GB2267482A

GB2267482A - Blister packaging

Info

Publication number: GB2267482A
Application number: GB9311619A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Vincent Paul Mccarthy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-06-06
Filing date: 1993-06-04
Publication date: 1993-12-08
Anticipated expiration: 2013-06-04
Also published as: GB2267482B; GB9311619D0; GB9212050D0

Abstract

A blister (1) for use in association with a backing (51) to form a blister package is provided at at least part of its periphery with a flange (52). The flange (52) is coated with adhesive and a removable masking such that, in use and after removal of the masking, the blister (1) may be secured at the flange (52) to the backing (51). The adhesive is conveniently applied to the flange (52) in the form of a double-sided adhesive tape (54) with a protective paper mask. <IMAGE>

Description

Title : Packaging This invention relates to packaging, in particular to packaging of the type known as blister packaging.

Blister packaging is widely used for the packaging of many different articles. A blister pack typically comprises a flat support, eg of card, which is printed with information about the product contained within the package, and a pre-formed plister, generally of clear plastics, which is secured at its edges to the card and which encloses the product.

Hitherto, such packages have been prepared by coating the support with an adhesive such that an adhesive bond can be achieved between the blister and the support by the application of heat and pressure.

Such known forms of blister package suffer from the disadvantage that they are relatively difficult to assemble.

In addition, the two components are relatively difficult to separate after use in such a manner that both can be recycled.

There has now been devised an improved form of blister pack which overcomes or substantially mitigates the above-mentioned disadvantages.

According to the invention there is provided a blister for use in association with a backing to form a blister package, the blister being provided at at least part of its periphery with a flange, the flange being coated with adhesive and a removable masking such that, in use and after removal of the masking, the blister may be secured at the flange to the backing.

The blister according to the invention is advantageous primarily in that it can be readily assembled with the backing to form a blister package.

A variety of adhesives may be used in the blister according to the invention. For example, the adhesive may be an acrylicbased adhesive or a rubber-based adhesive.

Conveniently, the adhesive is applied to the flange as a double-sided adhesive tape ie a thin film of material, eg a plastics material such as polyethylene, coated on both sides with adhesive. Such tapes are widely available in roll form with a protective paper mask applied to one side. Suitable tapes include those sold by Advance Tapes Ltd, Thurmaston, Leicester under the catalogue numbers AT304 and AT309.

The blister will generally be of plastics material, most commonly a clear plastics, eg PVC. The flange preferably extends around the whole periphery of the blister.

The blister is preferably vacuum-formed. Most conveniently, a number of blisters are vacuum-formed simultaneously in a single sheet of plastics.

It is preferred that the masking is provided with a protruding tab to facilitate removal of the masking. Where the adhesive is applied in the form of double-sided adhesive tape with a protective paper mask, it is particularly preferred that the tab should protrude inwards from the flange into the blister.

In this way, when assembled blisters are stacked or nested on top of each other, the adhesive face of the tab is pressed against the internal face of the blister. The resilience of the paper mask then frequently causes the paper mask of the tab to separate from the adhesive tape, making it particularly easy to remove the mask. Even if the mask and the adhesive tape do not separate automatically at the tab, slight thumbnail pressure is sufficient.

The use of a double-sided tape as the adhesive is also particularly preferred since this facilitates recycling of both the blister and the support after use. Once the blister and support have been separated, the adhesive tape may be removed leaving both the blister and the support in recyclable form.

According to another aspect of the invention, therefore, there is provided a blister package comprising a support and a blister provided at at least part of its periphery with a flange, wherein the blister is secured to the support by a double-sided adhesive tape interposed between the flange and the support.

The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of illustration only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a plan view of one corner of a sheet of vacuumformed blisters; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the sheet of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of part of a sheet of double-sided adhesive tape corresponding to the sheet of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a press used in the assembly of a blister package according to the invention; Figure 5 is a sectional view of a blister package according to the invention; and Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 3 of a second sheet of double-sided adhesive tape corresponding to the sheet of Figure 1.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, a number of blisters 1 are vacuum-formed in a sheet 2 of clear PVC. The number of blisters 1 may vary widely, but typically an array of 6 x 4 blisters may be formed.

The sheet of double-sided tape 3 shown in Figure 3 corresponds in size to the sheet 2 of Figure 1. The tape 3 is provided on one side with a protective paper masking and holes 4 corresponding in size and position to the internal dimensions of the blisters 1 are punched in it.

A blister according to the invention is assembled by placing the sheet of tape 3 on a suitable former (which may be a sheet of blisters similar to the sheet 2) with the sticky side facing up. The sheet 2 of blisters is then placed over the former so that the tape 3 adheres to the underside of the sheet 2. Finally, the sheet 2 is cut in a conventional manner into individual blisters 1, each with a peripheral flange to the underside of which is affixed the double-sided tape 3.

For assembly of the blisters 1 into blister packages, the press shown in Figure 4 is used. This comprises a base 41 to which is pivotally connected (by means of hinges 42) a press member 43.

The base 41 is provided with a first recess which receives an insert 44 which in turn is provided with a second recess 45 of suitable dimensions to receive a blister 1. The protective paper masking is removed from the blister 1 which is then placed, upside down, in the second recess 45. The product to be packaged is inserted into the blister 1 and a card backing placed face-down on top of the insert 44 (locating pins or other guides may be provided to ensure proper positioning of the backing with respect to the blister 1).

Finally, the press member 43 is pivoted downwards by means of a handle 46 to exert pressure on the backing and blister 1 and bring about a secure bond between them. The press member 43 is then raised and the assembled package removed.

Different inserts 44 may be used for different sizes of blister and/or backing.

As can be seen from Figure 5, the assembled package according ot the invention comprises a backing card 51, typically of printed card, and a blister 1 with a peripheral flange 52.

The blister 1 encloses a product (represented schematically by the shaded rectangle 53), and is secured to the card 51 by means of double-sided adhesive tape 54 interposed between the card 51 and the flange 52.

The sheet of double-sided adhesive tape 60 shown in Figure 6 has a protective paper masking on one side. Holes 61 corresponding in size and position to the internal dimensions of the blisters 1 of Figure 1 are punched in the sheet 60.

The holes 61 differ from the holes 4 of Figure 3 in that inwardly-protruding tabs 62 are formed at one side of each hole 61.

Claims

1. A blister for use in association with a backing to form blister package, the blister being provided at at least part of its periphery with a flange, the flange being coated with adhesive and a removable masking such that, in use and after removal of the masking, the blister may be secured at the flange to the backing.

2. A blister as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the adhesive is an acrylic-based adhesive.

3. A blister as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the adhesive is a rubber-based adhesive.

4. A blister as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the adhesive is applied to the flange as a double-sided adhesive tape.

5. A blister as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the flange extends around the whole periphery of the blister.

6. A blister as claimed in any preceding claim, which is of plastics material.

7. A blister as claimed in Claim 6, which is vacuum-formed.

8. A blister as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the masking is provided with a protruding tab to facilitate removal of the masking.

9. A blister as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the adhesive is applied in the form of double-sided adhesive tape with a protective paper mask, and the tab protrudes inwards from the flange into the blister.

10. A blister package comprising a support and a blister provided at at least part of its periphery with a flange, wherein the blister is secured to the support by a doublesided adhesive tape interposed between the flange and the support.

11. A blister substantially as hereinbefore described.

12. A blister substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

13. A blister package substantially as hereinbefore described.

14. A blister package substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.