A method for filling and assembling a container for a solid or liquid material and such a container.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a method of filling and assembling containers, which can hold tablets or liquids, for example, for use in the pharmaceutical industry. The present invention further relates to a container as such.

Background of the Invention

Primary package containers such as bottles, dispensers and the like are often filled and assembled in high-speed production lines. Such containers can be used for tablets or liquids that are ingested, e.g. pharmaceuticals, candies or health food. In a known procedure, a container is placed up side down on the production line and filled with the contents via the open bottom and the container is then assembled by sealing the container with a bottom plate. However, novel primary packaging containers tend to have an exterior top surface that does not allow the container to stand up side down during the filling procedure. These novel primary packaging containers are becoming more and more popular due to the attraction of new design optionally involving technical features for the end-user. Mostly it is containers with an uneven top surface, i.e. a rounded top which needs to be filled from the bottom that causes problems in the filling process. In such cases, the container must be hanging up side down or be supported by conveyors in order to be filled properly and then sealed or closed in the bottom. Therefore, changes in the design of the container often means that the production line must be re-built in order to run the new package design in the production line, which is both costly and time consuming.

The Object of the Invention

An object of the present invention is to provide a simple and economical beneficial method for filling and assembling primary package containers and alleviate the drawbacks with the prior art methods.

A farther object of the present invention is to allow for more complex technical solutions on the containers, such as child resistant closures and means for patient compliance provided on the container without complicating the filling and assembling process, and still provide a robust and reliable container.

Summary of the Invention

The above mentioned object is achieved by providing a method of filling and assembling a container for a solid or liquid material, the method comprising the steps of:

- providing on a production line a first container portion having an open end and a closed bottom,

- filling into the first container portion a solid or liquid material,

- sliding a second container portion having an open end and a closed other end, over the first container portion, and

-joining the second container portion to the first container portion to form the final container.

The above mentioned object is also achieved by a container for solid or liquid material, comprising

- a first container portion having an open end and a closed bottom,

- a second container portion slid over the first container portion, the second container portion having an open end and a closed other end, wherein the second container portion is joined to the first container portion such that the final container is formed.

In the present invention, standard packaging lines for top filling of containers can be used also for containers having a novel exterior design, like for example a rounded or uneven top part. The use of a first container portion as an intermediate container during filling, makes it possible to fill the container in a conventional way irrespective of the outer design of the final container and its closure. No extra support on the production line or special conveyor belt design is therefore needed.

According to at least one embodiment of the invention, said step of sliding the second container portion over the first container portion includes sliding the second portion entirely over the first container portion.

The second container portion will cover the walls of the first container portion and can then be fastened to the bottom of the first container portion forming a unitary final container. In this way a robust and double walled container is formed.

According to at least one embodiment of the invention, a further step is provided which involves welding the second container portion to the bottom of the first container portion thereby forming a permanent joining of the two parts.

By welding the two portions to each other, a tight seal is provided between the two parts forming an air and moisture barrier protecting the contents from the atmosphere on the outside.

According to at least one embodiment of the invention, the welding is performed by ultrasonic welding for joining the two parts.

Ultra sonic welding gives the container an effective seal and is at the same time lenient careful to the container material.

In some cases, the contents in the container need not require have an effective air and moisture barrier and therefore another joining technique, such as snap fitting can be used, and thus according to at least one embodiment of the invention, a further step is provided which involves snap fitting the second container portion to the bottom of the first container portion thereby in forming a permanent joining of the two parts.

In some cases, the contents in the container need not have an effective air and moisture barrier and therefore another joining technique, such as snap fitting can be used.

According to at least one embodiment of the invention, the second container portion entirely covers the first container portion.

By entirely covering the first container portion with the second portion the final container will have a uniform and integrated appearance.

According to at least one embodiment of the invention, the second container portion has a rim around its open-end circumference, which is welded to the bottom of the first portion whereby the second container portion is joined to the first container portion.

In this way a very efficient and robust connection between the two parts is attained.

According to at least one embodiment of the invention, the second container portion is snap fitted to the bottom of the first portion for the purpose of forming the container.

Snap fitting is an efficient method to connect the two parts if an effective air and moisture barrier is of less importance.

According to at least one embodiment of the invention, the bottom of the internal container portion has at least one flat surface enabling the first container portion to stand up on a flat surface.

According to at least one embodiment of the invention, a closure is provided on the second container portion covering the opening of the first container portion when the second portion is mounted on the first portion and through which closure the contents can be taken out from the final container.

The contents filled into the first container portion can be taken out from the final container by opening the closure on the second container portion.

According to at least one embodiment of the invention, the closure is provided in the closed other end of the second container portion.

According to at least one embodiment of the invention, the closed other end of the second container portion has an uneven outer surface.

Features attached to a primary package container, such as child resistant features of the closure and/or compliance aid features attached to any part of the container often result in uneven surface on the closure and/or on other container surfaces, i.e. top or wall surfaces.

According to at least one embodiment of the invention, a desiccant is arranged in a space between the walls of the first and second container portions.

In a further aspect the invention relates to a container containing medicaments selected from solid oral formulations or caspule formulations. Suitably the medicaments comprise compounds selected from paracetamol, aspirin, omeprazole (Nexium ^® ), and variants thereof.

Many products to be filled in primary package containers, especially pharmaceutical products need to be protected from moisture by a desiccant. By arranging a desiccant between the walls of the final container, the desiccant is hidden away from the user but securely attached in the container.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The present invention will now be described, for exemplary purposes, in more detail by way of embodiments and with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which:

Figures Ia to Ib illustrate schematic views of a container to be filled and assembled in a

production line in a known way, and

Figures 2a, 2b and 2c are schematic views of a primary package container to be filled and assembled in a production line in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

Figures Ia to Ib show a standard filling and assembling method for a primary package container being filled from the bottom. In Fig. Ia, a container 2 having an open bottom part is placed up side down on a supporting rail 4 in a production line and filled with the contents. Due to the shape of the container, i.e. the rounded top part, it has to be supported by rails on the production line. After the filling has been completed, the container 2 is assembled by attaching a bottom part 6 to the open end of the container, see Fig. Ib.

Figure 2a to 2c illustrate schematically the filling and assembling method according to the invention. A first internal container portion 10 is positioned on a production line (not shown) to be filled through an opening in the top. After filling, the second container portion 12 is slid over and onto the first portion 10. In one embodiment of the invention, the second container portion is slid entirely over the first portion and will cover it completely. The two parts 10, 12 are then joined to each other to form the final container 14.

The first container portion 10 basically has the form of the container but is only slightly smaller to allow the second container portion 12 to be slid over it. The first container portion has at least one flat surface in its bottom enabling it to stand up on a flat surface such as on a production line or on a table. The assembled container 14 will be double- walled as the first container portion serves as an internal container portion and the second container portion serves as the external container part. The final container being double- walled has the advantage that it becomes relatively soundproof. Accordingly, a container of the invention filled with tablets will rattle less than an ordinary, single walled container filled with tablets. Another advantage is that different features of the container can be

arranged between the two walls. In one embodiment of the invention a cavity is arranged in the first container portion in which cavity a desiccant can be placed. Further, the first container part can be made of a transparent material such that the contents can be viewed through the bottom of the final container.

The external container portion has an open end, which is only slightly larger in its dimensions than the dimensions of the first container portion to allow it to be slid over the first portion. The external container has a closure in its other, opposite closed end covering an opening, i.e. an access hole in the external container portion through which contents can be taken out from the final container. Further, the external container may be provided with compliance aid devices in order to facilitate for the user to remember when the last dose was taken or when the next dose is due.

In one embodiment the external portion is entirely slid over the first container portion and the rim around the open-end circumference of the second container portion is welded to the bottom of the first container portion to permanently join the two parts to each other. In a preferred embodiment, ultra sonic welding is used to join the two parts to each other. However, other techniques may also be used such as snap fitting the two parts together or gluing them together.

The container is suitable for storing various types of medicaments in different forms. Examples of such medicaments are solid oral formulations (tablets) and capsule formulations, i.a. medicaments comprising paracetamol, aspirin, omeprazole (e.g. Nexium ^® ), and variants thereof.

Further, it will be understood that the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments but can be modified in many different ways without departing from the scope of the appended claims.