Integrated Container Marking at Low-Stress Body Locations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for identifying pharmaceutical containers, such as labels and printed codes, are prone to fading, peeling, and vanishing under extreme conditions, leading to potential health risks and increased costs due to incorrect identification and disposal issues.
Innovation Solution
A container with a marking element that is integrated into the body using techniques like laser ablation, ensuring durability and reliability by selecting locations based on finite element method simulations to minimize stress parameters, allowing for robust and flexible application across various container geometries and sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If labels are glued on the container surface, then identification can be provided, but the labels may peel off under extreme conditions and the process is slow and complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The marking element is integrated directly into the container body structure, merging the identification function with the container itself. This eliminates the separate label component and its adhesive bonding process, providing permanent identification that cannot peel off while simplifying manufacturing by removing the labeling step entirely.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical adhesive bonding system (labels glued with adhesive) is replaced by an integrated structural marking system. The marking element becomes part of the container body through forming processes, eliminating the need for adhesives and mechanical attachment, thereby improving reliability under extreme conditions.
2Reliability
If printed codes are used on the container, then identification can be provided, but the codes may vanish under extreme conditions and the printing process is slow
Solution Approach 1:
The identification marking is created during the container forming process itself, before the container is completed and sent to assembly. This preliminary action integrates marking into the primary manufacturing step, eliminating subsequent printing operations and improving productivity while ensuring the marking is inherent to the container structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The marking function is merged with the container forming process. The marking element is created as part of the container body during molding or forming operations, combining two manufacturing steps into one and eliminating the need for separate printing processes.
3Reliability
If laser ablation is used to grave the marking element, then durability and reliability are improved, but the container strength may be reduced at the marked location
Solution Approach 1:
The marking element is designed with local quality considerations, creating a shallow surface marking rather than deep ablation. This maintains the overall structural integrity of the container while providing durable identification. The marking depth and geometry are optimized to ensure durability without compromising container strength at the marked location.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of removing material through deep ablation, the marking is created as a surface copy or impression that provides durable identification without significantly affecting the structural material. This approach maintains container strength while achieving reliable, permanent marking.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the container geometry is complex, then various container types can be produced, but it becomes difficult to apply labels or printers for identification
Solution Approach 1:
The marking process is merged with the container forming process for complex geometries. Since the marking element is created during molding or forming, the complexity of the container geometry does not hinder the marking process. The marking adapts to any geometry automatically, maintaining ease of manufacture while providing versatility in container design.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated marking approach provides a universal solution that works for all container geometries. The marking element is created as part of the forming process, making it applicable to simple and complex geometries alike, thereby achieving universality across different container types without increasing manufacturing difficulty.
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 provides a durable and fail-safe identification method that withstands typical loads and environmental conditions, reducing disposal costs and ensuring accurate container identification, thus enhancing safety and efficiency in the pharmaceutical industry.
Implementation Method 1
use techniques for graving information such as a marking element directly in the surface of a container, for example by laser ablation techniques
Data Source
AI summary
A method for producing a container includes identifying a location at a body, with the body at this location having a stress parameter which has a value less than or equal to a threshold value. The identifying includes deriving the threshold value from a simulation result of a simulation based on a finite element method of the stress parameter for a surface area and/or a volume area of the body with or without a marking element present, the identifying also includes obtaining a mean value by the simulation for the stress parameter for at least a part of at least one of the surface area or the volume area of the body. The threshold value is a sum of the mean value and 1000 % or less of an absolute value of the mean value. A marking element is provided which allows identification of the container at the identified location.