EP2955116B1 - Apparatus and method for feeding products into the cells of blister strips - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an apparatus and method for delivering products, such as tablets or dragees, into wells of blister strips.

In the pharmaceutical industry, so-called blister packs containing a plurality of wells into which the pharmaceutical products, such as tablets or dragees, are often used for storing medicaments. In the production of blister packs usually long blister strips are filled with the tablets, sealed and then punched out individual blister packs. These blister packs are usually supplied to a packaging station in the further packaging process, in which the blister packs, individually or as a blister pack stack, are inserted into folding boxes.

To introduce the products, which usually arrive as bulk material in a disorderly and unsorted variety, into the wells of the blister strip, it is necessary to isolate a defined number of products from this unsorted quantity and to introduce them as a group of products into the wells.

Out WO 2014/013310 A1 a device for feeding tablets in wells of a blister strip is known, which works with a circulating filling belt. The filling belt has recesses for the tablets, which are first filled with tablets in a lower section of the filling belt. In the area between this receiving position and the dispensing position where the tablets are transferred to the blister strip, the tablets are supported by a fixed support surface. When the tablets have passed a discharge edge of the support surface, they fall into the wells of the blister strip moving parallel beneath. A disadvantage of this embodiment, on the one hand, that the tablets are dragged along the support surface, which has unwanted dust formation result. In addition, the space requirement of the device in the lower portion of the filling belt is relatively high, because both the filling of the filling belt and the transfer of the tablets must take place in the blister strip in this section.

Also known is the filling of tablets into individual blister packs for the production of patient-specific blister packs.

Out DE 10 2006 007 136 A1 For example, a device for filling patient-specific tablet containers is known, which has a feed template and a control template arranged thereunder. The feed template has a plurality of openings arranged in multiple rows. The control template has a corresponding number of openings. To hold the tablets in the feed jig, the control jig is positioned relative to the feed jig so that the control jig covers the openings of the feed jig. To release the tablets, the control template is positioned relative to the loading template so that the apertures in the control template are aligned with a series of apertures in the loading template and thus the tablets through the openings in the loading template and the control template vertically down into the wells fall of the underlying tablet container. However, such filling devices for individual packaging are not designed for the high speeds in the production of standard blister packs.

DE 10 2010 028 568 A1 also discloses a device for filling patient-specific tablet packages. The device comprises a horizontal, stationary transfer plate, which consists of a Vorspeicherplatte with openings formed therein and a bottom plate. The bottom plate is movable relative to the Vorspeicherplatte to close the openings and expose. A three-dimensional gripper system fills the Vorspeicherplatte with tablets while the openings of the Vorspeicherplatte are closed by the bottom plates. Under the transfer plate, a package to be filled with several yards is arranged. The bottom plate is moved relative to the pre-storage plate to expose the openings so that the tablets deposited in the openings fall directly into the underlying courtyards of the package. The packaging is moved along a horizontal circumferential trajectory.

The invention has for its object to provide a flexible device for feeding products in wells of blister strips, with a high throughput is achieved in a small footprint and high reliability, and to provide a corresponding method for feeding products into wells of blister strips.

This object is solved by the features of claim 1 and of claim 12.

According to the invention, the device for feeding products, such as tablets or dragees, into cups of a blister strip comprises a plurality of transfer plates each having a grouping template in which a plurality of openings are formed. In addition, the apparatus comprises a plurality of bottom plates which are movable relative to the respective grouping template such that in a transport position the bottom plate closes the openings of the grouping template from below, and in a release position the bottom plate exposes the openings of the grouping template. At least one transfer plate moving unit serves to move each transfer plate along a circumferential trajectory with horizontal and vertical components of movement between a receiving area in which each transfer plate is filled with products, and a discharge area in which the products fall from the transfer plate into the wells of the blister strip. Each bottom plate is formed as part of a transfer plate and is automatically moved with this or it is provided for the bottom plates a separate drive mechanism. In the receiving area, a filling container is provided, to which the products are supplied as bulk material and in whose area the filling of the transfer plates with the products takes place. Along the revolving trajectory, each transfer plate is oriented substantially horizontally. In the receiving area, each base plate is in the transport position and in the delivery area in the release position.

This makes a fast and reliable filling of blister strips with products possible. In particular, advantageously, a plurality of transfer plates are used, so that the filling of first transfer plates with products can take place, while at the same time the transfer of products from second transfer plates into the blister strip takes place. Due to the circumferential trajectory also the space requirement is low.

Preferably, the receiving area and the discharge area are arranged in superimposed portions of the revolving trajectory, wherein the receiving area are arranged in an upper portion and the discharge area in a lower portion of the revolving trajectory. This allows the feeder to save space be arranged above the conveyor for the blister strip. In addition, both the filling of the transfer plates and the product transfer to the blister strip take place by utilizing the gravity from top to bottom.

With further advantage, the feeding device further comprises a conveying device for conveying the blister strip in a conveying direction, wherein the revolving trajectory of the transfer plates extends over the conveying device and the revolving trajectory has a lower movement section in which the transfer plates move in the conveying direction and has an upper trajectory section in that the transfer plates move in a direction opposite to the direction of conveyance. This ensures that in a trajectory section the transfer plates and the blister strip move in the same direction of movement, i. the conveying direction of the blister strip, move.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the movement path in the form of an elongated, horizontal oval, whereby several transfer plates can be filled side by side at the same time and also for the transfer of the products from the transfer plates to the blister strip sufficient space remains. Overall, this promotes the rapid and continuous feeding of products.

In a further specific embodiment, each transfer plate is moved by the transfer plate moving unit continuously along the path of movement in the direction of rotation, which advantageously takes place a transfer of the products to a blister strip, while at the same time the blister strip is moved in the conveying direction. It is advantageous if the transfer plates are moved at the speed of the blister strips.

In contrast, in another embodiment, each transfer plate is clocked by the transfer plate moving unit along the movement path in the circulation direction.

Preferably, the transferring plate moving unit includes a driving device with which the movement of each transferring plate along the revolving trajectory is controlled independently of the other transferring plates, respectively can. If each transfer plate is individually controllable, the Zufuhrrablauf, ie the time required for picking up, grouping, feeding and transferring the products to the blister strip, can be flexibly adjusted. This also opens up the possibility of using the feeding device as a kind of buffer device, and it is also possible to respond flexibly to disturbances in the device or in the further packaging process.

It is particularly preferred that each base plate is a part of the corresponding transfer plate. This eliminates the need for a separate rotating drive and circumferential guides for each base plate, and it suffice, for example, pneumatic actuators for generating the lateral movement of the bottom plate relative to the Gruppierungsschablone.

One way of special design of the bottom plate is that each bottom plate is formed as a continuous plate and is moved out completely in the release position under the Gruppierungsschablone. The advantage of this embodiment is that the bottom plate has a very simple construction and, moreover, can be used for different template sizes, i. the conversion to other tablet formats is simplified.

Another possibility of the special design of the bottom plate is that in each bottom plate a plurality of openings are formed, wherein the openings are arranged in the bottom plate in the transport position offset from the openings in the Gruppierungsschablone, and wherein the bottom plate is displaced in the release position such that the openings in the bottom plate are aligned with the openings in the grouping template. This has the advantage that only a small translational movement of the bottom plate is sufficient to release or close the openings in the grouping template.

• Bereitstellen einer Mehrzahl von Übertragungsplatten mit jeweils einer Gruppierungsschablone, in der mehrere Öffnungen ausgebildet sind,
• Bewegen einer Übertragungsplatte zu einem Aufnahmebereich, in dem ein Füllbehälter vorgesehen ist, dem die Produkte als Schüttgut zugeführt werden und in dessen Bereich die Befüllung der Übertragungsplatten mit den Produkten stattfindet, wobei spätestens in dem Aufnahmebereich eine Bodenplatte relativ zur Gruppierungsschablone in eine Transportposition bewegt wird, in der die Bodenplatte die Öffnungen der Gruppierungsschablone von unten verschließt,

• Einbringen der Produkte in die Öffnungen einer jeden Gruppierungsschablone,
• Bewegen jeder Übertragungsplatte mit den darin abgelegten Produkten entlang entlang einer Bewegungsbahn mit horizontalen und vertikalen Bewegungskomponenten von dem Aufnahmebereich zu einem Abgabebereich, wobei jede Übertragungsplatte entlang der Bewegungsbahn im Wesentlichen horizontal ausgerichtet ist, und wobei jede Bodenplatte als Teil einer Übertragungsplatte ausgebildet ist und automatisch mit dieser mitbewegt wird oder wobei für die Bodenplatten ein eigener Antriebsmechanismus vorgesehen ist, und
• Bewegen jeder Bodenplatte in eine Freigabeposition, in der die Bodenplatte die Öffnungen der Gruppierungsschablone freilegt, so dass die Produkte in dem Abgabebereich freigegeben werden und in die darunter befindlichen Näpfe des Blisterstreifens fallen.

The method according to the invention for feeding products, such as tablets or dragees, into wells of a blister strip, comprises the following steps:

• Providing a plurality of transfer plates each having a grouping template in which a plurality of openings are formed,
• Moving a transfer plate to a receiving area in which a filling container is provided, to which the products are supplied as bulk material and in whose area the filling of the transfer plates takes place with the products, at the latest in the receiving area, a bottom plate is moved relative to the grouping template in a transport position in which the bottom plate closes the openings of the Gruppierungsschablone from below .

• Introducing the products into the openings of each grouping template,
• Moving each transfer plate with the products deposited therein along a trajectory having horizontal and vertical components of motion from the receiving area to a delivery area, each transfer plate being substantially horizontally aligned along the trajectory, and wherein each base plate is formed as part of a transfer plate and automatically therewith is moved or wherein a separate drive mechanism is provided for the bottom plates, and
• Moving each bottom plate to a release position in which the bottom plate exposes the openings of the grouping template such that the products in the dispensing area are released and fall into the underlying wells of the blister strip.

Fig.1

ist eine perspektivische Ansicht, teilweise im Schnitt, einer Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung zum Zuführen von Produkten;

Fig. 2

ist eine Seitenansicht der Vorrichtung in Fig. 1; und

Fig. 3

ist eine vergrößerte Ansicht eines Details aus Fig. 2.

As a result, a fast and reliable filling of blister strips with products in a small footprint is possible.

Fig.1

is a perspective view, partially in section, of an embodiment of the device according to the invention for supplying products;

Fig. 2

is a side view of the device in Fig. 1 ; and

Fig. 3

is an enlarged view of a detail Fig. 2 ,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view, partially in section, of an embodiment of the feeding device 2 according to the invention. The feeding device 2 comprises a conveying device 3 for conveying a product to 6, preferably tablets, to be filled blister strip 4 in the conveying direction F. The blister strip 4 comprises a plurality of wells. 5 for receiving the products 6 ( Fig. 3 ). As a blister strip 4 is understood in the context of the invention primarily a long blister band, which is sealed after filling in the further packaging process and from which finally individual blister packs are punched out. Likewise, according to the invention, a single blister pack as a blister strip 4 act. The conveying device 3, which is shown only schematically in the figures, can be designed as a forceps feed. The conveyor 3 moves the blister strip 4 clocked or preferably continuously forward.

Furthermore, the supply device 2 in a receiving area comprises a filling container 18, to which the products 6 are preferably supplied via feed tubes 26 as bulk material. In the area of the filling container 18, a filling of transfer plates 8 with the products 6 takes place. The filling container 18 may be formed as a protruding part of a housing 14 of the feeding device 2.

In the filling container 18, e.g. be aligned transversely to the direction of movement of the transfer plates 8 rotating product distributor rollers 24 may be provided which brush the products 6 in designated openings 32 in the transfer plates 8, so that in each opening 32 exactly one product 6 is added. Scrapers may also be used, or other known technologies for securely filling the openings 32. The products 6 are preferably located directly on the transfer plates 8 in the region of the filling container 18. In this respect, it is important that the juxtaposed transfer plates 8 always form a closed surface in the region of the filling container 18. For this reason, the transfer plates 8 must always be moved together in this area. A transfer plate 8 can only move away from the composite of the transfer plates 8 when it has left the region of the filling container 18.

Each of the plurality of transfer plates 8 comprises in each case a grouping template 28 with openings 32 arranged in longitudinal and transverse rows for receiving the products 6 (FIG. Fig. 3 ). An associated bottom plate 30 arranged in the receiving area under each grouping template 28 closes off the openings 32 and supports the products 6 in the openings 32. Preferably, the bottom plate 30 is also a part of the transfer plate 8.

The grouping template 28 and the bottom plate 30 are arranged one above the other, wherein in the example shown, the bottom plate 30 has openings 34. In the in Fig. 3 In the situation shown, the products 6 are located in the openings 32 of the grouping template 28, while the bottom plate 30 is arranged relative to the grouping template 28 such that the openings 34 of the bottom plate 30 are offset from the openings 32 of the grouping template 28 and, accordingly, the bottom plate 30 the openings 32 of the grouping template 28 closes from below, so that the products 6 are held in the openings 32 of the grouping template 28. It is also conceivable that the bottom plate 30 is formed continuously and has no openings 34.

The transfer plates 8 transport the products 6 along a circumferential movement path 13 from the receiving area in the region of the filling container 18 to a delivery area in which the products 6 are transferred from the transfer plates 8 to the blister strip 4. This delivery area is in Fig. 2 framed and in Fig. 3 shown enlarged.

For moving the transfer plates 8, there is provided a transfer plate moving unit 10 having a conveyer 11 for driving each transfer plate 8 in the circulating direction P along the revolving trajectory 13. The circumferential trajectory 13 in the present case has the shape of an elongated, horizontal oval. The longer rectilinear portions of the trajectory 13, i. the upper and lower portions extend parallel to the conveying direction F of the conveying device 3. Further, the conveying device 3 is arranged with respect to the trajectory 13 at such a height that the transfer plates 8 moved in the lower portion of the trajectory 13 are immediately above that in the conveying direction F funded blister strip 4 are moved.

As a conveyor 11 for the transfer plates 8, a linear motor drive device is preferably used, on the runners, the transfer plates 8 are rotatably mounted. Thus, each transfer plate 8 can be controlled independently of the other transfer plates 8. The conveyor 11 is preferably arranged laterally of the movement path 13, for example in the region of the housing 14. The transfer plates 8 are moved laterally in a horizontal orientation next to the conveyor 11.

If the bottom plate 30 is formed as part of the transfer plate 8, it is automatically moved with this. Alternatively, a separate drive mechanism must be provided for the bottom plates 30.

For transferring the products 6 in the delivery area of the transfer plate 8 in the Blister strip 4, the bottom plate 30 is shifted relative to the grouping template 28 so far that the openings 34 are brought in the bottom plate 30 with the openings 32 in the Gruppierungsschablone 28 and the products 6 fall into the underlying wells 5 of the blister strip 4. If the bottom plate 30 is formed continuously, it must be completely moved out of the region of the openings 32 so that the products 6 can fall down. The movement of the bottom plates 30 is effected by a separate drive device, for example by a moving together with the transfer plate 8 pneumatic cylinder.

Hereinafter, the operation of the feeding device 2 based on Fig. 1 to 3 described.

In the filling container 18, the products 6 which are present as bulk material are distributed into the openings 32 of the transfer plates 8 which are provided underneath. The bottom plates 30 are in each case in a transport position, in which each bottom plate 30 closes the openings 32 of the associated grouping template 28 from below. After the in Fig. 2 At the top left transfer plate 8 was filled with products 6 and has leaked out of the hopper 18, this transfer plate 8 is moved in the direction of rotation P, ie counterclockwise, along the movement path 13 to the delivery area, which is located in the illustrated example, under the receiving area. During movement from the receiving area to the dispensing area, the bottom plate 30 remains in the transport position relative to the grouping template 28. The transfer plates remain aligned horizontally during the entire movement, so turn accordingly when passing through the curve sections of the trajectory 13 in the opposite direction to the curve.

In the delivery area, the transfer plate 8 is guided over the empty portion of the blister strip 4, such as Fig. 3 shows. Subsequently, the bottom plate 30 is made of the in Fig. 3 shown moved relative to the grouping template 28 in a release position, so that the openings 32 are exposed in the Gruppierungsschablone 28 and the products 6 fall into the underlying wells 5 of the blister strip 4. At the time of transfer, the conveying device 3 and the transfer plate 8 preferably move at the same speed or both stand still.

After the transfer plate 8 has been emptied, it is moved further along the movement path 13 in the direction of rotation P and returned to the receiving area in the region of the filling container 18 for the re-admission of products 6.

The same applies to all other transfer plates 8.

There are a variety of variations of the described embodiment conceivable. Thus, the number, shape and size of the transfer plates 8 is variable. The receiving area can also be arranged in the lower section of the movement path 13, in front of the delivery area. The movement patterns of the transfer plates 8 are arbitrarily adjustable. The movement of the bottom plate 30 relative to the grouping template 28 can also take place via mechanical elements which are arranged in the delivery area and, for example, move the bottom plate 30 against the restoring force of a spring from the transport position to the release position. These and many other variations of the invention will be understood by those skilled in the art.

Claims (12)

1. Apparatus (2) for feeding products (6) such as tablets or lozenges into cells (5) of a blister strip (4), with
   a plurality of transfer plates (8) which each have a grouping template (28) in which several apertures (32) are formed,
   a plurality of base plates (30) which are movable relative to the respective grouping templates (34) so that in a transport position the base plate (30) closes the apertures (32) of the grouping template (28) from below, and in a release position the base plate (30) releases the apertures (32) of the grouping template (28), and
   at least one transfer plate moving unit (10) for moving each transfer plate (8) along a peripheral motion path (13) with horizontal and vertical components of movement between a receiving area in which each transfer plate (8) is filled with products (6), and a discharge area in which the products (6) drop from the transfer plate (8) into the cells (5) of the blister strip (4), wherein each base plate (30) is configured as part of a transfer plate (8) and is moved along automatically with same or wherein the base plates (30) are provided with their own drive mechanism,
   wherein a filling container (18) is provided in the receiving area and the products (6) are fed to the filling container (18) as bulk material, and filling the transfer plates (8) with the products (6) takes place in the area of the filling container,
   wherein each transfer plate (8) is aligned substantially horizontally along the peripheral motion path (13), and
   wherein each base plate (30) is located in the transport position in the receiving area and in the release position in the discharge area.
2. Apparatus (2) according to claim 1 characterised in that the receiving area and the discharge area are arranged in superposed sections of the peripheral motion path (13), wherein the receiving area is arranged in an upper section and the discharge area is arranged in a lower section of the peripheral motion path (13).
3. Apparatus (2) according to one of the preceding claims characterised in that it furthermore has a conveying device (3) for conveying the blister strip (4) in a conveying direction (F) wherein the peripheral motion path (13) of the transfer plates (8) runs over the conveying device (3) and the peripheral motion path (13) has a lower motion path section in which the transfer plates (8) are moved in the conveying direction (F), and an upper motion path section in which the transfer plates (8) are moved in a direction opposite the conveying direction (F).
4. Apparatus (2) according to one of the preceding claims characterised in that the motion path (13) has the form of an elongated horizontal oval.
5. Apparatus (2) according to one of the preceding claims characterised in that each transfer plate (8) is moved continuously along the motion path (13) in the peripheral direction (P) by the transfer plate moving unit (10).
6. Apparatus (2) according to one of the preceding claims characterised in that each transfer plate (8) is moved cyclically along the motion path (13) in the peripheral direction (P) by the transfer plate moving unit (10).
7. Apparatus (2) according to one of the preceding claims characterised in that each transfer plate (8) can be controlled individually by the transfer plate moving unit (10).
8. Apparatus (2) according to one of the preceding claims characterised in that the transfer plate moving unit (10) is controlled so that each transfer plate (8) is guided in the discharge area substantially in synchronisation with the movement of the conveying device (3).
9. Apparatus (2) according to one of the preceding claims characterised in that each base plate (30) is a part of the corresponding transfer plate (8).
10. Apparatus (2) according to one of the preceding claims characterised in that each base plate (30) is formed as a continuous plate and in the release position is moved completely out from underneath the grouping template (28).
11. Apparatus (2) according to one of claims 1 to 9 characterised in that several apertures (34) are formed in each base plate (30) wherein the apertures (34) in the base plate (30) in the transport position are arranged offset relative to the apertures (32) in the grouping template (28), and wherein the base plate (34) in the release position is moved so that the apertures (34) in the base plate (30) align with the apertures (32) in the grouping template (28).
12. Method for feeding products (6) such as tablets or lozenges, into cells (5) of a blister strip (4), with the following steps:

    providing a plurality of transfer plates (8) each with a grouping template (28) in which several apertures (32) are formed,

    moving a transfer plate (8) to a receiving area in which a filling container (18) is provided to which the products (6) are fed as bulk material and in the region of which the transfer plates (8) are filled with the products (6),

    wherein at the latest in the receiving area a base plate (30) is moved relative to the grouping template (28) into a transport position in which the base plate (30) closes the apertures (32) of the grouping template (28) from below,

    introducing the products into the apertures (32) of each one grouping template (28),

    moving each transfer plate (8) with the products (6) deposited therein along a motion path (13) with horizontal and vertical components of movement from the receiving area to a discharge area wherein each transfer plate (8) is aligned substantially horizontally along the motion path (13) and wherein each base plate (30) is configured as a part of a transfer plate (8) and is moved along automatically therewith or wherein the base plates (30) are provided with their own drive mechanism, and

    moving each base plate (30) into a release position in which the base plate (30) releases the apertures (32) of the grouping template (28) so that the products (6) are released in the discharge area and drop into the cells (5) of the blister strip (4) below.

Images