Thermal Ring Seal for Pharmaceutical Application Packaging
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for producing application packaging for liquid pharmaceutical products, particularly those containing fipronil, face challenges with sealing and long-term stability due to variations in film thickness, leading to leakage and diffusion issues, especially when used on pets that exert pressure, and require specific compatible plastics that are difficult to thermoform and seal effectively.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a thermal ring seal using a plate-shaped sealing tool with a heated ring web for a materially bonded connection between the cover film and thermoforming film, combined with precise deep-drawing and calibration using forming dies to ensure dimensional accuracy of the application channel, and the use of interchangeable molds for different sizes, along with specific laminated films like polypropylene and acrylonitrile-methyl acrylate copolymer (AMAB) for enhanced sealing and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a thermal ring seal is used to connect the cover film to the thermoforming film, then sealing reliability is improved, but manufacturing precision is worsened due to film thickness variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the sealing parameters by using a heated ring web that creates a thermal ring seal. The heating element raises the temperature of the sealing area, allowing the films to bond despite thickness variations. This temperature parameter change enables reliable sealing of films with non-uniform thickness, resolving the contradiction between sealing reliability and manufacturing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The heated ring web acts as an intermediary element between the cover film and thermoforming film. Instead of directly pressing the films together, the heated ring web mediates the bonding process by providing thermal energy that facilitates material flow and adhesion. This intermediary approach compensates for thickness variations and ensures consistent sealing reliability.
2Reliability
If the application channel has a small cross-section to prevent leakage, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation is worsened due to difficulty in application
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-forming the application channel with a small cross-section during the thermoforming process. The channel is calibrated to precise dimensions before filling, ensuring that it maintains its shape and prevents leakage during storage and transport. This preliminary sizing enables reliable leakage prevention while the controlled filling process ensures proper operability when needed.
3Ease of manufacture
If the film is heavily plasticized for deep-drawing, then ease of manufacture is improved, but manufacturing precision is worsened due to thickness fluctuations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent carefully controls the thermal parameters during plasticization to achieve the right balance. By optimizing the temperature profile and heating duration, the film becomes sufficiently plasticized for deep-drawing while minimizing excessive thinning. This parameter optimization allows easy manufacturing through deep-drawing while maintaining acceptable thickness uniformity for subsequent sealing operations.
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 method achieves a tightly sealed and long-term stable application packaging that prevents leakage and diffusion, ensuring the active ingredient is retained and easily applied, even under pressure, with a high-quality appearance and dimensional accuracy, suitable for various pet sizes.
Implementation Method 1
a thermal ring seal is carried out by means of a plate-shaped sealing tool on the cover film in the connection area, but only a heated ring web that protrudes over a support plane of the sealing tool comes into direct contact with the cover film
Implementation Method 2
The heated ring bar leads to a high surface pressure at the point where it presses the cover foil and the thermoforming foil between itself and a counter plate. Since it is heated, there is a ring-shaped, materially bonded connection
Implementation Method 3
a deep-drawing film made of thermoplastics laminated to one another is first heated in order to plasticize the deep-drawing film at least in partial areas
Implementation Method 4
the plasticized deep-drawing film is shaped into deep-drawing molds designed as recesses in the mold, i.e. deep-drawn into them using a vacuum and/or blown air
Implementation Method 5
deep-drawn into them using a vacuum and/or blown air
Implementation Method 6
the plasticized deep-drawing film is shaped into deep-drawing molds designed as recesses in the mold, i.e. deep-drawn into them using a vacuum and/or blown air
Implementation Method 7
The heated ring bar leads to a high surface pressure at the point where it presses the cover foil and the thermoforming foil between itself and a counter plate
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing and filling an application package 1 for a liquid pharmaceutical product. A thermoformed film 3 made of laminated thermoplastic materials is heated to plasticize at least some of its regions 19. Plasticized regions of the thermoformed film 3 are thermoformed into a mold 12 to form a chamber 2 for the liquid pharmaceutical product and a cannula-like application channel 6 opening into this chamber 2. The chamber 2 and the application channel 6 are surrounded by a non-thermoformed, substantially flat connecting region 5 of the thermoformed film 3. The liquid pharmaceutical product is filled into the chamber 2 of the thermoformed film 3. The chamber 2 and the application channel 6 are sealed by covering the thermoformed and filled film 3 with a substantially flat cover film 4.The cover film 4 is attached to the connection area 5 of the thermoformed film 3, which surrounds the chamber 2 and the application channel 6. The cover film 4 is bonded to the connection area 5 of the thermoformed and filled thermoformed film 3 by means of a thermal ring seal 8.