Automatic packager for medications
AssigneeRxsafe LLC
InventorsAaron Arsenault, William K. Holmes
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automatic blister card packager (200) is provided. The automatic blister card packager (200) includes a universal feed cassette (205) for individually dispensing medications, a packaging unit (210) in communication with the universal feed cassette (205). The packaging unit (210) is configured to receive a blister card (100). The automatic blister card packager 210 also includes a chute (230) connecting the universal feed cassette (205) to the packaging equipment (210). The chute (230) includes a plurality of tracks (450) and directs the medications dispensed from the universal feed cassette (205) into the blister card (100) received in the packaging equipment (210).
Claims25
An automatic packager for blister cards comprising:
- a universal feed cassette including a plurality of cartridges and a plurality of conduits corresponding to the plurality of cartridges, the plurality of cartridges configured to individually dispense medications;
- a packaging unit in communication with the universal feed cassette, the packaging unit configured to receive a blister card;
- and
- a chute connecting the universal feed cassette to the packaging equipment, the chute including a plurality of tracks corresponding to the plurality of conduits, wherein the chute directs the medications dispensed from the universal feed cassette into the blister card received in the packaging equipment.
A packaging unit for packaging pharmaceuticals into a blister card, the packaging unit comprising:
- a packaging equipment including
- a packaging plate including a blister card receiving portion having a plurality of blister openings, the plurality of blister openings configured to accommodate blister compartments of the blister card;
- and
- a packaging lid connected to the packaging plate and including medication receiving openings extending from a top side to a bottom side of the packaging lid, wherein medications are directed to the blister compartments through the medication receiving openings.
A method for packaging blister cards using an automatic blister card packager, the automatic blister card packager including a universal feed cassette configured to dispense individual mediations, a packaging unit in communication with the universal feed cassette and including packaging equipment configured to receive the blister card, and a chute connecting the universal feed cassette to the packaging unit, the method comprising:
- moving, using a rail drive of the packaging unit, the packaging equipment from a second position to a first position;
- aligning, using the rail drive, a first row of medication receiving openings in the packaging equipment with medication dispensing openings of the chute;
- instructing, using an electronic processor of the automatic blister card packager, the universal feed cassette to dispense medication;
- determining, using the electronic processor, that medications are dispensed;
- determining, using the electronic processor, whether a blister card in the packaging equipment is filled;
- aligning, using the rail drive, a next row of medication receiving openings with the medication dispensing openings of the chute when the blister card is not filled;
- and
- moving, using the rail drive, the packaging equipment from the first position to the second position when the blister card is filled.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.