Method and device for flexibly treating pharmaceutical packages

Abstract

A package for holding pharmaceutical containers on a filling line includes: a transport and packaging container having a plurality of connected sidewalls, a base, an upper edge opposite the base, and a step defining a step height that is constant relative to the upper edge and less than an overall height defined between the upper edge and the base; and a holder placed in the transport and packaging container and having a plurality of holder openings formed therein. The holder is supported on the step and configured to hold a container in each of the holder openings so the held containers are suspended within the transport and packaging container. The step height is constant and independent of at least one of a shape, a type, or a size of each of the held containers.

1 . A method for treating or processing containers ( 1 ;  8 ;  80 ) which serve for storing substances for medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic uses or contain said substances, comprising the following steps:
 providing a plurality of transport and packaging containers ( 10 ) which accommodate a respective support ( 20 ) on which a plurality of containers is held, wherein the transport and packaging containers are of box-shaped design and are packaged in a packaging unit ( 18 ), and the containers are held on the respective supports in such a manner that the respective supports are completely accommodated in the transport and packaging containers ( 10 ) without upper ends of the containers protruding over an upper edge of the transport and packaging containers;   opening the packaging unit ( 18 );   conveying the transport and packaging containers ( 10 ) by means of a conveyor device ( 60 ) to a processing station ( 75 ); and   treating or processing the containers in the processing station ( 75 ), wherein the treatment or processing of the containers in the processing station ( 75 ) comprises at least filling the containers with a substance for medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic uses;   in which method containers of a different container type, selected from a group consisting of vials ( 1 ), cartridges ( 8 ) and syringes ( 80 ), or containers having different sizes and/or nominal volumes are treated or processed, wherein   an overall height (h) of the transport and packaging containers ( 10 ) and/or a height (h 1 ) of a step ( 13 ) close to an upper edge of the transport and packaging container is always constant, specifically   a) irrespective of the container type of the containers held on the respective supports ( 20 ), or   b) irrespective of the sizes and/or nominal volumes of the containers ( 1 ;  8 ;  80 ) held on the respective supports ( 20 ).   
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the containers are held on the respective supports by holding means, and the geometry or length of the holding means is adapted to the respective container type or to the respective sizes and/or nominal volumes of the containers in such a manner that upper ends of the containers, at least during the filling of the containers with the substance for medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic uses, are always arranged at the same height with respect to the conveyor device ( 60 ) or with respect to a floor of the processing station ( 75 ), specifically
 a) irrespective of the container type of the containers held on the respective supports ( 20 ), or   b) irrespective of the sizes and/or nominal volumes of the containers ( 1 ;  8 ;  80 ) held on the respective supports ( 20 ).   
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the geometry or length of the holding means is adapted to the respective container type or to the respective sizes and/or nominal volumes of the containers in such a manner that, during the conveying of the transport and packaging containers ( 10 ) by means of the conveyor device ( 60 ) in the processing station ( 75 ) and during a pretreatment for this purpose, in particular a decontamination, the upper ends of the containers are always arranged at the same height with respect to the conveyor device ( 60 ) or with respect to a floor of the processing station ( 75 ), specifically
 a) irrespective of the container type of the containers held on the respective supports ( 20 ), or   b) irrespective of the sizes and/or nominal volumes of the containers ( 1 ;  8 ;  80 ) held on the respective supports ( 20 ).   
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the packaging unit is an external packaging bag ( 18 ), wherein the external packaging bag ( 18 ) is cut open for opening purposes. 
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein, prior to the opening at a treatment station (AA), the external packaging bag ( 18 ) is tightened and/or is pressed down onto an upper edge of the respective transport and packaging container ( 10 ). 
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein
 the processing station ( 75 ) is arranged in a clean room ( 57 ),   after the opening of the packaging unit ( 18 ), an outer side of the transport and packaging containers ( 10 ) is treated in a decontamination region ( 54 ),   the transport and packaging containers ( 10 ) are subsequently transferred into the clean room ( 57 ), and   the containers are removed from the transport and packaging containers ( 10 ) in the clean room ( 57 ).   
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the containers after being removed from the transport and packaging containers ( 10 ) in the clean room continue to be held on the supports ( 20 ) and the containers are further treated or processed in the clean room ( 57 ) while being held on the supports ( 20 ). 
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the containers are filled with the substance for medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic uses in the clean room ( 57 ) while being held on the supports ( 20 ). 
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein, during the treatment or processing of the containers, the transport and packaging containers ( 10 ) or supports are guided laterally and/or vertically at least in phases by means of guide devices ( 61 ). 
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein bottoms, side walls or steps ( 13 ) of the transport and packaging containers ( 10 ) during the treatment or processing of the latter, while they are guided laterally or vertically in phases by means of guide devices ( 60 ), continue to rest on the conveyor device ( 60 ). 
     
     
         11 . The method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein an introduction opening of a respective transport and packaging container for the introduction of the containers into the transport and packaging container, said introduction opening being formed on the upper edge of the respective transport and packaging container, is covered by means of a protective film ( 36 ), in particular by means of a sterile protective film, wherein the protective film is preferably a gas-permeable plastics film, in particular formed from a mesh of plastics fibers, for example from polypropylene fibers (PP), or a Tyvek® protective film. 
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the upper edge is formed in an encircling manner and as a flange ( 15 ) on the upper edge of the respective transport and packaging container, wherein the flange ( 15 ) protrudes outward from an upper side wall ( 14 ) of the respective transport and packaging container, and the protective film ( 36 ) is adhesively bonded onto the flange ( 15 ). 
     
     
         13 . The method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the containers are produced from glass. 
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the containers are produced from a plastic. 
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the overall height (h) of the transport and packaging containers ( 10 ) lies within a range of between 51 mm and 97 mm, and in each case a plurality of vials ( 1 ) is held on the respective supports ( 20 ) in the transport and packaging containers ( 10 ). 
     
     
         16 . The method as claimed in one of  claims 1  to  14 , wherein the overall height (h) of the transport and packaging containers ( 10 ) lies within a range of between 88 mm and 97 mm, and in each case a plurality of cartridges ( 8 ) is held on the respective supports ( 20 ) in the transport and packaging containers ( 10 ). 
     
     
         17 . The use of a transport and packaging container ( 10 ), which is of box-shaped design and has a step ( 13 ) close to an upper edge ( 15 ) and which has a predetermined overall height (h) and/or a predetermined height (h 1 ) of the step ( 13 ), for treating or processing containers of different types which serve for storing a substance for medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic uses or contain said substance and which are selected from a group consisting of vials ( 1 ), cartridges ( 8 ) and syringes ( 80 ), in which use
 a plurality of containers is in each case held on a respective support ( 20 ), which is accommodated in packaged form in the transport and packaging container ( 10 ),   after opening of a packaging unit ( 18 ) in which the transport and packaging container ( 10 ) is packed, the transport and packaging container ( 10 ) is conveyed by means of a conveyor device ( 60 ) to a processing station ( 75 ) in which the containers are treated or processed, including filling the containers with the substance for medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic uses, in which use   the overall height (h) of the transport and packaging container ( 10 ) and/or the height (h 1 ) of the step ( 13 ) close to the upper edge of the transport and packaging containers is constant irrespective of the container type of the containers held on the respective supports ( 20 ).   
     
     
         18 . The use of a transport and packaging container ( 10 ), which is of box-shaped design and has a step ( 13 ) close to an upper edge ( 15 ) and which has a predetermined overall height (h) and/or a predetermined height (h 1 ) of the step ( 13 ), for treating or processing containers ( 1 ;  8 ;  80 ) which serve for storing a substance for medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic uses or contain said substances and which have different sizes and/or nominal volumes, in which use
 a plurality of containers is in each case held on a respective support ( 20 ) which is accommodated in packaged form in the transport and packaging container ( 10 ),   after opening a packaging unit ( 18 ) in which the transport and packaging container ( 10 ) is packaged, the transport and packaging container ( 10 ) is conveyed by means of a conveyor device ( 60 ) to a processing station ( 75 ) in which the containers ( 1 ;  8 ;  80 ) are treated or processed, including filling the containers ( 1 ;  8 ;  80 ) with the substance for medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic uses, in which use   the overall height (h) of the transport and packaging container ( 10 ) and/or the height (h 1 ) of the step ( 13 ) close to the upper edge of the transport and packaging containers is constant irrespective of the sizes and/or nominal volumes of the containers ( 1 ;  8 ;  80 ) held on the respective supports ( 20 ).   
     
     
         19 . A transport and packaging container ( 10 ) for a plurality of containers ( 1 ;  8 ;  80 ) which serve for storing substances for medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic uses or contain said substances, wherein
 the transport and packaging container is of box-shaped design,   an introduction opening of the transport and packaging container for the introduction of the containers into the transport and packaging container, said introduction opening being formed on the upper edge of the respective transport and packaging container, is covered by means of a protective film ( 36 ), and   the transport and packaging container accommodates a support ( 20 ) on which the plurality of containers ( 1 ;  8 ;  80 ) is held such that the plurality of containers is accommodated in packaged form in the transport and packaging container,   wherein the overall height (h) of the transport and packaging container ( 10 ) lies within a range of between 88 mm and 97 mm, and a plurality of cartridges ( 8 ) is held on the support ( 20 ) in the transport and packaging container ( 10 ).   
     
     
         20 . A transport and packaging container ( 10 ) for a plurality of containers ( 1 ;  8 ;  80 ) which serve for storing substances for medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic uses or contain said substances, wherein
 the transport and packaging container is of box-shaped design,   an introduction opening of the transport and packaging container for the introduction of the containers into the transport and packaging container, said introduction opening being formed on the upper edge of the respective transport and packaging container, is covered by means of a protective film ( 36 ), and   the transport and packaging container accommodates a support ( 20 ) on which the plurality of containers ( 1 ;  8 ;  80 ) is held such that the plurality of containers is accommodated in packaged form in the transport and packaging container,   wherein the overall height (h) of the transport and packaging container ( 10 ) lies within a range of between 51 mm and 97 mm, and a plurality of vials ( 1 ) is held on the support ( 20 ) in the transport and packaging container ( 10 ).   
     
     
         21 . The transport and packaging container as claimed in  claim 19  or  20  which furthermore is packaged in an external packaging bag ( 18 ), in particular in a sterile external packaging bag. 
     
     
         22 . A device for treating or processing containers ( 1 ;  8 ;  80 ) which serve for storing substances for medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic uses or contain said substances, comprising:
 a processing station in which the containers are treated or processed, including a processing station ( 75 ) for filling the containers with a substance for medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic uses,   a conveyor device for conveying the transport and packaging containers ( 10 ), and   a supply section ( 52 ), which is arranged upstream of the processing station and is configured for providing a plurality of transport and packaging containers ( 10 ) which accommodate a respective support ( 20 ) on which a plurality of containers is held, wherein the transport and packaging containers are of box-shaped design and are packaged in a packaging unit ( 18 ), and wherein the containers are held on the respective supports in such a manner that the respective supports are completely accommodated in the transport and packaging containers ( 10 ) without upper ends of the containers protruding over an upper edge of the transport and packaging containers; wherein   the supply section ( 52 ) has an opening section (BB) for opening the packaging unit ( 18 ), and   the conveyor device ( 60 ) conveys the transport and packaging containers ( 10 ) to the processing station;   characterized in that the device ( 50 ) is configured in such a manner that containers of different container type selected from a group consisting of vials ( 1 ), cartridges ( 8 ) and syringes ( 80 ) can be processed or can be treated as containers which are held on the respective supports ( 20 ) without a height adjustment of components of the device ( 50 ) being required, and therefore, irrespective of the container type of the containers held on the respective supports ( 20 ), an overall height (h) of the transport and packaging containers ( 10 ) and/or a height (h 1 ) of a step ( 13 ) close to an upper edge of the transport and packaging containers is constant.   
     
     
         23 . The device as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the supply section ( 52 ) is configured such that the transport and packaging containers ( 10 ) can be supplied with a constant overall height (h) of the and/or a constant height (h 1 ) of the step ( 13 ) close to the upper edge of the transport and packaging containers, irrespective of whether vials ( 1 ), cartridges ( 8 ) or syringes ( 80 ) are held on the respective support ( 20 ) which is accommodated in the respective transport and packaging container. 
     
     
         24 . A device for treating or processing containers ( 1 ;  8 ;  80 ) which serve for storing substances for medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic uses or contain said substances, comprising:
 a processing station in which the containers are treated or processed, including a processing station ( 75 ) for filling the containers with a substance for medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic uses,   a conveyor device for conveying the transport and packaging containers ( 10 ), and   a supply section ( 52 ), which is arranged upstream of the processing station and is configured for providing a plurality of transport and packaging containers ( 10 ) which accommodate a respective support ( 20 ) on which a plurality of containers is held, wherein the transport and packaging containers are of box-shaped design and are packaged in a packaging unit ( 18 ), and wherein the containers are held on the respective supports in such a manner that the respective supports are completely accommodated in the transport and packaging containers ( 10 ) without upper ends of the containers protruding over an upper edge of the transport and packaging containers; wherein   the supply section ( 52 ) has an opening section (BB) for opening the packaging unit ( 18 ), and   the conveyor device ( 60 ) conveys the transport and packaging containers ( 10 ) to the processing station;   characterized in that the device ( 50 ) is configured in such a manner that containers ( 1 ;  8 ;  80 ) with different sizes and/or nominal volumes which are held as containers on the respective supports ( 20 ) can be processed or can be treated without a height adjustment on components of the device ( 50 ) being required, and therefore, irrespective of the sizes and/or nominal volumes of the containers ( 1 ;  8 ;  80 ) held on the respective supports ( 20 ), an overall height (h) of the transport and packaging containers ( 10 ) and/or a height (h 1 ) of a step ( 13 ) close to an upper edge of the transport and packaging containers is constant.