Blister card carrier

Abstract

A blister card carrier and methods of inserting and removing a blister card from the blister card carrier are disclosed. The blister card carrier is designed to hold a blister card in a substantially planar state. The blister card carrier may include a bottom section having a plurality of bottom rails, and a top section having a plurality of top rails. The bottom section and the top section may from one or more slots configured to receive a blister card. Each slot may be substantially perpendicular to the bottom section and the top section. Each bottom rail may be configured to contact a bottom surface of a received blister card. Each top rail may be configured to contact a top surface of a received blister card. The blister card carrier may be configured to position a received blister card in substantially the same plane as the bottom and top section.

1 . A blister card carrier designed to hold a blister card in a substantially planar state, the carrier comprising:
 a bottom section having one or more bottom rails; and   a top section having one or more top rails,   wherein the bottom section and the top section form one or more slots configured to receive a blister card,   wherein each slot is substantially perpendicular to the bottom section and the top section,   wherein each bottom rail is configured to contact a bottom surface of a received blister card,   wherein each top rail is configured to contact a top surface of a received blister card, and   wherein the blister card carrier is configured to position a received blister card in substantially the same plane as the bottom section and the top section.   
     
     
         2 . The blister card carrier of  claim 1  wherein at least one of a bottom rail and the top rail comprises a holding mechanism, and wherein the holding mechanism is located on a surface of the corresponding rail configured to contact a received blister card. 
     
     
         3 . The blister card carrier of  claim 2  wherein the holding mechanism is operable to conform a received blister card into a substantially planar state. 
     
     
         4 . The blister card carrier of  claim 2  wherein the holding mechanism is operable to create an interference fit with a received blister card. 
     
     
         5 . The blister card carrier of  claim 4  wherein the interference fit causes the received blister card to be held in a fixed position if no force is applied to remove the received blister card from the blister card carrier. 
     
     
         6 . The blister card carrier of  claim 2  wherein the holding mechanism comprises one or more of the following:
 a spring;   a protuberance; and   a chamfered edge.   
     
     
         7 . The blister card carrier of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an insertion point; and   a holding mechanism, wherein the holding mechanism is operable to removably affix the received blister card when inserted through the insertion point.   
     
     
         8 . A method of inserting a blister card into a blister card carrier, the method comprising:
 positioning a blister card in a slot of a blister card carrier;   placing an implement in contact with the blister card;   applying a force to the blister card using the implement, wherein the force movers the blister card into the blister card carrier;   detecting a mark on the blister card using a detecting element; and   removing the force from the blister card at a time determined based on the time that the mark is detected at a predefined location.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the implement comprises a pin. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein placing the implement comprises placing the pin in a pin slot of the blister card. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein placing the implement comprises placing the pin in contact with a trailing edge of the blister card. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the implement comprises a wheel. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein placing the implement comprises placing the wheel on one of a top surface of the blister card and a bottom surface of the blister card. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the mark comprises one or more of the following:
 a bar code;   a bar code label;   a dot;   an indentation; and   a hole.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the detecting element comprises one or more of the following:
 a bar code scanner;   a sensor; and   a mechanical switch.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 automatically determining a location of a blister within the blister card based on the location of the mark.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 guiding the blister card using one or more chamfered edges, wherein each chamfered edge is formed using one or more of a bottom rail of the blister card carrier and a top rail of the blister card carrier.