Device for transporting, storing and protecting syringes

Abstract

The present invention relates to packaging for storing and/or transporting and/or holding, in a suspended vertical position, articles equipped with flanges, said packaging comprising a plate, said plate comprising a plurality of rails positioned next to one another. Supporting lips are arranged along rails, a lip and a rail thus forming with a lip of an adjacent rail and this rail a groove. A pair of adjacent lips are capable of supporting and sorting said articles. The plate also comprises an upper wall parallel to the plurality of openings for preventing said articles from coming out of said plate when the latter pivots about a horizontal axis. The rails and the lips are free of bumps, thus enabling the articles to slide along the rails. The packaging of the invention may also comprise a box for holding the plate and a collar for surrounding the plate.

1 . A packaging for storing and/or transporting and/or treating and/or supporting, in a suspended vertical position, articles having flanges, said packaging comprising a plate, a plurality of rails being arranged in parallel with one another on one face of said plate, support lips being arranged along said rails, one lip and one rail thereby forming a groove with a lip of an adjacent rail and this rail, and a pair of adjacent lips being able to support and store said articles by their flanges, wherein said plate comprises an upper wall parallel to said plurality of grooves, and said rails and said lips are substantially free of irregularities, thereby enabling the articles to slide along the rails. 
     
     
         2 . The packaging as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of rails is fastened rigidly to said upper wall such that said plurality of grooves does not deform, thereby preventing said articles from falling. 
     
     
         3 . The packaging was claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said plate comprises secondary rails in order to prevent said articles from moving laterally with respect to said grooves. 
     
     
         4 . The packaging as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said upper wall of the plate has a plurality of passages made opposite said grooves in order to enable access to an upper face of said articles. 
     
     
         5 . The packaging as claimed in  claim 4 , further comprising a holding tongue, said holding tongue being able to take a plurality of articles by snap-fastening and to position said articles opposite said passages. 
     
     
         6 . The packaging as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a box having an upper opening, a base, side walls and a step formed between said upper opening and said side walls in order to support said plate, thereby separating the lower ends of said articles from said base, wherein said box comprises concave peripheral walls extending toward the outside of the side walls and having a portion extending vertically such that when said box is arranged side by side with another box of the same type and their respective concave peripheral walls extending toward the outside are pressed together, said concave peripheral walls extending toward the outside prevent said boxes from overlapping. 
     
     
         7 . The packaging as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said plate comprises, in the upper part of said upper wall, secondary ribs for keeping stable the base of the box of a packaging which is placed on the upper wall of the plate of a second packaging of the same type, when these packagings are arranged one above the other. 
     
     
         8 . The packaging as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said box comprises at least one recess in its side walls for easily taking hold of and withdrawing said plate from said box. 
     
     
         9 . The packaging as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said box has a parallelepipedal form. 
     
     
         10 . The packaging as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said box has perforations in said peripheral walls in order to aid the sterilization of said packaging. 
     
     
         11 . The packaging as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a collar for enclosing said plate and said articles that it contains. 
     
     
         12 . The packaging as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said collar has supports in order for several plates containing articles to be stacked in an inverted position. 
     
     
         13 . A method for storing and/or transporting and/or supporting, in a suspended vertical position, articles having flanges, the method comprising the steps of:
 supplying a plate, a plurality of rails being arranged in parallel with one another on one face of said plate, support lips being arranged along said rails, one lip and one rail thereby forming a groove with a lip of an adjacent rail and this rail, a pair of adjacent lips being able to support and store said articles by their flanges, said plate being suitable for inserting or withdrawing said articles through each end of said grooves and having an upper wall; and   handling said plate with automated means.   
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said plate has passages and said handling step also comprises the steps of:
 filling and/or stoppering said articles through said passages.   
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said handling step also comprises the steps of:
 taking hold of said plate;   turning said plate upside down; and   keeping said articles in a fixed position during a sterilization process.