US 9,862,519 B2Granted

Supporting structure for concurrently supporting a plurality of containers for substances for medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic applications

AssigneeSchott AG

InventorsGregor Fritz Deutschle, Edgar Pawlowski, Joern Wassenberg, Andreas Reisse

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A supporting structure for concurrently supporting a plurality of containers having a predetermined length for medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic applications comprises a carrier having a plurality of supporting means for supporting the containers on the carrier, optionally, at least in a first orientation (e.g. upright) or in a second orientation (upside-down or also upright). According to the invention the carrier is matched to the lengths of the containers such that the upper ends of the containers are arranged in the first position at the same distance to the carrier as the lower ends of the containers in the second position and that the upper ends and/or lower ends of the containers are accessible for a further processing of the containers while they are supported on the carrier. Thus, there is no need to adjust the heights of processing stations in which the containers are treated or processed further, regardless of whether the containers are supported on the carrier in the first position or in the second position, because the upper ends and lower ends of the containers are disposed on the same height level in both positions (orientations) of the containers. According to the invention this facilitates the treatment and processing of containers considerably because the effort in terms of adjustment, control and automation can be considerably simplified.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A supporting structure for concurrently supporting a plurality of containers having a predetermined length, the containers being used for the storage of substances for medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic applications or contain such substances and each container having an upper end and a lower end, the supporting structure comprising

a carrier having a plurality of supporting means and being configured to support and retain the containers on the carrier when in a first orientation and when in a second orientation opposite to the first orientation, wherein the supporting means comprises a protrusion that extends from a respective aperture of the carrier, wherein the protrusion is resilient and configured to pivot or flap away during insertion of the container into the aperture and supports the container in both the first orientation and the second orientation,
wherein the supporting structure is formed in two parts comprising the carrier and a frame on which the carrier can be supported in a first carrier orientation or in a second carrier orientation opposite to the first carrier orientation,
wherein when the containers are supported on the carrier in the first orientation and the carrier is supported on the frame in the first carrier orientation, the upper ends of the containers are arranged at a first distance to an upper rim of the frame,
wherein when the containers are supported on the carrier in the second orientation and the carrier is supported on the frame in the second carrier orientation, the lower ends of the containers are arranged at a second distance to the upper rim of the frame,
wherein the first distance is equal or substantially equal to the second distance, and
wherein the upper ends and/or lower ends of the containers are accessible for a further processing of the containers, while they are supported on the carrier in the first orientation and in the second orientation.

3 more elements

A supporting structure for concurrently supporting a plurality of containers having a predetermined length, the containers being used for the storage of substances for medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic applications or contain such substances and having upper ends and lower ends, the supporting structure comprising

a trough-shaped carrier having a plurality of supporting means and being configured to support the containers on the trough-shaped carrier in a first orientation or in a second orientation opposite to the first orientation, wherein
the supporting structure is formed in two parts comprising the trough-shaped carrier and a frame on which the trough-shaped carrier can be supported in a first carrier orientation or in a second carrier orientation opposite to the first carrier orientation,
wherein when the containers are supported on the trough-shaped carrier in the first orientation or in the second orientation and the trough-shaped carrier is supported on the frame in the first carrier orientation, the upper ends of the containers are arranged at a first distance to the upper rim of the frame;
wherein when the containers are supported on the trough-shaped carrier in the first orientation or in the second orientation and the trough-shaped carrier is supported on the frame in the second carrier orientation, the upper ends of the containers are arranged at a second distance to the upper rim of the frame;
wherein the first distance is equal or substantially equal to the second distance,
wherein the upper ends of the containers are accessible for a further processing of the containers, while the trough-shaped carrier is supported on the frame in the first carrier orientation and the containers are supported on the trough-shaped carrier in the first orientation or in the second orientation, or
wherein the upper ends and/or lower ends of the containers are accessible for a further processing of the containers, while the trough-shaped carrier is supported on the frame in the second carrier orientation and the containers are supported on the trough-shaped carrier in the first orientation or in the second orientation.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/533,134Filed 5 Nov 2014
Priority: DE 10 2013 112 1675 Nov 2013
Published: US 2015/0122693 A17 May 2015
Granted: 9 Jan 2018
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification17 codes

B65D 1/36
Trays or like shallow containers: with moulded compartments or partitions
A61J 1/16
Details; Accessories therefor: holders for containers
B65B 3/003
Packaging plastic material, semiliquids, liquids or mixed solids and liquids, in individual containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes,…:…
B65B 7/2821
By applying separate preformed closures, e.g. lids, covers: applying plugs or threadless stoppers