JP3169424B2 - Method and apparatus for correcting warpage of blister package - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for correcting the warpage of a blister package for packing tablets, capsules and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the pharmaceutical and other fields, blister packages such as press-through packaging (PTP) packages are frequently used to package tablets, capsules and the like. In this blister package, a large number of pockets are thermoformed on the surface of the strip-shaped resin sheet, tablets and capsules are loaded in each pocket, and a sealing foil such as an aluminum foil is heat-bonded to the back of the resin sheet. Thereby, the tablets and capsules inside are sealed. In the cooling process after the sealing foil is heated and bonded to the resin sheet, the difference in the thermal shrinkage rates of the respective materials of the resin sheet and the sealing foil may cause warpage such that the protruding side of the pocket of the resin sheet is on the inside. It has been known. FIG. 7 shows the warped blister package.

[0003]

In the case where polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is used as the material of the resin sheet, the warpage is not so large, and there is no particular problem if this is left as it is. However, in recent years, PVC has been pointed out to be problematic in terms of the environment, and it has been required to use a material that is more excellent in terms of moisture resistance. Single-phase sheets such as HDPE) or composite sheets thereof have come to be used as materials for resin sheets. When PP or HDPE is used, the warpage of the resin sheet becomes remarkably large, which causes a problem that the product is bulky and difficult to handle when automatically packaging products or managing pharmaceuticals at medical institutions, and corrects the warpage. Needs arise. The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and has as its object to obtain a method and an apparatus for correcting the warpage of a blister package.

[0004]

According to a method of correcting a warp of a blister package according to the present invention, articles to be packaged are stored in pockets arranged vertically and horizontally on the surface of a resin sheet, respectively. A continuous body of the blister package obtained by bonding the sealing foil is a predetermined size from both ends parallel to the feeding direction of the continuous body of the blister package, which is an adhesive portion between the resin sheet and the sealing foil. A step of bending the resin sheet side outside and the sealing foil side inside as a bending line, and forming a continuous unit of the blister package body into a predetermined unit of pocket portion so as to include a portion outside the bending line. Punching into small pieces, and aging the small pieces for a predetermined time so that the bending line disappears due to warpage due to natural shrinkage of the resin sheet.

[0005] Further, in the device for correcting a warp of a blister package according to the present invention, objects to be packaged are stored in pockets arranged vertically and horizontally on the surface of a resin sheet, and a sealing foil is adhered to the back surface of the resin sheet. Feeding means for feeding the continuous body of the blister package formed in one direction, an adhesive portion between the resin sheet and the sealing foil of the continuous body of the blister package, and the continuous body of the blister package. Folding means for bending a predetermined dimension from the both ends parallel to the feeding direction so that the inner side is a bending line with the resin sheet side being the outer side and the sealing foil side being the inner side, and a part outside the bending line is included. And a punching means for punching the continuous body of the blister package into small pieces having a predetermined unit of pocket portion.

[0006]

The blister package having completed the heat bonding between the resin sheet and the sealing foil is thereafter cooled. Due to the difference in the shrinkage ratio of the material of the resin sheet and the material of the sealing foil, the cooling causes the blister package to warp such that the resin sheet side is inside and the sealing foil side is outside. However, the resin sheet of the blister package body is a bonded portion between the resin sheet and the sealing foil, and the inside of a predetermined dimension from both ends parallel to the feeding direction of the blister package body is taken as a bending line, and the resin sheet side is used. And the sealing foil side is turned to the inside, the bent portion serves as a rib, and the warpage of the bent portions at both ends is corrected. Furthermore, when the continuous body of the blister package is punched into a small piece having a pocket unit of a predetermined unit, by including a portion outside the bending line, a rib effect by bending also acts on the punched small piece, The warpage of the punched small pieces is also corrected. Polypropylene (PP) which is the material of the resin sheet
And high-density polyethylene (HDPE) have the property of being heated and then cooled, and continuing to shrink for a while after returning to normal temperature. Therefore, by aging the punched small pieces for a predetermined time, the bent portions exhibiting the rib effect also return to the original state.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of a method and an apparatus for correcting warpage of a blister package according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 shows a process and an apparatus for folding a blister package so that the resin sheet side is outside and the sealing foil side is inside with a predetermined size inside as a bending line from both ends parallel to the feeding direction of the continuous body of the blister package. Perspective view, FIG. 2
3 is a front view, FIG. 3 is a side view showing the arrangement of each component of the device for correcting the warpage of the blister package, FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a small piece of the blister package immediately after punching, and FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the small piece after performing.

In FIG. 1, a continuous body 1 of a blister package includes a matrix of a single-phase sheet of polypropylene (PP) or high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or a resin sheet 2 of a composite sheet of these sheets. Thermoforming pockets 2a, loading tablets and capsules into pockets 2a, and heat-sealing sealing foil 3 such as aluminum foil to the back of the resin sheet to seal the tablets and capsules inside. , And a process of forming a predetermined perforation 4, and is in a cooling process.

As shown in FIG. 3, the continuous body 1 of the blister package has driven guide rollers 10 and 1 having concave portions (not shown in the drawing) for engaging with pockets 2a on the surface.
1, and are continuously or intermittently fed in a certain direction by the drive roller 12. Warp correcting rollers 13 and 14 are provided between the driven guide roller 10 and the driving roller 12.
Is provided. FIG. 1 and FIG.
Details of 3 and 14 are shown. As shown in each figure, the warp correcting roller 13 has a cylindrical surface 13b having a width smaller than the width of the continuous body 1 of the blister package, and an axis 13a orthogonal to the feeding direction of the continuous body 1 of the blister package. Focusing on
The cylindrical surface 13b freely rotates while being in contact with the surface of the continuous body 1 of the blister package on the side of the sealing foil 3. On the other hand, the warp straightening roller 14 is a cylindrical surface 13b of the warp straightening roller 13.
Are provided in the vicinity of both ends of the
A large-diameter cylindrical portion 1 having a small-diameter cylindrical portion 14a opposed to the cylindrical surface 13b at a predetermined interval and an end surface 14d opposed to the end surface 13c of the warp correction roller 13 at a predetermined interval.
4b, and a small-diameter cylindrical portion 14a about
Rotates freely while being in contact with the surface of the continuous body 1 of the blister package on the side of the resin sheet 2. Each warp straightening roller 13
The shafts 13a and 14c of the blister package are held by a ball bearing or the like (not shown in the drawing) so as to rotate very smoothly. It is considered not to hurt.

The continuous body 1 of the blister package is fed in a certain direction by the driving force of the driving roller 12 shown in FIG.
When passing between the warp correction rollers 13 and 14, FIG.
And FIG. 2, as shown in FIG.
Are bent from both ends parallel to the feeding direction so that the inside of a predetermined dimension is a bending line 5 so that the resin sheet 2 side is outside and the sealing foil 3 side is inside. Here, the bending line 5 is a bonding portion between the resin sheet 2 and the sealing foil 3 of the continuous body 1 of the blister package, that is, the pocket 2a.
This is the part excluding the part. Fold line 5 is pocket 2a
In this case, the surface of the sealing foil 3 at the pocket 2a may be scratched or wrinkled, and in the worst case, the sealing foil 3 at the fold line 5 may be broken. In order to prevent this, the position of the bending line 5 is limited to the above-mentioned bonded portion.

[0011] A continuous body 1 of a blister package body which is bent inside by a predetermined dimension from both ends parallel to the feeding direction.
In the case of the present invention, the bent line 5 serves as a rib, and the rib effect corrects the warpage. The continuous body 1 of the blister package body in which the warp has been corrected is punched by a punching die 20 shown in FIG. 3 into a small piece 6 having a pocket unit of a predetermined unit as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, the punched small piece 6 includes a portion 6a outside the bending line 5, so that the punched small piece 6 also has a rib effect by bending and is punched. The warpage of the small pieces 6 is also corrected. Polypropylene (PP) or high-density polyethylene (HDP)
E) and the like have the property that they are once heated, then cooled, and continue to shrink for a while after returning to room temperature. Therefore, by aging the punched small pieces 6 for a predetermined time, the bent portions 6a exhibiting the rib effect also return to the original state as shown in FIG. After aging for a predetermined time, the resin sheet 2 no longer shrinks any more, so that the punched small pieces 6 do not warp.

FIGS. 1, 2 and 6 show another embodiment of the method and apparatus for correcting the warpage of a blister package according to the present invention.
This will be described with reference to FIG. The configuration in FIGS. 1 and 2 is the same as in the above-described embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the continuous body 1 of the blister package body in which a predetermined dimension inside is bent from both ends parallel to the feeding direction, the bent line 5 serves as a rib, Warpage is corrected by the rib effect. However, depending on the thickness of the resin sheet 2 and the width of the continuous body 1 of the blister package, the rib effect by the bent line 5 is not sufficient, and a slight warp may remain. In such a case, it is necessary to increase the rib effect by bending the continuous body 1 of the blister package body so that the center of the continuous body 1 is a bending line so that the side of the resin sheet 2 is on the outside and the side of the sealing foil 3 is on the inside. .
FIG. 6 is a front view showing the configuration of another warpage correction roller 23 or 24. In FIG. 6, a warp straightening roller 23 is a roller similar to the warp straightening roller 13, but has a cylindrical surface 2.
3 has a groove or notch 23c in the center. In addition, the warp correction roller 24 has an outer peripheral portion 24a having a cross section formed at an acute angle facing the groove or notch 23c,
And it is provided so that it may be located inside cylindrical surface 23b. When the continuous body 1 of the blister package passes between the warp correction rollers 23 and 24, as shown in FIG.
Edge 2 of groove or notch 23c of warpage correction roller 23
3d and the outer peripheral portion 24a of the warp correction roller 24,
The central portion 1a of the continuous body 1 of the blister package is bent so that the side of the resin sheet 2 is on the outside and the side of the sealing foil 3 is on the inside, and the bent line portion functions as a new rib. As a result, the warpage of the continuous body 1 of the blister package is almost completely corrected. In this embodiment, the center part of the continuous body 1 of the blister package body whose inner sides are bent by a predetermined dimension from both ends parallel to the feeding direction, and the resin sheet 2 side as the outside and the sealing foil 3 side The width of the warp correction roller 23 is set to be equal to the width of the warp correction roller 13 so as not to prevent the width of the continuous body 1 of the blister package from being reduced by bending the central portion. It is set narrower than.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, the warp correcting rollers 13, 14, 23, 24 are used as a means for correcting the warp of the continuous body 1 of the blister package, but the guide walls and the guides whose surfaces are finished smoothly are used. The same effect can be obtained by using the groove.

[0014]

As described above, according to the present invention, the inside of a predetermined dimension is bent from both ends parallel to the feeding direction of the continuous body 1 of the blister package, and the bent line 5 serves as a rib. Therefore, the warpage is corrected, and the punched small piece 6 includes a portion 6a outside the bending line 5, so that the punched small piece 6 also has a rib effect by bending and is punched. The warpage of the small pieces 6 is also corrected.
In addition, due to the shrinkage characteristics of the material of the resin sheet, the punched small pieces 6 are aged for a predetermined time so that the bent portions 6
a is also restored. As a result, there is no bulkiness and no trouble in handling when automatically packaging products or managing pharmaceuticals in medical institutions.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a process and an apparatus for folding a continuous body of a blister package body from both ends parallel to the feeding direction so that a predetermined dimension inside is a bending line, a resin sheet side is outside and a sealing foil side is inside. Perspective view

FIG. 2 is a front view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view showing the arrangement of each component of the device for correcting warpage of a blister package.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the shape of a small piece of a blister package immediately after being punched.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the shape of a small piece after aging for a predetermined time.

FIG. 6 is a front view showing a configuration of another warp correcting rollers 23 and 24.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the shape of a small piece of a general warped blister package.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Continuous body of blister package 2 Resin sheet 3 Seal foil 4 Perforation 5 Bending line 6 Small piece 12 Drive roller 13 Warp straightening roller 14 Warp straightening roller 20 Punch type 23 Warp straightening roller 24 Warp straightening roller

Continued on the front page (56) References JP-A-60-123323 (JP, A) JP-A-55-127007 (JP, A) JP-A-2-45903 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int .Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B65B 9/04 B65B 61/24

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A continuum of a blister package, in which pockets are formed in pockets arranged vertically and horizontally on the surface of a resin sheet, and a sealing foil is adhered to the back surface of the resin sheet, It is a bonding portion between the sheet and the sealing foil, and from both ends parallel to the feeding direction of the continuous body of the blister package body, a predetermined dimension inside is a bending line with the resin sheet side as the outside and the sealing foil side as the inside with the bending line as the inside. Piercing the continuous body of the blister package into small pieces having a predetermined unit of pocket portion so as to include a portion outside the fold line, wherein the fold line naturally shrinks the resin sheet. Aging the small piece for a predetermined time so that the small piece disappears due to the warpage of the blister package. 2. A continuum of a blister package body in which pockets are stored in pocket portions arranged vertically and horizontally on the front surface of a resin sheet and a sealing foil is adhered to the back surface of the resin sheet, in one direction. A feeding unit for feeding, an adhesive portion between the resin sheet and the sealing foil of the continuous body of the blister package, and a predetermined size inside from both ends parallel to the feeding direction of the continuous body of the blister package. Bending means for bending the resin sheet side to the outside and the sealing foil side to the inside with the bending line as the bending line, and the continuous body of the blister package body including a portion outside the bending line in a predetermined unit of pocket. A punching means for punching into a small piece having a portion. 3. A folding line, which is a bonding portion between the resin sheet and the sealing foil of the continuous body of the blister package and a central portion in a direction orthogonal to a feeding direction of the continuous body of the blister package. The device for correcting a warpage of a blister package according to claim 2, further comprising a second bending means for bending the resin sheet side to the outside and the sealing foil side to the inside.