Segmented Ejector Receptacle for Jam-Free Tablet Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tablet dispensers fail to reliably separate and eject tablets with cuboid or prismatic geometry and fruit gums due to issues like tilting or jamming during the dispensing process.
Innovation Solution
The ejector is designed to move against a spring from a blocking position to a receiving position, exposing an opening and forming a slide that alternately releases and blocks the path, ensuring safe separation and ejection with a receptacle spanned by at least three ejector walls and an inclined base, preventing misappropriation and jamming.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If tablets are dispensed through a simple gravity-fed chute, then the device structure is simple, but tablets with cuboid or prismatic geometry and fruit gums tilt or jam during ejection
Solution Approach 1:
The ejector is divided into multiple ejector walls (first, second, third ejector walls) that form a receptacle with the container wall. This segmentation creates a structured ejection path that guides tablets through defined spaces, preventing tilting and jamming while maintaining reliable ejection for various tablet geometries including cuboid, prismatic, and fruit gum shapes.
2Reliability
If the ejector remains in a blocking position to prevent tablet leakage, then tablet separation is safe, but the opening is blocked and tablets cannot be ejected
Solution Approach 1:
The ejector is designed as a movable component that dynamically transitions between a blocking position (where it prevents tablet leakage by blocking the opening) and a receiving position (where it is retracted to expose the opening for ejection). This dynamic positioning ensures both safe tablet separation and efficient ejection operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The ejector acts as an intermediary mechanism between the storage container and the dispensing opening. By moving between blocking and receiving positions, it mediates between the need to prevent leakage and the need to enable ejection, ensuring both safety and operational efficiency.
3Shape
If the receptacle is open-sided to allow observation, then transparency is improved, but structural integrity and reliable ejection may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The receptacle is formed by segmenting the ejector into multiple walls (first, second, third ejector walls) that can be selectively positioned. This segmentation allows certain walls to be made transparent for observation while maintaining the structural framework needed for reliable ejection, combining transparency with functional integrity.
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 design ensures reliable and clean ejection of tablets with cuboid or prismatic geometry and fruit gums, preventing jamming and allowing easy refilling while preventing misuse by ensuring only tablets are dispensed.
Implementation Method 1
which with the exception of the ejector base 13 is formed from an elastic material
Implementation Method 2
If the base of the receptacle is at least partially perforated and possibly beveled, misappropriation of the dispenser as a launching device for various objects, in particular by children, can be avoided. It is particularly advisable if the base of the receptacle is an inclined plane sloping down towards the opening
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a tablet dispenser (1) for the single delivery of tablets (2). The tablet dispenser (1) comprises inter alia a housing (3), a storage chamber (4) for the tablets (2) adjoined by a separating device (5) for the tablets (2), and an ejector (6) arranged downstream of the separating device (5). The ejector (6) is associated with a longitudinal face of the housing (3), mounted such as to slide along said longitudinal face in a delivery chute (8) in the housing (3), and displaceable against the force of a spring and in a manner limited by stops from a delivery position blocking an opening (10) in the housing between the separating device and delivery chute (8) into an uptake position retracted into the delivery chute and unblocking the opening (10). To provide advantageous delivery conditions for the tablets (2), the ejector (6) according to the invention has a recess (11) for one tablet (2), wherein the recess (11) is spanned by at least three ejector walls (12, 12') and an ejector base (13).