Cutting machine for package manufacturing

Abstract

A programmable blister pack cutting station is disclosed. The cutting station operates at an index rate independent of other stations on a blister pack manufacturing line, thus permitting customized cutting of blister packs without need for substantial retooling between jobs. The cutting station may be used as an after-market product incorporated into preexisting blister pack manufacturing lines. The cutting station permits user input related to desired cutting lengths of blister pack web material. A PLC is preferably used to control cutting operations and may halt cutting operations upon detection of an error.

1 . A blister pack manufacturing apparatus, comprising: 
 a first section including a forming assembly for forming a plurality of blisters in a web material, a filling assembly for placing a desired amount of product in said blisters, a sealing assembly for sealing said blisters after said desired amount of product is placed therein, a first web advance system for transporting said web material between said assemblies, and an electrical control system operative to control said first web advance system; and,    a cutting section operative to receive said formed, filled and sealed web material from said first section, said cutting section comprising a blade assembly, a second web advance assembly, a PLC and a user entry terminal for permitting a user to enter data to said PLC, said PLC controlling said blade assembly, said blade assembly to cut said web material to a desired length.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said first web advance assembly advances said web material at a first index rate, and said second web advance assembly advances said web material at a second index rate, said second index rate being different from said first index rate, said second index rate controlled by said PLC.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said cutting section further comprises a web compensation loop arranged to receive said web material from said first web advance system and to retain a predetermined length of said web material proir to being cut by said blade assembly, said web compensation loop compensating for differences between said first and second index rates.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said user entry terminal comprises a user input device and user display device.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the second index rate being proportional to said first index rate and comprising a user-selected value related to the desired length of the cut web material.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said blade assembly comprises a guillotine cutting device.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said cutting section comprises an open blade sensor operative to detect the position of said blade and send a signal when said blade is in an open position.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said cutting section comprises an closed blade sensor operative to detect the position of said blade and send a signal when said blade is in an closed position.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said cutting section further comprises a web advance sensor, said web advance sensor operative to detect the position of said web material on said second web advance assembly.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said cutting section comprises at least one perforation wheel for perforating the web material when transported by said second web advance assembly.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said cutting section comprises at least one cutting wheel for longitudinally cutting the web material when transported by said second web advance assembly.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said PLC comprises a communications link to said electrical control system for transmitting data related to said first index rate.  
   
   
       13 . A blister pack cutting apparatus, comprising: 
 a cutting apparatus, said cutting apparatus including a PLC, a user entry terminal for inputting data to said PLC, a blade assembly, and a web advance system, said PLC receiving data related to web material cutting size from said user entry terminal, said PLC being operative to control said blade assembly and web advance system whereby precise cutting of said web material is obtained.    
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the cutting apparatus receives said web material at a first index rate, and said web advance assembly of said cutting apparatus advances said web material in said cutting apparatus at a second index rate, said second index rate being different from said first index rate and being controlled by said PLC.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising a web compensation loop arranged to retain a predetermined length of the web material prior to being cut by said blade assembly, said web compensation loop compensating for the difference between said first and second index rates.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the second index rate being proportional to said first index rate and comprising a user-selected value related to the desired length of the cut web material.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said blade assembly comprises a guillotine cutting device.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising at least one perforation wheel for perforating the web material when transported by said second web advance assembly.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising at least one cutting wheel for longitudinally cutting the web material when transported by said web advance assembly.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said PLC further comprises a communications link to a blister pack manufacturing system electrical control system.  
   
   
       21 . A method of manufacturing blister packs, the method comprising: 
 advancing a web material having blisters formed thereon into a cutting apparatus at a predetermined first index rate;    advancing said web materials within said cutting apparatus under PLC control at a second index rate, said second index rate being different from said first index rate; and,    cutting said web material within said cutting apparatus.    
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising retaining a predetermined length of said web material and thereafter cutting said web material based on said second index rate.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising providing data related to a user-selectable web material cutting size to said PLC via a user entry terminal.