components and circuits of the device 1 loader / distributor to deliver the appropriate electrical energy. The device 1 loader / distributor according to the invention is therefore autonomous. The device 1 charger / dispatcher may also include a device (on / off) for powering the device 1 charger / distributor and / or a USB connection port.

The dispenser device 1 shown in FIG. 2 comprises an electronic control card 49 for controlling a device 50 for driving in stepwise rotation of the drum relative to the casing of a storage tank. The motor device 50 integrated in a housing 51 for protecting said motor device 50 comprises an electric gear motor driving in rotation along a first axis 52 of rotation of a wheel, said driving wheel 31, provided on one of its main faces. a peripheral pin 32 and a central cylinder 33 in relief. Said driving wheel 31 also has a peripheral notch 43 adapted to cooperate with a photoelectric fork sensor 53, interrupting the rotational drive of said driving wheel 31 when the notch 43 device passes through the fork of the photoelectric sensor 53 , that is to say after a rotation of said driving wheel 31 with an angle value of 2π (a turn on itself).

The motor device 50 also comprises, cooperating with said driving wheel 31, a Maltese cross 34 rotatably mounted along a second axis 54 of rotation of the Maltese cross 34 integral with a coaxial toothed wheel having an integer number (p) of teeth. . The cross 34 of Malta has a plurality (r) of radial grooves 55 uniformly distributed on the cross 34 of Malta and rotated by the lug 32 of said peripheral wheel 31 cooperating in translation with one of the grooves 55 radial. The rotation of said driving wheel 31 with an angle value of 2π is accompanied by a rotation of the Maltese cross 34 with a value of 2π / 4. The central cylinder 33 of said driving wheel 31 also co-operates with the Maltese cross 34 to block any rotation of the Maltese cross 34 and the coaxial gear when said driving wheel 31 is stationary and the peripheral pin 32 does not cooperate. with a groove 55 radial.

The motor device 50 also comprises, co-operating with the coaxial toothed wheel, a pinion 56 rotatably mounted along a third axis 57 of rotation, the pinion 56 being mounted integral with a rotary drive shaft driving in stepwise rotation of the drum by compared to the crankcase of a storage tank. The pinion 56 has a number (d) of teeth 103 chosen so that the ratio d.r / p is equal to the number of compartments of the storage tank. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the loader / distributor device 1 is programmed so that when said driving wheel 31 makes a rotation of 2π (one turn on itself), the Maltese cross 34 comprising (r) four grooves 55 radial rotates π / 2 (quarter turn) or a rotation of an angular sector corresponding to 4 of the 16 (p) teeth of the coaxial toothed wheel. The pinion 56 rotated by the coaxial toothed wheel 34 of the Maltese cross rotates an angular sector corresponding to 4 teeth 103 of the pinion 56 including 88, a rotation of an angular sector of value 2π / 22 corresponding to an angular displacement of the drum in the housing of an angular sector value corresponding to a storage compartment. Any other values of the number of teeth 103 of the pinion 56, the number of teeth of the coaxial gear, the number of radial grooves 55 of the Maltese cross 34 are possible.

The charger / distributor device 1 according to the invention shown in FIG. 2 also comprises a photoelectric sensor 58 with an optical fork adapted to detect the interposition of an expansion of the opening / closing flap 23 between the transmitter and the receiver of the sensor. 58 photoelectric when closing the wing 23 of the device 1 loader / distributor. The photoelectric sensor 58 makes it possible to detect the state of closure or opening of the leaf 23 of the loader / distributor device 1. The charger / distributor device 1 according to the invention shown in FIG. 2 comprises an electronic control card 67 of the loader / distributor device 1 supporting a processor 71.

A device 1 loader / distributor according to the invention is shown in Figure 3 in longitudinal section through the storage tank 10 to which the device 1 loader / distributor is assembled. The device 1 loader / distributor in its position of use, a user (not shown) standing on the right side of Figure 3- comprises the housing 38 resting on the base 39. The device 1 loader / distributor has a front face 40 supporting a screen 41 facing the user-for example a pharmacy-preparator and serving as a communication interface with this user using the device 1 loader / dispatcher to distribute doses of drugs in the storage tank 10 .

The feeder / distributor device shown in FIG. 3 has a conduit 15 for guiding objects between an entry 16 of objects forming a funnel capable of receiving these objects and an outlet 17 extending at the bottom of the guide duct 15. view of a port 5 of the housing 2 of the storage tank 10. In this configuration of the device 1 loader / distributor resting on its base 39, the objects (not shown) deposited in the funnel 16 of the guide duct 15 are guided by the guide duct 15 and driven by gravity in the duct 15 until to an open cell 7 of the storage tank 10. Any other form of guide duct can be envisaged. It should be noted that in the configuration shown in FIG. 3, the storage tank 10 has a single open cell 7 formed by the casing 2, the orifice 5 of the casing 2 and the drum 3 of the storage tank 10, the other cells 7 storage tank forming compartments 4 closed.

The device 1 charger / dispatcher drug according to the invention shown in Figure 3 comprises a flap 23 opening / closing the device 1 loader / distributor and receiving the storage tank 10. The flap 23 opening / closing is provided with a strip forming, with the flap 23, the receptacle 25 of a removable storage tank 10. Headband receiving means forms a keying guide adapted to cooperate with at least a portion of a peripheral rigid liner 27 of the storage tank 10 and allow its introduction into the immobilizing member 11 in a single appropriate predetermined position in which:

the drum 3 of the storage tank 10 can be rotated by a rotating motor shaft 13 of the motor device;

- The housing 2 of the storage tank 10 is held fixed during the rotation of the drum 3, the keying guide also acting as body 11 of the housing 2 against the device 1 charger / distributor, and;

- The orifice 5 of the housing 2 extends opposite the outlet 17 of the conduit 15 for guiding objects.

The keying guide may take any form complementary to the rigid peripheral liner 27 of the storage tank 10 when it opposes the insertion of the storage device 10 in an inappropriate orientation in the device 1 loader / distributor and the rotation of the housing 2 with respect to the device 1 loader / distributor during the rotation of the drum 3.

The opening / closing flap 23 comprises a plurality of rails 45 for guiding the flap 23 when it is opened / closed, adapted to cooperate with two guiding pins 59 integral with the casing 38.

The storage device 10 assembled to the device 1 loader / distributor shown in Figure 3 comprises a housing 2 and a drum 3 rotatable relative to the housing 2 under the effect of the actuating the shaft 13 rotating motor. The drum 3 is formed of a disk 61 having a plurality of radial partitions 62, the drum 3 and the casing 2 in a recess from which the drum 3 extends, forming a plurality of compartments 4 for storing objects - particularly medicinal substances. The casing 2 has an orifice 5 for the passage of objects extending in the up position when the removable storage device 10 is assembled with the loader / distributor device 1 so as to allow the objects to be distributed by gravity in the device 10. storage. The orifice 5 of the casing 2 shown in FIG. 3 emerges opposite the outlet 17 of the guide 15 for guiding objects and makes it possible to direct the objects introduced into the inlet 16 forming the funnel of the duct 15 towards a cell 7 of the reservoir 10 storage without the risk of a destination error.

The storage device 10 has a shutter cavity 64 adapted to be able to extend facing the orifice 5 of the casing 2 so that when the shutter cavity 64 extends opposite the orifice 5 of the no medication can be removed from the storage tank. Such a shutter cavity 64 obstructing the orifice 5 of the casing 2 enables the object storage tank 10 to be transported safely out of the loader / distributor device 1, in particular when the storage tank 10 is delivered to a person to whom it is to be sent. this storage tank 10, in particular to a patient for whom is intended the pharmacological treatment contained in the reservoir 10 for storing drugs. Such secure transport is carried out without risk of loss of objects.

The removable storage tank 10 assembled to the device 1 loader / distributor shown in Figure 3 comprises an axial brake 65 adapted to be able to:

o in a first position, said locking position, the axial brake 65 prevent rotation of the drum 3 relative to the housing 2 when the storage tank 10 is not assembled with the device 1 loader / distributor, and;

o in a second position, said rotational position, the axial brake 65 allow rotation of the drum 3 relative to the housing 2 when the storage tank 10 is assembled with the device 1 loader / distributor and a rotary shaft 13 of the device 1 loader / distributor cooperates with the drum 3 so as to drive the drum 3 in rotation step by step relative to the housing 2.

The axial brake 65 allows rotation locking of the drum 3 relative to the casing 2 when the removable storage tank 10 is not assembled with the device 1 loader / distributor and that the cell 64 shutter extends towards the orifice 5 of the casing 2 and obstructs the orifice 5. Thus, no object can leave the storage tank 10, the drum 3 being locked in rotation relative to the casing 2 when the reservoir 10 of removable storage is not assembled with the device 1 charger / dispatcher.

The removable storage tank 10 has an organ

76 gripping the storage tank 10 for its introduction into and its extraction from the device 1 loader / distributor according to the invention.

Nothing prevents the storage tank 10 from having an identifier affixed to an outer surface portion. Such an identifier may be affixed by a pharmacy preparer after having distributed the medicaments of a pharmacological treatment in the storage tank. Such an identifier may be affixed by gluing to an outer surface portion of the storage tank. Such an identifier is positioned so that it can be read by any reading means of an object dispensing device with which the storage tank 10 is assembled. It may be an identifier comprising at least one component with an optical reading code - in particular a barcode or a two-dimensional code of the QR code type or a three-dimensional code - or at least one component with a magnetic readout code, or minus one component with radiofrequency data transmission (RFID) code.

Such an identifier may contain at least one datum representative of the identity of the storage tank 10, of the type of storage tank to which the storage tank belongs, of the treatment (dosage, setting times) at which the objects-notably the drugs - contained in the storage tank 10 are attached, and / or the identity (last name, first name, registration number, portrait) of the patient to which the objects contained in the storage tank 10 are intended.

A device 1 loader / distributor according to the invention is shown in Figure 4 in the assembled state with a removable storage tank 10, in cross section passing vertically by the axis 14 of rotation of the shaft 13 rotary drive motor in step rotation of the drum 3 relative to the housing 2. The device 1 loader / distributor has a base 39 housing an accumulator 48 for supplying electrical energy to an electric gear motor 72 of the motor device 50. The electric geared motor 72 is coupled in rotation drive along a first axis 52 of rotation with a wheel, said 31 driving wheel, provided with a peripheral pin 32 and a central cylinder 33 in relief.

The motor device 50 also comprises, cooperating with said driving wheel 31, a Maltese cross 34 rotatably mounted along a second axis 54 of rotation of the Maltese cross 34 integral with a coaxial toothed wheel 73 having an integer number (p) of teeth. The cross 34 of Malta is rotated by the lug 32 of said driving wheel 31. The rotation of said driving wheel 31 with an angle value of 2π is accompanied by a rotation of the cross 34 of Malta with a value of 2π / 4.

The motor device 50 also comprises, co-operating with the coaxial toothed wheel 73, a pinion 56 rotatably mounted along the axis 14 of rotation of the rotary motor shaft 13, the rotating motor shaft 13 of the pinion 56 being mounted integral with a member 74 for rotating the drum 3 relative to the housing 2.

The storage tank 10 shown in section in FIG. 4 comprises a casing 2 and a drum 3 rotatable relative to the casing 2. It also comprises a brake 65 moved in the unlocking position of the drum 3 relative to the casing 2 by the member 74 drive, rotatable by the drive motor device 50 in stepwise rotation of the drum 3 relative to the housing 2 whereby the drum 3 is moved in the housing 2 so as to place a cell of the removable storage tank 10 opposite the housing orifice 2.

The storage tank 10 has an axial passage 75 extending along the axis 14 of rotation of the pinion 56, the axial passage 75 housing the brake 65. The brake 65 comprises at least one pusher 86 arranged with respect to the axial passage 75 of way to be displaceable by the member 74 for rotating the drum 3 introduced into the axial passage 75 to a position of the pusher, called unlocking position, in which the brake 65 is in said unlocking position and wherein the drum 3 is rotatable relative to the housing 2 by the drive member 74.

The device 1 loader / distributor according to the invention shown in Figure 4 has on its upper face a conduit 15 for guiding objects forming a funnel-shaped inlet 16 adapted to collect objects and guide their movement by gravity into a cell of storage tank 10. The guide duct 15 may be removable, that is to say separable from the loader / distributor device 1, in particular for transporting the loader / distributor device 1. Alternatively, nothing prevents the funnel inlet 16 is removably mounted relative to the device 1 loader / distributor.

In a particular variant shown in an exploded view in FIG. 5 (not applicable), a storage tank 10 of objects -in particular of drugs- capable of being assembled with a loader / distributor device according to the invention comprises a rigid casing 2 , a rigid drum 3 and a device 65 for locking the drum 3 in rotation with respect to the casing 2 along an axis 14 of rotation passing through the center of the drum 3 and through the center of the casing 2. The drum 3 is formed of a disc 61 rigid substantially plane forming a support of twenty-two radial partitions 62 extending from one of the two main faces of the disc 61 and orthogonal to the disc 61. Of course, nothing prevents the drum 3 has a number different from partitions 62 radial so as to adapt the number of compartments formed in the storage tank 10. The radial partitions 62 extend radially outwardly of the drum 3 over only a portion of the radius of the disc 61 from a cylindrical wall 77 of revolution with respect to the axis 14 of rotation of the drum 3, the wall 77 cylindrical revolution forming the bottom of the cells extending between two adjacent radial partitions 62. The radial partitions 62 and cylindrical wall 77 of revolution have the same height in the direction parallel to the axis 14 of rotation of the drum 3. The radial partitions 62 and the cylindrical wall 77 of revolution are mounted integral with the disc 61 and contribute to less partially to the rigidity of the drum 3. Each partition 62 radial has a quadrilateral shape, the quadrilateral may be a square or a rectangle. Thus, the drum 3 has a main face opposite to the main face formed by the disk 61, defined by the radial partitions 62 and the cylindrical wall 77 of revolution, this main face being substantially flat and orthogonal to the axis 14 of rotation of the drum. 3 so that this main face cooperates with a bottom plane 78 of the housing 2 to form compartments for storing and dispensing objects.

In this variant shown in FIG. 5, the drum 3 forms with the casing 2 a cell, called a plugging cell 64, closed and incapable of receiving, storing and delivering objects - in particular drugs. Said plugging cavity 64 is adapted to extend facing the peripheral orifice 5 of the casing 2 and to obstruct the passage opening 5 when storage compartments of the storage tank 10 contain objects and the reservoir 10 storage is not positioned in a drug delivery device (s). Said plugging cell 64 thus makes it possible to eliminate any risk of loss of objects, in particular during the transport of the storage tank 10 between its filling location and its place of use.

In this variant represented in FIG. 5, the drum 3 also has a cylinder 79 of revolution forming a wall 80 for guiding the drum 3 in rotation with respect to the casing 2. The cylinder 79 of revolution is integral with the disk 61 and cylindrical of revolution according to the axis 14 of rotation of the drum 3. The cylinder 79 of revolution, the radial partitions 62 and the cylindrical wall 77 of revolution have the same dimension in the direction extending parallel to the axis 14 of rotation of the drum 3 so that the main face of the drum 3, opposite the main face formed by the disk 61, defined by the radial partitions 62, by the cylindrical wall 77 of revolution orthogonal to the axis 14 of rotation of the drum 3 and by the cylinder 79 of revolution cooperates with the bottom 78 of the casing 2 to form compartments 4 for storing objects that are sealed to these objects.

The drum 3 also has an axial passage 75 sized to receive in axial translation a rotary motor shaft driving the rotation of the drum 3 relative to the casing 2. The axial passage 75 is generally circular in general shape and of diameter less than the average value of the diameter of a finger of a user. Thus, a user is not able to introduce a finger into the axial passage 75, to push a blocking pusher 86 against a spring 81 in its rotational position and simultaneously to drive the drum 3 in rotation with respect to the housing 2. The axial passage 75 comprises a radial slot 82 adapted to cooperate with the rotary drive shaft for rotating the drum 3 relative to the housing 2, the rotary drive shaft being of generally cylindrical of revolution and having two opposite radial fins cooperating with the drum 3 and ensuring its driving in rotation.

The drum 3 also has a ring 83 surrounding the axial passage 75 and extending substantially in the plane of the disk 61. The ring 83 has, on its main face facing the casing 2, a plurality of recesses 84 adapted to cooperate with and receiving at least one lug 85 projecting from a pusher 86 of the blocking device 65 and locking by locking the rotation of the drum 3 relative to the casing 2. Each recess 84 has a shape complementary to the shape of the lugs 85 projecting from so as to be able to receive a lug of the pusher 86 and to block the drum 3 in rotation with respect to the casing 2 when the brake is in the blocking position (not pushed by the rotary drive shaft for rotating the drum 3 with respect to the casing 2). Each recess 84 may have a bore 84 or not through the crown 83, the (the) lug (s) 85 having a shape complementary to these bores 84. The ring 83 may have a single bore 84 positioned to allow the drum 3 to be locked in rotation in a position such that the shut-off cavity 64 extends opposite the orifice 5 of the casing 2. However, preferably, the ring 83 has a number of bores 84 equal to to the number of cavities of the drum 3. Thus, the storage tank 10 comprising 21 cells and a socket 64, the ring 83 has 22 bores 84. The bores 84 are regularly distributed radially on the ring 83 so that each bores 84 allows rotation locking of the drum 3 in any of the positions in which a cell extends opposite the orifice 5 of the casing 2.

In the cassette 1 shown in FIG. 5, the axial passage 75 is limited radially by a guide edge 87 capable of guiding in axial translation a rotary drive shaft for rotating the drum 3 relative to the casing 2 and also limiting the access to the axial passage 75 and the pusher 86 by any unauthorized user. The edge 87 has two notches 82 diametrically opposed positioned to receive two blades of the rotating motor shaft and rotate the drum 3 relative to the housing 2 under the effect of the rotation of the rotary motor shaft.

A storage tank 10 shown in FIG. 5 comprises a casing 2 whose general shape is defined by a rigid bottom 78 and a rigid peripheral wall 88 of cylindrical shape of revolution. The housing 2 is sized to receive the drum 3 and form a plurality of cells in an enclosure 6 for storing objects. The casing 2 also has a rigid peripheral liner 27 for ensuring the insertion of the storage tank 10 into the immobilizing member forming the receptacle 25 so that the orifice 5 of the casing 2 is immobilized opposite the outlet of the guide duct. The peripheral rigid liner 27 has in cross section orthogonal to the axis 14 of rotation of the drum 3 a polygonal shape adapted to prevent rotation of the housing 2 in the receptacle 25 during the rotation of the drum 3 with respect to the housing 2.

The casing 2 forms a cylinder 89 for guiding the drum 3 in rotation relative to the casing 2. The guiding cylinder 89 forming the casing 2 is integral with the bottom 78 and cylindrical in revolution along the axis 14 of rotation of the drum 3. The casing 2 has a plurality of reinforcements 90 for maintaining the rigidity of the guide cylinder 89. Thus, the guide cylinder 89, the reinforcements 90 and the peripheral wall 88 contribute to the reinforcement of the rigidity and the mechanical strength of the casing 2 and the storage tank 10. The guide cylinder 89 has an internal face 91 extending facing the axis 14 of rotation of the drum 3 forming the guide wall 91 adapted to cooperate with the outer face 80 (forming wall 80 of the guide) of the cylinder 79 of revolution of the drum 3. In this regard, the wall 91 for guiding the guide cylinder 89 forming the housing 2 and the wall 80 for guiding the cylinder 79 for guiding the drum 3 are dimensioned and adapted to facilitate the rotation of the drum 3 with respect to the casing 2 and to guide this rotation.

The casing 2 also has a structure 92 for guiding the pusher 86 in translation parallel to the axis 14 of rotation of the drum 3 between a locking position in which the drum 3 is locked in rotation relative to the casing 2 and an unlocking position wherein the drum 3 is rotatable relative to the housing 2. The guide structure 92 is adapted to prevent any rotation of the pusher 86 relative to the housing 2 while allowing a translational movement of the pusher 86 relative to to the guiding structure 92 and relative to the casing 2. The guiding structure 92 is in the form of a generally cylindrical sleeve 92 of revolution with respect to the axis 14 of rotation of the drum 3. The sleeve 92 has a groove 93 longitudinal recess extending parallel to the axis 14 of rotation of the drum 3 adapted and sized to be able to receive and cooperate with a longitudinal rib 94 protruding extending parallel to the axis 14 of rotation of the drum 3 on the internal face 95 of the pusher 86. As a result, the pusher 86 is locked in rotation relative to the sleeve 92 and relative to the casing 2 between the brake locking position 65 and its unlocking position and returned elastically in the brake locking position 65 by the compression spring 81 interposed between the housing 2 and the sleeve 92.

The storage tank 10 shown in FIG. 5 also comprises a device for locking the drum 3 in rotation with respect to the casing 2 when the storage tank 10 is not assembled with the device 1 loader / distributor and the rotation unlocking device of the drum 3 relative to the housing 2 when the storage tank 10 is assembled with the device 1 loader / distributor. The locking device is a brake 65 formed of a compression spring 81 and a pusher 86 resiliently biased by the spring 81 in rotational locking position of the drum 3 relative to the housing 2. The pusher 86 is of cylindrical shape of revolution and hollow. It has an internal face 95 itself symmetrical with respect to the axis 14 of rotation of the drum 3 and adapted to cooperate with an outer face of the sleeve 92 of the housing 2 and to be guided in axial translation by the sleeve 92 The pusher 86 has on its inner face 95 a projecting longitudinal rib 94 dimensioned to cooperate with the longitudinal groove 93 of the sleeve 92.

The pusher 86 of Figure 5 is shown in Figure 6 in perspective at a different angle of view of Figure 5. It has an axial end 96 provided with 2 lugs 85 projecting from the axial end 96. The lugs 85 projecting from the pusher 86 each extend in a bore 62 of the ring 83 when the brake 65 is in its locking position. In this blocking position, the pusher 86 is locked in rotation relative to the cylindrical section 92 secured to the casing 2 and the drum 3 is locked in rotation by the lugs 85 projecting from the pusher 86. Thus in this locking position, each lug 85 projecting from the pusher 86 is biased resiliently by the spring 81 in a bore 62 of the drum 3 and forms a rotational locking stop of the drum 3 relative to the casing 2 so that objects contained in the storage tank 10 can not escape.

The peripheral wall 88 of the casing 2 of the storage tank 10 shown in FIG. 5 has a free edge comprising two opposite radial tabs 97 arranged to be able to cooperate with two peripheral notches 98 of the disk 61 of the drum 3. The notches 98 peripheral devices of the tabs 97 radial are positioned to be able to each receive a tongue 97 radial and allow the assembly of the drum 3, the pusher 86, the spring 81 and the housing 2 in a first relative angular position of the housing 2 and the drum 3 and prevent their disassembly in a second angular position (distinct from the first angular position) relative to the housing 2 and the drum 3 in which each tab 97 radial is not facing a notch 98 device. The invention can be the subject of many variants and applications other than those described above. In particular, it goes without saying that unless otherwise indicated the various structural and functional characteristics of each of the embodiments described above should not be considered as combined and / or closely and / or inextricably linked to each other, but to contrary as mere juxtapositions. In addition, the structural and / or functional characteristics of the various embodiments described above may be wholly or partly the subject of any different juxtaposition or any different combination. For example, the sizing and design of the feeder / distributor device and its adaptation to the storage tank - in particular the number, the size of the compartments and their medicinal content - are subject to infinity of variants that do not go beyond the scope of the invention. invention.

Claims

II- Device (1) loader / dispatcher of objects in a storage tank (10) for storing such objects, the storage tank (10) being removable and of the type comprising:

a casing (2) comprising a single orifice (5) for the passage of objects;

a drum (3);

o forming with the housing (2) an enclosure (6) for storing objects; o comprising a plurality of cells (7) arranged to form with the housing (2), a plurality of compartments (4) for storing objects, the cells (7), the housing (2) and the orifice (5). ) being arranged and sized so that in any relative position of the housing (2) and the drum (3) in which the housing (2) and the drum (3) are stationary relative to each other, at most a compartment (4) extends opposite the orifice (5) of the housing (2);

the housing (2) and the drum (3) being rotatably mounted relative to one another so that by rotation of the housing (2) and the drum (3) relative to each other, each compartment (4) is brought successively opposite the orifice (5) of the housing (2), whereby each compartment (4) is adapted to successively receive at least one object passing through this orifice (5);

the loader / distributor device (1) comprising:

At least one member (11) immobilizing rotation of one of the housing (2) and the drum (3) in the device (1) loader / distributor, and;

At least one device (50) driving drive in rotation step by step of the other of the housing (2) and the drum (3);

• a leaf (23) for opening / closing the loader / distributor device (1);

characterized in that the flap (23) opening / closing is adapted to be able, in a first position, said open position, the flap (23) opening / closing, receive a reservoir (10) of removable storage and immobilize this removable storage tank (10) relative to the opening / closing flap (23) and, in a second position, said distribution position, in which the flap (23) is in the closed position of the device (1) loader / distributor, one of the crankcase

(2) and the drum (3) can be rotated relative to the other by the device (50) engine.

21- Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the storage tank (10) comprising:

an axial passage (75) extending along the axis (14) of rotation of the drum

(3);

a locking device (65) adapted to be able to:

o in a first position, said locking position, preventing the relative rotation of the drum (3) and the housing (2), and;

o in a second position, said rotational position, allow the relative rotation of the drum (3) and the housing (2);

the blocking device (65) comprising at least one pusher (86) arranged with respect to the passage (75) axially so as to be displaceable:

. by an unlocking member introduced into the axial passage (75);

. to a position of the pusher (86), said unlocking position, wherein the locking device (65) is in said rotational position;

the unlocking member is a rotary motor shaft (13) of the motor device (50) introduced into the axial passage (75) when the loader / distributor device (1) is in said distribution position, whereby the device (1) 65) is in said rotational position and allows the relative rotation of the drum (3) and the housing (2), each pusher (86) of the locking device (65) being displaced by the rotating motor shaft (13). so that each pusher (86) is moved into said unlocking position.

3 / - Device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that each member (11) of immobilization is an immobilizing member in rotation of the housing (2) in the device (1) loader / distributor.

Al- Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each device (50) motor is a motor device driving in step rotation of the drum (3) relative to the housing (2) stationary.

5 / - Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that each device (50) motor has a shaft (13) rotating motor driving in rotation of the drum (3) relative to the housing (2), axis (14) substantially horizontal rotation when the device (1) loader / distributor is placed in a position of distribution of objects in a tank (10) for storing such objects.

61- Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises a conduit (15) for guiding objects between an inlet (16) adapted to receive such objects and an outlet (17) adapted to deliver these objects into the storage tank (10).

Il- Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the conduit (15) for guiding is a conduit for guiding objects driven by gravity to the storage tank (10), the outlet (17) of the conduit (15) of guiding opening facing the orifice (5) of the housing (2).

8 / - Device according to one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that the inlet (16) of objects is flared shape forming a funnel.

91- Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the member (11) for immobilizing one of the housing (2) and the drum (3) in the device (1) loader / distributor is a rotational immobilizer of one of the housing (2) and the drum (3) by rotationally locking one of the housing (2) and the drum (3) in a receptacle (60) adapted to receiving one of the housing (2) and the drum (3) and having an internal contact surface with an outer surface of one of the housing (2) and the drum (3), the internal contact surface of the receptacle (3); 25) and the outer surface of one of the housing (2) and the drum (3) being of complementary shapes and self-locking relative to each other.

10 / - Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the member (11) for immobilizing one of the housing (2) and the drum (3) is adapted to cooperate with the storage tank (10) and allow its positioning in the device (1) loader / distributor in a single relative position relative to the device (1) loader / distributor clean to allow a drive in step rotation of one of the housing (2) and the drum (3) by the device (50) motor and a distribution of objects in the storage tank (10).

11 / - Device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the member (11) of immobilization is supported by the flap (23) opening / closing.

12 / - Device according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the device (50) driving motor is a drive device in stepwise rotation of the drum (3) relative to the housing (2) according to a predetermined angle value and comprises:

an electric geared motor (72) for driving in rotation along a first axis of rotation of a wheel, called a driving wheel (31), provided on one of its main faces with a peripheral lug (32) and a central cylinder (33) in relief;

- a cross (34) of Malta rotatably mounted on a second axis of rotation, integral with a toothed coaxial wheel (73) having an integer number (p) of teeth and having a plurality (r) of grooves (55) radial uniformly distributed on the cross (34) of Malta and driven in rotation by the lug (32) peripheral of said wheel (31) driving cooperating in translation with one of the grooves (55) radial;

- A pinion (56) rotatably mounted on a third axis of rotation and carrier integral with the shaft (13) rotating motor driving rotation of the drum (3) relative to the housing (2).

13 / - A method of distributing objects in a removable storage tank for such objects, in which:

a loader / distributor device (1) according to one of claims 6 to 12 is selected, and;

the opening / closing flap (23) being in said open position, the removable tank (10) is selected and placed in the feeder / distributor device (1) so as to immobilize this removable tank (10) with respect to the opening / closing leaf (23), the tank (10) removable including:

"a housing (2) comprising a single orifice (5) for the passage of objects;

^■ a drum (3);

the housing (2) and the drum (3) being rotatably mounted relative to one another so that by rotation of the housing (2) and the drum (3) relative to each other, each compartment (4) is brought successively opposite the orifice (5) of the housing (2), whereby each compartment (4) is adapted to receive successively through this orifice (5) at least one object passing through this orifice ( 5);

the opening / closing flap (23) is placed in said distribution position, whereby the removable reservoir (10) is positioned relative to the rotary drive device so that one of the casing and the drum is capable of being rotated relative to the other by the motor device;

at least one object is introduced into the guide duct (15).

14 / - Use of a loader device / object distributor according to one of claims 1 to 12 for loading and distributing objects in a storage tank of such objects.