Mixing Device With Angled Cutting Projections for Tablet Dissolution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing stirring or dispersing devices struggle to efficiently crush and dissolve tablets and drug capsules in liquids, particularly due to buoyancy issues and the need for fine crushing of difficult-to-dissolve active ingredients within a reasonable time.
Innovation Solution
A stirring or dispersing device with a rotor featuring angled cutting projections and a flow breaker design that creates a vortex, combined with a deflection surface, ensures reliable comminution and dissolution by utilizing gravity and optimizing energy efficiency, even with limited drive torque.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional rotor without angled cutting projections is used, then the device structure is simple, but material to be stirred or dispersed cannot be reliably comminuted due to buoyancy forces causing material to float away from the rotor
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting projections are designed with asymmetric geometry, angled relative to the rotor surface, creating a directional cutting action that effectively engages floating material. The projections have a leading face angled to push material downward and a cutting edge positioned to shear material as the rotor rotates, transforming the symmetric rotor into an asymmetric material-engagement tool that overcomes buoyancy effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The angled cutting projections perform a preliminary pushing action on floating material before the main cutting action occurs. As the rotor rotates, the angled projections first drive material downward against buoyancy forces, then the cutting edges engage to comminute the material. This preliminary downward propulsion ensures material reaches the effective cutting area before being processed.
2Productivity
If the rotor rotates at high speed to improve mixing efficiency, then productivity increases, but energy consumption increases and difficult-to-dissolve tablets cannot be crushed finely enough within reasonable time
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the rotor surface by adding angled cutting projections with specific angles and dimensions. This modifies the interaction parameters between the rotor and material, enabling effective comminution at lower rotational speeds. The projections create a mechanical advantage that amplifies the cutting effect, allowing fine crushing of difficult-to-dissolve tablets without requiring excessive drive torque or prolonged processing time.
3Reliability
If cutting projections are added to the rotor to improve material engagement, then comminution effectiveness increases, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The rotor surface is segmented into multiple discrete cutting projections rather than a continuous complex structure. Each projection is an independent geometric element that can be manufactured separately and then assembled or formed on the rotor. This segmentation simplifies the manufacturing process, allowing standard machining or additive manufacturing techniques to create the angled projections without requiring complex tooling or multi-step fabrication processes.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device effectively crushes and dissolves tablets and drug capsules quickly and reliably, reducing the risk of material bouncing off the rotor and enhancing the comminution process through a stable vortex flow, achieving efficient comminution and rapid dissolution.
Implementation Method 1
at least one flow breaker is provided, in particular arranged or designed, on an inner peripheral wall of the mixing chamber surrounding the axis of rotation... causes the formation of a vortex in a liquid in the mixing chamber
Implementation Method 2
the force of gravity acting on the material to be stirred or dispersed can be utilized. This counteracts any buoyancy force that may occur and can convey the material to be mixed or dispersed in the direction of the at least one cutting projection
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The mixing or dispersing device (1) and the mixing or dispersing assembly (36) equipped with such a device are proposed for optimising the processing of mixed or dispersed substances, in particular tablets and/or capsules for medicinal drugs. The mixing or dispersing device (1) comprises in the mixing chamber (3) a motor-driven rotor (4) comprising at least one cutting projection (8) that is bent upwards from the bottom (7) of the mixing chamber (3) and has at least one cutting edge (10). A flow-disturbing element (12) if further provided on the inner circumferential wall (11) of the mixing chamber that surrounds the axis of rotation (R), in such a way that is tapers from its first end (12), which faces the bottom (7), to its second end (13), opposite the first end (12). Furthermore, the deflection surface (15) for deflecting the mixed or dispersed substance and/or liquid being processed towards the rotor (4) is provided between the inner circumferential wall (11) and the bottom (7) of the mixing chamber (3). The at least one flow-disturbing element (12) is spaced apart from the bottom (7) of the mixing chamber (3), from the at least one cutting projection (8) and from the circular path (16) on which the at least one cutting projection (8) is movable about the axis of rotation (R) (cf. figure 7).