Holding Device for a Blister Pack and a Method for Opening a Blister

Abstract

A device for holding a blister pack ( 42 ) with an array of cavities closed by a foil, which cavities contain an article, said device comprising a housing ( 8 ) for receiving said blister pack ( 42 ), which housing ( 8 ) comprises a base ( 9 ) provided with base openings ( 10 ) and is arranged to permit movement of said blister pack ( 42 ) between a first position and a second position, in which first position the base openings ( 10 ) are displaced from the cavities and the base ( 9 ) blocking the cavities, and in which second position the base openings ( 10 ) are aligned with the cavities, the base openings ( 10 ) permitting passage of said article therethrough. The device comprises a locking arrangement ( 12 ) comprising a operating means ( 13 ) operable by a user, between a locking position and a non-locking position, in which locking position the blister pack ( 42 ) is locked in said first position, and in which non-locking position the blister pack ( 42 ) is movable to said second position. Said operating means ( 13 ) are operable from the locking position to the non-locking position by a first movement of said operating means in relation to the housing, followed by at least one second movement of said operating means in relation to the housing. Further, a method for opening a cavity in a blister pack placed in said device.

1 . A device for holding a blister pack with an array of cavities closed by a foil, which cavities contain an article, said device comprising a housing for receiving said blister pack, which housing comprises a base, positioned facing the foil side of the blister pack, provided with base openings and is arranged to permit movement of said blister pack between a first position and a second position, in which first position the base openings are at least partially displaced from the cavities and the base blocking the cavities, and in which second position the base openings are aligned with the cavities, the base openings being sized to permit passage of said article therethrough, and said device comprises a locking arrangement comprising operating means operable by a user, between a locking position and a non-locking position, in which locking position the blister pack is locked in said first position, and in which non-locking position the blister pack is movable to said second position, characterized in that said operating means are operable from the locking position to the non-locking position by a first movement of said operating means in relation to the housing, followed by at least one second movement of said operating means in relation to the housing. 
   
   
       2 . A device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said operating means are operable from the locking position to the non-locking position by being moved in a predetermined first direction of movement, followed by at least being moved in a predetermined second direction of movement. 
   
   
       3 . A device according to  claim 2 , characterized in that said first direction of movement is substantially transverse to said second direction of movement. 
   
   
       4 . A device according to  claim 2 , characterized in that the operating means are arranged to be moved in said first direction of movement by moving a first region of the operating means, and arranged to be moved in said second direction of movement by moving a second region of the operating means, and that said operating means regions are spaced apart. 
   
   
       5 . A device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said operating means are operable from the locking position to the non-locking position by moving a first region of the operating means in a certain direction of movement, followed by at least moving one second region of the operating means in said certain direction of movement, and that said operating means regions are spaced apart. 
   
   
       6 . A device according to  claim 4 , characterized in that said locking arrangement comprises blocking means for blocking the movement of the operating means to the non-locking position if said second operating means region is moved without moving said first operating means region. 
   
   
       7 . A device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the operating means are arranged to visually indicate to the user whether the blister pack is locked in said first position or movable to said second position. 
   
   
       8 . A device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the operating means, when being operated from the non-locking position to the locking position, are arranged to move the blister pack back to said first position. 
   
   
       9 . A device according to  claim 8 , characterized in that the operating means comprise stop means for preventing the movement of the blister pack and thereby locking it in said first position when the operating means are in the locking position, and for pushing the blister pack back to said first position when the operating means are operated from the non-locking position to the locking position, and in that said stop means comprise two fangs between which the blister pack is captured. 
   
   
       10 . A device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the operating means are operable by pushing by the user. 
   
   
       11 . A device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the operating means are movable from the non-locking position to the locking position by being pushed in a single predetermined third direction of movement. 
   
   
       12 . A device according to  claim 11 , characterized in that the locking arrangement comprises spring means for urging the operating means into the locking position when being pushed in said predetermined third direction of movement. 
   
   
       13 . A device according to  claim 12 , characterized in that said spring means are arranged to urge the operating means toward the non-locking position. 
   
   
       14 . A device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the locking arrangement is arranged at a compartment at one side of the housing, in the direction of movement of the blister pack held by said device, in which compartment a portion of the blister pack is insertable when the operating means are in the non-locking position. 
   
   
       15 . A device according to  claim 4 , characterized in that the operating means comprise at least two operating members, the first operating member comprising said first operating means region, and the second operating member comprising said second operating means region. 
   
   
       16 . A device according to  claim 5 , characterized in that said operating members comprise said blocking means. 
   
   
       17 . A device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the operating means comprise one single operating member. 
   
   
       18 . A device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said device is flexible to a certain degree, whereby the breaking of the foil covering the blister pack is facilitated. 
   
   
       19 . A method for opening a cavity in a blister pack placed in a device according to  claim 1 , comprising the steps of:
 unlocking the blister pack from the first position by operating the operating means according to the first movement of said operating means in relation to the housing, followed by at least operating the operating means according to the second movement of said operating means in relation to the housing, whereby the operating means are operated from the locking position to the non-locking position,   moving the blister pack from the first position to the second position, in which second position said base openings are aligned with the cavities, and   opening a cavity by breaking the foil, whereby the article contained in said cavity is passed through the base opening.   
   
   
       20 . A method according to  claim 19 , characterized in that the foil is broken by flexing said device together with the blister pack.