Abstract: A supporting structure for concurrently supporting a plurality of vials is provided. The supporting structure includes a carrier having apertures or receptacles, into which the vials can be inserted to be supported therein on the carrier. The vials have a bottom that forms a base, a cylindrical side wall, and an annular transition region between the base and the cylindrical side wall. The carrier has a retaining protrusion at a lower end of the aperture or receptacle that extends into the respective aperture or receptacle inward in radial direction. The retaining protrusion supports the vial in cooperation with the transition region outside the base in such a manner that the bottoms or bases of the vials jut out of the apertures or receptacles of the carrier and are freely accessible from the lower side of the carrier.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the treatment or processing of containers that serve for storing, or contain, substances for medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic applications, wherein the containers are conveyed automatically, by a conveyor, past at least one processing station or pass it for the treatment or processing. In the process, a plurality of containers is conveyed by the conveyor while being held by a carrier in a regular arrangement. The containers held on the carrier are raised to a raised position for the treatment or processing at or in the respective processing station and are lowered after the treatment or processing, to be held again on the carrier in the regular arrangement. The carrier is configured such that the containers can be held on the carrier during the entire process. A negative pressure acts on the bottoms of the containers in order to lower them.

Abstract: A supporting structure for concurrently supporting a plurality of containers having a predetermined length for medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic applications comprises a carrier having a plurality of supporting means for supporting the containers on the carrier, optionally, at least in a first orientation (e.g. upright) or in a second orientation (upside-down or also upright). According to the invention the carrier is matched to the lengths of the containers such that the upper ends of the containers are arranged in the first position at the same distance to the carrier as the lower ends of the containers in the second position and that the upper ends and/or lower ends of the containers are accessible for a further processing of the containers while they are supported on the carrier.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are provided for treating or processing containers that are used for storing substances for medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic applications or contain the same. During the process, cylindrical containers open at least at one end are automatically led past or pass through processing stations for treatment or processing by means of a conveying device, while the containers are jointly held by a carrier in a regular two-dimensional arrangement. The carrier includes a plurality of openings or receptacles that determine the regular arrangement. The treatment or processing of the containers is performed on or in at least one of the processing stations while the containers are supported by the carrier.

Abstract: A transport and packaging container for a plurality of pharmaceutical containers and a method for transferring the pharmaceutical containers from the transport and packaging containers into a clean room are provided. By placing a side wall of the transport and packaging container in close proximity to or in contact with the side wall of the clean room and by opening the side wall of the transport and packaging container and a transfer port door of the clean room, the pharmaceutical containers can be transferred into the inside space of the clean room via the access opening.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the treatment or processing of containers that serve for storing, or contain, substances for medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic applications, wherein the containers are conveyed automatically, by a conveyor, past at least one processing station or pass it for the treatment or processing. In the process, a plurality of containers is conveyed by the conveyor while being held by a carrier in a regular arrangement. The containers held on the carrier are raised to a raised position for the treatment or processing at or in the respective processing station and are lowered after the treatment or processing, to be held again on the carrier in the regular arrangement. The carrier is configured such that the containers can be held on the carrier during the entire process. A negative pressure acts on the bottoms of the containers in order to lower them.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the treatment or processing of containers that serve for storing, or contain, substances for medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic applications, wherein the containers are conveyed automatically, by a conveyor, past at least one processing station or pass it for the treatment or processing. In the process, a plurality of containers is conveyed by the conveyor while being held by a carrier in a regular arrangement. The containers held on the carrier are raised to a raised position for the treatment or processing at or in the respective processing station and are lowered after the treatment or processing, to be held again on the carrier in the regular arrangement. The carrier is configured such that the containers can be held on the carrier during the entire process. A negative pressure acts on the bottoms of the containers in order to lower them.

Abstract: A method for sterile packaging of a plurality of containers is provided that includes: providing a carrier in which a plurality of receptacles are formed, the receptacles being formed by a closed bottom and a circumferential side wall, the upper ends of the receptacles, which are opposite to the respective bottom, are open and circumferential connecting webs are provided at the upper ends; placing the containers in the receptacles; providing a gas-impermeable protective foil; bonding the protective foil along the connecting webs with the upper surface of the carrier to package all the receptacles with the containers accommodated individually therein; and sterilizing the receptacles with the containers accommodated therein and/or the inner volumes of the containers by a gas flowing into the receptacles and/or into the inner volumes of the containers through at least one gas-permeable portion.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for packaging a plurality of containers for substances for medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic applications in a packaging structure. The structure has a box-shaped upper part and a box-shaped lower part, forming a box-shaped receptacle in which the containers are accommodated. The plurality of containers are disposed directly on the bottom of the lower part that the containers are supported vertically on the bottom of the lower part, and the upper part is put onto the upper ends of the containers. The positions of the containers on the lower part are secured using side walls that project vertically from the bottom of the lower part and/or of the upper part, and the upper part and/or the lower part is configured and provided in a way that the containers are in direct contact with each other in the box-shaped receptacle and cannot be displaced relative to each other.

Abstract: In a process and apparatus for treating or processing containers (2) that are used for storing substances for medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic applications or contain the same, cylindrical containers open at least at one end are automatically led past or pass through processing stations for treatment or processing by means of a conveying device, while said containers are jointly held by a carrier (25; 134) in a regular two-dimensional arrangement. The carrier comprises a plurality of openings or receptacles (32; 39; 87; 120), which determine the regular arrangement. According to the invention, the treatment or processing of the containers is performed on or in at least one of the processing stations while the containers are supported by the carrier. This opens up new possibilities for treating or processing the containers, for example when crimping metal lids or during freeze-drying.

Abstract: A holding structure for concurrently holding a plurality of containers for substances for cosmetic, medical or pharmaceutical applications, in particular of vials, is provided. The holding structure includes a carrier having a plurality of apertures or receptacles into which the containers can be inserted and holding means for holding the containers in the apertures or receptacles. The holding means has at least two holding tabs, which are provided at the edge of a respective aperture or receptacle and protrude from an upper side of the carrier for holding the respective container. The holding tabs are resiliently pivoted or folded back as the containers are inserted into the apertures or receptacles and so that the holding tabs are matched to the containers such that these are held by the holding tabs with a radial clearance and low tension.

Abstract: Disclosed is a transport and packaging container for accommodating a plurality of cylindrical containers for substances, comprising at least two segments of which each can be handled separately and which can be assembled or stuck together to jointly form the transport and packaging container, wherein a first segment of the at least two segments has a bottom for supporting the plurality of containers, and positioning devices are provided for positioning the plurality of containers in the interior of the transport and packaging container in a regular arrangement in such a manner that a collision of the directly adjacent containers is prevented, and wherein at least one of the segments comprises sealing means. The containers can be processed in the transport and packaging container or also in a supporting structure, particularly at very high temperatures of up to 330° C. and preferably up to 350° C.

Abstract: Disclosed is a transport and packaging container for accommodating a plurality of cylindrical containers (2) for substances, comprising at least two segments (320, 330) of which each can be handled separately and which can be assembled or stuck together to jointly form the transport and packaging container (1), wherein a first segment (330; 320) of the at least two segments has a bottom (333; 323) for supporting the plurality of containers (2), and positioning devices (324; 25) are provided for positioning the plurality of containers (2) in the interior of the transport and packaging container (1) in a regular arrangement in such a manner that a collision of the directly adjacent containers (2) is prevented, and wherein at least one of the segments (320, 330) comprises sealing means (327, 328, 334, 335, 130).

Abstract: A process and apparatus are provided for treating or processing containers that are used for storing substances for medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic applications or contain the same. During the process, cylindrical containers open at least at one end are automatically led past or pass through processing stations for treatment or processing by means of a conveying device, while the containers are jointly held by a carrier in a regular two-dimensional arrangement. The carrier includes a plurality of openings or receptacles that determine the regular arrangement. The treatment or processing of the containers is performed on or in at least one of the processing stations while the containers are supported by the carrier.

Abstract: A method for sterile packaging of a plurality of containers is provided that includes: providing a carrier in which a plurality of receptacles are formed, the receptacles being formed by a closed bottom and a circumferential side wall, the upper ends of the receptacles, which are opposite to the respective bottom, are open and circumferential connecting webs are provided at the upper ends; placing the containers in the receptacles; providing a gas-impermeable protective foil; bonding the protective foil along the connecting webs with the upper surface of the carrier to package all the receptacles with the containers accommodated individually therein; and sterilizing the receptacles with the containers accommodated therein and/or the inner volumes of the containers by a gas flowing into the receptacles and/or into the inner volumes of the containers through at least one gas-permeable portion.

Abstract: A holding structure for concurrently holding a plurality of containers for substances for cosmetic, medical or pharmaceutical applications, in particular of vials, is provided. The holder includes a carrier having a plurality of apertures or receptacles into which the containers can be inserted and holding means for holding the containers in the apertures or receptacles. The holding means has at least two holding tabs, which are provided at the edge of a respective aperture or receptacle and protrude from an upper side of the carrier for holding the respective container. The holding tabs are resiliently pivoted or folded back as the containers are inserted into the apertures or receptacles and so that the holding tabs are matched to the containers such that these are held by the holding tabs with a radial clearance and low tension.

Abstract: Disclosed is a transport and packaging container for accommodating a plurality of cylindrical containers (2) for substances, comprising at least two segments (320, 330) of which each can be handled separately and which can be assembled or stuck together to jointly form the transport and packaging container (1), wherein a first segment (330; 320) of the at least two segments has a bottom (333; 323) for supporting the plurality of containers (2), and positioning devices (324; 25) are provided for positioning the plurality of containers (2) in the interior of the transport and packaging container (1) in a regular arrangement in such a manner that a collision of the directly adjacent containers (2) is prevented, and wherein at least one of the segments (320, 330) comprises sealing means (327, 328, 334, 335, 130).

Abstract: A supporting structure for concurrently supporting a plurality of containers having a predetermined length for medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic applications is provided. The support structure includes a carrier having a plurality of supports for the containers on the carrier, optionally, at least in a first orientation (e.g. upright) or in a second orientation (upside-down or also upright). The carrier is matched to the lengths of the containers such that the upper ends of the containers are arranged in a first position at the same distance to the carrier as the lower ends of the containers in the second position and that the upper ends and/or lower ends of the containers are accessible for a further processing of the containers while they are supported on the carrier.

Abstract: Disclosed is a supporting structure for concurrently supporting a plurality of containers for substances for medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic applications, comprising a flat, rectangular-shaped carrier having a plurality of apertures or receptacles and at least one supporting member, which is releasably coupled to the carrier, wherein the respective supporting member is configured to support a plurality of containers to said carrier by a positive-fit. According to the invention the positive-fit is formed by coupling the respective supporting member with the carrier such that the containers supported on the container extend into the apertures or receptacles of the carrier. By means of the supporting members tolerances, in particular with respect to the outer radius or the outer contour of the containers and to their length, can be compensated for in a simple manner.

Abstract: In a process and apparatus for treating or processing containers (2) that are used for storing substances for medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic applications or contain the same, cylindrical containers open at least at one end are automatically led past or pass through processing stations for treatment or processing by means of a conveying device, while said containers are jointly held by a carrier (25; 134) in a regular two-dimensional arrangement. The carrier comprises a plurality of openings or receptacles (32; 39; 87; 120), which determine the regular arrangement. According to the invention, the treatment or processing of the containers is performed on or in at least one of the processing stations while the containers are supported by the carrier. This opens up new possibilities for treating or processing the containers, for example when crimping metal lids or during freeze-drying.