Pneumatic Container Transport with Annular Ridges

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Solution Overview

Problem

Automated pharmaceutical prescription-filling systems face challenges in transporting cylindrical containers without causing damage, as existing systems rely on pucks and totes that can lead to jamming, tipping, and abrasion, and require manual handling, while also being labor-intensive and inefficient.

Innovation Solution

A pneumatic container transport system using low-pressure, high-velocity air to propel cylindrical containers through tubing with annular ridges to prevent scuffing and deceleration devices to cushion impacts, eliminating the need for pucks and totes by using air impellers and actuator-operated gates controlled by management software.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional conveyors and pushers are used to transport bottles, then bottles can be moved between stations, but bottles may become jammed, tipped over or damaged in transit

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebottle transport reliabilityVSAvoidbottle damage and jamming

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses pneumatic tubes and air pressure to propel bottles through the system. Air impellers create controlled airflow that gently pushes bottles along the transport path, eliminating mechanical contact that causes jamming and damage. The pneumatic system provides smooth, continuous motion without the need for physical conveyors or pushers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces traditional mechanical conveyor systems with a pneumatic field-based system. Instead of using mechanical belts, rollers, or pushers that physically contact and manipulate bottles, the system uses controlled air pressure and flow to transport bottles, substituting mechanical force with pneumatic force to eliminate contact-related damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If pucks and totes are used to contain and transport bottles, then bottles are protected from damage, but the system becomes labor-intensive and requires manual handling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebottle protectionVSAvoidmanual handling requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The pneumatic system enables bottles to transport themselves through the automated system without requiring external containment devices or manual handling. Bottles are propelled directly through pneumatic tubes from one station to another, eliminating the need for pucks, totes, or human intervention in the transport process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts and eliminates the intermediate containment devices (pucks and totes) from the system. By using direct pneumatic transport, bottles move freely through tubes without being contained in separate carriers, removing the need for these additional components and the manual operations associated with them.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Productivity

If high-speed propulsion is used to move empty bottles quickly, then transport efficiency increases, but filled containers may suffer damage from abrupt stops and jolts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransport speedVSAvoidpharmaceutical damage from impact

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates cushioning mechanisms at deceleration points where filled bottles are slowed down. Air cushions or compliant surfaces are positioned to gently receive bottles as they arrive, absorbing impact energy and preventing damage to the pharmaceutical contents while still allowing efficient transport of empty bottles at higher speeds.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The pneumatic system dynamically adjusts propulsion and deceleration forces based on bottle content status. Empty bottles receive higher propulsion force for quick transport, while filled bottles are subjected to gentler acceleration and deceleration profiles. The system modulates air pressure and flow rates in real-time to optimize both speed and protection based on current operational needs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS8973338B2Pneumatic container transport system

Publication Date: 2015.03.10 TENSION INT

AI summary

A pneumatic container transport system conveys specialized, cylindrical containers between stations within an automated container filling system. Low-pressure, high-velocity air moving through plastic tubing propels the containers through switching gates, air impellers and deceleration devices from one station to another. Annular ridges around the circumference of the containers minimize contact with the inside tube walls and deter scuffing of paper labels which carry machine readable indicia upon which the container filling system relies for directing the containers. The air impellers include at least one aperture for adjusting the air pressure and velocity. Actuator-operated gates in the tubing system respond to control signals from management software to direct each container to its next station. At selected stations, decelerators slow the containers upon arrival to cushion their impact upon arrival and to protect the contents from damage due to jarring.