Method for manufacturing strip package

Abstract

To provide a method for manufacturing a strip package provided with an opening assisting line that makes it easy to open a storage section.SOLUTION: The method for manufacturing a strip package includes: a supplying step of positioning a content in a storage section forming region of each raw film while conveying a pair of raw films; a sealing step of bonding a region of each raw film located outside the storage section forming region to form a bonding section and a storage section; and a processing step of irradiating the storage section forming region or the storage section with a laser beam to form an opening assisting line. The opening assisting line formed in the processing step includes at least two TD lines extending in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the conveying direction and spaced apart in the conveying direction in each of the front and rear regions of the raw film in the conveying direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a strip package. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, strip packages have been used to individually package contents such as tablets. Strip packages typically include pairs of films, each with a plurality of storage sections between which the contents are placed, and adhesive sections at which the films are bonded together to surround the storage sections.

[0003] Also, among strip packaging bodies, there is known one in which one film is pressed against the other film, causing the contained contents to break through the other film and open it (push-open type). To enable such pushing-opening, an opening assisting line is formed in the containing portion. For example, the strip packaging body of Patent Document 1 aims to form an opening assisting line that breaks without requiring a strong pressing force, and the opening assisting line is formed along the outer edge of the contained contents at a position 1 mm or more and less than 10 mm away from the contained contents.

[0004] In terms of manufacturing efficiency, a large number of storage sections are continuously formed in the longitudinal direction of a pair of long raw film webs. For example, the method described in Patent Document 2 includes a supplying step of arranging contents at predetermined positions on each raw film web while transporting the pair of raw film webs, a sealing step of bonding areas of each raw film web outside the areas where the contents are arranged to form adhesive sections together with the storage sections, and a processing step of irradiating a laser onto the storage sections to form opening assist lines. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-123516 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-1716 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] As can be understood from the description in Patent Document 1, in a push-to-open strip packaging, it is important to form an opening assisting line at a predetermined position in the containing section to make opening easy. For example, an opening assisting line formed on the outer edge of the contained item or at a position spaced about several millimeters outward from the outer edge of the contained item in a plan view makes it easier to transmit pressure via the outer edge of the contained item compared to an opening assisting line that overlaps the contained item, making opening easy.

[0007] However, when placing the contents between the raw film sheets moving during conveyance, the supply position of the contents in the conveyance direction may vary for each of the contents. Meanwhile, the laser for forming the opening assist line is usually irradiated at a predetermined position in the containing section. For these reasons, the position of the opening assist line relative to the contents may deviate from the appropriate position, which may impair the ease of opening as described above.

[0008] In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing a strip packaging body having an opening assist line that makes it easy to open the container portion. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The method for producing a strip package according to the present invention includes: The strip packaging body includes a pair of films, and has an adhesive portion where the films are adhered to each other, and a plurality of non-adhesive storage portions inside which contents are arranged, and an opening assist line is formed in the storage portion along the outer edge of the contents, The method includes a supplying step of positioning the contents in a storage section forming area of ​​each raw film while conveying a pair of raw films, a sealing step of bonding an area of ​​each raw film outside the storage section forming area to form the adhesive section and the storage section, and a processing step of irradiating a laser onto the storage section forming area or the storage section to form the opening assist line, The opening assisting line formed in the processing step includes at least two TD lines extending laterally perpendicular to the conveying direction and spaced apart in the conveying direction in each of the front and rear regions of the raw film in the conveying direction.

[0010] According to this configuration, even if the supply position in the conveying direction of each contained item varies, the TD wire formed at the appropriate position among any of the TD wires formed at different positions in the conveying direction can be cut, so that the containing section can be easily opened.

[0011] Further, a method for producing a strip packaging body according to one aspect of the present invention includes: The opening assisting line formed in the processing step includes an MD line extending in the conveying direction in a region to the side of the conveying direction, and the distance between the MD line and the outer edge of the contained item is 0 mm or more and less than 2.0 mm.

[0012] Such an opening assist line is easily cut when the contained item is pushed out, since the MD line is formed at a position that is 0 mm or more and less than 2.0 mm from the outer edge of the contained item, making it easier to open the containing section.

[0013] Further, a method for producing a strip packaging body according to one aspect of the present invention includes: The opening assisting line formed in the processing step has a ring shape in which the TD line and the MD line in each of the regions are connected.

[0014] Such an opening assisting line can form a ring-shaped opening that makes it easier to remove the contents, compared to an opening assisting line in which the TD line and the MD line are interrupted.

[0015] Further, a method for producing a strip packaging body according to one aspect of the present invention includes: The opening assisting line formed in the processing step has a distance between adjacent TD lines of 2.0 mm or less in each of the regions.

[0016] Such opening assisting lines are formed such that the interval between adjacent TD lines is 2.0 mm or less, so that one of the TD lines is formed at an appropriate position for opening. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a method for manufacturing a strip packaging body having an opening assist line that makes it easy to open the storage section. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] 1 is a plan view of a strip package manufactured by a method for manufacturing a strip package according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of region II in FIG. [Figure 3] 1 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus used in a method for manufacturing a strip package according to one embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] Hereinafter, a method for manufacturing a strip package according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0020] First, a strip packaging body 1, which is a product of the manufacturing method according to this embodiment, will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0021] As shown in Fig. 1, the strip packaging 1 of this embodiment is used to individually package a plurality of standard-sized solid contents C, and has a flat adhesive portion 10 where a pair of films f1, f2 are adhered to each other, and a plurality of storage sections 20 that are not adhered and each contain one content C inside. The strip packaging 1 also has perforation lines 30 formed so as to separate the storage sections 20 from each other. The perforation lines 30 are formed in the adhesive portion 10 so as not to intersect with the storage sections 20. The strip packaging 1 has a plurality of storage units, each containing only one storage section 20, separated by the perforation lines 30.

[0022] The strip packaging 1 of this embodiment is continuously mass-produced while conveying the pair of raw films F1 and F2 of films f1 and f2 in the same direction, as shown in Fig. 3. Therefore, hereinafter, of the directions in the strip packaging 1, the direction along the conveying direction MD of the raw films F1 and F2 will be referred to as the first direction D1, and the direction perpendicular to the first direction D1 will be referred to as the second direction D2.

[0023] The contained item C is preferably a disk-shaped tablet such as a medicine or supplement. As shown in FIG. 2, the contained item C as a tablet has a circular outer edge c1 in a plan view. The contained item C is not limited to a tablet, and may be a capsule or the like. The outer edge c1 of the contained item C may also be elliptical.

[0024] The adhesive 10 is formed so as to surround each storage section 20. The thickness of the adhesive 10 is preferably 60 to 180 μm. The stiffness of the adhesive 10 is preferably 100 mN / 20 mm or more and 1700 mN / 20 mm or less. The stiffness of the adhesive 10 can be measured using a loop stiffness tester (manufactured by Toyo Seiki Seisakusho, Ltd.). A test piece having a length of 160 mm (loop length of 80 mm) and a width of 20 mm is used for the measurement. The measurement conditions are a compression distance of 20 mm and a compression time of 3 seconds.

[0025] Each storage section 20 includes a pair of dome-shaped recesses 21 formed in each of the films f1 and f2. That is, each storage section 20 has a spherical storage space formed by the pair of recesses 21. One item C is stored in each storage section 20. Each recess 21 is molded to match the shape of the item C. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, in a plan view, each recess 21 is molded to have an outer edge parallel to the outer edge c1 of the item C. Furthermore, the pair of recesses 21 are molded to have a depth that allows the item C to be sandwiched between their inner surfaces. In other words, the inner surfaces of each pair of recesses 21 abut against the front and back surfaces of the item C.

[0026] The outer edge of each storage section 20 in a plan view is rectangular with rounded corners. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 2, each storage section 20 has a recess 21 with a circular outer edge and flat non-formed sections 22 arranged at the four corners to surround the recess 21.

[0027] The plurality of storage sections 20 are formed so as to be aligned in the first direction D1, and also so as to be aligned in the second direction D2.

[0028] As shown in Fig. 2, the strip packaging 1 has an opening assisting line 40 formed along (parallel to) the outer edge c1 of the contained item C. Usually, of the pair of recesses 21 in each storage section 20, the opening assisting line 40 is formed only in one of the recesses 21, and the opening assisting line 40 is not formed in the other recess 21. That is, of the pair of recesses 21 in each storage section 20, the one recess 21 on which the opening assisting line 40 is formed is the portion where an opening for removing the contained item C is formed when opening, and the other recess 21 is the portion that is directly pressed toward the one recess 21 by the user's fingers or the like when opening. In each storage section 20, the opening assisting lines 40 are formed in approximately the same position, and the deviation in the forming positions is less than 0.5 mm.

[0029] The opening assistance line 40 of this embodiment includes a TD line 41 formed in each region on one side and the other side of the first direction D1 through the center P in a planar view of the storage section 20 and extending in the second direction D2, and an MD line 42 formed in each region on one side and the other side of the second direction D2 through the center P and extending in the first direction D1.

[0030] In this embodiment, two TD wires 41 are formed at intervals in regions on one side and the other side of the first direction D1 that extend in the second direction D2. On the other hand, one MD wire 42 is formed in each of regions on both sides of the second direction D2 that extend in the first direction D1. The two TD wires 41 in the regions on one side and the other side of the first direction D1 are connected to both MD wires 42. In other words, the opening assisting line 40 is formed so as to branch off from the MD wire 42 on one side and converge to the MD wire 42 on the other side. In this way, the opening assisting line 40 of this embodiment is formed in a ring shape that doubly surrounds the contained item C.

[0031] More specifically, the opening assisting line 40 has at least a first TD line 411 and a second TD line 412 formed outward from the first TD line 411 in the first direction D1. The first TD line 411 and the second TD line 412 are arc-shaped and can partially surround the contained item C. Most of the first TD line 411, except for both ends connected to the MD line 42, has a smaller curvature than the outer edge c1 of the contained item C. On the other hand, the second TD line 412 has a curvature that is approximately the same as the curvature of the outer edge c1 of the contained item C, that is, a larger curvature than the first TD line 411. As a result, when the center of the contained item C overlaps with the center P of the containing section 20, the second TD line 412 can be partially parallel to the outer edge c1 of the contained item C.

[0032] The maximum distance d1 between the first TD wire 411 and the second TD wire 412 in the first direction D1 is preferably 2 mm or less. As shown in Fig. 2, the maximum distance d1 is typically the length of a line segment that connects the outermost portions (in the first direction D1) of the first TD wire 411 and the second TD wire 412 and is parallel to the first direction D1. When the maximum distance d1 is within the above range, even if the supply position of the contained item C in the storage section 20 in the first direction D1 is shifted from the predetermined position by approximately 1 mm, either the first TD wire 411 or the second TD wire 412 can be disposed at an appropriate position for facilitating opening, for example, at a position that is 0 mm or more and less than 2.0 mm, preferably at a position that is 0 mm or more and 1.5 mm or less, and more preferably at a position that is 0 mm or more and 1.0 mm or less, from the outer edge c1 of the contained item C.

[0033] From the above, the first TD line 411 is formed so as to move away from the outermost portion in the first direction D1 (the portion defining d1) toward both sides in the second direction D2, and thus move away from the outer edge c1 of the contained item C. On the other hand, as described above, the second TD line 412 is formed so as to be generally parallel to the outer edge c1.

[0034] On the other hand, since the supply position of the contained item C in the storage section 20 in the second direction D2 hardly deviates from the predetermined position, it is considered acceptable to define the position of each MD line 42 based on the outer edge c1 of the contained item C. To make opening even easier, the distance d2 in the second direction D2 between each MD line 42 and the outer edge c1 of the contained item C is preferably 0 mm or more and less than 2.0 mm, more preferably 0 mm or more and 1.5 mm or less, and even more preferably 0 mm or more and 1.0 mm or less. Note that the distance d2 is the length of the shortest line segment drawn from the outermost part of the outer edge c1 in the second direction D2 toward the MD line 42.

[0035] Next, a method for manufacturing the strip packaging body 1 will be described.

[0036] The manufacturing method of the strip packaging body 1 of this embodiment includes a supply process in which a pair of raw film webs F1 and F2 are transported while positioning the contents C in the storage section forming areas F11 and F21 of each raw film web F1 and F2, a sealing process in which the areas outside the storage section forming areas F11 and F21 of each raw film web F1 and F2 are bonded to form the adhesive section 10 and the storage section 20, and a processing process in which a laser is irradiated to the storage section forming area F11 of one raw film web F1 or one of the recesses 21 in the storage section 20 to form an opening assistance line 40.

[0037] The raw films F1 and F2 each include a sealant layer having a resin surface that can be fused to each other. At least one of the raw films F1 and F2 includes aluminum foil and a resin film laminated on the aluminum foil. The raw film containing aluminum foil among the raw films F1 and F2 has an opening assist line 40 formed thereon by laser irradiation. The raw films F1 and F2 may have a resin film laminated on both sides of the aluminum foil, or may have a resin film laminated on only one side of the aluminum foil. Examples of the resin film include polyolefin-based resin films such as polypropylene resin films, polyester-based resin films such as polyethylene terephthalate resin films, and polyamide-based resin films. The thickness of the aluminum laminate film is preferably 30 to 90 μm. The mating films F1 and F2 are preferably relatively soft films with a stiffness of 10 to 75 mN / 20 mm.

[0038] The manufacturing method of the strip packaging 1 of this embodiment includes a molding step, which is a step prior to the supply step, of molding recesses 21 as storage section forming regions F11, F21 in the pair of raw films F1, F2. In the molding step, a plurality of recesses 21 aligned in the longitudinal direction of the pair of raw films F1, F2 may be continuously formed. The pair of recesses 21 preferably have a molding depth such that the contents C are sandwiched between their inner surfaces. By forming the recesses 21 in advance, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of wrinkles in the strip packaging 1, particularly in the storage section 20.

[0039] The supplying step of this embodiment is performed during the sealing step. Specifically, the sealing step of this embodiment includes sequentially drawing and overlapping the pair of raw films F1 and F2 being conveyed from the upstream side. The sealing step of this embodiment also includes supplying the contents C to the pair of raw films F1 and F2 while the recesses 21 of the pair of raw films F1 and F2 are facing each other and when the leading ends of the recesses 21 in the conveying direction MD are overlapped, and then bonding the raw films F1 and F2 together so as to confine the contents C between the recesses 21. During supply, the contents C are released toward the center of the recesses 21 in the lateral direction TD. In this way, the manufacturing method of this embodiment incorporates the supplying step into the sealing step, enlarging the opening when supplying the contents C to prevent the contents C from spilling out between the raw films F1 and F2.

[0040] The sealing step of this embodiment uses an apparatus E shown in Fig. 3. The apparatus E is equipped with a sealing unit e1 that guides the raw films F1 and F2 being conveyed (moving in the conveying direction MD) so that they proceed vertically downward and overlaps and bonds them at the destination, and a supply unit e2 that is located above and upstream of the sealing unit e1 and drops the contents C toward the recess 21.

[0041] The sealing unit e1 has a pair of rolls e11 and e12, which are arranged so that their outer peripheral surfaces are pressed against each other via the raw films F1 and F2. Each of the pair of rolls e11 and e12 has a plurality of recess accommodating portions e111 and e121 that are recessed inward to accommodate the plurality of recesses 21 in the raw films F1 and F2, respectively. The sealing unit e1 has a heating unit that heats the outer peripheral surface of at least one of the pair of rolls e11 and e12 to fuse the opposing resin surfaces of the raw films F1 and F2 together.

[0042] The supply unit e2 includes a cylindrical portion e21 that stores multiple items C in a vertical row, and a shutter portion e22 disposed below the cylindrical portion e21 and that opens and closes at a predetermined timing. The shutter portion e22 is fixed to prevent misalignment, specifically, to prevent misalignment in the lateral direction TD, which is perpendicular to the conveying direction MD, and also to prevent misalignment in the conveying direction MD. This prevents misalignment of each item C in the lateral direction TD. The supply unit e2 is configured to discharge the items C toward the center of the recess 21 in the lateral direction TD. The timing for opening and closing the shutter portion e22 can be determined based on the operation control of the pair of rolls e11 and e12 by a servo motor and the detection by an optical sensor of the raw film F1 and F2 reaching the pair of rolls e11 and e12. However, even with this control method, misalignment of the supply position of each item C in the conveying direction MD may occur. The amount of positional deviation in the conveying direction MD for each contained item C may be within the range of, for example, ±1 mm or more.

[0043] In the processing step, an opening assisting line 40 is formed in each of the storage sections 20 formed in the sealing step. To form the opening assisting line 40, for example, a laser is irradiated so as to expose the aluminum foil of one of the raw films F1. In this embodiment, the laser is irradiated to the same location of each storage section 20.

[0044] In the processing step of this embodiment, an opening assisting line 40 is formed, which includes a first TD line 411 and a second TD line 412 arranged in the front and rear regions in the conveying direction MD, respectively, and a pair of MD lines 42 arranged on both sides in the conveying direction MD. Furthermore, in the processing step of this embodiment, a ring-shaped opening assisting line 40 is formed in which the first TD line 411 and the second TD line 412 and the MD line 42 are connected.

[0045] In the processing step, the opening assisting line 40 may be formed based on the content C, assuming that the center of the content C coincides with the center of the containing portion forming region F11 or the center of the containing portion 20 (specifically, the recess 21). Under this assumption, the distance between the MD lines 42 is preferably set to a value in the range of 0 mm to less than 2.0 mm, preferably 0 mm to 1.5 mm, and more preferably 0 mm to 1.0 mm, plus the maximum diameter of the content C in the lateral direction TD. Furthermore, the distance between each of the front-side first TD line 411 and the rear-side first TD line 411 and the outer edge c1 of the content C is preferably set to a value in the range of 0 mm to less than 2.0 mm, preferably 0 mm to 1.5 mm, and more preferably 0 mm to 1.0 mm, plus the maximum diameter of the content C in the conveying direction MD. Furthermore, the maximum distance d1 between the first TD line 411 and the second TD line 412 in the conveying direction MD is preferably set to 2 mm or less.

[0046] In this embodiment, considering that the shutter portion e22 is fixed and there is almost no positional deviation in the lateral direction TD for each contained item C, the MD line 42 formed in the processing step can be positioned at a position that is 0 mm or more and less than 2.0 mm from the outer edge c1 of the contained item C, which is an appropriate position. On the other hand, in this embodiment, the amount of positional deviation for each contained item C in the conveying direction MD occurs within a range of ±1 mm. For example, if the center of the contained item C is deviated by 1 mm from the center of the storage section 20, the first TD line 411 will be displaced by 1 mm toward the center of the contained item C and intersect with the contained item C. However, the second TD line 412, which is adjacent to the first TD line 411 at a distance of 2.0 mm or less, can be positioned at a position that is 0 mm or more and less than 2.0 mm from the outer edge c1 of the contained item C, which is an appropriate position. Therefore, the processing step of this embodiment can form an opening assist line 40 that makes it easy to open the storage section 20.

[0047] It should be noted that the manufacturing method of the strip packaging body according to the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment. Furthermore, the manufacturing method of the strip packaging body according to the present invention is not limited by the above-described effects. The manufacturing method of the strip packaging body according to the present invention can be modified in various ways without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0048] For example, it is believed that the same effects can be obtained even when flat raw films F1 and F2 without recesses 21 formed therein are used.

[0049] Regarding the method of forming the TD wire 41, when using an apparatus in which the amount of positional deviation of the contents C in the conveying direction MD is large and the amount of positional deviation varies greatly for each of the contents C, more than two TD wires 41, for example, three or more, may be formed in each of the front and rear regions in the conveying direction MD. [Example]

[0050] The present invention will be specifically explained below using test examples.

[0051] [Simulation evaluation of openability] A pair of raw film strips (PET 16 μm / aluminum foil 20 μm / seal coat (PP coat)) each had a recess (14 mm diameter in plan view, 2-2.1 mm depth) molded into it. A disk-shaped tablet (8 mm diameter, 4 mm thickness) was placed in the pair of recesses, and the recesses were fused at 121 °C to prepare the number of strip packages required for the test. Next, using a laser marker (Panasonic Devices SUNX, LP-430U) under the following irradiation conditions, eight types of opening assist lines were formed on each strip package, each with a different distance from the outer edge of the tablet, in a circular shape surrounding the tablet, so that the center of the tablet and the center of the opening assist line overlapped. These were designated Test Examples 1 to 8. The distance between the opening assist line and the outer edge of the tablet in Test Examples 1 to 8 (i.e., the difference in their diameters) is shown in Table 1 below. Then, a panel of four men and four women evaluated the ease of opening depending on the position of the opening assist line based on the following evaluation criteria. The results are shown in Table 1. The lower the evaluation score, the easier it is to open the package. (Laser irradiation conditions) Laser type: CO2 laser Average output: 30W Wavelength: 10.6μm Laser power: 75% Scan speed: 2000mm / s Line width: 0.26 mm (Evaluation criteria) 1: Particularly easy to open 2: Easy to open 3: Difficult to open 4: Quite difficult to open 5: Unable to open

[0052] [Table 1]

[0053] [Push-out strength measurement] For Test Examples 1 to 8, an autograph (Shimadzu Corporation, bench-top precision universal testing machine AGS-J) was used to measure the push-out strength when the tablet was fixed with tape so that it was centered on a table with a φ15 hole, and pushed out at a measurement speed of 50 mm / min using a plug (φ8.5 mm, dome-shaped, made of metal). The results are shown in Table 2 below.

[0054] [Table 2]

[0055] From the results in Tables 1 and 2, it can be seen that the distance between the opening assisting line and the outer edge of the tablet is preferably 0 mm or more and less than 2.0 mm, and more preferably 0 mm or more and 1.0 mm or less. [Explanation of symbols]

[0056] 1: strip packaging body, C: content, c1: outer edge, f1, f2: film, 10: adhesive portion, 20: storage portion, 21: recess, 22: non-formed portion, P: center, 30: tear line, 40: opening assist line, 41: TD line, 411: first TD line, 412: second TD line, d1: spacing (maximum value), 42: MD line, d2: spacing, D1: first direction, D2: second direction, MD: conveying direction, TD: transverse direction, F1, F2: raw film, E: device, e1: sealing portion, e11, e12: pair of rolls, e111, e121: recess storage portion, e2: supply portion, e21: cylindrical portion, e22: shutter portion

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a strip package, comprising: The strip packaging body includes a pair of films, and has an adhesive portion where the films are adhered to each other, and a plurality of non-adhesive storage portions inside which contents are arranged, and an opening assist line is formed in the storage portion along the outer edge of the contents, The method includes a supplying step of positioning the contents in a storage section forming area of ​​each raw film while conveying a pair of raw films, a sealing step of bonding an area of ​​each raw film outside the storage section forming area to form the adhesive section and the storage section, and a processing step of irradiating a laser onto the storage section forming area or the storage section to form the opening assist line, a strip packaging body manufacturing method, wherein the opening assist line formed in the processing step includes at least two TD lines extending laterally perpendicular to the conveying direction in each of the front and rear regions of the conveying direction of the raw film, the TD lines being spaced apart in the conveying direction.

2. 2. The method for manufacturing a strip packaging body according to claim 1, wherein the opening assisting line formed in the processing step includes an MD line extending in the conveying direction in a region to the side of the conveying direction, and a distance between the MD line and an outer edge of the contained item is 0 mm or more and less than 2.0 mm.

3. The method for manufacturing a strip packaging body according to claim 2 , wherein the opening assisting line formed in the processing step is a ring formed by connecting the TD line and the MD line in each of the regions.

4. The method for manufacturing a strip packaging body according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the opening assisting line formed in the processing step has a distance between adjacent TD lines of 2.0 mm or less in each region.

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