MX2008009517A

MX2008009517A - Machine for handling blister packs.

Info

Publication number: MX2008009517A
Application number: MX2008009517A
Authority: MX
Inventors: Manuel Sanchez Maulini; Joan Oriols Gaja
Original assignee: Grifols Sa
Priority date: 2007-08-07
Filing date: 2008-07-24
Publication date: 2009-02-26
Also published as: CL2008002281A1; EP2025601A2; ES2372228T3; AR067552A1; ES2293855A1; ES2293855B1; PL2025601T3; DK2025601T3; BRPI0803080B1; EP2025601B1; ATE525293T1; PT2025601E; BRPI0803080A2; EP2025601A3

Abstract

Machine for handling blister packs, characterised in that it comprises a first blister pack storage station (1000) provided with an opening for feeding blister packs to a second blister pack transport station (2000) for transporting the blister packs to a third station (3000) for cutting the blister packs (100), and an opening (41) for transferring the cut blister packs to a delivery or packing station (4000).

Description

BLISTER HANDLING MACHINE DESCRIPTION The present invention refers to a blister handling machine, of special application in the hospital sector. The blister packs are clear plastic containers that contain a product like in an ampoule, allowing at the same time to present it and protect it from bumps during handling and transport operations. Blister packs are often used for small products, often constituting a distribution unit on their own. A metallic or cartonboard sheet serves as a support for the product and for sealing the ampoules containing one or more product units. The blister is a common form of packaging for pharmaceutical products in the form of capsules, pills or tablets, for example, wherein each blister of the blister contains a unit of medicament. The pharmacies of the hospitals receive, therefore, the medicine packaged. However, in a hospital, medications are issued at the correct dose to be taken by the patient. For this, it is necessary to carry out in the pharmacies the operation of "desblistado" which consists of taking of the blister, breaking the seal sheet, the medication units that are needed to place it in an intermediate container (glass, bottle) in which the patient or the medicines to be delivered are taken to the patient. Machines that carry out the desblistado operation are known, which were originally designed for the total or partial reuse of medicines by pharmaceutical companies, and were later adapted for use in pharmacies, such as hospital pharmacies. A problem associated with the outsourced is that, although it is easy to perform using the machines of known blunting, is that, during the transfer to the client in the hospital, the units of medication can be damaged, lost or stolen . Patent US 6318051 discloses a device for individually cutting pills packaged in blisters automatically. The device comprises multiple blister storage stations in a circular arrangement. As a consequence it takes up a lot of space. In addition, it is a little versatile machine. To give a solution to the problems indicated, the present invention proposes a blister cutting machine, the which are, once cut, transferred to a delivery area for its possible packaging or introduction in an intermediate container. In this way, the present invention provides a convenient and quick means to separate the dose required by a customer from the blister, allowing the transfer in safe conditions of the dose to the customer. For this, the present invention consists of a blister handling machine, which comprises a first blister storage station equipped with a blister feed mouth to a second blister transport station for transporting blisters to a third cutting station of blister packs, and a mouth for transferring the cut blisters to a delivery or packaging station. According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the cutting station has a blister cutter with rotational capability. This feature allows the machine to be able to cut blisters with different blister configurations. In addition, it allows storing different types of blister packs in the same blister feed mouth of the storage station.

According to the studies and tests carried out, the blister cutter is a mechanical type cutter, even more preferably a die cutter. The device has a control element for the rotation of the cutter, as well as a device for visual identification of blisters, said control element and said device being associated with each other through a control element. This feature allows the device to process a wide range of blister shapes and arrangements with a single die. The visual identification device may comprise video cameras located in the feeding area and in the transport station. In a preferred embodiment, the visual identification device comprises two cameras. A camera, located below the blister magazine and focused upwards, performs the search functions of a pattern in the image to verify that it is the correct product, check the orientation of the blister and store the photo. Another camera, located in a scanning area and focused downwards, performs the functions of identifying the horizontal orientation of the blister, storing the photo and detect if a tablet is missing or, optionally, if there is a defect in the blister. The control element of the rotation of the cutter starts from a digitized image and, using a specific software for it, transforms this image into data that mark the points X and Y and the necessary turns to create the cutting program. In a likewise preferred embodiment, the machine has a packaging area for the cut blister packs connected to the mouth for transfer of the aforementioned blisters, which more preferably comprises a reject mouth, a manual insertion mouth and a packaging area. Even more preferably, the packaging area will comprise a bagger. The blister feeding mouth may be fed from a feeder located parallel or superior to the mouth. For a better understanding of the invention, exemplary embodiments of the present invention and tests performed are attached as explanatory but not limiting examples. Figure 1 shows a general outline of a possible embodiment of a machine according to the present invention.

Figure 2 shows a control scheme applicable to a possible embodiment of a machine according to the present invention. Figure 3 shows a control-physical elements relationship scheme on which the user interface of a machine according to the present invention can be supported. Figure 4 shows an embodiment of the blister magazine area of possible embodiment of the machine object of the present invention. Figure 5 shows a diagram of the cutting device of an embodiment of the machine object of the present invention. Figures 6 and 7 are two diagrams showing the advantages of the possibility of rotation of the cutter of the device object of the present invention. Figure 8 is a perspective of the cutting area of an embodiment of the machine object of the present invention. Figure 9 is a perspective detail of that shown in Figure 8. Figure 10 is a side elevational view of the cutting area shown in Figures 8 and 9. Figure 11 is a bottom plan view of the area. of cut shown in figures 8 to 10.

Figure 1 shows a scheme of zones or stations of a possible embodiment of the blister cutting machine -100- object of the present invention. The machine shown comprises a first blister feed zone -1000-, an area comprising a blister buffer -1- from which the blisters drop by gravity to a conveyor belt -2-, through a feed mouth of the blister pack. blisters. In a possible alternative embodiment, the blisters are extracted by a clip associated with the blister transport system, without the need for gravity falling. The transfer station -2000- (for example a conveyor belt -2- or a cartesian table with a collet -21- associated) carries the blisters -100- discharged from the area -1000- of blister feeding to a third station- 3000- cutting of blisters -100-. The blister cutting station 3000 has a cutter 3 which, in the case shown, has a punch 31 that cuts the blisters, which fall through a mouth 41 to a fourth station. 4000- delivery or packaging of blister packs, according to the specific needs of the application.

In the schematic embodiment of FIG. 1, the fourth station -4000- is a packaging station -4- which has a waste outlet -42- and a packaging outlet -43- that can provide access, for example, to a bagger of known type, as well as a mouth -44- of manual entry of medicines. Likewise, the fourth station -4000- comprises two sensors -45-, -46- for the control of the passage of drugs. These sensors may be optical (cameras), presence or other detectors. The control of selection of passage to the mouth -42- of waste or to the mouth -43- of packaging or bagging may be carried out by any suitable method, for example, through trapdoors. For a better control of the cutting operation, in a preferred embodiment, the machine object of the present invention comprises a visual identification device. Said device can comprise video cameras 51, 52 located in the area of the feeding mouth -1000- and in the transport station -2000-. The chamber -52- located in the feeding area can be used to control the position of the blister, to verify that the product dispensed is correct, as well as to make a photo of the back of the blister. The camera-51- cited in the area of transport -2000- can be used to control the orientation of the blister, perform the recognition of the product through a control device comprising an image processor, find a reference point for movements of the cutter (relative zero), as well as perform a photo of the front, if necessary (for example, in the case that said face has useful extractable information). The transfer station -2000- can be realized in the form of a rolling band, or as an x-y table, which will allow movement in the x-direction of the blister during the cutting process. The table x-y, for example, can comprise a linear guide system, equipped with an alternating current motor, with the corresponding servomotors and sensors for detecting the corresponding limit switches. Preferably, the speed of displacement of the blister is placed in orders of 150 mm / s, and the positioning accuracy of the system will preferably be equal to or less than 0.05 mm. To avoid movements during the cutting phase, the blister can be held by means of a clamp -21- shown in figures 6 and 7. Said clamp can act on the blister -100- already from the feeding area, or later. Figure 2 shows a diagram of control devices for the machine of figure 1. In the diagram can be seen a control device -5000- which in turn has an image processing module -2001- which processes the images of the cameras -51-, -52-, motor control devices -1001-, a module -3001- specific synchronization of the motor control devices in the cutting process, as well as safety devices -5001-. The control -5000- also has a module of synchronization -4001- with the packing machine of cut blisters, as well as connections with a communications device -6001-, a user interface -6002- (for example, keyboard, screen, etc. .), an electronic memory device -6003-equipped with the necessary databases for automatic operation of the machine, as well as a communication port -6005-with a printer. Also, in a preferred embodiment, the control device -5000-may be connected to a bar code reader -6004-for product recognition.

Figure 3 shows, in greater detail, the control arrangement of the embodiment shown, and the relationship thereof with the user interface -6002-. The control -6000- has a programming engine -6022- that controls the digital I / O cards -6001'-, as well as the communication ports -6001- of the control device (USB, Ethernet, parallel, serial). Through a specific module -6023- the digitizing card -2002- that handles the images coming from the cameras -51-, -52- is controlled. By means of another specific module -6024- the motors -1001- are controlled through the corresponding controllers -1003- and amplifier cards -1002-. In Figure 4 is a perspective view of the feeding zone -1000- of blisters -100- from a storage device (not shown) to a transport table x-y. In this case, the blister -100- falls by gravity, guided by guides -11-. If necessary, it is possible to place another similar feeder -11- in a manner similar to that shown. As for the blister cutting system, there are several possibilities: laser cutting, fluid cutting (for example, pressurized water) or mechanical cutting.

The cut by means of pressure fluid does not seem the most suitable for a hospital environment, in which the simplicity of the machine must prevail. As for the laser cut, since the blisters are usually made of a plastic bilayer (usually PVC) and another of aluminum, the PVC would be "burned" by the laser, giving an aspect not suitable for the hospital environment. Therefore, the cutting system will be preferably mechanical. Within the mechanical cutting systems and to prevent the formation of waste in a mechanical cutting process type milling, it is preferable to use punch or die cutting systems, that is to say those to which the cutting is produced by a sharp blow between the cutting element and the object to be cut. Figure 5 shows a diagram of cutting device -3- by die. Figure 5 shows a motor -32- which provides a turning movement which is transformed by a connecting rod device -33- into an alternative linear movement of a punch part -31- that has at one end a cutter -34 -, which is facing a counterpart -35- support blister, which gives access to the fourth station -4000-, cited above.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the cutter -34- (or the punch-part assembly -31- and cutter -34-) has rotational capability. This, among other advantages, allows the use of a single punch or die, as shown in figures 6 and 7. In them can be observed blister-100 - in which the products are placed in the blister in different positions (aligned in figure 7, staggered in figure 6) and which are cut by a same punch -34-, in different rotation position with respect to a fixed part -36- of the cutting area. In this way, the same punch -34- can cut blister packs of different dispositions from the blister. According to the studies carried out by the applicant, in order to allow the cutting of a greater number of different blisters without the need for changing the punch, this will present a rounded part with a radius of approximately 6 mm. The rotation of the punch -34- can be provided through a specific motor -37- and a belt system -38-, located below the plane of action of the punch, as can be seen in figures 8 to 11. Although the invention has been described with respect to a preferred embodiment, these should not be considered limiting the invention, which will be defined by the broader interpretation of the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Blister handling machine, characterized in that it comprises a first blister storage station equipped with a blister feed mouth to a second blister transport station for transporting blister packs to a third blister cutting station, comprising a blister cutter, a mouth for transferring the cut blisters to a delivery or packaging station and has a cutter control element, as well as a blister visual identification device, said control element and said device being associated between if through a control element ..
2. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the cutter has rotational capacity.
Machine, according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the blister cutter is in a mechanical type cutter.
Machine, according to claim 3, characterized in that the blister cutter is a die-type cutter.
5. Machine, according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the control of the rotation of the cutter is carried out depending on the type of blister detected by the visual identification device.
Machine, according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it has a blister packaging area connected to said mouth for transfer of the blister packs.
Machine, according to claim 6, characterized in that the packaging area comprises a reject nozzle and a manual insertion mouth for packaging.
Machine, according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the packaging area comprises a bagger.
9. Machine according to any of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the visual identification device comprises video cameras located in the area of the feed mouth and in the transport station.
Machine, according to any of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the visual identification device comprises two cameras, one located under the blister magazine and focused upwards, which performs the functions of searching for a pattern in the image to verify that it is the correct product, check the orientation of the blister and store the photo and another camera, located in a scanning area and focused downwards, performs the functions of identifying the horizontal orientation of the blister, storing the photo and detecting if a tablet is missing or, optionally, if there is a defect in the blister.
11. Machine, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a linear arrangement of all stations.