Mirror Marking on Vial Foot Under Label
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for marking low-capacity single-dose vials, particularly those with small tabs for improved grip and labeling, face durability issues due to exposure to liquids, temperature variations, and mechanical friction, leading to potential erasure of critical information like batch numbers and expiry dates.
Innovation Solution
The method involves applying a mirror marking on the recto face of the vial's foot, which is then covered by a label, ensuring the marking remains protected and readable, using ink jet printing and materials resistant to degradation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a tab is added to the vial body to improve grip and enable labeling, then ease of operation and labeling capability are improved, but the marking on the tab becomes vulnerable to external attacks such as liquids, humidity, and mechanical friction
Solution Approach 1:
The marking is applied on the recto face before the label is affixed, so that the subsequent label application serves as a protective action that shields the marking from future exposure to harmful environmental factors
Solution Approach 2:
The label acts as an intermediary protective layer between the marking and the external environment, preventing direct contact with liquids, humidity, and mechanical friction while allowing the marking to remain readable through the label material
2Ease of operation
If the marking is placed on the tab for direct readability, then ease of reading is improved, but the marking is exposed to harmful factors leading to potential erasure
Solution Approach 1:
The marking is applied in advance on the recto face before the label is attached, ensuring that the marking position is predetermined and will be automatically protected by the label's presence
Solution Approach 2:
The mirror marking technique creates a readable copy of the information that can be viewed through the transparent or translucent label material, providing both readability and protection simultaneously
3Reliability
If the label is applied to cover the marking, then marking durability is improved, but the marking must be applied first which adds process complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The marking operation is performed as a preliminary step before label application, utilizing the same production line sequence without requiring additional equipment or complex process integration
Solution Approach 2:
The marking and labeling operations are combined into a single integrated process flow on the production line, where the label application step simultaneously serves both as a protective measure and as part of the normal packaging process
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
This approach ensures durable and readable information on the vial, even under conditions that would typically cause marking degradation, enhancing product integrity and security against counterfeiting.
Implementation Method 1
marking with ink by means of a print head
Implementation Method 2
affixing of said label
Data Source
Figure 1~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for marking a vial made from a material that is transparent or at least translucent, intended, in particular, for pharmaceutical and/or cosmetic use. The container comprises a foot (12), a body (14) and a head (16), said foot taking the form of a tongue having two faces, one of which receives a label (32). The container is characterized in that a mark (30) is made on the face of the foot (12) that receives the label, prior to the affixing of the label, and in that the label is affixed to the face once the mark has been made, such that the label covers the mark.