Method and apparatus for packaging articles in card and blister packages

Abstract

A method and apparatus for packaging articles in card and blister packages is disclosed, the card and blister package comprising a first or blister piece of clear pre-formed plastic with a shaped cavity for receiving small articles, and a flat flange portion along its perimeter. The second piece of the package is a flat rectangular chipboard card, appreciably larger than the card and blister piece and having printing on one or both sides. The flange of the card and blister piece can be bonded to the surface of a card to form a card and blister package for the enclosed articles. Apparatus for producing a plurality of packaged articles includes a plurality of package holders mounted on the surface of a conveyor belt that is porous to UV light, the holders made of a UV light transparent material and having upper surfaces with shaped recesses for removably supporting the plastic card and blister pieces with their cavities upwardly faced and for supporting the cards in position above the card and blister pieces. At the forward part of the conveyor the card and blister cavities can be filled by the pertinent articles of commerce, UV curable adhesive applied to the pertinent surfaces and then cards placed thereover. The UV curable adhesive is instantly cured as the holders are advanced through a UV reactor, and sealed packages fall free from their holders, for collection, as they are inverted during passage around the end of the conveyor.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.