Medicament Dispenser Sheet Driver Torsion Spring Indexing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The use of fixed-diameter wheels as sheet drivers in medicament dispensers leads to inconsistent peeling action due to increasing effective winding diameter, resulting in either insufficient or excessive force required for actuating the dispenser, which can fail to open pockets or stress mechanical components.
Innovation Solution
A sheet driver with a hub incorporating a central shaft-mounted torsion spring that compensates for the increase in effective winding diameter, ensuring uniform indexing and minimizing peeling force by tensioning as the sheet is wound, thereby maintaining consistent peeling action across all medicament carrier pockets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a fixed-diameter wheel is used as the sheet driver, then the structure is simple, but the effective winding diameter increases as sheet is wound, causing inconsistent peeling action and non-uniform indexing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the wheel diameter variable rather than fixed. The wheel comprises multiple segments that can be rotated relative to each other, allowing the effective winding radius to change dynamically as sheet is wound. This dynamic adjustment compensates for the increasing wrap angle, maintaining consistent linear displacement per actuation and achieving uniform indexing throughout the sheet winding process.
2Ease of operation
If a fixed-diameter wheel is used as the sheet driver, then the device is easy to operate, but insufficient or excessive pull action occurs, failing to open pockets uniformly or stressing mechanical components
Solution Approach 1:
The variable diameter wheel segments adjust the effective winding radius during operation, maintaining optimal pull action force throughout the sheet winding process. This ensures consistent pocket opening force is applied to each pocket, preventing both insufficient force (failure to open) and excessive force (mechanical stress), thereby improving reliability while maintaining ease of operation.
3Manufacturing precision
If compensating means are added to a fixed-diameter wheel to maintain uniform indexing, then the indexing precision improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the compensating function directly into the wheel structure itself by making the wheel segments rotatable relative to each other. This integration eliminates the need for separate compensating mechanisms, achieving uniform indexing while avoiding additional complexity. The wheel both drives the sheet and compensates for diameter changes through its segmented, rotatable design.
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 torsion spring ensures uniform indexing and consistent peeling action across all medicament carrier pockets, reducing the average compensating force and allowing for the use of less powerful tensioning means, thus enhancing the reliability and efficiency of the medicament dispenser.
Implementation Method 1
A sheet driver with a hub incorporating a central shaft-mounted torsion spring that compensates for the increase in effective winding diameter, ensuring uniform indexing and minimizing peeling force by tensioning as the sheet is wound
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet driver for use in a medicament dispenser with blister pockets includes: (a) a base, extending from the base, (b) a shaft defining a rotational axis; at the base, (c) a drive surface for receipt of drive to rotate the base about the rotational axis; about the shaft, (d) a torsion spring defining first and second spring legs; mounting about the shaft and the torsion spring for rotation about the rotational axis, and (e) a hub defining a hub surface for receipt of a sheet of the medicament carrier, the hub surface being adapted to provide an initial effective winding surface which provides uniform indexing of the medicament carrier.