Blister Sealing Device with Elastic and Insulating Intermediate Elements
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sealing devices struggle to uniformly and reliably seal cover materials of varying thickness onto blister strips or hoods due to thickness fluctuations, which can lead to inconsistent sealing seams and compromised sterility in pharmaceutical packaging.
Innovation Solution
A sealing device comprising a heated first sealing tool with an elastic silicone intermediate element and a heat-insulating second sealing tool with a polyurethane intermediate element, which work together to maintain consistent pressure and heat distribution, compensating for thickness differences and preventing heat dissipation, ensuring a uniform and strong seal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cover material with extreme thickness variations (up to 300% variation) is used to achieve gas permeability and liquid impermeability for sterilization, then sterility and gas permeability are improved, but uniform sealing becomes impossible with conventional sealing devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by using an elastic intermediate element that changes its physical state (deforms) in response to pressure variations. This elastic deformation allows the sealing tool to adapt to the extreme thickness variations (up to 300%) of the cover material, maintaining consistent sealing pressure and temperature across the entire sealing surface despite the material's variable thickness, thereby achieving uniform seals on sterility-critical packaging
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an elastic intermediate element as a mediator between the rigid sealing tool and the variable-thickness cover material. This intermediate layer compensates for thickness fluctuations by deforming elastically, ensuring that sealing force and heat are uniformly distributed across the sealing surface, thus enabling reliable sealing of gas-permeable, liquid-impermeable materials like Tyvek
2Device complexity
If conventional sealing tools are used on materials with varying thickness, then device simplicity is maintained, but sealing seam uniformity and bond strength become inconsistent
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing tool's intermediate element changes its physical parameters (deforms elastically) in response to the varying thickness of the cover material. This allows the tool to maintain consistent sealing pressure and temperature distribution across the sealing surface without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms, achieving uniform sealing seams while keeping the overall device structure relatively simple
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a flexible elastic intermediate element that can deform to conform to the varying thickness profile of the cover material. This flexible component acts as a compliant interface between the rigid sealing tool and the variable-thickness material, ensuring uniform contact and heat transfer across the sealing surface without requiring complex mechanical adjustments
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
The solution achieves a consistently wide and strong sealing seam with uniform adhesion, maintaining sterility by compensating for thickness variations and ensuring a high, even sealing temperature, thus addressing the challenges of sealing materials like Tyvek with extreme thickness fluctuations.
Implementation Method 1
a first intermediate element (14) made of an elastic material, attached to the first sealing tool (8)
Implementation Method 2
a second intermediate element (15) made of a heat-insulating or poorly thermally conductive material different from that of the first intermediate element (14)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
The sealing device for sealing a cover material (2) onto sealing areas of a blister sheet (5) or a blister cap (4) comprises a first, heated sealing tool (8) and a second sealing tool (10) which has at least one recess (12) for receiving at least one cup (6) of the blister sheet (5) or a blister cap (4). The first sealing tool (8) and the second sealing tool (10) are arranged opposite each other and are movable relative to each other. A first intermediate element (14) made of elastic material is attached to the first sealing tool (8) on the side facing the second sealing tool (10), while a second intermediate element (15) made of heat-insulating material, which is different from the material of the first intermediate element (14), is attached to the second sealing tool (10) on the side facing the first sealing tool (8).The first sealing tool (8) with the first intermediate element (14) and the second sealing tool (10) with the second intermediate element (15) are movable relative to each other between an open position and a closed sealing position, in which at least sections of the first intermediate element (14) and the second intermediate element (15) exert pressure on each other.