Stepped Singulation Feeder for Fast, Reliable Medicament Dispensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing feeder units for dispensing discrete medicaments face issues such as low dispensing speed due to slow rotation to prevent medicaments from skipping, and incomplete filling leading to premature expiry of medicaments.

Innovation Solution

A method and feeder unit design that involves a singulating body making stepped movements to align singulation chambers with a release opening, allowing medicaments to fall through after a predetermined waiting period, and using encoders for precise alignment and control, enabling faster and reliable dispensing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the singulating body is rotated slowly to prevent medicaments from skipping, then the reliability of medicament dispensing is improved, but the dispensing speed decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability of medicament dispensingVSAvoiddispensing speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary alignment of the singulating body with the release opening using encoders before the actual dispensing action. This preliminary positioning ensures that when dispensing occurs, the medicament is correctly positioned, allowing for faster overall operation without sacrificing reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Encoders provide real-time feedback on the position of the singulating body, allowing the control system to monitor and adjust the rotation precisely. This feedback mechanism enables the system to achieve reliable medicament release at optimized speeds by continuously monitoring position and making necessary adjustments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If the singulating body is rotated quickly to increase dispensing speed, then the productivity is improved, but the medicaments tend to skip over the singulation chambers reducing reliability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedispensing speedVSAvoidreliability of medicament dispensing

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces purely mechanical rotation control with an encoder-based positioning system. This substitution allows for precise electronic control of the singulating body's position, enabling faster rotation speeds while maintaining accurate alignment with the release opening, thus preventing medicament skipping.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The encoders perform preliminary positioning of the singulating body before dispensing occurs. This advance positioning ensures that even at higher rotation speeds, the medicament is correctly aligned with the release opening, preventing skipping while enabling faster operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Quantity of substance

If the feeder unit is filled completely with medicaments, then the quantity of medicaments available for dispensing is increased, but the risk of premature expiry is increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvequantity of medicamentsVSAvoidexpiry date compliance

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the fill level of the feeder unit based on the expiry date of the medicament. Rather than using a fixed fill level, the system adapts the quantity of medicaments loaded to ensure they are dispensed before expiry, optimizing both quantity and compliance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter of fill level based on the expiry date parameter of the medicament. By adjusting this parameter dynamically, the system ensures that the quantity of medicaments stored is optimized to prevent expiry while still meeting dispensing requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 method and design enable faster and more reliable dispensing of medicaments while maintaining reliability, reducing the risk of premature expiry by optimizing fill levels and ensuring precise alignment and control.

Implementation Method 1

the lower most medicament falls through said release opening into one of a plurality of waiting chambers

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS12497240B2Method, feeder unit and dispensing system for dispensing discrete medicaments

Publication Date: 2025.12.16 VMI HOLLAND BV

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for step dispensing discrete medicaments from a feeder unit, wherein the feeder unit comprises a container holding said medicaments, and a dispensing mechanism, wherein the dispensing mechanism comprises a singulating body with a plurality of singulation chambers; and a first release member arranged below the singulating body and provided with a release opening, wherein the first release member and the singulating body are movable with respect to each other, the method comprising the steps of: moving the singulating body and the first release member relative to each other; when the singulating body is in the aligned position, stopping relative movement between the singulating body and the first release member; maintaining the singulating body stationary for a predetermined waiting period to allow any medicaments accommodated in the aligned singulation chamber to fall through the release opening.