Abstract:
A device one version of which comprises a planar member having a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the top surface defines an array of recesses configured for substantial alignment with an array of blister-like chambers in a sheet to receive a plurality of objects. All of the recesses defined by the planar member are substantially uniform in size and each recess is sized and configured so that substantially all of at least one of the objects may fit in a respective recess. The planar member also defines a plurality of fluid passageways, each passageway opening respectively into one of the recesses defined by the top surface of the planar member, at least a portion of each fluid passageway being more narrow in cross-section than its respective recess to retain the object in its respective recess. Related vacuum apparatus employing the device is described.

Description:
This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/778,283, filed Feb. 13, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,925,783, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to packaging systems, and especially to packaging systems for objects such as pills (i.e., pills, tablets, capsules, caplets and the like). 
   BACKGROUND 
   Systems for packaging small objects for easy dispensing have been the subject of significant research and development. Especially in the field of pharmaceutical products, the accurate packaging of pills, tablets, capsules and the like, has been the focus of industry development and governmental regulation. Accurate dispensation of pharmaceutical products to those in need of such products has been the subject of research and development due to increasing costs associated with the products themselves, as well as concerns over damage caused by inaccurate dispensation of such medications. 
   Notwithstanding prior efforts to develop such packaging systems, known systems for packaging objects, and in particular for packaging small objects like pills, tablets, capsules and the like, involve a significant level of complexity and commercial scale which makes most of them unsuitable for many applications. For instance, in nursing home settings, home health agencies, outpatient medical facilities and the like, there are very few choices, if any, which provide a convenient, table-top-scale system for accurately and conveniently re-packaging pharmaceutical products purchased in bulk. 
   Thus, there remains a need for a system or method which facilitates the convenient and accurate packaging and labeling of pharmaceutical products and/or other objects intended for later dispensation and use. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is deemed to meeting the foregoing need, amongst others, by providing in one embodiment a device for receiving a plurality of objects and for facilitating placement of the objects in an array of blister-like chambers formed by a sheet for receiving a plurality of objects. In this embodiment, the device comprises a planar member having a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the top surface defines an array of recesses configured for substantial alignment with the array of blister-like chambers, wherein all of the recesses defined by the planar member are substantially uniform in size and each recess is sized and configured so that substantially all of one of the plurality of objects may fit therein. 
   Another embodiment of the present invention provides a device comprising (a) a planar member which defines a plurality of recesses, each of the recesses being sized and configured to receive an object, and wherein the planar member further defines one or more fluid passageways extending through the planar member, each passageway opening in a respective one of the recesses defined by the planar member, (b) a vacuum pump configured to be placed in fluid communication with the one or more fluid passageways extending through the planar member, and (e) an on-off switch operatively connected to the vacuum pump for controlling the level of vacuum provided within the one or more fluid passageways and the recesses defined by the planar member. 
   Yet another embodiment of the present invention provides apparatus for packaging a plurality of objects. The apparatus comprises the following components:
     (1) a vacuum chamber housing which defines an opening sized and configured to receive, and be placed in a substantially sealed relationship with, a planar member having a bottom surface and a top surface, which top surface in turn defines an array of recesses, each of the recesses being sized and configured to receive one of the objects, and which planar member further defines a plurality of fluid passageways extending through the planar member, each of the plurality of fluid passageways opening in a respective one of the recesses defined by the planar member and extending completely through the planar member to a passageway opening in the bottom surface of the planar member,   (2) a support member pivotally attached to the vacuum chamber and sized and configured to receive a sheet which forms an array of blister-like chambers for receiving at least a portion of the plurality of objects, and   (3) a switch configured for operative connection to a vacuum pump in fluid communication with the vacuum chamber, the switch being disposed to enable a user to turn off the vacuum pump after the vacuum chamber is pivoted to a position in which the opening of the vacuum chamber and the planar member in sealed relation therewith are above the support member and the sheet when the sheet has been received by the support member and the array of blister-like chambers and the array of recesses are substantially aligned.   

   Still another embodiment of the present invention is a method for packaging a plurality of objects. The method comprises the steps of
     (a) placing the plurality of objects on a top surface of a planar member which defines an array of recesses, each of the recesses being sized and configured to receive one of the plurality of objects,   (b) sweeping at least some of the plurality of objects across the top surface to insure that each of the recesses has received a respective one of the objects,   (c) removing all of any excess number of the plurality of objects from the top surface,   (d) placing in contact with, or at least in close proximity to, the top surface a sheet which forms an array of blister-like chambers for receiving at least a portion of the plurality of objects, the array of recesses of the top surface being substantially aligned with and opening into the blister-like chambers of the sheet,   (e) while retaining the sheet in contact with or in close proximity to the top surface, rotating the planar member sufficiently to cause each of the objects to be transferred from its respective recess to a corresponding blister-like chamber of the sheet.
 
In another embodiment, the method further includes the step of placing an adhesive-backed, backing into adhering contact with the sheet to thereby enclose each of the plurality of objects within a respective one of the blister-like chambers of the sheet. The method may also further include the step of placing visual or machine readable markings upon the backing, the visual or machine readable markings be configured to convey information about the contents to be enclosed within each blister-like chamber. The plurality of objects may be a plurality of pills, tablets, capsules or the like.
   

   Yet another embodiment of this invention is another method of packaging a quantity of objects. The method comprises the steps of
     (a) placing a plurality of the objects on a top surface of a planar member which defines an array of recesses, each of the recesses being sized and configured to receive one of the objects, and which planar member further defines a plurality of fluid passageways extending through the planar member, each of the plurality of fluid passageways opening in a respective one of the recesses defined by the planar member and extending completely through the planar member to a passageway opening in a bottom surface of the planar member,   (b) sweeping at least some of the plurality of the objects across the top surface to insure that each of the recesses has received a respective one of the objects,   (c) removing all of any excess number of the objects from the top surface,   (d) providing a vacuum in the space proximate to each of the passageway openings in the bottom surface of the planar member, the vacuum being sufficient to retain each object within its respective recess at least during rotation of the planar member,   (e) placing in contact with, or at least in close proximity to, the top surface a sheet which forms an array of blister-like chambers for receiving a plurality of the objects, the array of recesses of the top surface being substantially aligned with and opening into the blister-like chambers of the sheet,   (f) while retaining the sheet in contact with or in close proximity to the top surface, rotating the planar member so that the bottom surface is substantially above the top surface, and   (g) removing the vacuum from the space proximate to the passageway openings in the bottom surface to cause each object to fall from its respective recess into a corresponding blister-like chamber of the sheet.
 
In another embodiment, the method further includes the step of placing an adhesive-backed, backing into adhering contact with the sheet to thereby enclose each of the objects within a respective one of the blister-like chambers of the sheet. The method may also further include the step of placing visual or machine readable markings upon the backing, the visual or machine readable markings be configured to convey information about the contents to be enclosed within each blister-like chamber.
   

   These and other embodiments, objects, advantages, and features of this invention will now become apparent from the following description, accompanying drawings and appended claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a side view in perspective of a preferred device of this invention. 
       FIG. 2A  is a cross-sectional view of the device of  FIG. 1 , taken along lines  2 A- 2 A shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 2B  is a cross-sectional view of a device similar to that of  FIG. 1 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2A , but modified to illustrate removable, groove-forming rails in accordance with another embodiment of this invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a side view in perspective of two devices in accordance with  FIG. 1  connected to one another. 
       FIG. 4  is a side view in perspective of a sheet which forms an array of blister-like chambers for use with the device of  FIG. 1  in accordance with an embodiment of this invention. An adhesive backing for the sheet is also illustrated as suspended above the sheet and bearing optically perceivable information. 
       FIG. 5  is a side view in perspective of a preferred apparatus and system of this invention. 
   

   In each of the above figures, like numerals or letters are used to refer to like or functionally like parts among the several figures. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   As will now be appreciated, certain embodiments of the present invention not only enable a user to place, respectively, a plurality of objects into a plurality of blister-like chambers in a sheet, but also enable the user to label each object being packaged so that necessary information associated with the packaged object can be associated with each object. For instance, in the pharmaceuticals field, systems and methods of this invention enable the labeling of each unit dose to be packaged so that the product and/or its recipient may be identified properly, to help insure that the correct medicine in the correct amount is provided to the correct patient at the correct time. 
   The objects to be packaged in accordance with this invention may vary widely, but will typically include objects which are relatively small in size (less than 10 cm 2 , and preferably less than 1 cm 2 ) with an average width, average thickness and an average length which can vary. In a preferred embodiment, the objects are pharmaceutical products which are distributed as solid or semi-solid objects in the form of pills, tablets, capsules, caplets or the like. It should be appreciated, however, that other larger objects, e.g., syringes or any other object or device conveniently packaged in the type of sheets disclosed in this description, may be packaged by employing a system or method of this invention. 
   The sheet into which the objects are placed will form an array of blister-like chambers. The number of recesses in the array in a given sheet will vary based upon the intended use of the sheet and the size of the objects to be placed in the recesses. Typical recess arrays in preferred sheets will have 500 or fewer recesses. A fewer number of recesses may be more desirable when an adhesive backing with space for printed matter or other optical indicia is used to convey information about the contents of each recess. The circumference and depth of each recess may also vary widely, but preferably each recess will be sized to facilitate placement of an object within the recess without having any portion of the object extend above the plane occupied by the flat surface of the sheet, so that any adhesive backing may fit neatly against the sheet without obstruction. The recesses are also preferably sized so that only one object may be placed into a respective recess, to avoid inadvertent placement of multiple objects into a recess. When the objects to be placed in the recesses are pharmaceutical in nature, the sheet preferably is made of a flexible, clear plastic material suitable for storing pharmaceutical products. Also in such circumstance, the sheet is preferably perforated so that the sheet material surrounding each recess may be separated from the adjacent recesses to facilitate dispensation of the contents of each recess on a individualized basis. 
   Referring now to the drawings, a preferred device of this invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2A , which depict a planar member  10  having a top surface  12  and a bottom surface  14 . Top surface  12  is characterized by a plurality of substantially linear and substantially parallel undulations formed by a plurality of rounded rails  16  disposed in parallel fashion relative to one another so as to define a plurality of grooves  18  therebetween. Top surface  12  also defines a plurality of recesses  20 , each recess  20  being disposed within a respective groove  18 , each groove  18  having disposed along its length a plurality of recesses  20  disposed therein. Each recess  20  has associated with it a respective fluid passageway  22  extending through member  10  and through top surface  12  and bottom surface  14 . 
   In some embodiments of this invention, it may be preferable for the planar member recesses to be sized and configured to receive substantially all of one, and even more preferably only one, object to be loaded into a blister-like chamber of the target sheet. In this way, the planar member may be more specifically configured to the particular object being loaded into the chambers of the sheet, to avoid loading of multiple objects into a chamber inadvertently. However, this configuration of the planar member may require that different objects having different sizing be loaded using planar members particularly sized for those objects, so that the user who loads a variety of objects into target sheets may wish to have a number of planar members at his or her disposal. It should also be noted that the planar member may be fabricated from a wide variety of materials, but will preferably be fabricated from a material which itself provides a fairly smooth top surface, or provides a surface which can be made smooth and slick through the application of a slicking agent to facilitate movement of objects across the top surface. 
   Another embodiment of the present invention provides an alternative configuration of the planar member. In particular, as may be seen in  FIG. 2B , an alternative planar member  10  is comprised of a base portion  11  and removable rounded rails  16   a . As illustrated, each rail  16   a  is connected to base portion  11  through a dove-tailed tongue  13  which runs the length of the rail and a corresponding groove  15  in base portion  11 . In this way, rails  16   a  may be separated from base portion  11  so that a sheet which forms an array of blister-like chambers may be placed flush against a top surface  17  of base portion  11 . When base portion  11  is then rotated while the sheet (see  FIG. 4 ) is held flush against the top surface in order to transfer the contents of recesses  20  into the blister-like chambers of the sheet, the chance that the contents of recesses  20  will fall outside of a corresponding blister-like chamber of the sheet is reduced. It should be appreciated that other means of attaching each rail  16   a  to base portion  11  may be envisioned and feasible. For example, mechanical snaps, screws, magnets, hook and loop fastening material and the like, as well as many other attachment means may be employed to connect each rail to the base portion so that the rails may be removed after filling recesses  20 , in order to facilitate transfer of the objects from recesses  20  to the blister-like chambers of the target sheet further illustrated in  FIG. 4  and described in detail below. 
   Another embodiment of the invention provides for attachment of multiple planar members  10 ,  10  to one another, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The planar members  10 ,  10  in  FIG. 3  are aligned and connected to one another, end-to-end as illustrated, by attachment means in the form of a latch  24 . Of course, here again, other attachment means, like those described above with respect to rails  16   a  ( FIG. 2B ) may be envisioned and are within the scope and spirit of the invention. In this way, additional planar member recesses  20  may be filled with ease by one swipe of objects across elongated grooves  18  formed by end-to-end aligned planar members  10 , 10 . Of course, any number of attachable planar members could be so aligned and attached to elongate even further the recess-containing grooves, thereby increasing even more the number of recesses which could be filled with a single deposit and swipe of objects across the grooves. 
     FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary target sheet  30  for use in accordance with the present invention. A plurality of blister-like chambers  32  are arrayed across sheet  30 , and a perforation pattern  34  through sheet  30  enables separation of the portions of sheet  30  surrounding each chamber  32  from the rest of sheet  30 . As illustrated, a backing  36  is suspended above sheet  30 . Preferably, backing  36  includes an adhesive on the side adjacent to sheet  30 , the adhesive being patterned so as to provide adhesive only in a pattern which excludes the area above each chamber  32 . In this way, when backing  36  is placed in adhering contact with sheet  30 , adhesive is not present in the enclosed space formed by the walls of the blister-like chambers  32  and the adjacent portion of sheet  30 , to avoid adhesive from coming into contact with the contents of chambers  32 . Backing  36  is also preferably configured to permit printing of information (e.g., bar coding, text, etc.) on the side opposite from sheet  30 , so that information related to the contents of each chamber  32  may be printed thereon. 
   A preferred apparatus employing the device of  FIG. 1  to provide a system in accordance with this invention is illustrated in  FIG. 5 . There it can be seen that planar member  10  is engaged with a vacuum chamber  40  so as to enclose the space within chamber  40 . Chamber  40  is in fluid communication with a vacuum pump P through a vacuum hose  42 . Chamber  40  has extending from one end a flange  44 , and is connected to a template support  46  by a hinge  48 . Template support  46  supports a template  50  upon which is placed sheet  30 . A receptacle  52  is disposed adjacent to chamber  40  for receiving excess objects when they are swept across top surface  12 . Template support  46  further includes a flange  54  which is provided with an electrical on-off switch  56  operatively connected to pump P. 
   In operation, when switch  56  is actuated to “on,” pump P forms a vacuum within vacuum chamber  40 . This vacuum in turn creates a vacuum within each fluid passageway  22  (see  FIG. 2A ) extending through planar member  10  and opening into respective recesses  20 . During such operation, objects may be swept across grooves  18  of planar member  10  until each recess  20  contains one of the objects and the vacuum formed in each respective fluid passageway  22  (see  FIG. 2A ) tends to draw the object toward the floor of a respective recess  20 . Once the desired number of recesses contain objects respectively, vacuum chamber  40  may be lifted and pivoted relative to template support  46  in the direction of the arrow indicated in  FIG. 5  until top surface  12  of planar member  10  is disposed directly above target sheet  30 . When flange  44  comes into contact with switch  56 , switch  56  is then actuated to “off” so that pump P is switched off, whereupon the contents of each recess  20  drop into a corresponding and adjacent chamber  32  of sheet  30 . Before, during or after this operation, a sheet of backing  36  may be printed using a printer X optionally controlled by a computer Z. Using the computer, and typically appropriate and commercially available label printing software, the information to be printed on backing  36  may be customized for the particular objects deposited into sheet  30 , with suitable information such as, e.g., patient identification information and/or chamber contents identification information, including bar coding if desired. Of course, when only a portion of chambers  32  of sheet  30  are to be filled, using computer Z the print placed on backing  36  can be edited so that print is placed only on the portion of backing  36  covering filled chambers  30 . In some cases, it will be desirable to configure computer Z with a bar code reader (not shown) so that bulk objects which are labeled with bar coding (e.g., a national drug code in bar code form) can be read into the system for labeling individual objects from the bulk container in a consistent manner. It also may be desirable to configure the computer with a database to store desired information, such as bar coding information, for preselected objects or products, to reduce the possibility of human error when inputting data for printing on the backing and to generally facilitate use of the system. 
   It should be appreciated that, in some cases, use of the apparatus of  FIG. 5  may cause additional objects to fall within a recess  20  of planar member  10  inadvertently, especially when the recess size is large enough, relative to the objects being loaded, to permit more than one object to fall within a recess  20 . In such a case, after a vacuum is formed in chamber  40  as previously described, vacuum chamber  40  may be lifted and pivoted relative to template support  46  in the direction of the arrow indicated in  FIG. 5  until top surface  12  of planar member  10  is disposed substantially directly above a receptacle (not shown) for excess objects which have been lodged in one or more recesses  20  of planar member  10 . The excess objects which are not retained by the vacuum within the fluid passageway  22  of the respective recess  20  will fall out of the respective recess  20 . Then, the target sheet  30  may receive the retained objects from the recesses of member  10  once switch  56  is activated as described above. 
   If desired, the planar members of this invention may be used to fill target sheets in accordance with this invention even without a vacuum pump system employing fluid passageways through the members and associated vacuum chambers and pumps. In such a case, the planar member is preferably configured as illustrated in  FIG. 2B , so that the top surface of the planar member may be modified by removal of the rails to provide a bottom portion having a flat top surface when the target sheet is placed upon the planar member and the blister-like chambers are aligned with the recesses of the planar member. Of course, once aligned with each other, the sheet and planar member may then be manually flipped so that the contents of the planar member recesses fall into the chambers of the target sheet. Another embodiment of the invention could also provide that each rail be configured for attachment to the adjacent rail(s), e.g., by attaching adjacent ends of the rails to a crossbar or some other form of connecting means, so that all of the rails could be attached and removed substantially in unison with one another, thereby facilitating use of the planar member. 
   It should now be appreciated that the present invention provides an economical, yet commercially viable, solution to the packaging and accurate labeling of objects, and in particular small objects such as pharmaceutical products. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the system may be a table-top configuration which permits small offices and institutional operations alike to package and properly label materials in easy-to-dispense blister packs such as those described herein. It should also be apparent that, when desired, the systems, devices and methods of this invention enable the loading of multiple objects into each individual blister-like chamber of the target sheet, so that unit doses and multiple doses may be loaded into each chamber when desired. To do so would be a matter of repeating the loading procedure for each individual object to be placed in a chamber of the target sheet, and placing the adhesive backing bearing the desired information on the sheet once the desired contents is placed therein. 
   Each and every patent, patent application and printed publication referred to above is incorporated herein by reference in toto to the fullest extent permitted as a matter of law. 
   It should be appreciated that, while specific embodiments are described hereinafter, several other applications of the presently described invention may be contemplated by those of skill in the art in view of this disclosure. Accordingly, the scope of this invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described in detail hereinafter. Rather, what is intended to be covered is as set forth in the ensuing claims and the equivalents thereof permitted as a matter of law. As used in this specification, means-plus-function clauses, if any, are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the cited function and not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures.