WO2004083043A1

WO2004083043A1 - Deblister machine

Info

Publication number: WO2004083043A1
Application number: PCT/IB2004/000805
Authority: WO
Inventors: Claudio Cagnolati
Original assignee: Claudio Cagnolati
Priority date: 2003-03-20
Filing date: 2004-03-19
Publication date: 2004-09-30
Also published as: DE112004000455T5; ITBO20030155A1; DE112004000455B4

Abstract

A deblister machine for extracting products from blister packs comprises a feeding assembly (2) for feeding with blisters (100) an extraction assembly (4), which includes at least press means 5 (40) and die means (41), for extracting products (99) from each blister (100). The machine (1) includes: first comb means (44) and second comb means (45) of the press means (40), reciprocally sliding and having respective teeth fit for pressing each blister pack (100) against the die means (41), in an extraction condition (E) of products (99) from said blister pack (100); a discharge assembly (5) including a mobile head (50) to which stop means (51) are slidably connected for blocking the blister pack (100) on the die means (41), in the extraction condition (E) at least; the discharge assembly (5) further including lifting means (52) for raising the blister pack (100) from the die means (41) and discharging it from the machine (1).

Description

DEBLISTER MACHINE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to automatic machines and particularly it refers to a deblister machine for extracting pills, tablets, capsules and the like from blister packs.

The deblister machines are used to recuperate the sampling of products unfit for the marketing, packaged in blister packs during the setting test or validation test of related blister machines. Said product salvage is more important if the product is expensive, for instance costly medicines.

BACKGROUND ART

The lαiown deblister machines for extracting tablets from blister packs substantially comprise a blister feeding assembly with vertical or horizontal loading, in which the blisters are positioned I pile and they comprise an product extraction assembly. The latter has rolls or punches, which are shaped in accordance with the type of blister pack to be emptied and which squeeze the blister pockets containing the products, forcing the products to lacerate the metallic sheet, welded on the back of the blister, and therefore to get out from the blister pack.

A drawback of the known deblister machines with vertical feeding consist in that they are subject to stops and/or jams, particularly jams of the first blister of the pile, which must be picked up by the extraction assembly and which is pressed by the weight of the above remaining blisters that may deform or stop it.

The horizontal feeding assemblies need a pusher whose task is to keep compacted and vertically aligned the blisters and to push them in sequence towards the extraction assembly, hi this case, the drawback consists in that it is necessary to have a suitable pusher, which complicates the design structure and operation sequences of the machine, so increasing the overall costs. Furthermore, in order to avoid excessive pusher strokes and side instability of the blister column during the push, it is necessary to limit the number of the loaded blisters.

Another drawback of the known machines consists in that every type of blister pack requires a specific extraction roll or punch, requiring operational stops for the needed changeover. Other drawback of known machines consists in that, during the product extraction, fragments or metallic shreds may come off the breakable film, which covers the blister back and which is lacerated by the product coming out pressed by the punch, and falling down they can get mixed with the product and contaminate it.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to propose a deblister machine for extracting products from blister packs which allows minimizing the number of size parts needed to operate with blister packs having different dimensions, shape and geometries.

Other object is to propose a machine whose feeding assembly contains a considerable amount of blister packs and has an operation practically free from blocks and jams.

Further object is to propose a machine, which allows eliminating or making insignificant the generation of fragments or shreds particles of the blister cover film during the product extraction.

The above-mentioned objects are achieved in accordance with the claim contents.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The characteristics of the invention are underlined in the following, with particular reference to the attached drawings, in which: - figure 1 shows a perspective front view of the deblister machine of the present invention; figure 2 shows a further perspective front view, from a different angle, of the machine of figure 1; figures 3 and 4 show respectively a front view and top view of the machine of figure 1; figures 5 A and 5B show partial section views according to line V-V of figure 3 of an cutting assembly of the machine of figure 1, respectively in a cutting condition and in a retracted condition; figures 6A to 6D show side views of the machine of figure 1 in different operational conditions; figures 7 and 8 show respectively an enlarged bottom view and an enlarged perspective view of a pusher means of the machine of figure 1 ; figure 9 shows an enlarged perspective view of a blister pack, after the contact with the cutting assembly of figure 5 A.

BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

With reference to figures 1 to 9, numeral 1 indicates the deblister machine for extracting products from blister packs, which includes a feeding assembly 2, a cutting assembly 3, an extraction assembly 4 and an discharge assembly 5.

The feeding assembly 2 feeds the extraction assembly 4 with blister packs 100, which are singularly moved in a longitudinal direction along a sliding plane 10. The latter is inclined in direction of the extraction assembly 4 according to an angle ranging between 15° and 75°, preferably between 35° and 55°, with respect to a support plane of the machine.

The feeding assembly 2 is provided with a support means 21, basically a plane, positioned almost orthogonal to the sliding plane 10 and provided with first side guides 22, adjustable in the transversal direction, for supporting and containing a plurality of blister packs 100, aligned at mutual contact so forming a pile 104. The inclined layout of support means 21, thanks to the inclination of sliding plane 10, allows the blister packs 100 to slide by gravity toward the sliding plane 10, not requiring a suitable pusher. At the same time, the inclined layout of support means 21 limits the weight of the pile 104 resting on the base blister pack, so avoiding crushing or deformation thereof, which could stop the feeding assembly.

The feeding assembly 2 has a pusher means 23 fit for moving the single blister pack 100 from the base of pile 104 to the extraction assembly 4, making it descending on the sliding plane 10, through the cutting assembly 3. The pusher means 23 is moved by forth actuator means 25 and its stroke can be calibrated by regulation means 26. The transversal position of pile 104 of blister packs 100 is guaranteed by second side guides 24, which are connected to the sliding plane 10 and whose mutual distance is adjustable.

The press means 40 slidably support first comb means 44 and second comb means 45, having respective teeth, the teeth of each comb means being inserted in the spaces formed by the teeth of other comb means in order to carry out a kind of grill. By means of said grill the press means 40 presses each blister packs 100 against die means 41, in an extraction condition E of products 99 from said blister pack 100. Particularly, the first comb means 44 are constituted by two portions positioned by the sides of second comb means 45 and whose mutual distance is adjustable between a maximum extension condition A and a minimum extension condition B, in order to obtain a grill with varying surface, according to the transversal dimension of blister pack 100. It is important to underline that this technical solution allows to work with blisters having different size and shape, without need to substitute the press means 40, but regulating in a quick and easy way the distance of first comb means 44.

The press means 40 are driven by second actuator means 42 between the extraction condition E, in which the comb means 44, 45 squeeze the pocket 103 of blister pack 100 for extracting the products 99, and a spaced condition F, in which said press means 40 are at the maximum distance from the sliding plane 10, in order to allow discharging the crushed blister pack and the admission of a new blister pack.

The blister 100 is flattened by the press means 40 against the die mean 41, which consist of a plate removably inserted into a corresponding housing 11 of the sliding plane 10 and provided with a plurality of openings 43, facing the pockets 103 and through which the products 99 are extracted.

The discharge assembly 5 has a mobile head 50, driven by third actuator means 53 between an abutment condition C and release condition D, in which said head 50 is respectively at a minimum and at a maximum distance from the sliding plane 10.

The head 50 supports stop means 51 and lifting means 52, respectively fit for stopping in position the blister 100 and for lifting it for the discharge, after the extraction of products 99.

The stop means 51 include a plurality of shoulders 55, which mate, in the abutment condition C, the external pockets 103 of the transversal edge of blister pack 100, which is adjacent to said shoulders 55, so blocking the blister pack 100 on die means 41. In alternative, the shoulders 55 can be designed for mating an external edge of blister pack 100.

The lifting means 52 are constituted by a couple of parallels and spaced apart tines 54, each one having a flattened extended shape and a longitudinal groove 56, into which a side edge of the blister pack 100 is inserted, when said blister pack is positioned on the die mean 41. The tines 54 in the abutment condition C of the head 50 are housed in corresponding longitudinal cavities 46, carried out in the die means 41.

Elastic means, of lαiown type and not shown, are interposed between the stop means 51 and the lifting means 52 and, in the release condition D of the head 50, fit for maintaining the shoulders 55 spaced apart from the tines 54, in order to allow the crushed blister pack 100 to be discharged from the machine 1. Vice versa, in the abutment condition C, the elastic means, which can be compressed, allow the shoulders 55 to move at preset minimum distance from the tines 54 in order to stop the blister pack 100 to be emptied on the die means 41.

The cutting assembly 3 is interposed between the feeding assembly 2 and the extraction assembly 4 and is provided with cutting means 30, moved by first actuator means 32 between a retracted condition R and a cutting condition T.

In the cutting condition T, the cutting means 30 come out through an opening 12 of the sliding plane 10 and they contact the breakable film 101, usually an aluminum film, which cover the back side of each blisters pack 100. In this way, during the translation of blister pack 100 from the feeding assembly 2 to the extraction assembly 4, the cutting means 30 execute linear incisions 102 on the breakable film 101, in correspondence of the pockets 103 containing the products 99, as shown in detail in figure 9.

The cutting assembly 3 further includes abutment means 31 fit for pressing the blister 100 against the cutting means 30 and guaranteeing the incision continuity. In a preferred embodiment, the abutment means 31 consist of a roll, whose position is adjustable at least in the transversal direction, according to the blister transversal dimension.

The cutting means 30 are constituted by a plurality of cutters, wedge or disk shaped, of known type, positioned in parallel and adjustable in transversal direction. The number of cutters and the mutual distance thereof depend on the number and the pattern of pockets 103 of blister pack 100. The cutters can be easily replaced.

The presence of said incisions 102 makes easier tearing the breakable film 101 at the pockets

103, allowing the products 99 to easily come out, minimizing at the same time the generation of film fragments or shreds which may contaminate the collected product. This is particularly advantageous in the case of pills or tablets having big size and, thus, fit for tearing large areas of breakable film 101.

The actuator means 25, 31, 42, 53 consist of single-acting or double-acting pneumatic cylinders and they are connected to electronic control means for the automatic operation of the machine 1.

The operation of the deblister machine 1 for extracting products from blister packs provides that the pusher means 23 moves a single blister pack 100 from the base of the pile 104 in the feeding assembly 2 and pushes it through the cutting assembly 3 on the die means 41. During the passage of the blister pack 100 the cutting means 30, which are protruding through the opening 12 of the sliding plane 10 in the cutting condition T, contact the breakable film 101 of blister pack 100, carrying out a plurality of linear incisions 102 thereon.

To avoid interferences with the pusher means 23, the cutting means 30 are lowered in a retracted condition R at the passage of pusher means 23, which goes on with its stroke, transferring the blister 100 to the extraction assembly 4.

The press means 40 are in the spaced condition F, in order to allow the pusher means 23 to position the blister 100 on the die means 41 against the stop means 51, in the abutment condition C of the head 50 of discharge assembly 5. In this condition, the tines 54 of the stop means 52 are inserted in the longitudinal cavities 46 of die means 41, to allow inserting the blister pack 100 inside the grooves 56 of said tines 54.

The shoulders 55 of stop means 51 are at the minimum predefined distance from tines 54, thanks to the compression of the elastic means interposed between the stop means 51 and the lifting means 52.

When the pusher means 23 shifts backwards, the press means 40 are lowered in the extraction condition E, in which the comb means 44, 45 press the pockets 103 of the blister pack 100 against the die means 41 in order to extract the products 99, through the openings 43.

When the blister 100 is emptied, the press means 40 are moved in the spaced condition F and then, in sequence, the head 50 is translated in the release condition D, in order to allow the lifting means 52 raising the blister pack 100, which can slide out of the machine, emptied and flattened by the die means 41, because the shoulders 55 are moved apart from the tines 54, by the elastic means, which move back in the uncompress rest condition. An advantage of the present invention is to provide a deblister machine which allows minimizing the number of size parts needed to operate with blister pack s having different sizes, shapes and geometries.

Other advantage is to provide a machine whose feeding assembly contains a considerable amount of blister packs and has an operation practically free from blocks and jams.

Further advantage is to provide a machine, which allows eliminating or making insignificant the generation of fragments or shreds particles of the blister cover film, during the extraction of products.

Claims

1) Deblister machine for extracting products from blister packs, including a feeding assembly (2) for feeding with blister packs (100) an extraction assembly (4), which comprises at least press means (40) and die means (41), for extracting products (99) from each blister pack

(100); said machine (1) being characterized in that includes at least: first comb means (44) and second comb means (45) of press means (40), reciprocally sliding and having respective teeth fit for pressing each blister pack (100) against the die means (41), in an extraction condition (E) of products (99) from said blister pack (100); a discharge assembly (5) including at least a mobile head (50) to which stop means (51) are slidably connected for blocking the blister pack (100) on the die means (41), in the extraction condition (E) at least; the discharge assembly (5) further including lifting means (52) for raising the blister pack (100) from the die means (41) and discharging it from the machine ( 1 ) .

2) Machine according to claim 1 characterized in that includes a cutting assembly (3), interposed between the feeding assembly (2) and the extraction assembly (4) and provided with cutting means (30) which are mobile between a retracted condition (R), in which they are spaced apart from a blister pack (100), and a cutting condition (T), in which said cutting means (30) contact the breakable film (101) of each blister pack (100), through an opening (12) of a sliding plane (10), and carry out linear incisions (102) on said film at pockets (103) containing the products (99).

3) Machine according to claim 2 characterized in that the cutting assembly (3) includes abutment means (31), adjustable and fit for compressing each blister pack (100) against the cutting means (30).

4) Machine according to claim 2 characterized in that the cutting assembly (3) includes first actuator means (32) for driving the cutting means (30) between the retracted condition (R) and the cutting condition (T).

5) Machine according to claim 2 characterized in that the cutting means (30) includes a plurality of cutters. 6) Machine according to claim 2 characterized in that the sliding plane (10) of blisters (100) is inclined toward the extraction assembly (4) with an angle ranging between 15° and 75°.

7) Machine according to claims 1 characterized in that the first comb means (44) include two portions sliding over second comb means (45), between a condition of maximum extension

(A) and a condition of minimum extension (B).

8) Machine according to claims 1 characterized in that includes second actuator means (42) for driving the press means (40) between the extraction condition (E) and a spaced condition (F), in which said press means (40) are at the maximum distance from die means

(41).

9) Machine according to claim 2 characterized in that the die means (41) at least consist of a plate which is removably inserted in a corresponding housing (11) of the sliding plane (10) and which is provided with a plurality of openings (43), each thereof corresponding to a pocket (103) of blister pack (100) in the extraction condition (E).

10) Machine according to the claims 2 characterized in that the feeding assembly (2) includes at least a support means (21), positioned almost orthogonal to the sliding plane (10) and having first side guides (22), transversally adjustable, for supporting and containing a plurality of blister (100) aligned in mutual contact to form a pile (104).

11) Machine according to claims 10 characterized in that the feeding assembly (2) includes a pusher means (23) fit for moving a single blister pack (100) over second side guides (24), from the base of the pile (104) to the die means (41).

12) Machine according to claims 11 characterized in that includes forth actuator means (25) and regulation means (26) respectively for moving and adjusting the stroke of pusher means (23).

13) Machine according to claims 2 characterized in that includes third actuator means (53) for moving the head (50) between an abutment condition (C) and a release condition (D), in which said head (50) is respectively at minimum distance and maximum distance from sliding plane (10). 14) Machine according to claim 1 characterized in that the lifting means (52) include at least a couple of tines (54), each thereof provided with a longitudinal groove (56) to accommodate a respective edge of blister pack (100) at least in the extraction condition (E).

15) Machine according to claim 1 characterized in that the stop means (51) include at least a shoulder (55) for mating the blister (100) at least in the extraction condition (E).

16) Machine according to claim 1 characterized in that includes elastic means, interposed between the stop means (51) and the lifting means (52).

17) Machine according to claim 14 characterized in that die means (41) include longitudinal cavities (46) for the tines (54) of lifting means (52), at least in the extraction condition (E).

18) Machine according to claim 3, 8, 12 and 13 characterized in that the actuator means (25, 31, 42, 53) consist of single-acting or double-acting pneumatic cylinders.

19) Machine according to the preceding claims characterized in that includes electronic control means connected at least to the actuator means (25, 31, 42, 53) for the automatic operation of machine (1).