Device for removing individual pharmaceutical vessels from a trough-shaped transport container, a system comprising a corresponding device, and a method for removing individual pharmaceutical vessels from a trough-shaped transport container

1 . A device ( 13 ) for removing individual pharmaceutical vessels ( 2 ), in particular vials ( 2 ), from a trough-shaped transport container ( 1 ), in particular a tray ( 1 ), having a plate-shaped support structure ( 14 ) that comprises a particularly horizontally extending support surface ( 16 ), wherein the transport container ( 1 ) can be arranged on the support structure ( 14 ) in such a manner that an underside ( 17 ) of a base ( 3 ) of the transport container ( 1 ) faces away from the support surface ( 16 ) and the individual vessels ( 2 ) are arranged on the support surface ( 16 ) or are arranged spaced vertically above it, and having a removal mechanism ( 20 ) for removing the transport container ( 1 ) from the individual vessels ( 2 ), characterized in that the support structure ( 14 ) is assigned a vibration-generating unit ( 25 ) that is designed to induce a particularly horizontal vibrational movement in the support structure ( 14 ) at least intermittently during the removal process, which vibrational movement can be transmitted to the transport container ( 1 ) and/or the individual vessels ( 2 ), in order to detach the individual vessels ( 2 ) from the transport container ( 1 ).

2 . The device ( 13 ) as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the vibration-generating unit ( 25 ) comprises at least one vibration generator integrated into the support structure ( 14 ), or that the vibration-generating unit ( 25 ) comprises at least one vibration generator that can be operated independently of the support structure ( 14 ) and is mechanically coupled to the support structure ( 14 ).

3 . The device ( 13 ) as claimed in claim 2 , characterized in that the vibration-generating unit ( 25 ) comprises at least one unbalanced motor ( 26 ) or at least one magnetic vibrator as the vibration generator.

4 . The device ( 13 ) as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that the removal mechanism ( 20 ) comprises at least two lifting elements ( 21 ) for lifting the transport container ( 1 ), wherein the lifting elements ( 21 ) are arranged on opposite sides of the support surface ( 16 ) and can be moved perpendicular to the support surface ( 16 ).

5 . The device ( 13 ) as claimed in claim 4 , characterized in that the lifting elements ( 21 ) are arranged at different edges ( 18 ) of the support surface ( 16 ) in each case and that the lifting elements ( 21 ) each comprise a guide surface ( 23 ) that provides effective support for multiple individual vessels ( 2 ) arranged on the support surface ( 16 ).

6 . The device ( 13 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the removal mechanism ( 20 ) comprises a gripping unit ( 27 ) for gripping the transport container ( 1 ).

7 . The device ( 13 ) as claimed in claim 6 , characterized in that the gripping unit ( 27 ) comprises at least one suction element ( 28 ) for adhering to the underside ( 17 ) of the base ( 3 ) of the transport container ( 1 ), wherein the suction element ( 28 ), in particular, is arranged on a support structure ( 29 ) of the gripping unit ( 27 ).

8 . The device ( 13 ) as claimed in claim 6 , characterized in that the gripping unit ( 27 ) comprises a handling surface for handling a side wall ( 4 ) of the trough-shaped transport container ( 1 ), wherein the handling surface is oriented at an angle to the suction plane of the gripping unit ( 27 ).

9 . The device ( 13 ) as claimed in claim 6 , characterized in that it comprises a handling mechanism ( 30 ) designed to move the gripping unit ( 27 ) towards the transport container ( 1 ).

10 . The device ( 13 ) as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises an ion spray mechanism for reducing electrostatic attraction between the individual vessels ( 2 ) and the transport container ( 1 ), wherein the ion spray mechanism particularly comprises at least one ion spray bar.

11 . A system ( 40 ) comprising a trough-shaped transport container ( 1 ), in particular a tray ( 1 ), in which individual pharmaceutical vessels ( 2 ), in particular vials ( 2 ), are stored, and a device ( 13 ) as claimed in claim 1 for removing the individual vessels ( 2 ) from the transport container ( 1 ).

12 . The system ( 40 ) as claimed in claim 11 , characterized in that the transport container ( 1 ) comprises a circumferential edge ( 8 ) that encloses a receptacle ( 5 ) of the transport container ( 1 ) for the individual vessels ( 2 ), and that edge portions ( 10 ) of the edge ( 8 ) of the transport container lying opposite one another can be simultaneously arranged on a lifting surface ( 22 ) of another of the lifting elements ( 21 ) in each case.

13 . A method for removing individual pharmaceutical vessels ( 2 ), in particular vials ( 2 ), from a trough-shaped transport container ( 1 ), in particular a tray ( 1 ), comprising:

a. Arranging the transport container ( 1 ) on a support structure ( 14 ) with a particularly horizontally extending support surface ( 16 ), wherein an underside ( 17 ) of a base ( 3 ) of the transport container ( 1 ) faces away from the support surface ( 16 ), and wherein the individual vessels ( 2 ) are arranged on the support surface ( 16 ) or spaced vertically above the support surface ( 16 );

b. Removing the transport container ( 1 ) from the individual vessels ( 2 ), wherein the support structure ( 14 ) is at least intermittently induced to perform a particularly horizontal vibrational movement during a removal process which is transmitted to the transport container ( 1 ) and/or the individual vessels ( 2 ), in order to detach the individual vessels ( 2 ) from the transport container ( 1 ).

14 . The method as claimed in claim 13 , characterized in that the transport container ( 1 ) is first lifted by an upwardly directed force away from the support surface ( 16 ), and that the lifted transport container ( 1 ) is gripped and removed.

15 . The method as claimed in claim 14 , characterized in that the support structure ( 14 ) is induced to vibrate during lifting by the compressive force.