Pill or capsule card filling apparatus and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A machine to fill empty blister packs with solid objects and automatically seal them comprising:
- a modified paddle to receive an empty blister pack at a starting point;
means to fill said blister packs, said means including a variable height work surface comprising;
a work surface to support the modified paddle and empty blister pack into which the solid objects are to be dispensed;
an alignment means to maintain the work surface in level vertical alignment with a solid object dispenser;
at least one asymmetric cam located below and supporting the work surface in horizontal position;
an axle to support the cam;
means to support the axle; and
means to turn the cam, whereby upon turning the asymmetric cam the distance between the axle and the cam periphery is varied resulting in a corresponding variation of the height of the work surface;
said machine further including means to fold filled blister packs;
means to seal filled blister packs;
means to transport blister packs from said collector to said means to fill said blister packs then to said means to fold filled blister packs and finally to the means to seal filled blister packs; and
means to return modified paddle to the starting point, whereby another blister pack may be automatically filled with solid objects and sealed shut.
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Abstract
An automatic apparatus is provided for automatically performing the steps of filling a pill card or capsule with a desired pill or capsule, folding the pill card, heat sealing the pill card, and, if desired, printing a label directly onto the pill card.
93 Citations
56 Claims
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1. A machine to fill empty blister packs with solid objects and automatically seal them comprising:
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a modified paddle to receive an empty blister pack at a starting point; means to fill said blister packs, said means including a variable height work surface comprising; a work surface to support the modified paddle and empty blister pack into which the solid objects are to be dispensed; an alignment means to maintain the work surface in level vertical alignment with a solid object dispenser; at least one asymmetric cam located below and supporting the work surface in horizontal position; an axle to support the cam; means to support the axle; and means to turn the cam, whereby upon turning the asymmetric cam the distance between the axle and the cam periphery is varied resulting in a corresponding variation of the height of the work surface; said machine further including means to fold filled blister packs; means to seal filled blister packs; means to transport blister packs from said collector to said means to fill said blister packs then to said means to fold filled blister packs and finally to the means to seal filled blister packs; and means to return modified paddle to the starting point, whereby another blister pack may be automatically filled with solid objects and sealed shut. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A machine to fill empty blister packs with solid objects and automatically seal them comprising:
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a modified paddle to receive an empty blister pack at a starting point; means to fill said blister packs, the means to fill said blister packs including a variable height work surface comprising; a work surface to support the modified paddle and empty blister pack into which the solid objects are to be dispensed and the empty blister pack filled; an alignment means to maintain the work surface in level vertical alignment with the dispenser; at least one asymmetric cam located below and supporting the work surface in horizontal position, the cam having a radius which varies by at least one quarter inch, the cam further including radial portions corresponding to nine discreet positions varying 1/32" from each other, so that the work surface height can be varied in 1/32" increments; an axle to support the cam; a pillow block to support the axle, the pillow block further including a portion which supports the cam directly; means to turn the cam to present varying cam radius lengths to the work surface including the axle extending beyond the work surface of the apparatus and a knob on the end of the axle; means to lock the cam in position, whereby upon turning the asymmetric cam the distance between the axle and the cam periphery is varied resulting in a corresponding variation of the height of the work surface; said machine further including means to seal filled blister packs; means to transport blister packs from said collector to said means to fill said blister packs then to said means to fold filled blister packs and finally to the means to seal filled blister packs; and means to return modified paddle to the starting point, whereby another blister pack may be automatically filled with solid objects and sealed shut.
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20. An automated apparatus for filling blister packs with solid objects, the apparatus comprising:
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a loading station; a card filling station including means to fill said blister packs, said means including a variable height work surface comprising; a work surface to support the modified paddle and empty blister pack into which the solid objects are to be dispensed; an alignment means to maintain the work surface in level vertical alignment with a solid object dispenser; at least one asymmetric cam located below and supporting the work surface in horizontal position; an axle to support the cam; means to support the axle; and means to turn the cam, whereby upon turning the asymmetric cam the distance between the axle and the cam periphery is varied resulting in a corresponding variation of the height of the work surface, the apparatus further comprising; a card folding station; a card sealing station; a card unloading station; and means for conveying at least one blister pack from one station to another station. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. An automated apparatus for filling blister packs with solid objects, the apparatus comprising:
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a loading station; a card filling station; a card folding station; a card sealing station; a card unloading station; means for conveying at least one blister pack from one station to another station; and a printing station wherein a printer has a first standby position and a second printing position. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37)
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38. A method of filling empty blister packs with solid objects and automatically sealing them, the method comprising:
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providing a modified paddle to receive an empty blister pack at a starting point; filling said blister packs with a means to fill said blister packs, the step of filling said blister packs including; supporting the modified paddle and empty blister pack into which the solid objects are to be dispensed with a work surface; aligning the work surface in level vertical alignment with a solid object dispenser; supporting the work surface in a horizontal position with at least one asymmetric cam located below the work surface; supporting the cam with an axle; supporting the axle; turning the cam; and varying the height of the work surface by turning the asymmetric cam; the method of filling further comprising folding said blister packs with a means to fold filled blister packs; sealing said blister packs with a means to seal filled blister packs; transporting said blister packs with a means to transport blister packs from said collector to said means to fill said blister packs then to said means to fold filled blister packs and finally to the means to seal filled blister packs; and returning said modified paddle to the starting point, whereby another blister pack may be automatically filled with solid objects and subsequently sealed shut. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A method of automatically filling blister packs such as pill cards with solid objects, the method comprising the steps of:
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loading an empty pill card at a loading station; filling the pill card with solid objects at a card filling station, the step of filling said pill cards including; supporting the modified paddle and empty blister pack into which the solid objects are to be dispensed with a work surface; aligning the work surface in level vertical alignment with a solid object dispenser; supporting the work surface in a horizontal position with at least one asymmetric cam located below the work surface; supporting the cam with an axle; supporting the axle; turning the cam; and varying the height of the work surface by turning the asymmetric cam; the method of filling further comprising; folding the pill card at a pill card folding station in preparation of heat sealing the pill card; sealing the folded pill card at a card sealing station; removing the filled and sealed pill card at a card unloading station; and conveying the pill card by a means for conveying at least one blister pack from one station to another station. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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53. A method of automatically filling blister packs such as pill cards with solid objects, the method comprising the steps of:
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loading an empty pill card at a loading station; filling the pill card with solid objects at a card filling station; folding the pill card at a pill card folding station in preparation of heat sealing the pill card; sealing the folded pill card at a card sealing station; removing the filled and sealed pill card at a card unloading station; conveying the pill card by a means for conveying at least one blister pack from one station to another station; maintaining a printer in a standby position at a printing station; moving the printer to a printing position at the printing station; printing indicia on the pill card at the printing station; and returning the printer to the standby position. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56)
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Specification