Drug Dispenser Sheet Driver With Torsion Spring Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drug dispensers with fixed-diameter wheels experience issues with uniform peeling action due to increasing winding diameter, leading to insufficient or excessive force, and may suffer from sheet damage causing loss of pulling force, which impairs drug delivery and lacks clear indication of failure to the user.
Innovation Solution
A spool with a torsion spring mechanism that compensates for the increasing winding diameter and includes a fault indicator pin that pops out when loss of pulling force is detected, preventing further use of the dispenser.
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 non-uniform pull action and inconsistent indexing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the wheel diameter variable instead of fixed. The wheel expands radially as sheet is wound onto it, maintaining a relatively constant effective winding diameter. This dynamic adjustment ensures uniform pull action and consistent indexing throughout the sheet winding process, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and indexing precision.
2Manufacturing precision
If the wheel diameter increases to compensate for winding sheet, then uniform pull action is maintained, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the wheel expansion mechanism with the sheet winding function into a single integrated system. The wheel's radial expansion is directly coupled to the sheet winding process, where the act of winding the sheet itself drives the expansion. This merging eliminates the need for separate complex mechanisms to adjust wheel diameter, maintaining indexing uniformity while controlling overall device complexity.
3Reliability
If no fault indication mechanism is provided, then the device is simpler, but sheet damage or failure goes undetected, impairing drug delivery
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by providing a visual indication mechanism that immediately signals when sheet damage or failure occurs. The indicator provides real-time feedback to the user about the operational status of the sheet, allowing detection of faults that would otherwise go unnoticed. This ensures reliable drug delivery by alerting users to stop using the device when sheet integrity is compromised.
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
Ensures uniform indexing and peeling action while providing a clear visual indication of sheet damage or failure, preventing incorrect drug delivery and ensuring user safety by locking the dispenser when issues are detected.
Implementation Method 1
a (e.g. lid) sheet driver having the form of a hub incorporating compensating means in the form of a central shaft-mounted torsion spring to compensation for the increase in effective winding diameter
Implementation Method 2
also within the shaft cavity, a spring for biasing said indicator pin out of the shaft cavity
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~8
Figure 2b
AI summary
There is provided a sheet driver for use in a drug dispenser including a drug carrier (100) having a plurality of pockets (102, 103, 104) for containing drug the sheet driver comprising a base (220); ascending from the base, a shaft (230) defining a rotational axis; on the base, a drive surface (225) for receipt of drive to rotate the base about the rotational axis,- about the shaft, a torsion spring (240) mounting about the shaft and the torsion spring for rotation about the rotational axis, a hub (250) defining a hub surface for receipt of a sheet of the drug carrier. The shaft (230) further defines a shaft cavity (232) co-axial with the rotational axis and the hub (250) further defines a hub aperture (254), the sheet driver further comprising within said shaft cavity (232), an indicator pin (210) having a side member (212) and an indicator pin head that may project through said hub aperture (254).