Patent ID: 7591122
Filing Date: 2009-09-22
Classification: B65B

Abstract:
1. A device for feeding articles into blisters of a blister band, the blister band driven in a prefixed feeding direction, said device comprising: a plurality of channels situated above the band, each channel having a delivery end terminating in proximity to a blister for delivering an article thereto, said articles disposed one above another within each of said plurality of channels; holding means associated with each channel for holding a bottom one of said articles disposed within the channel from below and thereby supporting articles situated above said bottom article, said holding means being operated to release said bottom article while simultaneously being operated to move under and below an article situated above the bottom article to hold the article; receiving and releasing means associated with each channel and situated between said delivery end of each channel and said holding means for guiding each article passing through said channel to said delivery end, said receiving and releasing means receiving each article as each article is released by said holding means, and transporting each article as each article traverses the channel towards the delivery end, said received article then passed through the delivery end and delivered into the blister of said blister band, each received article resting directly on the receiving and releasing means and moving therewith, said receiving and releasing means being operated in step relation with said holding means and in coordination with the movement of said blister band in said feeding direction.