SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REMOVING MEDICATION FROM PACKAGING

• US 20080257904A1
• Filed: 04/19/2007
• Published: 10/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MTS Medication Technologies, Inc. (Omnicell Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: MTS Medication Technologies, Inc. (Omnicell Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schiff, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,157,125 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 221/74
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 69/0058 Solid contents

Abstract

Improved solid pharmaceutical dispensing systems and methods provide direct transfer of doses from bulk blister packaging material. In a preferred embodiment, the invention comprises a positioning mechanism that alters the spacing between portions of a de-blister apparatus. The de-blister apparatus comprises a de-blister roller, cylinder or elongated cylindrical toothed gear which pushes against a first side of packaging material to remove individual doses from a conventional blister package. The apparatus may operate under manual or automatic control and preferably includes adjustable or movable package holding rollers which are preferably aligned with portions of packaging material between the rows of blister cavities at a side of the packaging material opposite the side at which the roller or cylinder is located. The de-blister apparatus enables the rapid removal of solid pharmaceutical or nutraceutical products from blister cavities and provides a convenient mechanism for altering the device in order to accommodate different sizes of packaging material.

Claims

1. A system for ejecting solid products contained within a blister package comprising:

a first rotating de-blister member secured within a housing; and

a plurality of spaced apart package holding rollers or gear members rotatably secured adjacent to the first rotating de-blister member.

2. The system for ejecting solid products contained within a blister package of claim 1, wherein first rotating de-blister member is an elongated toothed gear.

3. The system for ejecting solid products contained within a blister package of claim 1, wherein the plurality of spaced apart package holding rollers or gear members are laterally displaceable along the first rotating de-blister member.

4. The system for ejecting solid products contained within a blister package of claim 3, wherein movement of a cam member laterally displaces the plurality of spaced apart package holding rollers or gear members.

5. The system for ejecting solid products contained within a blister package of claim 1, further comprising a hand crank secured to the first rotating de-blister member.