WO2020234377A1

WO2020234377A1 - Apparatus for machine for blister packing products requiring absorption of volatile compounds

Info

Publication number: WO2020234377A1
Application number: PCT/EP2020/064117
Authority: WO
Inventors: Philippe Colombat; Thierry Bigot; Jean-Claude Thomas
Original assignee: Elizabeth Europe
Priority date: 2019-05-21
Filing date: 2020-05-20
Publication date: 2020-11-26
Also published as: EP3741689A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus (10) for a machine (1) for packing products requiring absorption of volatile compounds such as water or oxygen, in particular pharmaceutical, food or cosmetic products such as tablets, capsules or single-dose packs, into blister pack cavities (2) that belong to a strip of cavities (3) moving along a mobile device for distributing products, the apparatus being characterised in that it comprises means (20; 30; 40) for forming pellets (23) of desiccant, means (50) for transferring each pellet (23) of desiccant onto a sealing film (65) for sealing the strip of cavities (3) moving longitudinally, the transfer means (50) comprising at least one head (51) which is movable between at least one first position for receiving, on an active surface of the head (51), the pellet (23) of desiccant, and a second position in which the pellet (23) of desiccant is sandwiched between the sealing film (65) and the active surface of the head (51), and sealing means (60) for securing the pellet (23) of desiccant to the sealing film (65).

Description

Title of the invention: Equipment for blistering machine for products requiring absorption of volatile compounds

Technical field of the invention

The present invention relates to equipment for a blistering machine for pharmaceutical, food, cosmetic or medical products requiring absorption of volatile compounds. It applies in particular to the placement of an absorbent film (for example a desiccant tablet) in cells belonging to a blister strip moving along a device and containing one or more products and in particular tablets. , capsules, soft capsules, pods, medical devices, cosmetic or food products.

Prior art

[0002] It is common to put products in blister packs (strip of cells)

pharmaceutical, food, cosmetic or medical products in particular in the form of tablets, hard capsules, soft capsules, pods, medical devices, cosmetic or food products.

[0003] Typically these products are placed in cells of a strip

honeycomb which is then sealed, generally hot, by a sealing film coated with an adhesive on its surface.

[0004] Problems related to costs, to the conservation over time of these products, are commonly encountered, in particular their premature aging caused by the presence of volatile compounds (water, gas, such as oxygen) in the sealed cells.

[0005] An attempt has already been made to solve this problem by proposing, for example, to place a desiccant in the sachets or in the cells, but the processes implemented were not fast and reliable enough and consumed too much desiccant. In another solution, a specific alveolus is created in the blisters to receive a piece of desiccant, this alveolus communicating with the main cell containing the product. In this case, the blister pack is bulky and too bulky.

Presentation of the invention

[0006] The present invention aims to remedy these drawbacks with a

totally innovative approach allowing conservation, without creating additional volumes or spaces the blister pack keeps the same

clutter.

[0007] To this end, according to a first aspect, the present invention relates to equipment for a machine for blistering products requiring absorption of volatile compounds, such as water or oxygen, in particular pharmaceutical products, food or cosmetics such as tablets, capsules or even pods, in cells belonging to a honeycomb strip moving along a mobile product distribution device, characterized in that it comprises:

- means for forming desiccant tablets,

- Means for transferring each tablet of desiccant against a film for sealing the cellular strip in longitudinal displacement, said transfer means comprising at least one movable head between at least a first reception position, on an active face of said head, of the desiccant tablet, and a second position for sandwiching said desiccant tablet between said sealing film and said active face of the head, and

- Means for securing said desiccant tablet to said sealing film.

[0008] The invention is implemented according to the embodiments and

variants set out below, which are to be considered individually or according to any technically operative combination.

[0009] Advantageously, the transfer head is mounted on a mobile drum in rotation about an axis perpendicular to the direction of movement of the sealing film. [0010] Preferably, the drum is provided with n transfer heads, n being an integer greater than or equal to 1, and the heads are spaced apart.

angularly from each other by 360 ° / n.

[0011] According to one particular characteristic, the drum carrying the head (s) is movable in an oscillating manner between the two positions, which are extreme positions.

[0012] Preferably, the drum is oscillating according to an angular range

about 180 °, and preferably 90 °.

More specifically, the transfer head oscillates between a first position

wherein the active face of the head is substantially horizontal, oriented towards means for cutting desiccant pellets, and a second position in which the active face of the head is substantially vertical, facing the sealing film.

[0014] According to a particular embodiment, the transfer head comprises, on its active face, a zone for receiving the desiccant tablet.

More specifically, the reception area of the transfer head is materialized by a hollow housing whose perimeter is identical or slightly greater than that of the desiccant tablet.

Preferably, the hollow housing of the transfer head has a depth less than or equal to one third of the thickness of the desiccant tablet, and preferably between zero mm and one third of said thickness.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the transfer head is connected to means for plating by suction of the desiccant tablet against the reception area.

[0018] By way of example, the plating means comprise at least one suction port provided at the level of the reception area of the transfer head and connected to an external vacuum system, for example of the venturi type.

[0019] Advantageously, the transfer head comprises means for pressing the pellet against the sealing film.

More specifically, the transfer head comprising at least one body and a movable front plate provided with the active face, the plating means comprise at least one pneumatic or electric actuator of the cylinder type mounted in the body and acting on said movable front plate.

In particular, the body of the transfer head contains at least three

independent actuators each resting on the rear of the movable front plate, opposite the active face.

[0022] According to one embodiment, each actuator is provided, at at least one end, with an elastic ball joint.

[0023] According to a particular characteristic, the means for supplying the desiccant tablets comprise on the one hand a support for a thin strip of desiccant and on the other hand means for cutting the perforation of said tape to produce said tablets.

More specifically, the perforation cutting means comprise a punch movable in translation in an alternating manner in front of a through orifice belonging to a fixed die, said orifice being disposed, in the first position of reception of the transfer head, opposite of the active face of the latter.

[0025] Advantageously, the perforation punch comprises means

suction to hold the desiccant tablet in position before it is picked up by the transfer head.

According to a particular embodiment, the means for supplying

Desiccant tablets also include a tape pulling clamp to bring the latter from the support to the perforation cutting means.

The equipment further comprises at least one sensor for verifying the presence and / or the desiccant ribbon, a sensor for verifying the presence and / or correct positioning of the desiccant tablet on the transfer head, and a sensor for verifying the presence and / or correct positioning of the desiccant tablet against the sealing film.

[0028] Furthermore, the equipment comprises means for heating the film

sealing at least when the transfer head is positioned with its active face facing said sealing film so as to secure the desiccant tablet on said film by melting a layer of glue / adhesive covering said film d 'obturation. [0029] Preferably, the heating means also constitute means for preheating the sealing film.

Brief description of the figures

[0030] Other advantages, aims and characteristics of the present invention

emerge from the following description given, for explanatory and in no way limiting, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0031] Figure 1 is a first right perspective view of a packaging machine for blister packaged products comprising equipment according to the present invention,

[0032] Figure 2 is the second left perspective view of Figure 1,

[0033] Figure 3 is a front view of Figures 1 and 2,

[0034] Figure 4 is a detail view of a pulling member of a ribbon of

desiccant,

[0035] Figure 5 is a front view of a detail of Figures 1 to 3, namely a

desiccant ribbon cutting device,

[0036] FIG. 6 is a view from below of the device for cutting the tape to form a desiccant tablet,

[0037] FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of the cutting device,

[0038] Figure 8 is a side perspective view of the cutting device and part of a desiccant tablet transfer head,

[0039] Figure 9 is a front perspective view of the transfer head

[0040] FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of the pulling member, of the cutting device and of the transfer head, which is in a first extreme position,

[0041] Figure 11 is a front perspective view of the pulling member, the cutting device and the transfer head, which is in a second extreme position, and

[0042] Figure 12 is a sectional view of the transfer head.

Description of embodiments

Figures 1 to 12 show equipment 10 for a machine 1 for blistering (also called "blister machine") of products requiring absorption of volatile compounds in cells 2 belonging to a cell strip 3 moving along a mobile distribution device (not shown) of a type known per se.

In particular, the products concerned by the present invention are pharmaceutical, food or cosmetic products such as tablets, capsules or even pods, and the volatile compounds are for example water (humidity) or oxygen .

This equipment 10, adaptable to different types of commercial alternating or continuous advance blister machines 1, comprises a frame 11 supporting a technical cabinet 12 and on which are mounted, "from upstream to downstream" when the machine 1 and its associated equipment 10 are in operation, a support 20 movable in rotation to deliver a strip 21 of desiccant material, a member 30 for linear pulling of the strip 21 to drive its unwinding, a device 40 for cutting by perforation of said strip 21 for forming tablets 23 of desiccant, and a means 50 for transferring each cut tablet 23 of desiccant in the direction of means 60 for sealing by heating a sealing film 65 of aluminum.

All these elements will be described below in more detail in relation to the various figures relating to them.

As illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, the movable support 20 in the present case comprises a flat coil 22 pivoting on an axis of rotation 24 connected to a motor 26 and around which the strip 21 of desiccant is wound.

On leaving the flat reel 22, the desiccant strip 21 then passes

alternately around different means 26 for guiding and tensioning (tubes parallel to each other drawn up on the frame 12) before being received by the pulling member 30.

This pulling member 30 is in the present case in the form of two parallel jaws 31 which can move away from and approach one another and move together using cylinders (pneumatic or electric ) 32 according to a reciprocating linear movement (back and forth according to the arrow V) to go up along the strip 21 (the rods of the jacks 32 enter a housing 33), jaws 31 open, to close its jaws 31 in order to tighten said tape 21 between the latter (the inside of the jaws 31 is provided for this purpose with a soft and adherent coating 34 to prevent the tape 21 from tearing or slipping), then to retract its jaws 31 by pulling the tape 21 in the direction of the cutting device 40 (the rods of the jacks 32 come out housing 33).

Alternatively, the jaws 31 can already be opened in position

ascent (rods of the cylinders 32 retracted into the housing 33), so that the alternating cycle (arrow V of the linear reciprocating movement) of the pulling member 30 comprises the steps of clamping the jaws 31 on both sides another of the tape 21, for pulling the tape 21 (the rods of the jacks 32 come out of the housing 33), jaws 31 closed, in the direction of the cutting device 40, then the upward movement of the jaws 31 open along the tape 21 to initiate the next cycle (the cylinder rods 32 enter the housing 33).

As a variant, the cylinder rods 32 are replaced by a motorized linear carriage.

In both cases, the linear pulling member 30 of the step-by-step type allows the tape 21 to be fed incrementally to the cutting device 40 in order to evenly distribute the perforations.

A curved guide provided with two guide plates 35 and 36 then allows the tape 21 to be perfectly guided in the direction of said device 40 for cutting by perforation described below in relation to Figures 5 to 8.

The strip 21 of desiccant thus unwound from the reel 22 then passes through the punch-cutting device 40 which typically comprises at least one punch 41 moving alternately in line (vertically in the present case) using a jack 42 between a first position remote from the tape 21 and a second position in which it perforates the latter by passing through an opening 43 formed in a plate 44 forming a fixed die. Once the patch 23 has been cut, the latter remains in place on the end surface of the punch 41, for example using integrated suction means, in order to prevent it from moving and falling for example. by gravity.

Once the tablet 23 of desiccant is cut, it is recovered by transfer means 50 comprising a head 51 mounted on a drum 52 connected to a motor housed in the technical cabinet 12 and movable alternately (arrow R) in rotation about an axis XX 'perpendicular to the direction of movement F of the sealing film 65. In parallel, a tape recovery tank 21 perforated can be provided at the outlet of the cutting means 40.

The head 51, shown in more detail in Figures 8 and 12, has for this purpose a movable front plate 53 provided with an active face 54 provided with a receiving area 55 of the pad 23 materialized by a housing hollow.

This hollow housing 55 has the same section / perimeter as that of the pellet 23 (and of the opening 42 of the cutting device 40) and a depth P measuring between 0 mm and one third of the thickness E of said pellet 23 ( see FIG. 9) so that the patch 23 is still projecting from the receiving housing 55 and from the active face 54.

The recessed area 55 is also pierced with orifices 56, for example two in number, communicating with an external venturi type system mounted in the technical cabinet 12. Thus, the tablet 23 of desiccant is always good held in place during the reciprocating movements of the transfer head 51.

Indeed, as soon as the pellet 23 has been cut, it is placed in the

hollow housing 55 of the transfer head 51 and the suction means act to press it against the bottom of said hollow housing 55. Thus, when the head 51 performs its reciprocating rotational movement along the axis XX ', for example substantially at 90 ° to go from a position in which the active face 54 is horizontal, facing the cutting device 40 (Figure 10), to a vertical position (Figure 11) in which the active face 54 is disposed facing the sealing means 60 by heating (a heating plate), the suction means act continuously to prevent the pellet 23 from moving in the hollow housing 55 or from falling by gravity.

To facilitate the positioning of the tablet 23 of desiccant on the film

shutter 65, the transfer head 51 comprises a body 57 as well as internal jacks 58 disposed in the body 57 and bearing against the rear of the front plate 53, opposite the active face 54. Advantageously each cylinder 58 is provided with an elastic ball joint (not shown) for allow the most precise possible positioning of the pellet 23 against the sealing film 65.

Once the head 51 is placed opposite the aluminum sealing film 65 (second extreme position of Figure 11), the internal cylinders 58 of the transfer head 51 support the means 60 for sealing by heating in order to press the tablet 23 of desiccant against said film 65 placed in front of said sealing means. The sealing film 65 is preheated with the aid of a resistor 62 integrated in the sealing means 60 by heating before the arrival of the pellet 23, then heated again using said resistor 62 once that. -ci in contact with the film 65 so as to very quickly melt a thin layer of adhesive / glue with which the sealing film 65 of aluminum is provided.

Thus, the pellet 23 is firmly secured to the sealing film 65. This

the latter continues its sequential movement of advance step-by-step (arrow F) to come to position itself opposite the honeycomb strip 3 (which also advances sequentially and perfectly synchronized with the aluminum sheet 65) so as to place each tablet 23 of desiccant exactly above a cell 2 previously filled with the product (drug tablet for example).

A last heat sealing operation of the operculating film 65 on the

blister strip 3 is made in order to trap both the product and the tablet 23 of desiccant in the same compartment 2.

A sensor 80 for verifying the presence and / or the strip 21 of desiccant is provided upstream of the clamp 31 to inform in particular that the coil 22 is empty.

Likewise, a sensor for verifying the presence and / or the

positioning of the tablet 23 of desiccant on the transfer head 51 is provided, for example opposite the lower surface of the punch 41 or at the level of the active surface of the transfer head.

Finally, a sensor 84 for verifying the presence and / or the good

positioning of the tablet 23 of desiccant 21 against the sealing film 65 is placed downstream of the sealing means 60 by heating. It should of course be understood that the detailed description of the subject of the invention, given solely by way of illustration, does not in any way constitute a limitation, the technical equivalents also being included in the scope of the present invention.

Thus, the movements of the transfer head 51 may differ from those described.

The drum can also be provided with two heads in opposition to 180 ° and turn only in one direction (no alternating back and forth movement), so that at each half turn, a pellet 23 of desiccant is recovered and then attached to the sealing film 65 on the next half turn, or four heads so that at each quarter turn a desiccant tablet is grasped before being attached to the sealing film.

The cylinders 58 can be three in number to form an isostatic assembly for positioning the plate 53 during the bonding of the tablet 23 of desiccant on the sealing film 65.

[0070] The transfer head 51 can be provided with several hollow housings 55 to seal several tablets 23 of desiccant 1 simultaneously on the sealing film 65, and thus fill several cells 2 at the same time. In this case, the means 40 for cutting by perforation will be adapted accordingly and will include several punches / dies.

Claims

Claim 1. Equipment (10) for blistering machine (1) of

products requiring absorption of volatile compounds, such as water or oxygen, including pharmaceuticals, food or

cosmetics such as tablets, capsules or even pods, in cells (2) belonging to a blister strip (3) moving along a mobile device for dispensing products, characterized in that it comprises:

- means (20; 30; 40) for forming desiccant tablets (23),

- Means (50) for transferring each tablet (23) of desiccant against a sealing film (65) of cellular strip (3) in longitudinal movement, said transfer means (50) comprising at least one mobile head (51) between at least a first receiving position, on an active face (54) of said head (51), of the desiccant tablet (23), and a second position in which of said desiccant tablet (23) is sandwiched between said sealing film (65) and said active face (54) of the head (51), and

- sealing means (60) for securing said tablet (23) of desiccant to said sealing film (65).

Claim 2. Equipment (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the transfer head (51) is mounted on a drum (52) movable in rotation along an axis (XX ') perpendicular to the direction of movement F of the film d 'obturation (65).

Claim 3. Equipment (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the drum is provided with n transfer heads (51), n being an integer greater than or equal to 1, and the heads are angularly spaced from each other. from 3607h.

Claim 4. Equipment (10) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the drum (52) carrying the head (s) (51) is movable in an oscillating manner between the two positions, which are extreme positions.

Claim 5. Equipment according to Claim 4, characterized in that the drum is oscillating according to an angular range of approximately 180 °, and preferably 90 °. Claim 6. Equipment (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that the transfer head (51) oscillates between a first position in which the active face (54) of the head (51) is substantially horizontal, oriented towards means (40) for cutting the desiccant tablets (23), and a second position in which the active face (54) of the head (51) is substantially vertical, facing the sealing film (65).

Claim 7. Equipment (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transfer head (51) comprises, on its active face (54), a zone (55) for receiving the patch (23). desiccant.

Claim 8. Equipment (10) according to Claim 7, characterized in that the zone (55) for receiving the transfer head (51) is materialized by a hollow housing, the perimeter of which is identical to or slightly greater than that of the pellet. (23) desiccant.

Claim 9. Equipment (10) according to claim 8, characterized in that the hollow housing (55) of the transfer head (51) has a depth P less than or equal to one third of the thickness E of the pellet (23). desiccant, and preferably between zero mm and one third of said thickness E.

Claim 10. Equipment (10) according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the transfer head (51) is connected to means (56) for plating by suction of the tablet (23) of desiccant against the reception area (55).

Claim 11. Equipment (10) according to Claim 10, characterized in that the plating means (56) comprise at least one suction port (56) formed at the level of the reception zone (55) of the transfer head. (51) and connected to an external vacuum system, for example of the venturi type.

Claim 12. Equipment (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transfer head (51) comprises means (58) for pressing the tablet (23) of desiccant against the sealing film (65). ).

Claim 13. Equipment (10) according to claim 12, characterized in that, the transfer head (51) comprising at least one body (57) and a movable front plate (53) provided with the active face (54), the veneer means (58) comprise at least one pneumatic or electric actuator of the cylinder type mounted in the body (57) and acting on said movable front plate (53).

Claim 14. Equipment (10) according to claim 13, characterized in that the body (57) of the transfer head (51) contains at least three independent actuators (58) each bearing on the rear of the movable front plate. (53), opposite the active face (54).

Claim 15. Equipment (10) according to any one of claims 13 or 14, characterized in that each actuator (58) is provided, at least one end, with an elastic ball joint.

Claim 16. Equipment (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means (20; 30; 40) for supplying the desiccant tablets (23) comprise on the one hand a support (20) for a fine strip (21) of desiccant and on the other hand means (40) for cutting perforation of said strip (21) to produce said pellets (23).

Claim 17. Equipment (10) according to Claim 16, characterized in that the means (40) for cutting by perforation comprise a punch (41) movable in translation alternately in front of a through orifice (43) belonging to a fixed die ( 44), said orifice (43) being arranged, in the first position of reception of the transfer head (51), opposite the active face (54) of the latter.

Claim 18. Equipment (10) according to claim 17, characterized in that the perforation punch (41) comprises suction means for maintaining the tablet (23) of desiccant in position before its recovery by the transfer head (51). )

Claim 19. Equipment (10) according to any one of claims 16 to

18, characterized in that the means (20; 30; 40) for supplying the desiccant tablets (23) also comprise a clamp (31) for pulling the tape (21) to bring the latter from the support (20) to the means ( 40) punching cutting.

Claim 20. Equipment (10) according to any one of claims 16 to

19, characterized in that it further comprises at least one sensor (80) for verifying the presence and / or the strip (21) of desiccant. Claim 21. Equipment (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it also comprises at least one sensor for verifying the presence and / or the correct positioning of the tablet (23) of desiccant (21). on the transfer head (51).

Claim 22. Equipment (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it furthermore comprises means (62) for heating the sealing film (65) at least when the transfer head (51) is positioned with its active face (54) facing said sealing film (65) so as to secure the tablet (23) of desiccant on said film (65) by melting a layer of glue / adhesive covering said shutter film (65).

Claim 23. Equipment (10) according to Claim 22, characterized in that the heating means (62) also constitute means for preheating the sealing film (65).

Claim 24. Equipment (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises a sensor (84) for verifying the presence and / or the correct positioning of the tablet (23) of desiccant against. the sealing film (65).