SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING A MEDICINAL PACKAGING

Abstract

A system and a method for manufacturing a medical package are described. A print image with variable information comprising blank spaces is first applied using a thermal transfer printer. The blank spaces are filed using a hot stamp printing process.

Claims

1. A method for printing on a medical package, the method comprising: applying, using a first printer, a print image on a surface of the medical package; and applying, using a second printer comprising a printing plate, a color from a foil over at least some blank space within the print image.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the print image is a variable print image that is different for different medical packages.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the variable print image includes at least one of a serial number, a batch number, or an expiry date specific to the medical package.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the foil applied by the second printer includes static information.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the static information includes at least one of a product name, a barcode, an inverse barcode, a data matrix code, or an inverse data matrix code.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the static information includes machine-readable information and text and/or digits.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the foil is also applied outside of the print image, and the foil outside of the print image includes at least one item of information.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the printing plate has a print relief.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the print image comprises a positive print image and/or a negative print image.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the print relief flatly applies the foil over the at least some blank space within the print image.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first printer comprises a digitally controlled thermal print head comprising a plurality of heating elements.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising actuating, using a controller, the plurality of heating elements of the digitally controlled thermal print head.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the print image is applied on the surface of the medical package by impressing a first ink.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first ink comprises white pigments or black pigments, and is impressed using an ink ribbon.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the foil comprises white pigments and/or black pigments and a resin.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein applying the print image on the surface of the medical package comprises heating the surface of the medical package to a temperature above 130 C. and/or below 200 C.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the second printer is a hot stamp printer.

18. A medical package manufactured using a method comprising: applying, using a first printer, a print image on a surface of the medical package; and applying, using a second printer comprising a printing plate, a color from a foil over at least some blank space within the print image.

19. The medical package of claim 18, wherein the print image is a variable print image that is different for different medical packages.

20. The medical package of claim 18, wherein the foil applied by the second printer includes static information.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0121] The subject matter of the invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings FIG. 1 to FIG. 11c.

[0122] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a system for manufacturing a medical package.

[0123] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a printing process by means of a thermal transfer printer.

[0124] FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a printing process by means of a hot stamp printer.

[0125] FIG. 4 is a view of a first exemplary embodiment of a medical package.

[0126] FIG. 5 is a view of a print relief used for the medical package in FIG. 4.

[0127] FIG. 6a to FIG. 6c show the steps via which a region is printed with a variable print image according to the FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0128] FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of the method steps according to an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention.

[0129] FIG. 8 shows a further embodiment of a medical package.

[0130] FIG. 9 is a view of a further exemplary embodiment of a medical package.

[0131] FIG. 10 is a view of the print relief used for the medical package in FIG. 9.

[0132] FIG. 11a to FIG. 11c show the steps via which a region is printed with a variable print image according to the FIGS. 9 and 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0133] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a system 1 for manufacturing a medical package 2.

[0134] Using the system 1, a foil 3, which is provided by a tape 4, is printed with a first printer 10 and a second printer 20.

[0135] The first printer 10 and the second printer 20 are arranged one behind the other such that the foil 3 can be guided successively along the two printers 10, 20.

[0136] The first printer 10 is formed as a thermal transfer printer. The thermal transfer printer 10 comprises a digitally controllable thermal print head 12 which is actuated by a control device 6. The thermal print head 12 transfers the ink 11b of a color foil 11 to the foil 3. Thus, a variable print image can be applied by, for example, the thermal print head 12 printing a region of the foil 3 line by line. In this process, the print image 40 of the first printer 10 is applied to the foil 3.

[0137] The color foil 11 can for example be provided as an ink ribbon which is unwound from a roll. The ink 11b of the color foil 11 can also be referred to here as the first ink 11b.

[0138] The second printer 20 is formed as a hot stamp printer. It comprises a printing plate 22 which is heated and impressed on the surface of the foil 3 to be printed. The ink 21b of a color foil 21 is transferred via the printing plate 22 on the foil 3. The ink 21b of the color foil 21 can also be referred to here as the second ink 21b.

[0139] The printing plate 22 comprises a print relief 24 (see FIG. 5) with a flat section 24a by way of which blank spaces 44 of the print image 40 of the first printer 10 are filled.

[0140] The printed foil 3 is then supplied to a station 5 for manufacturing a medical package 2 with a filling device and a sealing device.

[0141] The station 5 for manufacturing a medical package 2 in the form of a foil bag 30 comprises a welding tool for manufacturing the bag, a filling device for filling the bag and a sealing device for sealing the filled bag.

[0142] Possible other stations for manufacturing the medical package include in particular a station for packaging into a secondary package and/or a station for preferably thermal sterilization.

[0143] As a result, a medical package 2 made from plastic and which is formed as a foil bag 30 in this embodiment, is provided with a first and a second ink, in particular with a black and white print.

[0144] FIG. 2 schematically shows the thermal transfer printer 10. The thermal transfer printer 10 comprises the thermal print head 12, which is actuated by the control device 6 and comprises a number of heating elements 13 which can be individually actuated. As a result, a print image with variable information can be produced.

[0145] A color foil 11, in particular formed as an ink ribbon, with the support 11a and the colored layer 11b is moved relative to the thermal print head 12 and is heated in regions via the individually actuatable heating elements. The ink of the colored layer 11b is liquefied in this way and is transferred to the foil 3 as the first ink 11b. Thus, a print image, which in particular comprises pixels formed from the ink of the colored layer 11b, can be applied in a digitally controlled manner.

[0146] FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of the second printer 20, which is formed as a hot stamp printer. The hot stamp printer 20 comprises a heatable support 23 to which a printing plate 22 is attached which comprises a print relief 24. The printing plate 22 is impressed on the color foil 21 which comprises the support 21a and the colored layer 21b.

[0147] In the region of the protruding print relief 24, the ink of the colored layer 21b is heated and transferred under pressure and temperature as the second ink 21b from the color foil 21 to the foil 3.

[0148] FIG. 4 is a representation of a first exemplary embodiment of a medical package 2 which is formed as a foil bag 30. The medical package 2 or the foil bag 30 consists of foils 3 welded together at the transverse weld seams 32 and the longitudinal weld seams 31. Furthermore, the foil bag 30 comprises connectors 33a, 33b via which liquid can be withdrawn and/or added. The connectors 33a, 33b are welded into a transverse weld seam 32 in the case of this exemplary embodiment and comprise a break-off cap. After removing the break-off cap, a fluid connection can be established, for example by inserting a spike or a needle. Furthermore, the foil bag 30 comprises a hanger 34.

[0149] The foil bag 30 is laid into a secondary package 7 in the example represented. The secondary package 7 is formed here as a tear-open bag and serves in particular as a barrier against oxygen. In the case of manufacture, the foil bag 30 filled with the medical liquid is autoclaved in the secondary package 7 such that the content of the secondary package 7, in particular the entire foil bag 30, is sterile.

[0150] The foil bag 30 is printed. The print image comprises a region 35 with variable information. The variable information can in particular comprise a serial number, a batch number and/or an expiry date.

[0151] Furthermore, the print image comprises a region with static information 36. The region with static information 36 comprises in this exemplary embodiment a print image 36 visually readable by humans, i.e. for example a label with contents and/or product name. Furthermore, the region comprises machine-readable information, for example in the form of a barcode (not represented). This can for example serve as machine-readable information regarding the content of the medical package 2. This can in particular be an inversely applied barcode.

[0152] The print regions of the print image with variable information 35 and of the print region with static information 36, represented in black in FIG. 4, are applied with the second printer 20 after the region 35 with variable information has been printed beforehand by the first printer 10, with the printing plate 22 represented in FIG. 5 being used. The first printer 10 impresses the first ink 11b. The second printer 20 impresses the second ink 21b.

[0153] The printing plate 22 comprises a print relief 24, which comprises the flat section 24a, inside of which the second ink 21b serves to fill the blank spaces 44 of the print image 40 (see FIGS. 6a and 11a) of the first printer 10 which is provided by the first ink 11b.

[0154] In the further, non-flat section 24b, the print relief 24 comprises information readable by a human and/or by a machine. In this exemplary embodiment, the information comprises a label. The visually readable information 36 represented in FIG. 4 is transferred on the foil 3 via the non-flat section 24b of the print relief 24.

[0155] The steps in relation to printing the region 35 with variable information are represented in FIGS. 6a to 6c.

[0156] First, as represented in FIG. 6a, a print image 40 is applied by means of the first printer 10 which is formed as a thermal transfer printer. The print image 40 is, in this exemplary embodiment, a print image preferably applied with black ink, which comprises a barcode 41, a data matrix code 42 and a label 43 which contains an expiry date or a serial number for example. The print image 40 is a positive print image here. Blank spaces 44 defined as non-printed regions are present therebetween. The print image 40 is positive print image here, i.e. formed by the first ink 11b of the color foil 11 of the first printer 10.

[0157] Then, as represented in FIG. 6b, the foil 3 is printed, in particular with a white ink 21b, by means of the second printer 20 formed as a hot stamp printer. In this process, the flat section 24a of the print relief 24 with the second ink 21b covers the print image 40 of the first printer 10 which has transferred the first ink 11b.

[0158] The blank spaces 44 of the print image 40 are filled with the second ink 21b. As represented in FIG. 6c, the print image 50 generated by the two printers 10, 20 now contains the print image 40 and the printed blank spaces 44 which are filled with the second ink 21b in the hot stamp printing.

[0159] The print image generated by both printers can thus in particular comprise a white area, inside of which the print image 40 of the first printer 10 made up of the first ink 11b is arranged. The print image 40, which is black here, is embedded in the colored section 21b, which is white here.

[0160] At the same time, a further region 36 (see FIG. 4) is printed with static information in one step.

[0161] In the first print region 35 which is a combination of thermal transfer and hot stamp printing, a black and white print results which consists of a positive print image of the first printer 10 with black color of the first ink 11b whose blank spaces 44 are filled by the second white ink 21b.

[0162] The first print region 35 is smaller than the entire region of the print region of the second printer 20 and comprises variable, machine-readable information and variable, visually readable information. The first print region 35, in particular additionally, can also contain static information.

[0163] In FIG. 7, the method steps according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention are represented.

[0164] First, a print image 40, which contains at least variable information, is impressed on a foil 3 by means of a thermal transfer printer 10. The print image 40 of the first printer 10 is generated with the first ink 11b. The print image 40 can be a positive print image or a negative print image.

[0165] Then, a printing plate 22 is impressed on the foil 3 by means of a hot stamp printer 20. A flat section 24a of the print relief 24 of the printing plate 22 overlaps with the print image 40 of the first printer. The blank spaces 44 or the blank region of the print image 40 of the first printer are filled with the second ink 21b of the hot stamp printer 20.

[0166] Then, the foil 3 is welded to form a foil bag 30, the foil bag 30 is filled and sealed. The sealed foil bag 30 is preferably then also enclosed in a secondary package 7 and the medical package 2 manufactured in this way is lastly autoclaved.

[0167] FIG. 8 shows a further embodiment of the invention. Unlike the embodiment according to FIG. 4, the medical package 2, formed as a foil bag 30, in this exemplary embodiment comprises, in the second print region 36, not only a visually readable label, but also a machine-readable barcode 37.

[0168] The barcode 37 is also applied, like the label, by means of the second printer 20, i.e. via a printing plate 22. Therefore, the barcode consists of the second ink 21b which is preferably a white color. The barcode 37 is formed here as an inverse barcode 37, in which the actual barcode consists of non-printed intermediate blank spaces, which appear dark e.g. to a scanner. The positive image is formed in this configuration by the non-printed intermediate blank spaces. Since the barcode 37 is not modifiable, it can comprise in particular machine-readable information regarding the content of the foil bag 30.

[0169] The first print region 35, in contrast, comprises, as mentioned in connection with FIG. 4, a black and white print, in which machine-readable codes, in particular variable codes are not inversely configured, but rather in which the black print forms the contrast with the surrounding white.

[0170] FIG. 9 is a representation of a third exemplary embodiment of a medical package 2 which is formed as a foil bag 30. The print image comprises a region 35 with variable information. The variable information can in particular comprise a serial number, a batch number and/or an expiry date. Furthermore, the print image comprises a region with static information 36. The region with static information 36 comprises, in this exemplary embodiment, firstly a print image 36a visually readable by humans, i.e. for example a label with contents and/or the product name. Secondly, the region comprises machine-readable information, for example in the form of a barcode 36b. This can for example serve as machine-readable information regarding the content of the medical package 2.

[0171] The print regions of the print image with variable information 35 and of the print region with static information 36, represented in black in FIG. 9, are applied with the second printer 20 after the region 35 with variable information has been printed beforehand by the first printer 10, with the printing plate 22 represented in FIG. 10 being used. The first printer 10 impresses the first ink 11b. The second printer 20 impresses the second ink 21b. The printing plate 22 comprises a print relief 24, which comprises the flat section 24a, inside of which the second ink 21b serves to fill the blank spaces 44 of the print image 40 (see FIG. 11a-11c) of the first printer 10 which is provided by the first ink 11b.

[0172] In the further, non-flat section 24b, the print relief 24 comprises information readable by a human and/or by a machine. In this exemplary embodiment, the information comprises a label and a barcode. The visually readable information 36a and the barcode 36b represented in FIG. 9 are transferred on the foil 3 via the non-flat section 24b of the print relief 24.

[0173] The steps in relation to printing the region 35 with variable information are represented in FIGS. 11a to 11c.

[0174] First, as represented in FIG. 11a, a print image 40 is applied by means of the first printer 10 which is formed here as a thermal transfer printer. The print image 40 is a negative print image here which contains blank spaces 44. The blank spaces 44 of the print image 40 represent the actual information.

[0175] In this exemplary embodiment, the blank spaces 44 comprise a barcode 41, a data matrix code 42 and a label 43 containing for example an expiry date and/or a serial number.

[0176] This negative print image is formed by the first ink 11b of the color foil 11 of the first printer 10. The first ink 11b is in particular a white color.

[0177] The machine-readable information, i.e. e.g. the barcode 41 and/or the data matrix code 42, is readable via a scanner since the blank spaces 44 do not reflect light or only reflect a little light and appear dark to a scanner. The label 43 is, however, difficult for the human eye to read.

[0178] Then, as represented in FIG. 11b, the foil 3 is printed by means of the second printer 20 formed as a hot stamp printer. In this process, the flat section 24a of the print relief 24 with the second ink 21b lies inside the print image 40 of the first printer 10 which has transferred the first ink 11b.

[0179] The blank spaces 44 of the print image 40 are filled with the second ink 21b. As represented in FIG. 11c, the print image 50 generated by the two printers 10, 20 now contains the print image 40 and the printed blank spaces 44 which are filled with the second ink 21b in the hot stamp printing. At the same time, a further region 36 (see FIG. 9) is printed with static information in one step.

[0180] In the first print region 35 which is a combination of thermal transfer and hot stamp printing, a black and white print results which consists of a negative print image with white color of the first ink 11b whose blank spaces 44 are filled by the second black ink 21b.

[0181] The first print region 35 is smaller than the entire region of the print region of the second printer 20 and comprises variable, machine-readable information and variable, visually readable information. The first print region 35, in particular additionally, can also contain static information.

[0182] A method for manufacturing medical packages, in particular foil bags, is provided by the invention by means of which variable and static information can be, in particular simultaneously, applied in a very effective and accurate manner.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0183] 1 System for manufacturing a medical package [0184] 2 Medical package [0185] 3 Foil [0186] 4 Roll [0187] 5 Station for manufacturing the bag, together with filling station and station for sealing [0188] 6 Control device [0189] 7 Secondary package [0190] 10 First printer/thermal transfer printer [0191] 11 Color foil [0192] 11a Support [0193] 11b Colored layer/(first) ink [0194] 12 Thermal print head [0195] 13 Heating element [0196] 20 Second printer/hot stamp printer [0197] 21 Color foil [0198] 21a Support [0199] 21b Colored layer/(second) ink [0200] 22 Printing plate [0201] 23 Support [0202] 24 Print relief [0203] 24a Flat section [0204] 24b Non-flat section [0205] 30 Foil bag [0206] 31 Longitudinal weld seam [0207] 32 Transverse weld seam [0208] 33a Connector [0209] 33b Connector [0210] 34 Hanger [0211] 35 First print region/region with variable print image [0212] 36 Second print region/region with static print image [0213] 36a Visually readable print image [0214] 36b Machine-readable information/barcode [0215] 37 Barcode [0216] 40 Print image (thermal transfer printer)/positive print image/negative print image [0217] 41 Barcode [0218] 42 Data matrix code [0219] 43 Label [0220] 44 Blank space/blank region