Abstract:
A blister pack and a method for packaging a blister in the blister pack are proposed. The blister pack  10  in this case comprises a base field  14  with at least one recess  16  or perforation  18  for removal of at least one product arranged in a blister  36 . A bottom field  26  is connected to the base field  14 . A closure field  30  is connected to the bottom field  26 . The blister pack  10  is distinguished by a fixing tab  22  which is mounted on the base field  14  for the purpose of fixing at least one blister  36  that is to be packaged in the blister pack  10.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The invention described and claimed hereinbelow is also described in German Patent Applications DE 10 2005 055 357.5 filed on Nov. 21, 2005 and DE 10 2006 021 980.5 filed on May 10, 2006. These German Patent Applications, whose subject matter is incorporated here by reference, provide the basis for a claim of priority of invention under 35 U.S.C. 119( a )-( d ). 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a blister package and a method for packaging a blister in the blister package. 
     DE 198 55 318 C1 has disclosed a packing means for medications in the form of a folding box combination for at least two different primary packaging types—on the one hand containing transdermal bandages and on the other hand containing capsules—in the form of a folding cardboard box that contains all of these capsules and has an adequate space to accommodate individual rectangular bandages that can be loosely inserted separately from one another. 
     DE 697 19 823 T2 has disclosed a blister package that has an arrangement of cups with two cup sections, each with a set of cups. The cups of one cup section are offset in relation to the cups of the other cup section so that the cups of the two cup sections fit between one another after the folding. A protective unit includes two closing regions, preferably with an intermediate region that is bounded by two fold lines; the protective unit can be folded along the fold lines. A support unit is attached to the cup arrangement so that the cups of at least one cup section are aligned with the at least one hole. 
     As a rule, packages of this kind are manufactured on specialized machines that manufacture the folded packages from a flat, generally one-layer blank by means of folding. The blister and the patient information optionally to be inserted are glued or sealed in place in an intermediate step of the folding process. 
     As a rule, machines of this kind are only for use in manufacturing these foldable blister packages. 
     The object of the present invention is to provide a blister package that can be filled with at least one blister by a conventional horizontal cartoning machine; only slight modifications of the horizontal cartoning machine are required. This object is attained by the defining characteristics of the independent claims. 
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     The blister package according to the defining characteristics of claim  1  has the advantage over the prior art that it has essentially the same construction as a conventional folding box, but its anchoring flaps make it suitable for anchoring the at least one blister, which is to be packaged, in the blister package. Due to the shape of the package, which is based closely on that of a folding box, it is now possible to package blisters and optionally also package inserts using an only slightly modified horizontal cartoning machine. Existing horizontal cartoning machines that package conventional blisters in folding boxes can easily be retrofitted for the novel blister package. This novel blister package is also referred to as a wallet package since it can be folded open like a wallet. The preparation of the wallet package can, as with conventional folding boxes, be executed on a longitudinal seam gluing machine. Specially designed, very expensive wallet machines are now no longer required. 
     The method according to the invention for packing a blister in the blister package also has the advantage that due to the lateral insertion of the blister into the constructed folding box, the mechanics of the packaging machine are aligned with those of a horizontal cartoning machine. It is therefore possible to do away with an insertion of the blister during the folding process of the blank. 
     Other suitable modifications ensue from other dependent claims and the description. 
     An exemplary embodiment of a blister package and a method for packing a blister in the blister package is shown in the drawings and will be described in greater detail below. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows an outer part of the blister package when folded open, 
         FIG. 2  shows an inner part for the blister package, 
         FIG. 3  shows an opened blister package with an inserted blister, 
         FIG. 4  shows a folded blister package, 
         FIG. 5  shows various packing steps for packing the blister into the blister package, 
         FIG. 6  shows another package that can accommodate an insert when open, 
         FIG. 7  shows the blank of the folding box associated with the package according to  FIG. 6 , 
         FIG. 8  shows components for another packaging version, 
         FIG. 9  shows the opened package of the packaging version shown in  FIG. 8 , and 
         FIG. 10  shows another version of an inner part with a blister. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The blister package  10  shown in  FIG. 1  is composed of a rectangular base region  14  that contains cutouts  16  or at least one perforation  18  for such a cutout  16  in accordance with the geometry of the blister  36  to be packaged. On the short sides of the rectangular base region  14 , there are anchoring flaps  22  that are connected to the base region  14  by means of anchoring flap fold lines  15  and can be folded inward parallel to the base region  14 . The geometry of the anchoring flaps  22  here is selected so that when folded inward, they do not cover over the cutouts  16  so as not to prevent the product from being dispensed. Dashed lines serve to depict an optional shape  19  that has a greater width in the middle of the anchoring flap  22  in order to provide more holding area for the blister  36  that is to be anchored. On the one longitudinal side of the base region  14 , it is adjoined along a fold line  21  by a stabilizing flap  20  whose width is modeled essentially on the width of a first side wall  24  situated on the other side of the base region  14 . The first side wall  24  is connected to the other longitudinal side of the base region  14  by means of a fold line  23  and on the other side, is connected by means of another fold line  25  to a bottom region  26 . The area of the bottom region  26  essentially corresponds to the area of the base region  14 . By means of a fold line  27 , the remaining longitudinal side of the bottom region  26  is adjoined by a second side wall  28 , which has essentially the same width as the first side wall  24 . By means of a fold line  29 , the second side wall  28  is connected to a closing region  30 . The closing region  30  has essentially the same area as the base region  14 . Optionally, the closing region  30  can have an adhesive  31  applied to it, which in the folded state, attaches the closing region  30  to the base region  14 . The adhesive  31 , particularly when a hot-setting glue is used, can serve to make the closing region  30  and base region  14  reclosable. 
     The width of the stabilizing flap does not, however, have to be modeled on that of the side wall  24 . Several flaps could also be provided. 
       FIG. 2  shows a separate inner part  32 , which has inner part cutouts  34 . The inner part cutouts  34  are embodied so that they can be placed over the cups of the blister  36 . 
       FIG. 3  shows an opened blister package  10 ; the side of the blister  36  opposite from the cups has been placed onto the base region  14 . The inner part  32  has been placed over the cups of the blister  36 . The anchoring flaps  22  connected to the base region  14  by means of the anchoring flap fold lines  15  are folded inward and overlap the blister  36 , together with the inner part  32  that has been placed over it. 
       FIG. 4  shows a folded blister package  10 . In order to close the blister package  10 , the closing region  30  and the base region  14  are attached to each other, for example by means of the adhesive  31 . Products contained in the blister  36  can now be dispensed by pushing them out of the cups of the blister  36  via the cutouts  16 , which are arranged to coincide with the cups of the blister  36 . The anchoring flaps  22  secure the blister  36  in this overlapping position either directly or indirectly by means of the inner part  32  that is optionally placed over it. 
       FIG. 5  shows the individual packaging steps for packing the blister  36  in the blister package  10 . In an optional step A, an adhesive application  42  is executed on the cup side of the blister  36 . This serves in particular to stabilize the blister  36  if an inner part  32 —once again only optionally—is to be placed onto the blister  36  so that it overlaps the cups. In this likewise optional step B, the placement of the inner part  32  onto the blister  36  occurs by means of an inner part supply  44 . In step C, the blister package  10  is prepared in the form of a folding box  12  and is placed in a storage area. In step D, a folding box-constructing unit  48  constructs the flat folding box  12  so that the blister  36  with the inner part  32  placed onto it can be inserted from the side. An insertion device  46  is provided for this purpose. The blister  36  contained in the folding box  12  is transported further in the travel direction  40 . In a step E, an adhesive-applying device  50  applies adhesive onto the folded-open anchoring flaps  22  from above. In a step F, the anchoring flaps are folded inward by an inserting and pressing device  52 . In this case, the anchoring flaps  22  are glued to the inner part  32  in order to anchor the blister  36  in place. 
     The blister package  10  shown in  FIG. 1  is embodied in the form of a so-called wallet pack, i.e. the blister package  10  can be folded open as shown in  FIG. 3  in order to dispense the blister contents. In the state depicted therein, the blister  36  contents contained in the cups can be dispensed by pushing the blister contents in the penetration direction  38 , through the covering foil of the blister  36  and out through the cutouts  16 . The cutouts  16  of the base region  14  are situated so that they coincide with all of the back sides of the cups of the blister  36 . The blister package  10  can already have cutouts  16  when sold. Alternatively, it would also be possible to merely provide a perforation  18  that the customer pushes through to produce the corresponding cutout  16  when dispensing the blister contents. 
     In order to anchor the blister  36  in place, the anchoring flaps  22  are folded inward—as shown in FIG.  3 —so that they overlap at least the blister  36 . For permanent anchoring, it is possible for the anchoring flaps  22  to be permanently glued to the base region  14  and/or the blister  36 . In an alternative embodiment in which an inner part  32  is inserted, the anchoring flaps  22  can also be glued to the inner part  32 . After the dispensing of the blister contents is complete, the blister package  10  can be reclosed. To that end, the folded open blister package  10  is folded close again so that the bottom region  26  comes into contact with the cups and the closing region  30  comes into contact with the side of the base region  14  oriented away from the blister  36 . The bottom region  26 , however does not absolutely have to contact the cups. To close the blister package  10 , it is possible for an adhesive  31  applied to the closing region  30  or base region  14  to form an adhesive connection with its counterpart. In order to make the blister package  10  reclosable, it is suitable to use a permanently plastic hot-setting glue for the adhesive  31 . Alternatively, a closing could also be achieved by gluing the stabilizing flap  20  to the second side wall  28 , once again with an adhesive, for example a permanently plastic hot-setting glue. The stabilizing flap  20  used for stabilization could also be omitted in an alternative exemplary embodiment. 
     In a first exemplary embodiment, the use of the inner part  32  is omitted. This means that when the blister package  10  is folded open, in addition to the cups, the foil of the blister  36  is now also visible. In a second exemplary embodiment, the inner part  32  is now a component of the blister package  10  and is placed over the cups of the blister  36 . The geometry of the inner part cutouts  34  coincides with that of the blister cups. As a result, the foil of the blister  36  is covered over. This inner part  32  is embodied, for example, as a cardboard blank that can optionally be preprinted in a visually attractive way. In this case, in addition to the blister  36 , the anchoring flaps  22  also overlap the inner part  32  and are glued to the base region  14  and/or the inner part  32  and/or the blister  36 . This securely fastens both the blister  36  and the inner part  32  to the blister package  10  so that they cannot fall out. In a third exemplary embodiment, the inner part  32  is now glued to the blister  36 . This further increases the stability of the blister  36 . Before the attachment of the inner part  32  to the blister  36 , glue or a self-adhesive label can be applied to the blister  36 , thus joining the blister  36  to the inner part  32 . 
     The packaging of the blister  36  with the blister package  10  will be described in greater detail in conjunction with  FIG. 5 . If the blister  36  and the inner part  32  are glued to each other (third exemplary embodiment), then in step A, an adhesive application device  42  applies the adhesive to the blister  36 . In particular, this serves to stabilize the blister  36 . In the subsequent step B, which is also used in exemplary embodiment no. 2, an inner part insertion device guides the inner part  32  over the cups of the blister  36  and optionally exerts pressure on the inner part  32  in order to glue it to the blister  36 . In step C, the blister packages  10  in the form of folding boxes  12  are placed in a storage area. The design of the blister package  10  blank shown in  FIG. 1  allows the blister package  10  to be supplied in the form of the folding box  12 . The folding box  12  is printed outside of the packing process and is preglued along a longitudinal seam. This pregluing is carried out, for example, by means of an adhesive strip  31  that is fastened to the middle of the closing region  30  and is glued to the base region  14 . This adhesive can—as explained above—be used to make the blister package  10  reclosable. When the folding box  12  is flat, the anchoring flaps  22  protrude outward, as does the stabilizing flap  20 . Consequently, the shape essentially corresponds to that of a conventional folding box, although the conventional side flaps are missing. As a result, it is now possible to modify the usual conventional cartoning machine only slightly in order to also permit it to be used for reclosable blister packages  10  of the kind shown in  FIG. 1 . This makes it possible to do away with specialized wallet machines. Existing conventional horizontal cartoning machines can be retrofitted without great expense. Thus in step D, the flat folding box  12  is constructed by a folding box-constructing unit  48 . When the folding box  12  is set up, at least one side of the folding box  12  is open so that the blister  36 , optionally together with the inner part  32 , can be inserted from the side. This is performed by the inserting device  46 . After being transported further in travel direction  40 , in step E, the adhesive application device  50  applies adhesive to the anchoring flaps  22 . The top surfaces of the anchoring flaps  22  here are provided with a strip of adhesive. In a subsequent step F, the two anchoring flaps  22  are brought into the 90° position. In the next step G, a corresponding inserting and pressing unit  52  inserts and presses the fixing flaps  22  into place. In this way, the anchoring flaps  22  are glued to the base region  14  and/or the optionally inserted inner part  32  and/or the blister  36 . 
     In comparison to a conventional horizontal cartoning machine, now the modified cartoning machine is expanded through the addition of the device  50  for applying adhesive to the anchoring flaps  22 . In addition, the inserting and pressing unit  52  must be provided, which inserts the anchoring flaps  22  into the interior of the folding box  12  and presses them toward the base region  14  in order to anchor the blister  36  in place. 
     Other package versions are also possible without going beyond the basic idea of the above-described package  10 . The package shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7  is distinguished on the one hand by a receptacle  74  for an insert  70 , for example patient information for medications. For this purpose, the end of the bottom region  26  is provided with a relatively long holding flap  76  that is folded into the inside of the bottom region  26  and glued on the left and right sides, perpendicular to the fold line. The receptacle  74  formed when the holding flap  24  is folded inward remains open at the top to permit insertion of the insert  70 . On the other hand, this package has the possibility of being closed by means of closing flaps  78  that can be inserted through closing slits  72  provided on the bottom region  26  and the holding flap  76  in order to close the pack. The closing flaps  78  are preferably part of the anchoring flaps  22 , but are oriented perpendicularly away from the base region  14  by means of a fold line  80 . The part of the flap  22  oriented parallel to the base region  14  can be used, as explained above, to anchor the blister  36  and/or the inner part  32  in place while the perpendicularly oriented flap part  72  serves to close the wallet. 
     In another package version according to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the inner part  32  is embodied so that only its lower region is provided with inner part cutouts  34 . The upper region without inner part cutouts  34  can have the insert  70  attached, for example glued, to it. The blister  36  is smaller in size than the inner part  32  and is essentially limited to the region that is also provided with the inner Dart cutouts  34 . The insert  70  can be attached to the inner part  32  in the packaging machine. 
     In another package version, an inner part  32  is shown, which likewise has inner part cutouts  34 . As in the exemplary embodiment according to  FIG. 2 , the geometry of the inner part cutouts is embodied to match the cups  37  of the blister  36  in order to cover over the blister  36  in the manner shown in  FIG. 10 . Respective recesses  39  are provided at the ends of the inner part  32 , preferably in the middle. The recesses  39  are essentially semicircular. These recesses  39  in the inner part are provided to improve the fastening of the inner part  32  and the blister  36 . Because the anchoring flaps  22  cover over the recesses  39  after being folded inward, the anchoring flaps  22  can also be glued directly to the base region  14 . According to  FIG. 10 , the dimensions of the recesses  39  have been selected so that the blister  36  is not completely covered in the region of the recesses  39 . As a result, in this region of the blister  36  that is not covered by the inner part  32 , the anchoring flaps  22  can also be glued to the blister  36 . There are a wide variety of conceivable modifications to this version. It is also possible for the inner part  32  to be provided with only one recess  39 . This recess  39  can also have different geometric shapes, for example rectangular, triangular, or the like. The size of the recess  39  can also be selected so that the blister  36  is completely covered in the region of the recess  39 .