Unit Dose Support Card with Folded Flap for Floppy Sachet Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for managing unit dose pharmaceutical products face challenges in handling and storage due to the floppy nature of sachets, which complicates handling, storage, and information indication, and are not easily adaptable to various pack shapes and types.
Innovation Solution
A support card with a folded flap and main opening that encloses part of the pack's peripheral edge, allowing for easy handling and connection without direct fastening, and accommodating different pack shapes through adjustable openings, such as slots or holes, ensuring safety and simplicity in production and use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If unit dose drugs are packaged in floppy sachets and hung from pegs, then storage and management are achieved, but handling becomes difficult and storage efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is divided into a rigid card portion and a separate flap portion that can be folded and fastened. This segmentation allows the rigid card to provide structural support for easy handling while the flexible flap provides the sealing function, resolving the contradiction between handling ease and storage requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The support combines rigid card material with flexible flap material to create a composite structure. The rigid portion enables easy handling and storage on pegs, while the flexible flap provides the necessary sealing and opening functionality, thus resolving the contradiction between handling ease and storage system complexity.
2Loss of information
If information about specific drugs is printed on floppy sachets, then drug identification is achieved, but the operation becomes difficult and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure separates the information display function (on the rigid card) from the sealing function (on the flexible flap). This allows clear, stable printing of drug information on the rigid card portion that remains visible and readable, while the flap provides the mechanical sealing function, resolving the contradiction between information visibility and operational ease.
3Strength
If unit dose packs are directly fastened to support, then connection strength is improved, but handling simplicity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening function is extracted from the main support card and implemented through a separate removable flap. The pack is enclosed between the rigid card and the flexible flap, which can be fastened to provide strong connection when needed, yet the flap can be easily removed for simple handling and access, resolving the contradiction between connection strength and handling simplicity.
4Ease of manufacture
If a single card material is used for the support, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but adaptability to various pack shapes is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a single card material but varies the geometric parameters of openings (size, shape, position) and the folding configuration of the flap to adapt to different pack shapes. This maintains manufacturing simplicity and low cost while providing versatility through parameter variation rather than material variation.
5Reliability
If welding operations are used to create sachets, then sealing integrity is improved, but the process becomes complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a flexible flap made from thin film or plastic material that can be folded and fastened to create the seal. This flexible sealing mechanism provides reliable sealing integrity through the flap's material properties and folding geometry, eliminating the need for complex welding operations while maintaining sealing reliability.
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 5~7B
Figure 8A~9B
AI summary
A support for a unit dose, comprising a support card (11) having a flap (13) folded over and fastened to a main portion (12) thereof. A main opening (20) is made in the main portion (12), from which opening there protrudes a portion (16, 16') of a pack (14, 14') of a unit dose product (P, S). At least part of a peripheral edge (17) of the pack is enclosed between the flap (13) and the main portion (12) of the support card (11). An opening (22) or notch or pre-cut is made in the flap (13), to allow the unit dose product to be removed from its pack.