US3759011A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Packaging machine for packaging uniform articles such as pharmaceutical tablets
Assignee: REED LANE Inc
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Filing: 1972-05-04
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Granted: 1973-09-18
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Expires: 1992-05-04
Abstract
Abstract A machine for packaging articles of uniform size, such as pharmaceutical tablets, in a blister type package utilizing laminating rolls to form the package from a pair of webs of indefinite length and an article feeding device for positioning the articles between the two webs as they lead to the nip between the laminating rolls. The article feeding device is in the form of a generally vertical chute which at its lower end curves about the surface of one of the laminating rolls overlying the web passing over such roll. The roll itself contains a die cavity which passes beneath the curved lower portion of the chute, and the web prior to passing beneath the chute is deformed into the die cavity such that a pocket, i.e., a blister, is formed in the web as it passes beneath the chute. The lower end of the chute is terminated in a lateral passageway approximately perpendicular to the passageway through the chute, and a plunger is provided to transfer an article from the bottom of the chute through such lateral passageway into the pocket. The web with the pocket containing the tablet or other article is then immediately positioned against the other web at the nip of the laminating rolls and the two webs are caused to adhere by pressure, and heat or the application of adhesive to one of the webs.
Inventors
- 👤 V Akke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 03:34
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C65/00; B29C65/02; B29C65/18; B29C65/24; B29C65/30; B29C65/305; B29C66/00; B29C66/01; B29C66/05; B29C66/10; B29C66/11; B29C66/112; B29C66/13; B29C66/131; B29C66/349; B29C66/3492; B29C66/3494; B29C66/50; B29C66/51; B29C66/53; B29C66/534; B29C66/5346; B29C66/53461; B29C66/80; B29C66/81; B29C66/814; B29C66/8141; B29C66/81427; B29C66/81431; B29C66/818; B29C66/8181; B29C66/83; B29C66/834; B29C66/8341; B29C66/83411; B29C66/83413; B29C66/83415; B29C66/8351; B29C66/83511; B29C66/84; B29C66/849; B65; B65B; B65B9/00; B65B9/02; B65B9/04; B65B9/045; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/712; B29L2031/7162; B29L2031/7164
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim
472 words
In a packaging machine for packaging an article in a pocket between laminated webs including a pair of laminating rolls cooperating to form a nip therebetween, means counterrotating said rolls, means feeding a first web of indefinite length over a first of said rolls to said nip, means feeding a second web of indefinite length of deformable material over the second of said rolls to said nip, and means causing said webs to adhere as said webs are pressed together at said nip, the improvement which includes an article feeding device delivering articles to said nip, means deforming a portion of said second web into said second roll to form a pocket for receiving a said article, said deforming means including means defining a cavity in said second roll at a position underlying said second web as said second web passes over said second roll to said nip and means whereby said second web is deformed into said cavity, said article feeding device including a feed chute defining a passageway delivering a said article to said nip positioned above said second roll, said chute including a generally vertical passageway sized to receive a said article and allow such article to fall by gravity therethrough, the lower end of said passageway including a curved portion positioned adjacent the upper surface of a said second roll along the path, when said rolls are counter-rotated, travelled by said cavity as said cavity approaches said nip subsequent to the position at which said second web is deformed into said cavity, the lower end of said passageway being closed at the vicinity of said nip and said chUte including a lateral passageway therethrough intersecting the lower end of said vertical passageway at a position between said position at which said portion of said web is deformed into said cavity and the position of said nip, said vertical passageway being sized to pass a said article, a plunger mounted for reciprocation between a first adjacent said lateral passageway on the side of said chute remote from said second roll and a second position extended through said lateral passageway, and means for reciprocating said plunger from said first to said second position in synchronism with the passage of said cavity adjacent said lateral passageway, whereby as a plurality of said articles are fed to the upper end of said vertical passageway, said articles fall to the lower end of said chute one article resting on the next lower article and with the lowermost article held in the lower end of said vertical passageway at the intersection of said lateral passageway held by the weight of the articles resting thereabove while said plunger is in the first position and said lowermost article is pushed into the deformed portion of said web as said plunger is reciprocated to said second position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
472 words
In a packaging machine for packaging an article in a pocket between laminated webs including a pair of laminating rolls cooperating to form a nip therebetween, means counterrotating said rolls, means feeding a first web of indefinite length over a first of said rolls to said nip, means feeding a second web of indefinite length of deformable material over the second of said rolls to said nip, and means causing said webs to adhere as said webs are pressed together at said nip, the improvement which includes an article feeding device delivering articles to said nip, means deforming a portion of said second web into said second roll to form a pocket for receiving a said article, said deforming means including means defining a cavity in said second roll at a position underlying said second web as said second web passes over said second roll to said nip and means whereby said second web is deformed into said cavity, said article feeding device including a feed chute defining a passageway delivering a said article to said nip positioned above said second roll, said chute including a generally vertical passageway sized to receive a said article and allow such article to fall by gravity therethrough, the lower end of said passageway including a curved portion positioned adjacent the upper surface of a said second roll along the path, when said rolls are counter-rotated, travelled by said cavity as said cavity approaches said nip subsequent to the position at which said second web is deformed into said cavity, the lower end of said passageway being closed at the vicinity of said nip and said chUte including a lateral passageway therethrough intersecting the lower end of said vertical passageway at a position between said position at which said portion of said web is deformed into said cavity and the position of said nip, said vertical passageway being sized to pass a said article, a plunger mounted for reciprocation between a first adjacent said lateral passageway on the side of said chute remote from said second roll and a second position extended through said lateral passageway, and means for reciprocating said plunger from said first to said second position in synchronism with the passage of said cavity adjacent said lateral passageway, whereby as a plurality of said articles are fed to the upper end of said vertical passageway, said articles fall to the lower end of said chute one article resting on the next lower article and with the lowermost article held in the lower end of said vertical passageway at the intersection of said lateral passageway held by the weight of the articles resting thereabove while said plunger is in the first position and said lowermost article is pushed into the deformed portion of said web as said plunger is reciprocated to said second position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-09-17 | 1977-03-19 | 1977-09-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-17 | 1981-03-19 | 1981-09-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-17 | 1985-03-19 | 1985-09-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |