Article supply system

Abstract

An apparatus for supplying donor articles ( 22 ) to be packaged on a packaging machine which apparatus comprises a transfer mechanism ( 10 ) which receives sequential donor articles from a supply located in a position remote from a target location, a conditioning assembly ( 12 ) for conditioning receptor articles ( 14 ) in preparation for receiving the donor articles, wherein said transfer mechanism comprises engaging means coupled to a conveyor for transferring the donor articles from said remote location characterised in that the transfer mechanism ( 10 ) is shaped and configured such that its output end is in close proximity to the conditioning assembly ( 12 ) in order that the donor articles ( 22 ) are applied to respective receptor articles ( 14 ) sufficiently quickly subsequent to the receptor articles departure from the conditioning assembly to take benefit from the conditioning carried out upon the receptor article whereby the donor articles and the receptor articles are bonded together.

1 . An apparatus for supplying donor articles to be packaged on a packaging machine which apparatus comprises a transfer mechanism which receives sequential donor articles from a supply located in a position remote from a target location, a conditioning assembly for conditioning receptor articles in preparation for receiving the donor articles, wherein said transfer mechanism comprises engaging means coupled to a conveyor for transferring the donor articles from said remote location characterised in that the transfer mechanism is shaped and configured such that its output end is in close proximity to the conditioning assembly in order that the donor articles are applied to respective receptor articles sufficiently quickly subsequent to the receptor articles departure from the conditioning assembly to take benefit from the conditioning carried out upon the receptor article whereby the donor articles and the receptor articles are bonded together. 
   
   
       2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the article are shielded from the conditioning assembly whilst being transferred. 
   
   
       3 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the apparatus comprises a feeder mechanism to transfer the donor article from the supply to the transfer mechanism and an applicator mechanism to receive the donor article from the transfer mechanism and apply them to the receptor article. 
   
   
       4 . An apparatus according to  claim 4  wherein the transfer mechanism and/or the applicator mechanism comprise suction cups coupled to a vacuum system which a driven rotationally by a rotary drive means. 
   
   
       5 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the donor article is a blister pack comprising at least one unit dose pharmaceutical product and the receptor article is a carton blank. 
   
   
       6 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the remote position of the magazine is sufficiently distal from the conditioning station to prevent damage to a product contained within the donor article as a result of conditioning the receptor article. 
   
   
       7 . An article supply apparatus for supplying donor articles for packaging in a packaging machine comprising a first conveyor mechanism for supplying an donor article to a second conveyor disposed above a conditioning assembly for conditioning receptor articles in preparation for receiving the donor articles wherein the second conveyor transfers the donor articles from an input end in a horizontal orientation to an output end at which end the donor article is disposed in a vertical orientation, a third conveyor disposed in a substantially vertical orientation transfers the donor article from the second conveyor to a fourth conveyor which transfers receptor articles through the conditioning assembly, the third conveyor places donor articles upon respective receptor articles upon their departure from the conditioning assembly characterised in that the article supply apparatus is shaped and configured such that its output end is in close proximity to the conditioning assembly in order that the donor articles are applied to respective receptor articles sufficiently quickly subsequent to the receptor articles departure from the conditioning assembly to take benefit from the conditioning carried out upon the receptor article whereby the donor articles and the receptor articles are bonded together. 
   
   
       8 . An article supply apparatus according to  claim 7  wherein the conditioning assembly conditions an adhesive coating applied to the receptor article in order to activate the adhesive prior to application of donor articles to the respective receptor articles. 
   
   
       9 . An article supply apparatus according to  claim 8  wherein the conditioning element is a heat source such as an infra red radiation source. 
   
   
       10 . An article supply apparatus according to  claim 7  wherein there further comprises a fifth overhead conveyor for transferring the donor article, from the first conveyor to the second conveyor and wherein upon transfer an edge of the donor article adjacent the leading edge of the donor article when the donor article is being transferred on the first conveyor becomes a leading edge when the donor article is being transferred by the second conveyor. 
   
   
       11 . An article supply apparatus according to  claim 7  wherein the donor articles are shielded from the conditioning element whilst being transferred. 
   
   
       12 . An article supply apparatus according to  claim 7  wherein the working reach of the second conveyor comprises a first portion and a second portion disposed substantially perpendicular to one another.