Blister Packaging Optical Detection for Data Accuracy
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing blister machines struggle to accurately and efficiently label blister bags with medication data, leading to a high production of defective bags due to errors in data application, which cannot be corrected in time to prevent large-scale faulty production.
Innovation Solution
A device with storage and dispensing stations, a labeling or printing station, an optical detection device, and an evaluation device that applies data to blister bags and checks for accuracy, stopping the machine if systematic errors are detected to prevent defective bag production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If data is applied to packaging material before blistering at high speed, then productivity is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to undetected errors
Solution Approach 1:
The labeling or printing station applies data to the packaging material before the actual blistering process begins. This preliminary action allows the high-speed production line to maintain its speed while the data application occurs in advance, preventing bottlenecks. The error detection device then monitors this preliminary data application to ensure precision is maintained despite the high-speed operation.
Solution Approach 2:
An error detection device is implemented to monitor the data application process in real-time. When errors such as blurred, illegible, misaligned, or partially applied data are detected, the system provides feedback that triggers a stop signal to the control device. This feedback mechanism ensures that manufacturing precision is maintained by immediately halting production when defects occur, preventing large numbers of faulty blister bags from being produced.
2Manufacturing precision
If error detection is implemented after blistering, then manufacturing precision is improved, but loss of time increases due to delayed error detection
Solution Approach 1:
The error detection device is positioned to monitor data application before the blistering process completes. By detecting errors in advance during the data application phase rather than after blistering is complete, the system minimizes the time loss associated with error detection and correction, allowing for immediate intervention while the production line is still running.
Solution Approach 2:
The error detection device provides real-time feedback during the data application phase. When an error is detected, the system immediately signals the control device to stop the production line, preventing further defective blister bags from being produced. This immediate feedback loop eliminates delays associated with post-blistering inspection and ensures rapid correction of errors.
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
Reduces the number of defective blister bags by detecting and correcting errors in real-time, ensuring accurate data application and maintaining production quality.
Implementation Method 1
an optical detection device coupled to the control device, which optically detects the data of the individual blister bags of the line applied by the labeling or printing station
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a device for packaging individual drug portions in blister packs. With known devices, the number of defective blister packs is still too high. The device according to the invention comprises a plurality of storage and dispensing stations (2), at least one guiding and collecting arrangement (7, 17) for receiving and transferring the drug portions to a packaging station (3), which forms a strand (50) of connected blister packs (51) from packaging material (34), a labeling or...Printing station (40) for applying data (52) to the packaging material (34), an optical detection device (40) which optically detects characteristics of the individual blister bags of the strand, an evaluation device (90) which compares the characteristics detected for an individual blister bag with target characteristics, and a storage station (60) in which the strand (50) of blister bags (51) is stored in an orderly manner, wherein the optical detection device (40) is arranged between the packaging station (3) and the storage station (60).