Tray for Handling Syringe Barrels

Abstract

A handling system for use in the manufacture of syringe barrels includes a tray having an array of apertures with a tubular upstand around each aperture, each upstand at the upper end thereof defining a support surface for a syringe barrel. Each syringe barrel comprises a cylindrical part and an enlargement at or adjacent the rear end of the barrel and carries at its forward end a safe needle device or a needle shield of a greater diameter than the syringe barrel. At least one of the enlargement of the syringe barrel or the support surface has a profile tapering or rounded inwardly in the downward direction so that when the tray is supported generally horizontally and a syringe barrel is lowered into an upstand, the syringe barrel is centred by co-operation between the enlargement and the support surface. The enlargement may be a flange at the rear end of the syringe barrel or could be a further component fitted to the barrel.

1 . The combination of a plurality of tubular syringe barrels each having an enlargement at or adjacent one end and a needle shield mounted at the other end thereof wherein the needle shield is of a greater diameter than the syringe barrel, and a handling system for the plurality syringe barrels, the handling system comprising a tray having an array of apertures therethrough each of a sufficient size for a syringe barrel and associated needle shield to pass therethrough and having a support surface configured for engagement by the enlargement of a syringe barrel received in the aperture when the tray is supported generally horizontally and the syringe barrel is lowered into an aperture, at least one of the part of the enlargement adjacent the syringe barrel and said support surface of an aperture having a profile configured to cause substantial concentric alignment of the enlargement within the aperture. 
     
     
         2 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the enlargement of the syringe barrel is one of an integral formation with the syringe barrel or a separate formation mounted on the syringe barrel. 
     
     
         3 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the enlargement comprises an outwardly projecting flange formed at said one end of the barrel. 
     
     
         4 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein said profile of at least one of the part of the enlargement adjacent the syringe barrel and said support surface of an aperture has reducing cross-section in the downward direction whereby interengagement of the part of the enlargement with the support surface centres the syringe barrel to be co-axial with the aperture. 
     
     
         5 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein each aperture in the tray is provided with a respective tube surrounding the aperture and projecting from the tray. 
     
     
         6 . The combination of  claim 5 , wherein each said tube is in the form of a hollow upstand and said support surface is formed at the end region of the upstand remote from the tray. 
     
     
         7 . The combination of  claim 5 , wherein each tube is of substantially circular internal cross-section and of a greater internal diameter than an associated needle shield but of a smaller diameter than the syringe barrel enlargement. 
     
     
         8 . The combination of  claim 7 , wherein each tube has a reducing internal cross-sectional area in the direction away from the tray towards the support surface. 
     
     
         9 . The combination of  claim 7 , wherein the support surface is formed at the upper end region of the tube and has a generally conical profile of reducing cross-section in the downward direction. 
     
     
         10 . The combination of  claim 9 , wherein a plurality of ribs extend along the external surface of the tube to the support surface thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The combination of  claim 10 , wherein the ribs project beyond the end of the tube remote from the tray and the support surface is in part defined by the projecting parts of the ribs. 
     
     
         12 . The combination of  claim 5 , wherein said support surface is defined by an in-turned flange formed at the upper end region of the tube. 
     
     
         13 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the enlargement of the syringe barrel is formed to have a generally conical profile of reducing cross-section in the direction towards the needle shield. 
     
     
         14 . The combination of  claim 13 , wherein the enlargement of the syringe barrel has a first part nearer the end of the barrel of a substantially constant diameter and a second part further from the end of the barrel of a generally conical profile of reducing cross-section in the direction towards the needle shield. 
     
     
         15 . The combination of  claim 14 , wherein said first part has a diameter which is a close fit in the support surface. 
     
     
         16 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein a collar is positioned on the barrel, the collar being formed to have a generally conical profile of reducing cross-section in the direction towards the needle shield. 
     
     
         17 . The combination of  claim 16 , wherein said collar has a first part nearer the end of the barrel of a substantially constant diameter and a second part further from the end of the barrel of a generally conical profile of reducing cross-section in the direction towards the needle shield. 
     
     
         18 . The combination of  claim 17 , wherein said first part has a diameter which is a close lit in the support surface. 
     
     
         19 . The combination of  claim 16 , wherein the collar is located on the syringe barrel and the enlargement thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein a collar is positioned on the syringe barrel adjacent the enlargement thereof the collar being formed to have a rounded external profile of reducing diameter in the direction towards the other end of the syringe barrel, for at least a part of the axial length of the collar. 
     
     
         21 . The combination of  claim 1  and in which each aperture has a respective tube upstanding from the tray, wherein the region of the tube remote from the tray is profiled to have a reducing cross-section in the downward direction and the part of the enlargement adjacent the syringe barrel or a collar fitted thereto also is profiled to have a reducing cross-section, in the downward direction, whereby the two profiles co-operate to centre the syringe barrel in the aperture. 
     
     
         22 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the underside of the aperture and the underside of the support surface is profiled to facilitate removal of the syringe barrel and needle shield from the tray. 
     
     
         23 . The combination of  claim 1  in conjunction with a container for the tray and syringe barrels carrying respective needle shields, the container having a base with an upstanding side wail configured to support the tray above the base with clearance between the base and the lower ends of the needle shields. 
     
     
         24 . The combination of  claim 23 , wherein a cover member is provided for the container carrying a tray and syringe barrels, the cover member being sealingly secured to the free edge of the side wall remote from the base. 
     
     
         25 . A syringe barrel for use In a combination as claimed in  claim 13 . 
     
     
         26 . A tray for use in a combination as claimed in  claim 1 .