with reference to fig1 and 3 , the reference number 1 indicates a first packaging line , for packaging various products ( such as tablets , pills , and so on ) into blister packs . reference number 100 indicates the proposed apparatus , while reference number 200 indicates a second line for ready - making of cartons , e . g . cases or boxes . this carton ready - making line can be set according to two versions . in the first version , schematically shown in fig1 this machine operates on flat blanks 201 to obtain cartons 202 , with at least one open end 202a . the way of operating of the machine is not concerned with the invention and therefore not shown , also because it is described in the introductory statement of this specification . a stack 50 of blister pack 11 is inserted into each carton , through the open end 202a , at a cartoning station 203 . together with the stack of blister packs there is an information leaflet 51 , also inserted in the carton . the way of inserting the blister packs in the carton is better described in the following . in the second version ( shown in fig3 ) the machine operates on flat tubular blanks 204 to obtain cartons 202 with at least one open end 202a . the way of obtaining the cartons 202 from the blanks 204 , is the subject matter of the it - 3542a / 90 , filed by the applicant on june 7th , 1990 . also in this case a stack 50 of blister pack 11 , together with an information leaflet 51 , is inserted into each carton 202 at a cartoning station 203 . in both versions of the carton ready - making line 200 , the conveyors which carry the cartons are step - operated according to a longitudinal direction referenced to with t . the stack is moved transversely according to direction e , perpendicular to the direction t . a station 2 for forming blisters 3 on a tape 4 of thermoformable material ; a station 5 for filling the blisters 3 with a product ( not shown ), for example : tablets , capsules , pills and other similar articles ; a station 6 for detecting the presence of the product in the blisters , or alternatively , for detecting both the presence and the undamaged state of the product placed in the blisters 3 ; a station 7 where a sealing foil 8 is applied to the surface of the tape 4 on the side where the blisters are open ; a station 9 where the sealed blister tape is cut into single blister packs 11 . the apparatus 100 , that is the subject of this invention , is located just downstream of the cutting station 9 . the apparatus consists of a conveyor 15 following which there are a first device 110 , a station 120 for ejecting faulty blister packs , a second device 130 and a third device 140 . the technical solutions connected with the devices cited above , are the subject matters of the it - 3545a / 90 , it - 3544a / 90 and it3543a / 90 , filed by the applicant on june 7th , 1990 . the conveyor 15 consists of two adjacent belts 15a , 15b , each one provided on its outer side with crosspieces , 16a , 176 , which protrude right across the adjacent belt so as to cover the entire width of the upper surface 14 . the crosspieces of the two belts 15a , 15b form seats 17 which receive the above - mentioned blister packs 11 ( as better described in the following ). at either side of the upper surface 14 of the conveyor 15 , there are two fixed sidepieces 35 located symmetrical to the longitudinal axis of the surface 14 . the fixed sidepieces 35 feature on the inside two longitudinal grooves 36 receiving the longitudinal edges 11b ( as better described hereinafter ) of the blister packs 11 being placed in these seats 17 . the fixed sidepieces 35 start at the initial part of the upper surface 14 ( see fig4 and 5 ) and extend downstream , in respect of the surface proceeding in the direction n . immediately upstream from these sidepieces 35 there are two second sidepieces 40 ( see fig6 ) connected to the beginning of the upper surface 14 . each of these sidepieces 40 is made up of a lower fixed part 41 and an upper mobile part 42 , pivoting on a shaft 43 which is parallel to the direction n and which can oscillate against with spring fittings 44 . both parts 41 and 42 feature a longitudinal slot 45 ; the longitudinal slots 45 are aligned to the grooves 36 of the fixed sidepieces 35 . the device being now described , indicated by the reference number 110 , is located and operates between the cutting station 9 and the beginning of the conveyor upper surface 14 . the cutting station 9 ( fig4 ) is inclined , and slopes downwards upstream to downstream . the cutting station 9 consists of cutters 12 , which are mobile alternately in the direction of s , and in conjunction with the matrix 13 , in a way which is known and with mobile parts 30 designed to hold the blister strip against the edge of the matrix 13 , which faces the cutters 12 . at this station the blister strip 10 is driven , with the blisters 3 turned downwards , by intermittent motion . the device 110 consists of an arm 21 pivoting and supported by a shaft 22 , positioned between the station 9 and the initial part of the upper surface 14 . the shaft 22 is placed at a lower level in respect of the surface 14 , and is parallel to the axis 18 of the wheel 19 , which the belts 15a and 15b partly turn around . the arm 21 consists of two parallel and identical pieces 23a and 23b , positioned in corresponding working spaces respectively at either side of the upper surface 14 . the ends of said pieces are fitted with gripping means , such as suction cups 24a and 24b , which , according to a known way , can be connected to a source of vacuum , which is not shown ; the axes of the suction cups are perpendicular in respect of the respective pieces 23a and 23b . the arm 21 oscillates by the action of known parts ( these are not shown since they are not relevant to the invention ) in directions h and k . the length of pieces 23a and 23b and the position of the shaft 22 , in relation to the cutting station 9 and the upper surface 14 , enable the suction cups 24a and 24b to be positioned at the station 9 ( see fig4 for the first position p1 ). after that the arm 21 has rotated towards k , the suction cups are positioned at either side of the upper surface 14 ( see fig4 for the second position , p2 ) and between the sidepieces 40 . the blister strip 10 , as has been mentioned , is driven by intermittent motion ; the arm 21 oscillates in phase correlation with the operation of the cutting station 9 . the suction cups 24a , 24b are moved to the first position p1 when the blister strip 10 is cut by the cutter 12 and the matrix 13 . this cutting action is optimized by stopping the strip 10 against the matrix 13 by the parts 30 . the conveyor belt 15 is driven by intermittent motion in phase correlation with the oscillations of the arm 21 . when the suction cups 24a , 24b are moved to the second position p2 , a bucket 17 is made available on the conveyor 15 for receiving a blister pack 11 , that is brought by the suction cups between the sidepieces 40 . the working way of the first device 110 is already clear from the above description , and is further explained in the following . when the suction cups 24a and 24b are in the first position , they are located at the cutting station , directly touching the smooth surface 11a of the blister pack 11 being cut from the blister strip 10 . at this poit the suction cups are actuated so that they pick up the blister pack 11 just cut . then the arm 21 are rotated in the direction k until the suction cups reach the second position p2 . upstream from this position the longitudinal edges 11b of the blister pack 11 strike the mobile parts 42 of the sidepieces 40 which are rotate on the outside against the spring fittings 44 they are connected to , thus facilitating snap insertion of the edges 11b into the slots 45 . this way the blister pack 11 is centered in respect of the longitudinal axis of the conveyor 15 and placed in the bucket 17 . the centering is optimized by the action of the slots 45 , of the sidepieces 40 , and is subsequently maintained by the action of the grooves 36 of the sidepieces 35 , which are consecutive to and aligned with the slots 45 . this means that the smooth surface 11a of the blister pack that has just been transferred , is in touch with the bottom of the bucket 17 , where it has finally come to rest as a result of the suction cups being disenabled . the conveyor 15 is advanced by one step and the arm 21 is then rotated in the direction h , so that the suction cups return once more to the first position p1 and a new cycle of blister pack transfer may now commence in exactly the same way as the one that has just been described . the blister pack 11 placed in the bucket 17 is with the blisters turned upwards , and this has several advantages . it is possible for the blister packs to be inspected while still on the conveyor and , what is more , the smooth surfaces 11a of the blister packs are resting on the bottom of the buckets 17 , thus facilitating rejection of any faulty blister packs from the conveyor , if necessary . the device proposed enables optimal positioning of the blister packs 11 in their buckets ; and these positions can be maintained while the conveyor is being advanced by intermittent motion , since they are assisted by the contact between the two smooth surfaces , i . e . the smooth surface 11a of the blister packs and the smooth support surface of the bucket 17 . the fact that the blister packs are in their buckets 17 , with the blisters turned upwards facilitates stacking of the blister packs ( for instance the faulty blister packs ) which is carried out at a station 120 . the first device 110 places the blister packs 11 in the relative seats of the conveyor 15 in the best way for they to be handled , that is to say with the flat surface resting on the conveyor 15 . in this case the cutting station has been considered to be inclined as is shown in the drawings enclosed . it can also be possible for this station to be advanced from the vertical to the horizontal ; provided that the pivoting angle of the arm 21 is varied accordingly . similar considerations would have to be made in cases where the upper surface 14 of the conveyor belt 15 is not horizontal . neither does the variation with the distance between the cutting station 9 and the first part of the upper surface 14 of the conveyor belt 15 provoke any particular difficulties , since the pieces 23a and 23b can be replaced with ones of appropriate length and the shaft 22 can be positioned accordingly . with any variations in the size of the blister packs it is be sufficient to ensure that a suitable amount of suction cups is used to optimize the pickup of the blister pack and its insertion into the bucket 17 . obviously any variation in size means that the cutting parts of the station 9 have to be changed , and the length of the bucket 17 has to be varied accordingly ( for example by adjusting the two belts forming the conveyor ); this is not shown in detail , however , since it is not of relevance to this invention . the first device transfers the blister packs from the cutting station 9 to the conveyor 15 , with the blisters turned upwards , the advantages of this having been mentioned previously . as has been shown , the first device 110 works regardless of what shape and / or which direction the cutting station 9 and upper surface 14 of the conveyor 15 are facing in , and with any kind of format whatsoever , which means it is universal . neither are any modifications either to the packaging line 1 or to the conveyor 15 , necessary for this device to work , since it only depends on these parts for its motion , this being a further technical advantage of the design suggested . the step - operation of the conveyor 15 determines for each seat 17 , along the upper surface 14 , a series of dwell stations . in correspondence with one of these stations , marked with 225 in the drawings , there is the second device 130 . the device 130 consists of a vertical magazine 226 ( supported , in a known manner , by the structure of the apparatus 100 ), open below , with a rectangular cross - section no smaller than the plan section of the blister packs 11 , placed above the upper surface 14 centrally with respect to the dwell station 225 ( fig8 ). the lower part of the magazine is provided with spring - operated retaining means 227 designed to support a stack p of blister packs 11 contained within the same magazine . at each side of the upper surface 14 there is an arm ; these arms 228a , 228b are attached to a vertical rod 229 which moves vertically , in the directions w1 , w2 in a synchronised manner with the stepping movement of the conveyor 15 ; this movement takes place only when the conditions illustrated below are satisfied . the arms 228a , 228b have respective suction cups 230a , 230b ( the number of which depends on the size of the blister packs ) which can be connected to a vacuum unit , not shown ; these suction cups have a vertical axis and face upwards . at the dwell station 225 the function of guide for the fixed sidepieces 35 is performed by a pair of movable sidepieces 231 situated downstream of the latter . each movable sidepieces 231 is hinged below to a fixed support , not shown , by means of a pin 232 which is parallel to the said upper surface 14 ; in this manner the same sidepiece is enabled to move . more precisely , movement in an outwards direction is opposed by a spring 233 , while the extent of movement inwards is restricted by means of a pin 234 which , at rest , enables the movable sidepiece 231 to align with the corresponding fixed sidepiece 35 ( rest position of the movable sidepiece 231 ). the upper inside - facing part of each side has a longitudinal groove 235 ( fig8 ), which in the said rest position is aligned with the groove 36 of the corresponding fixed sidepiece 35 ; this groove is delimited above by a rounded edge 235a which joins above with a sloped , outwards - facing surface 235b ( fig8 ). the said arms 228a , 228b are , at their longitudinal internal edges , flush with corresponding forks 237 ; the tooth - like projections 237a of each fork face upwards and form a guide complementary to the longitudinal section of the blister pack 11 and also symmetrical with respect to the transverse symmetry axis of the dwell station 225 . as stated previously , the rod 229 moves vertically in the directions w1 ( rising ) and w2 ( descending ). this movement defines two extreme characteristic positions for the suction cups 230a 230b , lowered x and raised y . in the lowered position x the suction cups are below the corresponding longitudinal planes occupied by portions 11a , 11b of the blister packs 11 . in the raised position y the suction cups are slightly higher than the horizontal plane of support of the said stack p determined by retaining means 227 . from the above description it is clear how the second device 130 operates . defective blister packs are rejected upstream of the device ; this can be effected , for example , at a dwell station ( without fixed sidepieces 35 ) by subjecting the defective blister pack to a lateral force to eject the blister pack from its seat 17 ( arrow c in fig1 ), and thus from the conveyor 15 . to optimise performance of the third device 140 , described in the following , the rejected blister packs must be replaced with a non - defective blister packs ; this is done in the following manner . synchronously with the positioning of the vacant seat 17 at the dwell station 225 , the suction cups 230a , 230b assume the raised position y ; activation of these suction cups , and descent ( towards w2 ) of the rod 229 , cause the retaining means 227 to release the blister pack 11 at the bottom of the stack p , and the same blister pack to be transferred into the said vacant seat 17 already positioned at the dwell station 225 . the presence of the forks 237 ensures that the blister pack thus collected is optimally centered with respect to the seat 17 below . during this transfer , the longitudinal edges 11b of the blister pack intercept the sloping surfaces 235b of the movable sidepieces 231 , making these move outwards , until , on account of the reaction of the spring 233 , they click into the longitudinal grooves 235 . descent of the rod 229 then causes insertion of the blister pack 11 collected from the magazine 226 into the vacant seat 17 situated at the dwell station 225 ; the suction cups are deactivated synchronously with the clicking of the blister pack &# 39 ; s longitudinal edges 11b into the grooves 235 , and so the blister pack , perfectly centered , occupies the said seat 17 . in this manner a defective blister pack , rejected from the seat 17 upstream of station 120 , has been replaced by a blister pack taken from the magazine . the quantity of blister packs in the magazine 226 must never fall below a preset limit ; if it does ( this can be detected using suitable sensors , not shown here ), the magazine must be fed with non - defective blister packs . this is synchronised to coincide with a momentary interruption during which the ready - making line 200 does not pick up at least one carton 202 . at the same time that a seat 17 containing a blister pack is positioned in the dwell station 225 , the rod 229 is forced to move upwards according to direction w1 . this causes the forks 237 to meet with the blister pack , and the suction cups 230a , 230b to intercept the lower surface of the blister pack . since these suction cups are activated , it follows that the blister pack is collected vertically from the seat 17 ( perfectly centered with respect to the magazine above owing to the action of the forks 237 ) and without hindrance from the movable sidepieces 231 since the interference of the longitudinal edges of the blister pack , rising , against the rounded edges 235a of the grooves 235 causes a temporary , outward movement of the same movable sidepieces 231 . as the rod 229 progresses upwards it causes the edges of the blister pack to intercept the spring - operated retaining means 227 , thus raising the stack p contained in the magazine . the moment the suction cups ( in the raised position y ) are deactivated , the above blister pack becomes the base of the stack p and it rests on the horizontal supporting plane provided by the retaining means 227 . in sum , the second device 130 performs a double function , in that it feeds the vacant seats 17 ( which previously contained defective blister packs , ejected upstream of the device itself ) with non - defective blister packs collected from the magazine , and when necessary it automatically feeds the same magazine 226 , taking non - defective blister packs from the seats 17 of the upper surface 14 of the conveyor 15 . automatic feeding of the magazine is effected whenever the number of blister packs contained therein falls below a preset minimum , and is interrupted as soon as this number reaches a preset maximum number . the third device 140 includes a lift , indicated in the drawings by 308 . this lift 308 has a pair of blocks 309 situated externally with respect to the wheels 310 , onto which the belts 15a , 15b are wound , in the outfeed area of the conveyor 15 . between these belts and on the upper surface 14 there is a spacer 270 which prevents the two belts from overlapping . two guides 280 are situated at both sides of the belts in respect of which they protrude upwardly ( fig1 ). the guides 280 extend with their upper ends 280a over the wheels 310 . the function of the upper ends of the guides 80 is to receive and support the blister packs 11 arriving from the end part of the upper surface 14 . the blocks 309 are actuated in a vertical direction by oscillating arms 311 , which pivot on pins 312 so as to form a jointed quadrilateral . the blocks 309 of the lift 308 rise the blister pack 11 , supported by the ends 280a of the guides 280 , in an upwards direction , inserting it into a magazine 313 of the third device 140 . the magazine 313 consists of a pair of sides 314 , placed lengthwise to the sidepieces 35 of the conveyor 15 ; mobile supports 315 designed to support the stack ( here designated by 50 ) of blister packs are fixed to the base of the magazine 313 , so as to correspond with the edges of the lower surface of the blister packs 11 . above the conveyor 15 there is a movable pushing organ 317 designed to move the stack 50 of blister packs formed in the magazine 313 . the pusher 317 is actuated in a lengthwise direction with respect to the conveyor 15 , by oscillating arms 318 , which pivot on pins 319 so as to form a jointed quadrilateral . in front of the magazine 313 , there is a drawer 320 designed to receive the stack 50 of blister packs ; the drawer 320 has a chamfered infeed opening 321 , facing in the direction of the magazine 313 . between the magazine 313 and the drawer 320 there is a surface 322 where the stack 50 slides , having grooves 322a in which corresponding teeth 317a of the pusher 317 move freely . the drawer 320 constitutes a container 323 open at the ends which are transverse to the direction of insertion of the stack 50 . in particular , the container 323 has an outfeed opening 324 for the stack 50 , where the drawer 320 is shaped like a beak 325 ( see fig1 a , 14b ). the drawer 320 moves in a vertically transverse plane to the conveyor 15 so that the outfeed opening 324 docks with a corresponding opening 202a of a carton 202 for blister packs located at the station 203 . at this stage , the beak 325 of the drawer 320 intercepts an instruction leaflet 51 , which is to be inserted into the carton 202 together with the blister pack stack 50 ; the leaflet 51 is located in front of the opening 202a of the carton 202 , in contact with striker means 328 for folding , which act in conjunction with the same drawer 320 . the drawer 320 is actuated by a jointed quadrilateral formed by oscillating arms 329 , which pivot on pins 330 . the arms 329 are attached by pins 331 , to a plate 332 fixed to the lower part of the drawer 320 . there is an ejector 333 which acts in conjunction with the drawer 320 and which moves in the same vertical plane as the same drawer 320 . the ejector 333 is actuated , synchronously with the drawer 320 , by oscillating arms 334 , which pivot on pins 335 so as to form a jointed quadrilateral . the ejector 333 enters into the container 323 of the drawer 320 , from the side opposite to the outfeed opening 324 ; to enable the ejector 333 to pass , the draw 320 has a slot 336 below and features an upper channel 337 . operation of the third device 140 is subordinated to the consent of means 290 situated upstream of the magazine 313 , which check that the blister pack is present . actuation of the lift 308 raises the blister pack 11 , which is inserted into the magazine 313 located above , pushing aside the mobile supports 315 which hold up the stack . the blister pack 11 then rests on the mobile supports 315 , forcing upwards any blister packs already present in the magazine 313 ( fig1 ). in this way a stack 50 of blister packs 11 is formed , from the bottom upwards . after the stack 50 has been formed with the desired number of blister packs 11 , the pusher 317 is actuated and pushes the stack 50 into the drawer 320 ( fig1 ). then the oscillating arms 329 are actuated pushing the drawer 320 in the direction of the carton 202 to be filled . as it draws nearer to the carton 202 , the beak 325 of the drawer 320 intercepts the instruction leaflet 51 , folds it over the strikers 328 as is clearly visible in fig1 a where the dotted lines 325a , 325b indicate successive positions assumed by the beak 325 during folding of the leaflet 51 ; the lines 51a and 51b indicate the respective positions of the leaflet 51 . the ejector 333 is actuated synchronously with the drawer 320 , following , during the first stage of its travel , the movement of the same drawer ; when the drawer 320 stops , the ejector 333 continues its travel entering into the same drawer thus causing the stack 50 of blister packs 11 to be pushed out of the opening 324 , as shown in fig1 b where the dotted lines 333a , 333b and 333c indicate successive positions assumed by the ejector ; the lines 329a and 334a indicate the initial positions of the oscillating arms 329 , 334 . the stack 50 of blister packs 11 during entry into the carton 202 pushes the instruction leaflet 51 , and completes folding inside the same carton 202 . in the case shown , the stack 50 inserted into the carton 202 consists of two blister packs 11 ; it must be noted however that one single blister pack 11 can be inserted into the carton 202 . the folding of the instruction leaflet 51 effected by the beak 325 of the drawer 320 guarantees in any case that the blister packs 11 are correctly inserted into the carton 202 . the apparatus 100 here proposed is independent , as for working , of the blister packaging line 1 and of the carton ready - making line 200 ; the apparatus proposed is operatively interconnected with the blister packaging line and with the carton ready - making line only as far as its motion is concerned . this is another advantage to be added to the already stated ones . this allows the apparatus 100 to be connected to any kind of blister pack packaging lines , working with any kind of products ( for example the line shown in fig1 and 2 ). moreover the apparatus 100 can be connected to any kind of carton ready - making lines or machines , as shown in fig1 and 3 , for example . the invention , as described above is only an example , and can be subject to numerous modifications and variations , all of which enter within the terms of the invention . all the details of this invention can be substituted by their technical equivalents .