Method of Manufacturing Packaging Comprising Pharmaceutical Products

Abstract

The method for producing a multi-day package containing various drugs has the following steps: a bottom layer is formed with a plurality of wells arranged in a pattern; a predetermined number of different drugs is arranged in predetermined positions at various dispensing stations of a filling device; the desired number of drugs are picked in a controlled manner from their predetermined positions at each dispensing station by at least one movable suction or gripper device, and the drugs are deposited in the predetermined wells; and a sealing film is applied to the bottom layer to seal off the wells. In the course of this method, in at least one dispensing station several suction or gripper devices, which are arranged in correspondence with the pattern of the wells in the multi-day package and which travel parallel to each other, are actuated individually.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims priority based on European patent application EP 07 008 966.9, filed May 3, 2007.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The invention pertains to methods for producing multi-day packages which contain various drugs for several days and for several administration times.DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART[0003]The multiple blister pockets of conventional blister packs are intended to hold a single type of medicament. A device for filling these conventional blister packs is described in, for example, DE 199 26 893 C2.[0004]In the treatment of patients with chronic diseases, however, there is often room for improvement with respect to the patient's ability to take his or her medicaments consistently in accordance with the prescribed therapy. This is especially true when different sets of tablets must be taken at different times of day. To provide a memory aid which helps the patient take his or her medicaments correctly and also to ensur...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]It is an object of the present invention to create a method for producing a multi-day package holding various drugs, the method excluding contamination and being carried out easily and also very quickly.

[0010]Thus, a multi-day package containing various drugs is produced in an especially simple manner, quickly and without risk of contamination.

[0012]It can be advantageous to cut the supply-blister sheet into supply-blister sections before the step of removing the temporary sealing film and to arrange the wound-up blister sections at the dispensing stations transversely to the transport direction of the multi-day package. As a result, effective access to individual, seldom-used tablets is possible. The supply-blister sections are not necessarily limited to a single strip-like row of supply-blister pockets but can have instead several supply-blister pockets next to each other, so that the simultaneous removal of drugs from several supply-blister pockets by several suction or gripper devices is possible not only transversely, but also longitudinally to the transport direction of the multi-day package.

[0013]In another embodiment, the arrangement of a predetermined number of a drug in predetermined positions at a dispensing station of a filling device can also include the step of filling the holders of a sorting plate with drugs, the holders being arranged in accordance with the pattern of the wells of the multi-day package. This is especially effective when a large number of these drugs are to be packed into each multi-day package. The sorting plate can be very easily filled by using a vibrating chute to supply the tablets and then to apply brushing movement.

Problems solved by technology

The above-mentioned production method is relatively cumbersome, however, because of the complicated mechanisms required and the double packaging step of the tablets.

The method is also critical from a contamination standpoint, because, when the tablets are pushed out by the plungers, tablet dust is created, which settles on the plungers and in the tub-like wells.

The overall method is extremely complicated.

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