Patent ID: 8640586

Claim:
An apparatus for cutting a blister card, the apparatus comprising: a platform on which the blister card is positionable for cutting; a guillotine head comprising at least one elastic element, wherein the at least one elastic element comprises a compression spring; a clamp comprising a portion of a card holder, the card holder being movable in a channel defined by a base, the clamp being positionable to hold a portion of the blister card in contact with the platform for cutting when the clamp is seated, the clamp being operatively coupled to a guillotine head by the at least one elastic element; a blade operatively coupled to the guillotine head, the guillotine head being configured to move the blade through a range of motion that intersects a plane of the platform; and a sensor positioned to detect a seating status of the clamp to enable control of movement of the guillotine head based on the seating status, wherein the at least one elastic element is compressed to enable continued movement of the guillotine head through the range of motion that moves the blade to a position that intersects the plane of the platform to cut the blister card in response to the sensor detecting a seated condition of the clamp, and wherein the blade is in slidable contact against the base as the at least one elastic element is compressed.