Spring-Biased Tablet Dispensing System for Hygienic Dosing
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for a tablet dispensing system that can dispense disinfectant tablets of varying sizes without being touched by human hands, while also being mountable on a wall or utility cart and lockable to prevent unauthorized use or theft, and capable of dispensing directly into a bottle or container.
Innovation Solution
A tablet dispensing system comprising a sleeve with a transversely extending barrier and a slide biased by a spring, allowing for the controlled dispensing of tablets of different sizes, which can be mounted on a vertical surface and locked in place to prevent unauthorized access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a tablet dispensing system is designed to accommodate tablets of different sizes, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the need for adjustable components or adapters
Solution Approach 1:
The dispensing system is divided into modular components including a removable sleeve, adjustable slide mechanisms, and separable barrier elements. This segmentation allows individual components to be adjusted or replaced for different tablet sizes without redesigning the entire system, thus improving adaptability while managing complexity through modularity.
Solution Approach 2:
The slide mechanism is designed with universal features that can accommodate multiple tablet sizes through a single adjustable component rather than requiring size-specific parts. The barriers and passages are configured to work with various tablet dimensions, reducing the number of different components needed while maintaining versatility.
2Reliability
If the dispensing system is designed to dispense one tablet at a time without human contact, then the reliability of disease prevention is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to automated mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The dispensing system is designed to automatically dispense tablets without requiring manual handling. The mechanism self-actuates through simple user input (such as pressing a button or turning a crank) that triggers the automated dispensing sequence, maintaining ease of operation while ensuring no human contact with the tablets themselves.
Solution Approach 2:
An automated mechanical intermediary mechanism is introduced between the user and the tablet. This intermediary handles the tablet dispensing process automatically, eliminating direct human contact while requiring minimal user effort to operate, thus balancing reliability and ease of operation.
3Reliability
If the dispensing system includes locking mechanisms to prevent unauthorized use and theft, then the security is improved, but the ease of operation worsens due to additional locking steps
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is merged with the dispensing mechanism itself, so that the same component used for dispensing tablets also serves as the lock. When the dispensing cycle is complete, the mechanism automatically returns to a locked position, providing security without requiring separate locking steps or complex additional mechanisms.
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 system effectively dispenses one tablet at a time into a container without human contact, accommodating various tablet sizes with minimal component changes and ensuring secure storage and use by preventing tampering and theft.
Implementation Method 1
a spring. The slide is disposed with the first level between the first barrier and the second end and transversely biased by the spring so that the first and second longitudinal axes are aligned, wherein the spring is disposed between the peripheral skirt and the slide.
Data Source
AI summary
A tablet dispensing system comprises a sleeve having a first opening at a first end and a second opening at a second end, a base attached to the second end, the base including a first barrier disposed transversely to and a predetermined distance from the second opening, and a slide having second and third barriers separated by a riser, wherein the second and third barriers include aligned passages disposed therethrough. The slide is disposed on the base so that the first barrier is positioned between the second and third barriers and the slide is biased by a spring toward a first side of the sleeve so that the first barrier blocks at least one of the aligned passages, where the spring is disposed between the base and the slide.