APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING COSMETIC OR MEDICAL FUNCTIONAL PATCH

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and method for manufacturing a functional patch for cosmetic or medical use, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for manufacturing a functional patch for cosmetic or medical use by applying a functional material to a base patch and then drying it. The functional patch manufacturing apparatus according to the present disclosure includes a dispensing section for applying a functional material to a multi-layer patch film in which the base patch is disposed, so that the functional material can be applied accurately to the base patch, which minimizes a defect rate of the product. Further, the functional patch manufacturing apparatus includes a drying section and a recovery sections addition to the dispensing section, so that it is possible to maximize production capacity per unit time.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application claims the benefit of priority to Korea Patent Application No. 10-2022-0066931, titled “Cosmetic or medical functional patch manufacturing equipment and manufacturing method therefor, filed with the Korea National Intellectual Property Administration on May 31, 2022, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and method for manufacturing a cosmetic or medical functional patch, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for manufacturing a cosmetic or medical patch by applying a functional material to a base patch and then drying the same.

BACKGROUND

Recently, people's interest in beauty and the like has increased and various functional products have been released according to the growth of related industries. Among them, a hydro-colloidal patch is widely used as a moisture-retentive dressing bandage because it is thin, has excellent adhesiveness, and can prevent drying of exudate and other fluids at a wound site.

However, such a conventional hydro-colloidal patch only has a function of absorbing exudate in contact with the wound, and does not contain active ingredients that can directly treat the wound. Further, even when used on a skin for cosmetic or medical purposes, conventional hydro-colloidal patch only performs the function of maintaining moisture in the skin, and does not contain any active ingredients for skin beauty or treatment.

In addition, a conventional mask pack for skin care or treatment does not have a separate adhesive force, so the moisture of the mask pack evaporates over time after the mask pack is attached, and the skin adhesive force is rapidly reduced. Therefore, it is difficult to attach the mask pack to a local area for a long time.

A patch containing a functional material may be considered to solve the above problem. In order to manufacture the patch containing such a functional material, it is necessary to be able to accurately apply the functional material to the patch, and also to be able to dry and recover the applied functional material at an appropriate temperature within a short period of time.

SUMMARY

In view of the above, the present disclosure provides a functional patch manufacturing apparatus and method for manufacturing a functional patch that minimizes the defect rate of the product by accurately applying a functional material to a base patch and maximizes the production capacity per unit time.

A functional patch manufacturing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a dispensing section, a drying section, and a recovery section and manufactures a functional patch by processing a plurality of base patches disposed in a multi-layer patch film. The multi-layer patch film includes: a base film having a width and extending in a longitudinal direction; a guide film disposed on the base film, the guide film having at least one guide hole smaller than the base patch, having a width less than or equal to that of the base film, and having a length shorter than that of the base film; and a cover film formed and disposed to cover the base film and the guide film. The base patch is attached to the guide film and the base film at a position corresponding to the guide hole between the guide film and the base film, so that at least a part of the base patch is exposed to the outside of the guide film. The base film, the base patch, the guide film and the cover film are sequentially stacked and disposed. The dispensing section includes: a main roller on which the multi-layer patch film is initially wound, the wound multi-layer patch film being unwound from the main roller during operation; a separation roller for separating the cover film from the multi-layer patch film unwound from the main roller; a cover film collection roller for collecting the cover film separated from the separation roller; a dispenser for applying a functional material to a portion of the base patch exposed through the guide hole in the multi-layer patch film separated by the separation roller from above; a functional material supply device for supplying the functional material to the dispenser; a controller for controlling the application operation of the dispenser and the supply operation of the functional material supply device. The drying section includes a heat supply unit for supplying heat to the functional material applied to the base patch. The base patch is converted into a finished patch in which the functional material is dried by the heat supplied from the heat supply unit to be discharged. The recovery section includes a recovery roller for recovering the multi-layer patch film in which the finished patch is disposed in a state in which the cover film is removed.

The base patch may include a base material film and an adhesive layer bonded to the base material film, and the functional material may be applied to the adhesive layer.

The base material film may be a thermoplastic polyurethane resin material, and the adhesive layer may be a hydrocolloid layer.

The functional material may contain 85 to 97% by weight of hyaluronic acid.

In the guide film, n number of guide holes may be formed in a row in a width direction of the base film, and the dispenser may include n number of nozzles disposed to correspond to the guide holes of the row, and the n number of nozzles may simultaneously apply the functional material.

In the guide film, n number of guide holes may be formed in a row in a width direction of the base film, and m number of guide holes may be formed in a column in a longitudinal direction of the base film.

The controller may control the dispenser to sequentially repeat an application step in which the dispenser applies the functional material m times at a first time interval and a stopping step in which the application of the dispenser is stopped for a second time after the application step.

The functional patch manufacturing apparatus may further include: a thickness sensor for measuring the thickness of each part of the multi-layer patch film in real time, wherein the controller may analyze a thickness value measured by the thickness sensor, and control the dispenser so that the dispenser applies the functional material when it is determined that the guide hole is at a position corresponding to the dispenser.

The heat supply unit may be a hot air supply unit for blowing hot air to the functional material applied to the base patch.

The heat supply unit may be a near-infrared heater for supplying near-infrared radiant heat to the functional material applied to the base patch.

The functional patch manufacturing apparatus according to the present disclosure includes the dispensing section for applying the functional material to the multi-layer patch film in which the base patch is disposed, so that the functional material can accurately be applied to the base patch to minimize the defective rate of the product, and further includes the drying section and the recovery section in addition to the dispensing section, so that the production capacity per unit time can be maximized.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure may be variously modified and have various embodiments, and specific embodiments will be exemplified and described in detail in the detailed description. However, it should be understood that this is not intended to limit the present disclosure to the specific embodiments, but includes all modifications, equivalents, and substitutes included in the idea and scope of the present disclosure. Terms used in the present disclosure are only used to describe the specific embodiments, and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In the present disclosure, it should be understood that terms such as ‘comprise’, ‘include’, or ‘have’ are intended to designate that there is a feature, number, step, operation, component, part, or combination thereof described in the present specification, but they do not preclude the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof. Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this case, it should be noted that in the accompanying drawings, the same components are indicated by the same reference numerals as much as possible. In addition, detailed descriptions of well-known functions and configurations that may obscure the gist of the present disclosure will be omitted. For the same reason, in the accompanying drawings, some components are exaggerated, omitted, or schematically illustrated.

Hereinafter, a functional patch manufacturing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG.1is a perspective view showing a part of a multi-layer patch film to be processed by a functional patch manufacturing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present disclosure by cutting it,FIG.2is a front view showing the functional patch manufacturing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present disclosure,FIG.3is an enlarged front view showing a dispensing section inFIG.2,FIG.4is an enlarged front view showing a drying section inFIG.2,FIG.5is an enlarged front view showing a recovery section inFIG.2, andFIG.6is a perspective view showing the operation of the dispensing section according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

Hereinafter, with reference toFIG.1, a multi-layer patch film100, which is a processing target of a functional patch manufacturing apparatus1000according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, will be described in detail. Functional patch manufacturing apparatus1000according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is an apparatus for manufacturing a functional patch with functionality by processing the multi-layer patch film100.

The multi-layer patch film100includes a base film110, a guide film120, a cover film130, and a base patch140. The base film110has a width and extends in a longitudinal direction. The base film110may be shaped like a long tape having a width.

The guide film120has a width smaller than that of the base film110and a length shorter than that of the base film110. The guide film120is disposed on the base patch140. At least one open guide hole121is formed in the guide film120.

The guide hole121is formed to have a size smaller than the size of the base patch140. The base patch140is attached to each guide hole121. The number of the base patches140corresponds to the number of the guide holes121and the base patch140is disposed at a position corresponding to each guide hole121. The base patch140is disposed at a position corresponding to the guide hole121between the guide film120and the base film110. Accordingly, the base patch140is attached to both the guide film120and the base film110, and at least a portion of the base patch140is exposed to the outside of the guide film120through the guide hole121.

In the guide film120, n number of guide holes121may be formed along a width direction of the base film110so that the n number of guide holes121form a row. In this case, n means a natural number greater than 1. In addition, m number of guide holes121may be formed along a length direction of the base film110so that the m number of guide holes121form a column. In this case, m means a natural number greater than 1, and m may be equal to n. Accordingly, the guide holes121may be formed in n rows and m columns in the guide film120. InFIG.1, n and m are each 3, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

The cover film130is formed and disposed to cover the base film110and the guide film120. The cover film130may cover the base film110and the guide film120to protect the base film110and the guide film120from the outside before processing. Like the base film110, the cover film130may be formed to have a width and to extend in the longitudinal direction. In some cases, the cover film130may be formed to have the same size as the base film110or may be formed to have a minimum size to cover only the base film110.

As a result, the base patch140is disposed between the base film110and the guide film120, and in this state, the base film110, the base patch140, the guide film120, and the cover film130may be sequentially stacked and disposed.

The base patch140may include a base material film141and an adhesive layer142, and a functional material143may be applied to the adhesive layer142. The adhesive layer142is bonded to the base material film141. The base material film141may include a thermoplastic polyurethane resin, and in this case, it may be preferable in terms of elasticity.

The adhesive layer142may be a hydrocolloid layer and may include a hot melt adhesive, tea tree leaf oil, hydro-colloid,Calendula officinalisflower extract, and a moisture absorbent. The hydrocolloid layer may be formed on the base material film141by adhesive coating.

When the adhesive layer142is formed as a hydrocolloid layer, it can improve skin moisturizing and skin adhesion, and the functional material143located on an upper surface of the hydrocolloid layer which comes in contact with the skin can supply moisture and nutrients to the skin, which results in skin wrinkle improvement, whitening effect, melasma and freckles improvement effect, medical effects such as wound treatment, etc.

The functional material143may include 85 to 97% by weight of hyaluronic acid and 3 to 15% by weight of a skin improving material. When the amount of hyaluronic acid is less than the above range, the moisturizing effect and skin beauty effect due to hyaluronic acid may be insignificant, and when the amount of hyaluronic acid exceeds 97% by weight, the effect of improving skin whitening, melasma, and freckles due to the skin improving material may be insignificant. The skin improving material may supply moisture and nutrients to the skin together with hyaluronic acid to give a skin beauty effect, and specifically, the skin improving material includes one or more of hydroquinone, kojic acid, albutin, placenta, tretinoin, AHA (alpha-hydroxy acid), azelaic acid, licorice extract, andCentella asiaticaextract, but may include additional materials in addition to the above examples. In addition, the functional material143may include a medical liquid material having a therapeutic effect.

Hereinafter, the functional patch manufacturing apparatus1000according to one embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference toFIGS.2to5. The functional patch manufacturing apparatus1000according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a dispensing section1100, a drying section1200, and a recovery section1300.

The dispensing section1100is a section for applying the functional material143to the base patch140. The dispensing section1100includes a main roller1110, a separation roller1120, a cover film collection roller1130, a dispenser1140, a functional material supply device P, and a controller C.

The main roller1110is configured to unwind and release the multi-layer patch film100. The multi-layer patch film100is wound on the main roller1110. Then, when the main roller1110operates and rotates, the multi-layer patch film100wound thereon is unwound, and one end of the multi-layer patch film100is released.

The separation roller1120is configured to separate the cover film130from the multi-layer patch film100. When the multi-layer patch film100released from the main roller1110reaches the separation roller1120, the cover film130is separated from the multi-layer patch film100by rotation of the separation roller1120.

The cover film collection roller1130is configured to collect the cover film130separated by the separation roller1120. After the cover film130is separated by the separation roller1120, the separated cover film130is wound on the cover film collection roller1130while the cover film collection roller1130rotates to be collected.

The dispenser1140is a device for applying the functional material143to the base patch140. The dispenser1140may include a nozzle1141for discharging the functional material143. The dispenser1140applies the functional material143to the base patch140of the multi-layer patch film100from which the cover film130is separated by the separation roller1120. Specifically, the functional material143is applied to the adhesive layer142of the base patch140exposed to the outside through the guide hole121in the multi-layer patch film100released from the separation roller1120. The nozzle1141applies the functional material143to the adhesive layer142when the guide hole121is located at a position corresponding thereto. The nozzle1141is disposed above the multi-layer patch film100, and the functional material143may be applied to the guide hole121from above.

In addition, for more accurate application of the functional material143, the dispenser1140or the nozzle1141may be driven in an up-down direction. More specifically, when the guide hole121is located at a position corresponding to the dispenser1140or the nozzle1141, the functional material143may be applied when the dispenser1140or the nozzle1141is driven downward to be closer to the guide hole121. In this case, the functional material143can be applied in a more accurate position and shape.

The dispenser1140may include a plurality of nozzles1141. As described above, n number of guide holes121may be formed in a row in the guide film120along the width direction of the base film110, and the plurality of nozzles1141may be arranged so that n number of nozzles1141form a row to correspond to the n number of guide holes121. In this case, the functional material143may be applied to then number of guide holes121at the same time. The n number of nozzles1141may be disposed in a state fixed to each other in the dispenser1140. For example, one space (not shown) in which the functional material143is accommodated is formed inside the dispenser1140, and the n number of nozzles1141may be configured to communicate with the one space (not shown).

Meanwhile, when the dispenser1140includes n number of nozzles1141and the dispenser1140or the nozzles1141are driven in the up-down direction as described above, the n number of nozzles1141can be driven in the up-down direction at the same time.

The functional material supply device P is a device for supplying the functional material143to the dispenser1140. The functional material supply device P may includes a container for storing the functional material143, a tube connecting the container and the dispenser1140, and a pump for supplying the functional material143from the container to the dispenser1140.

The controller C is a device for controlling the application operation of the dispenser1140and the supply operation of the functional material supply device P. The controller C may be disposed on the side of the dispensing section1100.

The drying section1200is a device for drying the functional material143in the base patch140with the functional material143coated thereon discharged from the dispensing section1100. The drying section1200supplies heat to the functional material143to dry the functional material143. The drying section1200includes a heat supply unit1220for supplying heat. The drying section1200includes a transfer unit1210. The transfer unit1210is configured to transfer the multi-layer patch film100including the base patch140from which the cover film130has been removed and to which the functional material143has been applied. Accordingly, the multi-layer patch film100is moved by the transfer unit1210, and the functional material143is dried by heat through the heat supply unit1220during the transfer process. The base patch140in which the applied functional material143has been dried is referred to as a finished patch.

The heat supply unit1220of the drying section1200according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may be a hot air supply unit1230. The hot air supply unit1230is configured to have a device (not shown) for generating hot air outside, blow the hot air into the drying section1200by a blower (not shown), and supply the hot air to the functional material143. The functional material143can be dried by the hot air.

InFIG.2, it is shown that three drying sections1200as shown inFIG.4are provided, but, as needed, one drying section1200may be provided, and two or more drying sections1200may be provided.

The recovery section1300is a device for recovering the multi-layer patch film100discharged from the drying section1200. That is, the recovery section1300is a device for recovering the multi-layer patch film100on which the finished patch is disposed in a state in which the cover film130is removed. The recovery section1300may include a guide roller1320and a recovery roller1310. While rotating, the recovery roller1310may wind and recover the multi-layer patch film100on which the finished patch is disposed. The guide roller1320is a roller that guides the movement of the multi-layer patch film100when the multi-layer patch film100is moved to the recovery roller1310.

Meanwhile, the separation roller1120, the transfer unit1210of the drying section1200, and the guide roller1320of the recovery section1300may all be positioned at the same height. In this case, while moving from the dispensing section1100, through the drying section1200, to the recovery section1300, the multi-layer patch film100can be moved stably without being bent or deformed.

Hereinafter, with reference toFIG.6, the operation of the dispenser1140of the functional patch manufacturing apparatus1000according to one embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail.

The dispenser1140and the functional material supply device P may be controlled by the controller C to apply the functional material143at predetermined time intervals. For example, the multi-layer patch film100moves at a specific speed V, and when the guide holes121are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the multi-layer patch film100at an interval of a first length L1, a time interval at which the adjacent guide holes121pass through the nozzle1141is determined as a first time T1. In this case, the speed V may be the magnitude of a linear speed of the main roller1110or a linear speed of the separation roller1120. Further, the controller C may control the dispenser1140so that the functional material143is applied from the nozzle1141at the interval of the first time T1.

In addition, as described above, in the guide film120, the guide holes121are arranged so that n number of guide holes form a row and m number of guide holes form a column, and a plurality of guide films120may be disposed on the base film110. In this case, in the guide films120adjacent to each other, when the shortest distance between the guide hole121of one guide film120and the guide hole121of the other guide film120is referred to as a second length L2, a time for the multi-layer patch film100to move by the second length L2is determined as a second time T2. In this case, n number of nozzles1141may be disposed in the dispenser1140, and in the nozzle1141, the functional material143is repeatedly applied m times at the interval of the first time T1, and then the functional material143may be applied again after the second time T2. And, this process may be repeated. That is, the controller C may control the dispenser1140to sequentially repeat an application step in which the dispenser1140repeatedly applies through the nozzle1141the functional material143mtimes at the interval of the first time T1, and a stopping step in which the application of the dispenser1140is stopped during the second time T2. In this case, the functional material143can be accurately applied to each guide hole121even with a simple configuration and setting.

Meanwhile, perforated holes (not shown) may be formed in a region of the base film110outside the guide film120based on the width direction of the multi-layer patch film100. The perforated holes (not shown) may be symmetrically formed on both sides of the guide film120based on the width direction of the multi-layer patch film100. In addition, the perforated holes (not shown) may be formed outside the guide film120based on the longitudinal direction of the multi-layer patch film100, or formed central side of the guide films120.

The dispenser1140may include a perforated hole detection sensor (not shown) for sensing the perforated hole (not shown). The perforated hole detection sensor (not shown) may be disposed at a position corresponding to the perforated hole (not shown). The perforated hole detection sensor (not shown) may sense the perforated hole (not shown) through transmittance of light or sound waves.

Whether or not to start an initial operation of the dispenser1140may be determined by the perforated hole (not shown) and the perforated hole detection sensor (not shown). Specifically, a distance between a specific perforated hole (not shown) and the guide hole121disposed closest thereto rearward based on the moving direction of the multi-layer patch film100is measured in advance, and based on the distance, a time taken when the multi-layer patch film100is moved by the distance is calculated. Initially, the dispenser1140is in a state where the application operation is stopped. Then, when a perforated hole (not shown) is sensed by the perforated hole detection sensor (not shown), the dispenser1140starts to apply the functional material143after the above time. In this case, the nozzle1141of the dispenser1140can more accurately apply the functional material143to the guide hole121.

In addition, a plurality of perforated holes (not shown) may be formed at regular intervals along the longitudinal direction of the multi-layer patch film100. In this case, while the multi-layer patch film100passes through the dispenser1140, the position of the guide film120or the guide hole121can be accurately recognized at regular intervals, based on which the application operation of the dispenser1140can be corrected, so that the nozzle1141of the dispenser1140can more accurately apply the functional material143to the guide hole121.

FIG.7is a perspective view illustrating the operation of a dispensing section according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

Hereinafter, referring toFIG.7, a functional patch manufacturing apparatus1000according to another embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail. The functional patch manufacturing apparatus1000according to another embodiment of the present disclosure further includes a thickness measurement sensor, and the dispenser1140operates according to the measurement result of the thickness measurement sensor. Hereinafter, redundant descriptions of the same parts as those of the functional patch manufacturing apparatus1000according to one embodiment of the present disclosure will be omitted.

The thickness measurement sensor is a sensor for measuring a thickness of each part of the multi-layer patch film100in real time. The thickness measuring sensor may be disposed between the separation roller1120and the dispenser1140or at a position corresponding to the dispenser1140. The thickness measurement sensor is preferably located just before the dispenser1140between the separation roller1120and the dispenser1140in consideration of the little time required for the control process of the controller C.

The multi-layer patch film100has a different thickness for each part. In the case of a portion where only the base film110exists, the thickness is a first thickness D1equal to a thickness of the base film110, and a portion where the guide film120, not the guide hole121, is located, has a second thickness D2greater than the first thickness D1, and a portion where the guide hole121is formed has a third thickness D3greater than the first thickness D1and smaller than the second thickness D2. The thickness measurement sensor can separately measure the first thickness D1, the second thickness D2, and the third thickness D3, and which part of the multi-layer patch film100is passing through the dispenser1140can be determined based on the measurement results.

When it is measured by the thickness measurement sensor that the portion of the second thickness D2passes through the dispenser1140, the controller C determines that the portion of the guide hole121passes through the dispenser1140, and controls the dispenser1140to apply the functional material143. In this case, the dispenser1140can accurately apply the functional material143to the guide holes121even if the distance between the guide holes121or the distance between the guide films120varies.

FIG.8shows a drying section including a near-infrared heater according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure.

Hereinafter, with reference toFIG.8, a functional patch manufacturing apparatus1000according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail. In the functional patch manufacturing apparatus1000according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure, the drying section1200includes a near-infrared heater1240. Hereinafter, redundant descriptions of the same parts as those of the functional patch manufacturing apparatus1000according to one embodiment of the present disclosure will be omitted.

The near-infrared heater1240may include a near-infrared lamp1241and a reflector1242. The near-infrared lamp1241emits near-infrared rays. The emitted near-infrared rays may transfer heat to the functional material143through a radiation phenomenon. The reflector1242may reflect the emitted near-infrared rays so that the near-infrared rays are evenly transmitted to the functional material. In this case, the reflector1242may be disposed on both sides of the near-infrared lamp1241, which allows the near-infrared rays to be supplied to the functional material143very uniformly.

The functional material143may be warmed up to a specific temperature due to the near-infrared rays and radiation caused by the near-infrared rays. The specific temperature may be set to less than 50° C., preferably to 40° C. or more and 45° C. or less. In addition, the functional material143can be dried evenly as a whole within a short period of time due to the transmission of light. In this case, the functional material143can be dried very efficiently and with high quality while preventing deformation of the functional material143.

In addition, when the heat supply unit1220of the drying section1200includes the near-infrared heater1240, unlike the hot air supply unit1230of the drying section1200according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the configuration and structure of the heat supply unit1220can be simplified and thermal efficiency thereof can be increased while minimizing power consumption.

The near-infrared ray lamp1241of the near-infrared heater1240may be a microbeam lamp (not shown) that emits light in a microbeam region. The light in the microbeam region means light having a wavelength of 0.8 μm to 4 μm, and the near-infrared ray lamp1241of the present disclosure may preferably emit light of a wavelength of 0.8 μm to 2 μm among the light in the above microbeam region. Such a microbeam lamp (not shown) takes less than 1 second to reach the maximum output and can be heated very quickly, minimizing production and process time, and having a thermal efficiency of 85% to 90%, which is very economical.

Although one embodiment of the present disclosure has been described above, those skilled in the art may variously modify and change the present disclosure by adding, changing, or deleting the components within the scope of the present disclosure without departing from the idea of the present disclosure described in the claims, and it will be said that such modifications and changes are also included within the scope of the present disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS