Shaping Tool Rotatable Base Axial Roller Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing shaping tools with rotatable base members and profiled bending rollers on circular tracks are unreliable and prone to breakdown due to radial pivoting movements, leading to inconsistent shaping of inhaler cartridges.

Innovation Solution

The shaping tool employs a spring-loaded lever to move the bending roller from a maximum to a minimum working aperture, ensuring precise shaping and positioning of the inhaler cartridge, with a conical pressing member and axial depressor to secure the workpiece and adjust the bending roller's position, and a cylindrical bolt to fix the minimum aperture, enhancing reliability and accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If radial pivoting movement is used to move bending rollers, then the shaping tool can change working aperture, but reliability deteriorates due to susceptibility to breakdown

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveworking aperture adjustmentVSAvoidoperational reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of moving the bending roller radially inward to reduce working aperture, the invention moves the bending roller axially away from the workpiece. This inversion of the movement direction eliminates the radial pivoting action that causes reliability problems while still achieving aperture adjustment. The bending roller moves parallel to the workpiece axis rather than pivoting radially, fundamentally changing the mechanism to improve reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces the radial pivoting mechanical system with an axial translation system. Instead of using a mechanism that rotates or pivots the bending roller radially, the system uses axial movement combined with cam-controlled radial positioning. This substitution of the mechanical approach eliminates the problematic pivoting motion while maintaining the ability to adjust working aperture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If radial pivoting movement is used to move bending rollers, then working aperture can be adjusted, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to inconsistent shaping

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveworking aperture adjustmentVSAvoidshaping accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention inverts the approach by moving the bending roller axially rather than radially to adjust working aperture. This axial movement approach, combined with cam-controlled positioning, provides more consistent and predictable roller placement, thereby improving shaping accuracy while maintaining aperture adjustability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The cam mechanism performs preliminary positioning of the bending roller before the actual shaping contact occurs. By pre-positioning the roller at the correct radial distance through cam profile control, the system ensures consistent aperture adjustment and shaping precision, eliminating the variability caused by radial pivoting during the shaping operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the workpiece is fixed in place during rotation, then foaming of active substance formulation is prevented, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefoaming preventionVSAvoidfixing mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The workpiece fixation is achieved through the natural interaction between the bending roller and the workpiece during the shaping process. The bending roller, positioned by the cam mechanism, naturally contacts and secures the workpiece in place without requiring additional complex fixing devices. The shaping operation itself serves to hold the workpiece stationary, eliminating the need for separate fixation mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 solution provides a reliable and accurate shaping process, preventing foaming of pharmaceutical formulations and ensuring a gastight seal by maintaining precise control over the bending roller's movement and aperture, resulting in consistent product dimensions and surface quality.

Implementation Method 1

The resetting of the bending roller from the minimum working aperture for the tool to the maximum working aperture for the tool is carried out by means of a radially acting compression spring

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpring: Spring

Implementation Method 2

the bending roller arranged on a radially movable slide is movable from a position that defines a maximum working aperture for the tool, by means of a spring-loaded lever with an axial configuration, into a position that defines a minimum working aperture for the tool

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLever: Lever

Data Source

PatentUS8495901B2Shaping tool having a rotatable base member

Publication Date: 2013.07.30 BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM INT GMBH

AI summary

A shaping tool as depicted in exemplary FIG. 3 comprising a rotatable base member having at least one profiled bending roller (13) which is mounted on a circular track and is rotatable about a rotation axis. The bending roller (13) arranged on a radially movable slide (11) is movable from a position defining a maximum working aperture for the tool, by means of a spring-loaded lever (9) which has an axial configuration, into a position defining a minimum working aperture for the tool.