Overflow Panel Label System for Pharmaceutical Containers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional prescription labels face challenges in fitting SIG and Purpose information in 12-point font, especially for lengthy prescriptions, leading to the need for larger containers or multiple label configurations, which increases costs and complicates inventory management for pharmacies.
Innovation Solution
A labeling system that includes a first label panel for critical prescription information and a second label panel for continuation or warning information, with an optional third panel for additional warnings or advertisements, allowing a single rectangular label to be applied to containers of varying sizes, reducing the need for multiple labels and printers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single rectangular label is used for all container sizes, then label configuration complexity is reduced and inventory management is simplified, but the label may not fit on smaller containers with limited label space
Solution Approach 1:
The label is divided into multiple panels (first label panel, second label panel, third label panel) that can be selectively removed. This segmentation allows the label to be customized for different container sizes while maintaining a standard rectangular configuration, resolving the contradiction between label configuration simplicity and label space adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The label system incorporates perforated lines that enable dynamic removal of panels based on container size and information length requirements. This dynamic adaptability allows a single standard label configuration to serve multiple container sizes, maintaining both simplicity and flexibility.
2Illumination intensity
If 12-point font is used for SIG and Purpose information, then readability is improved, but lengthy prescriptions cannot fit on conventional labels
Solution Approach 1:
The label extends in the circumferential direction with multiple panels, effectively adding dimensional space. This allows 12-point font to be maintained for readability while accommodating lengthy prescriptions by distributing information across multiple panels that wrap around the container.
Solution Approach 2:
The label information is segmented across multiple panels (first, second, and third label panels), allowing lengthy prescriptions to be distributed across these panels while maintaining 12-point font size for optimal readability on each individual panel.
3Area of stationary object
If multiple label configurations are used for different container sizes, then label space requirements are met, but inventory management and printer settings become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
A single universal rectangular label configuration is designed to work with multiple container sizes (13 dram, 16 dram, 30 dram, and larger). The label's multi-panel structure with selective removal capability allows it to adapt to different container circumferences, eliminating the need for multiple specialized label configurations and simplifying inventory management.
4Loss of information
If larger containers are used to accommodate lengthy prescription information, then all information can fit on the label, but container size and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing container size, the label utilizes the circumferential dimension by extending across multiple panels that wrap around the container. This allows lengthy prescription information to be accommodated on standard-sized containers by distributing the information across the extended label surface area.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of producing a label for a prescription pharmaceutical storage container includes providing a label system having at least a first label panel, a second label panel, and a third label panel positioned on a single rectangular label. Indicia providing critical prescription information is printed on the first label panel. On the second panel, indicia providing one of a continuation of the prescription information and warning information is printed. The continuation of the prescription information is printed on the second label panel when a length of the prescription information is too long to fit on the first label panel and the warning information is printed on the second label panel when the length of the prescription information fits on the first label panel. The warning information is printed on the third label panel when prescription information is printed on the second label panel.