Patent Description:
In industrial contexts, products are generally transported and sold in packaging units. Packaging units can include vials, cartridges, ampoules, bottles, or pre-fillable syringes. In many industries, these different types of packaging units are collectively known as "primary packaging," i.e., the packaging that comes into direct contact with an end product. The end product may be a food product, a cosmetic product, or a pharmaceutical product. Primary packaging can undergo numerous manufacturing processes before being filled with the end product. During these processes, primary packaging is often transported and processed in batches.

<CIT> describes a carrier in which retaining protrusions provided at lower ends of apertures or receptacles of a supporting structure protrude inward in a radial direction into the apertures or receptacles for supporting vials in cooperation with transition regions or edge portions of the vials in such a manner that bottoms of the vials, or more generally the lower ends of the vials, jut out of the apertures or receptacles and are thus are freely accessible from the lower side of the carrier.

<CIT> describes a supporting structure that has an upper side or base plane, which generally is formed as a plate and whose circumferential edge is formed flat. In the upper side, a plurality of openings is formed, which are arranged in rows and columns extending perpendicular to each other. The openings of adjacent rows or columns are arranged staggered relative to each other, which enables a higher packing density with the hexagonal arrangement of the peripheral webs. A plurality of axial connecting webs protrude perpendicularly from the underside of the supporting structure, which are connected to each other at their lower ends via circumferential bottom webs.

<CIT> describes a tray with receptacles that are configured to support vials in different manners during different stages of processing. Each receptacle has a bottom opening defined at a bottom edge of lower portion of a cylindrical wall, and an inwardly extending lip surrounding each opening. The opening has an inner diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the vial side wall, but slightly larger than the bottom wall, such that the inner edges of lip contact a portion of curved lower edge joining side wall and bottom wall. This configuration permits the vial to be supported by the tray while suspended, with a lower portion of the vial protruding downward from the bottom edge of the tray.

<CIT>, which accords with the preamble of claim <NUM>, describes a packaging structure for containers for pharmaceutical use, comprising a tray having an open side for introducing and extracting a support plane of the containers, and a closing element of the open side of the tray, said support plane having a spatial prefixed distribution of seats in which said containers can be precisely positioned without mutual contact, whereby the structure comprises diversification means of the engaging configuration between said support plane and said tray in order to maintain unchanged the points inside the tray in which an end of the containers is placed, with the variation of the height of the containers associated from time to time to the support plane.

Aspects of the present disclosure aim to alleviate problems associated with known transport trays.

A transport tray according to the present invention is set out in claim <NUM>. Further advantageous developments of the present invention are set out in the dependent claims. According to the present invention, a transport tray includes a plurality of sleeves that are each configured to receive a substantially cylindrical container having a cylindrical container wall and a container bottom surface arranged orthogonally to the container wall. Each sleeve includes a top opening, a bottom opening, a sleeve wall that extends along a sleeve axis between the top opening and the bottom opening and is configured to abut at least a portion of the container wall of a respective container, and one or more support feet that are adjacent to the bottom opening and extend from the sleeve wall towards the sleeve axis, wherein each support foot comprises a bottom surface and a top surface configured to abut the container bottom surface of a respective container, such that a gap is formed between the support foot bottom surface and the container bottom surface along the sleeve axis. The one or more support feet comprise a thermally conductive polymer;wherein the transport tray further comprises a plate portion connected to the top opening of each sleeve and comprising a plurality of comer regions, and a raised bumper arranged at least at each corner region of the plate portion, wherein the raised bumper has a height that is greater than a thickness of the plate portion; and wherein a perimeter of the plate portion comprises the raised bumpers and an edge portion having the same thickness as the plate portion arranged between each pair of adjacent raised bumpers.

In some instances, each sleeve can include a ring that connects the one or more support feet to the bottom opening and that comprises a thermally conductive polymer. Further, each sleeve can be a monolithic structure that comprises a thermally conductive polymer.

In addition to the respective sleeves, the entire transport tray may be a monolithic structure that comprises a thermally conductive polymer. For example, the transport tray may be manufactured by injection molding a thermally conductive polymer.

The thermally conductive polymer may comprise an aluminum filler, a zinc filler, or a combination thereof.

Each sleeve wall may include a closed cylinder that encircles the sleeve axis.

The top opening of each sleeve may be larger than the bottom opening, such that the sleeve wall forms an angle greater than <NUM>° relative to the sleeve axis.

According to the present invention, the transport tray includes a plate portion connected to the top opening of each sleeve. Preferably, a connecting portion may connect the sleeve walls of at least two adjacent sleeves to the plate portion. According to the present invention, the plate portion comprises a plurality of corner regions and a raised bumper arranged at each corner region. Such a raised bumper has a height that is greater than a thickness of the plate portion. Preferably, each raised bumper may include at least one projection that extends outward from a perimeter of the plate portion. According to the present invention, the perimeter of the plate portion includes the raised bumpers and an edge portion having the same thickness as the plate portion arranged between each pair of adjacent raised bumpers.

These and other embodiments described herein may provide one or more of the following benefits. The transport tray may be suitable for transferring heat to and from the packaging units. For example, the transport tray may be used in a lyophilization process. At the same time, the transport tray may securely support the packaging units in other processes, such as direct filling processes. Overall, the transport tray may reduce the need to handle individual packaging units during the manufacturing process. Further, the design of the transport tray may be compatible with existing equipment. The transport tray may also prove to be robust.

Certain embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:.

<FIG> shows a transport tray <NUM> according to the present disclosure from above. The transport tray <NUM> includes a plate portion <NUM> and a plurality of sleeves <NUM>. The sleeves <NUM> are each configured to receive a substantially cylindrical container <NUM> having a cylindrical container wall <NUM> and a container bottom surface <NUM> arranged orthogonally to the container wall <NUM> (<FIG>). The containers <NUM> can serve as primary packaging for various types of end products. Although the expression "primary packaging" can encompass vials, cartridges, ampoules, bottles, and syringes to name a few examples, the figures of the present disclosure illustrate vials. The transport tray <NUM> can be used to group and transport the vials <NUM> throughout different manufacturing processes, for example.

As shown in <FIG>, each sleeve <NUM> includes a top opening <NUM>, a bottom opening <NUM>, a sleeve wall <NUM> that extends along a sleeve axis between the top opening <NUM> and the bottom opening <NUM>. Referring to the coordinate axes shown in <FIG>, the sleeve axis of each sleeve <NUM> extends along the Z-axis.

<FIG> and <FIG> show the transport tray <NUM> of <FIG> and <FIG> with a plurality of containers <NUM> arranged in the sleeves <NUM>. The containers <NUM> are arranged in the sleeves <NUM> such that the sleeve wall <NUM> faces the container wall <NUM> (<FIG>). The container <NUM> includes an opening <NUM> that is arranged facing the top opening <NUM> of the sleeve <NUM>, while the bottom surface <NUM> of the container is adj acent to the bottom opening <NUM> of the sleeve <NUM>. Each sleeve <NUM> includes one or more support feet <NUM> that are adjacent to the bottom opening <NUM> and extend from the sleeve wall <NUM> towards the sleeve axis. Each support foot <NUM> comprises a bottom surface 28a and a top surface 28b configured to abut the container bottom surface <NUM> of the container <NUM> received in the sleeve. The support foot <NUM> is designed so that a gap G is formed between the support foot bottom surface 28a and the container bottom surface <NUM> along the sleeve axis (<FIG>).

Accordingly, the transport tray <NUM> rests on the collective support foot bottom surfaces 28a of each of the support feet <NUM>, while each container bottom surface <NUM> rests entirely on the support foot top surfaces 28b of the support feet <NUM> in a respective sleeve <NUM>. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the container bottom surface <NUM> does not extend past the support feet <NUM>. In other words, the container bottom surface <NUM> is separated from the surface on which the transport tray <NUM> rests. In practice, this may mean that the support foot top surface 28b makes contact with the lowest point of the container bottom surface <NUM>.

According to the present disclosure, the one or more support feet <NUM> include a thermally conductive polymer. For example, the one or more support feet <NUM> are formed as a single part, e.g., of injection molded plastic with thermally conductive fillers. Such support feet <NUM> may be attached to the sleeves <NUM> using insert molding techniques. For example, the filler may include an aluminum filler, a zinc filler, or a combination thereof. In some instances, the one or more support feet <NUM> can be attached to the bottom opening <NUM> by a ring <NUM> (<FIG>). The ring <NUM> may also include a thermally conductive polymer. The ring <NUM> and the one or more support feet <NUM> may be integrally formed, i.e., form a monolithic structure. In some instances, the entire sleeve <NUM>, or even the entire support tray <NUM>, may be a monolithic structure. For example, the transport tray <NUM> may be manufactured by injection molding a thermally conductive polymer. As described above, the container bottom surface <NUM> rests on the support foot top surfaces 28b of each sleeve <NUM>.

Since at least the one or more support feet <NUM> include thermally conductive polymer, the support feet <NUM> are able to transfer heat to and from the container bottom surface <NUM>. Accordingly, the transport tray <NUM> may be used during a lyophilization process with the containers <NUM> remaining in the sleeves <NUM>. Since the container bottom surface <NUM> does not protrude through the bottom opening <NUM> of the sleeve <NUM>, the same transport tray <NUM> can be used for other processes, e.g., a direct fill process. Thus, the transport tray <NUM> according to the present disclosure may contribute to the efficiency of the manufacturing process for primary packaging.

The transport tray <NUM> may include any number of the following features that may improve the robustness and heat transfer of the transport tray <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, for example, each sleeve wall <NUM> may include a closed cylinder that completely encircles the sleeve axis and, thus, a portion of the container wall <NUM>. In cases in which the entire sleeve <NUM> includes a thermally conductive polymer, this closed cylinder design can increase the amount of thermally conductive polymer that surrounds the container wall <NUM> and improve heat transfer, e.g., during the lyophilization process. At the same time, the closed cylinder may improve the robustness of the sleeve <NUM> and transport tray <NUM>, respectively.

The top opening <NUM> of each sleeve <NUM> may be larger than the bottom opening <NUM>, such that the sleeve wall forms an angle greater than <NUM>° relative to the sleeve axis. Such a taper may make it easier to retrieve the container <NUM> from the sleeve <NUM> despite the closed cylinder design described above.

As shown in <FIG>, the transport tray <NUM> may include a connecting portion <NUM> that connects the sleeve walls <NUM> of at least two adjacent sleeves to the plate portion <NUM>. The connecting portion <NUM> can also increase the volume of thermally conductive polymer and, thus, the heat transfer through the transport tray <NUM> and its overall robustness.

<FIG> show optional features of the transport tray <NUM> that may enable several transport trays <NUM> to be neatly stacked next to one another. As shown in <FIG>, a first and second transport tray <NUM> are each loaded with a plurality of containers <NUM> and placed next to one another on a table <NUM>. For example, the table <NUM> may be used for a lyophilization process to rapidly cool the containers <NUM> and their contents.

As shown in the enlarged portion of <FIG>, the plate portions <NUM> of each transport tray <NUM> are arranged closely next to each other without touching. Such an arrangement may allow the greatest possible number of containers <NUM> to be placed on the table at once. <FIG> shows a scenario in which adjacent transport trays <NUM> have been placed so closely together that the plate portions <NUM> overlap. This overlap in the plate portions creates a gap <NUM> between the table <NUM> and the transport tray <NUM> on the right. This gap <NUM> may reduce the efficiency of the heat transfer between the table <NUM>, the transport tray <NUM>, and the containers <NUM>.

In order to prevent the overlap shown in <FIG>, each corner region <NUM> of the plate portion <NUM> may be provided with one or more features that reduce the likelihood that adjacent transport trays <NUM> overlap one another. As shown in <FIG>, each corner region <NUM> of the plate portion <NUM> includes a raised bumper <NUM>. In the context of this disclosure, "raised" can mean that a height of the bumper <NUM> along the Z-axis is greater than a thickness of the plate portion <NUM> along the Z-axis. When two transport trays <NUM> are brought close together, the matching bumpers <NUM> may come into contact and prevent the plate portions <NUM> from overlapping.

In some instances, the raised bumper <NUM> can include a first and a second projection <NUM> that increase the stability of the raised bumper <NUM>. In <FIG>, the first projection <NUM> extends outward from the plate portion <NUM> along the X-axis, and the second projection <NUM> extends outward from the plate portion <NUM> along the Y-axis.

The raised bumper <NUM> can include a strip of material that continuously wraps around the corner region <NUM> of the plate portion. Each end of the raised bumper <NUM> can abut an edge portion <NUM> of the plate portion <NUM> that does not have an increased thickness (see also <FIG>). The combination of alternating raised bumpers <NUM> and edge portions <NUM> improves air flow during injection molding of the transport tray <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A transport tray (<NUM>) comprises
a plurality of sleeves (<NUM>), wherein each sleeve (<NUM>) is configured to receive a substantially cylindrical container (<NUM>) having a cylindrical container wall (<NUM>) and a container bottom surface (<NUM>) arranged orthogonally to the container wall (<NUM>);
wherein each sleeve (<NUM>) comprises
a top opening (<NUM>),
a bottom opening (<NUM>),
a sleeve wall (<NUM>) that extends along a sleeve axis between the top opening (<NUM>) and the bottom opening (<NUM>) and is configured to abut at least a portion of the container wall (<NUM>) of a respective container (<NUM>), and
one or more support feet (<NUM>) that are adjacent to the bottom opening (<NUM>) and extend from the sleeve wall (<NUM>) towards the sleeve axis, wherein each support foot (<NUM>) comprises a bottom surface (28a) and a top surface (28b) configured to abut the container bottom surface (<NUM>) of a respective container (<NUM>), such that a gap (G) is formed between the support foot bottom surface (28a) and the container bottom surface (<NUM>) along the sleeve axis, characterized in that the one or more support feet (<NUM>) comprise a thermally conductive polymer;
wherein the transport tray (<NUM>) further comprises
a plate portion (<NUM>) connected to the top opening (<NUM>) of each sleeve (<NUM>) and comprising a plurality of corner regions, and
a raised bumper (<NUM>) arranged at least at each corner region of the plate portion (<NUM>), wherein the raised bumper (<NUM>) has a height that is greater than a thickness of the plate portion (<NUM>); and
wherein a perimeter of the plate portion (<NUM>) comprises the raised bumpers (<NUM>) and an edge portion (<NUM>) having the same thickness as the plate portion (<NUM>) arranged between each pair of adjacent raised bumpers (<NUM>).