Package assembly for dispensing pharmaceutical medications and method of manufacturing the same

A package assembly for dispensing pharmaceutical medications comprising

• a blister sheet having a plurality of medication receiving blister recesses formed therein, with said blister recesses being arranged in a plurality of columns and rows, and with the sheet including substantially planar shoulder portions disposed between the columns and rows of blister recesses and along the peripheral portions of the sheet,
• a surface coating of a first cohesive composition provided on substantially all of said shoulder portions of the sheet;
• pharmaceutical medications positioned in said blister recesses of said blister sheet;
• a lidding sheet having one surface thereof substantially entirely coated with a second cohesive composition having a cohesive affinity for said first cohesive composition but having no affinity for said pharmaceutical medications, said lidding sheet being positioned in overlying relationship to said blister sheet with said second cohesive composition cohesively sealing the lidding sheet to said blister sheet along said shoulder portions and peripheral portions and to thereby close said blister recesses and encapsulate the medications therein, and
• a relatively stiff, outer frame having front and back panels positioned on opposite sides of the package, said front panel having apertures through which respective ones of said blister recesses protrude.

A method of producing a package assembly for dispensing pharmaceutical medications comprising

• providing a blister sheet having a plurality of medication receiving blister recesses formed therein, with said sheet including substantially planar shoulder portions disposed between the blister recesses and along the peripheral portions of the sheet, and with said shoulder portions having a surface coating of a first cohesive composition thereon;
• positioning the blister sheet with the blister recesses thereof oriented downwardly and depositing pharmaceutical medications into the respective blister recesses;
• providing a lidding sheet having one surface thereof coated with a second cohesive composition having a cohesive affinity for said first cohesive composition but having no affinity for pharmaceutical medications;
• and
• positioning the cohesive coated surface of said lidding sheet in overlying relationship to the pharmaceutical medication containing blister sheet and applying pressure to cohesively seal the lidding sheet to said blister sheet along said shoulder portions and to thereby encapsulate the medications in the respective blister recesses.

A method of producing a package assembly for dispensing pharmaceutical medications comprising

• providing a blister sheet having a plurality of medication receiving blister recesses formed therein, with the blister recesses being arranged in a plurality of columns and rows, and with substantially planar shoulder portions being disposed between the columns and rows of said blister recesses and along the peripheral portions of the sheet, and with said shoulder portions having a surface coating of a first cohesive composition thereon;
• positioning the blister sheet with the blister recesses thereof oriented downwardly and depositing pharmaceutical medications into the respective blister recesses;
• providing a lidding sheet having one surface thereof coated with a second cohesive composition having a cohesive affinity for said first cohesive composition but having no affinity for pharmaceutical medications;
• positioning the cohesive coated surface of said lidding sheet in overlying relationship to the pharmaceutical medication containing blister sheet and applying pressure to cohesively seal the lidding sheet to said blister sheet along said shoulder portions and peripheral portions and to thereby encapsulate the medications in the respective blister recesses;
• printing information pertaining to the medication in each blister recess on a backing sheet while arranging the printed information in columns and rows corresponding to the locations of the medications in the blister recesses;
• adhering the backing sheet to the lidding sheet with the printed information located in registration with the medications in the blister sheet so as to identify the medication contained in the respective blister recesses;
• and
• encasing the package in a stiff, outer frame having front and back panels, the front panel having apertures through which protrude the blister recesses and the back panel having apertures through which the printed information on said backing sheet is visible.