US3754374A — Single dosage packaging apparatus

Claim 1

Independent Claim 219 words

Apparatus for custom blister-packinging a plurality of single dosages of pharmaceuticals with each dosage appropriately identified as to the intended recipient comprising a support table having leg means for supporting the same, means on the table for supporting a first sheet having pockets so that pharmaceuticals to be packaged may be put into the pockets, a sealing machine on said table adjacent said last-mentioned means for sealing a second sheet in overlying relation to said first sheet by means of heat and pressure, said machine including a housing having a lower platen and a heated upper platen above said lower platen, a die plate having means for supporting said sheets in superimposed orientated relationship so that indicia on said second sheet corresponds to at least one specific pocket on said first sheet, means for supporting said die plate in a loading position and reciprocating said die plate relative to said housing to a position wherein the die plate is between said platens and overlies said lower platen, hydraulic means for moving the lower platen and die plate upwardly against the heated upper platen when the die plate is in its sealing position, said last-mentioned means including a piston and a closed circuit hydraulic system, a valve for controlling flow of a hydraulic liquid to one face of said piston.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 219 words

Apparatus for custom blister-packinging a plurality of single dosages of pharmaceuticals with each dosage appropriately identified as to the intended recipient comprising a support table having leg means for supporting the same, means on the table for supporting a first sheet having pockets so that pharmaceuticals to be packaged may be put into the pockets, a sealing machine on said table adjacent said last-mentioned means for sealing a second sheet in overlying relation to said first sheet by means of heat and pressure, said machine including a housing having a lower platen and a heated upper platen above said lower platen, a die plate having means for supporting said sheets in superimposed orientated relationship so that indicia on said second sheet corresponds to at least one specific pocket on said first sheet, means for supporting said die plate in a loading position and reciprocating said die plate relative to said housing to a position wherein the die plate is between said platens and overlies said lower platen, hydraulic means for moving the lower platen and die plate upwardly against the heated upper platen when the die plate is in its sealing position, said last-mentioned means including a piston and a closed circuit hydraulic system, a valve for controlling flow of a hydraulic liquid to one face of said piston.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 80 words

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means on said table for supporting a first sheet during the placement of pharmaceuticals into the pockets includes a tray, said tray being supported by said table, said tray having a sloping wall connected to a horizontal bottom wall, a jig supported by said bottom wall, said jig having means for supporting one end of a loading plate while the other end of the loading plate is supported by said sloping wall.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 134 words

A sealing machine to be used as part of an apparatus for custom blister-packaging a plurality of single dosages of pharmaceuticals with each dosage appropriately identified as to the intended recipient comprising a housing, said housing having means for supporting a die plate reciprocable from a loading position outside the housing to a sealing position inside the housing, said die plate having means for supporting first and second sheets in a superimposed oRientated relationship so that indicia on one sheet corresponds to a pocket on the other sheet, said die plate having blade means for perforating said sheets, a heated upper platen in said housing, and means for selectively moving the die plate upwardly into contact with the upper platen to effect a sealing action between the sheets by means of heat and pressure.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 134 words

A sealing machine to be used as part of an apparatus for custom blister-packaging a plurality of single dosages of pharmaceuticals with each dosage appropriately identified as to the intended recipient comprising a housing, said housing having means for supporting a die plate reciprocable from a loading position outside the housing to a sealing position inside the housing, said die plate having means for supporting first and second sheets in a superimposed oRientated relationship so that indicia on one sheet corresponds to a pocket on the other sheet, said die plate having blade means for perforating said sheets, a heated upper platen in said housing, and means for selectively moving the die plate upwardly into contact with the upper platen to effect a sealing action between the sheets by means of heat and pressure.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 77 words

Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said die plate includes a layer of wood having a layer of compressible material thereon, said blade means including blades supported by said wood and being disposed between adjacent portions of said layer of compressible material, said layer of compressible material having cavities between adjacent blades for receiving pockets on the first sheet, and said die plate including pins for orientating said second sheet with respect to the first sheet.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 84 words

A machine in accordance with claim 3 wherein the means for supporting the die plate includes a reciprocable slide plate, said slide plate being supported by a lower platen, said die plate being supported by said slide plate, and said means for moving the die plate upwardly including a piston rod connected to the lower platen and extending into a cylinder supported below said platen, means for introducing a hydraulic liquid into said cylinder to raise said platen, and means for exhausting said cylinder.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 60 words

A sealing machine in accordance with claim 3 wherein said die plate includes a layer of wood having thereon a layer of compressible material, said layer of compressible material having cavities for receiving pockets on said other sheet, said blade means including blades supported by said layer of wood and extending through said layer of compressible material between adjacent cavities.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 194 words

Apparatus for custom blister-packaging a plurality of single dosages of pharmaceuticals with each dosage appropriately identified as to the intended recipient comprising a support table, means on said table for supporting and loading a first sheet having pockets so that pharmaceuticals to be packaged may be put into the pockets, a sealing machine on said table adjacent said last-mentioned means for sealing a second sheet in overlying relation to said first sheet by means of heat and pressure, said machine including a die plate having means for supporting said sheets in superimposed orientated relationship so that indicia on said second sheet corresponds to at least one specific pocket on said first sheet, a lower platen, a heated upper platen above said lower platen, a slide plate for supporting said die plate in a loading position and reciprocating the die plate relative to the lower platen to a sealing position wherein the die plate overlies the lower platen, means supported by said table and including a piston coupled to said lower platen for moving the lower platen and die plate upwardly against the heated upper platen when the die plate is in its sealing position.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 194 words

Apparatus for custom blister-packaging a plurality of single dosages of pharmaceuticals with each dosage appropriately identified as to the intended recipient comprising a support table, means on said table for supporting and loading a first sheet having pockets so that pharmaceuticals to be packaged may be put into the pockets, a sealing machine on said table adjacent said last-mentioned means for sealing a second sheet in overlying relation to said first sheet by means of heat and pressure, said machine including a die plate having means for supporting said sheets in superimposed orientated relationship so that indicia on said second sheet corresponds to at least one specific pocket on said first sheet, a lower platen, a heated upper platen above said lower platen, a slide plate for supporting said die plate in a loading position and reciprocating the die plate relative to the lower platen to a sealing position wherein the die plate overlies the lower platen, means supported by said table and including a piston coupled to said lower platen for moving the lower platen and die plate upwardly against the heated upper platen when the die plate is in its sealing position.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 37 words

Apparatus in accordance with claim 7 including a switch responsive to said slide plate when the latter overlies the lower platen, said switch being coupled to circuitry for moving the piston upwardly toward the heated upper platen.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 33 words

Apparatus in accordance with claim 7 including discontinuous blades adjacent said sheets for perforating said sheets with intersecting perforation lines while the sheets are being heat-sealed under heat and pressure between said platens.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 35 words

Apparatus in accordance with claim 7 wherein said last-mentioned means include a pump and reservoir below the elevation of said lower platen, and circuitry controls mounted on a horizontal surface immediately above said upper platen.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 42 words

Apparatus in accordance with claim 7 wherein said last-mentioned means includes a closed circuit hydraulic system, a valve for controlling flow of a hydraulic fluid to one face of the piston, and spring return means for an opposite face of the piston.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1976-08-27	1977-02-26	1977-08-28	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1980-08-27	1981-02-26	1981-08-28	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1984-08-27	1985-02-26	1985-08-28	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Single dosage packaging apparatus

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