Abstract:
A pneumatic apparatus 10 for withdrawing and recycling goods from defective blister packages on a blister packaging machine comprising a housing 12 which is positioned on the blister packaging machine between the detection station and the sealing station and having a plurality of transversely spaced-apart open chambers 12B in the bottom thereof. A plurality of air valves 14 are connected to a high air pressure source and to the blister package machine detection station, and each air valve 14 corresponds to a respective chamber 12B in the bottom of the housing 12. A plurality of air venturi nozzles 20 are provided wherein each air venturi nozzle 20 is fluidly connected at its air pressure input end 20A to a corresponding air valve 14 and chamber 12B. Each nozzle 20 comprises a goods transportation conduit connected to its air exhaust exhaust end 20B so the air venturi nozzle 20 will create a partial vacuum in the chamber 12B fluidly connected thereto and a pressurized air flow in the goods transportation conduit at the air exhaust end 20B thereof when the air valve 14 corresponding thereto is opened. Upon receiving a signal from the detection station, the pneumatic goods recycling apparatus will pneumatically withdraw the goods from predetermined portions of a carrier strip from which blister sections will be separated and which each have at least one empty cell therein and then propel the goods back to the blister packaging machine hopper.