Magnetic Cursor Actuation for Sterilizable Medicinal Liquid Injection Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing apparatus for injecting a dosed quantity of medicinal liquid into bottles requires periodic disassembly and autoclave sanitization, which is time-consuming, costly, and requires specialized personnel, due to stagnant liquid deposits in interstices.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus uses magnetic interaction between a magnet on the cursor and an external magnet to move the cursor, eliminating stagnant liquid deposits and allowing for effective CIP-SIP sterilization without disassembly, reducing time and cost, and eliminating the need for specialized personnel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a mechanical drawing rod and slot system is used to move the cursor, then the cursor can be actuated between occluding and enabled positions, but interstices form where medicinal liquid can stagnate requiring complex disassembly for sanitization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical drawing rod and slot system with a magnetic actuation system. A magnet mounted on the cursor interacts with an external magnet to move the cursor between positions, eliminating the mechanical components that created interstices and simplifying the sanitization process to a single-unit autoclave treatment.
2Reliability
If the apparatus is disassembled for autoclave sanitization, then adequate sterilization is achieved, but time and personnel costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the problematic mechanical components (drawing rod, slot, gasket assembly) that created sanitation challenges. By removing these elements, the entire apparatus becomes a sanitizable unit that can withstand autoclave treatment without disassembly, achieving both effective sterilization and operational efficiency.
3Reliability
If specialized personnel are used for disassembly and reassembly, then proper sanitization is ensured, but operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the apparatus to be self-sanitizable as a complete unit. The simplified construction without complex mechanical assemblies allows standard autoclave operation without requiring specialized personnel for disassembly and reassembly, reducing operational costs while maintaining sanitization quality.
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
Enables efficient sanitization and increased productivity by allowing CIP-SIP sterilization without disassembly, reducing operational costs and personnel requirements.
Implementation Method 1
The movement of the first cursor is done by means of magnetic interaction between the first magnet, borne by the first cursor, and the second magnet, located externally of the conduit
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for injecting a dose of medication into a bottle includes a tank, an outlet or mouth, a doser, and a conduit connecting the tank, the outlet mouth and the doser to each other. The conduit includes a portion disposed between the doser and the outlet mouth. The apparatus additionally includes a valve and a cursor movable internally of the portion of the conduit between an occluding position and an enabling position. A first magnet is borne by the cursor, while a second magnet arranged externally of the conduit is movable beside the conduit and interacts magnetically with the first magnet so that the second magnet is able to draw the cursor between the occluding position and the enabling position.