Blister Machine Projections for Dust Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In modern blister machines, the design of the separating device in storage and dispensing stations leads to medicament dust formation due to friction between medicament portions and components, causing increased force requirements for rotation, which results in inaccurate dispensing and frequent machine downtime due to dust accumulation.
Innovation Solution
The storage container features projections with recessed central sections and end sections that bear against the guide section's wall, allowing medicament dust to fall through a gap and reducing friction, enabling precise control of the separating device and minimizing dust accumulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the separating device is rotated to feed medicament portions to the dispensing opening, then medicament portions are successfully dispensed, but medicament portions rub against each other and on components during separation, leading to spalling and drug dust formation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of drug dust formation into a beneficial outcome by designing the projections with arcuate lateral surfaces that guide the drug dust along the inner wall of the guide space to a collection area, where it can be removed without affecting the dispensing operation
Solution Approach 2:
The arcuate lateral surfaces of the projections act as an intermediary element between the separating device and the drug dust, providing a controlled path for the dust to follow rather than allowing it to scatter randomly and settle on critical components
2Reliability
If medicament dust accumulates on the wall of the guide section, then friction between the lateral surfaces of the projections and the wall increases, but this requires increased force for rotation of the separating device
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the drug dust from the critical guide space wall area by guiding it along the arcuate surfaces to a designated collection area, preventing accumulation that would increase friction and rotation force requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The arcuate lateral surfaces of the projections create a localized region where drug dust is channeled and collected, rather than allowing uniform accumulation across the entire guide space, maintaining low friction in the critical rotation area
3Productivity
If increased force is applied to rotate the separating device due to drug dust deposits, then rotation can continue, but non-uniform force application makes precise control difficult, leading to incorrect dispensing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potential harm of drug dust accumulation into a beneficial outcome by providing a self-cleaning mechanism where the arcuate surfaces guide dust to a collection area, maintaining consistent rotation force and precise control throughout operation
Solution Approach 2:
The design enables the separating device to maintain its own operational precision by automatically guiding drug dust away from the guide space wall during normal rotation, eliminating the need for external cleaning interventions that would disrupt precise control
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
This design reduces the force needed to rotate the separating device, minimizing incorrect dispensing and extending the time between cleanings by preventing medicament dust from entering the blister machine, thus reducing downtime.
Implementation Method 1
the friction between the lateral surfaces of the projections and the wall increases, so that an increased force has to be applied for rotation of the separating device
Implementation Method 2
allowing medicament dust to fall through a gap
Data Source
Figure 1a~2b
Figure 3a~4b
Figure 5a~5f
AI summary
The present invention relates to a storage container for a storage and dispensing station for pharmaceuticals. In known storage and dispensing stations, the pharmaceutical dust formed during singulation causes increased friction between the singulation device and the wall of the storage and dispensing station.To avoid this, the storage and dispensing station comprises a housing (10) enclosing a receiving chamber (2) with a guide section (11), wherein an inner wall (3) of the guide section (11) defines a circular cylindrical guide chamber and a singulation device (40) arranged in the guide section (11) of the housing (10) with a central axis of rotation (DA), wherein the singulation device (40) has a main section (48) and a plurality of projections (42), each projection (42) having two end sections (45) and a middle section (46), and a drug channel (41) is formed between two end sections (45) of adjacent projections, wherein the middle sections (46) of the projections (42) are recessed and the end section (45) of each projection (42) abuts the wall (3) of the guide section (11).