Abstract:
A device for detecting the removal of a product from a packing system by an electronic unit. The products are arranged in individual bags which are sealed by a sealing film that can be perforated so as to remove a product from a bag. The device has a combination of layers including at least one supporting plate and a coating layer which is applied thereto. The combination of layers is connected to the packing system in such a way that the coating layer faces the sealing film. The coating layer is provided with individual strip conductors, each of which runs across an area that is assigned to a bag and is electrically interrupted when a product is removed from the respective bag. The supporting plate includes openings, each of which is assigned to a bag. A product which is removed from a bag is guided through the respective opening.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This is a nationalization of PCT/DE03/00180 filed Jan. 23, 2003 and published in German. 
   The current invention concerns a device for recording the removal of a product from a packaging arrangement by means of an electronic device where the products are arranged in individual packets sealed off by a sealing foil that is perforable for removal of a product. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Blister packet arrangements are known in which are arranged, on the surface of the sealing foil, conductive tracks, which run over the pocket zones of the blister packet arrangement and which are interrupted upon removal of a medication from a pocket. The blister packet arrangement is connectable to an electronic unit, which detects such interruptions for recording the removal of the medication and stores them to memory. 
   One problem consists therein that the blister packets must be imprinted with conductive tracks during their production, thus requiring elaborate and costly processing steps and production systems. For this reason, such blister packet arrangements are not particularly well suited for implementing pilot projects, in which blister packets are produced in only relatively small numbers of units for limited use. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Therefore, the task of the current invention consists in creating a device, by which the removal of the product from a packaging arrangement can be recorded in an extremely simple and secure manner. 
   This task is resolved by a device for recording the removal of a product from a packaging arrangement by means of an electronic unit in which the products are arranged in individual pockets sealed off by a sealing foil that is perforable for the removal of a product from a pocket. The device exhibits the form of a composite layering, comprised of at least one carrier plate and of a cover layer applied thereupon. The composite layering is unitable with the packaging arrangement in such a manner that the cover layer of the sealing foil faces the packaging arrangement, that the cover layer exhibits individual conductive tracks, of which respectively one runs over the zone respectively ascribed to one pocket of the packaging arrangement and, upon removal of a product from the corresponding pocket of the packaging arrangement, the individual conductive track is electrically interruptible. In addition, the carrier plate exhibits openings, of which respectively one is ascribed to a pocket of the packaging arrangement, whereby respectively one product taken out of a pocket of the packaging arrangement can be guided through the corresponding opening of the carrier plate. 
   A special advantage of the current invention consists in that the present device is designed as a composite layering, which is comprised of a cover layer supporting the conductive tracks and of a carrier plate, in which openings are provided for letting the products pass through, out of a packaging arrangement, bound with the composite layering. Based on the requirements, this composite layering is bindable to packaging arrangements that properly match up. 
   Another special advantage of the current invention consists therein that the present device can be designed in such a manner that removal of the product by small children can be safely avoided. To this end, the carrier plate exhibits a safety layer on its face opposite the packaging arrangement. Prior to removing the product from the packaging arrangement bound to the device, a peel back section, protecting the corresponding opening of the carrier plate, must be detached from the safety layer and pulled off. Only after having pulled off the peel back section, can the corresponding product be expressed out through the corresponding opening of the carrier plate. The conductive track of the safety layer ascribed to the pocket of the packaging arrangement is thereby irreversibly severed and an electronic unit recognizes the change in status of the packaging arrangement connected to the device. The electronic unit is thereby located in a holding device into which the packaging arrangement connected to the present device is inserted. 
   Another essential advantage of the current invention consists therein that upon insertion of the device connected to the packaging arrangement into the holding device, it is ensured that the carrier plate automatically lands in the proper plug connection position so that the conductive tracks are properly connected to the electronic unit. 
   An asymmetrical arrangement of the guiding elements, preferably of punched-in elements, allows for only one distinct positioning of the device connected with the packaging arrangement into the holding device. 
   Erroneous interceptions of signals due to faulty insertion of the device connected to the packaging arrangement into the holding device can be advantageously and securely avoided. This is achieved in that the electronic unit will only then be activated, when the device is located into the proper plug contact position. Owing to this, problems can be avoided that are attributable to the operations involved in inserting the device into the holding device. Such operations could lead to contact interruptions, thus simulating the removal of a product, as after having established one individual electrical connection between the device and the electronic unit, while relative movements are being exerted between the device and the holding device during insertion. 
   Coding on the carrier plate by means of punched-in elements, holes, slits, bar codes or electronic processes etc. makes it possible for the electronic unit to recognize which product is lodged in the packaging arrangement connected to the device. This coding is possible, for example, by punching in slits into the carrier plate, which interrupts the closed contacts to the electronic unit, or can be realized by imprinting on to the carrier plate conductive contact spots/lands whose varying configuration can be assigned to a corresponding product contained in the packaging arrangement. 
   In order to produce a bond between the device and the packaging arrangement that is durable, the edge zones of the packaging arrangement and/or of the device are preferably bound by a surrounding adhesive. In this manner, a largely durable bond has been ensured between the packaging arrangement and the conductive track carrying, perforable cover layer and the carrier plate of the present device. 
   An economically sensible production and the positionally oriented matchup of the packaging arrangement with the device are advantageously ensured. This is resolved in accordance with the invention in that on the cover foil of the packaging arrangement, one or several registration marks are imprinted, which, for example, can be read by an optical control unit or through one or several windows of the device. This type of production is carried out in the industry under the concept of “roll on roll production”. That is to say, that on the packaging arrangements filled with products and sealed off with a sealing foil, the devices in accordance with the invention, coming from a roll, are led to a machine, which places the devices into positional orientation, that is, exactly on registration mark on top of the packaging arrangements and respectively binds the packaging arrangements and the devices in a durable manner, preferably, by an adhering/sealing process. A subsequent punching process punches in the final form desired for the packaging arrangements. 
   But it is also possible to unite the device with a packaging arrangement, which was punched out beforehand, in such a manner that the union is durably registration-mark precise. To this end, the packaging arrangement is laid in a pickup attachment, which receives the pockets and/or a pleat in the packaging arrangement. The device is placed on to the plane lying underside of the packaging arrangement, thus, on to the sealing foil of the packaging arrangement. Hereby, locating orientation is also achieved through the registration marks, which are electronically read or controlled, and/or through the means of auxiliary mechanical guides. 
   The contact spots/lands of the severable, conductive track supporting cover layer and the contact spots/lands of the carrier plate are purposefully durably connected by a conductive adhesive. 
   This is advantageous in that this durable bonding ensures a secure contact between the contact spots of the cover layer and of the carrier plate. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The inventions and their forms of embodiment shall be more closely detailed in the following with the aid of the figures. Are shown in: 
       FIG. 1 , the carrier plate of the present device seen from above, with the openings, which are aligned to match up with the pockets of the packaging arrangements to be positioned, as well as with the common terminal contact points and the individual contact points; 
       FIG. 2 , the cover layer with the conductive tracks of the present invention, seen from below; 
       FIG. 3 , the carrier plate, seen from below with a partial view over the cover layer and of its individual conductive tracks through the openings of the carrier plate; 
       FIG. 4 , a section through the packaging arrangement and the various layers of the device in accordance with the invention, wherein beneath the packaging arrangement is represented the cover layer with the conductive tracks, which are affixed to the carrier plate by means of a conductive adhesive, whereby for small child safety, a safety layer can be applied on the underside of the carrier plate, whose detachable pull off zones cover the openings of the carrier plate; 
       FIG. 4   a , the individual layers of the composite layering of the device in accordance with the invention in a united state; 
       FIG. 4   b , the individual layers of the composite layering of the device in accordance with the invention and the packaging arrangement united with said device; 
       FIG. 5 , the carrier plate dressed with the safety layer, wherein the peelable pull-off zones are visible; 
       FIG. 6 , a representation for explaining the mode of operation of the current device, wherein a product was expressed out of the packaging arrangement, after a pull off zone of the safety layer had been previously removed, said safety layer serving for small child safety; 
       FIG. 7   a , the packaging arrangement bound to the present device prior to insertion into the holding device; 
       FIG. 7   b , the packaging arrangement bound to the present device after insertion into the holding device; 
       FIGS. 8-12 , further embodiments of the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. 
   The following considerations led to the invention. In order to avoid high production costs attributable to the imprinting of conductive tracks on to the packaging arrangements, specifically during pilot phase development of and testing on the packaging arrangements, in which electronic monitoring of product removal is carried out, in particular on blister packets, we propose a device comprised of several layers produced separately from the packaging arrangements and then to subsequently unite said device to said packaging arrangements. In this manner, the costs incurred on the production side of packaging arrangements on the one hand are reduced and the separately produced devices for the secure recording of product removal can be separately produced and depending on the requirements, can then be united with the packaging arrangements. The devices are individually tailored to the packaging arrangements. 
   The present device is essentially comprised of a composite layering  50 , seen in  FIG. 4   a , which is united with a packaging arrangement  1  in accordance with  FIG. 4   b.    
   The packaging arrangement  1  hereby exhibits, in the standard manner, several pockets  2   a  through  2   g  for receiving, e.g., medications, in particular tablets, electronic components, sweets or other products  20 . 
   For example, the packaging arrangement  1  exhibits two rows of pockets, arranged running side by side, each said row with respectively three pockets  2   b ,  2   c ,  2   d  or  2   e ,  2   f ,  2   g , and one additional pocket  2   a , arranged at the center of the one end of the rows facing on another. To the side of the center pocket  2   a , opposite the two pocket rows, a larger pocket shaped compartment  3  can be arranged, into which a folded information sheet or such similar sheet can be provided. Other arrangements or patterns of pockets are possible. 
   The composite layering  50  is comprised of a carrier layer or a carrier plate  10 , which is preferably composed of a specifically flexible plastic material, preferably of PVC, and is comprised of a cover layer  6  provided with individual conductive tracks  7   a ′ through  7   g ′, said cover layer being arranged on the one side of the carrier plate  10  in such a manner that the individual conductive tracks  7   a ′ through  7   g ′ are arranged on the side opposite from the carrier plate  10  and on the side facing the packaging arrangement  1  to be secured. Possibly, a safety layer  27  is arranged on the side of the carrier plate  10  lying opposite the cover layer  6 , which shall be more closely detailed later. 
   In accordance with  FIG. 2 , various individual contact spots  7   a  through  7   g  are arranged on the cover layer  6 , wherein each contact spot is assigned respectively one punched hole or opening  13   a  and  13   g  on the carrier plate  10  and is arranged in proximity of said hole or opening. 
   From each individual contact spot  7   a  through  7   g  runs an individual conductive track  7   a ′ through  7   g ′ on the cover layer  6 , via a corresponding opening  13   a  through  13   g  through the carrier plate  10  located beneath it, to a common conductive track  9  on the cover layer  6 , running centrally preferably between the two rows of openings of the carrier plate  10 , said common conductive track being connected to a common contact spot  8  of the cover layer  6 . 
   By means of this arrangement, it is ensured that outgoing from the common contact spot  8  of the cover layer  6 , an electrical connection is established via one respective conductive track  7   a ′ through  7   g ′ running through an opening  13   a  through  13   g  to the individual contact spot  7   a  through  7   g  assigned to the respective opening  13   a  through  13   g.    
   The packaging arrangement  1  is placed upon the composite layering  50  in such a manner that the areas of the pockets  2   a  through  2   g , to be expressed out, are aligned with the openings  13   a  through  13   g  of the carrier plate  10 . In the case of product removal from a pocket  2   a  through  2   g , the electrical connection, assigned to the pocket or opening, between the common contact spot  8  and the respective individual contact spot  7   a  through  7   g , is interrupted. 
   Assigned to the cover layer  6  that is designed in such a manner is the previously mentioned carrier plate  10 , which can be seen in  FIGS. 1 through 3 . Depending on the configured pattern of the contact spots  7   a  through  7   g  and  8  of the cover layer  6 , the carrier plate  10  exhibits, on its one face, a pattern of individual contact spots  11   a  through  11   g  and of one common contact spot  12 , wherein the contact spots  11   a  through  11   g  have the same registration orientation as the individual contact spots  7   a  through  7   g  of the cover layer  6  and the common contact spot  12  has the same registration orientation as the common contact spot  8  of the cover layer  6 , when the underside of the cover layer  6  is laid upon the surface of the carrier plate  10  exhibiting the contact spots  11   a  through  11   g  and  12 . 
   Depending on the configured pattern of the pockets  2   a  through  2   g  and of the compartment  3  of the packaging arrangement  1 , the carrier plate  10  exhibits openings  13   a  through  13   g  corresponding to the pockets  2   a  through  2   g  and an opening  13  corresponding to the compartment  3 , said openings being alignable with pockets  2   a  through  2   g  or with compartment  3 . 
   The composite layering  50  is preferably dimensioned such that the carrier plate  10  projects beyond the packaging arrangement  1  on all sides when it has been united with the packaging arrangement  1  which shall be detailed later. 
     FIGS. 4 ,  4   a  and  4   b  show a section representing how the cover layer  6  is secured to the carrier plate  10 , wherein the individual contact spots  7   a  through  7   g  of the cover layer  6  (compare to  FIG. 2 ) are then electrically connected to the corresponding individual contact spots  11   a  through  11   g  (compare to  FIGS. 4 ,  4   a ) of the carrier plate  10 , and the common contact spot  8  of the packaging arrangement  1  is electrically connected to the common contact spot  12  of the carrier plate  10 .  FIG. 4   b  shows a section representing the state in which the packaging arrangement  1  is united with the composite layering  50  of the current device. It is hereby of utmost importance that the compartment  3  and the pockets  2   a  through  2   g  of the packaging arrangement  1  are aligned with the openings  13 ,  13   a  through  13   g  of the carrier plate  10 . 
   This is achieved in  FIG. 4  in that the carrier plate  10  and the cover layer  6  are mutually oriented to line up together and are pressed to one another, according to the configuration of preferably adhesive registration points  19  on the contact spots  11   a  through  11   g  and  12  of the carrier plate  10  of the composite layering  50  and/or on the contact spots  7   a  through  7   g  and  8  of the cover layer  6 . After this and once the adhesive of the registration points  19  has hardened, electrical connections are established between the mutually assigned contact spots  7   a  through  7   g  and  8  of the cover layer  6  and the contact spots  11   a  through  11   g  and  12  of the carrier plate  10 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , off to the one side, preferably on the front end of the carrier plate  10 , are located individual terminal contact points  16   a  through  16   g  and a common terminal contact point  17 , preferably in a row, next to one another. Each individual terminal contact point  16   a  through  16   g  is connected to a specific contact spot  11   a  through  11   g  of the carrier plate  10  via an individual conductive track  16 . The common terminal contact point  17  is connected to the common contact spot  12  of the carrier plate  10  via a common conductive track  17   a.    
   In this manner, electrical connections are established in the finished product of the composite layering  50  of the current device as per  FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b , said electrical connections being between each individual terminal contact point  16   a  through  16   g , via the individual conductive tracks  16  (compare to  FIG. 1 ), to the individual contact spots  11   a  through  11   g  of the carrier plate  1 , and via the adhesive registration points  19 , to the individual contact spots  7   a  through  7   g  of the safety layer  6 . This also generally applies to the common contact spots  17 ,  12 ,  8 . 
   Upon removal of the product  20  from the packaging arrangement  1 , or for example, upon removal of the product  20  from the pocket  2   a  in  FIG. 6 , by expression of the product  20  out of the packaging arrangement  1 , the sealing foil  5  of the packaging arrangement  1  as well as the individual conductive track  7   a  of the cover layer  6  are broken through, so that the corresponding electrical connection is interrupted, thus indicating the specific removal of the product. All other electrical connections remain unchanged during this operation. 
   In accordance with  FIGS. 7   a ,  7   b , the current composite layering  50  is inserted into a schematically represented receiving part  23  of a holding device, which does not figure in a more detailed representation, whereby the electronic unit or an electronic module (not represented) contained in the receiving part  23  is connected, via the individual terminal contact points  24   a  through  24   g  and the common terminal contact point  25 , to the terminal contact points  16   a  through  16   g  and  17  (compare to  FIG. 4 ) of the composite layering  50 . 
   In order to prevent the initial establishment of current flowing between the common terminal contact point  25  of the receiving part  23  and an individual terminal contact point  24   a  through  24   g  of the receiving part  23  during insertion, and to avoid being interrupted again, upon subsequent insertion of the packaging arrangement  50  into the receiving part  23 , which would be falsely interpreted by the electronic unit as meaning that a product was removed, the common terminal contact point  17  of the carrier plate  10  (compare to  FIG. 7 ) in the insertion pack P is dimensioned to be shorter than the individual terminal contact points  16   a  through  16   g  of the carrier plate  10 , so that contact is made between the common terminal contact point  17  of the carrier plate  10  and the common contact spot  25  of the receiving part  23  assigned to it, only then after secure contact has been made between the individual terminal contact points  16   a  through  16   g  of the carrier plate and the assigned individual terminal contact points  24   a  through  24   g  of the receiving part  23 . 
   In order to ensure adjustment and alignment of the present device united with the packaging arrangement  1  transverse to the insertion pack P in terms of the receiving part  23 , the carrier plate  10 , on its front end, on the face with its terminal contact point rows  16   a  through  16   g ,  17 , exhibits an alignment slot  15  or  15   a , wherein these alignment slots  15  and  15   a  are asymmetrically arranged relative to the longitudinal center line of the carrier plate  10  (compare, for example, to  FIG. 7   a ,  7   b ). In the receiving part  23  are arranged corresponding nose tabs  29  or  29   a  (schematically represented in  FIGS. 7   a ,  7   b ), which catch in the alignment slots  15  and  15   a  when the carrier plate  10  is properly positioned in the receiving part  23 . Only then can the electrical connections be established between the terminal contact points  16   a  through  16   g  and  17  and  24   a  through  24   g  and  25 . 
   We would also like to point out that conversely, the nose tabs can be arranged on the packaging arrangement  1  and the alignment slots can be arranged on the receiving part  23 . 
   It is also conceivable to design the terminal contact point  17  to correspond with the individual terminal contact points  16   a  through  16   g , and instead of that, to design the common terminal contact point  25  in the receiving part  23  shorter, in the direction of insertion P, than the individual contact spots in the receiving part  23 , so that upon inserting the carrier plate  10  into the receiving part  23  in the direction of insertion P, the contact between the common terminal contact point  25  of the receiving part  23  and the common terminal contact point  17  of the carrier plate  10  is established later than the contacts between the individual terminal contact points  24   a  through  24   g  of the receiving part  23  and the individual terminal contact points  16   a  through  16   g  of the carrier plate  10 . 
   In the following, another essential feature of the current invention is explained: 
   On the underside of the carrier plate  10 , and in the manner shown in  FIG. 5 , an additional safety layer  27  is applied, preferably consisting of material similar to paper, which exhibits a peel back zone  3 ′ or  2   a ′ through  2   g ′, ascribed to each individual opening  13 ,  13   a  through  13   g  or ascribed to the carrier plate  10 , said peel back zone covering the edge area of the corresponding opening. When using the packaging arrangement  1 , prior to expressing a product  20  out or prior to opening the compartment  3 , the corresponding peel back zone  3  must be pulled off. 
   The peel back zones  2   a ′ through  2   g ′ and  3 ′ are detachably affixed by pressure application of a detachable adhesive bonding compound to the underside of the carrier plate  10  and detachably affixed to the cover layer  27  over punched-in lines  22 . 
   This permits preventing small children (as a rule, up to the age of 42 months) from removing products from the packaging arrangement due to their inherent drive of playing with everything, since, as a rule, such children are usually not capable of carrying out two different operations, namely of pulling off the peel back zone and after that, of expressing the product out. 
   In accordance with  FIG. 1 , it is conceivable to provide slits  14 , running in the longitudinal edges of the carrier plate  10  in the insertion pack P, which catch in corresponding (not represented) projections of the receiving part  23  or of the holding device, when the carrier plate  10  reaches the proper position in the receiving part  23 . In this manner, a secured stop ensures that the packaging arrangement  1  in the receiving part  23  is not unintentionally pulled out. These slits  14  are also especially useful when the composite layering  50  is to be placed upon an individual packaging arrangement  1  in the proper positional orientation. 
     FIG. 11   c  shows a pickup attachment  28 , which is receiving the packaging arrangement  1 . The internal form of the pickup attachment  28  corresponds to the form of the packaging arrangement  1 . In accordance with  FIGS. 11   a  (top view) and  11   d  (section), a packaging arrangement is laid into the pickup attachment  28 . The composite layering  50 , comprised of a cover layer  6 , a carrier plate  10  and a safety layer  27 , can now be united with the packaging arrangement  10  in proper form and manner. For the exact proper positioning of the openings  13 ,  13   a  through  13   g , the packaging arrangement  1  is laid down with the slots  14  of the carrier plate  10  on auxiliary guides  38 ,  38   a  of the pickup attachment  28  (compare to  FIGS. 12   a ,  12   c ,  12   d ). This allows the pockets  2   a  through  2   g  of the packaging arrangement  1  to align themselves with the openings  13 ,  13   a  through  13   g  of the carrier plate  10  of the composite layer  50 . 
   To make it possible to indicate the contents of the respective packaging arrangement, the carrier plate  10  can exhibit the previously mentioned types of coding, which can be read by the electronic unit. A preferred form of embodiment emerges from  FIGS. 8 ,  8   a ,  9 ,  9   a  and  9   b.    
   In the carrier plate  10  of the composite layering  50 , on the front end to be inserted into the receiving part  23 , are arranged coding slots  26 ,  26   a  through  26   c , which work together with contact springs  37 ,  37   a  through  37   c , which are purposefully arranged in the receiving part  23  in the insertion pack P.  FIG. 9  shows such a contact spring  37  from above and from the side. In the receiving part  23  are contact springs  37 , as seen in  FIGS. 9   a  and  9   b , secured to an upper printed circuit board  30  in such a manner that its contacting areas rest against a contact spot  32  of a lower printed circuit board  31  set opposite the upper printed circuit board  30 . 
   Depending on whether the contact springs  37 ,  37   a - c  hit or do not hit upon a coding slot  26 ,  26   a  through  26   c  when the carrier plate  10  is inserted into the insertion pack P, the contact between the contact spring and the contact spot will be interrupted or not interrupted. In this manner, for example when there are four contact springs, depending on the predetermined arrangement of the coding slots or the absence of coding slots, various statements can be made as to the contents or the type of packaging arrangement  1  and can be recorded or displayed by the electronic unit. 
   In relation to  FIGS. 10 ,  10   a  and  10   b , a preferred process for applying the present device on top of the sealing foil  5  of the packaging arrangement  1  shall now be described. To this end, the composite layering  50  exhibits windows  33 ,  33   a  arranged in its layers, which, when in proper set position, are aligned with registration marks  34 ,  34   a , which are applied to the sealing foil  5  of the packaging arrangement  1 . After, for example, the edge areas  1  of the packaging arrangements  1  have been provided with adhesive registration points  19 , the individual packaging arrangements  1  are conveyed in their longitudinal direction, positioned one behind the other in path formation, whereby approaching from above are also devices positioned one behind the other in path formation, and finally are conveyed parallel to the packaging arrangements  1 , until, preferably, an optical sensor recognizes that the windows  33 ,  33   a  of a composite layering  50  are aligned with the registration marks  34 ,  34   a  of a packaging arrangement  1 . As soon as this occurs, the composite layering  50  is pressed against the packaging arrangement  1  and is united with the sealing foil  5  of the latter, in particular is adhered therewith. 
   The invention being thus described, it will be apparent that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be recognized by one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.