Cutting apparatus for segmenting a blister pack

Abstract

The invention relates to a cutting apparatus for segmenting a tube blister pack (14), comprising a blade (30) which can be moved by means of a motor against an abutment (36), wherein the tube blister pack (14) can be guided between the abutment (36) and the blade (30), wherein the blade (30) is held in a cutting unit (22) comprising a blade holder (24), which can be moved back and forth by means of a motor, and a blade guide (28) which is provided with a cut-out (32) for the blade (30) to pass through and is coupled to the blade holder (24), wherein the blade holder (24) and the blade guide (28) are coupled to one another by means of at least one resilient intermediate piece (26). The invention enables very simple actuation by means of a single drive device which produces a back-and-forth or up-and-down movement, while at the same time ensuring that the blade is guided in a protected manner until just prior to the actual cutting operation, thereby effectively preventing injury to the user.

Description

[0001] Cutting device for segmenting a blister pack

[0002] The invention relates to a cutting device for segmenting a blister pack, comprising a knife that can be moved by a motor against a counter bearing, wherein the blister pack can be guided between the counter bearing and the knife.

[0003] It is known to provide patient-specific blister packs of polymedications to facilitate patient intake of the respective medication combination. DE 102019 134 447 A1 discloses a device for dispensing medication combinations in which the polymedications are arranged in a tubular blister.

[0004] The object of the invention is to provide a cutting device for segmenting a blister pack which is structurally simple and functionally reliable.

[0005] The invention results from the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments and refinements are the subject of the dependent claims. Further features, possible applications, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and the explanation of exemplary embodiments of the invention, which are illustrated in the figures.

[0006] The object is achieved according to claim 1 in that, in a cutting device with a knife that can be moved by motor against a counter bearing, wherein the blister pack can be guided between the counter bearing and the knife, the knife is held in a cutting unit that comprises a knife holder that can be moved back and forth by motor and a knife guide that is provided with a recess for the passage of the knife and is coupled to the knife holder, wherein the knife holder and knife guide are coupled to one another via at least one elastic intermediate piece.

[0007] The invention enables very simple operation by means of a single drive device which generates a back and forth or up and down movement, whilst at the same time ensuring that the knife is guided in a protected manner until immediately before the actual cutting process, thus effectively preventing injuries to the user. The elastic intermediate piece keeps the knife holder and the knife guide enclosing the knife blade at a distance until the knife guide hits the counter bearing, clamping the blister pack. The motor-driven knife holder then presses further against the knife guide, thereby deforming the elastic intermediate piece, which reduces the distance between the knife holder and knife guide. This means that the knife blade can emerge from the knife guide and cut through the blister pack.As the knife holder returns, the elastic spacer is first returned to its original shape. The knife guide initially remains in contact with the blister pack, but the knife blade is re-engaged by the knife guide. Only then does the knife guide lift from the blister pack and thus from the counter-bearing, releasing the separated blister pack. The knife edge is protected inside the knife guide, preventing injury to the user. Finally, the knife holder and the knife guide, which is connected to it via the elastic spacer, are returned to their home position, away from the counter-bearing.

[0008] The elastic intermediate piece is preferably designed as a spring, particularly preferably as a helical spring. Alternatively, it can have any other shape. The preferred material is spring steel or a highly elastic plastic.

[0009] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, a cutting edge of the knife is arranged in the recess in the basic position of the cutting unit, wherein furthermore when carrying out a cutting process the cutting unit is movable from the basic position towards the counter bearing until the knife guide abuts the counter bearing while fixing the blister pack and the knife holder is movable against the knife guide upon elastic deformation of the intermediate piece and in a cutting position the knife edge emerges from the recess to carry out the cutting process.

[0010] According to a further advantageous development of the invention, the cutting device comprises a releasable locking device designed to prevent movement of the knife holder relative to the knife guide to prevent the knife edge from escaping from the knife guide. This locking device is in a locked position until shortly before the cutting position and can then be moved into a release position. The locking device effectively prevents unintentional relative movement between the knife holder and the knife guide by compressing the intermediate piece, for example, due to objects such as the user's fingers accidentally entering the gap between the knife guide and the counter bearing. This prevents the knife blade from accidentally escaping from the knife guide.

[0011] According to a further advantageous development of the invention, the locking device comprises a guide rail. A locking pawl is arranged on the guide rail, which can be tilted about a transverse axis and has a guide arm at one end that rests against the guide rail and a locking arm at the other end. This arrangement ensures a structurally very simple and functionally reliable operation of the locking device.

[0012] According to a further advantageous development of this design, the link has a locking section and a release section, wherein in the locking section starting from the basic position, the locking pawl is held in the locking position and in the release section, a movement of the locking pawl into the release position can be effected, in which the knife edge emerges from the recess to carry out the cutting process.

[0013] According to a further advantageous development of the cutting device, the contact surface of the blade guide facing the counter-bearing is provided with a friction-increasing coating. This prevents the tubular blister pack from slipping during the cutting process, thus impairing the quality of the cut. According to a further advantageous development of the cutting device, the contact surface of the counter-bearing facing the blade guide is provided with a friction-increasing coating for the same purpose.

[0014] According to a further advantageous development of the cutting device, the drive unit comprises a current monitoring unit in order to

[0015] Current threshold value to return the cutting unit to its home position. This provides an electronic, preferably second, safety device in the event that an object, such as a user's finger, is caught in the gap between the blade guide and the counter bearing during movement of the cutting unit, causing the cutting unit to return to its home position.

[0016] Further advantages, features, and details will become apparent from the following description, which describes an exemplary embodiment in detail with reference to the drawings. Identical, similar, and / or functionally equivalent parts are provided with the same reference numerals.

[0017] They show:

[0018] Figure 1: a schematic representation of a tubular blister pack;

[0019] Figure 2: a perspective view of part of a segmenting device for blister packs;

[0020] Figure 3: a perspective view of a cutting device;

[0021] Figure 4: a perspective sectional view of the cutting device of Figure

[0022] 3;

[0023] Figure 5: a perspective view of a locking device for the

[0024] Cutting device in a locked position;

[0025] Figure 6: a perspective view of the locking device of Figure 5 in a

[0026] release position;

[0027] Figure 7: a perspective view of the locking device showing a

[0028] cutting knife;

[0029] Figure 8: a perspective sectional view of the cutting device of Figure

[0030] 7.

[0031] Figure 1 schematically shows an example of a tubular blister pack 14 consisting of a transparent plastic film 82 folded at 84 and having a continuous longitudinal weld seam 86 on the opposite side. The tubular blister pack 14 is divided by regularly spaced transverse weld seams 88 into individual closed pockets or blister packs 90a, 90b containing tablets 92. All pockets 90a, 90b can contain the same tablets 92 or individual tablet combinations for different times (morning, midday, evening). In the center of each transverse weld seam 88 there is preferably a perforation 94 to enable manual separation of the end (first) pocket 90b from the rest of the tubular blister pack 14. The tubular blister pack 14 has an approximate width of 7-8 cm and adjacent transverse weld seams 88 are approximately 7-8 cm apart.

[0032] Figures 2 to 4 show part of a segmenting device 10 for segmenting the tubular blister packs 14 shown in Figure 1, comprising a conveyor device 12 for conveying such a tubular blister pack 14 to a cutting device 16 in order to separate the tubular blister pack 14 into individual blister packs 90 (Figure 1). For this purpose, a knife cuts the tubular blister packs 14 as precisely as possible at the location of the perforation 94.

[0033] The cutting device 16 comprises a frame 18 on which guides 20 (in the embodiment shown designed as guide rods) are arranged to guide a cutting unit 22 which can be moved back and forth (or up and down in Figure 2) in an oscillating manner. The cutting unit 22 essentially consists of a knife holder 24 which is movable by motor along the guides 20 and which is coupled to a knife guide 28 via two elastic intermediate pieces 26 (in the embodiment shown), which the knife guide 28 therefore follows during the motor-generated movement. A knife 30 is fixed to the knife holder 24 and extends through a recess 32 in the knife guide 28. The recess 32 can be a laterally closed or open slot.The intermediate pieces 26 are dimensioned such that the cutting edge 34 of the knife 30 is arranged inside the recess 32 when there is no contact between the knife guide 28 and the counter bearing, thus effectively preventing injuries or damage caused by the knife edge 34. By means of the drive device (not shown), which is operatively connected to the knife holder 24, the latter is moved in the direction of the blister packaging belt 14 and in doing so pushes the knife guide 28 in front of it until the latter, while fixing the tubular blister pack 14, strikes a counter bearing 36, which in the illustrated embodiment is part of the frame 18. The drive device and the locking device are dimensioned such that the drive device cannot overcome the locking device in the locked state.The drive device pushes the knife holder 24 further, whereas the knife guide 28, which presses against the counter-bearing 36, can no longer move with it, so that the intermediate pieces 26 are pushed together and the distance between the knife holder 24 and the knife guide 28 is reduced. As a result, the knife edge 34 at the end of the knife holder 24 emerges from the recess 32 in a cutting position and, while severing the tubular blister pack 14, enters a recess or gap in the counter-bearing 36. This reaches the end of the lifting movement of the cutting unit 22 and this then moves back up into the starting position under motor drive, while the intermediate pieces 26 are reshaped. The tubular blister pack 14 is then pushed forward by the conveyor device 12 by one blister pack.

[0034] The intermediate pieces 26 can preferably be designed as springs, in particular spiral springs, or rubber-elastic elements. These can also include damping elements to prevent vibration. It is also possible to use only one intermediate piece 26 instead of two. Where the terms "top" and "bottom" are used in connection with the cutting device 16 according to the invention, this refers to one possible arrangement. The cutting device 16 can alternatively also be arranged below or to the side of the tubular blister pack 14, so that the terminology would change.

[0035] Figures 5 and 6 show a preferred development which prevents the intermediate pieces 26 from being accidentally pushed together before the start of the cutting process, i.e. before the knife holder 24 hits the counter-bearing 36. For example, a finger or other body part of a user could get between the knife holder 24 and the counter-bearing 36 when the cutting unit 22 is in or near its upper end position. For this purpose, a locking device 38 is provided which comprises a tiltable locking pawl 40 which is arranged on the knife guide 28 so as to be tiltable or pivotable about a transverse axis 41. The locking pawl 40 comprises a lower guide arm 42 which is pressed against a link 46 by spring means (not shown), and an upper locking arm 44 which serves as a stop for the knife holder 24 when the locking pawl 40 is in the locked position shown in Figure 4.In this locked position, the locking arm 44 prevents the knife holder 24 and the knife guide 28 from coming close together, so that the knife edge 34 located inside the knife guide 28 cannot protrude from the recess 32 and cause injuries or damage. For this purpose, the link 46 comprises two sections, a locking section 48 and a release section 50, between which a transition point 52 is formed. The release section 50 allows the guide arm 42 to move and thus - in the views of Figures 4 and 5 - a pivoting or tilting movement of the locking pawl 40 in a clockwise direction about the transverse axis 41 from the locked position shown in Figure 5 into the release position shown in Figure 6.In this case, the locking arm 44 moves out of the range of movement of the knife holder 42, so that the knife holder 24 can now approach the knife guide 28 under elastic deformation of the intermediate pieces 26, whereby the knife edge 34 emerges from the recess 32 in order to carry out the cutting process of the tubular blister pack 14. The transition point 52 is preferably selected such that the movement of the locking pawl 40 into the release position only occurs shortly before the knife guide 28 hits the tubular blister pack 14, so that no body parts can be located between them. The link 46 can also be designed as part of one of the guides 20 for the cutting unit. Figures 7 and 8 show two perspective views of the cutting device 16, a cutting knife 54 which is arranged at a distance from the main knife 30 and extends through a cutting knife slot 56.The cutting knife 54 is arranged at a distance of approximately 1-2 cm from the main knife 30 and serves to form a slit 96 of 3-5 mm in length in the longitudinal weld seam 86 of the tubular blister pack 14, which slit only partially (40-60%) cuts through the longitudinal weld seam 86 and serves to make it easier to manually tear open an isolated blister pack 90b.

[0036] Although the invention has been illustrated and explained in detail by means of preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited by the disclosed examples, and other variations may be derived therefrom by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. It is therefore clear that a multitude of possible variations exist. It is also clear that the embodiments mentioned by way of example are truly only examples and should not be construed as limiting the scope, possible applications, or configuration of the invention in any way.Rather, the preceding description and the description of the figures enable the person skilled in the art to implement the exemplary embodiments in concrete terms, whereby the person skilled in the art, with knowledge of the disclosed inventive concept, can make various changes, for example with regard to the function or the arrangement of individual elements mentioned in an exemplary embodiment, without departing from the scope of protection defined by the claims and their legal equivalents, such as further explanations in the description.

[0037] List of reference symbols

[0038] 10 Segmentation device

[0039] 12 Conveyor system

[0040] 14 tube blister packs

[0041] 16 Cutting device

[0042] 18 frames

[0043] 20 guided tours

[0044] 22 Cutting unit

[0045] 24 knife holders

[0046] 26 spacers

[0047] 28 Knife guide

[0048] 30 knives

[0049] 32 recess

[0050] 34 cutting edge

[0051] 36 counter bearings

[0052] 38 locking device

[0053] 40 pawl

[0054] 41 Transverse axis

[0055] 42 Guide arm

[0056] 44 locking arm

[0057] 46 backdrop

[0058] 48 restricted section

[0059] 50 Release section

[0060] 52 Transition point

[0061] 54 cutting knives

[0062] 56 Cutting knife slot

[0063] 82 plastic film

[0064] 84 Folding

[0065] 86 Longitudinal weld

[0066] 88 transverse welds

[0067] 90a, b Bags / blister packs

[0068] 92 tablets

[0069] 94 Perforation

[0070] 96 slot

Claims

Patent claims 1. Cutting device for segmenting a tube blister pack (14), comprising a blade (30) movable by motor against a counter bearing (36), wherein the tube blister pack (14) can be guided between the counter bearing (36) and the blade (30), characterized in that the blade (30) is held in a cutting unit (22) which comprises a blade holder (24) movable by motor and a blade guide (28) coupled to the blade holder (24) and provided with a recess (32) for the passage of the blade (30), wherein the blade holder (24) and the blade guide (28) are coupled to each other via at least one elastic intermediate piece (26).

2. Cutting device according to claim 1, characterized in that a cutting edge (34) of the knife (30) is arranged in a basic position of the cutting unit (22) inside the recess (32), wherein furthermore, when a cutting operation is carried out, the cutting unit (22) is movable from the basic position towards the counter bearing (36) until the knife guide (28) abuts the counter bearing (36) while fixing the tube blister pack (14) and the knife holder (24) is movable against the knife guide (28) when the intermediate piece (26) is elastically deformed and the knife cutting edge (34) emerges from the recess (32) in a cutting position to carry out the cutting operation.

3. Cutting device according to claim 2, characterized in that it has a releasable locking device (38) in the direction of movement of the cutting device, which is designed to prevent movement of the knife holder (24) relative to the knife guide (28) to prevent the knife edge (34) from exiting the knife guide (28), wherein the locking device (38) is in a locking position until shortly before the cutting position and can then be moved into a release position.

4. Cutting device according to claim 3, characterized in that the locking device (38) comprises a cam (46), and a locking pawl (40) which can be tilted about a transverse axis is arranged on the knife guide (28), the locking pawl having at one end a guide arm (42) which rests against the cam (46) and at the other end a locking arm (44).

5. Cutting device according to claim 4, characterized in that the cam (46) has a locking section (48) and a release section (50), wherein in the locking section (48) starting from the home position the locking pawl (40) is held in the locking position and in the release section (50) a movement of the locking pawl (40) into the release position can be effected, in which the cutting edge (34) emerges from the recess (32) to carry out the cutting operation.

6. Cutting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a cutting knife (54) for forming a cutting knife slot (56) in the tube blister pack (14).

7. Cutting device according to claim 6, characterized in that the cutting blade (54) is attached to the blade holder (24).

8. Cutting device according to claim 7, characterized in that the knife guide (28) has a second slot for the passage of the cutting knife (54).

9. Cutting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact surface of the knife guide (28) facing the counter bearing is provided with a friction-enhancing coating.

10. Cutting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact surface of the counter bearing (36) facing the knife guide (28) is provided with a friction-enhancing coating.

11. Cutting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive unit comprises a current monitoring unit to move the cutting unit (22) back to the home position when a current threshold is exceeded.

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