# US 10,501,272 B2 · Blister package stacker > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,501,272 B2 - Document ID: US10501272B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/882,834 - Filed: 2018-01-29 - Published: 2018-08-02 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2017-01-27 - Assignees: Remedi Technology Holdings, LLC - Applicants: Remedi Technology Holdings, LLC - Inventors: Bobby Owen Archer; Bruce Scott Dunn; Jan Bohlmann - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10501272B2 ## CPC - B65G 57/305: {by means of rotary devices or endless elements} - B65B 35/52: building-up the stack from the bottom - B65G 57/302: {added articles being lifted to substantially stationary grippers or holders} - B65H 2301/42122: by introducing articles from under the pile - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) - B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00) - B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES ## Abstract A blister package stacker having a nest inlet for reception of blister packages from a conveyor, a nest assembly for holding one of the blister packages, and a blister package collection tower for storing a stack of the blister packages. The nest assembly is configured to insert one blister package at a time upward into a bottom of the blister package collection tower. The blister package stacker may have a push arm which pushes the stack of the blister packages from the collection tower into storage tubes. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A blister package stacker for reception and stacking of blister packages containing an item, comprising: a rotatable first blister collection tower having a plurality of collection tower storage sections; a nest assembly associated with each tower section, each nest assembly configured to hold a blister package and each nest assembly having a nest inlet for reception of the blister packages from a conveyor; and a tower gate associated with each tower storage section for retaining blister packages in the associated collection tower storage section, wherein each nest assembly is configured to insert one blister package at a time upward into a bottom of the associated collection tower storage section during rotation of the first blister collection tower. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The stacker of claim 1, wherein at least one nest assembly, upon rotation, raises vertically said one of the blister packages into the collection tower storage section. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The stacker of claim 2, wherein the at least one nest assembly is connected by a cam follower to a barrel cam driving said rotation and raising the associated nest assembly. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The stacker of claim 1, wherein at least one tower gate comprises a flip gate at a bottom thereof to prevent the blister packages from falling out once the blisters have been placed in the collection tower storage section. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The stacker of claim 1, further comprising a second blister collection tower, wherein the first and second collection towers are disposed on a rotatable arm. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The stacker of claim 5, wherein the first and second blister collection towers each comprise between two and four collection tower storage sections disposed in separate quadrants. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The stacker of claim 5, further comprising a rotatable cylinder, wherein the first and the second blister collection towers are disposed at opposite ends of the rotatable arm and the rotatable cylinder is connected to a center of the rotatable arm. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The stacker of claim 7, wherein the rotatable arm rotates the first and second blister collection towers between a first position where the blister packages are loaded into at least one of the collection tower storage sections and a second position where a stack of blister packages filled in said at least one of the collection tower storage sections can be unloaded. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The stacker of claim 8, further comprising at least one storage tube, and wherein the blister packages in the second position are unloadable into the storage tube positioned over the stack in the collection tower storage section. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The stacker of claim 1, wherein the stacker further comprises a bar code reader for identifying the item inside the blister packages. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The stacker of claim 9, further comprising a magazine of clips for sealing the at least one storage tube once the stack of the blister packages has been inserted into the storage tube. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The stacker of claim 1, wherein the at least one collection tower storage section holds a stack of the blister packages at selected contact positions on a periphery of each of the blister packages. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The stacker of claim 1, wherein the at least one nest comprises a stainless steel material. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The stacker of claim 1, wherein the at least one collection tower storage section comprises an anodized aluminum material. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The stacker of claim 1, further comprising a servo cylinder configured to push a stack of the blister packages from the collection tower storage section into storage tubes. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The stacker of claim 1, further comprising a controller which is configured to execute one or more of the following: receive a first sensor signal indicating that the blister package is loaded in the nest and transmit a first control signal to rotate a dial and raise the nest; receive a second sensor signal indicating that the collection tower storage section is completely full and transmit a second control signal to push a stack of blister packages from the full collection tower storage section into a storage tube; receive a third sensor signal indicating that a blister collection tower is full of the blister packages and transmit a third control signal to stop production of the blister packages; and receive a fourth sensor signal including information on the item in the blister packages in the storage tubes and store said information. ### Claim 17 A blister package stacker for reception and stacking of blister packages containing an item, comprising: a first blister collection tower having a collection tower storage section; a nest assembly for holding one of the blister packages, the nest assembly having a nest inlet for reception of the blister packages from a conveyor; and a tower gate for retaining blister packages in the collection tower storage section; a second blister collection tower; and a rotatable cylinder, wherein the nest assembly is configured to insert one blister package at a time upward into a bottom of the collection tower storage section during rotation of the first blister collection tower, and wherein the first and second collection towers are disposed on a rotatable arm, the first and the second blister collection towers are disposed at opposite ends of the rotatable arm, and the rotatable cylinder is connected to a center of the rotatable arm. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The stacker of claim 17, wherein the rotatable arm rotates the first and second blister collection towers between a first position where the blister packages are loaded into at least one of the collection tower storage sections and a second position where a stack of blister packages filled in said at least one of the collection tower storage sections can be unloaded. ### Claim 19 A blister package stacker for reception and stacking of blister packages containing an item, comprising: a first blister collection tower having a collection tower storage section; a nest assembly for holding one of the blister packages, the nest assembly having a nest inlet for reception of the blister packages from a conveyor; and a tower gate for retaining blister packages in the collection tower storage section; and a controller which is configured to execute one or more of the following: receive a first sensor signal indicating that the blister package is loaded in the nest and transmit a first control signal to rotate a dial and raise the nest; receive a second sensor signal indicating that the collection tower storage section is completely full and transmit a second control signal to push a stack of blister packages from the full collection tower storage section into a storage tube; receive a third sensor signal indicating that a blister collection tower is full of the blister packages and transmit a third control signal to stop production of the blister packages; and receive a fourth sensor signal including information on the item in the blister packages in the storage tubes and store said information, wherein the nest assembly is configured to insert one blister package at a time upward into a bottom of the collection tower storage section during rotation of the first blister collection tower.