Pharmaceutical Bottle Filling With A Movable Separating Wall
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for filling bottles with a predetermined number of pharmaceutical articles face challenges in maintaining high productivity, especially when the number of articles is low, and require significant space and optimization for multiple apparatuses.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus using two accumulation chambers with a movable separating wall to imbalance the distribution of pharmaceutical articles, allowing simultaneous filling of bottles with a predetermined number by alternating the number of descent channels for each chamber, thereby optimizing the filling process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple apparatuses are used to fill bottles simultaneously, then productivity increases, but space requirements and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The accumulation chamber is divided into two separate accumulation chambers (first and second), each capable of independently accumulating pharmaceutical articles. This segmentation allows simultaneous filling operations while maintaining a compact footprint, as both chambers share the same vertical space rather than requiring horizontal expansion.
Solution Approach 2:
Two filling operations are merged into a single apparatus by providing two accumulation chambers within one device. The apparatus combines multiple functions (accumulation and filling) in a single integrated system, achieving high productivity without proportionally increasing space occupation.
2Productivity
If the vibrating conveyor speed is increased to improve productivity, then filling speed increases, but manufacturing precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The pharmaceutical articles are segmented into different accumulation chambers based on their destination bottle. The separating wall directs articles to appropriate chambers, ensuring precise distribution even at high conveyor speeds. Each chamber independently manages its article flow, maintaining precision without sacrificing productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The separating wall acts as an intermediary element between the descent channels and accumulation chambers. It mediates the distribution of pharmaceutical articles, guiding them to the correct chamber based on the filling requirements, thereby maintaining manufacturing precision while enabling high-speed operation.
3Manufacturing precision
If descent channels are closed to maintain article count precision, then manufacturing precision improves, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The separating wall is made movable between different positions, allowing dynamic adjustment of the system configuration. In the first position, it enables independent chamber operation for precision counting. In the second position, it allows both chambers to receive articles simultaneously, improving productivity. This dynamic adaptability resolves the contradiction between precision and speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes its operational parameters by repositioning the separating wall. When precision is prioritized, chambers operate independently with controlled descent channel closure. When productivity is prioritized, the separating wall repositions to allow simultaneous article flow to both chambers, adjusting the system's behavior based on operational needs.
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
This approach significantly increases productivity by enabling faster filling cycles and reduces space requirements, allowing for efficient filling of bottles with a predetermined number of articles.
Implementation Method 1
the first accumulation chamber (21) and the second accumulation chamber (22) can respectively receive pharmaceutical articles from a different number of descent channels (1) with respect to one another
Implementation Method 2
a vibrating conveyor is used, which is provided with a series of transport channels having a 'V' shape, into which the pharmaceutical articles exiting from the storage hopper are deposited. The vibrating conveyor, with its vibrating motion, advances the pharmaceutical articles, deposited into the various transport channels, distancing them one from the others.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for filling bottles with a predetermined number of pharmaceutical articles comprises positioning a separating wall with respect to descent channels so that a first accumulation chamber and a second accumulation chamber can respectively receive pharmaceutical articles from a different number of descent channels. The two accumulation chambers will accumulate pharmaceutical articles at differing rates. When one accumulation chamber has accumulated the predetermined number of pharmaceutical articles, the method comprises: unloading the pharmaceutical articles into the first bottle, positioning a second bottle paused beneath the unloading conduit, and then, as soon as the predetermined number of pharmaceutical articles has been accumulated in the other accumulation chamber, unloading the pharmaceutical articles of the other accumulation chamber into the second bottle.