Method and apparatus for assembling blister packages

Claim 2

An assembly device for use in assembling the blister and backing card components of a blister package, said blister and card components adhered together using parallel strips of double-coated tape obtained from a pair of tape rolls, comprising: a pair of feed wheels each having a plurality of substantially flat surfaces; mounting means for mounting said feed wheels in parallel with corresponding surfaces aligned for synchronous rotation so that the surfaces of the wheels rotate through one or more tape wrap and transport stations and a tape application station; rotating means for rotating said feed wheels through said stations one at a time; first tape support means for supporting one of said rolls of tape to feed to one of said pair of feed wheels; second tape support means for supporting the other of said rolls of tape to feed the other of said pair of feed wheels; whereby tape fed to a feed wheel is wrapped on said wheel as it is turned through said one or more wrap and transport stations and whereby a length of tape is transported to the application station; tape cutting means for cutting the end of a length of tape wrapped on each of said feed wheels whereby the tape carried on said feed wheels can be cut into strips; tray means for supporting one of said components over the surfaces of said wheels in said tape application station; and pressing means for pressing said component supported by said tray means against the tape supported on the parallel surfaces of said wheels in said application station whereby tape is transferred from said surfaces of said wheels to said component.

Claim 3

An assembly device according to claim 1 further including: a fixture for supporting said blister and backing card components to be assembled together; and further pressing means for pressing said blister and card components against one another in said fixture whereby a taped component can be assembled to the other component to form a blister package.

Claim 4

An assembly device according to claim 1 or 2 further including first and second tape wrap roller means, each of said tape wrap roller means movably mounted with a resilient bias against the surface of one of said feed wheels in said tape wrap station to aid in adhering said tape to the feed wheel.

Claim 5

An assembly device according to claim 1 wherein said pressing means includes pressing rollers supported for rolling movement over said wheels.

Claim 6

An assembly device according to claim 4 wherein said pressing means further includes: a carriage for supporting said pressing rollers; and track means for supporting said carriage for linear movement.

Claim 7

An assembly device according to claim 2 further wherein said pressing means and said further pressing means comprise: a pair of pressing rollers; a carriage for supporting said rollers; track means for supporting said carriage for linear movement over said wheels for movement over said fixture; and further wherein said carriage has a center position along said track means between said fixture and said feed wheels, wherein when said carriage is moved in a first direction said pressing rollers pass over said feed wheels, and wherein when said carriage is moved in the other direction the pressing rollers pass over said blister fixture.

Claim 8

An assembly device according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said tray means is mounted for movement between a first load/unload position that is spaced apart from said feed wheels and a second application position wherein said tray means supports said component over the surfaces of said wheels.

Claim 9

An assembly device according to claim 7 wherein said means for moving said tray means includes means for spring biasing said tray means toward said first position

Claim 10

An assembly device according to claim 1 wherein said first and second means for supporting said rolls of tape each include a horizontally mounted rotating platter and further wherein said device includes means for guiding tape from each of the rolls supported on said platters to said feed wheels.

Claim 13

A method according to claim 10 further including the steps of: (a) providing a fixture for supporting said blister and backing card components to be assembled together; and (b) pressing said components together along the area of said tape strips carried on one of said components whereby a taped component can be assembled to the other component to form a blister package.

Claim 14

An assembly device for use in assembling the blister and backing card components of a blister package, said blister and card components adhered together using parallel strips of double-coated tape obtained from a pair of tape rolls, comprising: a pair of rectangular feed wheels each having four substantially flat surfaces; mounting means for mounting said feed wheels in parallel with corresponding surfaces aligned for synchronous rotation so that the surfaces of the wheels rotate through an idle, station tape wrap station and application station; rotating means for rotating said feed wheels through said stations one at a time; first tape support means for supporting one of said rolls of tape on its side to feed to one of said pair of feed wheels; second tape support means for supporting the other of said rolls of tape on its side to feed the other of said pair of feed wheels; first and second tape wrap roller means, each of said tape wrap roller means movably mounted with a resilient bias against the surface of one of said feed wheels in said tape wrap station to aid in adhering said tape to the feed wheel; whereby tape fed to a feed wheel is wrapped on said wheel as it is turned through said wrap and transport stations and whereby a length of tape is transported to the application station; tape cutting means for cutting the end of a length of tape wrapped on each of said feed wheels whereby the tape carried on said feed wheels can be cut into strips; tray means for supporting one of components over the surfaces of said wheels in said tape application station; a pair of pressing rollers; and support means for supporting said pressing rollers for movement over said wheels to press component supported by said tray means against the tape supported on the parallel surfaces of said wheels in said application station whereby tape is transferred from said surfaces of said wheels to said component.

Claim 15

An assembly device for use in assembling the blister and backing card components of a blister package, said blister and card components adhered together using parallel strips of double-coated tape obtained from a pair of tape rolls, comprising: a pair of rectangular feed wheels each having four substantially flat surfaces; mounting means for mounting said feed wheels in parallel with corresponding surfaces aligned for synchronous rotation so that the surfaces of the wheels rotate through an idle, station tape wrap station and application station; rotating means for rotating said feed wheels through said stations one at a time; first tape support means for supporting one of said rolls of tape on its side to feed to one of said pair of feed wheels; second tape support means for supporting the other of said rolls of tape on its side to feed the other of said pair of feed wheels; first and second tape wrap roller means, each of said tape wrap roller means movably mounted with a resilient bias against the surface of one of said feed wheels in said tape wrap station to aid in adhering said tape to the feed wheel; whereby tape fed to a feed wheel is wrapped on said wheel as it is turned through said wrap and transport stations and whereby a length of tape is transported to the application station; tape cutting means for cutting the end of a length of tape wrapped on each of said feed wheels whereby the tape carried on said feed wheels can be cut into strips; tray means for supporting one of components over the surfaces of said wheels in said tape application station; a pair of pressing rollers; and support means for supporting said pressing rollers for movement over said wheels to press component supported by said tray means against the tape supported on the parallel surfaces of said wheels in said application station whereby tape is transferred from said surfaces of said wheels to said component.

Claim 16

An assembly device according to claim 12 further including: a fixture for supporting said blister and backing card components to be assembled together; and further support means for supporting said pressing rollers for movement over said fixture to press said blister component against said card in said fixture whereby a taped component can be assembled to the other component to form a blister package.