IE54070B1 - Method and apparatus for packaging products formed by casting in the thermoformed wrapper of a blister package - Google Patents
Method and apparatus for packaging products formed by casting in the thermoformed wrapper of a blister packageInfo
- Publication number
- IE54070B1 IE54070B1 IE3079/82A IE307982A IE54070B1 IE 54070 B1 IE54070 B1 IE 54070B1 IE 3079/82 A IE3079/82 A IE 3079/82A IE 307982 A IE307982 A IE 307982A IE 54070 B1 IE54070 B1 IE 54070B1
- Authority
- IE
- Ireland
- Prior art keywords
- sheet
- wrapper
- channel
- cells
- coolant
- Prior art date
Links
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims description 14
- 238000004806 packaging method and process Methods 0.000 title claims description 10
- 238000005266 casting Methods 0.000 title 1
- 239000002826 coolant Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 35
- 229920001169 thermoplastic Polymers 0.000 claims abstract description 34
- 239000004416 thermosoftening plastic Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 34
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 21
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 11
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 10
- 238000003856 thermoforming Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 10
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 6
- 238000007599 discharging Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 4
- 238000006073 displacement reaction Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 4
- FBPFZTCFMRRESA-FSIIMWSLSA-N D-Glucitol Natural products OC[C@H](O)[C@H](O)[C@@H](O)[C@H](O)CO FBPFZTCFMRRESA-FSIIMWSLSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000004800 polyvinyl chloride Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000000600 sorbitol Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005520 cutting process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000004080 punching Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000012815 thermoplastic material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920001187 thermosetting polymer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 238000009423 ventilation Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B63/00—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on articles or materials to be packaged
- B65B63/08—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on articles or materials to be packaged for heating or cooling articles or materials to facilitate packaging
Abstract
The wrapper (2) comprises a film of thermoplastics material having cells (3) which are made by thermoforming and are each intented to receive a respective product: a metered quantity of molten product is poured into each cell (3) of the wrapper (2), while the wrapper (2) is cooled simultaneously by a flow of liquid coolant in contact with its outer surface. The machine includes a filling station (13) where the product is poured into the cells (3), which is interposed between a thermoforming station (12) where flat surface of a first sheet (11) of thermoplastics film is locally deformed to obtain longitudinal rows of cells (3), and a sealing station (14) where a second sheet (16) of thermoplastics sealing film is applied to the first sheet (11) to close the cells (3). The filling station (13) includes a channel extending in the direction of displacement of the first sheet (11) between the forming station (12) and the sealing station (13) and having a depth greater than the depth of the cells (3), and a station (13d) for pouring the metered quantities of molten product into the cells (3), which overlies the channel close to its inlet end (13b). Associated with the channel are means (13e, 13f) for supplying a liquid coolant at the inlet end (13b), means (13h) for discharging the coolant from a discharge zone close to the sealing station (14), and means (13g) for cooling the coolant discharged from the channel and conveying it towards the supply means (13e, 13f), so as to make the coolant flow in a closed circuit of which the channel constitutes a part.
Description
The present invention relates to methods for packaging products formed by pouring into a thermoformed wrapper of a blister-pack, and is concerned particularly with a method of the type in which the wrapper comprises a film of thermoplastics material having cells which are thermoformed and are each intended to receive a metered quantity of a respective product. Such a method is disclosed, for instance, in FR-A-2,411,132.
In methods of the aforesaid type, there is a problem in preventing the product, which is normally hot to allow its pouring, from damaging the thermoplastics material of the wrapper, to which the pouring temperature is harmful.
For this reason, in known processes the product is poured into a mould of a material which can withstand the temperature, for exanple, a metal mould, and is subsequently put into the cells of the wrapper of the blister-pack after the product has been cooled to a temperature which the thermoplastics material of the wrapper can tolerate.
The technical solution described is unsatisfactory, since the separation of the formation by pouring from the packaging operation reduces the speed of the production process.
The object of the present invention is to provide a process of the type specified above which does not have the aforementioned drawbacks.
In order to achieve this object, the present invention provides a process of the type specified above, wherein said thermoplastics material is chosen of a type to which the pouring temperature is harmful and in that the product is poured in the molten state into each cell of the wrapper while simultaneously cooling the wrapper by a flow of liquid coolant in contact with the outer surface of the wrapper.
By virtue of this characteristic, the product is formed by being poured directly into the wrapper of the pack.
2.
A further subject of the present invention is constituted by a machine for packaging products formed by pouring into a blister-pack, the pack comprising a film of thermoplastic material with cells which are thermoformed and are each intended to receive a metered quantity of a respective product, comprising:
- a first reel for supplying a first sheet of thermoplastics film;
- a station for thermoforming the first sheet of thermoplastics film unwound from the first supply reel, where longitudinal rows of cells are formed by local deformation of the flat surface of the first sheet;
- a filling station where the products are introduced into the cells;
- a second reel for supplying a second sheet of thermoplastics film, and
- a sealing station where the second sheet of thermoplastic film is unwound from the second reel and applied to the first sheet of thermoplastics film. Such a machine is known, for instance, from FR-A-2,411,132.
The machine according to the invention is further characterised in that said thermoplastics material is chosen of a type to which the pouring temperature is harmful and in that the filling station includes:
-a channel which extends in the direction of displacement of the first sheet of thermoplastics film between the forming station and the sealing station and has a depth greater than the depth of the cells, the channel having an inlet end for the first, thermoformed sheet and the side walls of the channel supporting the longitudinal edges of the first sheet during its passage between the two stations with the cells in the channel;
- means for supplying a liquid coolant to the channel at the inlet end for the first, preformed sheet;
- means for discharging the coolant from a discharge zone of the channel close to the sealing station;
- means for cooling the coolant discharged from the channel and conveying it to the supply means, whereby the coolant flows through a closed circuit of which the channel constitutes a part; and
- a station for pouring metered quantities of molten product into the cells of the first thermoformed sheet, which overlies th channel close to the inlet end.
3.
By virtue of this characteristic, in the machine according to the invention, a flow of liquid coolant is kept in contact with the outer surface of the wrapper of the pack which has been made by thermoforming a sheet of thermoplastics film, while the product is poured into the cells of the wrapper itself.
The invention will now be described, purely by way of non-limiting exanple, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:
Figures 1 and 2 are respectively a view from below and a side view of a blister-pack;
Figure 3 is a schematic elevational view of a machine according to the invention;
Figure 4 illustrates several parts of Figure 3 in greater detail and on an enlarged scale; and
Figure 5 is a section taken on the line V-V of Figure 4.
In Figures 1 and 2, a pack of the type generally known in the art as a blister-pack is generally indicated 1. The pack 1 comprises a wrapper 2 formed by thermoforming a sheet of thermoplastics film, for example, polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The flat surface of the sheet of thermoplastics film is deformed locally to form cells 3 each of which is intended to receive a respective product, for example, a pastel formed by pouring.
In a typical example of use of the blister-pack, the cells 3 are intended to receive pastels formed by the pouring of sorbitol. In order to allow pouring, the sorbitol is heated to a temperature of the order of 85-90°C.
The polyvinyl chloride (PVC) of the wrapper 2 can normally withstand a temperature of about 70°C but is deformed at higher temperatures.
The blister-pack illustrated in Figure 1 further includes a sealing strip 4 which closes the cells 3.
In the processes of blister-packaging carried out on an industrial scale, both the wrapper 2 and the sealing strip 4 are normally made from
4.
sheets of thermoplastics film which are unwound from corresponding supply reels.
The product of the packaging operation is also in the form of a sheet which is subsequently cut and punched to form packs of the type illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.
The pack 1 includes three parts, two of which have cells 3, while the other has two flat faces which may be used, for example, for trade marks and information about the packaged product.
In Figure 3 a supply reel for a first sheet 11 of the thermoplastics film is indicated 10.
A thermosetting station for the first sheet 11 of thermoplastics film unwound from the first reel 10 is generally indicated 12.
A filling station, generally indicated 13, is interposed between the thermoforming station 12 and a sealing station 14 with which is associated a second reel 15 for supplying a second sheet 16 of thermoplastics film.
A cooling station, for the finished product, generally indicated 17, comprises a reel 18 on which the sheets 11, 16 are wound after they have passed through the sealing station 14.
As best seen in Figure 4, the filling station 13 includes a channel 13a which extends in the direction of displacement of the first sheet 11 of thermoplastics film between the forming station 12 and the sealing station 14.
The channel 13a has a depth greater than the depth of the cells formed in the first sheet 11.
The channel 13a has an inlet end 13b for the first, thermoformed sheet 11.
.
The channel 13a has longitudinal ribs 13c and is overlain, close to the inlet end 13b, by a station 13d for pouring metered quantities of the product to be packaged.
A pump 13f which supplies the channel 13a with a liquid coolant is 5 connected to the channel 13a by a pipe 13e.
The intake side of the pump 13f is connected to a cooler 13t[ which is supplied with the coolant discharged from the channel 13a through an aperture 13f[ in the bottom of the channel 13a^ close to the sealing station 14.
In the end portion between the aperture 13h and the sealing station
14, the bottom of the channel 13a has a plurality of ventilation apertures l3i_ to which a suction pump 131^ is connected.
In operation of the machine according to the invention, the first sheet 11 of thermoplastics film is supplied from the first reel 10 to the thermoforming station 12 where the flat surface of the sheet 11 is deformed locally to form longitudinal rows of cells of the type indicated 3 in Figures 1 and 2.
Downstream of the thermoforming station 12, the thermoformed first sheet 11 is passed along the channel 13a so that the side walls of the channel support the longitudinal edges of the sheet 11 during its passage along the channel 13a.
In the embodiment illustrated, the machine according to the invention is intended to package products formed by pouring into a blister-pack which includes four pairs of rows of cells 3 separated by intermediate flat portions of the thermoformed sheet 11.
As illustrated in Figure 5, the longitudinal ribs 13c projecting from the bottom of the channel 13a support these intermediate portions of the thermoformed sheet 11.
At the pouring station 13d, metered quantities of the product to be
6.
4 0 7 0 packaged are poured into each cell 3 of the wrapper 2 formed by thermoforming of the first sheet 11 of thermoplastic film, while the wrapper itself is immersed in the bath of liquid coolant which is present in the channel 13a.
Thus, the outer surface of each cell 3 is in contact with the coolant which is kept at a temperature below the level which produces harmful phenomena, such as deformation of the wrapper itself.
The pump 13f supplies the channel 13a with low temperature coolant from the cooler 13^.
In its movement towards the sealing station 14 along the channel 13, the wrapper is kept immersed in the bath of coolant so as to keep the outer surfaces of the cells 3 in contact with the coolant until the product therein has set.
At the aperture 13h the coolant is discharged from the channel 13a and is directed to the cooler 13^ so as to form a closed circuit for the coolant of which the channel 13a constitutes a part. The circulation of coolant in the channel 13a is facilitated by the movement of the first sheet 11 the cells 3 of which project into the channel and act as blades to push the coolant from the inlet end 13b towards the apertures 13h.
From Figure 5 it can be seen how the longitudinal edges of the thermoformed sheet 11 are kept in sliding contact with the side walls of the channel 13a so as to prevent the coolant leaving the channel itself.
Downstream of the discharge aperture I3h, the thermoformed sheet 11 is made to continue along the channel 13a towards the sealing station 14, until it reaches the apertures 13_i through which drops of coolant adhering to the surface of the thermoformed sheet are removed by the suction pump 131.
At the sealing station 14, the second sheet 16 of thermoplastics film, supplied by the second reel 15, is applied and heat-sealed to the first, thermoformed sheet 11 so as to close the openings of the cells 3
7.
070 housing the poured products. At the collecting station 17, the packaged product is wound in a strip onto the collecting reel 18, preferably after it has undergone an initial cutting and/or punching operation so as to allow the separation of the pairs of rows of cells present in the product leaving the sealing station 14, and to allow the subsequent longitudinal subdivision of the strips wound on the reel 18 to form packs of the type illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.
Naturally, the principle of the invention remaining the same, the 10 stages of the process, the details of realisation and the forms of embodiment may be varied widely with respect to that described and illustrated without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
Claims (5)
1. Method for packaging products formed by pouring into a thermoformed wrapper of a blister-pack, the wrapper comprising a film of thermoplastics material having cells which are thermoformed and are each intended to receive a metered quantity of a respective product, wherein said thermoplastics material is chosen of a type to which the pouring temperature is harmful and the product is poured in the molten state into each cell of the wrapper while simultaneously cooling the wrapper by a flow of liquid coolant in contact with the outer surface of the wrapper.
2. Method according to claim 1, wherein it includes the steps of: - providing a bath of liquid coolant; - immersing the wrapper in the bath so that the greater part of the outer surface of the wrapper is in contact with the bath; - effecting a relative movement between the wrapper and the coolant; - pouring a metered quantity of molten product into each cell of the wrapper; and - keeping the wrapper in contact with the coolant until the product has solidified.
3. Method according to claim 2, wherein it includes the additional steps of: - removing the wrapper containing the solidified product from the bath; and - removing the residual coolant from the outer surface of the wrapper.
4. Machine for packaging products formed by pouring into a blister-pack, the pack comprising a film of thermoplastics material with cells which are thermoformed and are each intended to receive a metered quantity of a respective product, comprising: - a first reel for supplying a first sheet of thermoplastics film; - a station for thermoforming the first sheet of thermoplastics film 9. unwound from the supply reel, where longitudinal rows of cells are formed by local deformation of the flat surface of the first sheet; - a filling station where the products are introduced into the cells; - a second reel for supplying a second sheet of thermoplastics 5 film; and - a sealing station where the second sheet of thermoplastics film unwound from the second reel is applied to the first sheet of thermoplastics film; wherein said thermoplastics material is chosen of a type to which the 10 pouring temperature is harmful and the filling station includes: - a channel which extends in the direction of displacement of the first sheet between the forming station and the sealing station and has a depth greater than the depth of the cells, the channel having an inlet end for the first, thermoformed sheet and the side walls of the channel 15 supporting the longitudinal edges of the first sheet during its passage between the two stations with the cells in the channel; - means for supplying a liquid coolant to the channel at the inlet end for the first preformed sheet; - means for discharging the coolant from a discharge zone of the 20 channel close to the sealing station; - means for cooling the coolant discharged from the channel and conveying it to the supply means, whereby the coolant flows through a closed circuit of which the channel constitutes a part; and - a station for pouring metered quantities of molten product into 25 the cells of the first thermoformed sheet, which overlies the channel close to the inlet end. 5. Machine according to claim 4, wherein the bottom of the channel has a plurality of apertures downstream of the zone for discharging the coolant, and aspirator means are provided for drawing drops of coolant 30 adhering to the walls of the first, thermoformed sheet through the apertures. 6. Machine according to claim 4, wherein the channel has a plurality 10. of longitudinal ribs which support intermediate portions of the first, thermoformed sheet. 7. A method for packaging products, substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, the appended drawings.
5. 8. A machine for packaging products, substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, the appended drawings.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| IT68720/81A IT1145646B (en) | 1981-12-30 | 1981-12-30 | PROCESS AND MACHINE FOR PACKAGING PRODUCTS FORMED BY CASTING IN THE THERMOFORMED ENCLOSURE OF A BLISTER TYPE PACKAGE |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| IE823079L IE823079L (en) | 1983-06-30 |
| IE54070B1 true IE54070B1 (en) | 1989-06-07 |
Family
ID=11310381
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| IE3079/82A IE54070B1 (en) | 1981-12-30 | 1982-12-23 | Method and apparatus for packaging products formed by casting in the thermoformed wrapper of a blister package |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0083323B1 (en) |
| DE (1) | DE3273966D1 (en) |
| DK (1) | DK155156C (en) |
| IE (1) | IE54070B1 (en) |
| IT (1) | IT1145646B (en) |
Families Citing this family (13)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SE458599B (en) * | 1986-11-13 | 1989-04-17 | Novopolotskij Polt Inst | PROCEDURES AND EQUIPMENT FOR PACKAGING THE REFUELY MOLDED BITUMM IN POLYMER FILM |
| FR2626669A1 (en) * | 1988-01-29 | 1989-08-04 | Perinetti Bertrand | Method and device for making a pellet intended to make it possible to check that a product has been kept below a given limit temperature, and test pellet produced |
| DE4025683A1 (en) * | 1990-06-13 | 1992-02-27 | Juergen Josef Joisten | Silicone paper bags for transportation of adhesives - have outlets in base and sides which are held away from container eliminating packaging residues |
| US5343672A (en) * | 1992-12-01 | 1994-09-06 | Scherer Ltd R P | Method for manufacturing freeze dried dosages in a multilaminate blister pack |
| CH688784A5 (en) * | 1993-03-05 | 1998-03-13 | Escher Wyss Gmbh | Cooling device. |
| DE19632787C2 (en) * | 1996-08-15 | 2001-06-28 | Santrade Ltd | Process for the production and wrapping of melt portions and plant for carrying out the process |
| DE102009047151B3 (en) | 2009-11-25 | 2011-07-28 | Uhlmann Pac-Systeme GmbH & Co KG, 88471 | sealing station |
| CN101850857B (en) * | 2010-07-01 | 2011-09-14 | 浙江希望机械有限公司 | Intelligent high-speed rolled sheet type blister packing machine |
| US8815141B2 (en) | 2010-09-22 | 2014-08-26 | Stratasys, Inc. | Method for building three-dimensional models with extrusion-based additive manufacturing systems |
| US8647098B2 (en) | 2010-09-22 | 2014-02-11 | Stratasys, Inc. | Liquefier assembly for use in extrusion-based additive manufacturing systems |
| CN104136323B (en) * | 2012-02-28 | 2016-03-30 | 宝洁公司 | For the formation of the method for packaging |
| CN108454926A (en) * | 2018-04-17 | 2018-08-28 | 江西铜鼓仁和制药有限公司 | A kind of automatic filling system of medical syrup class |
| CN111114910B (en) * | 2018-10-31 | 2021-09-21 | 中达电子(江苏)有限公司 | Heat sealing method of bubble cap machine |
Family Cites Families (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2505603A (en) * | 1946-07-16 | 1950-04-25 | Cellophane Sa | Process for the molding in their own packing of fusible or thermoplastic products |
| FR2122662A5 (en) * | 1971-01-19 | 1972-09-01 | Air Liquide | Storage of two substances in one container without mixing - - by refrigeration of one substance |
| US3837778A (en) * | 1972-12-22 | 1974-09-24 | R Parker | Apparatus for package molding, roofing asphalt |
| FR2411132A1 (en) * | 1978-06-02 | 1979-07-06 | Tecca | Container forming and filling installation - with thermo-formable film shaped into containers to which cover film is sealed by heating electrodes |
-
1981
- 1981-12-30 IT IT68720/81A patent/IT1145646B/en active
-
1982
- 1982-12-23 IE IE3079/82A patent/IE54070B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1982-12-27 EP EP82830310A patent/EP0083323B1/en not_active Expired
- 1982-12-27 DE DE8282830310T patent/DE3273966D1/en not_active Expired
- 1982-12-29 DK DK578082A patent/DK155156C/en not_active IP Right Cessation
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| EP0083323A3 (en) | 1984-04-04 |
| DK155156B (en) | 1989-02-20 |
| EP0083323B1 (en) | 1986-10-29 |
| EP0083323A2 (en) | 1983-07-06 |
| IT8168720A0 (en) | 1981-12-30 |
| DE3273966D1 (en) | 1986-12-04 |
| DK578082A (en) | 1983-07-01 |
| IT1145646B (en) | 1986-11-05 |
| DK155156C (en) | 1989-07-10 |
| IE823079L (en) | 1983-06-30 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MM4A | Patent lapsed |