US20140366489A1

US20140366489A1 - Device and method for dispensing and packing solid substances

Info

Publication number: US20140366489A1
Application number: US14/378,708
Authority: US
Inventors: Gerrit Jan Scholten; Pieter Cornelis Meijers
Original assignee: VMI Holland BV
Current assignee: VMI Holland BV
Priority date: 2012-11-22
Filing date: 2013-08-19
Publication date: 2014-12-18
Also published as: WO2014081286A1; TWI574887B; CN104039655B; PL2791012T3; KR20140122707A; NL2009865C2; CN104039655A; EP2791012B1; JP6027691B2; TW201420430A; EP2791012A1; JP2016504241A; KR101682959B1; DK2791012T3

Abstract

The invention relates to a device which accommodates a series of feeder units arranged for selectively discharging an amount of solid substances from one or more feeder units for packing. The device includes a holding device provided with an array of feeder positions arranged adjacently in a plane, a collection frame arranged below the holding device including a series of collection trays for capturing discharged solid substances from the feeder units and each collection tray includes an output opening, and a packing unit arranged below the collection frame for collecting the captured solid substances from the output opening of a tray and packing the substances. The collection frame and the holding device are movable with respect to each other. The collection trays have an elongated shape with a longitudinal direction which extends substantially parallel to the plane and over a length of at least two of the feeder positions.

Description

BACKGROUND

The invention relates to a device which accommodates a series of feeders for solid substances, in particular pills, tablets or capsules, in particular for medical use, and which are arranged for selectively dispensing an amount of said solid substances from one or more feeders for packing. The invention further relates to a method for dosing and packing of said solid substances.
Such a device and method is, for example, disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,481,855. This US patent describes a tablet packing device which accommodates a plurality of types of tablets and selectively discharges them from feeders for packing. A plurality of feeder units is provided along the circumferential edge of a circular split ring unit. Five feeders are mounted one over another in each of the feeder units. The split ring unit comprises a pocket plate at its top and a shutter plate at its bottom. The pocket plate is formed with a plurality of holes all of which are wider at the top. A tablet which is discharged from one of the feeders will fall into a hole formed in the pocket plate. Since a shutter plate covers the hole, the tablet bounces on the shutter plate and settles down after a while. Thereafter, the shutter plate is rotated to open the hole to drop the table to a hopper which is arranged under the split ring unit. The tablet is the slid down along the inner wall of the hopper and, when a hopper cover provided at the bottom of the hopper is opened, it is dropped further there-through into a packing sheet. After the tablet has reached the inside of the packing sheet which is folded, it is sealed in one backing bag by use of heater rollers.
In the device as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,481,855, it is possible to save the time required to pack the tablets according to the tablet types by presetting the time required for each type of tablet to settle down from landing and discharging the tablet after lapse of the preset time. Moreover, less bouncy tablets can be accommodated in the higher feeders, while lower feeders accommodate tablets which have a longer stabilization time period and are used more frequently.
Although the known device takes account of the settling time for each type of tablet, the time for a series of packing operations is determined by this settling time and cannot be reduced further.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved device and method which allow a further reduction of the time required for a series of packing operations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect, the invention provides a device which accommodates a series of feeder units for solid substances which series is arranged for selectively discharging an amount of said solid substances from one or more feeder units for packing, said device comprising:
a holding device provided with an array of feeder positions arranged adjacently in a plane, wherein the holding device at each of said array of feeder positions is provided with a holder for one of said feeder units and with a through opening for passing discharged solid substances there through,
a collection frame arranged below the holding device, wherein the collection frame and the holding device are movable with respect to each other, wherein said collection frame is provided with a series of collection trays, said trays have an elongated shape with a longitudinal direction which extends substantially parallel to said plane and over a length of at least two of said through openings, wherein said trays comprises a receiving opening at a side facing said holding device for capturing said discharged solid substances and each comprises an output opening, and
a packing unit arranged below the collection frame for collecting the captured solid substances from the output opening of a tray and packing said solid substances.
By using collection trays which are movable with respect to the table, and thus with respect to the feeder units arranged on said array of feeder positions, each of said trays can collect the required solid substances from one or more of said feeder units, which need to be packed for one of the doses according to a prescription. By using a series of collection trays, multiple doses of solid substances from one or more of said feeder units can be collected simultaneously, in stead of successively as in the device as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,481,855. This provides a further reduction of the time required for a series of packing operations.
In the device as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,481,855 where tablets from feeders first fall on a pocket plate with a shutter plate at its bottom and are released into a tray after the tables have settled down. In the device of the invention, the series of feeders are arranged on feeder positions which are arranged adjacently in a plane. Thus the feeders on these feeder positions are arranged directly above the collection trays. Any amount of solid substances discharged by the feeders falls directly in one of the collection trays, substantially without delay.
In addition, the trays in the device of the invention have an elongated shape with a longitudinal direction which extends substantially parallel to said plane and over a length of a plurality of said through openings. Thus multiple feeders of said series of feeders can discharge an amount of solid substances directly into one of the trays, in particular depending on the required recipe.
In an embodiment, said feeder units of said series each comprises a discharge opening, and wherein said discharge openings of said feeder units, when arranged at corresponding feeder positions, are substantially aligned with a corresponding one of said through openings.
In an embodiment, the discharge openings of the feeder units of said series is arranged at substantially the same distance above the receiving opening of the trays. Preferably the feeder units are arranged immediately above the receiving opening of the trays. By arranging the feeder units, and in particular the discharge opening thereof, at the same distance above the receiving opening of the trays the time required to transport an amount of said solid substances from the feeder units into the trays is essentially the same for all feeder units of the series of feeder units. In addition, when arranging the feeder units immediately above the receiving opening the time required to transport an amount of said solid substances into the trays is substantially minimized, which provides a further reduction of the time required for a series of packing operations.
In an embodiment, the collection frame is rotatable around a rotation axis, wherein the rotation axis extends substantially perpendicular to said plane. In an embodiment, the longitudinal direction of said trays is arranged substantially radially with respect to said rotation axis. By rotating the collection frame, the collection trays move underneath the holding device and the series of feeder units arranged at the feeder positions thereof. Each one of the collection trays can capture and accumulate one or more of the solid substances which are selectively discharged from one or more feeder units arranged in a substantially circular path above said collection tray.
In an embodiment, said trays extend from a position near the rotation axis to an edge of said holding device. Each one of the collection trays can capture and accumulate one or more of the solid substances which are selectively discharged from one or more feeder units arranged in a substantially circular area above said trays. When all feeder units are arranged in said circular area, the collection tray is able to collect one or more of said solid substances from any one or from any combination of said feeder units.
In an embodiment, a width of said trays increases in a radial outward direction with respect to said rotation axis. Preferably the trays are wedge shaped, and a series of said trays covers a substantially circular area under the holding device
In an embodiment, the holding device is arranged for substantially stationary holding the series of feeder units. In particular, the feeder units are arranged stationary in the device of the invention, and the collection trays are moved underneath these stationary feeder units.
In an embodiment, said trays comprise a bottom surface which is arranged to slope down to said output opening. In an embodiment, said output opening is provided with a closing member which is movable into a first position for closing the output opening and into a second position for allowing said solid substances to move out of the tray. When moving the trays with respect to the holding device, each tray can collect solid substances from each feeder unit arranged above the path of the tray, and can hold these substances as long as the closing member is in the first position.
In an embodiment, the packing unit is arranged at a stationary position in the device of the invention, underneath the movable collection trays. When the output opening of one of the trays aligns with the stationary position of the packing unit, the closing member of this particular tray is moved to the second position which allows the solid substances in this tray to move through the output opening into the packing unit.
In an embodiment, the receiving opening of a tray extends substantially parallel to said plane and over a length of at least two of said through openings.
In an embodiment, the holding device comprises one or more special feeder positions, which are arranged directly above the packing unit for passing discharged solid substances form a feeder unit on the one or more special feeder positions via a corresponding through opening, a corresponding receiving opening and output opening of a tray, directly into the packing unit. These special feeder positions are available for special feeder units for the delivery of drugs which could contaminate the inner surface of a tray. By arranging these special feeder units at these special feeder position, the drug released from the special feeder units fall directly into the packing unit, substantially without contacting the inside of a collection tray.
In an embodiment, the device comprises a supply member for supplying one or more feeder units to the device, and a manipulator system to transport at least one of said feeder units from the supply member onto one of said feeder positions on the holding device. When one or more of the feeder units has discharged all its supply of solid substance and thus is substantially empty, these empty feeder units need to be replaced by corresponding full ones. Usually this exchanging of an empty feeder unit by a full one is time consuming and requires attendance of an operator. By providing the device of the invention with the supply member and the manipulator system, the exchanged of an empty feeder unit by a full one can be automated.
In an embodiment, the device comprises a discharge member for removing one or more feeder units from the device, and wherein the manipulator system is arranged for transporting at least one of said feeder units from one of said feeder positions on the holding device towards the discharge member.
In an embodiment, the supply member and/or the discharge member comprises a conveyor, preferably a belt conveyor.
In an embodiment, the manipulator comprises a robotic arm. In an embodiment, the robotic arm is arranged on said holding device. In an embodiment, the robotic arm is arranged on said holding device at or near the rotation axis of the collection frame. The robotic arm is arranged centrally on the holding device and is preferably arranged to reach each one of the feeder positions on the holding device, preferably to reach one or more of the feeder units arranged on the supply member, and preferably to position one or more of the empty feeder units on the discharge member. The use of a robotic arm has the advantage that it also can be used for additional tasks, for example to shake a specific feeder unit when the solid substance comprised therein is stuck inside and cannot be discharged from said feeder unit.
In an embodiment, one or more of the collection trays is removable arranged on the collection frame. The removable collection trays can be removed from the collection frame for easy cleaning of these trays.
In an embodiment, one or more of the collection trays is provided with a supplementary sheet which is arranged on at least a part of a bottom wall of said one or more of the collection trays. In an embodiment, said supplementary sheet is removable and/or disposable. Due to the use of these supplementary sheets, the frequency of cleaning the trays is at least reduced. Preferably the supplementary sheets cover essentially the complete part of the bottom wall onto which the solid substances fall from the feeder units and onto which the solid substances move towards the output opening. In this case the trays essentially do not need to be cleaned, and only the supplementary sheets need to be replaced periodically.
According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a method for selectively discharging an amount of solid substances from one or more feeder units from a series of feeder units for packing, in particular using a device or an embodiment as described above, said method comprises the steps of:
providing a holding device with the series of feeder units on an array of feeder positions arranged adjacently in a plane, wherein the holding device at each of said array of feeder positions is provided with a holder for one of said feeder units and with a through opening for passing discharged solid substances there through,
discharging a prescribed amount of solid substance from one or more prescribed feeder units towards a collection frame arranged below the holding device, wherein the collection frame and the holding device are movable with respect to each other, wherein said collection frame is provided with a series of collection trays, said trays have an elongated shape with a longitudinal direction which extends substantially parallel to said plane and over a length of at least two of said through openings, wherein said trays comprises a receiving opening at a side facing said holding device for capturing said discharged solid substances in one of said trays, and each one of said trays comprises an output opening, and
moving the captured solid substances from said one of said trays into a packing unit arranged below the collection frame, which packing unit collects the captured solid substances from the output opening of said one of said trays and packs said solid substances.
In an embodiment, said method comprises the step of providing a recipe to a controller of the device, which recipe comprises the amount and type of solid substance which needs to be packed, wherein the controller controls the device to discharge the prescribed amount of solid substance from the one or more prescribed feeder units into a particular collection tray.
In an embodiment, said method comprises the step of providing a series of recipes to the controller, wherein the controller controls the device to discharge for each recipe of said series of recipes, the prescribed amount of solid substance from the one or more prescribed feeder units into a separate one of said collection trays.
In an embodiment, the prescribed amount of solid substance in the separate ones of said collection trays are individually packed in said packing unit.
The various aspects and features described and shown in the specification can be applied, individually, wherever possible. These individual aspects, in particular the aspects and features described in the attached dependent claims, can be made subject of divisional patent applications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be elucidated on the basis of an exemplary embodiment shown in the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross section of an embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 2 shows the right hand side of the schematic cross section of FIG. 1 in more detail,

FIG. 3 shows a schematic top view of the holding device of the embodiment of FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 shows a schematic top view of the collection frame of the embodiment of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of a packing system comprising a device which accommodates a series of feeder units for solid substances which series is arranged for selectively discharging an amount of said solid substances from one or more feeder units for packing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention is schematically shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The device 1 accommodates a series of feeder units 2, 21 arranged for selectively discharging an amount of solid substances, such as pills, tablets or capsules, in particular for medical use, from one or more feeder units 2, 21 for packing. Said device 1 comprises a holding device 3 provided with an array of feeder positions 31 (see FIG. 3) arranged adjacently in a plane P, a collection frame 4 arranged below the holding device 3 comprising a series of collection trays 41, 41′ for capturing discharged solid substances from said feeder units 2, 21 and each collection tray 41 comprises an output opening 42, and a packing unit 5 arranged below the collection frame 4 for collecting the captured solid substances from the output opening 42 of a tray 41 and packing said solid substances.
The holding device 3 in this example, comprises a table which defines the plane P as shown in FIG. 2, which is provided with the array of feeder positions 31 as shown in FIG. 3, arranged adjacently in said plane P. The holding device 3 is provided with a holder at each of said array of feeder positions 31 for holding one of said feeder units 2, 21. In addition, the holding device 3, and in particular the table, is provided with through openings 32 for passing discharged solid substances there through. As schematically indicated in FIG. 3, each feeder position 31 is provided with a corresponding through opening 32. FIG. 1 is a schematic cross section along the line I-I of FIG. 3.
The feeder units 2, 21 of said series each comprises a discharge opening at a bottom side 22 of each one of said feeder units 2, 21. Said discharge openings of said feeder units 2, 21, when arranged at corresponding feeder positions 31, are substantially aligned with a corresponding one of said through openings 32.
As clearly shown in the partial cross section of FIG. 2, the bottom side 22 comprising the discharge openings of said feeder units 2, 21 is arranged substantially at the plane P. The feeder units 2, 21 are arranged immediately above the plane P, in particular immediately above the through openings 32. By arranging the feeder units 2, 21, and in particular the discharge opening thereof in a substantially horizontal plane P and in particular immediately above the through openings 32, the time required to transport an amount of said solid substances from the feeder units 2, 21 into the trays 41 is essentially the same for all feeder units 2, 21 of the series of feeder units.
Below the holding device 3, a collection frame 4 is arranged. The collection frame 4 and the holding device 3 are movable with respect to each other. In this example, the holding device 3 is arranged for substantially stationary holding the series of feeder units 2, 21. In particular, the feeder units 2, 21 are arranged stationary in the device 1, and the collection frame 4 is moved underneath these stationary feeder units 2, 21. The collection frame 4 is rotatable around a rotation axis R, wherein the rotation axis R extends substantially perpendicular to said plane P. The rotation of the collection frame 4 is driven by a motor 43.
In an embodiment said motor 43 is a stepper motor or is stepwise driven around the rotation axis R. This stepwise driving is arranged to have at least one stop for each tray 41, 41′ where the output opening 42 of said tray aligns with the packing unit 5.
The collection frame 4 is provided with a series of collection trays 41, 41′ which are arranged around the rotation axis R, as shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 1 is a schematic cross section along the line II-II of FIG. 4.
Said trays 41, 41′ have an elongated shape with a longitudinal direction which extends substantially parallel to said plane P and over a length of at least two of said through openings 32. Each one of said trays 41 comprises a receiving opening 44 at a side facing said holding device 3 for capturing said discharged solid substances. The bottom side 22 of the feeder units 2, 21, comprising the discharge openings of said feeder units 2, 21 is arranged substantially at the same distance above the receiving opening 44 of the trays 41.
The trays 41 are substantially open at the upper side thereof, which open upper side defines the receiving opening 44 of the tray. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the open upper side extends substantially parallel to said plane P and over a length of at least two, and in particular over a length of a plurality of said through openings 32.
The longitudinal direction of said trays 41 is arranged substantially radially with respect to said rotation axis R. By rotating the collection frame 4, the collection trays 41, 41′ move underneath the holding device 3 and the series of feeder units 2, 21 arranged at the feeder positions 31 thereof. Each one of said collection trays 41, 41′ can capture and accumulate one or more of the solid substances which are selectively discharged from one or more feeder units 2, 21 arranged in a substantially circular path above said collection trays 41, 41′ as shown in FIG. 3.
As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, said trays 41, 41′ extend from a position near the rotation axis R to an edge 33 of said holding device 3. Each one of the collection trays 41, 41′ can capture and accumulate one or more of the solid substances which are selectively discharged from one or more feeder units 2, 21 arranged in a substantially circular area T on said table of the holding device 3 as shown in FIG. 3. Each one of the collection trays 41, 41′ is able to collect one or more of the solid substances from substantially any one or from any combination of the feeder units 2, 21 which are arranged in said circular area T.
As schematically indicated in FIG. 4, the width of said trays 41, 41′ increases in a radial outward direction with respect to said rotation axis R. Preferably the trays are wedge shaped, and the series of said trays 41, 41′ covers a substantially circular area under the holding device 3. The circular arrangement of collection trays 41, 41′ comprises for example 20 collection trays 41.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, each one of said trays 41, 41′ comprises a bottom surface 45 which is arranged to slope down to said output opening 42. Said output opening 42 is provided with a closing member 46 which is movable into a first position, as shown in FIG. 2, for closing the output opening 42 and movable in the direction M into a second position for allowing said solid substances to move out of the tray 41. When moving the trays 41, 41′ with respect to the holding device 3, each tray 41, 41′ can collect solid substances from each feeder unit 2, 21 arranged above the path of the tray 41, and can hold these substances at the output opening 42 as long as the closing member 46 is in the first position.
Preferably the collection trays 41, 41′ are removable arranged on the collection frame 4. The removable collection trays 41″ can be removed by substantially sliding them in a radial direction out of the collection frame 4, as schematically indicated in FIGS. 3 and 4.
Alternatively or in addition, the collection trays 41, 41′ can be provided each with a supplementary sheet (not shown) which is arranged on at least a part of a bottom wall 45. This supplementary sheet is removable and/or disposable. Preferably the supplementary sheets cover essentially the complete part of the bottom wall 45 onto which the solid substances fall from the feeder units 2, 21 and onto which the solid substances move towards the output opening 42. In this case the trays 41 essentially do not need to be cleaned and do not need to be removable, and only the supplementary sheets need to be replaced periodically.
Below the collection frame 4, a packing unit 5 is arranged for collecting the captured solid substances from the output opening 42 of a tray 41 and packing said solid substances.
The packing unit 5 is arranged at a stationary position in the device 1, underneath the movable collection trays 41. When the output opening 42 of the tray 41 aligns with the stationary position of the packing unit 5, the closing member 46 is moved to the second position which allows the solid substances in the tray 41 to move through the output opening 42 into the packing unit.
The packing unit 5 comprises a supply of foil 51 which supplies a foil 52 to a folding unit 53 which folds the foil 51 into U-shaped foil 54 which is open at the top. This open top 55 is ready to receive the solid substances from a tray 41. When the solid substances are deposited from the tray 41 into the U-shaped foil 54, the foil with the solid substances is moved in the direction D to a vertical seal unit 56, which provides a substantially vertical seal behind the deposited solid substances. Accordingly the solid substances from each one of said trays 41 is arranged in individual pockets of said U-shaped foil 54. Subsequently, the foil is moved in the direction D to a closing seal unit 57 which provides a seal at the upper side 55 of the U-shaped foil for enclosing the solid substances in individually closed pockets 59, as shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the packing unit 5 is arranged on a movable carrier 60.
In a further embodiment, the device 1 can also be provided with two or more packing units 5, 5′ as indicated in FIG. 1.
The holding device 3 also comprises one or more special feeder positions, which are arranged above a transfer area TA where the solid substances are transferred from the collection trays 41 to the packing unit 5. Preferably the special feeder positions are arranged directly above the packing unit 5 for passing discharged solid substances form a feeder unit 21 on the one or more special feeder positions via a corresponding through opening, a corresponding receiving opening 44 and output opening 42 of a tray 41, directly into the packing unit 5. These special feeder positions are available for special feeder units 21 for the delivery of drugs which could contaminate the inner surface of a tray 41. By arranging these special feeder units 21 at these special feeder positions, the drug released from the special feeder units 21 fall directly into the packing unit 5. When using a further packing unit 5′, the holding device 3 can also comprise one or more special feeder positions for feeder units 21′, which are, arranged above a further transfer area where the solid substances are transferred from the collection trays 41 to the further packing unit 5′.
Special feeder units 21 which are not directly above the output opening 42 when at the packing unit 5, are provided with a channel or chute 34 which guides solid substances discharged from said feeder units 21 to an area directly above the output opening 42 when at the packing unit 5.
In addition the holding device 3 may comprise a supply unit 23 with a sorted medicine supply for delivering an amount of sorted medicaments from supply trays 231, 232, 233 into a collection tray 41. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, such a supply unit 23 is preferably arranged at the circumferential edge 33 of the table 3.
When one or more of the feeder units 2, 21 has discharged substantially all its supply of solid substance and thus is substantially empty, these empty feeder units 2, 21 need to be replaced by corresponding full ones. In order to exchange an empty feeder unit by a full one, the device 1 comprises a supply member 71 for supplying one or more new and/or full feeder units 24 to the device 1, and a manipulator system 6 to transport at least one of said new and/or full feeder units 24 from the supply member 71 onto one of said feeder positions 31 on the holding device 3. In addition, the device 1 comprises a discharge member 72 for removing one or more feeder units 25, in particular empty feeder units, from the device 1. As schematically indicated in the figures, the supply member 71 and the discharge member 72 comprises a conveyor 7, preferably a belt conveyor, which can be used for both supplying and removing one or more feeder units
The manipulator 6 comprises a robotic arm 61, 62, which is arranged on said holding device 3. As shown in FIG. 1, the robotic arm 6 is arranged on said holding device 3 at or near the rotation axis R of the collection frame 4. By arranging the robotic arm 61, 62 centrally on the holding device 3, a gripper 63 for picking up one or more feeder units is arranged to reach each one of the feeder positions 31 on the holding device 3, to reach one or more of the new and/or full feeder units 24 arranged on the supply member 71, and to position one or more of the empty feeder units 25 on the discharge member 72.
Each one of the feeder units 2, 21 can contain a large supply of identical pills, tablets or capsules; in short medicaments. Each one of these medicaments may have a specific weight and/or specific size and dimensions, which makes each one of the feeder units 2, 21 specific to hold and discharge a specific medicament. The specific feeder units 2, 21 are provided with an identification code which is readable by a sensor in the device. By reading the identification code, for example when a specific feeder unit 2, 21 is placed on the holding device 3 by the robotic arm 61, 62, the information of the location of the specific feeder unit 2, 21 and the medicaments it contains is provided to a control system 8 for the device, which control system 8 stores this information in a memory.
The sensor is for example arranged in the gripper 63 of the robotic arm 61, 62. Alternatively or in addition one or more of the feeder position 31 are provided with a sensor for acquiring the identification code.
The control system 8 is coupled to the device 1, and in particular to the feeder units 2, 21, to the supply unit 23, to the motor 43, to the packing unit 5, to the manipulator 6 and/or to the supply member 71 and the discharge member 72 as schematically shown in FIG. 1. The control system 8 provides control commands to the device 1 and, in particular to the feeder units 2, 21, to discharge a prescribed amount of medicament from one or more of said feeder units 2, 21, into a particular collection tray 41. The control system 8 selects the specific feeder unit 2, 21 in accordance with the prescribed type of medicament, by using the information stored in the memory.
Furthermore, each of the feeder units 2, 21 and/or the holding device 3 is provided with a feedback sensor which reports the discharge of one or more pills, tablets or capsules from a specific one of said feeder units 2, 21 back to the control system 8. The control system 8 can thus determine whether or not the discharged medicaments into a specific collection tray 41 is in accordance with the prescribed amount.
In an embodiment, a part of the area of holding device 3 can be used for the storage of feeder units. The robotic arm 61, 62 with the gripper 63 is arranged for moving feeder units from the storage area on the holding device 3 to feeder positions 31 with through openings 32, and vice versa. In particular, the transfer area TA where the solid substances are transferred from the collection trays 41 to the packing unit 5, which on the one hand is used for arranging special feeder units 21 as described above, is on the other hand used for the storage of feeder units 2, 21.
When the device 1 is in use, a recipe is provided to the control system 8 for the device 1, which recipe comprises the amount and type of medicaments which need to be packed. The control system translates the recipe into control commands which are send to the device 1 to discharge the prescribed amount of medicaments from one or more prescribed feeder units 2, 21 into a particular collection tray 41, in order to collect the required amount and type of medicament in said particular collection tray 41 which corresponds to the recipe. The prescribed amount and type of said medicament according to the recipe is moved towards the packing unit 5 and is individually packed in foil 52.
In stead of a single recipe, usually a series of recipes is provided to the control system 8. Again, the control system 8 translates the recipe into control commands which are send to the device 1 to discharge for each recipe of said series of recipes, the prescribed amount of medicaments from one or more prescribed feeder units 2, 21 into a separate one of said collection trays 41, in order to collect an amount and type of medicament in each one of said collection trays 41 which corresponds to one recipe of said series of recipes. In addition the control commands are arranged for collecting the medicaments of subsequent recipes of said series of recipes in subsequent collection trays 41, which deliver the collected medicament subsequently to the packing unit 5. The packing unit 5 individually packs the medicaments from each collection tray 41, and thus provides a series of packed medicaments in accordance with the series of recipes, and preferably in the same order as the series of recipes. It is noted that the device 1 may also be provided with two packing units 5, 5′ as schematically shown in FIG. 1, or even more.
The packing unit 5 is preferably provided with a printing unit for printing the recipe onto the foil, preferably at or near the pocket 59 which contains the medicaments according to the recipe. Such a printing unit is for example arranged in the folding unit 53 and obtains the required printing data from the control system 8.
In an alternative embodiment, the packing unit 5 is provided with a substantially vertical foil unit in which the foil is substantially funnel shaped, which funnels are filled from the top and subsequently sealed.
FIG. 5 shows an example of a packing system 100 according to the invention. The system 100 comprises device arranged inside a cage 108, which accommodates a series of feeder units 102 for solid substances which series is arranged for selectively discharging an amount of said solid substances from one or more feeder units 102 for packing. Said device comprises a holding device 103 provided with an array of feeder positions arranged adjacently in a plane just as in the example as shown in FIG. 3. The holding device 103 at each of said array of feeder positions is provided with a holder for one of said feeder units 102 and with a through opening for passing discharged solid substances there through. Underneath said holding device 103, a collection frame and a packing unit are arranged which correspond substantially to the examples as explained above and shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4. In the system the collection frame and the packing unit are mounted inside the system, behind a panel 104.
The system is furthermore provided with entry devices 170 which allow the introduction of new and/or filled feeder units 102 or the removal of empty feeder units 102.
In addition the system 100 may comprise a supply unit 123 with a sorted medicine supply for delivering an amount of sorted medicaments from supply trays as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and described in more detail above.
As described above, a part of the area of holding device 103 can be used for the storage of feeder units 102. The robotic arm 161, 162 with the gripper 163 is arranged for moving feeder units from the storage area on the holding device 103 to feeder positions with through openings, and vice versa. When even more storage of feeder units is required, such storage may be provided against the inner wall of the cage 18 and/or may be provided in a storage column 109 which is arranged adjacent to the holding device 103. Also the storage feeder units 110 in the storage column 109 are accessible by the robotic arm, by turning the column 109 so that the required storage feeder unit 110 faces towards the robotic arm 106.
The packing system 100 may be provided with one or more of such storage columns 109 along the periphery of the holding device 103. These one or more storage columns 109 are connected to and controlled by the control system of the packing system 100.
The packing system 100, and in particular the collection frame and/or the packing unit can be provided with a vacuum device in order to prevent the accumulation of dust inside the trays and/or packing unit.
In addition a control panel 111 is arranged in a wall part, above the holding device 103, or above the supply unit 123 as shown in FIG. 5, in order to input data and/or control commands into the system.
It is to be understood that the above description is included to illustrate the operation of the preferred embodiments and is not meant to limit the scope of the invention. From the above discussion, many variations will be apparent to one skilled in the art that would yet be encompassed by the spirit and scope of the present invention.
For example an alternative, small or simple model of the packing system of FIG. 5, the robotic arm and/or the storage against the inner wall of the cage 18 and/or a storage column is omitted.

Claims

1. A device which accommodates a series of feeder units for solid substances which series is arranged for selectively discharging an amount of said solid substances from one or more feeder units for packing, said device comprising:

a holding device provided with an array of feeder positions arranged adjacently in a plane, wherein the holding device at each of said array of feeder positions is provided with a holder for one of said feeder units and with a through opening for passing discharged solid substances there through,

a collection frame arranged below the holding device, wherein the collection frame and the holding device are movable with respect to each other, wherein said collection frame is provided with a series of collection trays, said trays have an elongated shape with a longitudinal direction which extends substantially parallel to said plane and over a length of at least two of said through openings, wherein said trays comprises a receiving opening at a side facing said holding device for capturing said discharged solid substances and each comprises an output opening, and

a packing unit arranged below the collection frame for collecting the captured solid substances from the output opening of a tray and packing said solid substances.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the collection frame is rotatable around a rotation axis, wherein the rotation axis extends substantially perpendicular to said plane.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the longitudinal direction of said trays is arranged substantially radially with respect to said rotation axis.

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein said trays extend from a position near the rotation axis to an edge of said holding device.

5. The device according to claim 2, wherein a width of said trays increases in a radial outward direction with respect to said rotation axis.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein said trays comprise a bottom surface which is arranged to slope down to said output opening.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein said output opening is provided with a closing member which is movable into a first position for closing the output opening and into a second position for allowing said solid substances to move out of the tray.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the holding device is arranged for substantially stationary holding the series of feeder units.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein said feeder units of said series each comprises a discharge opening, and wherein said discharge openings of said feeder units, when arranged at corresponding feeder positions, are substantially aligned with a corresponding one of said through openings.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the discharge openings of said feeder units is arranged at substantially the same distance above the receiving opening of the trays.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the receiving opening of a tray extends substantially parallel to said plane and over a length of at least two of said through openings.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the holding device comprises one or more special feeder positions, which are arranged directly above the packing unit for passing discharged solid substances form a feeder unit on the one or more special feeder positions via a corresponding through opening, a corresponding receiving opening and output opening of a tray, directly into the packing unit.

13. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a supply member for supplying one or more feeder units to the device, and a manipulator system to transport at least one of said feeder units from the supply member onto one of said feeder positions on the holding device.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the device comprises a discharge member for removing one or more feeder units from the device, and wherein the manipulator system is arranged for transporting at least one of said feeder units from one of said feeder positions on the holding device towards the discharge member.

15. The device according to claim 13, wherein the supply member and/or the discharge member comprises a conveyor, preferably a belt conveyor.

16. The device according to claim 13, wherein the manipulator comprises a robotic arm.

17. The device according to claim 16, wherein the robotic arm is arranged on said holding device.

18. The device according to claim 17, wherein the collection frame is rotatable around a rotation axis, wherein the rotation axis extends substantially perpendicular to said plane, wherein the robotic arm is arranged on said holding device at or near the rotation axis of the collection frame.

19. The device according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the collection trays is provided with a supplementary sheet which is arranged on at least a part of a bottom wall of said one or more of the collection trays.

20. The device according to claim 19, wherein said supplementary sheet is removable and/or disposable.

21. A method for selectively discharging an amount of solid substances from one or more feeder units from a series of feeder units for packing, said method comprising:

providing a holding device with the series of feeder units on an array of feeder positions arranged adjacently in a plane, wherein the holding device at each of said array of feeder positions is provided with a holder for one of said feeder units and with a through opening for passing discharged solid substances there through,

discharging a prescribed amount of solid substance from one or more prescribed feeder units towards a collection frame arranged below the holding device, wherein the collection frame and the holding device are movable with respect to each other, wherein said collection frame is provided with a series of collection trays, said trays have an elongated shape with a longitudinal direction which extends substantially parallel to said plane and over a length of at least two of said through openings, wherein said trays comprises a receiving opening at a side facing said holding device for capturing said discharged solid substances in one of said trays, and each one of said trays comprises an output opening, and

moving the captured solid substances from said one of said trays into a packing unit arranged below the collection frame, which packing unit collects the captured solid substances from the output opening of said one of said trays and packs said solid substances.

22. The method according to claim 21, said method further comprising providing a recipe to a controller of the device, which recipe comprises the amount and type of solid substance which need to be packed, wherein the controller controls the device to discharge the prescribed amount of solid substance from the one or more prescribed feeder units into a particular collection tray.

23. The method according to claim 22, said method further comprising providing a series of recipes to the controller, wherein the controller controls the device to discharge for each recipe of said series of recipes, the prescribed amount of solid substance from the one or more prescribed feeder units into an separate one of said collection trays.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the prescribed amount of solid substance in the separate ones of said collection trays are individually packed in said packing unit.