Medication Container Inspection for Small-Batch Defect Visibility

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing container inspection devices are unsuitable for small users like pharmacies and hospitals due to high space requirements and financial investments, and they lack scalability in throughput and batch size adaptation.

Innovation Solution

A compact medication container inspection device with an inspection station and manipulator for single container defects, featuring a transport system and multiple inspecting steps, allowing for efficient inspection of small batches with minimal space and cost.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If existing container inspection devices are used to achieve high throughput, then inspection speed is improved, but device size and space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovethroughputVSAvoidspace requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The inspection device is divided into separate functional modules: an inspection station for quality inspection, a manipulator for container handling and agitation, and a transport system for automated conveyance. This segmentation allows each module to be optimized independently and enables compact arrangement, reducing overall device footprint while maintaining high throughput capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The device utilizes vertical space and three-dimensional arrangement of components to achieve compact footprint. The manipulator and transport system are positioned to work in multiple dimensions around the inspection station, allowing high throughput without proportionally increasing planar area

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If existing container inspection devices are used for high throughput inspection, then inspection speed is improved, but financial investment requirement increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovethroughputVSAvoidfinancial investment

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The inspection station is designed with universal inspection apparatus that can detect multiple types of container defects (contamination, closure integrity, cosmetic defects) using the same basic infrastructure. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for multiple specialized devices, reducing total financial investment while maintaining high throughput capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The manipulator system automatically performs container agitation and positioning without requiring manual intervention or complex external equipment. The transport system automatically conveys containers between inspection stations, reducing the need for additional manual handling equipment and lowering overall system cost

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If existing container inspection devices are used, then high throughput capability is achieved, but adaptability to different container types decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovethroughputVSAvoidcontainer type adaptability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The manipulator is equipped with adjustable and reconfigurable components that can adapt to different container geometries and sizes. The system can dynamically adjust agitation parameters, transport speeds, and positioning mechanisms to accommodate various container types while maintaining high throughput inspection capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The inspection apparatus and transport system can be reconfigured by changing operational parameters such as inspection speed, agitation intensity, and conveyance rate to match different container types. This parameter-based adaptability allows the same high-throughput device to efficiently inspect various container configurations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Ease of manufacture

If manual inspection is used for small batches, then cost is reduced, but throughput and inspection quality decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecostVSAvoidthroughput

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The device provides automated inspection that replicates and enhances manual inspection capabilities through multiple inspection stations and sophisticated detection apparatus. This automated copying of inspection functions maintains the quality control thoroughness of manual inspection while achieving significantly higher throughput and reducing operational costs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS20260079116A1Medication container inspection device

Publication Date: 2026.03.19 LUO AUTOMATION BV

AI summary

The invention relates to a medication container inspection device (1) for inspecting one or more medication containers (2), comprising:—an inspection station (4) with an inspection system (5) comprising an inspection apparatus (6), conured for inspecting a single medication container for container defects, and a manipulator to entangle or agitate the single medication container to increase the visibility of container defects while being inspected by the inspection apparatus,—a transport system (10) for automatically transporting one or more medication containers to the inspection station (4), wherein the one or more medication containers (2) can be fed to the transport system (10) with an infeed (9), wherein the inspection system (5) is configured to perform multiple inspecting steps in the inspection station (4).