Piston-Actuated Tablet Dispenser with Sealed Joints
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current packaging methods for solid oral drugs, such as blister and container packaging, fail to meet hygienic standards, are prone to pilferage, and do not effectively protect against air and humidity, posing risks of contamination and material damage.
Innovation Solution
A device with a sealed container that uses a piston-like mechanism for dispensing tablets or capsules one at a time, featuring sealed joints and a hook-and-loop fastener for secure closure, ensuring air and humidity exclusion, and incorporating a spring for automatic resealing after use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If container packaging is used with multiple tablets, then cost is reduced and recycling is enabled, but multiple tablets may come out at the same time causing contamination and hygiene issues
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into individual compartments, each holding a single tablet. This segmentation ensures that only one tablet can be accessed at a time, preventing contamination while maintaining cost-effectiveness and recyclability of the container system.
Solution Approach 2:
The container is designed with a nested structure where individual tablet compartments are integrated within the larger container body. This nesting allows multiple tablets to be stored in a single recyclable container while maintaining hygiene through isolated access to each tablet.
2Reliability
If conventional blister packaging is used, then hygiene is maintained and pilferage is prevented, but cost is high and recycling is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The packaging material is changed from conventional multi-layer PVC/PVDC aluminium blisters to simple recyclable container material. This parameter change enables recycling while maintaining hygiene through the sealed container design with controlled access mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The container is designed as a simple, inexpensive, recyclable structure rather than expensive single-use blisters. The container can be reused and recycled, eliminating the need for expensive conventional blister packaging while maintaining protection through its sealed design.
3Ease of manufacture
If container packaging without guarantee seal is used, then cost is reduced, but the container can be manipulated for refilling and contamination
Solution Approach 1:
A guarantee seal is applied to the container before first use, preventing any manipulation, refilling, or contamination. The seal is designed to be broken on first opening, providing anti-counterfeiting and anti-contamination protection while maintaining low cost through simple seal design.
Solution Approach 2:
The guarantee seal is pre-applied to counteract any potential manipulation, refilling, or contamination attempts. This preliminary protective measure ensures the container cannot be opened or modified without breaking the seal, providing security at minimal cost.
4Ease of operation
If the container is opened for the first time, then tablets can be accessed, but chemical stability is compromised due to contact with air and humidity
Solution Approach 1:
The container is segmented into individual tablet compartments, allowing selective access to one tablet at a time. This segmentation minimizes the exposure of multiple tablets to air and humidity, maintaining chemical stability while enabling easy tablet access.
Solution Approach 2:
The guarantee seal acts as an intermediary barrier between the interior and exterior environments. When broken for first access, the seal allows controlled entry while the segmented container structure continues to protect individual tablets from moisture and air exposure.
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 device provides a hygienic, pilferage-proof, and environmentally friendly solution that maintains product integrity by ensuring one-at-a-time dispensing, preventing contamination and unauthorized filling, while being cost-efficient and easy to use, with enhanced sealing against air and humidity.
Implementation Method 1
a spring (22) connected to the container (5), which spring leans against the house (1), favourably against the bottom of the house (2a), and is pressed when the cap (4) is pressed down and the container (5) is moved, and returns the container (5) to its original position when the cap (4) is released from pressure
Implementation Method 2
the sealing ring extending upwards situated on the outside surface of the container (5) fits into this tray (37), and the head (36) is designed to restrict the upward movement of the container (5) caused by the elastic force
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 5~6
Figure 7~8
AI summary
The invention relates to a device for the packaging and dispensing of solid shaped bodies, especially oral tablets or/and capsules, which device has a container sealed with a cap suitable for storing shaped bodies, a dispensing opening, and tools forwarding the shaped bodies from the inside of the container to the dispensing opening. The container (5) is constructed in a house (1) in a way that it can be moved like a piston against elastic returning force. The dispensing opening (35) is situated in the bottom (2a) of the house (1) ; when the device is in a position when it is not used for dispensing, the end-part of the container (5) , with an opening (20) for releasing one shaped body at a time situated opposite the end of the container (5) sealed with a cap, fits into the dispensing opening (35) by sealing it, and it is constructed in a way that in the course of the dispensing operations it makes it possible to dispense favourably one shaped body at a time outside of the house (1) .