Method and packaging apparatus for packaging individual medicaments in pouches

Abstract

In a method for packaging individual medications into pouches in a packaging machine configured to form and fill pouches in an elongated web, the method includes the steps of transporting the elongated web along a web trajectory; printing information on the elongated web at locations of the printed information on the elongated web regarding the individual medications to be supplied to the elongated web; supplying the individual medications to the elongated web at locations of the associated printed information on the elongated web; inspecting the elongated web to identify whether there are any defects related to the elongated web; printing a defect indication or defect symbol on the elongated web in response to a defect being detected; and forming an empty pouch at the location of the defect indication or defect symbol.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method and a packaging device for packaging individual drugs in pouches. Such a packaging device is typically used to package a large number of pouches containing a small number of types of individual drugs, each of which is to be administered to a patient at a time.

Background Art

[0002] The filled pouches form long strings connected to each other. State-of-the-art packaging devices are very reliable in producing a large number of pouches at high speed, and in practice, a single human operator can process a number of orders, each containing one or more interconnected pouches separated from a long string.

[0003] A disadvantage of known packaging devices is that when an error is detected by the packaging device that can affect the quality of the pouches or the pharmaceutical contents, it is necessary to warn the operator to start an intervention. During the intervention, it is necessary to trace the defective pouch and discard it, which requires a great deal of labor. If a small order is sandwiched between large orders, there is a risk that a human operator will overlook it and this small order will remain incorrectly connected to the large order.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide a method and a packaging device for packaging individual drugs in pouches that can effectively and efficiently perform human intervention.

[0005] Alternatively, an object of the present invention is to provide a method and a packaging device that facilitate the handling of both small and large orders by humans.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The present invention provides a method for packaging individual pharmaceuticals into pouches in a packaging apparatus configured to form pouches in a long web and fill them therewith. The method comprises: transporting the long web along a web track; printing information regarding individual pharmaceuticals supplied to the long web at positions of the printed information on the long web; supplying individual pharmaceuticals to the long web at positions of the associated printed information on the long web; inspecting the long web to identify whether there are defects in the long web; in response to a detected defect, printing a defect indication or defect symbol on the long web and forming empty pouches at positions of the defect indication or defect symbol; and including.

[0007] By the method of the present invention, when a long web to be subsequently handled by an operator is formed, the operator can immediately know from the defect indication or defect symbol on the empty pouch that there is a defective pouch. The operator can immediately trace to the defective pouch, for example, by counting in ascending order from the result display or defect symbol, and discard it.

[0008] In an embodiment, the defect is a defective pouch, and the step of printing a defect indication or defect symbol on the long web is performed upstream of the detected defective pouch.

[0009] In an embodiment, the step of transporting the long web along a web track is performed by a web drive.

[0010] In an embodiment, the step of printing information on the long web is performed by a printer at a printing station.

[0011] In one embodiment, the packaging apparatus includes a transport monitor device, preferably including an encoder, for monitoring the transport of a long web along a web track for the step of inspecting the long web to identify whether there are defects regarding the alignment of the long web.

[0012] In one embodiment, the packaging apparatus includes an inspection station along the web track for the step of inspecting the long web to identify whether there are defects regarding the long web.

[0013] In one embodiment, the inspection station includes one or more of an inspection camera, an inspection sensor, an inspection light sensor, an inspection laser light sensor, or an ultrasonic inspection sensor, and the step of inspecting includes inspecting the long web by the inspection camera, inspection sensor, inspection light sensor, inspection laser light sensor, or ultrasonic light sensor.

[0014] In one embodiment, the method further includes the step of applying heat sealing to the long web to enclose a drug supplied to the long web.

[0015] In one embodiment, the step of inspecting the long web to identify whether there are defects regarding the long web includes detecting defects in heat sealing.

[0016] In one embodiment, the method further includes the step of forming a separation perforation between the pouches formed in the long web, and the step of inspecting the long web to identify whether there are defects regarding the long web includes detecting defective separation perforations.

[0017] In one embodiment, the method further includes the step of forming a tear notch, and the step of inspecting the long web to identify whether there are defects regarding the long web includes detecting defective tear notches.

[0018] In one embodiment, the elongated web includes a foil that forms a front surface and a rear surface between which a drug is received.

[0019] In one embodiment thereof, the foil is folded back such that the front surface continues to the rear surface via a fold that forms the lower edge of the elongated web.

[0020] In one embodiment, the foil includes a printable plastic.

[0021] In one embodiment, the step of printing a defect indication or a defect symbol on the elongated web includes printing the defect indication or the defect symbol on the elongated web upstream of the defect.

[0022] The present invention further provides a computer program product having a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause a packaging apparatus to execute the method according to the present invention.

[0023] The present invention further provides a packaging apparatus for packaging individual drugs into pouches, the packaging apparatus comprising: a web drive for transporting an elongated web in a transport direction on a web track; a printing station for printing information on the elongated web, the information being related to an individual drug supplied to the elongated web at a position of the printed information on the elongated web; a filling station configured to supply an individual drug into a pouch formed on the elongated web of the elongated web; an inspection station for detecting a defect in the elongated web; a controller that, in response to a defect in the elongated web being detected, instructs the printing station to print a defect indication on the elongated web; and including.

[0024] In one embodiment, the defect is one or more of a misalignment of a long web related to one of a defective pouch, a defective seal, a defective separation perforation, a defective tear notch, and a station.

[0025] In one embodiment, the inspection station includes one or more of an inspection camera, an inspection sensor, an inspection light sensor, an inspection laser light sensor, or an ultrasonic inspection sensor.

[0026] In one embodiment, the packaging apparatus further includes a perforation station along the web path for applying one or more separation perforations and / or tear lines to the long web.

[0027] In one embodiment, the packaging apparatus further includes a seal station for sealing the pouches of the long web.

[0028] A second aspect provides a method of packaging individual pharmaceuticals in pouches in a packaging apparatus, the packaging apparatus being configured to form pouches in a long web and fill them with pharmaceuticals, the packaging apparatus including a web drive for transporting the long web in a transport direction on a web path and including a printing station and a filling station in the transport direction along the web path, the printing station including a printer for printing information on the long web, the filling station being configured to supply individual pharmaceuticals to the long web, the method including: transporting the long web in a transport direction along the web path by the web drive such that the long web passes through the printing station and the filling station; printing information on the long web by the printer, the printed information on the long web relating to the individual pharmaceuticals to be subsequently supplied to the long web at the location of the printed information on the long web; Supplying individual drugs at a filling station to a long web at the position of related printed information; including For an order of a first quantity of pouches to be filled with individual drugs that is less than the minimum order size and for which the minimum order size of the pouch is set, information regarding the individual drugs to be subsequently supplied to the long web at the position of the printed information on the long web is printed on the pouches to be filled, and then a second quantity of empty pouches of the long web follows, the sum of the first quantity and the second quantity being equal to the minimum order size.

[0029] In the method according to the invention, orders less than the minimum order size can be easily identified by the second quantity of empty pouches.

[0030] In one embodiment, the printer prints information regarding the empty state of the empty pouches on the empty pouches.

[0031] The invention further provides a computer program product having a non - transitory computer - readable medium on which instructions are stored that, when executed by a processor, cause a packaging device to execute the method according to the second aspect.

[0032] The invention further provides a packaging device for packaging individual drugs into pouches, the packaging device being configured to form pouches in a long web, fill them therewith, and receive the drugs. The packaging device includes a web drive for transporting the long web on a web track in a transport direction, and includes a printing station and a filling station along the web track in the transport direction. The printing station includes a printer for printing information on the long web, and the filling station is configured to supply individual drugs to the long web. The packaging device further includes an electronic controller for controlling the packaging device, the electronic controller including a processor and a non - transitory computer - readable medium that holds instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the packaging device to package individual drugs into pouches according to the steps of the method according to the invention.

[0033] The various aspects and features described and shown in this specification can be applied individually as far as possible. These individual aspects, particularly those described in the dependent claims of the appended claims, can form the subject matter of a divisional patent application.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0034]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3A

Figure 3B

Figure 4A

Figure 4B

Figure 4C

Figure 5

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0035] Figure 1 shows a feeder device 1 and a packaging device 20 for individual medicaments 10. The individual medicaments can be pharmaceuticals or solid items, shaped articles, or medical substances, such as pills, tablets, capsules or others. The medicaments are "individual" in the sense that they can be discharged one by one, individually, separately, or as a pack. Each of the individual medicaments 10 typically contains an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and optionally an excipient. The individual medicaments can be counted and administered individually to a patient. The system relates to and discusses the medicaments, but the system and method can also be applied to other consumables (edible or non-edible) that are individually packaged.

[0036] The supply device 1 includes a frame 2 and a support disk 3 that supports a plurality of radially extending rows 5 that each have a plurality of feeder units 6 and extend horizontally. The supply device 1 includes a long recovery hopper 7 below the support disk 3, which is connected via a radially extending arm 9 that is rotated about a vertical axis by a position control motor 4, such as a servo drive, on the frame 2. Each of the feeder units 6 can be loaded with a batch of different individual medicaments. The feeder units 6 are configured to discharge the individual medicaments, which are collected by a recovery hopper 7 that is rotated by the position control motor 4 below the discharging feeder units 6. In this way, a selected number of individual medicaments 10 are counted and grouped together to be administered to a patient at one time. The recovery hopper 7 merges with a hopper outlet 8, and the selected individual medicaments 10 are supplied to the packaging device 20, and each of the grouped selected individual medicaments 10 is packaged within a pouch 150. The recovery hopper 7 includes a hopper discharge valve (not shown) with an actuator for the controlled discharge of the grouped selected individual medicaments 10 at the hopper outlet 8.

[0037] The packaging device 20 is shown in more detail in FIG. 2. The packaging device 20 is configured to form and fill pouches 150 in a long web 100. The packaging device 20 includes a web drive 23 for intermittently transporting the long web 100 in the transport direction T in the web track 22 of the packaging device 20 within the packaging device 20. The long web 100 is typically unwound from a stock reel 119. The long web 100 is also shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B.

[0038] The long web 100 includes a printable plastic foil 101, which is folded over, whereby the long web 100 includes a front side 102, which continues via a fold that forms a lower edge 103 to a rear side 104. Both the front side 102 and the rear side 103 have an upper edge 105 at the same height with respect to the lower edge 103.

[0039] FIGS. 3A and 3B show the long web 100 in its completed state, which is at the end of the web track 22 of FIG. 2. During transport in the transport direction T within the packaging device 20 shown in FIG. 2, the long web 100 is subsequently provided with heat seals 110. As best shown in FIG. 3B, the heat seals 110 include a long front heat seal 111, a long rear heat seal 112, and a long upper heat seal 113 between the front side 102 and the rear side 103. The front heat seal 111 and the long rear heat seal 112 extend parallel to each other in a direction across the lower edge 103, and the upper heat seal 113 extends between them, parallel to and spaced from the upper edge 105.

[0040] During transportation within the packaging device 20, a linear separation perforation 120 is provided in the elongate web 100 for subsequent heat sealing 110. The separation perforation 120 extends from the lower edge 103 over more than half the distance between the lower edge 105 and the upper edge 105. In this example, the separation perforation 120 extends over more than 70% of the distance between the lower edge 105 and the upper edge 105, but in other systems it can be varied according to the size, type, etc. of the foil used. Thereby a foil seam 121 is formed between the separation perforation 120 and the upper edge 105.

[0041] During transportation within the packaging device 20, the elongate web 100 is provided with subsequent tear notches 122 starting from and extending across the separation perforation 120. The tear notches 122 extend at a height close to but below the upper heat seal 113 with respect to the lower edge 103.

[0042] The elongate web 100 defines a printable area 117 within the heat seal 110 on the front face 102. Behind the printable area 117, the elongate web 100 forms a sealed bag between the lower edge 103 and the heat seal 110 in which the individual agents 10 of its choice are accommodated and stored.

[0043] After transportation within the packaging device 20, the elongate web 100 can be manually separated by tearing the separation perforation 120 and then tearing the foil seam 121 to obtain the pouches 150 or a series of interconnected pouches 150. The separated pouches 150 can be manually opened by starting from the tear notches 122 and tearing the upper heat seal 113.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 2, the packaging apparatus 20 includes, in series, a printing station 30, a filling station 40, a sealing station 50, a perforating station 60, and an inspection station 70. The printing station 30 includes a printer 31 configured to print characters and symbols on a printable area 117 of a long web 100. The filling station 40 includes a spreader 41 below the hopper outlet 8, which is configured to spread the front surface 102 and the rear surface 103 of the long web 100 at the upper edge 105 so that the individual drugs 10 of its selection are received. The sealing station 50 includes two L-shaped heat seal stamps 51, which are symmetrically movable or driven in direction A across the long web 100 by a stamp drive 52 schematically shown, to form an upper heat seal 113 and a rear heat seal 112 of one pouch 150 and a front heat seal 111 of the next pouch 150. The perforating station 60 includes two perforating mechanisms, here shown as anvils 61, which are symmetrically movable or driven in direction B across the long web 100 by an anvil drive 62 schematically shown, to form a separation perforation 120 and a tear notch 122 between two pouches 150. The inspection station 70 includes an inspection camera 71 or an inspection sensor or an inspection (laser) light sensor or an ultrasonic inspection sensor, or other sensing / detecting devices for detecting defects in the long web 100. The defects are, for example, printing defects, errors or deficiencies in the heat seal 110, the separation perforation 120, or the tear notch 122, or a deviation of the long web 100 in the transport direction T.

[0045] The packaging device 20 includes a transport monitoring device, here an encoder 72 having a monitoring wheel that abuts against the elongate web 100, and monitors the transport of the elongate web 100 in the transport direction T. The transport monitoring device may be part of the inspection station 70 or another device. The encoder 72 can also be used as an additional or alternative inspection sensor for inspecting the elongate web 100 at points of misalignment or deviation of the position of the elongate web 100 with respect to the movement caused by the web drive 23.

[0046] As schematically shown in FIG. 1, the feeder device 1 and the packaging device 20 include a common electronic controller 80, which is connected to the feeder unit 6, the position control motor 4, the hopper discharge valve, the web drive 23, the printer 31, the stamper drive 52, the anvil drive 62, the inspection camera 71, and the encoder 72. The electronic controller 80 includes an electronic processor and a tangible non-transitory memory for storing instructions, program code, or software that, when executed by the processor, causes the controller 80 to control the operation of these components. In particular, the controller 80 is programmed to communicate with an electronic vision / inspection system and / or to form this with the inspection camera 71 (or other sensors such as the encoder 72) in order to detect defects in the formed pouch 150.

[0047] The electronic controller 80 is programmed to execute normal processing methods, defect detection methods, and retail order processing methods.

[0048] To execute the normal processing method schematically shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the electronic controller 80 controls the position control motor 4 of the feeder device 1 to repeatedly reach the collection hopper 8 under a specific feeder unit 6, controls them to discharge the individual drugs 10, and is programmed to discharge and collect the individual drugs 10 of a certain selection while counting them. The electronic controller 80 controls the web drive 23 to supply the long web 100 from the stock reel 119 in the packaging device 20 and is programmed to transport it in the transport direction T. The electronic controller 80 controls the printer 31 to repeatedly print dedicated information, such as the patient's name and details of the selection of the individual drugs 10 in the formed pouch 150, on the printable area 117 of the formed pouch 150. At the subsequent filling station 40, the selected individual drug 10 is supplied between the expanded front surface 102 and rear surface 103, and the received selected individual drug matches the dedicated information on the printable area 117.

[0049] The electronic controller 80 is programmed to control the heat seal stamp 51 in the subsequent sealing station 50. During the previous cycle, the heat seal stamp 51 has already created the front heat seal 111. The electronic controller 80 is programmed to activate the heat seal stamp 51, bring it into contact with the elongate web 100 and move it in direction A and back again to complete the entire heat seal 110 and form the front heat seal 111 of the next selected individual medicament supplied by the hopper outlet 8. The electronic controller 80 is programmed to control the operation of the perforating anvil 61, bring it into contact with the elongate web 100 and move it in direction B and back again to form the separation perforation 120 and the tear notch 122 and define a pouch 150 on which dedicated information matching that of the selected individual medicament is displayed on the printable area 117. The electronic controller 80 is programmed to detect defects in the formed pouch 150 and, if none are present, continue the process of forming a long string of interconnected pouches 150. These can then be handled by either a human operator or any other machine or robot.

[0050] The electronic controller 80 is programmed to power the web drive 23 while the encoder 72 inspects, tests or monitors the transport of the elongate web 100 so that related errors, such as misalignment of the elongate web 100 with respect to the movement caused by the web drive 23, are detected.

[0051] The electronic controller 80 is programmed to respond to errors from other devices or modules of the feeder device 1, such as the feeder unit 6, the position control motor 4 and the collection hopper 7, such as errors emanating from the hopper discharge valve.

[0052] To execute the defect detection method shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C, the electronic controller 80 is programmed to detect defects in the pouches 150a to 150k formed by any other applied detection / detection device such as an inspection camera 71 or an inspection sensor, or an inspection (laser) optical sensor, or an inspection laser optical sensor, or an ultrasonic inspection sensor, or an encoder 72, etc.

[0053] As shown in FIG. 4A, in the first pouch 150a, defects such as printing defects in the printable area 117, errors or defects in the heat sealing 110, errors or defects in one of the separation perforations 120 on both sides where the first pouch 150a is formed, and / or errors or defects in the tear notch 122, and / or misalignment or deviation of the position of the long web 100 regarding the movement caused by the web drive 23 are detected. This may be due to, for example, the operator accidentally pulling the end of the long web 100, thereby causing the printable area 117 not to be aligned with the filling station 40. The electronic controller 80 is programmed to control the printer 31 to print a defect symbol 180j in the printable area 117 of the upstream pouch 150j to be formed, in this case the ninth pouch 150j. The electronic controller 80 is programmed to temporarily stop the supply of several selected individual drugs by the supply device 1 so that the ninth pouch 150j remains empty. Thereafter, a human operator handling the string of interconnected pouches 150 is visually warned that human intervention is required, particularly that the defective first pouch 150a should be discarded. In some embodiments, if the pouch is subsequently handled by a robot, such a defect symbol 180j will also warn the machine or robot performing the subsequent handling to discard such a pouch.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 4B, the normal processing method is continued, or as shown in FIG. 4C, if a defect is detected regarding the defect detection and error symbol printing for the second pouch 150b, it is continued for the third pouch 150c.

[0055] Error information can be stored in the memory of the controller 80 and / or presented to a human or robotic operator to indicate which pouches 150 are affected. The operator can be notified, for example, of the number of pouches 150b-150h between the ninth pouch 150j and the defective first pouch 150a and / or the number of affected pouches 150a-150c.

[0056] To execute a retail order processing method as shown in FIG. 5, the electronic controller 80 is programmed to temporarily stop printing by the printer 71 and the supply of the drug by the feeder device 1 when the number of pouches 150 for one order is less than the set minimum order value. In the example of the figure, this minimum order value is five pouches 150. The electronic controller 80 is programmed to form a first order portion including only the first pouch 150a and the second pouch 150b, both of which contain the respective selected drugs 10 and have dedicated information matching displayed on the printable area 117, followed by the empty third pouch 150c, the empty fourth pouch 150d, and the empty fifth pouch 150e. The empty pouches 150c, 150d, 150e may not have printing performed thereon, or may be marked with an alternative mark to identify them as being empty or different from the filled pouches 150a, 150b. Thereafter, a second order portion including five or more pouches 150f-150k is formed.

[0057] The systems and methods according to aspects of the disclosed subject matter can also utilize various special-purpose computers and control systems, communication devices, networks, and / or digital / logic devices for operation. Each of them can itself be configured to utilize a suitable computing / controller device, which can be manufactured, loaded, and / or obtained from some storage device to have instructions for causing the computing / controller device to execute a method according to aspects of the gist of the present disclosure, and then executed.

[0058] The description relates to pharmaceuticals, tablets, etc., but the apparatus and method can also be used to eject individual items of other types of solids for separation and packaging.

[0059] It should be understood that the above description is included to explain the operation of the preferred embodiments and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. From the above description, various modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and these are also encompassed by the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0060] 1 Feeder device 2 Frame 3 Support disk 4 Position control motor 5 Radially extending row 6 Feeder unit 7 Recovery hopper 8 Hopper outlet 9 Arm 10 Individual pharmaceuticals 20 Packaging device 22 Web track 23 Web drive 30 Printing station 31 Printer 40 Filling station 41 Spreader 50 Sealing station 51 Seal stamp 52 Stamp drive 60 Punching station 61 Punching anvil 62 Anvil drive 70 Inspection station 71 Inspection camera 72 Encoder 80 Electronic controller 100 Long web 101 Foil 102 Front face 103 Lower edge 104 Rear face 105 Upper edge 110 Heat sealing 111 Front heat seal 112 Rear heat seal 113 Upper heat seal 117 Printing area 119 Stock reel 120 Separating perforation 121 Foil joint 122 Tear notch 150 Pouch 180 Defect symbol

Claims

1. A method of packaging individual medicaments in a pouch formed and filled in a packaging apparatus configured to form the pouch on a long web, the method comprising: transporting the long web along a web path; printing information regarding the individual medicaments supplied to the long web at positions of printed information on the long web; supplying the individual medicaments to the long web at positions of the associated printed information on the long web; inspecting the long web to identify whether there are defects in the long web; in response to detecting a defect, printing a defect indication or defect symbol on the long web and forming an empty pouch at the position of the defect indication or defect symbol; wherein the defect is a defective pouch, the step of printing the defect indication or defect symbol on the long web is performed upstream of the detected defective pouch; a method.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of transporting the long web along the web path is performed by a web drive.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of printing information on the long web is performed by a printer at a printing station.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the packaging apparatus includes a transport monitor device for monitoring the transport of the long web along the web path for the step of inspecting the long web to identify whether there are defects in the alignment of the long web.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the transport monitor device includes an encoder.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the packaging apparatus includes an inspection station along the web path for the step of inspecting the long web to identify whether there are defects in the long web.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the inspection station includes one or more of an inspection camera, an inspection sensor, an inspection light sensor, an inspection laser light sensor, or an ultrasonic inspection sensor, and the step of inspecting includes inspecting the long web by the inspection camera, inspection sensor, inspection light sensor, inspection laser light sensor, or ultrasonic light sensor.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of applying heat sealing to the long web to enclose the agent supplied to the long web.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the step of inspecting the long web to identify whether there are defects in the long web includes detecting defects in heat sealing.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a separating perforation between the pouches formed in the long web, and the step of inspecting the long web to identify whether there are defects in the long web includes detecting defective separating perforations.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of forming a tear notch, and the step of inspecting the long web to identify whether there are defects in the long web includes detecting defective tear notches.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the long web includes foils forming a front surface and a rear surface between which the agent is received.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the foil is folded back such that the front surface continues to the rear surface via a fold forming the lower edge of the long web.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the foil includes printable plastic.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of printing a defect indication or a defect symbol on the long web includes printing the defect indication or the defect symbol on the long web upstream of the defect.

16. A computer program product having a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause a packaging device to execute the method according to claim 1.

17. In a packaging device for packaging individual agents in pouches, a web drive for transporting a long web in a transport direction on a web track, a printing station for printing information on the long web, the information being about the individual agent supplied to the long web at the position of the printed information on the long web, a filling station configured to supply the individual agent into a pouch formed on the long web. An inspection station for detecting defects in the long web; A controller programmed to control the printing station in response to detection of a defect in the long web to print a defect indication in a printable area of the formed pouch, and to temporarily stop the supply of the drug by the filling station to form an empty pouch at the position of the defect indication; comprising; The defect is a defective pouch; Printing the defect indication on the long web is performed upstream of the detected defective pouch; Packaging device.

18. The packaging device according to claim 17, wherein the defect is one or more of a defective seal, a defective tear perforation, a defective tear notch, and a misalignment of the long web related to one of the printing station, the filling station, and the inspection station.

19. The packaging device according to claim 17, wherein the inspection station includes one or more of an inspection camera, an inspection sensor, an inspection optical sensor, an inspection laser optical sensor, an ultrasonic inspection sensor, or an encoder.

20. The packaging device according to claim 17, further comprising a perforation station along the web path for making one or more tear perforations and / or tear lines in the long web.

21. The packaging device according to claim 17, further comprising a sealing station for sealing the pouches in the long web.

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