Blister Pack Dispensing Machine

• US 20110011880A1
• Filed: 02/12/2009
• Published: 01/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Marti Garcia Sala
• Original Assignee: Marti Garcia Sala
• Inventors: Garcia Sala, Marti
• Application Number:
  US12/934,694
• Publication Number:
  US 20110011880A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 221/68
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 11/48 Enclosing articles, or quantities of material, by folding a wrapper, e.g. a pocketed wrapper, and securing its opposed free margins to enclose contents
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 35/02 Supply magazines
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 5/103 for packaging pills or tablets
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 69/0058 Solid contents

Abstract

The invention relates to a machine for dispensing blister packs that are used to supply tablets, comprising: a storage enclosure (1) for storing a plurality of at least two different types of tablets, including at least one platform (2) on which the tablets or pre-filled blister packs are deposited, which packs include tablet selection means; means for extracting the tablets from said at least one platform and conveying same to a blister strip to be filled; a device (4) for supplying blister pack strips (3), associated with means for transporting said blister strips (3); means for sealing the blister strips (3); and means for controlling and introducing data (5) associated with the tablet selection means, such that a blister strip can be filled with two or more different types of tablets.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising a dispenser machine for blister type pack for the supply of tablets, in which each blister includes a plurality of individual housings so as to receive the tablets, said tablets coming from previously manufactured blister packs or from bulk, which has a storage area where a plurality of tablets of at least two different types are stored and some means for the extraction of the tablets from said at least of one platform to a blister strip to be filled, said storage area including at least one platform onto which the tablets or previously filled blister packs are placed that includes means for the selection of the tablets;

in which the platform includes at least one template formed by a substantially laminar body provided with a plurality of housings into which pre-assembled blister strips are deposited in a matrix-like manner, so that the positioning of the housings coincides with the positioning of the individual cells of blister pack;

a feeder for the blister bands which are not sealed and are empty and connected to blister band conveyor means from the feeder to a collection point;

means for sealing the blister bands; and

control and data introduction means connected to the tablet selection means in such a way each of the cells of the blister band can be filled with a pre-determined number of two or more different types of tablets depending on the working instructions that are pre-established in the control and data introduction means.

2. The dispenser machine according to claim 1, wherein the storage area is made up of a plurality of horizontal platforms arranged in a separate manner to each other at differing heights, so that each platform includes extraction means in an individualised manner.

3. The dispenser machine according to claim 1, wherein the extraction means comprises a pusher mechanism that is axially movable along two axes, X and Y in a sequential manner, supported by a gateway structure arranged over it on at least one platform.

4. The dispenser machine according to claim 1, wherein there are guide means fitted for the tablets from the minimum of one platform to the blister pack to be filled.

5. The dispenser machine according to claim 4, wherein the guide means include a metering hopper that collects the tablets coming from the minimum of one platform, that can move on an axis of coordinates located on the lower part of the minimum of one platform, and above the conveyor means of the blister bands.

6. The dispenser machine according to claim 2, wherein under each platform there is a ramp that is slightly inclined in respect of the horizontal plane attached to an evacuation channel, the end of the evacuation channel is linked to a metering hopper.

7. The dispenser machine according to claim 2, wherein under each platform there is a conveyor belt associated to an evacuation channel, the end of the evacuation channel is linked to a metering hopper.

8. The dispenser machine according to claim 1, wherein the conveyor means consist of a conveyor belt fitted with at least two pulleys (10, 11) located at the ends arranged horizontally from the feeder to the collection point, the movement distance of said conveyor belt being coordinated by the pusher mechanism.

9. The dispenser machine according to claim 1, comprising a printer so as to print on the blister pack.

10. The dispenser machine according to claim 3, wherein the movable pusher mechanism consists of a support element that is axially movable in its upward/downward direction that holds a punch aimed towards the tablet.

11. The dispenser machine according to claim 1, wherein the sealing means consist of a roller that has been heated to a predetermined temperature and is fitted at a point along the conveyor belt and above it.

12. The dispenser machine according to claim 8, wherein the conveyor belt includes a plurality of support elements so as to individually support a blister pack.

13. The dispenser machine according to claim 1, wherein the extraction means comprises a vacuum mechanism.

14. The dispenser machine according to claim 1, wherein the platform includes at least one template formed by an appreciably laminar body fitted with a plurality of housings into which the tablets to be supplied are placed in an individual manner.

15. The dispenser machine according to claim 1, wherein the platform includes at least one template formed by an appreciably laminar body fitted with a plurality of housings into which the pre-assembled blister bands are placed in a die stamped manner.

16. The dispenser machine according to claim 14, wherein the plurality of housings are distributed in a die stamped manner in rows and columns.