Apparatus and method for packing pills in blister cavities

Abstract

An apparatus and method for packing pills in cavities formed in a blister web includes a plurality of downwardly directed flexible members, for example brushes, that are continuously cyclically moved to contact and knock down pills that are not properly nested in respective blister cavities. The flexible members are mounted parallel to and spaced apart from one another.

1 . In a machine for packing pills in blister cavities wherein a blister web is moved along a path beneath a mechanism for placing a pill in each blister cavity and wherein random pills are not properly nested within their respective cavities, the blister web is then moved to a position beneath an apparatus for knocking down improperly oriented pills, the apparatus comprising:
 a. a tray moveably mounted in a plane substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the blister web;   b. a plurality of flexible members depending downwardly from the tray in an orientation substantially perpendicular to the blister web and positioned to contact pills that are not properly nested in cavities thereof; and   c. means to move the tray and flexible members cyclically in a plane substantially parallel to the blister web.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus described in  claim 1 , wherein the flexible members comprise brushes. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus described in  claim 1 , wherein the flexible members are affixed to the tray in spaced apart parallel relation. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus described in  claim 3 , wherein the flexible members are separated from one another by a distance related to a pitch between adjacent rows of cavities on the blister web portion. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus described in  claim 1 , wherein the flexible members are oriented substantially perpendicular to the path of the blister web. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus described in  claim 1 , wherein the flexible members are oriented substantially parallel to the path of the blister web. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus described in  claim 1 , wherein the flexible members are oriented at an acute angle to the path of the blister web. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus described in  claim 1 , wherein the means to move the tray and flexible members cyclically is adjustable in speed. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus described in  claim 1 , further comprising means to adjust the level of the tray to be parallel to the blister web. 
   
   
       10 . A method for packaging pills in a blister web having a plurality of cavities, comprising:
 a. moving a blister web in a selected direction beneath a mechanism for placing a pill in each cavity;   b. depositing a pill from the mechanism in each of the plurality of cavities;   c. moving the blister web to beneath an apparatus comprising a plurality of parallel, spaced apart, downwardly directed flexible members that terminate adjacent to the blister web to contact pills that are not properly nested;   d. moving the plurality of flexible members cyclically in a plane parallel to the blister web and in contact with pills not properly nested in cavities; and   f. moving the blister web downstream from the apparatus comprising a plurality of flexible members.   
   
   
       11 . The method described in  claim 10 , wherein the cyclical movement describes a substantially circular path. 
   
   
       12 . The method described in  claim 10 , wherein the speed of cyclical movement of the flexible members is equal to or greater than the speed of movement of the blister web. 
   
   
       13 . The method described in  claim 10 , wherein the blister web is moved incrementally and the speed of cyclical movement of the flexible members is equal to or greater than the incremental speed of movement of the blister web.