Abstract

A method and system are provided for folding a blister chain. The blister chain may optionally be folded into an arbitrary length stack of blister sheets. During folding adjacent sheets may be folded back to back and/or front to front. Sheets may be interconnected for example by joints and/or spacers. The folding may optionally include moving an interconnector of the blister chain out of a plane of advancement of the chain. The folded output may optionally be stacked and/or transported and/or inserted into a secondary package. The folded output may optionally be in the form of a stack and/or a wallet. The folded stack and/or wallet may optionally be formed from convention blister materials without added backing and/or connecting materials. The foldable blister chain may optionally be produced on conventional blister manufacturing machinery.

IPC Classes  ?

• B65H 45/00 - Folding thin material
• B65D 83/04 - Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for dispensing annular, disc-shaped, spherical or like small articles, e.g. tablets or pills
• B29C 65/18 - Joining of preformed partsApparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure using heated tool

Abstract

A medicament dispensing device comprises (a) at least one container adapted for accommodating and dispensing at least one elongate packagible elongate blister pack carrying a plurality of blisters containing the medicament; (b) transporting means adapted for transporting the blister pack toward opening of the container; (c) dispensing means adapted for releasing a fragment of the blister pack bearing a predetermined number of the blisters from the container through the opening to a patient; and (d) controlling means adapted for identifying the patient before dispensing the blister to the patient, activating the dispensing means, recording actions of dispensing. The substrate is foldable and configured to be folded within the container. The dispensing means is adapted to cut off the blister bearing fragment. The dispensing means adapted to cut off the blister bearing fragment such that the blisters remain intact.

IPC Classes  ?

• A61J 1/03 - Containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes for pills or tablets
• A61J 7/04 - Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers
• B65D 83/00 - Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents
• G07F 11/00 - Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles
• A61J 7/00 - Devices for administering medicines orally, e.g. spoonsPill counting devicesArrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine
• G06F 19/00 - Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific applications (specially adapted for specific functions G06F 17/00;data processing systems or methods specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial, supervisory or forecasting purposes G06Q;healthcare informatics G16H)