US20090183466A1 - Article supply system - Google Patents

Article supply system Download PDF

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Publication number
US20090183466A1
US20090183466A1 US12/301,551 US30155107A US2009183466A1 US 20090183466 A1 US20090183466 A1 US 20090183466A1 US 30155107 A US30155107 A US 30155107A US 2009183466 A1 US2009183466 A1 US 2009183466A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
articles
donor
article
receptor
conveyor
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US12/301,551
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Pierre-Yves Poget
Benoit Poutot
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
WestRock MWV LLC
Original Assignee
Meadwestvaco Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Meadwestvaco Corp filed Critical Meadwestvaco Corp
Assigned to MEADWESTVACO CORPORATION reassignment MEADWESTVACO CORPORATION ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: POGET, PIERRE-YVES, POUTOT, BENOIT
Publication of US20090183466A1 publication Critical patent/US20090183466A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B5/00—Packaging individual articles in containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, jars
    • B65B5/02—Machines characterised by incorporation of means for making the containers or receptacles
    • B65B5/024—Machines characterised by incorporation of means for making the containers or receptacles for making containers from preformed blanks
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B9/00—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, e.g. liquids or semiliquids, in flat, folded, or tubular webs of flexible sheet material; Subdividing filled flexible tubes to form packages
    • B65B9/02—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material between opposed webs
    • B65B9/04—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material between opposed webs one or both webs being formed with pockets for the reception of the articles, or of the quantities of material
    • B65B9/045—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material between opposed webs one or both webs being formed with pockets for the reception of the articles, or of the quantities of material for single articles, e.g. tablets
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B35/00—Supplying, feeding, arranging or orientating articles to be packaged
    • B65B35/10—Feeding, e.g. conveying, single articles
    • B65B35/16—Feeding, e.g. conveying, single articles by grippers
    • B65B35/18—Feeding, e.g. conveying, single articles by grippers by suction-operated grippers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B35/00—Supplying, feeding, arranging or orientating articles to be packaged
    • B65B35/10—Feeding, e.g. conveying, single articles
    • B65B35/24—Feeding, e.g. conveying, single articles by endless belts or chains

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for supplying articles to a packaging machine and more particularly, but not exclusively, to an apparatus and method for supplying blister cards for packaging in packaging substrates, such as those used in the distribution of pharmaceutical products.
  • blister cards comprising a product such as, unit dose pharmaceuticals to the packaging substrate whilst the adhesive coating is in an activated condition. It is also desirable to provide a sub-assembly which allows placement of the blister card upon the packaging substrate without damaging the blister card or the product contained therein.
  • FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an article supply system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an article supply system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an article supply system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention in which a sub assembly 10 forms part of a packaging machine (not shown).
  • the sub assembly 10 transfers donor articles, hereinafter referred to as blister packs 22 such as those commonly used in the pharmaceutical industry, for example foiled back PVC of Aclor/PVC blister packs.
  • the blister packs 22 contain pharmaceutical products such as prescription drugs.
  • the sub assembly 10 transfers the blister packs 22 from a magazine or hopper to a; receptor article herein after referred as a paperboard sleeve 14 being conveyed in the packaging machine.
  • the blister packs 22 are bonded to the paperboard sleeve 14 prior to subsequent assembly steps such as folding and gluing.
  • the sub assembly 10 comprise two infeed conveyors 15 a and 15 b which supply a flow of sequential blister packs 22 to a respective transfer belt 17 a , 17 b .
  • the in feed conveyors 15 a , 15 b and the transfer belts 77 a , 77 b convey the blister packs 22 , in a direction substantially perpendicular to the flow F direction of the paperboard sleeves 14 on the packaging machine.
  • the transfer belts 17 a , 17 b transfer the blister packs 22 from the in feed conveyors 15 a , 15 b to a respective conveyor belt 13 a , 13 b .
  • the transfer belts 17 a , 17 b are disposed above the in feed conveyors 15 a , 15 b and the conveyor belts 13 a , 13 b such that the transfer belts 17 a , 17 b engage the blister packs 22 from above.
  • the conveyor belts 13 a , 13 b convey the blister packs 22 in a direction parallel to the direction of flow F of the paperboard sleeves.
  • the blister packs are not rotated by the transfer belts 17 a , 17 b such that an edge of the blister pack adjacent the leading edge when the blister pack 22 is being conveyed in the infeed conveyors 15 a , 15 b (and the transfer belts 17 a , 17 b ) now becomes the leading edge when conveyed on the conveyor 13 a , 13 b .
  • the conveyor 13 b closes to the infeed conveyors 15 a , 15 b is shorter than the conveyor 13 a further away from the infeed conveyors 15 a , 15 b .
  • the conveyor 13 b may be as long as or longer than the conveyor 13 b.
  • the conveyors 13 a , 13 b are substantially triangular iii shape, wherein the hypotenuse of the triangular is lowermost. At least a portion of one side of the triangular shaped belt 13 a , 13 b is perpendicular to at least part of a second side of the triangular shaped belt 13 a , 13 b . Said at least a part, of the first side is substantially horizontal whereas said, at least part of the second side is substantially vertical, thereby facilitating a change in orientation of the blister packs from a horizontal orientation to a vertical orientation.
  • the blister packs 22 therefore undergo a 90 degree change in orientation when conveyed by the belt as shown by arrow A 1 .
  • the conveyors 13 a , 13 b are disposed substantially over part of a hood 12 .
  • Hood 12 forms part of a conditioning assembly for activating the adhesive coating on the paperboard sleeve 14 .
  • the conditioning element comprises an infra red lamp which radiates heat energy directly onto the paperboard sleeve 14 .
  • the conveyors 13 a , 13 b comprises lugs or other means such as a vacuum system to ensure the blister packs 22 do not fall from the conveyor 13 a , 13 b upon being conveyed from a horizontal orientation to a vertical orientation.
  • a vertical transfer device 35 a , 35 b is arranged to receive the blister packs 22 from the substantially vertical section of the conveyor 13 a , 13 b respectively.
  • the vertical transfer device 35 a , 35 b is disposed in close proximity to the output end of the hood 12 ; in this way the blister packs 21 are placed onto the paperboard sleeve 14 sufficiently quickly to take the benefit from the conditioning carried out upon the paperboard sleeve 14 whilst they are being processed by the conditioning assembly.
  • the vertical transfer device 35 a , 35 b comprises suction cups coupled to a vacuum system (not shown) which engage the blister packs 22 .
  • the vertical transfer device 35 a , 35 b places the blister packs 22 upon a paperboard sleeve 14 just after it exits the adhesive conditioning area of the packaging machine defined by the hood 12 .
  • the paperboard sleeve 14 and attached blister pack 22 pass between rollers 18 and 20 which apply compressive pressure onto the blister pack 22 and the paperboard sleeve 14 to improve the adhesion of the blister pack 22 to the paperboard sleeve 14 .
  • the partially assembled package then passes to further sub assembles for further processing.
  • FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the present invention in which the sub-assembly 110 comprises a substantially horizontal stack of blister packs which are held in a magazine 122 in which blister packs 121 are sequentially fed to an upper rotary vacuum feeder 127 .
  • the magazine 122 is located remotely from a conditioning assembly 112 which, conditions receptor articles or paperboard sleeves 114 in preparation for the application of blister packs 121 ; in the way the risk of damage to the product in the blister pack 121 as a result of operation of the conditioning assembly 112 is reduced.
  • the blister packs 121 are held in the magazine 122 in an angular relationship to a horizontal plane defined by the lower most edge of the blister packs forming the stack. In this way the blister packs 121 are orientated to be engaged by the upper rotary vacuum feeder 127 at a substantially perpendicular angle.
  • the upper rotary vacuum feeder 127 engages a blister pack 22 from one end of the stack and places the blister pack upon a vertical transfer device 140 .
  • the upper rotary vacuum feeder 127 comprises four arms 135 each having a suction cup for engaging the blister packs 121 .
  • the arms 135 are arranged in pairs, such that, each pair is arranged in a side by side spaced apart relationship and wherein each pair are disposed to subtend an angle of substantially 180 degrees between them.
  • Each arm 135 in a respective pair of arms engages a separate blister pack 121 .
  • the stack of blister packs 122 comprises two rows of blister packs 121 arranged, in side by side relationship. Although in alternative embodiments it will be understood that a single blister pack may be engaged by both arms 135 in each pair.
  • the present invention is not limited to rotary vacuum feeders comprising four arms arranged in pairs but that other configurations may be utilized without departing from the scope of the invention.
  • the vertical transfer device 140 comprises two pairs of guide tracks 138 located near the uppermost end of the vertical transfer device 140 .
  • the guide tracks 138 guide the blister packs 121 onto the vertical transfer device 140 , ensuring the blister packs 121 are correctly aligned, for transfer down the vertical transfer device 140 .
  • the upper rotary vacuum feeder 127 is synchronized with the vertical transfer device 140 such that blister packs 121 are supplied to the guide tracks 138 simultaneously with the arrival of lugs 142 coupled to a drive mechanism 143 of the upper most end of the vertical transfer device 140 .
  • Drive mechanism 143 may be an endless conveyor such as a belt or chain.
  • Blister packs 121 are engaged by the lugs 142 and conveyed down the vertical transfer device 140 by the drive mechanism 143 .
  • a lower rotary vacuum feeder 126 engages the blister packs 121 as they arrive at the lowermost end of the vertical transfer device 140 .
  • the lower rotary vacuum feeder 126 rotates in the lower direction of arrow Ta 2 indicated in FIG. 2 .
  • Rotary vacuum feeder 126 comprises arms 134 with suction cups arranged in a similar, configuration to that of the upper rotary vacuum feeder 127 .
  • the lower rotary vacuum feeder 126 places blister, packs 121 upon paperboard sleeve 114 .
  • the adhesive coating on the upper most surface of the paperboard sleeve 114 has been activated by the conditioning element housed in the hood 112 .
  • the paperboard sleeve comprises apertures 111 which receive portions of the blister packs 121 .
  • the paperboard sleeves 114 are conveyed to and from the sub assembly 110 on a conveyor bell 128 . Conveyor belt 128 passes under hood 112 in order that the paperboard sleeves 114 are conditioned by the conditioning element (hot shown).
  • the paperboard sleeve 114 pass between a pair of compression rollers 118 , 120 mounted upon housing 116 .
  • the compression rollers 118 , 120 comprise pads 136 sized and shaped to accommodate the arrangement of blister packs on the paperboard sleeve 114 .
  • the pads 136 prevent damage to the blister packs 121 .
  • the partially assembled package after passing through the compression rollers 118 , 120 is conveyed along the packaging machine for further processing (not shown).
  • FIG. 3 there is shown a third embodiment of the present invention in which a magazine 222 comprising a horizontal stack of blister packs 221 which supplies blister packs 221 individually to a vertical transfer device 240 .
  • the output end of the horizontal stack comprises gate, mechanism 244 for dispensing blister packs 221 from the output end of the magazine 222 .
  • the gate mechanism 244 controls the flow B of blister packs 221 from the stack preventing multiple blisterpacks 221 from being fed simultaneously and alternatively or additionally reducing frictional forces from being applied to the blister packs 221 and/or a suction cup 234 which engages with the blister pack 221 .
  • Suction cups 234 are coupled to arms 235 which are in turn coupled to a conveyor belt 235 which are in turn coupled to a conveyor belt, 242 or alternatively a chain.
  • the suction cup 234 is additionally coupled to a vacuum system (not shown) for providing a vacuum with which the suction cup may engage the blister pack 221 .
  • the blister pack 221 once engaged by the suction cup 234 is conveyed downwards in direction D (indicated in FIG. 3 ) towards a carton blank 214 being conveyed in the packaging machine.
  • the gate mechanism 244 comprises a recess in which a single blister pack 221 is received at a time.
  • a suction cup 234 arrives at the gate mechanism 244 a portion of the gate mechanism 234 comprising the recess moves, upwards along with the blister pack 221 in the recess.
  • the suction cup 234 engages with the blister pack 221 , whilst a lower portion of the gate mechanism 244 restricts the movement of the subsequent blister pack 221 in the stack 222 .
  • the suction cup 234 places the blister pack 221 upon a carton blank 214 , synchronously with the arrival of the carton blank 214 at the lower extremity of the vertical transfer device 240 . Portions of the blister packs 221 are received in apertures on the carton blank 214 .
  • the carton blank 214 has previously exited a conditioning station 212 which prepares the carton blank 214 with an adhesive coating suitable for adhering the blister pack 211 to the carton blank 214 .
  • the partially assembled package, carton blank 214 and blister pack 221 then pass between a pair of compression rollers 218 , 220 which compresses the partially assembled package to ensure sufficient adhesion between the blister pack 221 and the carton blank 214 .
  • the compression rollers 218 , 220 again comprise pads 236 which allow the rollers to selectively compress areas of the partially assembled package.
  • the partially assembled package is then transferred to further sub assembles for subsequent processing.
  • the magazine need not be horizontally orientated but be disposed in an angular relationship to the conveyor belt of the packaging machine.
  • the magazine may comprise a plurality of stacks of blisterpacks which are disposed in a side by side relationship which may supply blister packs either to a single transfer device comprising a plurality of engaging means or alternatively to multiple transfer devices which operate synchronously with one or another or independently of one another.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Auxiliary Devices For And Details Of Packaging Control (AREA)
  • Basic Packing Technique (AREA)
US12/301,551 2006-05-19 2007-05-18 Article supply system Abandoned US20090183466A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0609884A GB2438186A (en) 2006-05-19 2006-05-19 Blister packaging apparatus
GB0609884.2 2006-05-19
PCT/US2007/069251 WO2007137165A2 (fr) 2006-05-19 2007-05-18 Système de fourniture d'articles

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20090183466A1 true US20090183466A1 (en) 2009-07-23

Family

ID=36660408

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US12/301,551 Abandoned US20090183466A1 (en) 2006-05-19 2007-05-18 Article supply system

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US20090183466A1 (fr)
EP (1) EP2027024A2 (fr)
GB (1) GB2438186A (fr)
WO (1) WO2007137165A2 (fr)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ES2802999T3 (es) 2016-10-28 2021-01-22 Multivac Haggenmueller Kg Máquina de envasado por embutición profunda
EP3315420B1 (fr) 2016-10-28 2020-04-15 MULTIVAC Sepp Haggenmüller SE & Co. KG Machine d'emballage par emboutissage

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4449351A (en) * 1981-06-22 1984-05-22 Pennwalt Corporation Blister pack loading machine
US4746321A (en) * 1986-06-24 1988-05-24 Cartotecnica Chierese S.P.A. Automatic machine for forming boxes of the double-plinth type
US5081816A (en) * 1990-06-07 1992-01-21 I.M.A. Industria Macchine Automatiche S.P.A. Apparatus for receiving blister packs from a product packaging line and for inserting these blister packs into cartons
US5385526A (en) * 1991-05-16 1995-01-31 Fabriques De Tabac Reunies, Sa Apparatus and method for packaging blanks
US20050145332A1 (en) * 2002-03-25 2005-07-07 Paker Method and device for assembling a blister sheet and a linerboard
US20090044497A1 (en) * 2004-07-09 2009-02-19 Meadwestvaco Packaging Systems Llc Machine for sealing carton

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB700930A (en) * 1950-06-01 1953-12-16 Johnson & Johnson Package discharge and stacking device
US5379572A (en) * 1992-04-17 1995-01-10 Sencorp Systems, Inc. Blister packaging system and method
DE19504219C1 (de) * 1995-02-09 1996-06-05 Bosch Gmbh Robert Verpackungsmaschine
DE102004020549A1 (de) * 2004-04-27 2005-11-24 Robert Bosch Gmbh Vorrichtung zur Übergabe von Blisterstreifen aus einer Stanzeinrichtung an eine Fördereinrichtung

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4449351A (en) * 1981-06-22 1984-05-22 Pennwalt Corporation Blister pack loading machine
US4746321A (en) * 1986-06-24 1988-05-24 Cartotecnica Chierese S.P.A. Automatic machine for forming boxes of the double-plinth type
US5081816A (en) * 1990-06-07 1992-01-21 I.M.A. Industria Macchine Automatiche S.P.A. Apparatus for receiving blister packs from a product packaging line and for inserting these blister packs into cartons
US5385526A (en) * 1991-05-16 1995-01-31 Fabriques De Tabac Reunies, Sa Apparatus and method for packaging blanks
US20050145332A1 (en) * 2002-03-25 2005-07-07 Paker Method and device for assembling a blister sheet and a linerboard
US20090044497A1 (en) * 2004-07-09 2009-02-19 Meadwestvaco Packaging Systems Llc Machine for sealing carton

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0609884D0 (en) 2006-06-28
GB2438186A (en) 2007-11-21
WO2007137165A3 (fr) 2008-01-17
EP2027024A2 (fr) 2009-02-25
WO2007137165A2 (fr) 2007-11-29

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: MEADWESTVACO CORPORATION, VIRGINIA

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:POGET, PIERRE-YVES;POUTOT, BENOIT;REEL/FRAME:021860/0802

Effective date: 20081118

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION