Blister package assemblies and systems and methods for producing said assemblies

Abstract

Systems and methods package retail products and provide a sheet divided into a first part and a second part, wherein the first and second parts of the sheet are foldable with respect to each other, wherein the first part of the sheet has at least one window formed in the sheet. Further, the systems and methods load a pre-formed blister, having at least one pocket preloaded with at least one retail product, into the window formed in the sheet such that a portion of the pre-formed blister and a portion of the at least one retail product extends through the window formed in the sheet. Moreover, the systems and methods fold the second part onto the first part to produce a blister product assembly such that the at least one retail product is located between a portion of the pre-formed blister and a portion of the second part of the sheet.

1 . A method for packaging retail products, the method comprising:
 providing a sheet divided into a first part and a second part, wherein the first and second parts of the sheet are foldable with respect to each other, wherein the first part of the sheet has at least one window formed in the sheet;   loading a pre-formed blister, having at least one pocket preloaded with at least one retail product, into the at least one window formed in the sheet such that a portion of the pre-formed blister and a portion of the at least one retail product extends through the at least one window formed in the sheet; and   folding the second part of the sheet onto the first part of the sheet to produce a blister product assembly such that the at least one retail product is located between a portion of the pre-formed blister and a portion of the second part of the sheet.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method has a blister product assembly production rate from about 100 assemblies/minute to about 450 assemblies/minute. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the sheet is made of paper-based materials, plastic or polymer-based materials or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the pre-formed blister is made of a rigid or semi-rigid plastic. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the pre-formed blister is made of at least one polymer material. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 coating an adhesive onto one or more sides of a flange of the pre-formed blister before the pre-formed blister is loaded into the at least one window formed in the sheet.   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 adhering the first and second parts of the sheet together, via the adhesive coated onto one or more sides of the flange of the pre-formed blister, when, or after, the second part is folded onto the first part of the sheet.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 adhering the first and second parts of the sheet together via cohesion or an adhesive when, or after, the second part is folded onto the first part of the sheet to produce the blister product assembly.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 dispensing the sheet onto a conveyor belt prior to loading the pre-formed blister into the window formed in the sheet.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 placing the pre-formed blister, by hand or by machine, into the window formed in the sheet for loading the pre-formed blister into the window.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the second part of the sheet has a window formed therein for receiving at least a portion of the pre-formed blister and/or a portion of the at least one retail product. 
     
     
         12 . A method for packaging retail products, the method comprising:
 positioning a sheet on a conveyor belt system comprising an adjustable cavity, wherein the sheet is divided into a first part and a second part, wherein the first and second parts of the sheet are foldable with respect to each other, wherein the first part of the sheet has at least one window formed in the sheet, wherein the at least one window formed in the sheet is located above the adjustable cavity of the conveyor belt system when the sheet is positioned on the conveyor belt system;   loading a pre-formed blister, having at least one pocket preloaded with at least one retail product, into the at least one window formed in the sheet such that a portion of the pre-formed blister and a portion of the at least one retail product extends through the at least one window formed in the sheet and into the adjustable cavity of the conveyor belt system; and   folding the second part of the sheet onto the first portion to produce a blister product assembly such that the at least one retail product is located between a portion of the pre-formed blister and a portion of the second part of the sheet.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 adjusting a width and/or depth of the adjustable cavity of the conveyor belt system to correspond to dimensions of the at least one retail product and/or the preformed blister prior to loading the pre-formed blister into the at least one window formed in the sheet.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising at least one selected from:
 providing downward vacuum holding forces onto the sheet by a vacuum producing device of the conveyor belt system after the sheet is positioned on the conveyor belt system; and   providing downward vacuum holding forces onto the at least one retail product by the vacuum producing device after the at least one retail product is loaded into the at least one window formed in the sheet.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the method has a blister product assembly production rate from about 100 assemblies/minute to about 450 assemblies/minute. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 coating an adhesive onto one or more sides of a flange of the pre-formed blister before the pre-formed blister is loaded into the window formed in the sheet.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 adhering the first and second parts of the sheet together, via the adhesive coated onto one or more sides of the flange of the pre-formed blister, when, or after, the second part is folded onto the first part of the sheet.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 adhering the first and second parts of the sheet together via cohesion or an adhesive when, or after, the second part is folded onto the first part of the sheet to produce the blister product assembly.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 placing the pre-formed blister, by hand or by machine, into the window formed in the sheet for loading the pre-formed blister into the window.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the second part of the sheet has a window formed therein for receiving at least a portion of the pre-formed blister and/or a portion of the at least one retail product.