METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MANUFACTURING A BLISTER TUB, AND BLISTER TUB

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method and a device for producing a blister tube, as well as to a blister tube. In particular, the invention relates to a method for producing a blister tube comprising several blister bags that can be provided with information over a large area and are optimized for an inspector system, a corresponding device, and a blister tube as such.

[0002] With modern blister packaging machines, such as those disclosed in WO 2013 / 034504 A1, a large number of patient-specific drug combinations can be blistered per minute. The resulting blister tubes are usually fed out of the blister packaging machine and then subjected to a check of the contents of the individual blister bags, i.e. it is determined whether the blister bags contain the drug portions that should be contained according to the doctor's instructions. Such a check is necessary because even with modern blister packaging machines, incorrect blister packaging occasionally occurs, meaning that there may be blister bags in which too few or too many drug portions are blistered. In order to avoid a patient being administered a drug that may be dangerous for them, the blister tubes must be checked.

[0003] A check can be carried out manually, with a user regularly examining the individual blister bags in a blister tube with the assistance of an optical recording and playback system. Alternatively, the check can be carried out automatically, with a user only needing to intervene if the automated check identifies bags for which it cannot be clearly determined that the correct medication portions have been blistered. Since involving a user is time-consuming and costly, efforts are made to keep the number of blister bags requiring a final inspection by a user as low as possible. Automatic checks are carried out using so-called inspector systems. An example of such a system is disclosed, for example, in WO 2014 / 119994 A1.

[0004] From US 2014 / 0318078 A1, a blister machine with an integrated inspector system and a method for verifying the assembled drug portions are known, wherein in this blister machine and the corresponding method the inspection takes place before blistering.

[0005] In order to be able to identify the blister packs and their contents, they are always provided with bag-specific data (e.g. patient data) which can be used to determine the intended contents of the blister pack and other data, such as information about the patient and the time of administration. In order to influence the determination of the contents of the blister pack as little as possible during inspection, the bag-specific data is usually applied to an outer area of ​​the blister pack. Furthermore, the data is printed on as small an area as possible to avoid negatively affecting the inspection, i.e. so that the print as such is not perceived as a medication portion and thus a false positive is generated. It is therefore important to avoid the applied bag-specific data being incorrectly interpreted by an automatic inspector system as a medication portion contained in the blister pack.

[0006] The way bag-specific data is typically applied makes it difficult or even impossible for some patient groups, such as those with visual impairments, to recognize the data. It is therefore desirable to provide a method and device that allows information to be applied to a large area of ​​a blister pack, for example, without negatively impacting an inspection system.

[0007] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method and a device for producing a blister tube comprising several blister bags which can be provided with information over a large area and which is optimized for an inspector system, as well as a corresponding blister tube.

[0008] The object is achieved according to the invention by a method for producing a blister tube comprising a plurality of blister bags which can be provided with information over a large area and which is optimized for an inspector system, according to claim 1. According to the invention, a packaging material web is provided with a plurality of cover sections extending in the longitudinal direction of the packaging material web and having a transmission of < 60% in the visible frequency range, a transparent material region extending in the longitudinal direction parallel to the cover sections and having a transmission of > 80% in the visible frequency range, and a plurality of data sections. Bag-specific data is printed on a data section. A partial section of the packaging material web is formed into a receiving area, wherein at least one cover section or at least a partial area thereof and the previously printed data section are assigned to each receiving area.Small items are fed into the receiving area and finally a blister bag is formed from the receiving section containing small items. The cover sections have a kind of mirror layer on the underside, which reflects the light shining through a cover section.

[0009] By providing a plurality of cover sections with a transmission of < 60% in the visible frequency range on the packaging material web, it is possible to provide these cover sections with large-scale data, which, for example, indicate the time of intake of the medication portions contained in a blister pack. Furthermore, further data can be applied alternatively or additionally; for example, it is also conceivable to apply advertising data, in a variety of colors, without hindering the detection of the medication portions in the inspector system. By providing a packaging material web with cover sections with a transmission of < 60% in the visible frequency range, the large-scale, possiblyData applied to the cover sections do not interfere with the inspection, since due to the low transmission of visible light of the cover sections, these large-area data cannot be perceived as supposed drug portions, provided that the inspector system works according to certain specifications, namely the inspection of a blister pack is carried out only by means of visible light irradiated from one side (opposite the cover sections).

[0010] The transmission can be reduced both by absorption within the cover sections and by reflection of the light. According to the invention, a cover section has a type of mirror layer on the underside that reflects the light shining through it.

[0011] The cover sections can be designed such that they complement each other to form a continuous strip, i.e., the packaging material web can, for example, be formed (viewed in the longitudinal direction) half by cover sections and half by a transparent material region. Alternatively, the cover sections can only form repeating partial regions of one half of the packaging material web - the remainder of this half is then usually formed by a carrier or transparent material. The precise design of the cover sections depends crucially on their method of production - if they are first "manufactured" in a blister machine, for example, they are usually applied to one half of a packaging material web made of a uniform carrier layer material, which also usually has a transmission of > 80% in the visible frequency range.Alternatively, it is conceivable to use a packaging material web with pre-defined cover sections. In this case, the cover sections could, for example, form one half of the packaging material web.

[0012] The data sections can be provided on the material area with a transmission of > 80% in the visible frequency range, especially if they are positioned in an area that does not interfere with subsequent inspection. However, the method is preferably carried out in such a way that the data sections are provided on the cover sections, so that the applied data cannot interfere with the inspection due to the low transmission of the cover sections, regardless of the positioning of the data sections.

[0013] The bag-specific data may, for example, be patient data, or the bag-specific data may include these. However, it is also conceivable that the bag-specific data does not refer to a specific person, but rather only to the contents and / or the time of administration.

[0014] A large-area information unit can be applied to the cover sections, which, with appropriate process control, does not interfere with the content inspection of the blister packs in an inspection system. The information unit can be applied after the packaging material web has been produced and the cover sections have been created. For example, an information unit can be applied every x centimeters. Alternatively, every xth cover section (possibly equivalent to every xth bag) can be provided with a special information unit (e.g., time of intake: morning, noon, evening). The information unit can be printed, for example. Alternatively, it is also conceivable to design the information unit as a sticker that is applied to a cover section.

[0015] However, applying the information unit directly after the packaging material web has been produced means that the packaging material web cannot be used flexibly without changing the positioning of the potentially large-area information unit on the resulting blister packs. For example, blister packs of different lengths cannot be produced without shifting the positioning of the information unit on the resulting blister packs.In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, it is therefore provided that, prior to forming the receiving area, a cover section is provided with an information unit such that the information unit is arranged on the outside of the blister bag to be formed, thus not interfering with the inspection of the blister bag contents in the inspector system when the inspection is carried out from the side opposite the print, from the transparent material area of ​​the original packaging material web. This process has the advantage that the application of the information unit can be adapted to the length of the blister bag to be produced, which in turn can be adapted to the quantity and / or size of the drug portions to be inserted.

[0016] With a corresponding process, it is advantageously further provided that before an information unit is applied to a cover section, bag-specific data is retrieved or received and that the application of the information unit to a cover section is carried out on the basis of the data. With a corresponding process, for example, clearly recognizable information units can be applied for people with visual impairments, which provide information about the time of administration of the medication portions arranged in a blister bag. If corresponding information units are already applied during production of the packaging material web, empty bags may have to be produced if only blister bags for morning and evening administration are produced for one user, but blister bags for three doses per day for another user.

[0017] As already indicated above, the cover sections can be provided during the production of the packaging material web. This requires that the cover sections are identical throughout the entire packaging material web. A preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention is characterized in that the packaging material web is provided with a plurality of cover sections extending in the longitudinal direction of the packaging material web by applying a layer with reduced transparency (with a transmission of < 60% in the visible frequency range) to a carrier layer material region of the packaging material web. In this preferred embodiment, the cover section can therefore be produced shortly before the application of the possibly large-area information unit and can be adapted to the method of application.It is also conceivable to design the cover sections in accordance with the bag-specific data, for example, choosing a special color for a specific time of administration.

[0018] In order to make the device for producing the blister tube as simple as possible, it is provided in a preferred embodiment that the layer with reduced transparency is produced by printing a color layer or applying a cover layer to the carrier layer material region, wherein from the point of view of the simplicity of the device it is particularly preferred that the layer is printed with reduced transmission.

[0019] In order to prevent an information unit applied to the cover sections from being rubbed off or otherwise removed, for example during transport of the blister tube, a preferred embodiment of the method provides that at least the cover sections are covered with a protective layer after application of an information unit.

[0020] The object is further achieved by a device for producing a blister tube comprising several blister bags that can be provided with information over a large area and are optimized for an inspector system, according to claim 7.The device according to the invention comprises a printing device for applying bag-specific data to a data section of a packaging material web, an application device for applying an information unit to a cover section of a packaging material web, a packaging material guide device arranged upstream of the printing and application devices for receiving a packaging material web with a plurality of cover sections extending in the longitudinal direction of the packaging material web and having a transmission of < 60% in the visible frequency range, a transparent material region extending in the longitudinal direction parallel to the cover sections and having a transmission of > 80% in the visible frequency range, and a plurality of data sections, wherein the packaging material web guide device is designed such that the data sections are assigned to the printing device and the cover sections are assigned to the application device.are fed, a packaging material forming device for receiving the packaging material web, wherein the packaging material forming device is designed such that the packaging material web is formed into a receiving area such that this is suitable for receiving small piece goods and is fed further in a running direction, as well as a joining device for joining the packaging material web formed into a receiving area to form a blister bag of a blister tube, wherein the cover sections have a type of mirror layer on the underside which reflects the light shining through a cover section. In a preferred embodiment, it is provided that the device comprises a control unit which can be coupled to the printing unit, and a control unit which can be coupled to the application unit.

[0021] By providing a printing device and an application device, it is possible to apply bag-specific data to data sections and a (large-area) information unit to the cover sections, whereby the information unit can, for example, represent the time of administration of the medication portions arranged in a blister bag. In corresponding devices according to the prior art, only a printing device is provided with which bag-specific data can be applied, but no additional information unit. The device according to the invention can be used to produce blister tubes with blister bags provided with large-area information units, which are suitable for an inspector system despite the information units, since the packaging material web is guided in such a way that the information units are applied to the non-transparent cover sections.

[0022] In a preferred embodiment of the device, it is provided that it comprises a cover section device arranged upstream of the application device for applying the multiple cover sections. With such a device, it is also possible to use "normal" packaging material, which does not have cover sections that are not transparent to visible light. Thus, with such a device, a normal packaging material web can also be used to produce blister packs.

[0023] The object is further achieved by a blister tube comprising a plurality of blister bags, each of which can be provided with information over a large area and is optimized for an inspector system, according to claim 9. In the blister tube according to the invention, each blister bag has a receiving area for small items, in which the medicament portions of a combination are arranged after the blister bag has been formed. Each blister bag comprises at least one data section and one cover section, as well as a transparent material area arranged opposite a cover section with a transmission of > 80% in the visible frequency range, wherein the cover section covers the receiving section in such a way that all small items arranged in the receiving space can be covered.According to the invention, the blister tube is characterized in that the cover section has a transmission of < 60% in the visible frequency range, with the cover sections having a type of mirror layer on the underside that reflects the light shining through a cover section. As already explained above, a corresponding blister tube can be used in an inspector system despite the large-area information unit applied, without simulating nonexistent drug portions to the inspector system.

[0024] In a preferred embodiment of the blister tube, it is provided that the cover sections are not transparent to visible light, but are permeable to light in the near infrared range.

[0025] In order to prevent the patient-specific data from interfering with the detection, a particularly preferred embodiment of the blister tube provides that the data section and the cover section of a blister bag are arranged on the same side.

[0026] In the following, embodiments of the device according to the invention and of the method for producing a blister tube comprising several blister bags that can be provided with information over a large area and are optimized for an inspector system, as well as a corresponding blister tube, are described with reference to the drawings, in which Figures 1a and 1b Oblique views of a first preferred embodiment of the device, wherein Figure 1a a packaging material web is omitted, Figures 2a and 2b show a top view and a rear view of the first embodiment, Figure 3shows a schematic view of a second embodiment of the device according to the invention, Figures 4a and 4b illustrate a section of the method according to the invention, wherein Figures 4a and 4b different embodiments are illustrated, Figure 5 an inspection of a large-area printed blister pack, Figure 6 illustrates an inspection of a blister bag of a blister tube according to the invention, Figures 7a and 7b Show side views of a blister tube according to the invention, Figures 8a - 8d schematically illustrate different structures of a packaging material web.

[0027] Figures 1a and 1b show oblique views of a first embodiment of the device 1 according to the invention, wherein Figure 1a a strip of packaging material is omitted in order not to cover other components of the device. Figures 1a and 1bThe embodiment shown corresponds in many respects to the device disclosed in EP 3 385 174 A1, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated into this application. Figures 1a and 1b The embodiment of the device according to the invention shown comprises a packaging material forming device 50, which forms an elongated packaging material web (see Figures 2a and 2b ) to a Figure 1b indicated receiving area 43 for medicinal portions and continues in a running direction of the packaging material web.

[0028] The device further comprises a joining device 60, 70 for joining the formed packaging material web to form a blister bag of a blister tube. In the embodiment shown, this joining device comprises a longitudinal joining device 60 and a transverse joining device 70, which are embodied as separate components in the embodiment shown. Depending on the precise guidance of the packaging material web and its joining to form a blister bag, the joining device can also be constructed differently; see, for example, EP 3 045 397 A1.

[0029] In the embodiment shown, the packaging material forming device 50 cooperates with a drug portion feed 80, which is arranged above the packaging material forming device 50. This comprises a type of funnel, by means of which drug portions are fed through an opening 52 in the packaging material forming device 50 to the receiving area 43 (see in particular Figure 1b ). For forming the packaging material web fed to the packaging material forming device 50, the packaging material forming device 50 has a shoulder-like surface 51, which forms the packaging material web in such a way that the receiving area 43 is formed. As is the case with Figure 1bAs can be seen, a transverse joining region 44 is indicated below the receiving region 43, in which the packaging material web is joined using joining means 71, 72 of the transverse joining device 70. Depending on the material of the packaging material web, this can be done, for example, by heating at least one of the joining means 71, 72. In the embodiment shown, the joining means 72 is horizontally movable and is moved up after the transverse joining region has been joined, so that the packaging material web can be guided further in the running direction. However, how exactly the blister bag is formed from the packaging material web is not essential to the present invention, and for a more detailed description reference is made to the aforementioned European patent application EP 3 385 174 A1.

[0030] As it is in Figure 2bAs can be seen, the device 1 according to the invention comprises a first printing device 10 and an application device 20, which in the embodiment shown is also designed as a (second) printing device, wherein the printing devices are arranged one behind the other in the embodiment shown. As can be seen in the rear view according to Figure 2b As can be seen, the two printing devices in the embodiment shown are arranged "at the rear" of the device, one behind the other in such a way that both printing devices are assigned to one half of the elongated packaging material web 40, namely the one with the cover sections 41. As shown in Figure 2bAs indicated, upstream of the printing devices is a packaging material guide device 30 for receiving a packaging material web 40 with a plurality of cover sections 41 extending in the longitudinal direction of the packaging material web 40 with a transmission of < 60% in the visible frequency range and a transparency material region 49 extending in the longitudinal direction parallel to the cover sections 41 with a transmission of > 80% in the visible frequency range. A plurality of data sections 42, which extend in the longitudinal direction at a distance from the transparency region 49, are arranged on the cover sections 41.In the embodiment shown, the cover sections and the data sections are arranged such that the cover sections and the data sections are on the "same side" of the packaging material web, and the transparent material area 49 is completely free of any kind of information, thus minimizing disruption to inspection. Alternatively, the data section can also be provided on the side with the transparent material area, as illustrated below. This is particularly conceivable if the data is to be arranged in a very small format on the outer side of a subsequent bag.

[0031] In the embodiment shown, due to the arrangement of a (in the Figures 2a, 2b) the guide device is designed merely as a deflection roller. If a different path for the packaging material web or a differently provided packaging material web is used in the device, it may be necessary to use a more complex packaging material guide device, i.e. depending on the arrangement of the printing devices and the manner in which the packaging material web is stored, the guide device must be adapted accordingly. For example, it is conceivable that the packaging material web is already stored folded along the longitudinal axis, so that the packaging material web guide device can then be designed in such a way that the cover and data sections then lying opposite are fed to correspondingly arranged printing devices.

[0032] As with Figure 2bAs can be seen, in the embodiment shown, a packaging material web is provided which has a plurality of cover sections 41 extending in the longitudinal direction and a plurality of data sections 42. In the Figure 2bIn the embodiment shown, the cover sections are arranged such that they enclose the entire "left" half of the packaging material web and form a continuous cover layer on which the data sections are provided. The "right" side is formed by a transparent material region. In alternative embodiments, it is conceivable for the cover sections to be formed, for example, as repeating partial regions of the left section of the packaging material web; sections of carrier or transparent material can then extend between the cover sections. The data sections 42 are those regions of the packaging material web that are intended for later printing with patient information.These can be specially marked, but they can also only define a specified area in a section of the packaging material web, i.e. they do not include any physical features on the packaging material web.

[0033] Figure 3 shows a highly simplified, schematic representation of an embodiment of the device according to the invention, Figures 4a and 4b Sub-areas of further embodiments, wherein Figure 4b a first and second printing device in series and at Figure 4a additionally a cover section device 100, which is designed as a third printing device, is illustrated. Figures 3, 4a and 4b Various embodiments of the method according to the invention will be described.

[0034] First, a packaging material web 40 is provided by means of a packaging material web roll 90, specifically in the present case without preforming the packaging material web, i.e., the packaging material web 40 is provided on the packaging material web roll 90 without any folding. In alternative embodiments, it is conceivable that the packaging material web is arranged on the packaging material web roll, for example, already prefolded along the longitudinal axis.

[0035] The provided packaging material web 40 comprises in the Figures 3 and 4b shown embodiments, a plurality of cover sections 41 extending in the longitudinal direction of the packaging material web and a plurality of data sections 42, which in the embodiment according to Figure 4b extend longitudinally spaced from the deck sections. Figure 4aIn the embodiment shown, the packaging material web does not yet comprise cover sections 41; these are only applied using a cover section device 100 designed as a third printing device. Alternatively, the cover sections can also be applied as non-transparent film sections or (possibly already printed) stickers.

[0036] At the Figure 4b In the embodiment shown, the cover sections 41 can be seen in the lower half of the packaging material web 40, wherein in the embodiment shown, these cover sections form a continuous cover section area without interruption. Figure 4b The dashed vertical lines indicated are intended merely to indicate the area in which the formed packaging material web 40 will later be joined. The "upper" half of the packaging material web is formed by a transparent material region 49 with a transmission of > 80% in the visible frequency range.

[0037] From the packaging material web roll 90, the packaging material web 40 is fed via a packaging material web guide device 30 to a first printing device 10, wherein bag-specific data 47 are applied to a data section 42 in the printing device 10, as shown in Figures 4a and 4b is indicated. In the Figures 4a and 4b In the embodiments described, the two printing devices 10, 20 are not arranged next to each other, but one behind the other. Downstream of the first printing device 10, an application device 20 designed as a second printing device is arranged, with which in the embodiment shown according to Figures 4a and 4b Before forming a blister bag, an information unit 46 is applied in the form of a print to a cover section 41, in such a way that the print is arranged on the outside of the blister bag to be subsequently formed.

[0038] In the embodiments shown, after the bag-specific data 47 and the imprints have been applied, the blister bag is folded along the centerline of the packaging material web, so that both imprints are automatically arranged on the outside. After the bag-specific data and the imprints have been applied by means of the first and second printing devices, the packaging material web 40 is fed via a deflection roller 91 to a packaging material web forming device 50, which forms the packaging material web into a receiving area such that it is suitable for receiving small items. Medication portions are fed to the receiving area 43 via a medication portion feeder 80.During or after feeding, a blister bag 3 of a blister tube 2 is formed from a receiving area by means of a joining device 60, 70, in which the packaging material web is joined together by means of the joining device, for example, by the application of heat. For this purpose, the joining device can comprise a transverse joining device 70 and a longitudinal joining device 60, as shown in FIGS. Figures 1a -2b As already described with reference to the preceding figures, the precise design of the joining device is not essential for the present invention. Nor is the guidance of the packaging material web after forming essential; Figure 3For example, it is schematically shown that the packaging material web is guided horizontally, whereas in the previous figures, a vertical guide was provided. The precise guidance of the packaging material web and its assembly into a blister bag depends on the precise design of the device with regard to these components, but is not essential to the invention.

[0039] In Figure 4bthe printing area of ​​a further embodiment of the device according to the invention and of the method according to the invention is shown. In this embodiment, a cover section device 100 designed as a third printing device is provided, with which the cover sections 41 are applied to the packaging material web 40. In contrast to the previously described embodiment, the packaging material web with the multiple cover sections is therefore provided by actively applying the cover sections; a packaging material web that already has these cover sections is not used. Although this increases the structural complexity of the device, it does make it possible, for example, to generate cover sections of different sizes, shapes, or colors, for example by supplying the third printing device with patient-specific printing information.In this embodiment, the section of the packaging material web to which the cover sections are applied is formed by a carrier layer material region 48. The "upper" section of the packaging material web is in turn formed by a transparent material region 49 with a transmission of > 80% in the visible frequency range. In such an embodiment, the two transparent material regions 48, 49 are usually made in one piece from the same material, i.e., a material with a transmission of > 80% in the visible frequency range.

[0040] In contrast to the embodiment according to Figure 4b the data sections 42 are also arranged in the lower section, which is particularly noticeable in the area of ​​the third printing device.

[0041] The cover sections are applied with the third printing device, the bag-specific data are applied with the first printing device 10 arranged downstream and the information units 46, here simple prints, are applied to the cover sections 41 with the second printing device arranged downstream of the first printing device.

[0042] Figure 5schematically illustrates an inspection of a blister bag 3 with two medication portions 4 and an imprint 46 on a transparent material 9 of a blister bag. The middle image shows that the imprint 46 shown in the left image is detected as the outline 5' of a medication portion when a "conventional" blister bag 3 is used, which consists only of transparent material 9, and the inspection of the bag contents is carried out with visible light. As a result, for a blister bag 3 with only two medication portions 4 and an imprint 46, two medication outlines 5 and an outline 5' of the imprint are determined, whereby three medication portions are detected during the inspection, even though only two medication portions 4 are contained in the blister bag 3.

[0043] At Figure 6The result of an inspection of a blister bag 3 with a cover section 41 is illustrated. The print 46 is in the left illustration of Figure 6 shown only in dashed lines, as it is not actually visible in the top view shown. If the bag is inspected with visible light from "above" through the transparent material area 49 of the original packaging material web, the print 46 is not detected due to the reduced transparency of the cover section 41, so that as a result (right illustration), it is correctly recognized that two drug portions 4 are arranged in the blister bag 3.

[0044] Figures 7a and 7b show two views of a blister tube 2 according to the invention with a plurality of large-area printed blister bags 3 optimized for an inspector system. In Figure 7aPerforations 44 can be seen in transverse joining areas 45', which separate the individual blister bags from one another. Each blister bag 3 comprises a receiving area 43 in which several medicament portions 4 are arranged. Furthermore, each blister bag comprises a data section 41 and a cover section, in which bag-specific data 47 and an imprint 46 are applied. A longitudinal joining area 45 can also be seen in the upper area of ​​the blister tube.

[0045] In Figure 7b It can be seen that in the embodiment shown, the print 46 on a cover section 41 and the data 47 in a data section 42 are arranged on the "same side" of the blister tube or blister bag. Since the cover sections are less transparent to visible light, the side view according to Figure 7a cannot recognize the imprints 46 and the data 47.

[0046] Figures 8a - 8dshow on the left side a cross section through a packaging material web 40 and on the right side a section of a blister bag formed from the packaging material web, with the longitudinal joining area on the right and the folding area on the left being omitted. Figure 8aThe illustrated embodiment of the packaging material web comprises a lower inner layer 400 made of, for example, LDPE, an overlying carrier layer 401 made of PET, and, in the "left" region, a cover layer which, in the embodiment shown, defines the cover section 41. The packaging material web shown on the left is formed by means of a packaging material web forming device such that the packaging material web is folded in the central region, thus creating a blister bag 3, as shown in sections on the right. Due to the folding according to the arrow shown, the cover layer 402 is itself arranged inward during folding, so that the cover section 41 is arranged "inside". The receiving region 43 is arranged between the folded regions of the packaging material web, and a medicament portion 4 is arranged in this region.When inspecting the blister bag "from below" and printing "on" the cover section from above, the printing cannot be perceived as a supposed drug portion during inspection due to the non-transparent cover section.

[0047] In the Figures 8b to 8d Further embodiments of a packaging material web which can be used according to the invention are shown, wherein Figure 8b the cover layer 402 is covered by a protective layer 403, Figure 8c the cover layer is applied directly to the inner layer 400 and at Figure 8d the cover layer 402 is molded directly onto the inner layer 400, so that the blister bag has only one layer at the top and bottom.

[0048] Whether the cover sections 41 are already provided with the packaging material web or are applied during the process according to the invention depends on the precise process procedure. The exact application or design of the cover sections also depends on the process procedure; the only essential requirement is that a cover section 41 covers the receiving area 43 of a blister pack, so that any imprint on or above the cover section cannot be perceived or misinterpreted as a drug portion during an inspection of a blister pack.

Claims

1. A method for producing a blister tube comprising a plurality of blister pouches which can be provided with information over a large area and are optimized for an inspection system, wherein: a packaging material web (40) with a plurality of cover sections (41) extending in the longitudinal direction of the packaging material web (40) with a transmission of < 60% in the visible frequency range, a transparent material area (49) with a transmission of > 80% in the visible frequency range extending in the longitudinal direction parallel to the cover sections (41) and a plurality of data sections (42) are provided, pouch-specific data are printed onto a data section (42), a sub-section of the packaging material web (40) is shaped into a receiving area (43), wherein at least one cover section (41) or at least one sub-area thereof and the previously printed data section (42) are assigned to each receiving area (43), small piece goods are fed to the receiving area (43), and a blister pouch (3) is formed from the receiving area (43) containing small piece goods, characterized in that the cover sections (41) have on the underside a type of mirror layer which reflects the light shining through a cover section.

2. The method for producing a blister tube comprising a plurality of blister pouches which can be provided with information over a large area and are optimized for an inspection system according to claim 1, characterized in that before the receiving area (43) is formed, a cover section (41) is processed in such a way that an information unit (46) is arranged on the outside of the blister pouch to be formed.

3. The method for producing a blister tube comprising a plurality of blister pouches which can be provided with information over a large area and are optimized for an inspection system according to claim 2, characterized in that before the application of an information unit to a cover section (41), pouch-specific data are retrieved or received and the application of the information unit to a cover section (41) is carried out on the basis of the data.

4. The method for producing a blister tube comprising a plurality of blister pouches which can be provided with information over a large area and are optimized for an inspection system according to one of claims 1 - 3, characterized in that the packaging material web (40) is provided with a plurality of cover sections (41) extending in the longitudinal direction of the packaging material web (40) by applying a layer with reduced transparency with a transmission < 60% in the visible frequency range to a carrier layer material area (48) of the packaging material web (40).

5. The method for producing a blister tube comprising a plurality of blister pouches which can be provided with information over a large area and are optimized for an inspection system according to claim 4, characterized in that the layer with reduced transparency is produced by printing a color layer or applying a cover layer onto the carrier layer material area (48).

6. The method for producing a blister tube comprising a plurality of blister pouches which can be provided with information over a large area and are optimized for an inspection system according to claim 5, characterized in that at least the cover sections (41) are covered with a protective layer.

7. A device for producing a blister tube comprising a plurality of blister pouches which can be provided with information over a large area and are optimized for an inspection system, having: a packaging material web (40), a printing device (10) for applying pouch-specific data to a data section (42), an application device (20) for applying an information unit (46) to a cover section (41), a packaging material guide device (30) arranged upstream of the printing and application devices (10, 20) for receiving the packaging material web (40) with a plurality of cover sections (41) extending in the longitudinal direction of the packaging material web (40) with a transmission of < 60% in the visible frequency range, a transparent material area (49) with a transmission of > 80% in the visible frequency range extending in the longitudinal direction parallel to the cover sections (41), and a plurality of data sections (42), wherein the packaging material guide device (30) is designed in such a way that the data sections (42) are assigned to the printing device (10) and the cover sections (41) are assigned to the application device (20), a packaging material shaping device (50) for receiving the packaging material web (40), wherein the packaging material shaping device (50) is designed in such a way that the elongated packaging material web (40) is shaped into a receiving area (43) in such a way that it is suitable for receiving small piece goods and continues in a running direction, and a joining device (60, 70) for joining the shaped packaging material web to form a blister pouch (3) of a blister tube (2), characterized in that the cover sections (41) have on the underside a type of mirror layer which reflects the light shining through a cover section.

8. The device for producing a blister tube comprising a plurality of blister pouches which can be provided with information over a large area and are optimized for an inspection system according to claim 7, characterized by a cover section device (100) arranged upstream of the application device (20) for applying the plurality of cover sections (41).

9. A blister tube (2) with a plurality of blister pouches (3) which can be provided with information over a large area and are optimized for an inspection system, wherein each blister pouch (3) has a receiving area (43) for small piece goods and wherein each blister pouch has at least one data section (42) and a cover section (41) as well as a transparent material area (49) arranged opposite a cover section (41) with a transmission of > 80% in the visible frequency range and the cover section (41) covers the receiving space in such a way that all small piece goods arranged in the receiving area (43) can be covered, wherein the cover section (41) has a transmission of < 60% in the visible frequency range, characterized in that the cover sections (41) have on the underside a type of mirror layer which reflects the light shining through a cover section.

10. The blister tube (2) with a plurality of blister pouches (3) which can be provided with information over a large area and are optimized for an inspection system according to claim 9, characterized in that the cover sections (41) are permeable to light in the near infrared range.

11. The blister tube (2) with a plurality of blister pouches (3) which can be provided with information over a large area and are optimized for an inspection system according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the data section (42) and the cover section (41) of a blister pouch are arranged on the same side.