SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MONITORING BLISTER PACK COMPLIANCE

• US 20180156756A1
• Filed: 12/01/2016
• Published: 06/07/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC (Avery Dennison Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Avery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC (Avery Dennison Corporation)
• Inventors: FORSTER, Ian J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,677,761 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/035 Blister-type containers blisters in general B65D75/36
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2200/70 Device provided with specific sensor or indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/011 Velocity or travel time
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/015 Attenuation, scattering
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/102 one emitter, one receiver
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/2695 Bottles, containers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/2698 Other discrete objects, e.g. bricks
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/043 in the interior, e.g. by shear waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/07 by measuring propagation velocity or propagation time of acoustic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/12 by measuring frequency or resonance of acoustic waves measuring frequency or resonant frequency of mechanical vibrations or acoustic waves in general G01H1/06, G01H3/04, G01H13/00; acoustic resonators G10K11/04; vibration or shock testing of structures G01M7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/223 Supports, positioning or alignment in fixed situation mounting transducers per se G10K11/004
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/343 pulse waves, e.g. particular sequence of pulses, bursts
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/348 with frequency characteristics, e.g. single frequency signals, chirp signals measuring frequency of mechanical vibrations or acoustic waves in general G01H1/06, G01H3/04; measuring frequency or analysing frequency spectra G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/46 by spectral analysis, e.g. Fourier analysis or wavelet analysis spectral signal processing per se G06F17/14

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a system for determining discontinuities in a blister pack. The system includes a blister pack and a discontinuity sensing apparatus coupled to the blister pack. The blister pack includes a tray with a plurality of cells and a seal layer arranged to seal the cells. The discontinuity sensing apparatus includes a signal generation element and a signal receiving element. In one embodiment, the signal generation element is arranged to transmit an acoustic pulse. In another embodiment, the signal generation element is arranged to transmit a swept acoustic signal. In one embodiment, the discontinuity sensing apparatus is coupled to the blister pack such that each of the plurality of cells is positioned at a unique distance from the discontinuity sensing apparatus. The determinations on discontinuities can be made in part from information from the time domain and/or in part from information from the frequency domain.

Claims

1. A system for determining discontinuities in a blister pack, comprising:

a blister pack including;

a tray with a plurality of cells; and

a seal layer arranged to seal the cells; and

a discontinuity sensing apparatus coupled to the blister pack and including;

a signal generation element; and

a signal receiving element.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the signal generation element is arranged to transmit an acoustic pulse.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the signal generation element is arranged to transmit a swept acoustic signal.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein determinations on discontinuities is make in part from information from the time domain.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein determinations on discontinuities is make in part from information from the frequency domain.

4. The system of clam 1, wherein the discontinuity sensing apparatus is coupled to the blister pack such that each of the plurality of cells is positioned at a unique distance from the discontinuity sensing apparatus.

7. A method for determining discontinuities in a blister pack, comprising:

providing a housing, a magnetic pulse driver disposed within the hosing, and a detector disposed within the housing;

placing a blister pack onto of the housing;

directing a magnetic pulse from the magnetic pulse driver to the blister pack; and

gathering information regarding discontinuities on a seal layer of the blister pack.

8. The method of claim 7, further including the step of providing at least one magnetic material coupled to the blister pack.

9. The method of claim 7, further including the step of determining the location of discontinuities based on the gather information.