Device for individual packing of tablets according to a multi-dose system

• US 7,856,794 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2006
• Issued: 12/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wolfgang Zieher
• Original Assignee: Wolfgang Zieher
• Inventors: Zieher, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh; Louis K
• Application Number:
  US11/921,490
• Publication Number:
  US 20090120042A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,666 Days
• Field of Search: 532/44, 532/45, 532/46, 532/48, 532/49, 531/312, 53/51, 534/99, 535/00, 535/02
• US Class Current: 53/246
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 35/06 Separating single articles from loose masses of articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 5/103 for packaging pills or tablets
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 51/148 Hand-operated members
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 9/045 for single articles, e.g. tablets

Abstract

A device for the individual packaging of pharmaceutical tablets comprising a charging template (1) with recesses (5) for receiving tablets (11) of dosage at given times, the recesses (5) have recess bases (6) for openable by a displaceable arranged control template (2) to pass on the tablet (11), a tablet container (3), physically arranged below the charging template (1) such as to be displaced relative to the charging template (1) and having compartments for transfer of the tablets (11), and a weighing scale positioned beneath the charging template (1) and above the tablet container (3) for checking the weight of the tablets (11) assigned to the charging template (1).

Claims

1. Device for individual packaging of medication tablets (11) according to a multi-dose system,

comprising

a charging template (1) having at least one nest (5) for defined insertion of tablets (11) to be taken on pre-determined days and/or times of day,

whereby each of the nests (5), possesses a nest bottom (6) for passing the inserted tablets (11) on, which bottom is closed and is to be opened,

a displaceably arranged control template (2) for opening and closing the nest (5) bottom (6) of the charging template,

a tablet container (3) disposed spatially underneath the charging template (1), to be displaceable relative to the charging template, which container possesses tablet compartments (10) assigned to specific days and/or times of day, to be brought into coverage with the nest (5) bottom (6), for take-over of the tablets (11) present in the nests (5),

and a weighing scale for checking the weight of the inserted tablets assigned to the charging template;

and said weighing scale positioned beneath said charging template (1) and above the tablet container (13).

2. Device according to claim 1,

wherein said displaceably arranged control template (2) is provided for opening and closing the nest (5) bottom (6), disposed above the tablet container (3) and spatially directly under the charging template (1), and that said displaceably arranged control template possesses openings (7) that are to be brought into coverage with the nest (5), by means of a relative displacement, which openings are provided as a passage for the tablets (11) present in the nest (5) to the tablet compartment (10) to be charged.

3. Device according to claim 2, wherein the charging template (1) or the displaceably arranged control template (2) and the tablet container (3) are mounted to be displaceable relative to one another in the horizontal direction (8).

4. Device according to claim 3, wherein mechanical pushing drives (9, 20) are provided for a relative movement of the displaceably arranged control template (2).

5. Device according to claim 1, wherein said weighing scale is assigned to the charging template, and wherein the bottoms (6) of the nest (5) of the charging template (1), rest on said weighing scale (4) when being filled.

6. Device according to claim 1, comprising a sensor assigned to each nest (5) of the charging template (1), for checking whether a tablet (11) was placed in.

7. device according to claim 6, wherein the sensor is a photoeye (12).

8. Device according to claim 1, wherein a display, is assigned to each nest (5), to indicate a local tablet demand.

9. Device according to claim 8, wherein the display is a signal lamp (13).

10. Device according to claim 1, wherein an automatic commissioning device (14) for automatic delivery and removal of tablet storage containers (21) is assigned to the charging template (1) within a tablet delivery station (19).

11. Device according to claim 10, wherein the automatic commissioning device (14) comprises a tablet storage container (21).

12. Device according to claim 11, wherein the container (21) has means (22) for automatic opening and closing in airtight manner.

13. Device according to claim 11, wherein the storage container (21) comprises a chamber (22) for accommodating a desiccant.

14. Device according to claim 13, wherein the storage container (21) consists essentially of two tubes (25, 26), which can be pushed into one another in the manner of a telescope, and are closed off at one end, with a plate (27), that the outer tube (26), which is always visible, bears at least one cam, which fits into a corresponding accommodation of the inner tube, that the tubes inserted into one another can be opened and closed by means of rotation relative to one another, that the outer tube is to be pressed against a seal, by means of the clamping force of this closure (29), thus making it possible to seal the storage container interior in airtight manner, and that the storage container contains an insert (30) adapted to the bulk volume of the tablets to be stored.

15. Device according to claim 14, wherein the tubes (25, 26) are plastic tubes;

wherein the plate (27) is a rectangular plastic plate;

wherein the outer tube (26) forms a bayonet closure (28);

wherein the seal is a silicone seal (29); and

wherein the insert (30) is a deep-drawn plastic part.

16. Device according to claim 1, wherein individual parts of the device, with charging template (1), control template (2), a positioning device (20) of the tablet container (3), and scale (4), are positioned in a specific spatial mutual arrangement.

17. Device according to claim 16, wherein the individual parts are installed into a table.

18. Device according to claim 1, comprising at least one removably attached documentation sheet.

19. Device according to claim 1, wherein the tablet container (3) can be positioned in its position on a charging region only in a single, defined position, by means of its shaping.

20. Device according to claim 1, wherein the tablet container (3) is configured as a medication cassette having a plurality of tablet compartments (10).

21. Device according to claim 20, wherein the tablet container (3) has compartments (10) having a flip-open or push-open lid and is a reusable cassette.

22. Device according to claim 1, wherein the tablet container (3) is configured as a blister pack having a plurality of tablet compartments (10).

23. Device according to claim 22, wherein a sealing film/foil is provided for closing off the compartments (10) of the blister pack, jointly for all the compartments, for a group of compartments, or separately for each individual compartment.

24. Device according to claim 22, wherein the sealing film/foil, is equipped with positioning aids for a defined position of the film/foil on the blister pack (3).

25. Device according to claim 1, wherein a cover that protects the nests and their contents from air drafts is assigned to the nests (5) of the charging template (1).