Patent ID: 7140162

Claim:
A unit ( 1 ) for feeding products ( 3 ) to a blistering machine (M) comprising: a delivery group ( 2 , 2 a ,S) for selectively distributing products ( 3 ) to a filling station (SR) where the products are introduced into respective blisters ( 40 ) of a blister band ( 4 ), the blister band moving in a forward direction (W) inside said blistering machine (M): said filling station (SR) having conveyor means ( 10 ) consisting of at least one endless belt ( 11 ) having a plurality of seats ( 110 ) therein for receiving the products ( 3 ) distributed by the delivery group ( 2 , 2 a ,S); said at least one endless belt ( 11 ) moving in step relation with said blister band ( 4 ) and being wound around a pair of opposed pulling wheels ( 13 , 14 ), an upper portion of the endless belt being an upper run ( 11 a ) extending below the delivery group ( 2 , 2 a ,S) for receiving said products, and a lower portion of the endless belt being a lower run ( 11 b ) extending for a least a first portion parallel to said forward direction (W) and above said blister band ( 4 ), the lower run disposed in a facing relation to said blister band ( 4 ), as the lower run and blister band travel together through said first portion; said endless belt ( 11 ) and said delivery group ( 2 , 2 a ,S) being moved with a vibration motion with respect to one another; said seats ( 110 ) on said endless belt ( 11 ) having means ( 132 ) for holding said products ( 3 ) against a bottom of said seats ( 110 ) as said endless belt travels around a pulling wheel ( 13 ) from said upper run ( 11 a ) to said lower run ( 11 b ), said holding means being releasable for releasing said products ( 3 ) from said seats into respective blisters ( 40 ) when said seats travel around said pulling wheel into a proximity position with respect to said respective blisters; said seats having holes in the bottom thereof extending through said endless belt, said holding means ( 132 ) being suction means ( 132 ) in communication with said through holes ( 111 ), and thereby with said products in said seats ( 110 ), such that said suction means hold said products against the bottom of said seats until the proximity position is reached.