Blister card loading system

Abstract

A loading system ( 10 ) for loading packaging cards ( 14 ) with blister cards ( 22 ), which system comprises a magazine ( 15 ) for holding a supply of blister cards and operable controllably to release sequential blister cards onto a stationary runner ( 32 ) disposed around a portion of a feeder wheel ( 24 ), at an input position of the feeder wheel, the feeder wheel having means ( 30 ) to convey the blister cards in sliding contact with said runner to a transfer position of the feeder wheel, and means ( 26 ) sequentially to transfer conveyed blister cards for loading onto packaging cards during synchronized movement between the transfer means and the packaging cards.

1 . A loading system for loading packaging cards with blister cards, which loading system comprises a magazine for holding a supply of blister cards that is operable controllably to sequentially release blister cards onto a stationary runner disposed around a portion of a feeder wheel, at an input position of the feeder wheel, the feeder wheel having means to convey the blister cards in sliding contact with said runner to a transfer position of the feeder wheel, and means sequentially to transfer conveyed blister cards for loading onto packaging cards during synchronized movement between the transfer means and the packaging cards. 
   
   
       2 . A loading system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a guide rail is provided to cooperate with said stationary runner and thereby to retain blister cards within as working reach of the feeder wheel as they are conveyed by the feeder wheel. 
   
   
       3 . A loading system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the means by which the feeder wheel conveys the blister cards comprises lugs that protrude from a surface of the feeder wheel, and which are brought into abutment with a trailing edge of the blister cards by rotation of the feeder wheel, and through which abutment subsequent conveyance of the blister cards is achieved. 
   
   
       4 . A loading system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the magazine comprises protrusions that abut a proximate surface of a blister card of the magazine, thereby preventing any blister cards from being released, which protrusions may be controllably moved out of abutment with said proximate surface, by displacement of the protrusions and said surface relative to one another, and thereby releasing a blister card from the magazine. 
   
   
       5 . A loading system as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the magazine comprise pivotable hooks, the terminal ends of which form said protrusions. 
   
   
       6 . A loading system as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the magazine comprises Archimedean screws that release the successive blister cards from the magazine through rotation of the screws, the thread of which Archimedean screws forms said protrusions. 
   
   
       7 . A loading system as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the magazine comprises star wheels which may be rotated to release successive blister cards from the magazine, which star wheels comprises said protrusions disposed around their peripheries. 
   
   
       8 . A loading system as claimed in  claim 1 , arranged such that two or more blister cards may be released onto runners of the feeder wheel, and thereafter loaded onto the same packaging card, simultaneously. 
   
   
       9 . A method of loading a packaging card a blister cards sequentially, from a magazine for holding a supply of blister cards, onto a stationary runner disposed around a portion of a feeder wheel, at an input positron of the feeder wheel, conveying the released blister cards, in sliding contact with said runner, to a transfer positron of the feeder wheel, using a conveying means of the feeder wheel, and sequentially transferring conveyed blister cards for loading onto packaging cards during synchronized movements between the transfer means and the packaging cards. 
   
   
       10 . A method as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the blister cards are controllably released from he magazine by moving protrusions out of abutment with proximate surfaces of the blister cards. 
   
   
       11 . A method as claimed in  claim 10  wherein the protrusions comprise the end of pivotable hooks and the protrusions are moved out of abutment with said proximate surfaces by pivoting those hoods. 
   
   
       12 . A method as claimed in  claim 10  wherein the protrusions comprise the thread of Archimedean screws and the protrusions are moved out of abutment with said proximate surfaces by rotating the Archimedean screws. 
   
   
       13 . A method as claimed in  claim 10  wherein the protrusions comprised the lugs of rotatable star wheels and the protrusions are moved out of abutment with said proximate surfaces by rotating the star wheels. 
   
   
       14 . A method as claimed in  claim 9  wherein two or more blister cards are released onto the runners of the feed wheel simultaneously, and are thereafter loaded onto the same packaging card simultaneously.