Pharmaceutical Storage Container Height-Adjustable Guide Recess
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing storage and dispensing stations for pharmaceuticals require different housings for drug portions of varying dimensions, and they often allow drug dust to escape, which is a concern in clean environments.
Innovation Solution
A storage container with a height-adjustable retaining means within a guide section, where the retaining section is completely housed and aligned with the discharge opening, preventing radial or circular movement to ensure compatibility with various drug sizes and prevent dust escape, utilizing a dovetail connection or magnetic holding means.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a horizontal housing slot is used to guide the retaining section into the storage container, then the retaining section can be positioned to separate medication portions, but drug dust can escape to the outside environment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the horizontal housing slot entirely from the design. Instead of guiding the retaining section through an external slot, the retaining section is now guided and positioned completely within the closed housing, eliminating the opening that allowed drug dust to escape to the environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a vertical guide recess as an intermediary structure inside the housing. This guide recess provides the necessary guidance for the retaining section without requiring an external slot, thus maintaining the guidance function while preventing dust escape through the closed housing design.
2Reliability
If different housing designs are used for different drug portion dimensions, then proper retention and separation can be achieved, but device complexity and inventory requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the retaining section height-adjustable within a standardized housing design. The retaining section can be positioned at different heights to accommodate different medication portion dimensions, replacing the need for multiple fixed housing designs with a single adjustable mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal housing design that can handle different medication portion dimensions through the adjustable retaining section. This single multi-functional housing replaces the need for multiple specialized housings, reducing inventory requirements and simplifying the overall system.
3Quantity of substance
If the retaining section is positioned high above the discharge opening, then multiple medication portions can be stored in a channel, but control over which portion is dispensed becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a height-adjustable retaining section that can be dynamically positioned to control exactly which medication portion is dispensed. The retaining section can be lowered to block specific portions or raised to allow multiple portions, providing precise control over dispensing while maintaining the ability to store multiple portions.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1d
Figure 2a~3
AI summary
The invention relates to a storage container (1) for a storage and dispensing station for drugs. In the case of known storage containers, sections of a retaining element must be guided through a slot in the housing. Because the position of the slot depends on the type of the drug portions, it is not possible to use known storage containers with all drugs. According to the invention, this problem is solved by means of a storage container having a housing (10) surrounding a holding space (2), which housing has a guide section (11) and a bottom surface, the guide section (11) defining a guide space (3) and having a vertical guide recess (20), which does not penetrate the housing, and the bottom surface (14) having a dispensing opening (15). The storage container also comprises a separating device (30) having at least one channel (31) for holding at least one drug portion and comprises a retaining element (40) having a retaining section (41) and having a guide element (45), which is arranged in the guide recess (20), the vertical guide recess (20) and the guide element (45) interacting in such a way that the retaining element (40) is arranged for height adjustment in the guide recess (20) by means of the guide element (45) and rotational motion of the retaining means (40) is prevented.