Tube Blister Packaging Inspection Buffer for Dosing Accuracy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing tube blister packaging systems face inefficiencies due to the need for entire packages to be re-produced or repaired when defects are detected, such as missing, incorrect, or defective medication doses, leading to significant effort and expenditure.

Innovation Solution

A medication packaging apparatus with an inspection buffer apparatus that temporarily stores medication doses and uses sensors to verify their correctness before filling, preventing defective doses from being filled into blister packages and allowing for immediate correction or discard of errors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional tube blister packaging systems are used without inspection buffer, then the packaging process is simpler and faster, but entire packages must be re-produced or repaired when defects are detected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedosing correctnessVSAvoidpackaging system structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The inspection buffer apparatus performs preliminary inspection of medication doses before they are filled into blister pockets. The sensor apparatus detects dosing correctness in advance, allowing defective doses to be identified and corrected before packaging completion, thus preventing entire package re-production while adding controlled complexity through the buffer mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If inspection buffer apparatus is added to inspect medication doses, then dosing correctness is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedosing accuracyVSAvoidpackaging apparatus structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The packaging system is segmented into distinct functional modules: medication supply, dispensing, collection, inspection buffer with sensor apparatus, and blister packaging. This segmentation allows the inspection buffer to be added as a separate functional unit that improves dosing accuracy without fundamentally redesigning the entire packaging apparatus

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The inspection buffer apparatus acts as an intermediary between the collection apparatus and the blister packaging apparatus. It temporarily stores medication doses and performs inspection, serving as a mediator that ensures dosing correctness before doses are committed to the final package, thereby improving precision with controlled added complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of substance

If medication doses are inspected before filling, then waste and re-production costs are reduced, but inspection time is added to the process

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemedication wasteVSAvoidinspection time

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Inspection is performed preliminarily while medication doses are in the buffer before filling, allowing defective doses to be identified early. This prevents waste of entire packages and enables targeted correction of only defective doses, reducing medication waste while the inspection time is integrated into the existing process flow

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables selective discarding of only those medication doses that fail inspection, rather than discarding entire packages. The inspection buffer holds doses temporarily, allowing defective ones to be identified and discarded individually while recovering and forwarding only the correct doses to packaging, thus minimizing waste with efficient time utilization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

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

This solution reduces the need for re-production or repair of tube blister packages by ensuring correct dosing before packaging, thereby minimizing waste and production costs while maintaining package integrity.

Implementation Method 1

a sensor apparatus configured to detect at least one of an image and predetermined properties of the temporarily stored group of medication doses

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectImage detection: Photography

Data Source

PatentUS10086965B2Tube blister packaging apparatus and method

Publication Date: 2018.10.02 CAREFUSION GERMANY 326

AI summary

An apparatus for the production of tube blister packages includes dispensing stations and a collection apparatus for providing medication doses to a blister packaging apparatus. The blister packaging apparatus fills the received medication doses, by groups, into pockets of a tube blister package. An inspection buffer apparatus disposed between the collection apparatus and the blister packaging apparatus includes a buffer apparatus for temporarily storing at least one group of medication doses intended for being filled into a pocket, a sensor apparatus for detecting an image and/or predetermined properties of the temporarily stored group of medication doses, and an evaluation and control device. The evaluation and control device determines whether the temporarily stored group of medication doses corresponds to a group of medication doses to be filled in, and if so, passes the temporarily stored group on to the blister packaging apparatus.