EP1642844B1 - Packing for medical products conditioned in stackable bags, process and device to manufacture the same - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to the packaging of sterilized medical products packaged in antibacterial sachets, and it applies in particular to single-use products and typically to operative fields.

The GB publications 1,264,975 and US 3,478,868 describe simple packages that ensure the sterility of the product.

The packaging of GB Patent 1,264,975 presents, when opened, edges that surround the sterile opening on both sides.

The US patent package has an inner envelope that has an opening window, and an outer envelope that has a tear-off flap glued or sealed around the window.

The present invention relates to the packaging of products already contained in individual sachets or blisters maintaining sterility.

To be delivered to hospitals, these bags or blisters are usually put in cartons and to protect them from cardboard particles and possible stains, they are placed in an envelope which is then folded down, after which the cardboard is closed. This envelope consists of a plastic bag or a paperboard less likely to release particles than the outer carton. A similar packaging is disclosed in the publication US 3,520,401 .

The invention aims to avoid the disadvantages of these envelopes and to ensure dual antibacterial protection.

According to the invention, the packaging, designed to wrap a stack of sterilized medical products packaged in peelable sachets or anti-bacterial stackable blisters, is constituted by a sheet, impervious to bacteria but permeable to a sterilization gas, shaped around the stack to constitute a package whose volume substantially corresponds to that of the stack, said package having, opposite a vertical face of the stack, a sector of sheet partially precut to be able to be partly cut, lifted in order to release an opening sufficient to allow the extraction of a bag and put back in place to close the package, and said package being provided with a handle to lift it and extract it from a shipping carton.

The package according to the invention which contains the stack of sachets or blisters can be easily removed from the shipping carton, allows the transport of the bags, can be stored, and can serve as a dispenser.

In a preferred embodiment, the pre-cut sector has two vertical edges and a lower horizontal edge pre-cut and has an upper horizontal edge capable of constituting a hinge for folding the sector as a flap on the top of the package when the precut edges have been effectively torn, so as to clear access to the bags contained in the package.

"Partially precut" means that the sector is partially delimited by edges prepared to be cut on demand, for example by lines of weakening or integrated cutting means.

Preferably, the conformation of the sheet is obtained by placing the sheet in volume around the stack deposited on the sheet flat, with longitudinal and lateral welds of the sheet.

The gas permeability of the sheet may be obtained by perforations, which are preferably localized, at least for a portion of them, in the sector of the sheet which will constitute the folding flap.

• l'emballage est entouré par un ruban collé qui a été localement soulevé pour constituer l'anse ;
• l'emballage est constitué dans une feuille transparente ;
• la perméabilité de l'emballage au gaz de stérilisation est assurée par des perforations de la feuille dont les grosseurs sont insuffisantes pour permettre le passage des bactéries ;
• lesdites perforations sont situées au moins en partie dans ledit secteur de la feuille ;
• les bords déchirables de l'emballage sont constitués par des lignes de mini perforations.

In preferred embodiments, the package thus has one or more of the following characteristics:

• the wrapper is surrounded by a glued ribbon that has been locally raised to form the handle;
• the package is made of a transparent sheet;
• the permeability of the sterilization gas packaging is ensured by perforations of the sheet whose size is insufficient to allow the passage of bacteria;
• said perforations are located at least partly in said sector of the sheet;
• the tear-off edges of the package consist of lines of mini perforations.

The invention also relates to a method for individually packing the stacks of sachets.

• on approvisionne une nappe imperméable aux bactéries et au moins localement perméable à un gaz de stérilisation, qui présente une pluralité de secteurs échelonnés dans la direction de la longueur de la nappe ;
• on plie la nappe en U en sorte qu'elle présente un panneau de fond horizontal entre deux panneaux latéraux, l'un des panneaux latéraux comportant lesdits secteurs ;
• on dépose une à une les piles à emballer de place en place sur le panneau de fond de la nappe et entre les panneaux latéraux, en sorte que chaque pile présente une face latérale de la pile en vis-à-vis de l'un desdits secteurs ;
• on replie à plat sur les dessus de chaque pile les panneaux latéraux, on les soude entre eux sur la pile, et on supprime les parties excédentaires des panneaux latéraux soudés ;
• on rapproche l'un de l'autre les panneaux latéraux entre chaque pile, on les soude l'un à l'autre pour terminer l'emballage de la pile et on sépare les emballages contenant les piles ;
• on munit chaque emballage d'une anse de préhension.

According to the invention, operations are carried out in the most appropriate order in which:

• supplying a bacterially impermeable and at least locally permeable layer to a sterilization gas having a plurality of sectors staggered in the direction of the length of the web;
• the U-shaped web is folded so that it has a horizontal bottom panel between two side panels, one of the side panels comprising said sectors;
• the cells to be packaged are placed one by one from place to place on the bottom panel of the sheet and between the side panels, so that each stack has a side face of the stack facing one of said sectors;
• the side panels are folded flat on the tops of each stack, they are welded to one another on the stack, and the excess parts of the welded side panels are removed;
• the side panels are brought closer to each other between each stack, they are welded to one another to complete the packing of the stack and the packages containing the piles are separated;
• each package is provided with a handle.

• on constitue la poignée au moyen de rubans adhésifs qui forment une anse de préhension pour extraire l'emballage de la boite d'expédition ;
• on fait défiler la nappe dans le sens de la longueur de la nappe à un poste où l'on dépose les piles, successivement, sur la nappe ;
• on alimente ledit poste en piles au moyen d'un transporteur sans fin ;
• on fait défiler la nappe dans un conformateur en aval dudit poste pour la plier en U ;
• on utilise des rouleaux pour replier les panneaux latéraux de la nappe et pour pincer la nappe.

In preferred embodiments, the method of the invention still has one or more of the following characteristics:

• the handle is formed by means of adhesive tapes which form a handle to extract the package from the shipping box;
• the sheet is scrolled in the direction of the length of the sheet to a position where the piles are deposited successively on the sheet;
• said station is supplied with batteries by means of an endless conveyor;
• the web is scrolled in a shaper downstream of said station to bend U;
• rollers are used to fold the side panels of the web and to pinch the web.

The invention also relates to a device for packaging stacks of bags.

This device comprises means for scrolling the web according to the length of the web, an endless conveyor for supplying stacks of bags a station for successive removal of the batteries in the vicinity of the sectors of the web, a shaper downstream of said station to fold the U-shaped web around the stacks, rollers for folding flat on each successive stack the lateral sides of the sheet, means for welding longitudinally the sides of the sheet which are folded over a stack, means for gripping the sides side of the web between the stacks, means for transversely welding the lateral sides clamped between the stacks, means for securing R strips on the packaged stacks to form handles and means for separating the packaged stacks.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective de l'emballage que l'on extrait d'un carton d' expédition ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en perspective de deux emballages superposés ;
• la figure 3 est une vue en perspective de l'emballage supérieur de la pile dont le volet rabattable est en cours de soulèvement ; e la figure 4 est une vue en perspective de l'emballage supérieur dont on extrait un sachet après avoir rabattu le volet sur le dessus de l'emballage, et
• la figure 5 est une vue en perspective de l'emballage supérieur dont on a laissé le volet retomber pour masquer l'ouverture de l'emballage, en attente d'une nouvelle extraction de sachet ;
• la figure 6 est une vue de dessus d'un dispositif pour emballer des piles de sachets conformément à l'invention ;
• la figure 7 est une vue de face du dispositif après pliage en U de la feuille d'emballage ;
• la figure 8 est une vue de face du dispositif après repli à plat des panneaux latéraux de la feuille sur une pile, et
• la figure 9 est une vue courante de dessus du dispositif.

Hereinafter will be described a nonlimiting example of implementation of the invention, with reference to the figures of the attached drawing in which:

• Figure 1 is a perspective view of the package that is extracted from a shipping carton;
• Figure 2 is a perspective view of two superposed packages;
• Figure 3 is a perspective view of the upper package of the battery whose flap is being lifted; FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the upper package from which a bag is extracted after having folded the flap on the top of the package, and
• Figure 5 is a perspective view of the upper package which was left the shutter fall to hide the opening of the package, waiting for a new bag extraction;
• Figure 6 is a top view of a device for packaging stacks of bags according to the invention;
• Figure 7 is a front view of the device after U-folding of the packaging sheet;
• FIG. 8 is a front view of the device after flat folding of the side panels of the sheet on a stack, and
• Figure 9 is a current top view of the device.

FIG. 1 shows a shipping carton (1) from which a package (2) according to the invention is extracted.

This packaging consists of a transparent plastic sheet and preferably recyclable which has been folded around a stack of bags (3) visible through the sheet, forming a parallelepipedal volume. This volume is surrounded by adhesive tapes (4) which are raised locally on the top face of the package to form a gripping handle. On its front face, the package has a sector (S) rectangular delimited by two parallel vertical lines (6) and (7) and a lower horizontal line (8) pre-cut by mini perforations to tear these lines.

Such a package (2) is ready to be lifted by its handle, to be extracted from the carton (fig.1) and placed on a surface (9) or on another identical packaging (2 ') already placed on this surface (fig. .2).

The sector (S) is provided with perforations (not shown in the figures) which allows a sterilization gas to pass but whose size is insufficient to let the bacteria pass.

To open the package, the operator grasps the sector (S) with a wedge, raises it to tear the pre-cut sides (6), (7) and (8) (fig.3) and the flap like a flap on the above the package, which then allows it to extract a bag by the opening thus made (fig4).

To close the package waiting for a new extraction, it suffices to let fall the shutter that hides the opening (fig.5).

After use, the empty packaging, easily deformable is easier to evacuate less volume than a package that would be rigid.

Figures 6 to 9 relate to a device according to the invention for packaging stacks of bags.

This device comprises a first endless roller conveyor (10) for advancing a packing sheet N in a direction D, and a second endless conveyor with rollers (11) for advancing one by one in the same direction the piles. P bags to pack up to a station (12) where these piles are deposited in turn on the sheet.

In the vicinity of this station, the device comprises a shaper (13) through which the web passes and which forces the longitudinal sides of the web to rise until the web takes a U-shaped configuration (FIG. 7) with two sides N1, N2 raised and between which is the incident pile.

From place to place, the sheet has sections S precut on three sides, as previously explained. The movements of the ply and the stacks are adjusted so that each incident stack deposited on the ply is opposite a flap when the ply is folded in a U.

Means (not shown), for example rollers, are provided for folding flat on the stack the upper ends N10, N20 of the sides N1, N2 of the web, and means for welding longitudinally between them (weld sl) and means for cutting them flush (Figure 8).

Means (not shown), for example rollers, are provided for clamping the sides N1, N2 of the web between the successive stacks P1, P2, P3 and (FIG. 9), as well as means for welding them transversely (solder st) in these intervals, and means for cutting them to separate the packaged piles.

R strips are brought and fixed by a suitable device on the packages and cut at the same time as the sheet, to form handles.

The invention is not limited to these exemplary embodiments.

Claims (11)

1. Dispensing packaging (2) containing sterilized medical products having surgical drapes, the said products being enclosed in antibacterial blister packs or peelable bags (3), the bags being stacked inside the packaging, the packaging consisting of a sheet (F) that is impermeable to bacteria but permeable to a sterilizing gas, folded around the stack to form a parallelepiped packaging whose volume is approximately the same as that of the stack (P), the said sheet forming against a vertical face of the stack a sector or flap (S) that is partially precut so that when required it can be partially cut, lifted and folded back on top of the packaging to create an opening large enough to permit the extraction of a bag from the packaging and then put back in place to close the packaging again, and the packaging being provided with a handle (5) for lifting it out of a transport box.
2. Packaging according to Claim 1 in which the said flap has two vertical edges (6, 7) and a lower horizontal edge (8) that are precut with small perforations and has an upper horizontal edge able to act as a hinge so that the flap can be folded back on top of the packaging (2) when the precut edges have actually been cut.
3. Packaging according to Claim 1 or 2 encircled by an adhesively bonded tape (4) which has been locally raised to form the handle (5).
4. Packaging according to one of Claims 1 to 3, the sheet of which is transparent.
5. Packaging according to one of Claims 1 to 4 whose permeability to the sterilizing gas is ensured by perforations of the sheet whose dimensions are insufficient to permit the passage of bacteria.
6. Packaging according to Claim 5 in which the said perforations are located at least partly in the said sector of the sheet.
7. Packaging according to one of Claims 1 to 6 in which the said tearable edges (6, 7, 8) are formed by lines of small perforations.
8. Process to manufacture a series of packagings according to one of Claims 1 to 7, in which:

   • a bacteria-impermeable web with at least local permeability to a sterilizing gas, and with a plurality of the said sectors spaced out in the direction of the length of the web is provided;

   • the web is shaped into a U so that it presents a horizontal bottom panel between two side panels, one of the side panels containing the said sectors;

   • the stacks to be packaged are deposited each in its own position on the bottom panel of the web and between the side panels, so that each stack has a side face of the stack adjacent to one of the said sectors;

   • the side panels of the web are folded flat onto the top of each stack and welded together on top of each stack, and the excess parts of the welded side panels are removed;

   • the side panels of the web are brought together in between each stack and welded to each other to complete the packaging of the stack, and the packaged stacks are separated; and

   • the packagings are provided with adhesive tapes suitable for use as handles.
9. Process according to Claim 8 in which rollers are used to fold the side panels of the web and to clamp the web.
10. Device for carrying out a process according to Claim 8 or 9, that comprises means (10) for feeding the web (N) in the direction of the length of the web, an endless conveyor (11) for feeding stacks of bags to a station (12) where the stacks are deposited one by one on the web, a shaper downstream of the said station to fold the web around the stacks, means (sl) for welding longitudinally together the sides of the web (N10, N20) which are folded onto a stack (P), means for clamping the lateral sides of the web between the stacks, means (st) for transversely welding the lateral sides clamped between the stacks, and means for separating the packaged stacks, which device is characterized in that the station (12) is designed to deposit the stacks in the vicinity of the sectors of the web, in that the shaper is designed to fold the web into a U, in that the device comprises rollers for folding the lateral sides (N1, N2) of the web flat down onto each successive stack, and in that the device comprises means for attaching tapes R to the packaged stacks in order to form handles for the packagings.
11. Transport box containing at least one packaging according to one of Claims 1 to 7.

Images