Device to remove objects from blister packs

Claim 1

A device for the removal of objects from blister packs of the type having a planar member on one side and a plurality of blisters on the other side, each blister of a depth to hold such object, said blisters arrayed in columns and rows, said planar member of said blister pack having a front leading edge, said device comprising: a track member having a plurality of parallel channels defined in the top thereof, each channel being of a depth equivalent to the depth of said blisters in each column of said blister pack, said plurality of channels spaced apart from one another a distance equivalent to the distance between the columns of blisters on said blister pack, said channels being aligned so that the blisters when placed thereon longitudinally in the direction of the columns will align the blisters in the channels positioning the planar member of the blister pack at the top of said track member; a blade member disposed generally perpendicular to the plane along the length of said channels and disposed at the top of said channels; a roller rotatably postioned perpendicular to the length of said channels and positioned in front of said blade a distance sufficient to receive the front leading edge of said blister pack; and means to rotate said roller to drive said blister pack with said blisters facing down thereunder against said blade member which cuts each row of blisters at a point just beneath said planar member yet above each object held within each blister so that the blisters and the objects contained therein fall to the bottom of the channels for later collection and removal of the objects from each blister.

Claim 2

A device for the removal of objects from blister packs of the type having a planar member on one side and a plurality of blisters on the other side, each blister of a depth to hold such object, said blisters arrayed in columns and rows, said planar member of said blister pack having a front leading edge, said device comprising: a track member having a plurality of parallel channels defined in the top thereof, each channel being of a depth equivalent to the depth of said blisters in each column of said blister pack, said plurality of channels spaced apart from one another a distance equivalent to the distance between the columns of blisters on said blister pack, said channels being aligned so that the blisters when placed thereon longitudinally in the direction of the columns will align the blisters in the channels positioning the planar member of the blister pack at the top of said track member; a blade member disposed generally perpendicular to the plane along the length of said channels and disposed at the top of said channels; a roller rotatably postioned perpendicular to the length of said channels and positioned in front of said blade a distance sufficient to receive the front leading edge of said blister pack; and means to rotate said roller to drive said blister pack with said blisters facing down thereunder against said blade member which cuts each row of blisters at a point just beneath said planar member yet above each object held within each blister so that the blisters and the objects contained therein fall to the bottom of the channels for later collection and removal of the objects from each blister.