Methods and apparatus for manufacturing blister tubes, and blister tubes.

Abstract

This invention primarily relates to a method and apparatus for manufacturing blister tubes, and to blister tubes themselves. According to the invention, a packaging material strip is provided, comprising a plurality of covering segments extending in the longitudinal direction of the packaging material strip and having a transmittance of <60% in the visible light frequency range, transparent regions extending parallel to the covering segments in the longitudinal direction and having a transmittance of >80% in the visible light range, and a plurality of data segments. Data, varying depending on the bag, is printed onto the data segments. Partial segments of the packaging material strip are shaped into receiving areas, wherein each receiving area is associated with at least one covering segment or at least one partial area thereof and a previously printed data segment. Small items are conveyed to the receiving areas, and blister bags are formed from the receiving areas containing the small items.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a method and apparatus for manufacturing blister tubes, and a blister tube. In particular, the invention relates to a method for manufacturing a blister tube comprising multiple blister bags, a corresponding apparatus, and a blister tube itself, wherein the blister bags can be extensively equipped with information and optimized for inspection systems. Background Technology

[0002] Using modern blister packing machines, as disclosed in WO2013 / 034504A1, large quantities of patient-specific medication combinations can be blister-packed per minute. The resulting blister tubes are typically led out of the blister packing machine and subsequently subjected to inspection of the contents of individual blister bags to determine the presence of the prescribed dosage. Such inspection is necessary because even modern blister packing machines can occasionally produce blister bags containing too few or too many medications. Inspection of the blister tubes is essential to avoid prescribing potentially dangerous medications to patients.

[0003] Inspection can be performed manually, specifically by a user inspecting individual blister packs of the blister pack, typically with the support of an optical imaging and display system. Alternatively, inspection can be automated, requiring user intervention only when the automated inspection detects that the correct drug portion cannot be definitively identified within the blister pack. Because user involvement is time-consuming and costly, there is a desire to minimize the number of blister packs requiring final user inspection. Automated inspection is achieved using so-called inspection systems. For example, an example of such a system is disclosed in WO 2014 / 119994 A1.

[0004] To identify blister packs, or their contents, these blister packs are always accompanied by pack-specific data (e.g., patient data). This data allows for the inference of the nominal contents and other information, such as patient instructions and administration time. To minimize the impact on determining the contents of the blister pack during testing, the pack-specific data is typically printed on the outer area of ​​the blister pack. Furthermore, to avoid negatively impacting the testing process—specifically, preventing false positives caused by misinterpreting the indentation itself as medication data—the pattern is kept as small as possible. Therefore, it is crucial to avoid any misinterpretation by automated testing systems of the printed pack-specific data as medication data within the blister pack.

[0005] The methods of coating data onto blister packs vary depending on the bag, making it difficult or even impossible for some patient groups, such as visually impaired patients, to identify the data. Therefore, there is a need to provide a method and device that can also coat information onto large areas of blister packs without negatively impacting the inspection system. Summary of the Invention

[0006] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for producing blister tubes and corresponding blister tubes, the blister tubes comprising a plurality of blister bags that can be equipped with information over a large area and are optimized for inspection systems.

[0007] According to the invention, this objective is achieved by a method for manufacturing blister tubes comprising a plurality of blister bags that can be equipped with information over a large area and are optimized for inspection systems. According to the invention, a packaging material strip is provided, comprising a plurality of covering segments extending in the longitudinal direction of the packaging material strip with a transmittance of <60% in the visible light frequency range; transparent material regions extending in the longitudinal direction parallel to the covering segments with a transmittance of >80% in the visible light range; and a plurality of data segments, on which bag-specific data is printed. A portion of the packaging material strip is formed into a receiving area, wherein each receiving area is associated with at least one covering segment or at least a portion of a covering segment and the previously printed data segments, a small item is provided to the receiving area, and a blister bag is ultimately formed from the receiving segment containing the small item.

[0008] By providing multiple coverage sections with a transmittance of <60% in the visible light frequency range on the packaging material strip, it is possible to equip these coverage sections with large-area data, such as indicating the dosing time of the medication contained in the blister pack. Furthermore, other data can be alternatively or additionally coated, thus advertising data, i.e., multicolored advertising data, can be considered without hindering the detection of the medication in the inspection system. By providing a packaging material strip including coverage sections with a transmittance of <60% in the visible light frequency range, the large-area data coated onto the coverage sections when necessary will not interfere with the inspection. Due to the low transmittance of the coverage sections to visible light, as long as the inspection system operates according to specific rules—that is, the inspection of the blister pack is carried out only by visible light incident from one side (opposite to the coverage section)—this large-area data will not be mistakenly identified as medication.

[0009] Transmission can be reduced through absorption within the covering section or through light reflection. Therefore, the covering section can have a mirror layer on its underside that reflects light that has passed through it.

[0010] The covering segments can be designed to complement each other, forming continuous stripes. That is, the packaging material strip can, for example (viewed longitudinally), be half covered and half made of transparent material. Alternatively, the covering segments can form only a repeating portion of one half of the packaging material strip, with the remaining half typically formed of a carrier material or transparent material. The specific design of the covering segments depends heavily on their manufacturing method. If the covering segments are "manufactured," for example, in a blister packaging machine, they are typically coated onto one half of the packaging material strip made of a uniform carrier layer material, which usually also has >80% transmittance in the visible light frequency range. Alternatively, packaging material strips with pre-installed covering segments can be considered. In this case, the covering segments can form, for example, one half of the packaging material strip.

[0011] The data segments can be provided on a material area with a transmittance >80% in the visible light frequency range, especially when they are arranged in an area that will not interfere with later inspections. Preferably, the method is performed such that the data segments are provided on a cover section so that the applied data will not interfere with inspection due to the low transmittance of the cover section, i.e., regardless of the positioning of the data segments.

[0012] Bag-specific data could be, for example, patient data, or bag-specific data could include such patient data. However, it is also possible to consider making bag-specific data not refer to a specific person, but only to the contents and / or the time of administration.

[0013] Large information units can be coated onto the cover section without interfering with the inspection of the blister pack contents during the corresponding method execution. The coating of the information units can be performed after manufacturing the packaging material strips and producing the cover sections. For example, one information unit can be coated every x centimeters. Alternatively, each xth cover section (or, if necessary, each xth bag) can be equipped with a specific information unit (e.g., usage time: morning, noon, evening). The information units can be, for example, coated. Alternatively, the information units can be considered as stickers affixed to the cover section.

[0014] However, directly coating the information units after manufacturing the packaging material strip results in a lack of flexibility in using the packaging material strip and an inability to change the positioning of the large-area information units on the resulting blister bags when necessary. For example, without moving the positioning of the information units on the manufactured blister bags, it is impossible to manufacture blister bags of different lengths. In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the information units are therefore provided to the covering section before the receiving area is formed, such that the information units are arranged on the outside of the blister bag to be formed, and thus, when the inspection of the side opposite the pattern is performed from the transparent material area of ​​the original packaging material strip, it does not interfere with the inspection of the contents of the blister bag in the inspection system. The advantage of this method is that the coating of the information units can be adapted to the length of the blister bag to be manufactured, and the length can be adapted to the quantity and / or size of the drug portions to be filled.

[0015] The corresponding method advantageously presupposes that, before applying the information unit to the covering section, data specific to each blister pack is invoked or received, and the information unit is applied to the covering section based on this data. In this method, for example, a more clearly identifiable information unit can be applied to visually impaired individuals, informing them of the dosage of the medication contained in the blister pack. If the corresponding information unit is already applied during the manufacturing of the packaging material's web, and blister packs are manufactured for one user for morning and evening use only, while blister packs are manufactured for another user for three daily uses, then empty blister packs must be generated accordingly.

[0016] As explained above, the covering sections can be pre-set during the manufacturing of the packaging material web. This requires that the covering sections be consistent throughout the entire packaging material web. A preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention is characterized by providing a packaging material web having multiple covering sections extending in the longitudinal direction of the packaging material web by coating a layer with reduced transparency (transmittance <60% in the visible light frequency range) onto the carrier layer material area of ​​the packaging material web. In this preferred embodiment, the covering sections can be manufactured just before the coating of large-area information units, and can be adapted to the coating process. Therefore, it is also possible to design the covering sections according to data varying from bag to bag, for example, selecting a special color for a specific consumption time.

[0017] To keep the equipment used for manufacturing blister tubes as simple as possible, in a preferred embodiment, a layer with reduced transparency is prepared by printing a color layer or coating overlay onto the carrier layer material area, wherein printing a layer with reduced transmittance is particularly preferred from the perspective of equipment simplicity.

[0018] To prevent the information units coated on the cover section from being worn or otherwise lost during blister tube transportation, a preferred embodiment of the method presupposes that at least one protective layer be applied to the cover section after the information units are coated.

[0019] This objective is also achieved by an apparatus for manufacturing blister tubes, which include multiple blister bags that can be equipped with information over a large area and are optimized for inspection systems. The apparatus according to the invention includes a printing device coupled to a control device for coating bag-specific information onto data segments of a packaging material web; a coating device coupled to the control device for coating information units onto covering segments of the packaging material web; a packaging material guiding device arranged upstream of the printing and coating devices for receiving the packaging material web, the packaging material web including multiple covering segments extending in the longitudinal direction of the packaging material web and having a transmittance of <60% in the visible light frequency range, a transparent material region extending parallel to the covering segments in the longitudinal direction and having a transmittance of >80% in the visible light frequency range, and multiple data segments, wherein the packaging material guiding device is designed to be associated with or supply data segments to the printing device and to be associated with or supply covering segments to the coating device; a packaging material forming device for receiving the packaging material web, wherein the packaging material forming device is designed to shape the packaging material web to be suitable for receiving small items and to be continuously guided in the direction of travel; and a joining device for joining the packaging material web formed into receiving areas together to form a blister bag.

[0020] By using a pre-set printing and coating device, it is possible to coat bag-specific data onto the data section and (large-area) information units onto the cover section, where the information units may, for example, describe the dosing time of the medication portion arranged in the blister pack. In prior art, only a printing device is pre-set, which can coat bag-specific data, but cannot coat additional information units. Using the device according to the invention, blister tubes with blister packs equipped with large-area information units can be manufactured. Despite having information units, it is still suitable for inspection systems because the packaging material strip is guided in such a way that the information units are coated onto the opaque cover section.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment of the equipment, the equipment is presupposed to include a covering section device arranged upstream of the coating apparatus, which is used to coat multiple covering sections. It is also possible to use "general" packaging materials with the corresponding equipment, wherein no covering sections that are opaque to visible light are presupposed. Therefore, general packaging material strips can also be used to manufacture blister bags using the corresponding equipment.

[0022] This objective is also achieved by a blister tube having multiple blister pouches optimized for inspection systems and capable of displaying information over a large area. Each blister pouch in the blister tube according to the invention has a receiving area for small items in which the combined pharmaceutical components are arranged after the blister pouch is formed. Each blister pouch includes at least one data section and a cover section, and a transparent material area with a transmittance >80% in the visible light frequency range arranged opposite the cover section, wherein the cover section covers the receiving section so that all small items arranged in the receiving space are covered. The blister tube according to the invention is characterized in that the transmittance of the cover section in the visible light frequency range is <60%. As explained above, despite the large-area information units, the corresponding blister tube can be used in inspection systems without being disguised as existing pharmaceutical components in front of the inspection system.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment of the blister tube, the covered section is designed to be opaque to visible light but transparent to near-infrared light.

[0024] To avoid data interference from varying patient characteristics, in a particularly preferred embodiment of the blister pack, the data section and the blister pack covering section are pre-arranged on the same side. Attached Figure Description

[0025] The following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, describes embodiments of the apparatus and method for manufacturing blister tubes according to the present invention, and corresponding blister tubes comprising a plurality of blister bags that can be equipped with information over a large area and optimized for inspection systems, wherein...

[0026] Figure 1a and 1b A perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the device is shown, wherein... Figure 1a The packaging material strip has been omitted.

[0027] Figure 2a and 2b A top view and a rear view of the first embodiment are shown.

[0028] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a second embodiment of the device according to the present invention is shown.

[0029] Figure 4a and 4b The stages of the method according to the invention are illustrated, wherein in Figure 4a and 4b The diagram illustrates different implementation schemes.

[0030] Figure 5 The diagram illustrates the inspection of a known large-area printed blister pack.

[0031] Figure 6The diagram illustrates the inspection of a blister pack using a blister tube according to the present invention.

[0032] Figure 7a and 7b A side view of the blister tube according to the invention is shown.

[0033] Figures 8a-8d The schematic map illustrates the different structures of the packaging material strips. Detailed Implementation

[0034] Figure 1a and 1b A perspective view of a first embodiment of the device 1 according to the invention is shown, wherein, in order not to obscure other components of the device, Figure 1a The packaging material strip has been omitted. Figure 1a and 1b The embodiments shown correspond extensively to the equipment disclosed in EP 3 385 174 A1, the disclosure of which is hereby adopted in this application. Figure 1a and 1b The embodiment of the device according to the invention shown in the figure includes a packaging material forming device 50, which forms an elongated strip of packaging material (see for details). Figure 2a and 2b ) formed into Figure 1b The selected area 43 for containing the drug portions continues to be guided along the direction of the packaging material's belt.

[0035] The apparatus also includes joining devices 60 and 70 for joining shaped packaging material strips together to form blister bags in blister tubes, wherein, in the illustrated embodiment, these joining devices include a longitudinal joining device 60 and a transverse joining device 70, which are designed as separate components in the illustrated embodiment. Depending on the specific method of guiding the packaging material strips together to form blister bags, the joining devices may also have different constructions, for example, see EP 3045 397 A1.

[0036] In the illustrated embodiment, the packaging material forming device 50 works in conjunction with a drug dispensing guide 80 disposed above the packaging material forming device 50. This includes a funnel through which the drug dispensing is supplied through an opening 52 in the packaging material forming device 50 to a receiving area 43 (see specifically for this). Figure 1b To form the packaging material strip fed to the packaging material forming apparatus 50, the packaging material forming apparatus 50 has a shoulder-shaped surface 51 that shapes the packaging material strip in a manner that forms a receiving area 43. (As in...) Figure 1bAs can be identified, a transverse joining area 44 is marked below the receiving area 43, where the packaging material strips are joined together using the joining members 71 and 72 of the transverse joining device 70. Depending on the material of the packaging material strips, this can be achieved by heating at least one of the joining members 71 and 72. In the illustrated embodiment, the joining member 72 is horizontally movable and opens after the joining in the transverse joining area is completed, allowing the packaging material strips to continue to be guided in the direction of travel. How the blister packs are specifically formed from the packaging material strips is not critical to this invention; for a detailed description, please refer to the aforementioned European patent application EP 3 385 174A1.

[0037] As in Figure 2b As can be discerned from the above, according to the invention, device 1 includes a first printing device 10 and a coating device 20, which in the illustrated embodiment is also designed as a (second) printing device, wherein in the illustrated embodiment, the printing devices are arranged front to back. As in the invention... Figure 2b As can be discerned in the rear view, the two printing devices in the illustrated embodiment are arranged "behind" the device, specifically one in front of the other, such that the two printing devices correspond to half of the elongated packaging material strip 40, more specifically the half including the covering section 41. This is as follows... Figure 2b As indicated, upstream of the printing apparatus is a packaging material guide 30 for receiving a packaging material web 40, which includes multiple covering segments 41 extending longitudinally in the packaging material web 40 with a transmittance of <60% in the visible light frequency range, and transparent material regions 49 extending longitudinally parallel to the covering segments 41 with a transmittance of >80% in the visible light frequency range. Multiple data segments 42 extending longitudinally at a distance from the transparent regions 49 are arranged on the covering segments 41. In the illustrated embodiment, the covering segments and data segments are arranged such that they are on the "same side" of the packaging material web and the transparent material regions 49 are completely devoid of information, thereby minimizing interference with inspection. Alternatively, the data segments can be pre-positioned on the side with the transparent material regions, as illustrated further below. This is particularly desirable when the data is only arranged in a very small area on the outer surface of the subsequent bag.

[0038] In the illustrated implementation scheme, according to (in) Figure 2a , 2bThe arrangement of the rollers for the packaging material web 40, which is not easily identifiable, renders the guide device designed solely as a guide roller. If a different running path or a packaging material web provided in a different manner is used in the equipment, a more complex packaging material guide device may be required; that is, the guide device must be adjusted accordingly based on the arrangement of the printing units and the method of storing the packaging material web. For example, it could be considered that the packaging material web is already folded and stored along the longitudinal axis, thus designing the packaging material web guide device so that the corresponding cover sections and data sections are conveyed to the correspondingly arranged printing units.

[0039] As in Figure 2b As can be identified, in the illustrated embodiment, a packaging material strip is provided having a plurality of cover segments 41 extending in the longitudinal direction and a plurality of data segments 42. Figure 2b In the illustrated embodiment, the covering segment is arranged such that it encompasses the entire "left" half of the packaging material strip and forms a continuous covering layer, on which data segments are pre-set. The "right" side is formed by a transparent material area. In alternative embodiments, the covering segment may be designed, for example, as a repeating portion of the left segment of the packaging material strip; then, segments made of carrier material or transparent material may extend between the covering segments. Data segment 42 is an area of ​​the packaging material strip pre-set for subsequent printing of patient information. These data segments may be specifically marked, but may also be defined only within the segments of the packaging material strip, i.e., excluding physical indentations on the packaging material strip.

[0040] Figure 3 A highly simplified schematic diagram of an embodiment of the device according to the present invention is shown. Figure 4a and 4b Partial areas of other implementation schemes are shown, in which Figure 4b The diagram illustrates the first and second printing devices, one in front of the other, while... Figure 4a The additional map illustrates the cover section device 100, which is designed as a third printing device. According to... Figure 3 , 4a Sections 4b and 4b describe different embodiments of the method according to the present invention.

[0041] First, the packaging material web 40 is provided by means of the packaging material web roller 90. Specifically, in the current case, there is no pre-forming, that is, the packaging material web 40 is provided without any folds on the packaging material web roller 90. In an alternative embodiment, it is conceivable to arrange the packaging material web on the packaging material web roller, for example, with pre-folds along the longitudinal axis.

[0042] The provided packaging material is 40mm wide. Figure 3 and4b The illustrated embodiment includes multiple covering segments 41 extending in the longitudinal direction of the packaging material strip and multiple segments in accordance with... Figure 4b In the implementation scheme, a data segment 42 extends at a certain distance from the coverage segment in the longitudinal direction. Figure 4a In the illustrated embodiment, the packaging material strip does not yet include cover sections 41, which are applied using a cover section device designed as a third printing device. Alternatively, the cover sections may be coated as opaque film sections or (if necessary) stickers.

[0043] exist Figure 4b In the illustrated embodiment, a covering segment 41 can be identified on the lower half of the packaging material strip 40, wherein in the illustrated embodiment, these covering segments form a continuous covering segment area without interruption. Figure 4b The vertical line marked with a dashed line only indicates that the formed packaging material strips 40 are subsequently joined together in this area. The "upper" half of the packaging material strip is formed by a transparent material region 49 with a transmittance >80% in the visible light frequency range.

[0044] Packaging material tape 40 is conveyed from packaging material tape roller 90 through packaging material tape guide device 30 to first printing device 10, where bag-specific data 47 is applied to data section 42 at printing device 10, such as in Figure 4a and 4b As marked in the document. Figure 4a and 4b In the described implementation, the two printing devices 10 and 20 are not arranged side by side but one after the other. Downstream of the first printing device 10 is a coating device 20, designed as a second printing device, utilizing it to... Figure 4a and 4b In the illustrated embodiment, the information unit 46 is patterned onto the covering section 41 before the blister bag is formed, specifically such that the pattern is arranged on the outside of the blister bag to be formed.

[0045] In the illustrated embodiment, after the bag-specific data 47 and patterns are applied, the blister bag is folded along the centerline of the packaging material web, so that the two patterns are automatically arranged on the outside. After the bag-specific data and patterns are applied by means of the first and second printing devices, the packaging material web 40 is conveyed via guide roller 91 to the packaging material web forming device 50, which shapes the packaging material web into a receiving area suitable for accommodating small items. The drug portion is conveyed to the receiving area 43 via the drug portion conveying device 80. During or after conveying, the packaging material web is joined together by means of a joining device, for example by heat, to form the blister bag 3 of the blister tube 2 from the receiving area by means of joining devices 60, 70. For this purpose, the joining device may include a transverse joining device 70 and a longitudinal joining device 60, as in Figures 1a-2b As indicated in the figures. As already described with reference to the preceding figures, the specific design of the joining device is not critical to the invention. Guiding the packaging material strip after forming is also not critical; in Figure 3 The illustration, for example, schematically depicts the packaging material strip being guided horizontally, while the preceding figures presuppose a vertical guide. The specific method of guiding the packaging material strip and its assembly into blister bags depends on the specific design of the equipment in these components, but is not critical to the present invention.

[0046] exist Figure 4b The diagram illustrates a printing area of ​​a device according to the invention and a further embodiment of the method according to the invention. In this embodiment, a cover segment device 100, designed as a third printing device, is pre-installed to coat cover segments 41 onto a packaging material strip 40. Unlike the previously described embodiments, a packaging material strip with multiple cover segments is provided by actively coating the cover segments, instead of using a packaging material strip that already has these cover segments. Although this increases the structural cost of the device, it is possible to produce cover segments that differ in size, shape, or color, for example, to provide patient-specific printing information to the third printing device. In this embodiment, the segment on the packaging material strip coated with the cover segments is formed by a carrier layer material region 48. The “upper” segment of the packaging material strip is formed by a transparent material region 49 with a transmittance >80% in the visible light frequency range. In such an embodiment, the two transparent material regions 48, 49 are typically manufactured in one piece from the same material, i.e., a material with a transmittance >80% in the visible light frequency range.

[0047] Unlike according to Figure 4b In the implementation scheme, the data section 42 is also arranged in the lower section, and can be particularly identified in the area of ​​the third printing device.

[0048] The covering section is coated using a third printing device, the data that varies depending on the bag is coated using a first printing device 10 located downstream, and the information unit 46, which is a simple pattern, is coated onto the covering section 41 using a second printing device located downstream of the first printing device.

[0049] Figure 5 A schematic diagram illustrates the inspection of a blister pack 3 containing two drug portions 4 and a pattern 46 on the transparent material 9 of the blister pack. In the middle diagram, it can be seen that when using a "common" blister pack 3 made solely of transparent material 9 and inspecting the contents under visible light, the pattern 46 shown in the left diagram is detected as the outline 5' of the drug portions. As a result, for a blister pack 3 containing only two drug portions 4 and a pattern 46, two drug outlines 5 and one pattern outline 5' were detected, thus three drug portions were detected in the inspection, even though the blister pack 3 contains only two drug portions 4.

[0050] Figure 6 The diagram illustrates the inspection results of the blister pack 3 with the covering section 41. Pattern 46 is shown in... Figure 6 The left figure shows it only with a dashed line because it is not actually discernible in the top view shown. If the bag is inspected by visible light from "above" through the transparent material area 49 of the original packaging material strip, the pattern 46 cannot be detected due to the reduced transparency of the covering section 41, and is therefore correctly identified as a result (right figure), that is, two drug portions 4 are arranged in the blister bag 3.

[0051] Figure 7a and 7b Two views of a blister tube 2 according to the invention are shown, which includes multiple large-area printed blister bags 3 optimized for inspection systems. Figure 7a A perforation 44 in the transverse joining region 45' can be identified, which separates the individual blister packs from each other. Each blister pack 3 includes a receiving region 43 in which multiple drug portions 4 are arranged. Each blister pack also includes a data section 41 and a cover section, in which data 47, which varies depending on the pack, is coated and a pattern 46 is coated respectively. A longitudinal joining region 45 can also be identified in the upper region of the blister tube.

[0052] exist Figure 7b It can be identified that in the illustrated embodiment, pattern 46 is arranged on the covering section 41, while data 47 is arranged within the data section 42 on the "same side" of the blister tube or blister bag. Because the covering section is less transparent to visible light, it is impossible to determine the data based on... Figure 7a Pattern 46 and data 47 are identified in the side view.

[0053] Figures 8a-8dA cross-section through the packaging material web 40 is shown on the left, and a partial view of the blister bag formed by the packaging material web is shown on the right, with the longitudinal joint area omitted on the right and the folding area omitted on the left. Figure 8a The illustrated packaging material strip embodiment includes a lower inner layer 400 made of, for example, LDPE, a carrier layer 401 made of PET arranged above, and a cover layer in the "left" region, which, in the illustrated embodiment, defines a cover section 41. The packaging material strip drawn on the left is formed by means of a packaging material strip forming device, such that the packaging material strip is folded in the middle region, thus producing a blister bag 3, as partially drawn on the right. Due to the folding conforming to the drawn arrow, the cover layer 402 is itself arranged inside during folding, thereby placing the cover layer 41 "inside". A receiving area 43 is arranged between the folded areas of the packaging material strip, and a drug portion 4 is arranged therein. When the blister bag is inspected "from below" and printed "on" the cover section from above, the printing of the opaque cover section during inspection is not mistakenly interpreted as a drug portion.

[0054] exist Figures 8b to 8d Other embodiments of the packaging material strips that can be used according to the present invention are illustrated in the figure, wherein... Figure 8b The middle covering layer 402 is covered by the protective layer 403. Figure 8c The intermediate cover layer is applied directly onto the inner layer 400. Figure 8d The middle cover layer 402 is molded directly on the inner layer 400, so that the blister bag has only one layer on the "top" and "bottom" respectively.

[0055] Whether the covering section 41 is provided with the packaging material strip or is coated during the process according to the invention depends on the specific implementation of the method. The specific coating or design of the covering layer also depends on the implementation of the method; the key is that the covering section 41 covers the receiving area 43 of the blister pack so that any patterns on or above the covering layer are not considered or misjudged as pharmaceutical components during the inspection of the blister pack.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a blister tube comprising multiple blister bags capable of being equipped with information over a large area and optimized for inspection systems, wherein: Provides a packaging material strip (40), the packaging material strip comprising: Multiple covering segments (41) extending in the longitudinal direction of the packaging material strip (40) and having a transmittance of <60% in the visible light frequency range. A transparent material region (49) extending longitudinally parallel to the covered section (41) and having a transmittance >80% in the visible light frequency range, and Multiple data segments (42). Print the data, which varies depending on the bag, onto the data section (42). A portion of the packaging material strip (40) is shaped into a receiving area (43), wherein each receiving area (43) is associated with at least one covering segment (41) or at least a portion of the covering segment and is associated with the previously printed data segment (42). Small items are conveyed to the receiving area (43), and A blister bag (3) is formed from the containing area (43) for small items. Its features are, The covering section (41) has a mirror layer on its underside, which reflects light that has been irradiated through the covering section again.

2. The method for manufacturing a blister tube comprising multiple blister bags optimized for inspection systems and capable of being equipped with information over a large area, according to claim 1, is characterized in that... The pre-forming covering section (41) of the receiving area (43) is processed such that an information unit (46) is arranged on the outside of the blister bag to be formed.

3. The method for manufacturing a blister tube comprising multiple blister bags optimized for inspection systems and capable of being equipped with information over a large area, according to claim 2, is characterized in that... Before applying the information unit to the cover section (41), call or receive data that varies depending on the bag and apply the information unit to the cover section (41) based on the data.

4. The method for manufacturing a blister tube comprising multiple blister bags optimized for inspection systems and capable of being equipped with information over a large area, according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, By coating the carrier layer material region (48) of the packaging material strip (40) with a layer that reduces transparency and has a transmittance of <60% in the visible light frequency range, the packaging material strip (40) is provided with a plurality of covering segments (41) extending in the longitudinal direction of the packaging material strip (40).

5. The method for manufacturing a blister tube comprising multiple blister bags optimized for inspection systems and capable of being equipped with information over a large area, according to claim 4, is characterized in that... A layer with reduced transparency and transmittance of <60% in the visible light frequency range is manufactured by printing a color layer or applying a cover layer to the carrier layer material area (48).

6. The method for manufacturing a blister tube comprising multiple blister bags optimized for inspection systems and capable of being equipped with information over a large area, as described in claim 5, is characterized in that... At least the covered section (41) is covered by a protective layer.

7. Equipment for manufacturing blister tubes comprising multiple blister packs capable of being equipped with information over a large area and optimized for inspection systems, including: The packaging material strip (40) includes a plurality of covering segments (41) extending in the longitudinal direction of the packaging material strip (40) and having a transmittance of <60% in the visible light frequency range, a transparent material region (49) extending in the longitudinal direction parallel to the covering segments (41) and having a transmittance of >80% in the visible light frequency range, and a plurality of data segments (42). Printing device (10) for applying data that varies depending on the bag to the data section (42). Coating apparatus (20) for coating information unit (46) onto the covering section (41); A packaging material guiding device (30) is arranged upstream of the printing device (10) and the coating device (20), the packaging material guiding device (30) being used to receive the packaging material strip (40). The packaging material guiding device (30) is designed such that the data section (42) is associated with the printing device (10) and the covering section (41) is associated with the coating device (20). A packaging material forming device (50) for receiving the packaging material strip (40), wherein the packaging material forming device (50) is designed such that the elongated packaging material strip (40) is formed into a receiving area (43) such that the receiving area is suitable for receiving small items and is further guided in the direction of travel; as well as Joining devices (60, 70) are used to join together pre-formed packaging material strips to form blister bags (3) of blister tubes (2). Its features are, The covering section (41) has a mirror layer on its underside, which reflects light that has been irradiated through the covering section again.

8. The apparatus for manufacturing blister tubes comprising multiple blister bags capable of being equipped with information over a large area and optimized for inspection systems, as described in claim 7, is characterized in that... include: A covering section device (100) for coating multiple covering sections (41) is arranged upstream of the coating device (20).

9. A blister tube (2) having multiple blister packs (3) that can be equipped with information over a large area and optimized for inspection systems, wherein, Each blister bag (3) has a receiving area (43) for small items, and in which, Each blister pack has at least one data section (42) and a cover section (41), as well as a transparent material area (49) opposite the cover section (41) with a transmittance >80% in the visible light frequency range, and the cover section (41) covers the receiving area so that all small items arranged in the receiving area (43) can be covered. The covered section (41) has a transmittance of <60% in the visible light frequency range. Its features are, The covering section (41) has a mirror layer on its underside, which reflects light that has been irradiated through the covering section again.

10. The blister tube (2) according to claim 9, having multiple blister bags (3) that can be equipped with information over a large area and optimized for inspection systems, is characterized in that... Light in the near-infrared region can pass through the covered section (41).

11. The blister tube (2) according to claim 9 or 10, having multiple blister packs (3) capable of being equipped with information over a large area and optimized for an inspection system, is characterized in that... The data section (42) and the cover section (41) of the blister bag are arranged on the same side.

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