In a system for the storage, transport and distribution of products of the known type the products are usually stored in main or centralised stores and taken from these individually or in groups in order to be transported and distributed.

These stores must stock large quantities of products generally originating from outside the organisation into which they are incorporated, for example products originating from suppliers, and make large quantities of products rapidly available for release and in the smallest space possible.

These stores usually but not exclusively employ storage means to group products of the same type, or having similar shapes and dimensions, into various zones of the store.

However in recent years stores have grown to an extremely large size because of the large number of products which have to be stored and distributed. The increase in the number of products is often associated with an increase in the different types of products which have to be stored, and this gives rise to problems of logistical management, that is problems with the storage, transport and distribution of such products.

Various types of stores have been constructed in order to overcome some of these problems. Many of these are distinguished on the basis of the quantities and the types of products which have to be stored, or on the basis of the function for which the stores are intended.

For example secondary stores, that is of a size smaller than main stores, are known and differ from the nature of the former as regards size, means for entry and exit to and from the store, and means for the storage of products.

Intermediate stores are in fact capable of more readily making even only one individual product available at a time and therefore for example comprise means for the selection and individual isolation of products.

Notwithstanding all this, the solutions in the known art still have a number of disadvantages which can make the management of products complex and very expensive in terms of time and cost. One of the main problems in fact comprises the difficulty of transferring products between one store and another, both in the case of two or more main stores and in the case of the transfer of products between a main store and a secondary store, and the difficulty of making the products available to end users. The greatest problems are caused by the fact that for each transfer of a product, or group of products, these must be drawn from the first store and positioned on means of transport and then taken from the means of transport and entered into the second store, or distributed directly to final users. All of this gives rise to operations involving the selection, incorporation and organisation of products which if frequent renders management complex and burdensome.

Planning and performance of the aforesaid operations is obviously complex, very costly from the point of view of the resources employed, and can give rise to errors in the handling of a product, with extremely hazardous consequences for the entire system.

The object of this invention is to overcome the problems described above and to improve logistical management within a system for the storage and distribution of products through a device and method for the transport of groups of ordered individual products.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device for the transport of products which is economical, efficient, easy to use and which it makes it possible to achieve and maintain a high level of reliability even during prolonged use over time.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method for the storage and transport of products which uses a device of the type described above.

In order to accomplish the abovementioned objects this invention comprises a device and a method for the transport of groups of ordered individual products as defined in the claims which follow.

One of the advantages of this invention lies in the possibility of using the transport device as a mobile store for ordered products. Another advantage of this invention is provided by the fact that this store of ordered products is easily transportable without the use of further means of transport.

Other advantages and characteristics of the present invention will become clear from the following detailed description which is given with reference to the appended drawings which are provided purely by way of non-limiting example and in which: - Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device according to this invention in a transport position, - Figure 2 is a perspective view of the device in Figure 1 in an open position, - Figure 3 is a diagrammatical perspective view of the interior of the device in Figure 1, and - Figure 4 is a frontal view of the item in Figure 3.

As previously mentioned, this invention has been developed with particular reference to, but not restricted to, the sector of the transport and storage of pharmaceutical and medical products. Of course this invention may have the same application in other sectors presenting similar problems, such as for example spare parts for motor vehicles or other machines, and for the grouping of components for the manufacture of industrial products, such as for example electronic components, small metal parts and the like.

The products normally used in the pharmaceutical and medical sector are kept in centralised stores within a pharmacy and/or a hospital, and are taken from there for distribution to patients. It is also known that secondary stores may also be used in, for example, but not restricted thereto, departmental stores within a hospital in which a quantity of product strictly necessary for the requirements of that department only are stored and managed.

With reference now to the figures, a device for the transport of groups of ordered individual products, indicated as a whole by reference number 10, comprises a principal structure defining the storage area within it. The structure comprises two or more portions, for example, but not restricted thereto, two half-shells 14 connected to each other and selectively movable from an open position to a closed position.

As illustrated in Figure 1, in their closed position the two half-shells 14 are located opposite each other in such a way as to form a container defining the said storage area within it. The two half-shells 14 may be hinged together, for example, but not restricted thereto, by means of hinges of the known type, or may be simply abutted against each other.

In their closed positions the two half-shells 14 are both engaged by locking means of a known type, such as for example, but not restricted thereto, two locks 18.

As can be seen in Figure 2, in their open position one of the two or both half-shells 14 may be selectively moved away from the other making the storage area within them accessible.

The storage area comprises a wall 20 with two principal surfaces 22 located opposite to each other, two base appendages 24 which extend from each surface 22 at right angles with respect to wall 20, and an upper portion 26 in which there is made an opening 28. Appendages 24 allow wall 20 to maintain its erect position when the two half-shells 14 are in their open position. Wall 20 comprises a plurality of storage means for products spaced apart on each of the two principal surfaces 22.

As better illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, each storage means comprises a plate 30 from which there projects a suspension member, for example, but not restricted thereto, a pin 32 on which one or more individual products which have to be stored or their containers are suspended when in use. According to a preferred embodiment of this invention illustrated in the appended figures the individual products are in fact housed within containers comprising holes, openings or the like so that they can be suspended from said pins 32. Preferably but not necessarily each pin 32 is inclined upwards in order the better to retain the packages or the products suspended upon them.

Each storage unit also comprises a pair of containment members, for example, but not restricted thereto, a pair of wings 34 which project at right angles with respect to wall 20 from the sides of each plate 30. In use wings 34 have the function of preventing the products or containers suspended on pins 32 from swinging excessively during the transport of device 10, thus avoiding the products or the containers being accidentally unthreaded from the pins, striking against each other or overturning, with the risk of allowing product to fall from the container.

A plurality of ribs 40 are provided on the inner surface of the two portions 14 of the principal structure at the ends of pins 32. When device 10 is in the closed position the ends of the pins engage said ribs 40 in such a way as to confer greater stability on wall 20 located within the principal structure and preventing the products suspended on pins 32 from becoming unthreaded from the latter.

Obviously a person skilled in the art could identify different storage means, for example, but not restricted thereto, boxes, containers, bags or the like which would be capable of achieving the objectives of this invention and without thereby going beyond the scope defined by the claims which follow.

The storage area is therefore formed as a whole by pair of walls 22, each of which comprises a grid of storage locations comprising plates 30, containment wings 34 and rows of equally spaced pins 32. Of course storage locations which are spaced apart in a non-uniform manner may be provided so that products or containers for individual products having different dimensions can be stored within the transport device.

In use, individual products or groups of individual products present in a first storage means, such as for example a container in a principal store, are placed within the transport device suspending the products or product containers on pins 32. The products may be inserted manually or by mechanical devices, individually on the basis of a random distribution or, more preferably, in groups according to a predetermined order. The distribution of storage locations according to this invention in fact encourages the storage of products within device 10 in a predetermined order.

In the case where the products placed in device 10 originate from a disordered source such as, for example, a container in a principal store or a container originating from a supplier, the products may be stored according to the order in which they must then be taken from transport device 10.

In the case where the products which are to be placed in device 10 originate from an ordered source such as, for example, a secondary store, it is possible to chose to store them according to the order of the source or, as above, in the order in which they must subsequently be removed.

Once the storage area of device 10 has been filled the two half-cells 14 are brought together and secured together through locking means 18. In their closed position the two half-shells 14 leave the upper portion 26 of wall 20 free in such a way that device 10 can be seized through opening 28 and transported manually such as, for example, a"suitcase".

Transport device 10 may be transported to an intermediate destination, such as, for example, another store to allow products to be loaded into it, or to a final destination such as, for example, a group of users who can remove the products directly. In both cases removal of the products from transport device 10 is much faster and more reliable because the products are already ordered in the desired order.

In addition to this, transport devices according to this invention may in turn be grouped together or moved in groups automatically within a system for the storage, transport and distribution of individual products.

In more general terms, the transport device according to this invention makes it possible to transport groups of individual products from a source to a destination while retaining the organisation of the products present within the source and/or organising them according to their destination order. This simplifies the work of selecting and withdrawing the products from the said source and selecting and placing them in the said destination.

According to another preferred embodiment of this invention transport device 10 also comprises connection means for connection to another store when in use. In this way the transport device becomes an integral part of the original store and/or destination store, eliminating both of the operations of taking the products from the store and placing them therein.

According to another preferred embodiment of this invention transport device 10 comprises means for the storage of information 50. In use memory means are used to place information relating to the device and its contents in memory, such as for example the quantity, type, origin and/or destination of the products, information on the procedures for filling and transporting the device, information and authorisation for the removal of products contained therein.

The information means may be of the optical, magnetic and/or electronic type, and may preferably but not necessarily comprise at least one of the following elements selected individually or in combination: a bar code, a magnetic strip, a microprocessor and/or a tag. The device also comprises communication means to transfer information between the abovementioned means for placing information in memory and further means for reading and/or writing external information. Communication between these may take place either through physical contact and/or remote communication.

Naturally, the principle of the invention remaining the same, the forms of embodiment and details of construction may be varied widely with respect to those described and illustrated, which have been given purely by way of example, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention.