Packaging apparatus, method for manufacturing packaging bag, and packaging material

Abstract

To provide a packaging device in which protection of information is taken into consideration.SOLUTION: A packaging apparatus includes a packaging unit that packages a packaging target using a packaging material, and a printing unit that prints first information 100A on the packaging material, and prints second information 100A on the packaging material in a mode in which visibility is higher than that of the first information 100B.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a packaging device, a method for manufacturing a packaging bag, and a packaging material. [Background technology]

[0002] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-185703 (Patent Document 1) discloses a medicine packaging machine that includes a packaging device and a printer, in which medicines are packaged using the packaging device and packaging information such as usage instructions is printed using the printer when packaging. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-185703 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The information printed on the packaging bags in which medicines and other packaged items are individually packaged may include information that should not be seen by anyone other than those involved, such as information about the medicine or personal information of the patient taking the medicine.

[0005] The present disclosure proposes a packaging device and a method for manufacturing packaging bags that take into consideration the protection of information, as well as packaging material that is particularly suitable for manufacturing such packaging bags. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A packaging device according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a packaging unit that packages an object to be packaged using packaging material, and a printing unit that prints first information on the packaging material and prints second information on the packaging material in a manner that is more visible than the first information.

[0007] In the packaging device, the printing unit may print the second information in a color that is less bright than the first information.

[0008] The packaging device may further include a conveying unit that conveys the packaging material, and the printing unit may print the first information and the second information at different positions in the conveying direction of the packaging material.

[0009] In the packaging device, the second information may include information about the object to be packaged.

[0010] In the packaging device, the first information may include personal information.

[0011] In the packaging device, the packaging material may have a thermosensitive coloring layer, and the printing unit may print the first information and the second information by heating the packaging material to cause a part of the thermosensitive coloring layer to develop color.

[0012] A method for manufacturing a packaging bag according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes the steps of forming a packaging bag that contains an object to be packaged inside and has information about the object to be packaged printed on it, and making the information invisible.

[0013] In the above manufacturing method, the forming step may include a step of printing information by heating a packaging material having a thermosensitive coloring layer to cause a portion of the thermosensitive coloring layer to color, and the making invisible step may include a step of heating an area of ​​the packaging material where the information is printed to cause the thermosensitive coloring layer in that area to color.

[0014] In the above manufacturing method, the packaging material may be heated in the color-developing step to a temperature higher than that in the printing step.

[0015] A packaging material according to an aspect of the present disclosure is used for packaging medicines in a medicine packaging device that packages medicines based on prescription data. The packaging material has a substrate and a thermosensitive coloring layer laminated on the substrate. The packaging material is configured so that information is printed on the substrate by coloring a portion of the thermosensitive coloring layer, and the information is made invisible by coloring the thermosensitive coloring layer in the area where the information is printed. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to realize a packaging device and a method for manufacturing packaging bags that take into consideration the protection of information, as well as packaging material that is particularly suitable for manufacturing such packaging bags. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a packaging device. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of a printing unit. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a housing portion forming section. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the packaging device. [Figure 5] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a print setting screen. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a sachet. [Figure 7] 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of a process for manufacturing a packaging bag. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a sachet in a state in which information is visible. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a sachet on which information is made invisible. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same parts and components are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed descriptions thereof will not be repeated. In the drawings, configurations may be omitted or simplified for the sake of convenience. It is also intended from the beginning that any configurations may be extracted from the embodiments and arbitrarily combined.

[0019] [First embodiment] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a packaging device 1 according to an embodiment.

[0020] The packaging device 1 is used to package an object to be packaged. The object to be packaged is a medicine, specifically a solid medicine. Examples of solid medicine include powders, granules, tablets, pills, and capsules. The object to be packaged is not limited to a solid medicine. The object to be packaged may be a semi-solid medicine or a liquid medicine.

[0021] The packaging device 1 is a drug packaging device for packaging drugs based on a prescription. A prescription is issued to a patient by a doctor. The prescription contains patient information and drug information. The patient information includes the patient's name and age. The drug information includes the drug name, amount, usage, and dosage. The packaging device 1 is used to package drugs into single doses based on such a prescription.

[0022] Packaging rolls 2 and 3 are attached to the packaging device 1. The packaging roll 2 is a packaging material 21 wound in a roll shape. The packaging material 21 is fed out from the packaging roll 2. The packaging roll 3 is a packaging material 31 wound in a roll shape. The packaging material 31 is fed out from the packaging roll 3.

[0023] Packaging device 1 combines packaging material 21 unwound from packaging roll 2 and packaging material 31 unwound from packaging roll 3 by heat sealing them to form sachets 19 containing medicines. Packaging materials 21, 31 are in the form of long sheets. Packaging device 1 is equipped with a packaging material conveying section 9. Packaging material conveying section 9 applies a driving force to packaging materials 21, 31 to convey them. Packaging materials 21, 31 are conveyed in their longitudinal directions. Arrows in FIG. 1 indicate the conveying direction DR of packaging materials 21, 31.

[0024] Guide rollers 11A, 12A, and 13A are provided in this order from upstream (closer to packaging roll 2) to downstream (away from packaging roll 2) in the conveying direction DR of packaging material 21. Guide rollers 11A, 12A, and 13A guide packaging material 21 as it is conveyed and apply a constant tension to packaging material 21. Guide rollers 11B, 12B, and 13B are provided in this order from upstream (closer to packaging roll 3) to downstream (away from packaging roll 3) in the conveying direction DR of packaging material 31. Guide rollers 11B, 12B, and 13B guide packaging material 31 as it is conveyed and apply a constant tension to packaging material 31.

[0025] The packaging device 1 includes a packaging unit 5. The packaging unit 5 includes a medicine supply unit 6, a container forming unit 7, and a perforation forming unit 8.

[0026] Medicine supply unit 6 supplies medicine between packaging materials 21 and 31 being conveyed by packaging material conveying unit 9. The tip of a hopper (not shown) is placed between packaging materials 21 and 31, and medicine is poured into the gap between packaging materials 21 and 31 from the tip of the hopper. Medicine is supplied at a dose based on the prescription.

[0027] Container forming unit 7 forms a container using packaging materials 21 and 31 conveyed by packaging conveying unit 9. Medicines are contained in the container. After medicines are supplied from medicine supply unit 6, container forming unit 7 heat-seals packaging materials 21 and 31 together to individually package the medicines, thereby forming sachets 19, which are packages containing the medicines.

[0028] The perforation forming unit 8 is provided in the storage section forming unit 7. The perforation forming unit 8 forms perforations that extend in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction DR in the packaging material 21, 31 conveyed by the packaging material conveying unit 9. The perforations are a plurality of small holes that are lined up continuously in the short direction of the packaging material 21, 31. The perforations are formed in the sealed portion where the packaging material 21, 31 is heat-sealed. The perforations are formed at positions that separate adjacent sachets 19 in the longitudinal direction of the packaging material 21, 31. By cutting the packaging material 21, 31 along the perforations, the adjacent sachets 19 can be easily separated.

[0029] The packaging device 1 further includes a printing unit 4. The printing unit 4 prints predetermined information on the packaging material 31 that is unwound from the packaging material roll 3 and transported by the packaging material transport unit 9. The predetermined information is information related to the drug. The printing unit 4 is disposed upstream of the packaging unit 5 in the transport direction of the packaging material 31. The printing unit 4 prints information related to the drug on the packaging material 31 prior to the heat sealing of the packaging materials 21, 31 by the storage portion forming unit 7. The information related to the drug includes the patient's name, the time of administration, the name and quantity of the drug, etc.

[0030] 2 is a schematic diagram of the printing unit 4. As shown in FIG. 2, the packaging material 31 has a substrate 32, a seal layer 33, and a thermosensitive coloring layer 34. The substrate 32 has a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The thermosensitive coloring layer 34 is laminated on the first surface of the substrate 32. The seal layer 33 is laminated on the second surface of the substrate 32. The packaging material 31 has a layered structure in which the seal layer 33, the substrate 32, and the thermosensitive coloring layer 34 are laminated in this order.

[0031] The substrate 32 is made of, for example, paper. The substrate 32 may be made of glassine paper. The thickness of the glassine paper is 30 g / m 2 The substrate 32 may be made of a film. The substrate 32 may be made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate). The thickness of the film may be 25 μm. The sealing layer 33 is made of a low-melting point material such as polyethylene. The thickness of the sealing layer 33 may be 15 μm. The thickness of the sealing layer 33 may be smaller or larger than the thickness of the substrate 32. The thermosensitive coloring layer 34 may be made of a material that changes color at a temperature higher than the temperature at which the sealing layer 33 melts. The thermosensitive coloring layer 34 may be formed by applying a thermosensitive material to the first surface of the substrate 32.

[0032] The packaging material 31 is not limited to the above example, and may be thermal paper. Thermal paper develops color when heated to approximately 80 to 90° C. Therefore, in the case of thermal paper, the temperature at which the seal layer 33 melts is equal to or higher than the temperature at which the thermosensitive coloring layer 34 develops color.

[0033] The printing unit 4 has a thermal head 41 and a platen roller 42. The thermal head 41 has a heating element. The platen roller 42 supports the packaging material 31. The thermal head 41 and the platen roller 42 are arranged opposite each other with the packaging material 31 sandwiched between them. The thermal head 41 and the platen roller 42 extend in the short-side direction of the packaging material 31 (in FIG. 2, the direction perpendicular to the paper surface). The thermal head 41 and the platen roller 42 extend from one edge to the other edge of the packaging material 31 in the short-side direction.

[0034] The printing unit 4 uses a thermal head 41, which is a printing head, to heat the thermosensitive coloring layer 34 of the packaging material 31, thereby causing the thermosensitive coloring layer 34 to develop color. The thermal head 41 is pressed against a platen roller 42 with the packaging material 31 in between, and in this state, the heating elements of the thermal head 41 are heated, whereby predetermined information related to the medicine to be packaged is printed on the packaging material 31 for each package.

[0035] In the packaging material 31 transported through the printing unit 4, the thermosensitive coloring layer 34 is disposed closer to the thermal head 41 than the substrate 32.

[0036] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the storage section forming section 7. Note that the perforation forming section 8 is not shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 3, the packaging material 21 has a base material 22 and a sealing layer 23. The packaging material 21 has a layered structure in which the base material 22 and the sealing layer 23 are layered. The packaging material 21 does not have a thermosensitive coloring layer. The packaging material 21 does not change color even when heated.

[0037] The substrate 22 may be made of, for example, OPP (biaxially oriented polypropylene). The thickness of the substrate 22 may be 25 μm. The sealing layer 23 may be made of, for example, polyethylene. The thickness of the sealing layer 23 may be 15 μm.

[0038] The storage section forming section 7 has a heating member 71 and a receiving member 72. The heating member 71 has a built-in heater and is heated by the heater. The receiving member 72 is a member that receives the heating member 71. The receiving member 72 does not have a heat-generating structure and is basically kept at room temperature. The heating member 71 and the receiving member 72 are arranged opposite each other with the packaging material 21 and the packaging material 31 sandwiched therebetween. Like the heating member 71, the receiving member 72 may have a built-in heater and be heated by the heater. In other words, a pair of heating members may be arranged opposite each other with the packaging material 21 and the packaging material 31 sandwiched therebetween.

[0039] The heating member 71 may be, for example, aluminum plated with electroless nickel-phosphorus-PTFE (fluororesin) composite plating. The receiving member 72 may be, for example, silicone rubber with a hardness of 30 degrees to which a fluororesin sheet is baked.

[0040] With heating member 71 heated by the heater, heating member 71 and receiving member 72 are driven by a pressure motor 75 (Fig. 4) which serves as a drive source, to apply pressure to packaging materials 21, 31 from both sides. When heating member 71 heats two overlapping packaging materials 21, 31, sealing layer 23 of packaging material 21 and sealing layer 33 of packaging material 31 are thermally fused together to form a storage section. The medicine is stored in the storage section. Storage section forming section 7 packages the medicine, which is the packaging object, one package at a time.

[0041] Of the packaging materials 21, 31 transported through the storage portion forming section 7, packaging material 31 is positioned close to heating member 71, and packaging material 21 is positioned close to receiving member 72. The seal layer 23 of packaging material 21 and the seal layer 33 of packaging material 31 face each other. The seal layers 23, 33 that form the inner sides of packaging materials 21, 31 are overlapped with each other. When heat is applied from the heating member 71, the seal layers 23, 33 melt, and the seal layer 23 and the seal layer 33 are thermally fused together to form a storage portion.

[0042] In the packaging material 31, the thermosensitive coloring layer 34 is disposed closer to the heating member 71 than the base material 32, and is disposed closest to the heating member 71. The thermosensitive coloring layer 34 faces the heating member 71. The thermosensitive coloring layer 34 is disposed at a position where the heat generated by the heater of the heating member 71 is most easily conducted. By disposing the thermosensitive coloring layer 34 close to the heating member 71 in the container forming section 7, when heat sealing is performed to thermally fuse the sealing layers 23, 33, the amount of heat required for coloring is also transmitted to the thermosensitive coloring layer 34, causing the thermosensitive coloring layer 34 to develop color.

[0043] The heating member 71 and the receiving member 72 may be reversed in position. In the packaging materials 21, 31 transported through the container forming section 7, the packaging material 21 may be positioned closer to the heating member 71, and the packaging material 31 may be positioned closer to the receiving member 72. In the packaging material 31, the thermosensitive coloring layer 34 may be positioned closer to the receiving member 72 than the substrate 32, and may be positioned closest to the receiving member 72. Even in this case, it is sufficient that the amount of heat required for color development is transmitted to the thermosensitive coloring layer 34 when heat sealing is performed to thermally fuse the sealing layers 23, 33, so that the thermosensitive coloring layer 34 develops color. Alternatively, the amount of heat required for color development may be intentionally prevented from being transmitted to the thermosensitive coloring layer 34, preventing the thermosensitive coloring layer 34 from developing color.

[0044] 4 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the packaging device 1. As shown in FIG.

[0045] The operation unit 96 is operated by an operator who operates the packaging device 1. When the operator operates the operation unit 96, information necessary for the packaging operation of the packaging device 1 is input to the overall control unit 90. The information necessary for the packaging operation of the packaging device 1 includes prescription data based on a prescription and various setting information. The setting information includes the dimensions of the sachet 19 in the longitudinal direction of the packaging materials 21 and 31, and the content to be printed on the packaging material 31. The information necessary for the packaging operation of the packaging device 1 may be input to the overall control unit 90 from an external computer.

[0046] Based on the input prescription data, the operation unit 96 generates print data to be printed on the packaging material 31 by the printing unit 4. The operation unit 96 inputs the generated print data to the overall control unit 90. The overall control unit 90 may generate the print data, or externally generated print data may be input to the operation unit 96.

[0047] The overall control unit 90 controls the overall operation of the packaging device 1 based on information necessary for the packaging operation of the packaging device 1. The overall control unit 90 controls the medicine supply unit 6, the container formation unit 7, the packaging material conveying unit 9, and the printing unit 4.

[0048] Overall control unit 90 sends a control signal to medicine supply unit 6, instructing medicine supply unit 6 on the type and quantity of medicine to be supplied. Overall control unit 90 sends a control signal to storage portion forming unit 7 so that the dimensions of sachet 19 in the longitudinal direction of packaging material 21, 31 become predetermined values. The dimensions of sachet 19 may be values ​​input via operation unit 96, for example, or may be values ​​set by overall control unit 90 based on the type and quantity of medicine.

[0049] The packaging control unit 97 controls the heating member 71, pressure motor 75, and packaging material conveying motor 91 based on control signals from the overall control unit 90. The pressure motor 75 moves the heating member 71 and the receiving member 72. The heating member 71 and the receiving member 72, which are moved by the driving of the pressure motor 75, apply pressure to the packaging materials 21, 31 from both sides or move away from the packaging materials 21, 31. The packaging material conveying unit 9 has a pair of conveying rollers and a packaging material conveying motor 91. The pair of conveying rollers are arranged opposite each other with the sachet 19 sandwiched between them. The packaging material conveying motor 91 drives the pair of conveying rollers to rotate, thereby conveying the sachet 19 (packaging materials 21, 31) in the conveying direction DR.

[0050] Sachets 19 are formed by appropriately driving and stopping medicine supply unit 6, heating member 71, pressure motor 75, and packaging material conveying motor 91. Packaging material conveying unit 9 intermittently conveys packaging materials 21, 31. When the conveyance of packaging materials 21, 31 is stopped, medicine supply unit 6 supplies medicine between packaging materials 21, 31. Heating member 71 and receiving member 72 heat and pressurize packaging materials 21, 31 from both sides. In packaging materials 21, 31, longitudinal fused portions 123 (FIG. 6) are formed in the longitudinal direction of packaging materials 21, 31, and lateral fused portions 124 (FIG. 6) are formed in the lateral direction of packaging materials 21, 31. In this manner, sachets 19 containing the packaging objects are formed.

[0051] The overall control unit 90 sends control signals to the printing unit 4 so that printing is performed on the packaging material 31 based on the print data generated by the operation unit 96. The printing unit 4 has a print control unit 94. The print control unit 94 controls the thermal head 41 and the head contact / separation motor 43 based on the control signal from the overall control unit 90.

[0052] The thermal head 41 has multiple heating elements. A head contact / separation motor 43 reciprocates the thermal head 41 in the thickness direction of the packaging material 31, bringing the thermal head 41 into contact with or away from the packaging material 31. By selectively heating the multiple heating elements of the thermal head 41 while the thermal head 41 is in contact with the packaging material 31, information related to the medicines to be packaged is printed on the packaging material 31 one package at a time.

[0053] Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a print setting screen. The operation unit 96 shown in Fig. 4 has a monitor, and the print setting screen 960 shown in Fig. 5 is displayed on the monitor. In reality, information other than the print setting screen 960 is also displayed on the monitor, but Fig. 5 shows only the print setting screen 960 necessary for explaining this embodiment. The print setting screen 960 includes a print item selection section 961, a print layout setting section 962, a font selection section 964, a point selection section 965, and a brightness selection section 966.

[0054] A plurality of print items are displayed in the print item selection section 961. In FIG. 5, examples of print items include prescription date, dispensing date, reception number, medical department name, patient name, usage, and number of drugs. The operator operating the packaging device 1 selects at least one of the plurality of print items displayed in the print item selection section 961. The operator uses the print layout setting section 962 to set how the selected print items are to be laid out and printed on the sachet 19. The operator may select the print items by dragging and dropping them from the print item selection section 961 to the print layout setting section 962.

[0055] A rectangular frame 963 is displayed in the print layout setting section 962. The rectangular frame 963 corresponds to the area in which information on the sachet 19 can be printed. The operator can arbitrarily arrange the selected print items within the rectangular frame 963 to determine the layout of the print items on the sachet 19. Figure 5 shows an example of layout setting for print items in which the patient name and usage instructions are selected from the print items and arranged vertically so that the patient name is printed on top and the usage instructions are printed below.

[0056] The operator can select the font of the characters for each print item arranged in the print layout setting area 962 by operating the font selection area 964. The operator can select the character size for each print item by operating the point selection area 965. The operator can select the brightness of the color when printing the text information for each print item by operating the brightness selection area 966. Figure 5 shows an example in which, of the selected print items, the instructions for use are printed larger than the patient name, and the instructions for use are printed in a color that is less bright (darker) than the patient name. The print density is set for each print item on the sachet 19.

[0057] 6 is a schematic diagram showing a sachet 19. By heat-sealing the sealing layers 23, 33 in the storage portion forming section 7, a longitudinal fused portion 123 extending in the longitudinal direction of the packaging material 21, 31 and a lateral fused portion 124 extending in the lateral direction of the packaging material 21, 31 are formed. The longitudinal fused portion 123 is formed near one edge of the packaging material 21, 31 and near the other edge of the packaging material 21, 31. The pair of longitudinal fused portions 123 are formed to extend parallel to each other at the same position in the longitudinal direction of the packaging material 21, 31. The lateral fused portion 124 is formed to connect the ends of the pair of longitudinal fused portions 123.

[0058] Packaging materials 21, 31 are partitioned by a pair of longitudinal fusion portions 123 and a pair of lateral fusion portions 124 to form sachet 19. A storage portion 122 is formed inside sachet 19, and the medicine is stored in storage portion 122. Sachet 19 individually packages the medicine, which is the packaging object.

[0059] The longitudinal fused portion 123 extends in the conveyance direction DR of the packaging materials 21, 31. The longitudinal fused portion 123 forms an edge of the storage portion 122 in the short direction of the packaging material 31. When the longitudinal fused portion 123 and the short direction fused portion 124 are formed in the storage portion forming section 7, the thermosensitive coloring layer 34 is heated and changes color, causing the longitudinal fused portion 123 and the short direction fused portion 124 to change color.

[0060] Between two adjacent short-side fused portions 124 in the longitudinal direction of the packaging materials 21, 31 (the conveyance direction DR of the packaging materials 21, 31), a separation region 126 is provided where the seal layers 23, 33 are not heat-fused.

[0061] In the printing unit 4, the packaging material 31 is heated by the heat generated by the thermal head 41, causing a portion of the thermosensitive coloring layer 34 to develop color, thereby printing information 100 on the sachet 19. The information 100 includes first information 100A and second information 100B. The first information 100A includes personal information. The first information 100A includes the name of the patient who will be taking the medication contained in the sachet 19. The second information 100B includes information about the medication contained in the sachet 19. The second information 100B includes usage, i.e., how to use the medication. The second information 100B includes information such as the approximate time to take the medication, such as morning, noon, or night, and the timing to take the medication, such as before, between, or after meals.

[0062] The printing unit 4 prints the second information 100B in a color that is less bright than the first information 100A. Typically, the second information 100B is colored black. The first information 100A is colored and changes color from the base color of the packaging material 31, but it does not turn black and remains gray. The printing unit 4 prints the second information 100B in a color that is darker than the first information 100A. The printing density of the second information 100B is higher than the printing density of the first information 100A. The printing unit 4 prints the second information 100B on the packaging material 31 in a manner that makes it more visible than the first information 100A.

[0063] By changing the heat generation amount of the thermal head 41, the printing unit 4 can print the information 100 on the packaging material 31 with different print densities of the information 100, as shown in FIG. 6. Specifically, the heat generation amount of the thermal head 41 is set relatively small when printing the first information 100A on the packaging material 31, and set relatively large when printing the second information 100B on the packaging material 31. When printing the second information 100B, the thermosensitive coloring layer 34 is heated to a temperature at which the information develops black, and when printing the first information 100A, the thermosensitive coloring layer 34 is heated to a temperature at which the information develops only gray. This allows the first information 100A and the second information 100B shown in FIG. 6 to be printed on the packaging material 31 (sachet 19) as intended.

[0064] The print density of the first information 100A and the second information 100B can be adjusted by adjusting the heat generation amount of the thermal head 41. As shown in FIG. 6, the first information 100A and the second information 100B can be arranged so that they are aligned in the longitudinal direction (conveyance direction DR) of the packaging material 31. The thermal head 41 extends in the lateral direction of the packaging material 31 (corresponding to the up-and-down direction in FIG. 6). If the first information 100A and the second information 100B are set to be printed at different positions in the conveyance direction DR of the packaging material 31, the overall heat generation amount of the thermal head 41 can be increased or decreased to adjust the print density of the first information 100A and the second information 100B. In this case, the heat generation amount of the thermal head 41 can be easily controlled.

[0065] The first information 100A and the second information 100B do not necessarily have to be printed on the sachet 19 in which the medicine is packaged. A blank packet containing no medicine may be provided at the beginning or end of a series of multiple sachets 19 that are handed to a patient who will take the medicine, and the first information 100A and the second information 100B may be printed on this blank packet. Alternatively, only either the first information 100A or the second information 100B may be printed on the blank packet.

[0066] Although some of the description overlaps with the above, the characteristic configuration of this embodiment, as well as its actions and effects, can be listed as follows.

[0067] 1 and 2, the packaging device 1 includes a printing unit 4. As shown in Fig. 6, the printing unit 4 prints first information 100A on the packaging material 31 (sachet 19), and prints second information 100B on the packaging material 31 (sachet 19) in a manner that is more visible than the first information 100A.

[0068] Information that should be displayed in an emphasized manner can be reliably displayed in an emphasized manner by including it in second information 100B and printing it with high visibility on packaging material 31. Information that should not be seen by anyone other than authorized personnel can be made less noticeable by including it in first information 100A and printing it with low visibility, thereby improving the protection of the information.

[0069] 6, the printing unit 4 may print the second information 100B in a color that is less bright than the first information 100A. For example, the second information 100B may be printed in black, and the first information 100A may be printed in gray. This ensures that the first information 100A is printed on the packaging material 31 in a manner that is low in visibility, and the second information 100B is printed in a manner that is high in visibility.

[0070] 6, the printing unit 4 may print the first information 100A and the second information 100B at different positions in the conveyance direction DR of the packaging material 31. The color of the first information 100A and the color of the second information 100B can be changed by increasing or decreasing the overall heat generation amount of the thermal head 41 extending in the short direction of the packaging material 31. This makes it possible to reliably print the first information 100A and the second information 100B, which have different visibility, by simply controlling the heat generation amount of the thermal head 41.

[0071] 6, the second information 100B may include information about a medicine that is the packaging object. By printing the information about the packaging object on the packaging material 31 in a highly visible manner, the information about the packaging object can be displayed in an emphasized manner.

[0072] 6, the first information 100A may include personal information. By printing the personal information on the packaging material 31 in a manner that reduces visibility, the personal information can be made less noticeable and is less likely to be seen by anyone other than those involved, thereby improving the protection of the personal information.

[0073] 2 and 4, the packaging material 31 has a thermosensitive coloring layer 34, and the printing unit 4 may print the first information 100A and the second information 100B by heating the packaging material 31 to color a portion of the thermosensitive coloring layer 34. By reducing the heat generation amount of the thermal head 41 included in the printing unit 4 to suppress coloring of the thermosensitive coloring layer 34, it is possible to print the first information 100A, which has low visibility, on the packaging material 31. By increasing the heat generation amount of the thermal head 41 to reliably color the thermosensitive coloring layer 34, it is possible to print the second information 100B, which has high visibility, on the packaging material 31.

[0074] [Second embodiment] 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing for manufacturing a packaging bag. In the method for manufacturing a packaging bag according to the second embodiment, processing for printing information on the packaging bag and processing for making the information printed on the packaging bag invisible are performed.

[0075] As shown in FIG. 7, in step S1, printing unit 4 heats packaging material 31 used to form sachet 19 to cause a portion of thermosensitive coloring layer 34 to develop color, thereby printing information about the packaging object. In step S2, medicine supplying unit 6 supplies medicine between packaging materials 21 and 31 based on prescription data. In step S3, after the medicine is supplied from medicine supplying unit 6, containing portion forming unit 7 heat-seals packaging material 21 and packaging material 31 to form sachet 19 containing the medicine therein. The processing of steps S1 to S3 constitutes steps of forming a packaging bag that contains the packaging object therein and on which information about the packaging object is printed.

[0076] Next, in step S4, a process is performed to cut the sachet 19 that is connected in the longitudinal direction of the packaging materials 21, 31 (the conveying direction DR of the sachet 19). This cutting of the sachet 19 may be performed automatically using a cutter provided inside the packaging device 1. The sachet 19 may also be cut manually. The sachet 19 may be aligned with a blade provided in the packaging device 1, and the sachet 19 may be cut manually along the blade. Alternatively, the sachet 19 may be cut manually using scissors.

[0077] In step S5, a process is performed to make the information printed in step S1 invisible. Figure 8 is a schematic diagram showing sachet 19 in a state in which first information 100A is visible. Similar to sachet 19 described with reference to Figure 6, first information 100A and second information 100B are printed on sachet 19. A virtual area 101 in which first information 100A is printed is set around first information 100A, and is shown by a two-dot chain line in Figure 8. First information 100A is printed inside area 101. First information 100A is included in area 101.

[0078] 8 is printed in a manner that makes the first information 100A less visible than the second information 100B, but the first information 100A and the second information 100B may be printed in colors of the same brightness. When printing the first information 100A, the thermal head 41 may sufficiently heat the thermosensitive coloring layer 34 to cause the first information 100A to develop a black color, and when printing the second information 100B, the thermal head 41 may also sufficiently heat the thermosensitive coloring layer 34 to cause the second information 100B to develop a black color.

[0079] Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a sachet 19 in which the first information 100A has been made invisible. The region 101 in which the first information 100A is printed on the packaging material 31 shown in Fig. 8 is heated to cause the thermosensitive coloring layer 34 in region 101 to develop a color, forming the colored region 102 shown in Fig. 9. The thermosensitive coloring layer 34 is heated to cause the thermosensitive coloring layer 34 in region 101 to develop a color with a lower brightness than the first information 100A, thereby making the first information 100A invisible. Typically, the thermosensitive coloring layer 34 in region 102 may be colored black.

[0080] When printing the first information 100A, the packaging material 31 is heated, causing a portion of the thermosensitive coloring layer 34 to develop a color, and when forming the colored region 102, the packaging material 31 is also heated, causing the thermosensitive coloring layer 34 to develop a color. When forming the colored region 102, the packaging material 31 may be heated to a higher temperature than when printing the first information 100A. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, if the first information 100A is printed with low visibility and the second information 100B is printed with high visibility, the packaging material 31 may be heated to the same temperature when forming the colored region 102 as when printing the second information 100B. This allows the thermosensitive coloring layer 34 to develop a color, thereby reliably rendering the printed first information 100A invisible.

[0081] The process of making first information 100A invisible may be performed by a pharmacy employee such as a pharmacist, for example, after the medication has been packaged at the pharmacy and before sachet 19 is handed over to a patient who will take the medication. In this case, first information 100A may be information that is desired to be displayed at the pharmacy but is unnecessary for the patient. Alternatively, the process of making first information 100A invisible may be performed by a patient or a caregiver for the patient. The process of making first information 100A invisible may be performed on sachet 19 that has been dispensed at the pharmacy and handed over to the patient, or on empty sachet 19 after the patient has finished taking the medication.

[0082] As in the first embodiment, the first information 100A and the second information 100B do not necessarily have to be printed on the sachet 19 in which the medicine is packaged.

[0083] As described above, the method for manufacturing a packaging bag according to the second embodiment involves steps S1 to S3 for forming a packaging bag that contains an object to be packaged and has information about the object printed thereon, as well as step S5 for making the printed information invisible, as shown in Fig. 7. As shown in Figs. 8 and 9, by including information in first information 100A that should not be seen by anyone other than authorized personnel, and making first information 100A invisible with colored region 102, it is possible to improve the protection of the information. For example, it becomes possible to dispose of the packaging bag without worrying about first information 100A being seen by anyone other than authorized personnel, thereby improving the ease of handling the packaging bag.

[0084] 7 and 8, steps S1 to S3 for forming a packaging bag may include step S1 for printing first information 100A by heating a packaging material 31 having a thermosensitive coloring layer 34 to color a portion of the thermosensitive coloring layer 34. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, step S5 for making the printed information invisible may include heating an area 101 on the packaging material 31 where the first information 100A is printed to color the thermosensitive coloring layer 34 in that area 101, thereby forming a colored area 102. In this way, the first information 100A can be easily printed by heating the thermosensitive coloring layer 34 to color it, and the first information 100A can be easily made invisible by heating the thermosensitive coloring layer 34 again.

[0085] When an ink ribbon is used to print information on packaging bags, the information remains on the ink ribbon after printing, so the ink ribbon must be treated to make the information invisible after use and then disposed of, which is time-consuming. By using packaging material 31 with a thermosensitive coloring layer 34 and printing information directly on packaging material 31 without using an ink ribbon, there is no need to dispose of the ink ribbon. In addition, because there is no need to secure space in printing unit 4 to hold the ink ribbon, printing unit 4 can be made smaller, and the entire packaging device 1 can also be made smaller.

[0086] 8 and 9, in the step of coloring the thermosensitive coloring layer 34 in the area 101 where the first information 100A is printed, the packaging material 31 may be heated to a temperature higher than that in the step of printing the first information 100A. In this way, the first information 100A can be reliably made invisible in the area 102 that has been colored in a color lower in brightness than the first information 100A.

[0087] A packaging material 31 used in the manufacturing method of a packaging bag according to the second embodiment is used to package medicines in a packaging device 1 (medicine packaging device) shown in FIG. 1, which packages medicines based on prescription data. As shown in FIG. 2, the packaging material 31 has a base material 32 and a thermosensitive coloring layer 34 laminated on the base material 32. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the packaging material 31 is configured so that first information 100A is printed by coloring a portion of the thermosensitive coloring layer 34, and the first information 100A is made invisible by coloring the thermosensitive coloring layer 34 in the area 101 where the first information 100A is printed. This packaging material 31 is particularly suitable for applications in which the first information 100A is printed by coloring a portion of the thermosensitive coloring layer 34, and the area 101 where the first information 100A is printed is heated to form an area 102 where the thermosensitive coloring layer 34 has colored, thereby making the first information 100A invisible.

[0088] In the second embodiment described above, an example was described in which the first information 100A is made invisible by applying heat to the region 101 of the packaging material 31 having the thermosensitive coloring layer 34 where the first information 100A is printed. The manner in which the first information 100A is made invisible is not limited to the coloring of the thermosensitive coloring layer 34. For example, the thermosensitive coloring layer 34 can be peeled off from the base material 32 by immersing the sachet 19 in a solvent or rubbing the surface of the sachet 19 with a melamine sponge, thereby making the first information 100A invisible. Alternatively, the first information 100A can be printed on the packaging material 31 using ink. In this case, the first information 100A can be made invisible by immersing the sachet 19 in water or a solvent to dissolve the ink.

[0089] In the embodiment, information 100 is printed on packaging material 31 by printing unit 4, which is arranged upstream of packaging unit 5 in the conveying direction DR of packaging material 31, and sachets 19 are formed using packaging material 31 with the printed information. Printing of information 100 on packaging material 31 may be performed after packaging drugs in sachets 19. Printing unit 4 may be arranged downstream of packaging unit 5, and information 100 may be printed on sachets 19 or blank packets. Information 100 may be printed on sachets 19 or blank packets outside of packaging device 1 of the embodiment. A printing device that prints information 100 on sachets 19 or blank packets may be provided as a device separate from packaging device 1. Printing of information 100 on sachets 19 or blank packets may be performed manually, or the printing may be stamp printing.

[0090] <Additional Notes> The above description includes the following additional features.

[0091] (Appendix 1) a packaging unit that packages an object to be packaged using packaging material; a printing unit that prints first information on the packaging material and prints second information on the packaging material in a manner that is more visible than the first information.

[0092] (Appendix 2) 2. The packaging device according to claim 1, wherein the printing unit prints the second information in a color that is less bright than the first information.

[0093] (Appendix 3) Further provided is a conveying unit that conveys the packaging material, The packaging device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the printing unit prints the first information and the second information at different positions in a conveying direction of the packaging material.

[0094] (Appendix 4) 4. The packaging device according to claim 1, wherein the second information includes information about the object to be packaged.

[0095] (Appendix 5) 5. The packaging device of claim 1, wherein the first information includes personal information.

[0096] (Appendix 6) The packaging material has a thermosensitive coloring layer, The packaging device of any one of Appendix 1 to Appendix 5, wherein the printing unit prints the first information and the second information by heating the packaging material and causing a portion of the thermosensitive coloring layer to color.

[0097] Although the embodiments have been described above, the embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative in all respects and should not be considered to be limiting. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, not by the above description, and is intended to include meanings equivalent to the claims and all modifications within the scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0098] 1 Packaging device, 2, 3 Packaging material roll, 4 Printing unit, 5 Packaging unit, 6 Drug supply unit, 7 Container formation unit, 8 Perforation formation unit, 9 Packaging material conveying unit, 19 Sachet bag, 21, 31 Packaging material, 22, 32 Base material, 23, 33 Sealing layer, 34 Thermosensitive coloring layer, 41 Thermal head, 42 Platen roller, 43 Head contact / separation motor, 71 Heating member, 72 Receiving member, 75 Pressure motor, 90 Overall control unit, 91 Packaging material conveying motor, 94 Printing control unit, 96 Operation unit, 97 Packaging control unit, 100 Information, 100A First information, 100B Second information, 101 Information printed area, 102 Colored area, 122 Container, 123 Longitudinal fusion unit, 124 Shortitudinal fusion unit, 126 Separation area, 960 Print setting screen, 961 print item selection section, 962 print layout setting section, 963 rectangular frame, 964 font selection section, 965 point selection section, 966 brightness selection section, DR transport direction.

Claims

1. a packaging unit that packages an object to be packaged using packaging material; a printing unit that prints first information on the packaging material and prints second information on the packaging material in a manner that is more visible than the first information.

2. The packaging device according to claim 1 , wherein the printing unit prints the second information in a color that is less bright than the first information.

3. Further provided is a conveying unit that conveys the packaging material, The packaging device according to claim 1 , wherein the printing unit prints the first information and the second information at different positions in a transport direction of the packaging material.

4. The packaging device according to claim 1 , wherein the second information includes information about the object to be packaged.

5. The packaging device of claim 1 , wherein the first information includes personal information.

6. The packaging material has a thermosensitive coloring layer, The packaging device according to claim 1 , wherein the printing unit prints the first information and the second information by heating the packaging material to cause a part of the thermosensitive coloring layer to develop color.

7. forming a packaging bag containing an object to be packaged and having information about the object to be packaged printed thereon; and making the information invisible.

8. the forming step includes a step of printing the information by heating a packaging material having a thermosensitive coloring layer to cause a part of the thermosensitive coloring layer to develop color, The manufacturing method according to claim 7 , wherein the step of making the information invisible includes a step of heating the area of ​​the packaging material where the information is printed to cause the thermosensitive coloring layer in the area to develop a color.

9. The manufacturing method according to claim 8 , wherein the packaging material is heated to a temperature higher in the color-developing step than in the printing step.

10. A packaging material used to package medicines in a medicine packaging device that packages medicines based on prescription data, comprising: A substrate; a thermosensitive color-developing layer laminated on the substrate, The packaging material is configured so that information is printed by causing a portion of the thermosensitive coloring layer to color, and the thermosensitive coloring layer changes color in the area where the information is printed, making the information invisible.

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