Method of preparing a blister card

• US 7,937,911 B1
• Filed: 11/21/2008
• Issued: 05/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walgreen Co. (Walgreens Boots Alliance Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Walgreen Co. (Walgreens Boots Alliance Incorporated)
• Inventors: Pankow, Greg, McGonagle, Sean
• Primary Examiner(s): Harmon; Christopher
• Application Number:
  US12/275,773
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• Field of Search: 53452-454, 534/56, 534/67, 53 51- 52, 532/35, 532/44, 532/46, 531/58, 535/31, 535/39, 535/44, 534/43, 534/47
• US Class Current: 53/452
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/035 Blister-type containers blisters in general B65D75/36
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 5/103 for packaging pills or tablets
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/327 and forming several compartments

Abstract

A method of preparing a blister card to contain medicaments in accordance with a predetermined prescription, comprises positioning a blister sheet blank having a plurality of blisters onto a support surface of a fixture. Each of the blisters are then at least partially filled with one or more medicaments in accordance with the predetermined prescription. Then, a backing layer blank is positioned over the blister sheet blank to retain the medicaments in the blisters and to prevent contamination. Finally, the blister sheet blank and the backing layer blank are sealed together while positioned on the fixture to form a sealed blister card.

Claims

1. A method of preparing a blister card using a fixture to contain medicaments in accordance with a predetermined prescription, the method comprising:

aligning a plurality of blisters of a blister sheet blank with a plurality of depressions formed in a top surface of a support plate of a first fixture;

filling at least some of the blisters of the blister sheet blank with one or more medicaments;

stacking a plate on the blister sheet blank to prevent contamination and to retain the one or more medicaments in the at least some blisters of the blister sheet blank;

transporting the first fixture, the blister sheet blank, the one or more medicaments, and the stacked plate;

removing the date from the blister sheet blank to expose the blister sheet blank and the one or more medicaments;

covering the blister sheet blank with a backing layer blank;

applying at least one of pressure and heat to the backing layer blank, the blister sheet blank, and the first fixture to seal the backing layer blank and the blister sheet blank together.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein aligning the plurality of blisters in the blister sheet blank with the plurality of depressions comprises positioning one or more openings formed in the blister sheet blank onto one or more pins extending from the first fixture.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising printing information specific to the prescription on the backing layer blank prior to covering the blister sheet blank with the backing layer blank.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising trimming the sealed backing layer blank and the blister sheet blank to a predetermined shape, thereby defining a backing layer and blister sheet of a completed blister card.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising reading information from at least one data storage mechanism on at least one of the first fixture, the blister sheet blank, and the backing layer blank to confirm that each of these components match the predetermined prescription prior to sealing the backing layer blank and the blister sheet blank together.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising aligning a plurality of apertures of a structure board blank with the plurality of depressions in the top surface of the support plate of the first fixture prior to aligning the plurality of blisters of the blister sheet blank with the plurality of depressions.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein aligning the plurality of blisters of the blister sheet blank with the plurality of depressions in the first fixture comprises positioning the plurality of blisters through the plurality of apertures in the structure board blank.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the plate comprises a support plate of a second fixture that is constructed the same as the first fixture.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the plate comprises a cover plate that is constructed different than the first fixture.

10. A method of preparing a plurality of blister cards to contain medicaments according to a predetermined prescription, the method comprising:

selecting a first fixture having a support plate;

positioning a first blister sheet blank having a first plurality of blisters onto the support plate of the first fixture;

at least partially filling at least some of the first plurality of blisters of the first blister sheet blank with medicaments;

selecting a second fixture having a support plate;

locating the second fixture onto the first fixture such that the support plate of the second fixture covers the first blister sheet blank to prevent contamination and to retain the medicaments in the first plurality of blisters;

positioning a second blister sheet blank having a second plurality of blisters onto the support plate of the second fixture;

at least partially filling at least some of the second plurality of blisters of the second blister sheet blank with medicaments; and

covering the second blister sheet blank to prevent contamination and to retain the medicaments in the second plurality of blisters.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein locating the second fixture onto the first fixture comprises positioning one of a projection and a recess of the second fixture in cooperative engagement with the other of a projection and a recess of the first fixture.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein locating the second fixture onto the first fixture further comprises engaging the first blister sheet blank with a bottom surface of the support plate of the second fixture.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein positioning the first and second blister sheet blanks onto the first and second structure board blanks, respectively, comprises aligning at least one opening formed in the first and second blister sheet blanks with at least one pin extending from the first and second fixtures.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising covering the second blister sheet blank with a second backing layer blank and applying at least one of heat and pressure to the second backing layer blank, the second blister sheet blank, and the second fixture, thereby sealing these components together to form a sealed blister card.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising trimming the sealed second backing layer blank and second blister sheet blank to a predetermined shape, thereby defining a backing layer and blister sheet of a completed blister card.