Oscillating Pill Handling Mechanism for Tube Filling Integrity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing machines for filling tubes with disc-shaped articles, such as pills, face challenges in handling fragile articles that tend to crumble easily, requiring improvements in reliability, functionality, and productivity while maintaining low costs.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with hinged functional elements that oscillate and rotate to grip and transfer pills from a supply unit to a filling station, using mobile gripping organs to insert pills into tubes without compromising their integrity, ensuring stable and efficient handling of fragile items.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional filling machines are used, then productivity can be maintained, but fragile pills crumble during handling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic oscillating functional elements that move between loading and disengagement regions, allowing gentle handling of fragile pills through controlled motion rather than rigid fixed-position mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary functional elements that act as mediators between the supply unit and filling station, carefully transferring pills through oscillating motion to prevent direct contact and potential damage
2Reliability
If complex handling mechanisms are used to protect fragile pills, then reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the handling function into separate functional elements with distinct loading and disengagement regions, allowing each element to perform its specific function simply without requiring complex integrated mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses periodic oscillating motion of functional elements between loading and disengagement regions, achieving reliable pill handling through simple repeated motion rather than complex continuous control systems
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 apparatus achieves reliable, high-productivity tube filling with reduced costs, effectively handling fragile pills by maintaining their integrity throughout the process, enhancing both functionality and cost-effectiveness in the sector.
Implementation Method 1
two functional elements which can be made to oscillate in phase relation with the release of the pills from the supply unit
Implementation Method 2
the functional elements are rotated by a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal hinge axis
Implementation Method 3
gripping organs, which are mobile according to a predetermined operating direction, which remove the pill borne by the functional elements
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for filling tubes with piles of disc-shaped articles, such as pills, comprising: two functional elements (5h, 5j), hinged at a horizontal axis (K) and mobile between a loading region (C), in which the functional elements (5h, 5j) provide at least a corresponding seating (6) for receiving and retaining a relative pill (3) released by a plurality of supply units (1), and a disengagement region (D) of the pill (3), at which the functional elements (5h, 5j) are rotated by ninety degrees and cooperate with gripping organs (11); the gripping organs (11) being mobile in a vertical direction in order to gather the pill (3) borne by the functional elements (5h, 5j) into the relative disengagement region (D), and to release the pill (3) internally of a corresponding tube (10) in phase relation with the movement of the functional elements (5h, 5j).