Filling blister-pack strips
First Claim
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1. A method of making blister-pack packages, the method comprising the steps of:
- forming a strip with a plurality of fields of upwardly open pockets and filling the pockets with respective objects while leaving at least one pocket empty;
scanning the fields and determining an address of the empty pocket in the respective field;
loading into a refilling head at a stationary location at least one of the objects;
positioning the loaded refilling head above the empty pocket in accordance with the determined address; and
dropping the object from the loaded and positioned head into the empty pocket.
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Abstract
A blister-pack package is made by forming a strip with a plurality of fields of upwardly open pockets and filling the pockets with respective objects while leaving at least one pocket empty and then scanning the fields and determining an address of the empty pocket in the respective field. A refilling head is then loaded at a stationary location with at least one of the objects. The loaded refilling head is then positioned above the empty pocket in accordance with the determined address, and the object is dropped from the loaded and positioned head into the empty pocket.
72 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of making blister-pack packages, the method comprising the steps of:
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forming a strip with a plurality of fields of upwardly open pockets and filling the pockets with respective objects while leaving at least one pocket empty; scanning the fields and determining an address of the empty pocket in the respective field; loading into a refilling head at a stationary location at least one of the objects; positioning the loaded refilling head above the empty pocket in accordance with the determined address; and dropping the object from the loaded and positioned head into the empty pocket. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for making blister-pack packages, the apparatus comprising:
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means for forming a strip with a plurality of fields of upwardly open pockets, for filling the pockets with respective objects while leaving at least one pocket empty, and for displacing the strip along a path through a scanning and a refilling station; means at the scanning station for scanning the fields and determining an address of the empty pocket in the respective field; a supply of the objects at the refilling station; a refilling head displaceable between the supply and a position above the strip; means at the supply for loading at least one of the objects into the head; and control means at the refilling station for displacing the loaded head away from the supply and into position above the empty pocket in accordance with the determined address and for dropping an object from the head into the empty pocket. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification