U.S. patent application number 12/110917 was filed with the patent office on 2008-11-06 for method of manufacturing packaging comprising pharmaceutical products.
This patent application is currently assigned to UHLMANN PAC-SYSTEMS GMBH & CO. KG. Invention is credited to Hans-Werner Bongers-Ambrosius, Siegfried Drost, Gunter Felk, Richard Mertens, Georg Pfau, Heino Prinz.
Application Number | 20080271417 12/110917 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38523451 |
Filed Date | 2008-11-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080271417 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Drost; Siegfried ; et
al. |
November 6, 2008 |
Method of Manufacturing Packaging Comprising Pharmaceutical
Products
Abstract
The method for producing a multi-day package containing various
drugs has the following steps: a bottom layer is formed with a
plurality of wells arranged in a pattern; a predetermined number of
different drugs is arranged in predetermined positions at various
dispensing stations of a filling device; the desired number of
drugs are picked in a controlled manner from their predetermined
positions at each dispensing station by at least one movable
suction or gripper device, and the drugs are deposited in the
predetermined wells; and a sealing film is applied to the bottom
layer to seal off the wells. In the course of this method, in at
least one dispensing station several suction or gripper devices,
which are arranged in correspondence with the pattern of the wells
in the multi-day package and which travel parallel to each other,
are actuated individually.
Inventors: |
Drost; Siegfried; (Laupheim,
DE) ; Felk; Gunter; (Ulm, DE) ; Pfau;
Georg; (Laupheim, DE) ; Bongers-Ambrosius;
Hans-Werner; (Laupheim, DE) ; Prinz; Heino;
(Laupheim, DE) ; Mertens; Richard; (Laupheim,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
JANSSON SHUPE & MUNGER LTD.
245 MAIN STREET
RACINE
WI
53403
US
|
Assignee: |
UHLMANN PAC-SYSTEMS GMBH & CO.
KG
Laupheim
DE
|
Family ID: |
38523451 |
Appl. No.: |
12/110917 |
Filed: |
April 28, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
53/443 ;
53/452 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 5/103 20130101;
A61J 7/0084 20130101; A61J 1/035 20130101; B65B 5/105 20130101;
A61M 2207/00 20130101; B65B 11/50 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
53/443 ;
53/452 |
International
Class: |
B65B 17/00 20060101
B65B017/00; B65B 35/36 20060101 B65B035/36; B65B 35/38 20060101
B65B035/38; B65B 43/00 20060101 B65B043/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 3, 2007 |
EP |
07 008 966.9 |
Claims
1. A method for producing a multi-day package containing various
drugs comprising the following steps: forming a bottom layer with a
plurality of wells arranged in a pattern; arranging a predetermined
number of different drugs in predetermined positions at various
dispensing stations of a filling device; picking the desired number
of drugs in a controlled manner from their predetermined positions
at each dispensing station by at least one movable suction or
gripper device, and placing the drugs in predetermined wells; and
applying a sealing film to the bottom layer to seal off the wells,
wherein, in at least one dispensing station, several suction or
gripper devices are arranged in correspondence with the pattern of
the wells in the multi-day package, are actuated individually and
travel parallel to each other.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of arranging a
predetermined number of a drug in predetermined positions at a
dispensing station of a filling device includes the following
steps: forming a base layer extending a considerable distance in
the longitudinal and transverse directions, as a result of which
the plurality of supply-blister pockets is obtained; and loading
the drugs into the supply-blister pockets; sealing the
supply-blister pockets with a temporary sealing film, which is
applied adhesively to the webs of the base layer between the
supply-blister pockets, as a result of which a supply-blister sheet
is formed; and partially removing the temporary sealing film from
the supply-blister sheet to release a predetermined number of drugs
to the suction or gripper devices.
3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the additional step
that, before the step of removing the temporary sealing film from
the supply-blister sheet, the supply-blister sheet is cut into
supply-blister sections, and the supply-blister sections are
arranged on rolls at the dispensing station transversely to the
transport direction of the multi-day package.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of arranging a
predetermined number of a drug in predetermined positions at a
dispensing station of a filling device comprises the step of
filling the holders of a sorting plate with drugs, the holders
being arranged in correspondence with the pattern of the multi-day
package.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein the sorting plate is filled
completely by an oscillating movement of a vibrating chute,
followed by a brushing movement of a brush device.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein each of the minimum of one suction
or gripper devices is monitored by means of a camera or by
sensors.
7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the additional steps
that perforations are introduced into the bottom layer and into the
sealing film between the wells.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority based on European patent
application EP 07 008 966.9, filed May 3, 2007.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention pertains to methods for producing multi-day
packages which contain various drugs for several days and for
several administration times.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
[0003] The multiple blister pockets of conventional blister packs
are intended to hold a single type of medicament. A device for
filling these conventional blister packs is described in, for
example, DE 199 26 893 C2.
[0004] In the treatment of patients with chronic diseases, however,
there is often room for improvement with respect to the patient's
ability to take his or her medicaments consistently in accordance
with the prescribed therapy. This is especially true when different
sets of tablets must be taken at different times of day. To provide
a memory aid which helps the patient take his or her medicaments
correctly and also to ensure a reliable overview as to which
medicaments have already been taken, DE 10 2004 034 024 A1
describes a blister pack in which the drug pockets are arranged in
a matrix divided into days of the week and administration times
with seven lines and at least three columns. The individual drug
pockets are designed as tub-like wells formed in a thin layer of
plastic, and all the tablets which are to be taken at a particular
time of day are put together in one of these wells. All the drug
pockets are covered with blister film, and the sections assigned to
the individual administration times are separated from each other
by perforations, so that the individual administration sections for
certain times of day and certain days of the week can be easily
separated from the rest of the pack.
[0005] A method for producing a packaging unit of this type to
accommodate the patient's medicaments for a week is known from, for
example, DE 10 2004 020 510 A1. Strip-like supply-blister packs
containing the individual medicaments are wound up into rolls. At
various dispensing stations, the strips are conveyed over the
above-described packaging unit in the transverse direction, and
plungers are used to push the medicaments out of the strip-like
supply-blister pack into the tub-like wells of the packaging unit.
The packaging unit, designed as a "one-week blister", is sealed as
a whole with sealing film.
[0006] The above-mentioned production method is relatively
cumbersome, however, because of the complicated mechanisms required
and the double packaging step of the tablets. The method is also
critical from a contamination standpoint, because, when the tablets
are pushed out by the plungers, tablet dust is created, which
settles on the plungers and in the tub-like wells.
[0007] Another production method is known from DE 10 2005 047 429
A1. Here a system for filling one-week blister packs is disclosed,
which is intended primarily for situations in which comparatively
small numbers of patients are involved (e.g., in clinical centers).
Standard commercial blister packs are stored in stacks in sector
magazines, each of which can be rotated to release a blister
holding the desired type of tablet. The blister pocket, from which
the tablet is to be taken, is then opened by punching out the
blister cap. The blister cap is then removed by a suction pipette
integrated into the punching tool, whereupon the suction pipette is
also used to remove the tablet from the blister pocket and to load
it into the one-week blister pack. The overall method is extremely
complicated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It is an object of the present invention to create a method
for producing a multi-day package holding various drugs, the method
excluding contamination and being carried out easily and also very
quickly.
[0009] According to an embodiment of the invention, the method for
producing a multi-day package with various drugs includes the
following steps: a bottom layer is formed with a plurality of wells
arranged in a pattern; a predetermined number of different drugs is
arranged in predetermined positions at various dispensing stations
of a filling device; the desired number of drugs are picked from
their predetermined positions by at least one movable suction or
gripper device; the medicaments are deposited in the predetermined
wells; and a sealing film is applied to the bottom layer to seal
off the wells. In the course of this method, several suction or
gripper devices, which are arranged in correspondence with the
pattern of the wells in the multi-day package and which are movable
parallel to each other, are actuated individually in at least one
dispensing station.
[0010] Thus, a multi-day package containing various drugs is
produced in an especially simple manner, quickly and without risk
of contamination.
[0011] In one embodiment, the arrangement of a predetermined number
of a drug in predetermined positions at a dispensing station of a
filling device includes the following steps: a base layer extending
a considerable distance in the longitudinal and transverse
directions is formed, as a result of which a plurality of
supply-blister pockets is obtained; drugs are loaded into the
supply-blister pockets; the supply-blister pockets are sealed by a
temporary sealing film, which is applied adhesively to the webs of
the base layer between the supply-blister pockets, as a result of
which a supply-blister sheet is formed; and the temporary sealing
film is partially removed from the supply-blister sheet to release
a predetermined number of drugs to the suction or gripper devices.
As a result, it is guaranteed that the drugs remain protected in
the supply-blister pockets even during long periods of storage.
[0012] It can be advantageous to cut the supply-blister sheet into
supply-blister sections before the step of removing the temporary
sealing film and to arrange the wound-up blister sections at the
dispensing stations transversely to the transport direction of the
multi-day package. As a result, effective access to individual,
seldom-used tablets is possible. The supply-blister sections are
not necessarily limited to a single strip-like row of
supply-blister pockets but can have instead several supply-blister
pockets next to each other, so that the simultaneous removal of
drugs from several supply-blister pockets by several suction or
gripper devices is possible not only transversely, but also
longitudinally to the transport direction of the multi-day
package.
[0013] In another embodiment, the arrangement of a predetermined
number of a drug in predetermined positions at a dispensing station
of a filling device can also include the step of filling the
holders of a sorting plate with drugs, the holders being arranged
in accordance with the pattern of the wells of the multi-day
package. This is especially effective when a large number of these
drugs are to be packed into each multi-day package. The sorting
plate can be very easily filled by using a vibrating chute to
supply the tablets and then to apply brushing movement.
[0014] It is also possible to apply the two embodiments of the
method described above in combination, that is, at different
dispensing stations of the same device.
[0015] To simplify quality control, the suction or gripper device
is preferably monitored by a camera or by means of sensors.
[0016] By means of the additional step of introducing perforations
into the bottom layer and into the sealing film between the wells,
the possibility is obtained of being able to separate individual
sections for specific administration times of specific days from
the multi-day package.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] Additional details, features, and advantages of the present
invention can be derived from the following description, which
makes reference to the attached drawings.
[0018] FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of a multi-day package
containing various medicaments after the sealing film has been
partially removed;
[0019] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view through the multi-day
package of FIG. 1;
[0020] FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a first alternative of the
inventive method for producing the multi-day package;
[0021] FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a second alternative of the
inventive method for producing the multi-day package;
[0022] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a first filling method
which can be used in the inventive production method; and
[0023] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a second filling method
which can be used in the inventive production method.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0024] FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of an example of a multi-day
package 1. The packaging unit 1 comprises several segments 3, each
of which is assigned to a certain time of day of a certain day of
the week and can hold several medicaments. The segments 3 are
arranged in columns and rows and are preferably separated by
perforations 2, wherein, in the exemplary embodiment shown here,
the first row 4 stands, for example, for "Monday", the second row 5
for "Tuesday", etc. The division into columns corresponds to the
different administration times of the medicaments during the course
of a specific day of the week, wherein, for example, the first
column 6 is assigned to the administration time "morning", the
second column 7 to the administration time "noon", the third column
8 to the administration time "evening", and the fourth column 9 to
the administration time "night". It is also possible to package
medicaments for more than 7 or less than 7 days in the multi-day
package (e.g., a blister pack for a whole month) or to include only
certain administration times.
[0025] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of part of an inventive
packaging unit 1 with several adjacent segments 3. The segments 3
are formed out of a bottom layer 11, into which relatively large
wells 10 are formed, each of which can hold several drugs. The
bottom layer 11 consists preferably of PVC film, either transparent
or of any desired color, or it can consist of polypropylene or a
layer laminate with aluminum. The wells 10 can also have a shape
different from the tub-like form shown in FIG. 2 and can also be
arranged in almost any regular or irregular pattern, possibly a
circular pattern, for example.
[0026] Each well 10 is closed by a sealing film 12, which is bonded
adhesively to the webs 14 of the bottom layer located between the
wells 10. Aluminum foil, paper-lined foil, or polypropylene film
can be used as the sealing film 12. The sealing film 12 has no
perforations in the areas where it covers the wells 10, so that a
secure and long-lasting seal is provided for the drug until it is
needed. The perforations 2 in the webs 14 of the bottom layer 11,
which form the boundaries of the wells 10, and those in the sealing
film 12 can be seen between the individual segments 3.
[0027] When the sealing film 12 is pulled from the webs 14 around a
well 10, it is therefore possible to access all of the medicaments
intended for a certain administration time at once. For this
purpose it is important for the sealing film 12 to be relatively
tear-proof.
[0028] The sealing film 12 can also be imprinted with a list of the
medicaments contained in the individual wells 10. It is also
conceivable that an additional hinged cover could be provided, on
which information about the medicaments is presented.
[0029] A flow chart of a first embodiment of the inventive method
for producing the multi-day package is shown in FIG. 3.
[0030] First, wells 10 to hold the drugs are formed in a bottom
layer 11 (step 32). For this purpose, the bottom layer 11 is pulled
from a roll, possibly heated in a heating station, and then
provided with the wells 10 in a following forming station.
[0031] Then a predetermined number of different drugs are arranged
(step 34) in predetermined positions at various dispensing stations
of the filling station. The steps to be carried out for this
purpose in the case of the embodiment according to FIG. 3 are
explained in the following.
[0032] First, in step 35, a base layer of considerable size in the
longitudinal and transverse directions is formed, as a result of
which a large number of supply-blister pockets 16 is obtained. For
this purpose, the base layer is unwound from a roll, possibly
heated in a heating station, and provided with the supply-blister
pockets 16 in a forming station. Then the supply-blister pockets 16
are filled with drugs (step 36); the results are subjected to
quality control, and defective products are ejected. In the
following step 38, the supply-blister pockets 16 are closed by a
temporary sealing film, which is applied adhesively to the webs of
the base layer between the supply-blister pockets 16. For this
purpose, the temporary sealing film is unwound from a roll, applied
in a sealing station to the webs of the base layer between the
supply-blister pockets 16, and then cooled in a cooling
station.
[0033] Then the large supply-blister sheet thus produced is cut
into individual supply-blister sections (step 40). The cutting of
the supply-blister sheet into separate supply-blister sections
comprises preferably the cutting of the supply-blister sheet in the
longitudinal direction by means of a longitudinal cutter. In the
longitudinal cutter, the supply-blister sheet is cut in the
direction in which the supply-blister sheet is traveling. The cuts
are made preferably by circular knives mounted on a shaft. This
shaft will usually be located underneath the supply-blister sheet.
Above the supply-blister sheet there is a shaft on which a round
disk is mounted opposite each of the circular knives. The cut edge
is formed between the circular knife and the round disk. Hold-downs
press the supply-blister sheet from above against the guide to
ensure a straight cut. The longitudinal cutter is usually driven by
a motor and a toothed belt.
[0034] As a result, supply-blister sections are produced from the
supply-blister sheet, and these sections are then wound up into
rolls. A supply-blister section can be in the form of a strip, but
it can also have several supply-blister pockets 16 adjacent to each
other in the transverse direction. After that, the supply-blister
sections are unwound from the roll, and the temporary sealing film
is removed (step 42).
[0035] Then the medicaments are picked up in a controlled manner by
means of the movable suction or gripper devices 50 and placed in
the wells 10 (step 44).
[0036] FIG. 5, which is a schematic diagram of a filling method for
the above-mentioned embodiment, illustrates an example of a suction
device 50, which can move in the transverse direction. In this
schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment, the suction device 50
is a suction arm, which can move vertically and which is driven by
a control unit (not shown). The device is designed to pick up
individual tablets from the supply-blister pockets 16 from which
the sealing film 12 has previously been removed and to place them
in the individual desired wells 10 formed in the bottom layer 11.
Movement in the transverse direction along a rail 52 is also
conceivable, but any other guided movement which can be controlled
by the control unit can be used here.
[0037] Even though only one suction arm 50 is shown in the
schematic diagram, several parallel suction arms 50 are used
according to the invention, which are actuated independently so
that several tablets can be introduced into the wells 10
simultaneously. The bottom layer 11 is preferably transported in
interval fashion, and the multi-day package 1 will be filled with
the individual tablets row by row. Thus, several rows or segments 3
can be filled simultaneously. For this purpose it can also be
advisable for the suction arms 50 to be movable in the transport
direction of the multi-day package as well.
[0038] A camera 54, which is installed in the area of the suction
devices and which preferably moves along with them, serves to
monitor both the suction method and the correct placement of the
tablets in the wells 10 of the bottom layer 11. Other sensors are
also suitable for monitoring the picking and placing of the
tablets.
[0039] The last step is the sealing of the multi-day package with
the sealing film 12 (step 46).
[0040] The arrangement 34 of a predetermined number of a drug in
predetermined positions at a dispensing station of the filling
device can also be carried out in accordance with a second
embodiment, as can be seen from FIGS. 4 and 6.
[0041] In this case, the holders of a sorting plate 56, which are
arranged in correspondence with the pattern of the wells 10 in the
multi-day package, are filled with drugs. The individually
controlled suction or gripper devices 50 can be arranged above the
sorting plate 56 in correspondence with the pattern of the holders.
This is especially effective when large numbers of these drugs are
to be packed into each multi-day package. The placing of the drugs
onto the sorting plate 56 is preferably accomplished by means of a
vibrating chute. To ensure that all of the holders of the sorting
plate 56 are filled, a brushing movement with a brush device 58 is
then preferably carried out, which also takes care of removing
excess tablets from the sorting plate 56.
[0042] By means of the filling method shown schematically in FIG.
6, where, for reasons of clarity the sorting plate 56 is shown
reduced in size and where only two suction devices 50 of the matrix
arrangement of suction devices 50 corresponding to the pattern of
wells 10 in the multi-day package are shown, it is possible to pick
the drugs from the sorting plate 56 in any desired pattern and to
place them in the corresponding wells 10 in the multi-day package,
whereupon the empty holders are refilled.
[0043] It is possible to apply the embodiments of the method
described above in combination, that is, at different dispensing
stations of the same filling device.
[0044] Thus, in an especially simple and rapid manner, a multi-day
package for various drugs is created, in which the medicaments are
sorted by administration times.
* * * * *