Laser Marking Blister Packaging Strip for Traceability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for marking pharmaceutical products in blister packaging, such as embossing and inkjet printing, suffer from inconsistent quality, high costs, non-indelibility, and increased production and cleaning times, with embossing changes being particularly time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a laser marking technique on the strip before filling, which is tamper-proof, cost-effective, and ensures high-quality, reproducible markings without ink consumption, allowing for quick format changes and improved product traceability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If embossing is used for marking, then marking is achieved, but format changeover takes tens of minutes reducing productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical embossing system with a laser marking system. The laser marking device uses optical energy to burn or vaporize material on the strip surface, eliminating the need for mechanical embossing tools that require manual reconfiguration for different formats. This substitution allows instant format changes through software programming while maintaining high marking quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the marking method from mechanical to optical/thermal parameters. By controlling laser parameters (power, pulse duration, scanning speed) through software, the system can adapt to different formats instantly without physical reconfiguration. This parameter-based control enables rapid format changes while maintaining consistent marking quality.
2Manufacturing precision
If inkjet printing is used for marking, then marking is achieved, but ink is expensive and causes machine leaks increasing cleaning time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the inkjet printing system with a laser marking system. Instead of depositing liquid ink that can leak and require cleaning, the laser directly modifies the strip surface through thermal action. This eliminates the consumable ink supply system and associated leakage problems, reducing both substance loss and cleaning requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent eliminates the expensive ink consumable by using a reusable laser source. The laser system has no consumable materials that need replacement or cleaning, converting a high-cost consumable process into a low-cost maintenance system that only requires periodic laser head replacement rather than continuous ink supply.
3Manufacturing precision
If inkjet marking is used, then marking is achieved, but marking is not indelible reducing product traceability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes phase transitions of the strip material through laser heating. The laser causes localized melting, vaporization, or charring of the strip surface material, creating a permanent physical modification. This phase change process ensures the marking is indelible and cannot be erased or altered, providing reliable permanent marking for product traceability.
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
Laser marking provides superior legibility and reproducibility, reduces production costs, eliminates ink leakage, and increases packaging speed by minimizing format changeover times, while maintaining product integrity and traceability.
Implementation Method 1
each casing (105) being equipped, in its upper part, with a laser (1051) for marking the strip (4)
Implementation Method 2
The marking is carried out by burning or vaporizing material at the position to be marked on the strip (4)
Data Source
Figure 1A~2B
Figure 2C~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a process for packaging products (5) in wells (2) in a plate (1) formed in a strip (4) and sealed by a cover film (6), comprising the following steps: a well-forming station (103) forms wells (2) in the travelling strip (4); a feeding system (107) fills each well (2) with a product (5) such as a pharmaceutical product in the form of a tablet or hard gelatin capsule; and a well-sealing station (109) seals the filled wells with the travelling cover film (6); the process being characterized in that it comprises, following well formation (2) but prior to each well being filled, the following steps: an incident laser beam marks the wells (2) on the strip (4); and the marked strip is cleaned. The invention also relates to a machine for implementing this process.