Medicine Dispensing Hatch Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medicine dispensing devices have a short interval between compartment access, risking overdosing as users may take two doses within a brief period.
Innovation Solution
A medicine dispensing device with an adjustable and well-defined interval between compartment access, featuring a specially configured hatch that ensures access only when the cassette is rotated to a predetermined position, preventing premature access and allowing controlled dispensing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the cassette rotates quickly to bring adjacent compartments accessible, then productivity is improved, but the risk of overdosing increases due to short interval between doses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a latch mechanism as an intermediary between the cassette rotation system and the compartment access. The latch must be manually released after each compartment is accessed, creating a physical barrier that prevents rapid sequential access even though the cassette can rotate quickly. This mediator decouples the speed of rotation from the speed of access, allowing high productivity in positioning while maintaining safety through controlled access.
2Reliability
If the interval between compartment access is extended to prevent overdosing, then reliability is improved, but the time to deliver subsequent doses increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-positioning the cassette to the correct compartment before the user needs access. The controlled-release mechanism is set in advance to allow access only after the appropriate interval has elapsed since the previous dose. This preliminary positioning combined with timed release prevents overdosing while minimizing waiting time, as the system is already prepared when the user needs access.
3Ease of operation
If a simple rotation mechanism is used without controlled access, then ease of operation is improved, but the ability to control dosing intervals is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs self-service through an automatic controlled-release mechanism that manages dosing intervals without requiring user intervention or complex programming. The mechanism automatically locks and unlocks based on predetermined intervals, making the system as easy to operate as a simple rotation while incorporating sophisticated interval control. The user simply rotates the cassette and the system handles the timing and access control automatically.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a medicine dispensing device which comprises a shell-like base unit (1), a shell-like cassette (3) with a number of compartments (9) for storage of medicines which is rotatable relative to the base unit, means (20, 21, 22) for rotating the cassette (3) relative to the base unit (1) at predetermined times, a lid (15) firmly connected to the base unit (1), and an aperture (16) situated in the lid (15) in such a way as to be movable to become central to any desired compartment (9) of the cassette (3) when the cassette (3) is rotated relative to the base unit (1) and the lid (15). Distinguishing features of the medicine dispensing device according to the present invention are that a hatch (17) is provided close to the aperture (16) and can assume a position in which the aperture (16) is closed and a position in which the aperture (16) is exposed, that the hatch (17) is pivotable relative to a pivot axis (A-A), that the hatch (17) has a rear edge (29) which has an extent in the circumferential direction of the device, that the rear edge (29) is situated at a distance from the pivot axis of the hatch (17), and that in the closed state of the aperture (16) the rear edge (29) interacts with a radial first dividing wall ( 4 ) which is situated between neighbouring compartments (9).