Holding structure for simultaneously holding a plurality of containers for medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic applications and transport or packaging container with holding structure

Abstract

A supporting structure for concurrently supporting a plurality of containers for substances for medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic applications is disclosed, wherein the containers are open at least at one end and wherein the supporting structure comprises a plurality of openings or receptacles and a plurality of supporting means for supporting said containers in said openings or receptacles. According to the invention the supporting structure is formed by or comprises a plurality of subunits, wherein each of the subunits can be handled or processed separately together with the containers supported thereon. The subunits make the transfer to processing stations of the process easier, but also serve for reliably positioning the containers during the process at positions, which are precisely determined by the positions of the supporting means.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A supporting structure for concurrently supporting a plurality of containers for substances for medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic applications,
 said supporting structure being configured as a transverse web, wherein   a plurality of pairs of resilient holding arms are disposed on the front side of the transverse web, and   each of the resilient holding arms comprises a central bulge in order to respectively snuggle to the neck of a container to be supported, wherein   the transverse web can be inserted from above into a transport container so as to be temporarily retained in the transport container in a vertical position.   
     
     
         2 . The supporting structure of  claim 1 , wherein each of the resilient holding arms is matched to the container to be supported such that it is supported by friction or in a positive-fit manner on the transverse web. 
     
     
         3 . The supporting structure of  claim 2 , wherein the resilient holding arms are configured such that the containers can be rotated and/or displaced axially while being held by the holding arms. 
     
     
         4 . The supporting structure of  claim 1 , wherein the transverse web and the positions of the resilient holding arms are matched to the length of the containers to be supported such that bottoms of the containers to be supported are freely accessible for a processing, while they are supported on the transverse web. 
     
     
         5 . The supporting structure of  claim 1 , wherein the resilient holding arms are configured such that
 the containers are supported in the region of the neck and below an expanded upper rim that follows the neck, and   the containers are held by the resilient holding arms so as to be secured in axial direction.   
     
     
         6 . The supporting structure of  claim 1 , wherein the resilient holding arms are configured such that the containers respectively rest loosely with their bottoms on an expanded upper rim portion on the front free ends of the holding arms. 
     
     
         7 . The supporting structure of  claim 1 , wherein distances between adjacent pairs of resilient holding arms are dimensioned such that a direct collision of adjacent containers is prevented. 
     
     
         8 . The supporting structure of  claim 1 , wherein the resilient holding arms are disposed on the front side of the transverse web spaced apart from each other and at regular intervals. 
     
     
         9 . The supporting structure of  claim 1 , wherein the resilient holding arms are formed of a plastics material and integrally with the transverse web. 
     
     
         10 . The supporting structure of  claim 1 , wherein the resilient holding arms are disposed aligned with one another at a given level of the transverse web. 
     
     
         11 . A transport or packaging container for a plurality of containers for substances for medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic applications in said transport or packaging container, comprising
 at least one supporting structure for concurrently supporting a plurality of containers for substances for medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic applications,   said supporting structure being configured as a transverse web, wherein   a plurality of pairs of resilient holding arms are disposed on the front side of the transverse web, and   each of the resilient holding arms comprises a central bulge in order to respectively snuggle to the neck of a container to be supported, wherein   said at least one supporting structure is inserted from above into said transport or packaging container or into a frame-like or box-shaped insert so as to be temporarily retained in the transport container in a vertical position.   
     
     
         12 . The transport or packaging container of  claim 11 , wherein the transport or packaging container has a closed bottom and a side wall projecting perpendicularly, wherein
 pairs of protrusions or ridges are formed on the inner surface of the side wall spaced part from each other and at regular intervals and extending in parallel with each other for respectively forming a guide and clamping channel extending vertically, and   side edges of the respective transverse web are inserted into two guide and clamping channels, which are disposed on opposite portions of the side wall of the transport or packaging container, for retaining the respective transverse web.   
     
     
         13 . The transport or packaging container of  claim 11 , wherein the respective transverse web is held on the inner surface of the side wall of the transporting or packing container in a positive-fit manner. 
     
     
         14 . The transport or packaging container of  claim 11 , wherein the transport or packaging container is sealed by a sterile, gas-permeable protective foil. 
     
     
         15 . A process for the treatment or processing of containers, which are used for the storage of substances for medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic applications or contain such substances, using a transport or packaging container comprising at least one supporting structure for concurrently supporting a plurality of containers in said transport or packaging container, wherein
 said supporting structure is configured as a transverse web,   a plurality of pairs of resilient holding arms are disposed on the front side of the transverse web, and   each of the resilient holding arms comprises a central bulge in order to respectively snuggle to the neck of a container to be supported, in which process:   a transverse web is removed from said transport or packaging container while said plurality of containers are supported on said transverse web;   said containers are processed or handled while being supported by the respective transverse web; and   said transverse web together with the containers, which have been processed or handled and which are retained by said transverse web, are inserted again into the transport or packaging container.   
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 15 , wherein
 the containers are displaced in a longitudinal direction into a raised position to be treated or processed in the respective receptacle of the transverse web at or in a processing station,   a further treatment or processing of the containers is performed in said raised position, and   the transport or packing container is sealed or closed from the surroundings by means of a foil or a cover, after said treatment or processing of the containers.   
     
     
         17 . A supporting structure for concurrently supporting a plurality of containers for substances for medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic applications, said containers being open at least at one end, wherein the supporting structure comprises
 a plurality of openings or receptacles and   a plurality of supporting means, wherein   the openings or receptacles are configured such that containers can be inserted into them, and   the supporting means are configured for supporting the containers in the openings or receptacles of the supporting structure, wherein   the supporting structure is formed by or comprises a plurality of subunits, and   each of the subunits can be handled or processed individually together with the containers supported thereon.   
     
     
         18 . The supporting structure of  claim 17 , wherein the subunits are detachably connected with each other to form the supporting structure. 
     
     
         19 . The supporting structure of  claim 17 , wherein the subunits are connected with each other via a supporting frame. 
     
     
         20 . The supporting structure of  claim 19 , wherein the supporting frame is configured as a transport and packaging container, wherein
 the transport and packaging container is open on one or two sides, and   each of the subunits can be inserted separately into the transport and packaging container.   
     
     
         21 . The supporting structure of  claim 19 , wherein the respective subunits comprise a supporting web, wherein
 the supporting web is configured to retain the respective subunits in the supporting frame or to connect the subunits with each other.   
     
     
         22 . The supporting structure of  claim 21 , wherein a plurality of resilient holding arms respectively project from the supporting web and wherein the openings or receptacles of the supporting structure are formed by the resilient holding arms. 
     
     
         23 . The supporting structure of  claim 22 , wherein the supporting webs and the positions of the resilient holding arms are matched to the length of the containers such that bottoms of the containers are freely accessible for processing, while being held on the subunits. 
     
     
         24 . The supporting structure of  claim 22 , wherein the resilient holding arms are configured such that the containers respectively rest loosely with their bottoms on an expanded upper rim portion on the front free ends of the holding arms. 
     
     
         25 . The supporting structure of  claim 22 , wherein the respective subunits further comprise side walls which are detachably connected to the respective supporting web. 
     
     
         26 . The supporting structure of  claim 25 , wherein the supporting webs and side walls of adjacent subunits can be caused to engage with each other for connecting respective adjacent subunits with each other. 
     
     
         27 . The supporting structure of  claim 22 , wherein the supporting webs of the subunits are each foldable, so that respective rectangular subunits can be formed, if viewed in a plan view,
 wherein the subunits are connected with the supporting structure via a common connecting web.   
     
     
         28 . A transport or packaging container for a plurality of containers for substances for medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic applications, comprising at least one supporting structure for concurrently supporting said plurality of containers in the transport or packaging container, wherein
 said at least one supporting structure is accommodated in said transport or packaging container,   said containers are open at least at one end, wherein the supporting structure comprises   a plurality of openings or receptacles and   a plurality of supporting means, wherein   the openings or receptacles are configured such that containers can be inserted into them, and   the supporting means are configured for supporting the containers in the openings or receptacles of the supporting structure, wherein   the supporting structure is formed by or comprises a plurality of subunits, and   each of the subunits can be handled or processed individually together with the containers supported thereon.   
     
     
         29 . A process for the treatment or processing of containers, which are used for the storage of substances for medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic applications or contain such substances, wherein the containers are open at least at one end, in which process:
 a plurality of containers are inserted into openings or receptacles of subunits such that they are supported by supporting means, which are associated with the openings or receptacles, on the subunits;   a plurality of subunits together with the containers, which have been processed or handled and which are supported by said subunits, are inserted into a transport or packaging container or jointly form said transport or packaging container.