Machine for packing medical products and printing medical instructions for a nurse in a hospital environment

Abstract

A packing machine comprising: a receiving unit for receiving packing material; a pulling unit capable of pulling the film by driving pulling cylinders at the front of machine; an unwinding unit capable of unwinding the packing film while keeping the proper film tension; a reading unit capable of reading a photocell mark included on one side of the film with a photocell reflexive device, and sending a signal to stop the film advance when the mark is read; a digital commercial printing device to print medical information; an opening unit to open each pouch by means of an air blow; a product dispenser capable of dispensing the product into the pouch passing through a dropping tube at the same time the mouth is open; and finally a sealing unit to seal the upper and lower part of the pouch, cutting with a serrated knife at the same time.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A MACHINE FOR PACKING MEDICAL PRODUCTS AND PRINTING MEDICAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR A NURSE IN A HOSPITAL ENVIRONMENT, comprising a wheeled chassis on which the following units are installed:
 a) a roll of pre-made pouches, each of which includes a photocell mark on one side thereof;   b) a receiving unit for receiving the roll of pouches and placing it at a support able to unwind the roll of pouches;   c) a pulling unit capable of pulling from the roll of pouches by driving pulling cylinders located at the front of machine;   d) an unwinding unit capable of unwinding the roll of pouches while keeping the proper roll tension;   e) a reading unit capable of reading the photocell mark of the pouches with a photocell reflexive device, and sending a signal to stop the film advance when the mark is read;   f) a digital commercial printing device capable of printing medical information of the material to be packed;   g) an opening unit to open each pouch by means of an air blow;   h) a product dispenser capable of dispensing the product (a drug, vial or cutting the blister pack containing a pill) into the pouch passing by a dropping tube at the same time the mouth is open; and finally   i) a sealing unit to seal the upper and lower part of the pouch, cutting with a serrated knife at the same time.   
     
     
         2 . The machine of  claim 1 , wherein the roll of pre-made pouches comprises a front opaque side on which medical information about the product to be packed is printed, and a crystal side sealed between each other by two longitudinal side seals, including at least one transversal cut per pouch. 
     
     
         3 . The machine of  claim 1 , wherein each pre-made pouch includes a photocell mark on one side thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The machine of  claim 1 , wherein the pulling unit comprises two opposing rubber cylinders. 
     
     
         5 . The machine of  claim 1 , wherein the product dispenser comprises a solid rounded plate with a set of holes, this disc rotates on a supporting base that includes a hole in communication with a feeding tube. 
     
     
         6 . The machine of  claim 1 , wherein the product dispenser comprises a solid rounded plate with a set of peripheral openings, around this disc a peripheral wall is mounted and a hooper-like device is installed to guide the material to be packed to the dispenser; the disc rotates on a supporting base that includes a hole in communication with a feeding tube. 
     
     
         7 . The machine of  claim 1 , wherein the digital commercial printing device uses thermal transference technology to print with a ribbon printer medical information of the material to be packed for patient protection. 
     
     
         8 . The machine of  claim 6 , wherein the medical information printed is at least one of the following: codes, names of drugs, form of presentation, designs, alerts, advice, among others.