Method for positioning small-volume bulk material in a fracture chamber of a testing device

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for positioning bulk materials (10, 14, 15) of a certain type in a fracture chamber (1) of a testing device (2) comprising the following successive steps: - a bulk material (10, 14, 15) of this particular type is introduced into the fracture chamber (1) of the testing device (2), wherein the fracture chamber (1) has a fracture test area (25); - at least one camera (26) checks, using a stored reference image, whether the bulk material (10, 14, 15) is arranged in the fracture test area (25) of the fracture chamber (1); - if the bulk material (10, 14, 15) is not in the fracture test area (25), the bulk material (10, 14, 15) is moved in the fracture chamber (1) by a movement mechanism (7, 4) until the bulk material (10, 14, 15) is arranged in the fracture test area (25).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for positioning small-volume bulk material in a fracture chamber of a testing device according to the features of claim 1.

[0002] A testing device can be used to test small-volume bulk materials for quality, mass, width, length, and hardness. These small-volume bulk materials can include pharmaceutical products such as granules, tablets, or oblongs. To measure hardness, the testing device has a fracture chamber. The bulk material is broken in this chamber, and the hardness is determined by measuring the force required to break it.

[0003] Such a testing device is known, for example, from WO 2017 / 041866 A1. This testing device has a fracture chamber for measuring the hardness of a bulk material, comprising a fixed jaw and a movable pressing jaw opposite it. The fracture chamber has a bottom, the bottom being formed by a portion of a plate element. At least one vibration drive is provided, which is connected to the plate element and with which the plate element can be set into vibration. When the plate element is set into vibration, the bulk material can be positioned in the fracture chamber. By moving the pressing jaw towards the fixed jaw, the bulk material located between the fixed jaw and the pressing jaw is fractured.

[0004] It would be desirable to determine whether the bulk material is actually aligned precisely within the fracture chamber. This would ensure reliable measurements of the bulk material's hardness.

[0005] To optimally align a bulk material in a fracture chamber of a testing device, a method according to the features of claim 1 is proposed.

[0006] This method for positioning small-volume bulk materials in a fracture chamber of a testing device comprises the following successive steps: 1. A bulk material of a specific type is provided in the crushing chamber; 2. Subsequently, at least one camera is used to check, based on a stored reference image, whether the bulk material is located in a fracture test area of ​​the fracture chamber; if the bulk material is located in the fracture test area, the fracture test is carried out. 3. If, however, the bulk material is not located within the fracture test area, it is moved within the fracture chamber by at least one movement mechanism until it is positioned within the fracture test area. Once the bulk material is finally located within the fracture test area, the fracture test is performed.

[0007] The camera controls the corresponding movement mechanism. It sends an electrical signal to a control computer until the bulk material is moved into the fracture test area. The control computer contains a reference image for this specific type of bulk material, showing it within the fracture test area. This reference image demonstrates the optimal orientation of the bulk material in the fracture chamber. The electrical signal from the camera prompts the control computer to send an electrical signal to an actuator, which then initiates the movement mechanism to move the bulk material within the fracture chamber until it is positioned within the fracture test area.

[0008] The small-volume bulk goods can be pharmaceutical products, such as granules, tablets or oblongs.

[0009] Finally, the invention also relates to a testing device for positioning bulk material in the book chamber.

[0010] An embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the figures. The figures show: Fig. 1 a schematic representation of a section of a test device; Fig. 2 an enlarged section of the in Fig. 1 shown test device and Fig. 3 a cut AA through the in Fig. 1. Excerpt of the test device shown.

[0011] In Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a fracture chamber 1 for measuring the hardness of a bulk material 10, wherein the fracture chamber 1 is part of a testing device 2. Only a section of the testing device 2 is shown. In the Fig. The bulk material 10 shown in Figure 1 is an oblong. A fixed jaw 3 and a movable pressing jaw 4 opposite it are arranged in the fracture chamber 1. This pressing jaw 4 can be moved towards or away from the fixed jaw 3, as indicated by arrow 5 and arrow 6, respectively. The test device 2 has a plate element 7, part of which forms a base 8 of the fracture chamber 1. The plate element 7 can also have a different shape, for example, oval, rectangular, or square. This plate element 7 is connected to at least one vibratory drive, which can be arranged below the plate element 7. A vibratory drive is in Fig. 1 not visible. By means of the vibration drive, for example an unbalanced motor, the plate element 7 can be set into vibration, so that the plate element 7 vibrates. The vibration of the plate element 7 moves the bulk material 10 in the crushing chamber 1.

[0012] Fracture chamber 1 is bounded on one side by abutment 9 and on the other side by another abutment 9'. These abutments 9 and 9', as well as the further abutments 9'', 9''', and 9'''', belong to a transport device 13, which is not shown in detail. The transport direction 13 could, for example, be a transport star or a transport rake. Since such transport devices are known from the prior art, they are not described in further detail. Between abutments 9 and 9' and abutments 9'' and 9''', a further bulk material 14, 15 is arranged, with bulk material 14 bearing against abutment 9'''' and bulk material 15 bearing against abutment 9''' of the transport device 13. The transport device 13 can transport the bulk materials 14, 15 successively into fracture chamber 1 after the fracture test has been carried out on bulk material 10.The bulk materials 14, 15 are thus transported along a transport plane 17 in the direction of arrow 16 into the crushing chamber 1. Preferably, a waste container is arranged below the plate element 7, which, however, is located in the . Fig. 1 is not visible. If a bulk material, for example bulk material 10, is broken by a fracture test, larger fragments are transported by the abutment 9 towards an opening 18 located between the plate element 7 and the transport level 17. Small fragments and dust are automatically removed from the fracture chamber 1 by the vibration of the plate element 7. Because the fragments of a broken bulk material, as well as dust, can be removed from the fracture chamber 1 solely by the vibration of the plate element 7, the fracture chamber 1 is self-cleaning. Therefore, additional devices for removing bulk material residue, such as a brush, are unnecessary.

[0013] However, in order to obtain reliable measurements for the hardness of the bulk material 10, the bulk material 10 must be optimally aligned within the fracture chamber 1 after being transported into it by the transport device 13. The bulk material 10 is optimally aligned when it is positioned within a specific area of ​​the fracture chamber 1. This area is referred to below as the fracture test area and is located in the Fig. 1 with the reference number 25.

[0014] The bulk material 10 can be transported into the fracture test area 25 by vibrating the plate element 7. Additionally, the bulk material 10 can be moved into the fracture test area 25 by means of the press jaw 4. To enable the press jaw 4 to move, it is connected to a press jaw drive located in the Fig. 1 is not visible.

[0015] To ensure that the bulk material 10, after being introduced into the fracture chamber 1, is also transported into the fracture test area 25, a camera continuously monitors the position of the bulk material 10 within the fracture chamber 1. For more precise observation, more than one camera, for example two or four cameras, can be used. The camera can be, for example, a still camera or a video camera. The camera can be positioned above the floor 8 of the fracture chamber 1 or on one side of the fracture chamber 1. The camera is in the Fig. 1 not visible. Although several cameras can be arranged in the fracture chamber, it is usually sufficient to have only one camera in the fracture chamber. Therefore, only one camera will be referred to in the following.

[0016] The camera thus functions as a sensor, allowing the position of the bulk material 10 in the fracture chamber 1 to be monitored. To do this, the camera captures an image of the bulk material 10 as it is placed in the fracture chamber 1. The camera then compares this image to a reference image stored in a control computer to determine whether the bulk material 10 is located within the fracture test area 25. If the bulk material 10 is not located within the fracture test area 25, the camera triggers a movement mechanism to move the bulk material 10 within the fracture chamber 1 until it is positioned within the fracture test area 25, i.e., until the image captured by the camera matches the reference image. The captured images can also be stored in the control computer.

[0017] To move the bulk material 10 within the fracture chamber 1 via the movement mechanism, the camera continuously sends an electrical signal to the control computer until the bulk material 10 is positioned within the fracture test area 25 and thus optimally aligned. Based on the electrical signals received from the camera, the control computer then sends an electrical signal to an actuator, which in turn causes the movement mechanism to move the bulk material within the chamber 1 until it is positioned within the fracture test area 25.

[0018] The control computer is preferably arranged in the test device 2 and is thus part of the test device 2. The control computer is in the Fig. 1 not shown.

[0019] This method thus allows for real-time monitoring of the position of the bulk material 10 within the crushing chamber 1 using the camera.

[0020] The control computer sends an electrical signal to an actuator. This actuator is connected to a movement mechanism that moves the bulk material 10 within the fracture chamber 1 until it is located within the fracture test area 25. The actuator is either a vibration drive, which vibrates the plate element 7, or a press jaw drive, which moves the press jaw 4. The press jaw 4 then transports the bulk material 10 towards the fixed jaw 3. The plate element 7 and the press jaw 3 thus form a movement mechanism that moves the bulk material 10 within the fracture chamber 1 and positions it within the fracture test area 25.

[0021] Once the bulk material 10 is in the bay test area 25, the bulk material 10 is optimally aligned, so that the breakage test is carried out by pressing the press jaw 4 against the fixed jaw 3 until the bulk material 10 breaks.

[0022] It is also possible to position the bulk material 10 within the crushing chamber 1 by rotating the plate element 7. For this purpose, a rotary drive can be arranged below the plate element 7 as an actuator, with which the plate element 7 can be rotated. The rotary movement is indicated by arrows 20 and 21. The rotary drive is located in Fig. 1 not visible. The rotary drive can therefore be used as an alternative to the vibration drive or in addition to the vibration drive.

[0023] It goes without saying that this method for positioning bulk material in a breakage test area can also be applied to other types of bulk material, for example, coated tablets or tablets. In this case, a corresponding reference image must be stored in the control computer for this other type of bulk material. This stored reference image shows the bulk material of this specific type to be positioned and measured, as it is optimally arranged in the breakage test area.

[0024] Fig. Figure 2 shows a section of the area in the Fig. 1 of the test device shown 2. The bulk material 10 is optimally aligned in the breaking chamber 1 because it lies in the indentation test area 25. Therefore, the breaking test can now be carried out by moving the press jaw 4 towards the fixed jaw 3, thereby breaking the bulk material 10 located between the fixed jaw 3 and the press jaw 4.

[0025] In Fig. Figure 3 is a schematic representation of a section of the test device 2 according to Fig. Figure 1 shows a section AA. The bulk material 10 is also visible, lying on the floor 8 and in front of the fixed jaw 3 of the fracture chamber 1. The press jaw is not visible in this view. The floor 8 of the fracture chamber 1 is formed by a portion of the plate element 7. A lower section 22 is attached to the plate element 7. The fracture chamber 1 is bounded on one side by the abutment 9 and on the other side by the further abutment 9'. These abutments 9 and 9', as well as the further abutments 9'', 9''', and 9'''', belong to the transport device 13, which is not shown in detail. This transport device 13 allows further bulk materials 14, 15 to be successively transported into the fracture chamber 1 after the fracture test has been performed on the bulk material 10 and the remains of the broken bulk material 10 have been removed from the fracture chamber 1.The bulk materials 14, 15 are thus moved along the transport plane 17 in the direction of arrow 16 into the fracture chamber 1. The plate element 7 with the lower section 22 attached to it is connected to the test device 2 via a holder 23 such that the surface of the plate element 7 is decoupled from the transport plane 17, allowing the plate element 7 to be excited to vibration by at least one vibration drive. The plate element 7 is thus suspended in the test device 2 so that it can oscillate. This at least one vibration drive is located in a housing 24 of the lower section 22 and is therefore not visible. An additional, also concealed, rotary drive, with which the plate element 7 can be rotated, may also be located in the housing 24. As a rule, it is sufficient to provide only one vibration drive as an actuator for the plate element 7, rather than multiple vibration drives.

[0026] The holder 23 has at least one connecting element, wherein in the Fig. 3 only one connecting element 12 is visible. This at least one connecting element can, for example, be a screw. Preferably, a waste container 19 is arranged below the plate element 7 with the lower section 22 attached to it. If a bulk material, for example the bulk material 10, is broken by a fracture test, larger remnants are pushed towards an opening 18 by movement of the abutment 9, causing these remnants to fall downwards into the waste container 19 and thus be disposed of. Smaller remnants and also dust are automatically removed from the fracture chamber 1 by the vibration of the plate element 7, with these remnants passing through the opening 18 or the opening 18' into the waste container 19.

[0027] The camera used to monitor the transport of the bulk material 10 into the breakage test area (in Fig. 3 (without reference numeral) can be observed, bears the reference number 26. In Fig. In section 3, camera 26 is positioned above the floor 8 of the fracture chamber 1. However, camera 26 can also be positioned in a side area, for example, in side area 27 of the fracture chamber 1. The only important aspect of positioning camera 26 in the fracture chamber 1 is that it allows the camera 26 to observe the position of the bulk material 10 within the fracture test area.

[0028] It is also conceivable that the camera 26 is positioned above the base 8 and that a light source is located in the base 8. In this case, the base 8 consists of a transparent material, such as plastic, so that a shadow image of the bulk material can be recorded. This variant is in the Fig. 3, however, is not shown. Reference symbol list 1 fracture chamber 2 Testing device 3 Festbacke 4 Press jaws 5 Arrow 6 Arrow 7 plate element 8 Floor 9 abutments 10 bulk goods 11 Connecting element 12 Connecting element 13 Transport device 14 Bulk goods 15 bulk goods 16 Arrow 17 Transport level 18 Opening 19 waste containers 20 Arrow 21 Arrow 22 Lower section 23 holders 24 cases 25 Breaking test area 26 Camera QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] WO 2017 / 041866 A1

[0003]

Claims

[1] Method for positioning bulk materials (10, 14, 15) of a certain type in a fracture chamber (1) of a testing device (2) comprising the following successive steps: 1.1 A bulk material (10, 14, 15) of the specified type is introduced into the fracture chamber (1) of the testing device (2), wherein the fracture chamber (1) has a fracture test area (25); 1.2 at least one camera (26) checks, using a stored reference image, whether the bulk material (10, 14, 15) is arranged in the fracture test area (25) of the fracture chamber (1); 1.3 If the bulk material (10, 14, 15) is not located in the fracture test area (25), the bulk material (10, 14, 15) is moved in the fracture chamber (1) by at least one movement mechanism (7, 4) until the bulk material (10, 14, 15) is arranged in the fracture test area (25). [2] Method for positioning bulk materials (10, 14, 15) in a fracture chamber (1) according to claim 1, characterized by, that at least one camera (26) sends an electrical signal to a control computer until the bulk material (10, 14, 15) has been moved in the fracture test area (25), wherein the control computer, based on the signal received from the camera (26), sends an electrical signal to an actuator, wherein the actuator causes the movement mechanism (4, 7) to move the bulk material (10, 14, 15) in the fracture chamber (1). [3] Testing device (2) for carrying out the method according to claims 1 to 2.

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