Robotic Pharmaceutical Packaging Minimizing Dosing Bouncing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current automated pharmaceutical packaging machines are inefficient in filling multiple types of pharmaceuticals into individual cavities, often resulting in erroneous dosing due to the long distance pharmaceuticals travel, causing them to bounce out of intended cavities.
Innovation Solution
An automated solid pharmaceutical packaging machine equipped with a moveable robotic arm and a drive mechanism that positions pharmaceutical canisters close to the packaging cavities, using gravitational forces to dispense pharmaceuticals directly into the cavities with reduced travel distance, minimizing bouncing and ensuring accurate dosing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If gravitational forces are used to carry pharmaceuticals through a large array of canisters, then the pharmaceuticals can be dispensed automatically, but the pharmaceuticals travel too fast and bounce out of the intended cavities
Solution Approach 1:
A robotic arm acts as an intermediary between the canister array and the cavities, selectively retrieving and positioning individual canisters close to the target cavities. This mediator controls the dispensing process to prevent pharmaceuticals from traveling too fast and bouncing out of cavities
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic arm pre-positions the selected canister close to the cavity before dispensing begins. This preliminary positioning action reduces the travel distance and ensures that pharmaceuticals are deposited accurately without excessive speed or bouncing
2Adaptability or versatility
If a large array of canisters is used to store multiple types of pharmaceuticals, then all patient medication needs can be met, but the feed mechanism and dispensing system become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a dynamic robotic arm that can adaptively select and position different canisters based on the specific pharmaceuticals needed for each cavity. This dynamic approach replaces a static, complex feed mechanism with a flexible, programmable system
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic arm serves multiple functions: it retrieves canisters from storage, positions them close to cavities, and facilitates dispensing. This multi-functional component reduces overall system complexity compared to dedicated mechanisms for each function
3Use of energy by moving object
If canisters are positioned far from cavities to use gravitational forces, then pharmaceuticals can be dispensed without additional energy input, but the travel distance causes bouncing and erroneous dosing
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic arm pre-positions the canister in close proximity to the cavity before dispensing. This preliminary action reduces the travel distance, allowing gravitational energy to be used effectively without causing excessive speed or bouncing that would result in erroneous dosing
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 machine effectively addresses the issue of erroneous dosing by ensuring pharmaceuticals are accurately placed in cavities, improving the efficiency and accuracy of packaging multiple types of medications in a single patient's package.
Implementation Method 1
The system relies on gravitational forces to carry the pharmaceuticals through the feed mechanism
Data Source
AI summary
A machine for packaging solid pharmaceuticals includes a plurality of storage locations for storing a variety of pharmaceutical dispensing canisters and a robotic arm for retrieving said dispensing canisters and providing the canister at a location proximate the package to be filled thus minimizing the distance which the pharmaceutical travels from the dispensing canister and the package cavity.