A fin sealer and method to seal a radially outwardly directed fin of a tubular web structure by directing the fin through a nip between a first and a second fin sealing rollers while communicating heat to the fin through at least one of the fin sealing rollers is provided. The fin sealer is configured to maintain a nominal face-to-face relation between an outer annulus of the first fin sealing roller and an outer annulus of the second fin sealing roller with a flexible connection between a hub element of the second fin sealing roller with the outer annulus of the second fin sealing roller.

A fin sealer and method to seal a radially outwardly directed fin of a tubular web structure by directing the fin through a nip between a first and a second fin sealing rollers while communicating heat to the fin through at least one of the fin sealing rollers is provided. The fin sealer is configured to maintain a nominal face-to-face relation between an outer annulus of the first fin sealing roller and an outer annulus of the second fin sealing roller with a flexible connection between a hub element of the second fin sealing roller with the outer annulus of the second fin sealing roller.

An apparatus for dispensing and packaging dosed quantities of solid drug portions is provided. The apparatus includes multiple dosing stations, each dosing station having an output opening for dispensing solid drug portions, a collector for collecting dosed quantities of solid drug portions dispensed by the dosing stations and forwarding the dosed quantities of solid drug portions to a packager, and multiple fall ducts configured to guide the solid drug portions from the output openings to the collector, each fall duct having an outlet and a number of inlet openings, the output openings of the dosing stations being aligned with the inlet openings of the fall ducts when a fall duct (7) is positioned adjacent to a column of dosing stations. Each fall duct includes a first part and a second part detachably connected together.

An apparatus for dispensing and packaging dosed quantities of solid drug portions is provided. The apparatus includes multiple dosing stations, each dosing station having an output opening for dispensing solid drug portions, a collector for collecting dosed quantities of solid drug portions dispensed by the dosing stations and forwarding the dosed quantities of solid drug portions to a packager, and multiple fall ducts configured to guide the solid drug portions from the output openings to the collector, each fall duct having an outlet and a number of inlet openings, the output openings of the dosing stations being aligned with the inlet openings of the fall ducts when a fall duct (7) is positioned adjacent to a column of dosing stations. Each fall duct includes a first part and a second part detachably connected together.

Disclosed is a blister pack smart dispensing package that has an overlay with conductors located over blister pack pockets that are broken when a user retrieves a solid medication, such as a pill, from the blister pack. The date and time that the user retrieved the solid medication from the smart pack is recorded by an electronics and communications package on the smart pack. A local communications device then receives this adherence data and transmits this data to a server, which generates a data structure containing adherence data. A blister pack overlay can be used which changes colors to indicate that the medication is about to expire, or has expired.

Disclosed is a blister pack smart dispensing package that has an overlay with conductors located over blister pack pockets that are broken when a user retrieves a solid medication, such as a pill, from the blister pack. The date and time that the user retrieved the solid medication from the smart pack is recorded by an electronics and communications package on the smart pack. A local communications device then receives this adherence data and transmits this data to a server, which generates a data structure containing adherence data. A blister pack overlay can be used which changes colors to indicate that the medication is about to expire, or has expired.

The present disclosure provides an apparatus for forming a stream of individual packets, comprising a folder arranged to form a tubular web structure, a feeder arranged to feed the formed tubular web structure to a nip; a first rotor comprising a first sealing jaw and a knife, a second rotor comprising a second sealing jaw and an anvil, the sealing jaws, the knife and anvil rotating into opposing relation at the nip so as to form a severed, completed packet beyond the nip. The apparatus includes an open ended packet catcher adjacent the first and second rotors, which is arranged to catch the severed, completed packets beyond the nip whereby a stream of packets is established. The packet catcher includes a stripper disposed in a proximal location to at least one of the anvil, the knife and the sealing jaws when the anvil, the knife and/or the sealing jaws are rotated beyond the nip, whereby, should a completed packet stick to any of the anvil, the knife and/or the sealing jaws, the stripper is operative to free the stuck packet from the anvil, the knife and/or the sealing jaw. The present disclosure provides a fin sealer and method to seal a radially outwardly directed fin of a tubular web structure by directing the fin through a nip between a first and a second fin sealing rollers while communicating heat to the fin through at least one of the fin sealing rollers, the fin sealer being further arranged to maintain a nominal face-to-face relation between an outer annulus of the first fin sealing roller and an outer annulus of the second fin sealing roller with a flexible connection between a hub element of the second fin sealing roller with the outer annulus of the second fin sealing roller. A cooling system is also provided, which is operative upon one of the rotors of a cut and seal station.

The present disclosure provides an apparatus for forming a stream of individual packets, comprising a folder arranged to form a tubular web structure, a feeder arranged to feed the formed tubular web structure to a nip; a first rotor comprising a first sealing jaw and a knife, a second rotor comprising a second sealing jaw and an anvil, the sealing jaws, the knife and anvil rotating into opposing relation at the nip so as to form a severed, completed packet beyond the nip. The apparatus includes an open ended packet catcher adjacent the first and second rotors, which is arranged to catch the severed, completed packets beyond the nip whereby a stream of packets is established. The packet catcher includes a stripper disposed in a proximal location to at least one of the anvil, the knife and the sealing jaws when the anvil, the knife and/or the sealing jaws are rotated beyond the nip, whereby, should a completed packet stick to any of the anvil, the knife and/or the sealing jaws, the stripper is operative to free the stuck packet from the anvil, the knife and/or the sealing jaw. The present disclosure provides a fin sealer and method to seal a radially outwardly directed fin of a tubular web structure by directing the fin through a nip between a first and a second fin sealing rollers while communicating heat to the fin through at least one of the fin sealing rollers, the fin sealer being further arranged to maintain a nominal face-to-face relation between an outer annulus of the first fin sealing roller and an outer annulus of the second fin sealing roller with a flexible connection between a hub element of the second fin sealing roller with the outer annulus of the second fin sealing roller. A cooling system is also provided, which is operative upon one of the rotors of a cut and seal station.

A method for filling packages with changing products in a filling machine is disclosed. Packages are successively transported through a filling machine, and the packages are each successively filled with a first product in a sterile environment via a filling outlet connected to a product tank. To empty the product tank, at least one outlet means is brought into an emptying position, and a residue of the first product is discharged at least partially from the sterile environment, via the outlet means located in the emptying position. The outlet means is removed from the emptying position following the emptying of the product tank. Packages are subsequently each successively filled with a second product in a sterile environment, via a filling outlet connected to a product tank.

A packaging apparatus and method for depositing pills into a series of containers is provided. A cylindrical rotary slat is rotatable about a first axis and comprises radially inward and outward portions, the radially outward portion defining pill apertures for receiving pills therein at a first angular position. A negative pressure system is configured to apply a negative pressure to the pill apertures to retain the pills therein. An ejection device is in communication with the pill apertures at a second angular position of the rotary slat to eject the respective pills outwardly from the pill apertures. A collection mechanism is disposed adjacent to the radially outward portion about the second angular position, and is configured to collect the pills ejected from the pill apertures and to direct the pills toward the series of containers for deposition therein.