Storage and dispensing station for a blister machine

A storage and dispensing station for a blister machine, comprising:

• a storage container comprising:
• a housing defining a receiving space;
• a bottom face having a central coupling opening;
• a separating device arranged in the receiving space, the separating device comprising a plurality of vertical channels;
• a coupling device extending into the central coupling opening and having a lower coupling portion;
• a holding device comprising a holding member and an actuation member, the holding device configured to prevent rotation of the separating device in a first position and to allow rotation of the separating device in a second position;
• and
• a dispensing station, comprising:
• a rotary drive comprising a shaft and a hub seated on the shaft, the hub disposed in a first opening in a top surface of the dispensing station, the rotary drive configured to provide a force-transmitting interaction with the lower coupling portion;
• and
• an opening member configured to interact with the actuation member of the holding device, the opening member comprising a separate second opening comprising a depression in the top surface of the dispensing station that is disposed outside of and adjacent to an outer perimeter of the first opening in the top surface of the dispensing station,
• wherein the lower coupling portion, the hub, the actuation member and the opening member are configured to provide a first interaction between the lower coupling portion and the hub prior to providing a second interaction between the actuation member and the opening member when arranging the storage container on the dispensing station.

A method for placing a storage container of a storage and dispensing station of a blister machine onto a dispensing station, the method comprising:

• providing a dispensing station comprising a hub of a rotary drive disposed in a first opening in a top surface of the dispensing station and an opening member comprising a separate second opening comprising a recess in the top surface of the dispensing station that is disposed outside of and adjacent to an outer perimeter of the first opening in the top surface of the dispensing station;
• providing a storage container comprising:
• a housing enclosing a receiving space having an internally circular-cylindrical portion and a bottom face having a central coupling opening;
• a separating device arranged in the internally circular-cylindrical portion of the housing, the separating device comprising:
• a plurality of channels extending vertically through the separating device;
• and
• a coupling device extending into the central coupling opening and having a lower coupling portion;
• and
• a holding device comprising a holding member and an actuation member, the holding device preventing rotation of the separating device via the holding member;
• arranging the storage container on the dispensing station;
• initiating a first interaction between the lower coupling portion and the hub;
• adapting the hub to the lower coupling portion through a rotation and one of a form-fit connection and a frictional connection being produced between the hub and the lower coupling portion when the first interaction begins;
• initiating a second interaction between the actuation member and the opening member;
• and
• releasing the holding member when the second interaction begins, so that the rotation of the separating device is allowed,
• wherein the actuation member comprises a vertical nose corresponding to the recess of the opening member,
• wherein the first interaction is initiated by generating a coupling engagement depth by one of the frictional connection and the form-fit connection of the hub and the lower coupling portion,
• and wherein the second interaction is initiated by guiding the actuation member into the opening member and releasing the holding member, thereby generating a holding engagement depth, wherein the coupling engagement depth is greater than the holding engagement depth.