Packaging apparatus and its use and method for manufacturing a connected blister pack

Abstract

The invention relates to a packaging apparatus for small items, to the use of a packaging apparatus and to a method for producing a connected blister pack. The packaging apparatus comprises a packaging material guide for providing a web of formed packaging material suitable for containing small items, a longitudinal joining device arranged downstream of the packaging material guide, and a transverse joining device arranged downstream of the packaging material guide, which joins the web of formed packaging material at predetermined intervals at a transverse joining region transversely to the conveying direction, wherein the transverse joining device comprises two joining tools having a plurality of embossing tools which can be moved individually transversely to the conveying direction during the packaging operation and embossing tool stop regions which interact such that a palpable embossing can be formed in the transverse joining region by means of the embossing tools.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a packaging apparatus for small goods, particularly pharmaceutical and dietary supplement portions; the use of the packaging apparatus; and a method for manufacturing an integral blister bag comprising multiple blister packs. Background Technology

[0002] For example, equipment for blister packaging of pharmaceutical doses, also known as blister packaging machines, is known according to WO 2013 / 034504 A1. Depending on the extension level, these devices include hundreds of storage and dispensing stations, each storing multiple doses of a specific drug type. Individual doses can be dispensed from the storage and dispensing stations as needed and supplied via guiding devices to packaging equipment, where the doses are packaged, or blister packaged. For example, packaging equipment for use in the blister packaging machines mentioned above is known according to WO 2016 / 113291 A1 and WO 2018 / 184795 A1.

[0003] Packaging equipment used in blister packing machines typically produces blister packs consisting of multiple blister bags. To manufacture a blister pack, or blister pack, a packaging material web is shaped to allow one or more doses of medication to be supplied to a receiving area. After the doses of medication to be blister-packed are supplied to the receiving area, the individual blister bags of the blister pack are completed by joining the packaging material web at predetermined locations, wherein the blister bags extend in a bundle along the blister pack.

[0004] A single blister pack contains a combination of medication and / or dietary supplements, tailored to the individual patient. Typically, multiple blister packs or a single, continuous blister pack are provided to a patient, who must refer to the dosage information printed on the blister pack to determine when to take the medication combination, such as in the morning, noon, or evening. In known packaging equipment, patient-specific dosage information is printed on a strip of packaging material before the blister packs are assembled. Due to the small size of the blister packs themselves, the patient-specific dosage information printed on them is also relatively small, making it difficult for visually impaired patients to grasp (i.e., read) the dosage information without specific assistive devices. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The object of this invention is to provide a packaging device for small items, which can produce blister packs, allowing even visually impaired individuals to understand the consumption information. Furthermore, the object of this invention is to provide a method for manufacturing such blister packs.

[0006] This objective is achieved, in part, by a packaging device for small items. Within the scope of this invention, the term "small items" should specifically cover, for example, pharmaceutical tablets and dietary supplements. However, the packaging device can also be used to package other small items (e.g., screws).

[0007] The packaging apparatus for small items according to the invention can manufacture blister packs containing dosage information perceptible to visually impaired individuals. The packaging apparatus includes a packaging material guide for receiving an elongated strip of packaging material, wherein the packaging material guide is designed such that the elongated strip of packaging material is shaped to accommodate portions of medication (i.e., having a receiving area for small items) and continues to advance in the conveying direction. How precisely the elongated strip of packaging material entering the packaging material guide is shaped to accommodate the small item depends on the method of supplying the small item to be packaged, the method of elongating the already shaped packaging material guide in the conveying direction, and, for example, whether the packaging material strip has been pre-shaped. Therefore, for example, it is possible to supply the packaging material in a state that is already folded in the longitudinal direction or conveying direction.

[0008] If, as described in WO 2018 / 184795 A1, the packaging material strip is guided vertically downward after shaping, the packaging material strip is tubularly formed, with the lower end of the tubular section being formed into a pre-formed blister bag via a separation area. In this case, the medication (i.e., small items) is typically introduced directly from above into the receiving area formed by the folding and guiding device. Alternatively, if, as described in WO 2016 / 113291 A1, the conveying direction is obliquely elongated, the packaging material strip is formed into an upwardly open tetrahedron, which forms the receiving area for the medication. The exact structural design of the packaging material guiding device is not crucial to this invention, as long as it achieves the functions described above.

[0009] Downstream of the packaging material guiding device, the packaging equipment according to the present invention further includes a longitudinal joining device, which joins the packaging material strips at the overlapping area of ​​the packaging materials in the conveying direction of the packaging material strips. This overlapping area of ​​the packaging materials can be predetermined through a special structural design of the packaging material guiding device.

[0010] Downstream of the packaging material guiding device, a transverse joining device is arranged, transverse to the conveying direction, to join the packaging material strips at predetermined intervals (with respect to the longitudinal axis of the packaging material strip or the conveying direction) at transverse joining areas. The transverse joining device includes two joining tools, at least one of which is movable transversely to the conveying direction. This transverse joining area may correspond to the upper separation section between two blister packs. This is the case when manufacturing (common) continuous blister packs, such that transverse joining areas are assigned to two consecutive blister packs, and between the blister packs, perforations are pre-set in the transverse joining areas to separate individual blister packs, for example. Alternatively, continuous blister packs can be manufactured such that two "unique" transverse joining areas are assigned to each blister pack. The longitudinal joining device and the transverse joining device can be arranged sequentially as separate components in the conveying direction (whereby the transverse joining device is typically arranged downstream of the longitudinal joining device); however, it is also conceivable that the two joining devices are arranged in a common joining component.

[0011] In addition, according to the present invention, the packaging equipment includes a plurality of embossing tools and embossing tool stop areas that can move individually in the transverse direction during the packaging operation, wherein the embossing tools and embossing tool stop areas work together to form a touchable protrusion in the transverse joint area by means of the embossing tools.

[0012] By forming tactile protrusions in the lateral joint area, visually impaired patients can also distinguish multiple blister packs. If, for example, three blister packs are to be provided to a patient daily, it is possible to mark the three blister packs with patterns using two embossed pins, allowing the patient to unambiguously allocate them to a specific time of administration. Therefore, the packaging device according to the invention makes it possible to provide blister packs that can also be clearly allocated by visually impaired patients to predetermined times of administration.

[0013] The exact placement of the embossing tool within the packaging equipment is not critical to this invention, as long as the accessible protrusion is introduced into the transverse joining area. Therefore, for example, it is conceivable to provide another device downstream of the joining device, which includes the embossing tool and by means of it to introduce the accessible protrusion into the transverse joining area. However, to avoid using a separate device to guide the embossing tool, in a preferred embodiment of the packaging equipment according to the invention, the embossing tool is presupposed to be drive-in and drive-out arranged in one of the joining tools, and the other joining tool has at least in the contact area a resiliently designed joining surface or multiple embossing tool receptacles that can move individually transversely to the conveying direction. Thus, in this preferred embodiment, the accessible protrusion is generated simultaneously with the creation of the transverse joining area, eliminating the need for a separate device to introduce the accessible protrusion after the transverse joining area is created. This reduces the complexity of the packaging equipment and keeps its structural length (in the conveying direction) low.

[0014] Using two embossing tools already makes it possible to clearly mark blister packs, allowing patients to distinguish four different blister packs. Thus, even visually impaired patients can distinguish the blister packs needed for a day without assistance. To clearly distinguish a larger number of blister packs and simplify the determination of the information added by the raised portions, a preferred embodiment of the packaging device according to the invention presupposes that the embossing tools are designed as at least one 2x3 matrix (horizontal and vertical) consisting of embossing pins, enabling the production of dotted patterns in the form of Braille characters by means of the embossing pins of each matrix. Using only one matrix, 64 different patterns can be displayed, allowing for clear distinction, for example, of blister packs needed for a whole week. Therefore, when using larger and / or more matrices, it is possible to emboss a large amount of data in the lateral joining areas.

[0015] The joining of blister packs made from elongated strips of packaging material can be performed in various ways. For example, adhesive can be applied to specific areas before joining. However, in a preferred embodiment, at least one joining surface of a heat-resistant joining tool is pre-set, such that the joining is performed by welding the packaging material together.

[0016] As briefly described above, the packaging material guiding device can be implemented differently depending on the overall structure of the packaging equipment. In a preferred embodiment, the packaging material guiding device includes a central through opening and is designed such that an elongated packaging material strip is supplied to the through opening. The through opening is configured such that the elongated packaging material strip is formed into a tubular packaging material strip in the conveying direction, defined by the through opening and having a packaging material overlap area. A guide segment for guiding drug portions extends within a segment of the tubular packaging material strip, and the guide segment terminates in a distribution area of ​​the tubular packaging material strip. To ensure error-free lateral joining by means of a lateral joining device in the tubular packaging material strip without overlap in the lateral joining area, this preferred embodiment presupposes that a plurality of expanding tools are arranged in the lower region of the guide segment. These expanding tools open the tubular packaging material strip in an orientation corresponding to the joining tools, and the lateral joining device joins the strip. In other words, the expansion tool ensures that the tubular packaging material strips adapt to the orientation of the joining tool before joining, that is, from a circular shape to a slender shape that can be better joined by means of the lateral joining device.

[0017] Furthermore, this application relates to the use of the packaging equipment according to the invention for manufacturing a single blister bag comprising multiple blister pouches.

[0018] Furthermore, the object of the present invention is achieved by a method for manufacturing a single blister pack comprising multiple blister bags. In the method according to the present invention for manufacturing a single blister pack comprising multiple blister bags, an elongated packaging material strip is first provided, which is then shaped into a receiving area by a packaging material guide device to receive portions of medicine. How exactly the shaping is performed depends on the exact design of the packaging material guide device, the conveying direction of the packaging material strip, and the exact design of the packaging material (see above for this). After shaping to receive small items, the small items are supplied to the receiving area, and the packaging material strip is joined together in the conveying direction of the packaging material strip at the overlapping area of ​​the packaging material strip by a longitudinal joining device, wherein the joining and the supply of small items can be performed simultaneously or in reverse order. The tubular packaging material strip is joined together in the transverse joining area by a transverse joining device at a predetermined interval (with respect to the conveying direction of the packaging material strip or the longitudinal axis), wherein this can also occur simultaneously with the joining in the longitudinal direction. According to the present invention, in the transverse joining area, a tactile pattern is embossed by means of a plurality of embossing tools that can move transversely to the conveying direction during the blister bag manufacturing operation.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the embossing tool is designed as at least one 2x3 matrix of embossing pins, such that dotted patterns in the form of Braille characters can be embossed in the laterally joined areas by means of the embossing pins of each matrix. In this way, a large amount of information can be introduced by means of tactile characters familiar to most visually impaired patients.

[0020] To assist in the splicing of pre-formed packaging material strips using a transverse joining device and to reduce the possibility of joining errors, in a preferred embodiment of the method, the tubular packaging material strips are pre-opened by multiple expansion tools before splicing. Attached Figure Description

[0021] In the following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, a preferred embodiment of the packaging apparatus according to the invention and a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention are described, wherein...

[0022] Figure 1a and Figure 1b A perspective view of this preferred embodiment is shown, wherein... Figure 1a The packaging material strip is omitted.

[0023] Figure 2a and Figure 2b Detailed views of the longitudinal joining device and the transverse joining device are shown, wherein in Figure 2b The packaging material strip is omitted.

[0024] Figure 3a and Figure 3b A detailed view of the folding and joining device is shown, in which... Figure 3b The packaging material strip is omitted.

[0025] Figure 4a and Figure 4b A detailed view of the lateral joining device is shown.

[0026] Figure 5a and Figure 5b A cross-sectional view of the transverse joining device is shown.

[0027] Figure 6a and Figure 6b A detailed view of the joining tool is shown; and

[0028] Figure 7 A flowchart of a preferred embodiment of the method according to the present invention is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0029] The embodiments described below depict a specially designed packaging material guide device suitable for unpre-formed (pre-folded) packaging material strips. In the detailed description below, the pharmaceutical portion is pre-packaged as a small item. Figure 1a and Figure 1b A perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the packaging apparatus 1 according to the present invention is shown, wherein in Figure 1a The packaging material strip 40 guided through the packaging equipment is omitted to illustrate the components located thereunder. In a preferred embodiment of the packaging equipment described below, a single blister pack is manufactured, wherein two consecutive blister packs “share” a transverse joining area. This requires the embossing tools to be arranged accordingly, or more precisely, such that patterns are created only within the sections of the transverse joining area assigned to the blister packs. Alternatively, the embossing tools can be arranged such that patterns are embossed within two sections of the transverse joining area, which are then each assigned to a blister pack.

[0030] The illustrated embodiment of the packaging equipment includes a packaging material supply device 30, by means of which an elongated packaging material strip 40 is supplied to a packaging material guiding device 10 via a plurality of rollers, wherein in Figure 1b The conveying path of the packaging material strip is shown only in partial sections. Above the packaging material guide 10, which is described in more detail in subsequent figures, is a guide 60 by means of which the supplied drug portion is supplied to a receiving area for the drug portion, formed by the pre-formed area of ​​the packaging material strip. In a preferred embodiment of the packaging apparatus shown, as can be seen in more detail in subsequent figures, the pre-formed packaging material strip is guided vertically downward from the packaging material guide 10. This vertical guidance of the packaging material strip determines its "downward" conveying direction. If the guide and packaging material guide are implemented with deviation, the conveying direction will also be deviated; for example, a diagonally elongated conveying direction can be considered, in which case the receiving area for the drug portion is formed differently (for this, see also WO 2016 / 113291 A1 and WO 2018 / 184795 A1 for details).

[0031] A longitudinal joining device 20 is arranged downstream of the packaging material guiding device 10, through which the overlapping areas 41 of the pre-formed packaging material strips extending in the conveying direction are joined together, as described in more detail with reference to the following figures.

[0032] Downstream of the longitudinal joining device 20 is a transverse joining device 100, which includes two joining tools 110 and 120. In the illustrated embodiment, joining tool 120 is movable transversely to or orthogonal to the conveying direction of the packaging material strip, as already... Figure 1bIn the winning bid, two joining tools 110 and 120 converge to create a transverse joining area 42 of the packaging material web 40. The aforementioned device of the packaging apparatus according to the invention includes multiple actuators, such as in... Figure 1a and Figure 1b The middle part is visible, but its exact mode of operation and its arrangement in the packaging equipment are irrelevant to this invention. It is typically a rotary motor, and its mode of operation need not be described in detail here.

[0033] Figure 2a and Figure 2b Detailed views of the first embodiment are shown, and more specifically, the guide device 60, the packaging material guide device 10, the longitudinal joining device 20, and the transverse joining device 100 are shown in particular. Figure 2a and Figure 2b Above the packaging material guiding device 10, which is only roughly indicated, is a guiding device 60, which includes a funnel-shaped receiving area 61 for receiving the drug portion. The receiving area 61 guides the drug portion into a guiding section 62, through which the drug portion is guided to the receiving area 45 of the formed packaging material strip, as shown in the reference. Figure 3a and Figure 3b Described in more detail. Downstream of the packaging material guiding device 10 (in the direction of transport of the packaging material web), a longitudinal joining device 20 is arranged. It mainly comprises two components: a connecting component with two sealing jaws 24a, 24b, and a moving component arranged downstream of the connecting component, which moves "downward" in the transport direction by means of belt drives 21, 23 to the overlapping area joined by the sealing jaws. In an alternative embodiment, instead of the sealing jaws 24a, 24b, it is conceivable to apply an adhesive to the overlapping area before joining, for example, and then only press the area together without heat sealing. Downstream of the longitudinal joining device 20, a transverse joining device 100 is arranged, by means of which the packaging material web already sealed in the longitudinal direction is joined in the transverse direction, thereby creating a transverse joining area 42 (shown in excessive size here).

[0034] Figure 3a and Figure 3b Other detailed views are shown, in which the guide device 60 is partially omitted and the longitudinal engagement device 20 is completely omitted. Additionally, in Figure 3b The packaging material strips are omitted. Figure 3a The conveying and shaping of the packaging material strip within the packaging apparatus according to the invention can be seen in particular. The elongated packaging material strip travels from the (not shown) packaging material supply device to the packaging material guide device 10. Figure 3bThe packaging material guide device 10, visible in the diagram, has a central through-opening 12 toward which the packaging material strip is formed. Therefore, in the illustrated embodiment, the packaging material guide device 10 is designed as a shoulder-shaped or collar-shaped structure with a central through-opening. Based on the precise design of the packaging material guide device 10, the elongated packaging material strip is formed into a tubular packaging material strip 43 with an overlapping packaging material area 41 through the shoulder-shaped receiving area 11. Figure 3a As can be seen, the packaging material strip is guided and shaped accordingly above the receiving area 11 (reference numeral 44 shows the packaging material strip located on the receiving area 11).

[0035] The overlapping area 41 of the packaging materials is first formed by Figure 2a and Figure 2b The welding jaws 24a and 24b shown are welded and then the transport vehicles 21 and 23 continue to move in the transport direction (downward in the illustrated embodiment). To ensure that the predetermined shape of the packaging material strip, i.e., the tubular shape, is maintained by the packaging material guide device through its central through-opening 12, the guide section 62 of the guide device is guided to pass through this area for support. Figure 3b The exact arrangement of the guide section 62 can be seen in the image. Figure 3a and Figure 3b The comparison also shows that, within the range of the packaging material guiding device, the packaging material strip is guided through the gap between the guide section 62 and the wall of the through opening 12. Immediately thereafter, the tubular packaging material strip continues to advance outside the guide section 62.

[0036] As in Figure 3a and Figure 3b As can be seen, the tubular packaging material strip is opened into a receiving area 45 by an expansion tool 64 fixed in the lower region of the guide section 62. The drug portion to be blister packaged reaches this receiving area 45. Since the preceding blister bag has already been introduced into the lateral joining area, the receiving area 45 is also closed downwards. Although the use of the expansion tool 64 is not mandatory, its use ensures that the lateral joining area 42 is aligned without errors and is visually appealing.

[0037] In view of possible designs of packaging material guiding devices, as well as guiding devices and longitudinal joining devices, reference is also made to application WO 2018 / 184795 A1, the disclosure of which in relation to the aforementioned devices is hereby incorporated in this application.

[0038] Figure 4a and Figure 4b A detailed view of a transverse joining device 100, including two joining tools 110 and 120, is shown. Figure 4aAs can be seen, in the preferred embodiment of the packaging apparatus according to the invention shown here, the embossing tool 112 is arranged in the joining tool 110, more specifically, arranged such that the embossing tool, designed as an embossing pin, can drive out and into the joining tool 110 about the surface 111. In the embodiment shown here, only the joining tool 120 can move horizontally, that is, laterally or orthogonally to the conveying direction of the packaging material belt. For this purpose, in the illustrated embodiment, a horizontal movement device 128, which is only roughly indicated, is provided, and its more precise operation is not relevant here.

[0039] In order to introduce a tactile pattern into the lateral engagement area using the driveable and drive-out embossed pin 112, it is necessary for it to work in conjunction with a resiliently designed stop area designed in the engagement tool 120, but this is not visually visible according to the accompanying drawings.

[0040] Figure 5a and Figure 5b A detailed view of the joining tool 110 is shown, which is through ( Figure 6a The bracket 116 (shown in the diagram) is arranged on or within the engagement tool housing 115. As particularly... Figure 5b As can be seen in the illustrated embodiment, the embossing tool 112 is designed as 12 2x3 matrices 117, allowing 12 Braille characters to be introduced into the transverse joining area via the joining tool 110. To simplify the separation of individual blister packs, a separating tool 130 is pre-installed below the joining tool 120. This tool is horizontally movable, either transversely or orthogonally to the direction of the packaging material conveyor belt, and can either introduce perforations into the transverse joining area or completely sever the transverse joining area.

[0041] Figure 6a and Figure 6b A detailed view of the joining tool 110 is shown, and... Figure 6a and Figure 6b It can be initially seen that the individual embossing tool 112, designed as an embossing pin, can move in and out individually. Figure 6a and Figure 6b The diagram illustrates the same part of the embossed pin, and with the aid of detailed views, highlights two 2x3 matrices. In the matrix highlighted on the left, the lower embossed pins of the first column and the upper embossed pins of the second column extend outwards. Conversely, in the second matrix, only the middle embossed pin of the second column extends outwards. The precise movement of individual embossed pins is not crucial to this invention and is known to those skilled in the art, for example, from common devices used for writing Braille.

[0042] Figure 7A flowchart illustrating a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention is shown. In a preferred embodiment of the method described below, a one-piece blister pack is manufactured, wherein two consecutive blister packs “share” a transverse joining area. This requires embossing tools to be arranged accordingly, or more precisely, to create patterns only within the sections of the transverse joining area assigned to the blister packs. Alternatively, the embossing tools can be arranged such that patterns can be embossed within two sections of the transverse joining area, and these patterns are subsequently assigned to one blister pack respectively.

[0043] First, in step 200, a packaging material strip 40 is provided, and in step 210, it is shaped into a receiving area 45 to accommodate the drug portion. This is achieved, for example, by the packaging material guide device 10 described in the aforementioned figures. After the receiving area 45 is formed, the drug portion to be blister packaged is supplied to it in step 220. In step 230, the shaped packaging material strip is joined (e.g., welded) into a tubular packaging material strip 43 at the packaging material overlap area 41 using a longitudinal joining device 20 in the transport direction of the packaging material strip. In a subsequent step 240, the tubular packaging material strip 43 is joined within, or rather joined there to, a transverse joining device 100 arranged downstream of the longitudinal joining device 20 at predetermined intervals within, or at, the transverse joining area 42. When viewed in the transport direction, this transverse joining area is the end of the freshly processed blister bag and also the "lower" end of the subsequent new blister bag, wherein the transverse joining area forms a segment of the receiving area of ​​the subsequent blister bag. According to the invention, in step 250, in the transverse joining area 42, a touchable pattern is embossed by means of a plurality of embossing tools 112 movable transversely to the conveying direction, wherein the arrangement in the transverse joining area allows the pattern to be assigned to one or two blister packs. In the embodiments of the apparatus and method described herein, the pattern is assigned to only one blister pack; in the case of joining tools with more complex embossing tools, patterns for blister packs for two “shared” transverse joining areas can also be embossed in the transverse joining area (as the upper or lower end of the blister pack, typically separated by perforations introduced by the separating tool 130).

Claims

1. A packaging device (1) for small goods, the packaging device comprising: A packaging material guide device (10) is provided for accommodating an elongated packaging material strip (40), wherein the packaging material guide device (10) is designed such that the elongated packaging material strip (40) is shaped to accommodate small items and to continue moving forward in the conveying direction. A longitudinal joining device (20) is arranged downstream of the packaging material guiding device (10), which joins the formed packaging material strips at the overlapping area (41) of the packaging material strips in the conveying direction of the packaging material strips. A transverse joining device (100) is arranged downstream of the packaging material guiding device (10), the transverse joining device being transverse to the conveying direction, and splicing the formed packaging material strips at predetermined intervals in the transverse joining area (42), wherein the transverse joining device (100) includes two joining tools, wherein at least one joining tool is movable transversely to the conveying direction. Its features are, Multiple embossing tools (112) capable of moving individually laterally in the conveying direction during the packaging operation, along with embossing tool stop areas, work together to create a palpable raised portion in the laterally joined area using the embossing tools (112). The embossing tool (112) is drive-in and drive-out arranged in one of the joining tools (110), and the other joining tool (120) has a resiliently designed joining surface (121) or a plurality of embossing tool receptacles that can move individually laterally in the conveying direction, at least in the contact area. The embossing tool (112) is designed as at least one 2*3 matrix (117) consisting of embossing pins, such that a tactile dot pattern in the form of Braille characters can be produced by means of the embossing pins of each matrix.

2. The packaging equipment (1) for small goods according to claim 1, characterized in that, At least one mating surface of the mating tool is capable of being heated.

3. Packaging equipment for small goods according to claim 1 or 2 (1) The packaging material guiding device (10) has a central through opening (12) and is designed such that an elongated packaging material strip (40) is supplied to the through opening (12), the through opening being implemented such that the elongated packaging material strip (40) is formed into a tubular packaging material strip (43) in the conveying direction, the packaging material strip being defined by the through opening (12) and having a packaging material overlapping area (41). The guide section (62) extends within a section of the tubular packaging material strip (43). Its features are, A plurality of expanding tools (64) are arranged in the lower region (63) of the guide section (62), which open the tubular packaging material strip (43) in an orientation corresponding to the joining tool to form a drug portion receiving area (45) and prepare it for joining by the transverse joining device (100).

4. Use of the packaging equipment (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3 for manufacturing an integral blister bag comprising a plurality of blister bags.

5. A method for manufacturing an integral blister bag comprising a plurality of blister bags using the packaging equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The method includes: Provide packaging material strips (40). In order to accommodate the drug, the packaging material strip (40) is shaped into a accommodating area (45). Small items are supplied to the receiving area (45). By means of a longitudinal joining device (20), in the conveying direction of the packaging material web, the formed packaging material webs are joined together into a tubular packaging material web (43) at the overlapping area (41) of the packaging material, wherein the joining can also be performed during or before the supply of packaged goods. With the aid of a transverse joining device (100), the tubular packaging material strips (43) are joined together in the transverse joining area (42) at predetermined intervals with respect to the conveying direction. The feature is that, in the transverse joining area (42), a tactile pattern is embossed by means of a plurality of embossing tools (112) that can move individually transversely in the conveying direction during the blister bag manufacturing operation.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, Before being joined by means of the lateral joining device (100), the tubular packaging material strip (43) is opened by a plurality of expansion tools (64).

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