U.S. patent application number 11/658111 was filed with the patent office on 2008-06-12 for product carrier strip.
This patent application is currently assigned to SCHREINER GROUP GMBH & CO. KG. Invention is credited to Rolf Pohl.
Application Number | 20080135446 11/658111 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34958392 |
Filed Date | 2008-06-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080135446 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pohl; Rolf |
June 12, 2008 |
Product Carrier Strip
Abstract
A product carrier strip (1) comprising a transponder circuit (2,
3). When the product carrier strip is used, it is possible to trace
back medicaments from a patient to a manufacturer, for example, for
each individual product strip which is usually sold in an external
packaging, together with several other product carrier strips.
Product carrier strips with metallic extruded films (7) comprise a
recess (8) whose edge is used as an antenna. a non-metallic
extruded film is provided according to one varient of the
invention.
Inventors: |
Pohl; Rolf; (Laupheim,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
COLLARD & ROE, P.C.
1077 NORTHERN BOULEVARD
ROSLYN
NY
11576
US
|
Assignee: |
SCHREINER GROUP GMBH & CO.
KG
Oberschleissheim
DE
|
Family ID: |
34958392 |
Appl. No.: |
11/658111 |
Filed: |
July 20, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
July 20, 2004 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP04/08119 |
371 Date: |
February 13, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/716 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61J 1/035 20130101;
A61J 7/04 20130101; A61J 7/0418 20150501 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/716 |
International
Class: |
B65D 85/00 20060101
B65D085/00 |
Claims
1. A product carrier strip (1), wherein it has a transponder
circuit (2, 3).
2. The product carrier strip (1) according to claim 1, comprising a
blister film (6) having bubble-shaped receptacle chambers (4) for
products (5).
3. The product carrier strip (1) according to claim 2, wherein it
has multiple receptacle chambers (4).
4. The product carrier strip (1) according to claim 1, wherein the
products (5) are pharmaceuticals.
5. The product carrier strip (1) according to at claim 2,
comprising at least one push-through film (7), which closes the
bubble-shaped receptacle chambers (4).
6. The product carrier strip according to claim 3, wherein the
push-through film (7) is metallic and has at least one recess
(8).
7. The product carrier strip (1) according to claim 6, wherein the
area of the push-through film (7) enclosing the recess (8) is an
antenna for the transponder circuit (3).
8. The product carrier strip according to claim 6, wherein the
transponder circuit (3) is situated in the area of the recess
(8).
9. The product carrier strip according to claim 6, wherein the
transponder circuit (3) is electrically coupled to the metallic
push-through film (7).
10. The product carrier strip (1) according to claim 5, wherein the
push-through film (7) is non-metallic.
11. The product carrier strip (1) according to claim 5, wherein the
push-through film (7) comprises plastic.
12. The product carrier strip (1) according to claim 5, wherein the
push-through film (7) comprises a polymer.
13. The product carrier strip (1) according to claim 5, wherein the
push-through film (7) comprises a polypropylene.
14. The product carrier strip (1) according to claim 5, wherein the
push-through film (7) comprises non-elastic polypropylene.
15. The product carrier strip (1) according to claim 5, wherein the
push-through film (7) is electrically non-conductive.
16. The product carrier strip (1) according to claim 10, wherein
the transponder circuit (2) has an operating frequency of 10 to 15
MHz.
17. The product carrier strip (1) according to claim 1, wherein the
transponder circuit (3) has an operating frequency of 850 MHz to
2.5 GHz.
18. The product carrier strip (1) according to claim 17, wherein
the transponder circuit (3) has a UHF chip.
19. The product carrier strip (1) according to claim 1, wherein the
transponder circuit (2) has an antenna (10).
20. The product carrier strip (1) according to claim 19, wherein
the antenna (10) is etched.
21. The product carrier strip (1) according to claim 19, wherein
the antenna (10) is printed.
22. The product carrier strip (1) according to claim 19, wherein
the antenna (10) is printed on the push-through film (7).
23. The product carrier strip (1) according to claim 1, wherein the
transponder circuit (2) contains a tablet removal sensor
system.
24. The product carrier strip (1) according to claim 1, wherein the
transponder circuit (2) is situated on at least one receptacle
chamber (4).
Description
AREA OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a product carrier strip.
Product carrier strips are frequently used to present products,
such as pharmaceuticals, candies, parts of technical assemblies and
the like to the consumer clearly and--in the case of
pharmaceuticals and foods--hygienically.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Above all in the pharmaceutical field, the problem arises of
being able to track pharmaceuticals from the patient back to the
producer, for each individual product carrier strip, which has
typically been sold in an external package together with multiple
other product carrier strips. The identification of the individual
product carrier strip is to occur as rapidly as possible and
without great effort being expended.
IDEA OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention is therefore based on the object of
developing a product carrier strip which permits completely
automatic identification as much as possible even when it is
located in an external package.
[0004] This object is achieved in that the product carrier strip
has a transponder circuit. With the aid of electromagnetic
transponder technology, serial number, batch number, expiration
date, etc., of the pharmaceutical tablets situated on a product
carrier strip according to the present invention may be detected
and electronically stored if desired, for example. The detection
may be performed automatically, for example, when the product
carrier strip passes through a gate in a larger external
package--possibly together with other product carrier strips.
Contact between product and read device or precise geometric
orientation in relation to the read device, as is necessary for
optical detection of characters or codes, may be dispensed
with.
[0005] According to an advantageous embodiment, the product carrier
strip comprises a blister film, which has a bubble-shaped
receptacle chambers for products. The number of the receptacle
chambers is arbitrary, however, typically multiple (more than two)
receptacle chambers are provided.
[0006] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the
bubble-shaped receptacle chambers are closed by at least one
push-through film.
[0007] If the push-through film is metallic, according to an
especially advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the
film is provided with a recess. The edge of the recess acts as an
antenna for the electromagnetic query and response signals. It is
advantageous to situate the transponder circuit in the area of the
recess, it also being advantageous to couple the transponder
circuit via a wire bridge to the push-through film, or more
precisely, to the part of the push-through film which encloses the
recess, in order to connect the transponder circuit to the antenna
in this way.
[0008] According to an especially advantageous embodiment of the
present invention, a non-metallic (electrically non-conductive)
film is used as the push-through film. Providing recesses in the
push-through film may be dispensed with in this embodiment of the
present invention. Plastic films, polymer films, polypropylene
films, and particularly non-elastic polypropylene films have been
shown to be suitable as non-metallic films. However, the latter
film is especially advantageous, since the film tears immediately
due to the non-elasticity, as soon as the consumer pushes in a
receptacle chamber of the blister film in order to press a product,
such as a tablet, through the push-through film out of the
receptacle chamber. The effect is similar to the effect with the
metallic push-through films typically used for blister strips.
[0009] According to an advantageous embodiment of the present
invention, a transponder circuit whose operating frequency is in
the range from 10 to 15 MHz is used in connection with non-metallic
push-through films.
[0010] However, it is also possible to operate transponder circuits
at an operating frequency of 850 MHz to 2.5 GHz. Transponder
circuits having this operating frequency, which are advantageously
equipped with a UHF chip component, may also advantageously be used
in product carrier strips having metallic push-through film, if it
is provided with a recess.
[0011] As explained above, metallic push-through films which are
provided with a recess may also be used as an antenna, in
particular if transponder circuits having an operating frequency of
850 MHz to 2.5 GHz are used. Antennas for the transponder circuit
may be attached to the product carrier strip, in particular to the
push-through film, however. Printing the antenna or etching the
antenna out of a metal layer have been shown to be especially
advantageous, since these procedures may be incorporated into the
production process for product carrier strips.
[0012] According to an advantageous refinement of the present
invention, the transponder is provided with a removal sensor
system, by which it is determined when a product is removed from
the product carrier strip. The transponder stores the removal event
with the date and possibly also with the time of day. The consumer
behavior may thus also be "queried", which is of special
significance in the pharmaceutical field in particular (research of
the "patient compliance").
[0013] According to a further embodiment of the present invention,
the transponder circuit is situated on at least one receptacle
chamber. In this configuration, the transponder circuit is situated
at a distance to the push-through film which corresponds to the
height of the receptacle chamber area even if the push-through film
is metallic, sufficient transmission and/or reception quality may
be ensured as a result of the distance between the transponder
circuit and the push-through film.
[0014] The present invention will be explained in greater detail in
the following on the basis of the exemplary embodiments
schematically illustrated in the drawing. The figures of the
drawing are not to scale, in particular, the thicknesses of the
various layers shown are drawn greatly enlarged in relation to
their other dimensions for reasons of visibility.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0015] FIG. 1 shows a product carrier strip according to a first
embodiment of the present invention in longitudinal section;
[0016] FIG. 2 shows the product carrier strip from FIG. 1 in a top
view;
[0017] FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of a product carrier strip
according to the present invention in longitudinal section;
[0018] FIG. 4 shows the product carrier strip from FIG. 3 in a
section along section line IV-IV in FIG. 3.
[0019] FIG. 5 shows a further embodiment of a product carrier strip
according to the present invention in longitudinal section;
[0020] FIG. 6 shows the product carrier strip from FIG. 5 in a view
from below;
[0021] FIG. 7 shows a product carrier strip according to a further
embodiment of the present invention in longitudinal section;
[0022] FIG. 8 shows the product carrier strip from FIG. 7 in a top
view.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0023] FIG. 1 shows a product carrier strip 1 according to a first
embodiment of the present invention in longitudinal section. The
product carrier strip 1 has a blister film 6, in which multiple
receptacle chambers 4 for tablets 5 are molded. The blister film 6
is welded to a push-through film 7 made of plastic, made of
non-elastic polypropylene in the example. The push-through film 7
is situated on the blister film 6 in such a way that the receptacle
chambers 4 of the blister film 6 are closed by the push-through
film 7 and the tablets 5 are enclosed in the receptacle chambers 4.
In order to remove the tablets 5, the consumer typically presses
with his thumb against a receptacle chamber 4, while he holds the
product carrier strip on the side of the push-through film with his
index and middle fingers. The receptacle chamber 4 of the blister
film 6 deforms due to the pressure and the tablets 5 is pressed
against the push-through film 7, so that this breaks because of the
strain and the tablet 5 leaves the product strip.
[0024] A transponder circuit 2 is attached to a section free of
receptacle chambers (at the right end of the product carrier strip
1 in FIG. 1). The transponder circuit 2 contains a chip 3 and an
antenna 10. The transponder circuit is attached to the blister film
6 using adhesive and sealed using a protective film in the
example.
[0025] Since the push-through film is manufactured from plastic
and, as a result, is non-conductive, the operation of the
transponder circuit 2 is not disturbed. With the aid of the
transponder circuit 2, which has an operating frequency of 13.56
MHz in the example, the product carrier strip 1 may be identified
even when it is located in an external package. Relevant data are
stored in the chip 3, such as serial number, batch number, and
expiration date, and the transponder circuit 2 transmits this data
to the query circuit in response to an appropriate query
signal.
[0026] FIG. 2 shows the product carrier strip 1 from FIG. 1 in a
top view. A total of 12 receptacle chambers 4 may be seen, each of
which contains one tablet. Furthermore, the transponder circuit 2
may be seen.
[0027] FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of a product carrier strip
1 according to the present invention in longitudinal section. The
product carrier strip is constructed similarly to the product
carrier strip from FIGS. 1 and 2. In particular, it has a blister
film 6, in which receptacle chambers 4 are molded. The blister film
6 is connected to a push-through film 7 in such a way that the
receptacle chambers 4 are closed by the push-through film 7.
However, in contrast to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the
transponder circuit 2 is situated lying between the blister film 6
and the push-through film 7. An antenna 10 comprising two turns and
a chip component 3 may be recognized in FIG. 3.
[0028] It is to be noted on the production technology that the
antenna 10 was printed onto the push-through film 7 and the chip 3
was attached to the push-through film 7 using adhesive before the
push-through film 7 has been welded to the blister film 6.
[0029] FIG. 4 shows the product carrier strip from FIG. 3 in a
section along section line IV-IV in FIG. 3. As may be seen from
FIG. 4, the antenna 10, which is only shown comprising two turns
for reasons of clarity, runs along the edges of the two films 6 and
7. In reality, the antenna 10 contains further turns. Since the
antenna 10 runs largely at the edge of the product carrier strip 1,
it encloses a large area which is penetrated by field lines of the
magnetic query signal, which has a positive result in a stronger
antenna signal and finally in an increased range.
[0030] Notwithstanding the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the
transponder circuit 2 comprising chip 3 and antenna 10 may be
attached to the external side of the push-through film 7, which is
preferable in many cases from manufacturing technology aspects.
[0031] FIG. 5 shows a product carrier strip 1 according to a third
embodiment of the present invention in longitudinal section. The
product carrier strip 1 has a blister film 6, in which multiple
receptacle chambers 4 for tablets 5 are molded. The blister film 6
is welded to a metallic push-through film 7, made of aluminum in
the example. The push-through film 6 is situated on the blister
film 6 in such a way that the receptacle chambers 4 of the blister
film 6 are closed by the push-through film 7 and the tablets 5 are
enclosed in the receptacle chambers 4. In order to remove the
tablets 5, the consumer typically presses using his thumb against a
receptacle chamber 4, while he holds the product carrier strip on
the side of the push-through film using his index and middle
fingers. The receptacle chamber 4 of the blister film 6 deforms due
to the pressure and the tablet 5 is pressed against the
push-through film 7, so that this breaks because of the strain and
the tablet 5 leaves the product strip 1.
[0032] In a section free of receptacle chambers (on the right end
of the product carrier strip 1 in FIG. 5), the push-through film 7
is removed in an area, in other words: a recess 8 is provided in
the push-through film 7. The recess 8 may be implemented by typical
stamping technology. A chip 3 is situated in the center of the
recess which implements the transponder circuit. The chip 3 is
bonded to the metallic push-through film 7.
[0033] The edge of the metallic push-through film 7 running along
the recess 8 acts as an antenna, and the antenna signal is
transmitted to the chip 3.
[0034] With the aid of the transponder circuit comprising the chip
3, which has an operating frequency of 915 MHz in the example, the
product carrier strip 1 may be identified, even when it is located
in an external package. Relevant data, such as serial number, batch
number, and expiration date, are stored in the chip 3. The
transponder circuit transmits this data to the query circuit in
response to a corresponding query signal.
[0035] It is possible to operate the transponder circuit at a
frequency in the range from 850 MHz to 2.5 GHz due to the recess 8
in the metallic push-through film, the edge of the recess 8 is used
as an antenna simultaneously.
[0036] FIG. 6 shows the product carrier strip 1 from FIG. 5 in a
view from below. The chip component 3 situated in the recess 8 may
be recognized, which is coupled to the metallic push-through film
7. The transponder circuit (chip 3 and edge of the recess 8) may be
protected by being sealed over using a protective film (not shown),
if the concrete application makes this seem appropriate.
[0037] FIG. 7 shows a product carrier strip 1 according to a
further embodiment of the present invention in longitudinal
section. The product carrier strip 1 has a blister film 6, in which
multiple receptacle chambers 4 for tablets 5 are molded. The
blister film 6 is welded to a push-through film 7 made of metal,
aluminum in the example. The push-through film 7 is situated on the
blister film 6 in such a way that the receptacle chambers 4 of the
blister film 6 are closed by the push-through film 7 and the
tablets 5 are enclosed in the receptacle chambers 4.
[0038] Four receptacle chambers 4 are not filled with tablets on
one section (at the right end of the product carrier strip 1 in
FIG. 7). A transponder circuit 2 is attached to these empty
receptacle chambers 4 using adhesive. The transponder circuit 2
contains a chip 3 and an antenna 10. The transponder circuit is
attached to the blister film 6 using adhesive and sealed over using
a protective film in the example.
[0039] If a transponder is situated on a metal surface, the
operation is significantly interfered with, which is noticeable due
to a reduced transmission and/or reception power and therefore a
lower query distance. The interference may even cause the operation
to fail completely. Since the transponder circuit 2 is located at a
distance to the push-through film 7 which corresponds to the height
of the receptacle chambers 4, the operation of the transponder
circuit 2 is not interfered with by the metallic push-through film
7. The product carrier strip 1 may be identified with the aid of
the transponder circuit 2, which has an operating frequency of
13.56 MHz in the example, even when it is located in an external
package. Relevant data are stored in the chip 3, such as serial
number, batch number, and expiration date, and--in the case of a
removal sensor system--data of the removal times, and the
transponder circuit 2 transmits this data to the query circuit in
response to a corresponding query signal.
[0040] FIG. 8 shows the product carrier strip 1 from FIG. 7 in a
top view. A total of 16 receptacle chambers 4 may be recognized,
four of which are used as support pillars for the transponder
circuit 2.
* * * * *