Blister sheet loading apparatus with bounce prevention means

Abstract

Apparatus for loading medication doses ( 4′ ) into a cavity ( 15′ ) of a blister sheet ( 12′ ) made from a resilient plastics material, is provided with a number of horizontally-arranged containers one of which is shown at ( 6′ ). Each container can be operated to release a solid medication dose ( 4′ ) into a cavity ( 15′ ) of a selected blister. The blister sheet to have its cavities loaded with medication doses is supported horizontally on a table spaced beneath the level at which the containers ( 6′ ) are located. A thick horizontal plate ( 1 ) is disposed between the level of the containers and the level of the table, and an array of inclined and axially-parallel bores ( 2′ ) are formed through the plate. The upper ends of the bore associated with each blister cavity can be located beneath the container which is to deliver a dose to the cavity so that a released dose travels down the bore and impacts against one side of the bore which acts to deflect the dose and thus reduce its vertical momentum. The dose is released from the lower end of the bore and impacts against the inside upper, wall of the cavity. The risk of damage by impact of released doses with one another in the cavity is reduced and the risk of a dose bouncing back out of the cavity through impacting on its resilient floor is avoided.

1 . Apparatus for loading individual cavities of a blister sheet with small hard objects released into the cavities from above, including: first means for locating individual containers holding the objects at a level above the position of a blister cavity to be loaded;
 second means for releasing an object from the container so that it follows a path leading downwards towards the cavity; and, third means located in the path of descent of the object and acting to retard its rate-of descent to an acceptable level before it reaches the cavity.   
     
     
         2 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the third means is formed by a deflector which is struck by the object during its descent to absorb part of its momentum and thus slow it down 
     
     
         3 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , in which the deflector is in the form of a bore inclined downwardly through a horizontal plate, the upper end of the bore being located beneath a bottom outlet of the container and the lower end of the bore being located above a loading position for the blister cavity. 
     
     
         4 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 3 , in which the bore is shaped to direct an object descending through it towards an upper side-wall of the blister cavity. 
     
     
         5 . Apparatus for loading cavities of a blister sheet with prescribed doses of medication, including: a support table provided with first means for positively locating respective blister cavities of the blister sheet at a level spaced beneath and displaced horizontally with respect to the position at which dose-storage containers can be located, and a deflector positioned between the storage containers and the table to deflect a dose falling from the storage container laterally towards a blister cavity intended to receive it. 
     
     
         6 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 5 , in which the deflectors are provided by the internal surfaces of respective axially-parallel and inclined bores extending between upper and lower surfaces of a relatively thick horizontal plate disposed between the dose-discharge position of the containers and the position of the blister sheet. 
     
     
         7 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 5 , in which the lower end-portion of the bore opposite its side first struck by a descending dose, is formed with a rebate. 
     
     
         8 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 5 , including an indexing mechanism for traversing the deflectors and table horizontally to bring the cavity of a selected blister to be loaded together with its associated deflector, to a position beneath the dose-discharge position of the dose-storage containers.