Flexible packaging apparatus and method
AssigneeBecton, Dickinson and Company
InventorJohn W. Rathemacher
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and apparatus are provided for the continuous and rapid production of a plurality of flexible packages containing a non-solid substance such as an ointment, by continuously forming and vacuum sealing the packages from two webs of material in the nip of cooperating roller surfaces. The packages each contain a precise quantity of medication which may be, for example, the kind of medication which is self-administered by the user by transdermal application. The method and apparatus herein joins together two specially prepared webs of material continuously drawn from supply rolls while at the same time incorporating and vacuum sealing a desired quantity of the medication therebetween.
Claims9
Apparatus for the controlled simultaneous forming, filling, evacuating and sealing of a plurality of flexible packages containing a material with a liquid component continuously in a roller nip;
- characterized by
- (a) a first supply roll for continuously supplying a first web for forming a first side of the flexible packages to be formed;
- (b) a second supply roll for continuously supplying a second web for forming a second side of the flexible packages to be formed;
- (c) a pair of heated crimp rolls positioned in cooperating engagement to continuously receive and join said first and second webs in a flexible package forming nip while simultaneously evacuating air from packages so formed in said nip;
- (d) a filling material station positioned between said first supply roll and said nip for depositing a plurality of spaced apart quantities of filling material for said packages on said first web;
- (e) rotary cutting means positioned after said package forming nip for continuously receiving said joined web and continuously severing said joined web into a plurality of flexible packages;
- (f) first power means connected to said first and second supply rolls and said crimp rolls for the driving thereof;
- (g) second power means connected to said cutting means for the driving thereof;
- and
- (h) control means connected to said first and second power means for the controlled operation thereof.
A continuous process for the controlled simultaneous forming, filling, evacuating and sealing a plurality of flexible packages containing a material with a liquid component in a roller nip;
- characterized by
- (a) continuously supplying in a first supplying step a first web of material for forming a first side of the flexible packages to be formed;
- (b) continuously supplying in a second supplying step a second web of material for forming a second side of the flexible package to be formed;
- (c) utilizing a pair of heated crimp rolls positioned in cooperating engagement for receiving and joining said first and second webs from said first and second supplying steps in a flexible package forming nip;
- (d) said receiving and joining step simultaneously causing evacuation of ambient air from packages formed thereby;
- (e) prior to said utilizing step, depositing, a plurality of spaced apart quantities of filling material for said packages on said first web from said first supplying step;
- (f) passing said web from utilizing step to a cutting means;
- (g) cutting said web from said passing step into a plurality of filled flexible packages.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.