EP3204297B1 - Method for packaging articles in bubble wrap - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method for packaging objects in blister packs from a receiving part receiving the object, which is closed after receiving the object by a tool strip, and a device therefor.

State of the art

The term blister designates in the packaging industry a generally transparent packaging, which serves to accommodate a variety of items. Above all, the so-called drug blistering is known. These are tablet packages in which the tablets can be pushed through an aluminum back panel. Today, however, also any other objects and in particular medical equipment are presented in blister packs.

For example, the shows DE 10 2010 032 944 A1 a blister pack for toothbrushes. In this case, blister bubbles for receiving the objects are formed in advance from a plastic strip, which, for example, by Heating and application of a vacuum can be done. After inserting the object these blister bubbles are closed or welded by a corresponding cover layer of cardboard or plastic film.

Also in the DE 20 2006 004 323 U1 is shown a blister pack for contact lenses. Again, the blister pack consists of a blister tray and a cover sheet. The blister tray is made in one piece from a plastic film strip by deep drawing. It consists of a substantially planar body from which a cup and a trough are formed by deep drawing. Around the cup around a mounting surface runs on the top of the flat body. The cover film is sealingly and manually releasably connected to the blister shell along the circumferential attachment surface and closes the contact lens and the liquid sterile.

The GB 2 130 543 A discloses a method for packaging articles in blister packs from an article receiving receptacle which is closed upon receipt of the article by a strip of material.

The EP 0 284 529 A1 discloses, inter alia, a package having a backing for one or more products to be packaged, wherein a sheet of synthetic material covers the backing and the product.

The US 3,022,614 A discloses a method for packaging articles in blister packs wherein the articles may vary in shape and extent
However, today's problem consists in the fact that especially in the medical sector, the requirements for blister packs are becoming ever higher. They must be made of special plastics that meet all hygienic requirements, and at the same time easy to manufacture and be usable. On the other hand, the number of pieces for the individual items decreases more and more, so that a variety of different blister packs must be kept ready for the variety of different objects.

task

Object of the present invention is to develop a method of the type mentioned above, with which it is possible to economically offer premium blister packs, since they are used in the same design for a variety of items.

Solution of the task

To achieve the object results in that the receiving part is at least partially adapted to the object to be packaged.

This basic idea of the present invention, which is defined by the appended claims, has the significant advantage that it is now no longer necessary to produce a separate blister pack for each item to be packaged, but the same blister pack can be used for a large number of items in accordance with their spatial configuration , It is only necessary to have certain sizes of blister pack ready, which are based on the length, width and height of the items. For a smaller item can always find a blister pack with a larger receiving part application.

• das Aufnahmeteil zusammen mit dem Gegentand in ihm in ein Werkzeug eingelegt und
• der Bereich des Aufnahmeteils oberhalb des Werkzeuges erwärmt, wonach
• im Bereich des Aufnahmeteils um den Gegenstand herum das Aufnahmeteil von innen entlüftet oder von aussen mit Druck beaufschlagt wird, sodass sich in dem Aufnahmeteil ein Raum für den Gegenstand ausbildet und
• danach dieser Raum für den Gegenstand von dem Werkstoffstreifen verschlossen wird.

In a preferred embodiment of the method

• the receiving part together with the Gegentand inserted into it in a tool and
• heated the area of the receiving part above the tool, after which
• in the region of the receiving part around the object around the receiving part is vented from the inside or pressurized from the outside with pressure, so that forms a space for the object in the receiving part and
• then this space for the object is closed by the material strip.

This means that the receiving part of the blister pack can maintain its actual shape, but still for a variety of items is usable. The peripheral frame can maintain its sharp edge necessary for the adjustment of the blister pack in automatic packaging machines. This frame also still protects the product in the receiving part. Overall, the receiving part also remains stackable, since it consists of an approximately as always shaped, but the same interior, which is circulated by a frame. As a result, these receiving parts are also stackable and easily transported to the filler. Of course, the inner receiving space may have any geometric configuration. For a variety of products, however, only a few geometric configurations of receiving spaces are necessary. This means that these recording parts can be produced in very high quantities, which significantly reduces production costs. As a result, of course, higher quality material can also be used. Nevertheless, the process remains economically favorable. Furthermore, it is of course particularly advantageous that the object to be packaged is relatively fixed in the receiving part, whereby a gentle transport of the object is possible.

An essential part of the inventive method is that only a portion of the receiving part is heated. This is the part of the area that should be placed around the object to be packaged. In general, it will be the bottom of the receiving space or even just a portion of this soil. All of this is to be encompassed by the inventive idea.

The venting has the advantage over the pressurization that the process is easier to control. On the basis of the increase in the vacuum can be determined whether a sufficient venting has taken place, so that the receiving part has as far as possible or to a required extent wrapped around the object. The pressurization from the outside to the deformation of the receiving part around the object is possible and conceivable and also has the advantage that the heated area of the receiving part again is cooled. However, this must be controlled very precisely, so that not too early cooling takes place, which makes it impossible to include the object or only partially allowed. For this reason, the vacuum variant of the invention will probably be preferred.

A further improvement of the inventive method is to close the receiving part with the inserted item before heating with a sheet. After heating or after enclosing the object, the receiving part must be closed by the material strip. For this it is usually necessary to take the receiving part together with the object from the tool and to turn. There is a risk that the object falls out of the receiving part. An on or on-sheet prevents this. This sheet can be removed before closing with the strip of material or else be designed so that it remains in its position of use. As just mentioned, the receiving part is closed with the inserted object by a strip of material, in particular sealed. What material consists of this material strip is of minor importance. Preferred are films made of plastic, aluminum or cellulose.

Furthermore, a device, which is not part of the invention, for carrying out the method described above, which consists of at least two tool parts which receive the receiving part with inserted object between them. The term tool part should be very broad. In one embodiment, in which the method according to the invention uses vacuum, this tool part has a heat dispenser for partially heating the receiving part above the inserted object. The other tool part is associated with a vacuum device, so that the space around the inserted object can be evacuated.

In the method according to the invention, in which pressure is applied, the receiving part rests with a loaded object on a tool part of whatever kind and is acted upon by the other tool part with heat and at the same time pressure. Here, a suitable compressed gas will be used. Certainly, however, other pressure media or pressure generators are conceivable, even mechanical pressure generators, such as corresponding punches or the like, which form the receiving part around the object to be removed.

figure description

• Figur 1 eine Draufsicht auf eine Blisterverpackung;
• Figur 2 a) -c) schematische Darstellungen des erfindunsgemässen Verfahrens zum Verpacken von Gegenständen in Blisterverpackungen.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments and from the drawing; this shows in

• FIG. 1 a plan view of a blister pack;
• FIG. 2 a) c) schematic representations of the erfindunsgemässen method for packaging objects in blister packs.

In FIG. 1 is an object 1, for example, a pair of tweezers shown, which is inserted in a blister pack P. The blister pack P forms in a receiving part 2 a receiving space 3 for the object 1, which, in many cases, can be made transparent. This receiving space 3 is surrounded by an edge 4, which is flat and usually rigid.

For better handling of such blister packages P, a certain sharp edge edge 4 is necessary to control automated packaging. Furthermore, this frame 4 protects the product in the receiving space 3. It should also be emphasized that such receiving parts 2 are easily stackable.

After inserting the article 1 in the receiving space 3 of the receiving part 2 of the blister pack P of this receiving space 3 is closed by a strip of material, usually sealed. As a material for the material strip 5, a film of plastic, aluminum or cardboard offers. This is of lesser importance to the invention.

The inventive packaging method for the article 1 in the blister pack P is as follows:
According to FIG. 2 a) the receiving part 2 and the article 1 is spent together in a skin tool 6.1, 6.2. In this case, between a lower tool part 6.2 and the object 1 or the receiving part 2, a sheet 7 is inserted, which only has the purpose to prevent the object 1 when removing the receiving part 2 from the tool after inserting the article 1 in the Receiving part 2 falls out of this.

It is further indicated that the lower tool part 6.2 has a vent hole 8 which is connected to a vacuum source not shown in detail.

In a next process step is according to FIG. 2 b) the upper tool part 6.1 moved against the lower tool part 6.2 and, as indicated by arrows 9, a bottom 10 of the receiving part 2 is acted upon by heat. As a result, the receiving part 2 partially, that is, heated only in the region of the bottom 10 or even in a portion of the bottom 10, so that this floor can deform.

Now, the receiving space 3 is evacuated through the vent hole 8 due to the applied vacuum, wherein the bottom 10 of the receiving part 2 deforms. He lies down over the object 1 and framed this object 1. He forms quasi the object 1 from.

In a further method step, the tool 6.1, 6.2 is opened and the receiving part 2, as in FIG. 2c) indicated, turned. The sheet 7 can now be removed or remain on the receiving part 2. The receiving space 3 is now closed with the material strip 5, wherein this material strip 5 is welded onto the frame 4 of the receiving part 2. Thus, the object 1 is fixed in the receiving space 3. <B> LIST OF REFERENCES </ b> 1 object 34 67 2 receiving part 35 68 3 accommodation space 36 69 4 frame 37 70 5 Material strip 38 71 6 Tool 39 72 7 sheet 40 73 8th vent hole 41 74 9 warming 42 75 10 ground 43 76 11 44 77 12 45 78 13 46 79 14 47 15 48 16 49 17 50 18 51 19 52 20 53 21 54 22 55 23 56 P blister 24 57 25 58 26 59 27 60 28 61 29 62 30 63 31 64 32 65 33 66

Claims (5)

1. A method for packaging items (1) in blister packaging (P) comprising a receiving part (2) which receives the item (1) and is closed by a material strip (5) after receiving the item (1), wherein the receiving part (2) is at least partially adapted to the item (1) to be packed,
   wherein

   - the receiving part (2) forms a receiving space (3) for the item, which is encompassed by a partially rigid frame (4),

   - the receiving part (2), together with the item (1) therein, is inserted into a tool (6, 6.1, 6.2) and

   - the region of the receiving part (2) above the item (1) is heated, wherein the receiving part (2) is partially subjected to heat in that it is heated only in the region of a base (10) or only in a partial region of a base (10), which is intended to lie around the item to be packed, whereby

   - in the region of the receiving part (2) around the item (1), the receiving part (2) is de-aerated from the inside or is subjected to pressure from the outside so that a space for the item (1) forms in the receiving part (2),

   - wherein only the base (10) of the receiving space (3) or a part thereof above the item (1) is deformed after heating or after being subjected to pressure, and

   - this space for the item (1) is then closed by the material strip (5).
2. The method according to Claim 1, characterised in that the receiving part (2), as it is inserted into the tool, has a sheet (7) placed beneath it and holding it in the receiving part (2).
3. The method according to Claim 2, characterized in that a strip of polyurethane is used as the sheet (numeral 7).
4. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the receiving part (2) is made from an at least partially heatable plastics material.
5. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the frame (4) is designed to be flat and rigid.

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