EP2860120A1 - Package for tablets and device for producing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The package (70) for tablets comprises a packaging container (60) and a plurality of blister packs (50) loosely received in a receiving portion (61) formed from a shaped shaped film (32a) sealed with a second cover film (42). The device (1) for producing the packaging (70) comprises a unit (3) for producing the blister packs (50) and a unit (31) for producing the packaging containers (60), and a transfer device (17) for the blister packs (50 ) into the packaging containers (60), a sealing station (44) for the packaging containers (60) and a punch (56), all of which are arranged in one machine.

Description

The present invention relates to a packaging for tablets and a device for producing the packaging.

For the packaging of medical or pharmaceutical products blister packs are often used, which are stored in cartons. In the production of the blister packs in a blister machine, cups for receiving the medical or pharmaceutical products are first of all shaped into a shaped foil. The products are filled in these cups and the dish having the cups is then sealed with a cover sheet. With a transfer system, the blister packs thus produced are transferred from the blister machine to a downstream cartoning machine. In this stack of blister packs are formed and inserted in unfolded cartons, often together with a leaflet inserted. Even in the cartoning machine or in the subsequent machines, securing measures, such as, for example, hot-melt seals, security labels, security closure tabs or film wrapping, can take place.

Due to the worrying surge in counterfeit medicines, safeguards to detect cartilage or other medical device packaging are of particular importance. The above solutions for securing devices for detecting cartilage manipulations are not tamper-proof and it is not possible to verify the authenticity of pharmaceuticals by identifying individual packages and reliably detecting manipulations of the outer packaging.

The present invention has for its object to provide a package for tablets, by means of which manipulation of the packaging can be reliably detected, and to provide a device for producing the packaging, with which the production of these packages is particularly effective and inexpensive.

This object is solved by the features of claim 1 or claim 9.

According to the invention, the packaging for tablets comprises a packaging container and one or more blister packs which comprise tablet-filled farms which are sealed with a first cover film. The one or more blister packs are loosely received in the packaging container. The packaging container has a receiving portion formed from a shaped shaped film in which the one or more blister packs are loosely received and sealed with a second cover sheet.

Such a packaging for tablets is dust and airtight and can not be opened without leaving visible traces of manipulation. In addition, the packaging according to the invention can be produced more cheaply than conventional folding cartons.

Preferably, the receiving portion of the packaging container is formed as a bowl in which the one or more blister packs are loosely inserted. This ensures a dimensionally stable reception of the one or more blister packs.

In a preferred embodiment, the second cover film is sealed to the mold film in the region of webs of the mold film surrounding the cup. In this way, the second cover film can be sealed particularly easily and in a defined joining region with the molding film.

Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment, a leaflet is loosely received in the packaging container, whereby the delivery of larger leaflets is possible because they are stored folded folded on the blister packs.

Preferably, the molding film is at least partially printed. In a further preferred embodiment, the second cover film is at least partially printed. In this way, the necessary information on the package, such as product names, manufacturer information, ingredients or similar information, can be applied tamper-proof directly to the packaging. The application of variable data including braille is easy and cost-effective in the manufacturing process.

In a preferred embodiment, the second cover sheet according to the invention has a perforation for cutting through a portion of the cover sheet, whereby the opening of the package is simplified. Likewise, the second cover sheet in a further embodiment for this purpose have a pull tab for removing the second cover sheet from the packaging container.

The device for producing a package for tablets according to the invention comprises a unit for producing blister packs having tablet-filled courtyards which are sealed with a first cover film, and a unit for producing packaging containers in which one or more of the blister packs are loosely received , The apparatus further comprises a transfer device for the loose insertion of the one or more blister packs into the packaging containers as well as a closing device for closing the packaging containers. The unit for the production of packaging containers in this case has a forming station for forming cup-shaped receiving sections in a forming film. In addition, the closing device for closing the packaging containers comprises a sealing station which serves for sealing a second cover film with the shaped shaped film.

In this way, the packages according to the invention for tablets can be produced particularly easily and with low production costs. The production of the packaging of molded film in this device offers, among other procedural simplifications the advantages that the constant refilling of cartons is spared and it comes to logistical savings by eliminating the procurement and storage of cartons, hot glue, etc.

In a preferred embodiment, the unit for producing blister packs, the unit for producing packaging containers, the transfer device for inserting the blister packs into the packaging containers and the closing device for closing the packaging containers are formed as components of a single machine. This allows two machine functions to be integrated into one system.

As a result, the entire machine has a length of at most 10 m, preferably at most 8 m. These features significantly reduce machine length and thus production area.

In a preferred embodiment, the device for producing a packaging for tablets also has a stamping station downstream of the sealing station, in which a filled and sealed packaging container is punched out of a packaging container strand. As a result, there are already isolated finished packaging at the end of the device.

Preferably, the device also has a heating station upstream of the forming station for heating the forming film. The shaping of the receiving sections in the forming film is thereby facilitated and takes place in a material-saving manner for the forming film and the forming tool.

Furthermore, in one embodiment of the device according to the invention, the transfer device for the loose insertion of the one or more blister packs in the packaging container is designed as a blister stacking shaft which discharges blister packs downwards. By means of this embodiment, the blister stacks can be selectively supplied to the packaging containers in stacks of any size.

In a preferred embodiment of the transfer device, the blister stacking shaft is additionally movable laterally. As a result, an adaptation of the dispensing position to the position of the packaging container, especially in the case of several packaging containers per cycle, is particularly well possible.

Fig. 1

zeigt eine schematische Querschnittsansicht einer Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung zur Herstellung einer Verpackung für Tabletten;

Fig. 2

zeigt einen vergrößerten endseitigen Ausschnitt der in Fig. 1 dargestellten Vorrichtung;

Fig. 3

zeigt eine Perspektivansicht einer Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Verpackung für Tabletten;

Fig. 4

zeigt eine perspektivische Explosionsansicht einer anderen Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Verpackung mit Blisterpackungen und einem Beipackzettel, aber ohne Deckel;

Fig. 5

zeigt eine Schnittansicht in Querrichtung der Verpackung nach Fig. 4; und

Fig. 6

zeigt eine Schnittansicht in Längsrichtung der Verpackung nach Fig. 4.

Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 1

shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the device according to the invention for producing a package for tablets;

Fig. 2

shows an enlarged end-side section of the in Fig. 1 illustrated device;

Fig. 3

shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the package according to the invention for tablets;

Fig. 4

shows an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of the package according to the invention with blister packs and a leaflet, but without a lid;

Fig. 5

shows a cross-sectional view of the packaging according to Fig. 4 ; and

Fig. 6

shows a sectional view in the longitudinal direction of the package Fig. 4 ,

In Fig. 1 an exemplary embodiment of the device 1 for the production of packages 70 for tablets is shown. In a first production line within the device 1 are produced in a unit 3 for the production of blister packs 50 in accordance with the production steps known in the art in blister machines. For this purpose, a first mold film 2a, starting at a first film roll 2, is supplied via a first Formfolienabspulung 4 of a first heating station 6 and heated in this. In a subsequent first forming station 8, yards or cups 66 for receiving medical or pharmaceutical products, for example tablets or the like, are molded into the first forming foil 2a. In a filling station 10, the cups 66 of the first mold film 2 a are filled with tablets 68. Via a further supply roll, a first cover film 12 is fed to a sealing station 14, in which the first cover film 12 is sealed with the first mold film 2a having the cups. A first punch 16 then punches individual blister packs 50 out of the first mold film 2a sealed with the first cover film 12. The blister packs 50 are then inserted by means of a transfer device 17 loosely in packaging container 60, the production of which will be described below. For example, the transfer device 17 comprises a suction belt 18 and / or a transfer shaft 20. However, other transfer devices 17 are also conceivable.

The individual stations for producing blister packs 50 may vary in their arrangement and respective embodiment according to the prior art for blister machines.

Parallel to the blister production, the manufacturing process of the packaging containers 60 integrated into the machine is started in a second production line within the apparatus 1 in a unit 31 for the production of packaging containers 60. This will be on the second shaped film roll 32 stored second molded film 32a below the first molded film 2a transported from the second Formfolienabspulung 34 to the second heating station 36 and heated therein. In a second forming station 38, receiving sections 61 for receiving one or more blister packs 50 are formed in the second forming film 32a to form the packaging according to the invention. In addition, the packaging container 60 can be provided in this station at the same time with a Braille. The molded packaging container 60 is transported by the feed 40 below the transfer shaft 20.

Further embodiments are conceivable in which the two production lines together with the associated stations are arranged spatially in a different manner, and the blister packs 50 are brought by suitable means of transport into a suitable transfer position relative to the packaging containers 60.

In Fig. 2 For example, the end portion of the inventive embodiment of the apparatus 1 for producing packages 70 for tablets from the merging of the blister packs 50 from the transfer chute 20 with the packaging containers 60 formed in the second mold film 32a is shown. Below the transfer shaft 20, the receiving portions 61 of the packaging containers 60 are filled loosely with a desired number of blister packs 50. For this purpose, the transfer shaft 20 is preferably designed as a blister stacking shaft and discharges the blister packs 50 in a controlled manner downwards. The number of each feed cycle under the transfer shaft 20 funded packaging container 60 is dependent on the blister size. In the case of several packaging containers 60 per cycle, the transfer shaft 20 moves appropriately over the corresponding filling position. During shipment, a labeller will place 46 labels with all the necessary package information (for example, product name, manufacturer's information, ingredients, etc.) at the bottom of the package.

A leaflet inserter 52 dispenses the necessary instruction leaflets 54 during the passage onto the blister stacks 50 previously loosely inserted into the receiving sections 61 of the packaging containers 60. In addition, it is possible to supply further leaflets, such as brochures, calendars, etc. After complete filling of the packaging containers 60 formed in the second forming film 32a with the desired number of blister packs 50 and the required and desired package inserts, the packaging containers 60 are closed in a closing device 44, preferably a sealing station, with a second cover film 42. The tight closure in the closing device 44 serving, inter alia, as an effective protection against tampering takes place by means of suitable techniques, such as, for example, welding, heat sealing, gluing or ultrasound. It is also conceivable that a separately shaped and clipped lid is additionally welded to the packaging container 60. The sealed packaging containers 60 pass through a second punch 56 at the end, in which finished packages 70 for tablets are punched out.

Besides the aforementioned labeling, other known labeling and printing methods may be used to identify the packaging containers 60. The information on the package can be printed, for example, directly onto the packaging container 60 or onto the second cover film 42 or, for example, pressed in. Optionally, the indicia may be applied to the bottom of the package and / or the sidewalls and / or the second coversheet 42.

The line length of the entire apparatus 1 for the production of packages 70 for tablets is less than 10,000 mm, preferably less than 8,000 mm including the film rolls 2, 32. The manufacturing method of the package 70 can be both single-lane and, to increase the output, multi-lane become. In addition, it should be noted that the described and in the FIGS. 1 and 2 represented process chain at each position to additional functions such as a batch control, printing systems, etc. is expandable.

In Fig. 3 an embodiment of the package 70 according to the invention for tablets is shown. The package 70 comprises a packaging container 60, a second cover film 42 and is filled with one or more blister packs 50 and a leaflet 54 or other leaflets.

In the illustrated embodiment, the receiving portion 61 of the packaging container 60 is cup-shaped. Likewise, further embodiments which are suitable for receiving blister packs 50 are conceivable. The packaging container 60 may be formed, for example, as a collection cup.

The packaging container 60 is further preferably formed from thermoplastic plastic film. The use of other suitable materials that meet the requirements for formability, impermeability, sterility, etc., is possible.

Furthermore, the receiving portion 61 of the packaging container 60 is preferably provided with circumferential webs 62, at which the second cover film 42 is connected to the, the packaging container 60 forming second mold film 32a. Again, other embodiments are possible in which the second cover sheet 42 is attached, for example, directly to the side walls of the packaging container 60. It is always important to provide a sufficiently large and accessible joining surface for producing a tight and firm connection between the second mold film 32a and second cover film 42.

The second forming film 32a forming the packaging container 60 may be at least partially printed with product information.

The second cover film 42, which closes the packaging container 60, can be formed from all suitable materials common on the market, such as, for example, aluminum, aluminum laminate or else from thermoplastic plastic film. This can also be transparent or opaque. Depending on the selected type of cover film application, the packaging container 60 may also be reclosable.

To facilitate the opening of the packaging container 60, the second cover sheet 42 in the in Fig. 3 illustrated embodiment, a perforation 64 on. In place of the perforation 64, the packaging container 60 may comprise, in further embodiments, a pull tab for pulling off the second cover film 42 or other forms known in the packaging art, by which the opening is simplified.

In the finished package 70 for tablets, any number of blister packs 50 and package inserts 54 are included. The height of the packaging container 60 is dependent on the number of male blister packs 50 and package inserts and can be varied accordingly.

Fig. 4 shows an exploded view of another embodiment of the package 70 according to the invention, wherein in the packaging container 60 four blister packs 50 and a Instruction leaflets 54 are arranged one above the other. In alternative embodiments, the packaging container 60 is filled with only one blister pack 50 or a different number of blister packs 50. In addition, any number and size of leaflets 54 or other leaflets is possible. The leaflets are stored folded folded on the loose blister pack and thus need not be inserted, as is the case with the use of conventional cartons.

The FIGS. 5 and 6 each represent a sectional view of an embodiment of the package 70 according to the invention for tablets Fig. 4 A transverse direction is defined as a direction parallel to one of the shorter side surfaces of the packaging container 60. A longitudinal direction is correspondingly defined as a direction parallel to one of the longer side surfaces of the packaging container 60. Fig. 5 shows a cross-sectional view in the transverse direction and Fig. 6 a sectional view in the longitudinal direction of the packaging container 60 from Fig. 4 , The embodiment shown in the figures shows the inclusion of four blister packs 50, each with two cups 66 in the transverse direction and four cups 66 in the longitudinal direction for receiving round tablets 68. Likewise, a leaflet 54 in the package 70 is included. Other embodiments of the packaging 70 according to the invention include the inclusion of any number of blister packs 50 and leaflets 54 and the inclusion of common and familiar to those skilled variants of blister packs 50 in any spatial orientation.

Claims (15)

Packaging (70) for tablets with
a packaging container (60), and
one or more blister packs (50) having pens (68) filled with piles (66) sealed with a first cover sheet (12),
wherein the one or more blister packs (50) are loosely received in the packaging container (60),
characterized in that
the packaging container (60) comprises a receiving portion (61) formed from a shaped shaped film (32a) in which the one or more blister packs (50) are loosely received, and the packaging container (60) is sealed with a second cover film (42) is. Packaging (70) for tablets according to claim 1, characterized in that the receiving portion (61) is formed as a cup in which the one or more blister packs (50) are loosely inserted. Packaging (70) for tablets according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the second cover film (42) in the region of the web surrounding the webs (62) of the forming film (32a) with the forming film (32a) is sealed. Packaging (70) for tablets according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a leaflet (54) is loosely received in the packaging container (60). Packaging (70) for tablets according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shaped film (32a) is at least partially printed. Packaging (70) for tablets according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second cover film (42) is at least partially printed. Packaging (70) for tablets according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second cover film (42) has a perforation (64) for cutting through a region of the second cover film (42). Packaging (70) for tablets according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the second cover film (42) has a pull tab for removing the second cover film (42) from the packaging container (60). Device (1) for producing a packaging (70) for tablets with
a unit (3) for producing blister packs (50) having pens (68) filled with tablets (68) which are sealed with a first cover film (12),
a unit (31) for producing packaging containers (60) in which one or more of the blister packs (50) are loosely received,
a transfer device (17) for the loose insertion of the one or more blister packs (50) in the packaging container (60), and
a closing device (44) for closing the packaging containers (60),
characterized in that
the unit (31) for producing packaging containers (60) has a forming station (38) for forming cup-shaped receiving portions (61) into a forming film (32a), and that
the closing device (44) for closing the packaging containers (60) comprises a sealing station which serves for sealing a second cover film (42) to the shaped shaped film (32a). Device (1) for producing a package (70) for tablets according to claim 9, characterized in that the unit (3) for producing blister packs (50), the unit (31) for producing packaging containers (60), the transfer device ( 17) for inserting the blister packs (50) into the packaging containers (60) and the closing device (44) for closing the packaging containers (60) are formed as components of a single machine. Device (1) for producing a packaging (70) for tablets according to claim 10, characterized in that the entire machine has a length of at most 10 m, preferably at most 8 m. Device (1) for producing a packaging (70) for tablets according to one of Claims 9 to 11, characterized in that it also has a stamping station (56) downstream of the sealing station, in which a filled and sealed packaging container (60) consists of a packaging container strand is punched out. Device (1) for producing a packaging (70) for tablets according to one of Claims 9 to 12, characterized in that it has a heating station (36) upstream of the forming station (38) for heating the forming film (32a). Device (1) for producing a package (70) for tablets according to one of claims 9 to 13, characterized in that the transfer device (17) for the loose insertion of the one or more blister packs (50) into the packaging container (60) as a transfer shaft ( 20) is formed, the blister packs (50) controlled outputs down. Device (1) for producing a packaging (70) for tablets according to claim 14, characterized in that the transfer shaft (20) is movable laterally.

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