Adjustable Partitioning Member for Tablet Cassette Rotor

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing tablet cassettes face challenges in easily adjusting the vertical position and entrance depth of a partitioning member according to tablet size, often requiring complex rotor replacement and leading to powder contamination and handling issues.

Innovation Solution

A tablet cassette design featuring a partitioning member with adjustable retention and attachment mechanisms, including slits, support grooves, and projection tabs, allows for easy adjustment of the partitioning member's position and depth, preventing incorrect mounting and rattling, and facilitating rotor demounting without powder spillage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a rotor with different guide grooves is replaced to accommodate different tablet sizes, then the adaptability to various tablet sizes is improved, but the device complexity and operation time increase due to multiple replacement tasks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to various tablet sizesVSAvoidcomplexity of rotor replacement
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by designing a single rotor structure that can accommodate multiple tablet sizes through adjustable guide grooves. The guide grooves can be repositioned along the rotor circumference, allowing one rotor to serve multiple functions for different tablet dimensions, eliminating the need for multiple rotor replacements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamics by making the guide groove position adjustable rather than fixed. The guide grooves can be dynamically repositioned along the rotor to match different tablet sizes, transforming a static structure into a dynamic, adaptable system that responds to different dispensing requirements without component replacement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the partitioning member attachment position is changed to match tablet sizes, then the adaptability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to multiple adjustment tasks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to various tablet sizesVSAvoidease of partitioning member adjustment
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the adjustment functions for the partitioning member and guide grooves into a single integrated operation. By combining these adjustments, the system reduces the number of separate tasks required when changing tablet sizes, improving operational ease while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring multiple attachment positions for the partitioning member that correspond to different tablet sizes. These positions are prepared in advance, allowing operators to quickly select and switch between pre-set positions rather than performing complex real-time adjustments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the rotor is demounted to remove powder, then the cleanliness is improved, but the loss of time increases due to complicated disassembly and assembly procedures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepowder contaminationVSAvoidtime for rotor disassembly and assembly
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the powder removal function from the rotor disassembly process. By designing a system where the rotor can be easily removed as a complete unit without disassembling components, the procedure simplifies to a single removal and insertion action, minimizing time while effectively removing powder contamination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the rotor assembly into modular components that can be easily separated and reassembled. This segmentation allows for quick disassembly and assembly operations, reducing the time required for maintenance while maintaining effectiveness in removing powder contamination from the dispensing system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2572995B1Tablet cassette
Publication Date: 2016.07.06 YUYAMA MFG CO LTD
  • EP2572995B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2572995B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2572995B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A vertical position and an entrance depth of a partitioning member are easily adjusted in accordance with the size of a tablet to be dispensed. Further, a rotor is easily demounted from a securement member fixed to a drive shaft. A side wall of a cassette body 2 is formed with a plurality of slits 27, through which at least one elastic bristle 39 penetrates, along a circumferential direction of the rotor 3. The slits extend in an axial direction of the rotor 3. A partitioning member 19 is movable along the slit 27 with the elastic bristle 39 penetrating through the slit 27. When a cap 241 is downwardly pressed, a pressing portion 243 presses a flexible portion 255 to thereby release the engagement between the flexible portion 255 and an engagement portion 259 and an elastic force of an arm portion 263 urges a rotor 221 upwardly.