Blister Pack Sealing Roller Feed Using Empty Cups to Prevent Deformation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing blister pack manufacturing processes face issues with deformation or damage to blister cups due to excessive feed force, especially at high speeds, compromising product protection and packaging integrity.

Innovation Solution

A method using a feed roller and sealing roller with dedicated recesses for primary and secondary blister cups, where secondary cups transmit feed force while primary cups are protected, ensuring precise guidance and high-quality sealing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If feed force is increased to achieve high feed speeds, then productivity is improved, but deformation or damage to blister cups occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefeed speedVSAvoidblister cup deformation
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The feed roller is segmented into different functional zones: a first region with first recesses that receive and protect filled blister cups from feed force, and a second region with second recesses that receive empty blister cups and apply feed force to them. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high feed speeds while protecting the filled cups from deformation or damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If mechanical interaction between feed roller recesses and blister cups is increased to ensure reliable feeding, then ease of operation is improved, but deformation or damage to filled blister cups occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliable feedingVSAvoidblister cup integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Different regions of the feed roller are designed with different local qualities: the first region has first recesses with characteristics suitable for protecting filled cups (minimal mechanical interaction), while the second region has second recesses with characteristics optimized for applying feed force to empty cups. This local differentiation ensures reliable feeding of the film strip while protecting the filled blister cups from damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables high-throughput production of blister packs with enhanced quality and safety by minimizing deformation and damage to product-filled cups, while optimizing feed force transmission and positioning.

Implementation Method 1

side walls defining the second recesses contact the second blister cups of the blister film strip and exert a feed force on them, while side walls defining the first recesses exert substantially no or no feed force on the first blister cups

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 2

sealing the top film onto the upper side of the blister film strip by means of the sealing roller, wherein the feed roller supports the blister film strip in a sealing direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentEP4671142A1Method for producing blister packages
Publication Date: 2025.12.31 UHLMANN PAC SYST
  • EP4671142A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4671142A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4671142A1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The method for producing blister packs (10) with a sealing device (20) comprising a feed roller (19) and a sealing roller (17) interacting with the feed roller (19) includes providing a filled blister film strip (21) comprising first blister cups (23) and second blister cups (25), wherein the first blister cups (23) are filled with products (22) and the second blister cups (25) are empty. The blister film strip (21) is then inserted into a sealing gap (18) between the feed roller (19) and the sealing roller (17), as is a cover film (13). The first blister cups (23) are received in first recesses (27) of the feed roller (19), the second blister cups (25) are received in second recesses (29) of the feed roller (19), and the blister film strip (21) is conveyed by rotary driving of the feed roller (19).In this process, side walls (50b) that define the second recesses (29) contact the second blister cups (25) of the blister film strip (21) and exert a feed force on them, while side walls (50a) that define the first recesses (27) exert essentially no feed force on the first blister cups (23). The top film (13) is sealed to the top of the blister film strip (21) by means of the sealing roller (17).