Triple-Radius Tablet Cup Design for Impact Resistance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Tablets are prone to damage from impacts and abrasion during production, transportation, and usage, with the cup portion and edges being particularly susceptible to damage due to variations in handling and compression forces.

Innovation Solution

A tablet design featuring a cup portion with an outer surface composed of multiple curved surfaces of different radii of curvature, specifically a triple-radius configuration, which enhances resistance to impacts and abrasion by optimizing shape parameters such as radii ratios, cup depth, and inflection point locations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional cup portion with single curvature or combined flat and curved surfaces is used, then the tablet structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the tablet is highly susceptible to impact damage and abrasion at the cup portion and edges

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresistance to impact and abrasionVSAvoidcomplexity of cup portion geometry
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies spheroidality by configuring the cup portion outer surface with multiple curved surfaces having different radii of curvature (first, second, and third curved surfaces). This curvature design eliminates sharp edges and corners, distributing stress more evenly during impact and reducing susceptibility to damage while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through continuous curved geometry.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements local quality by varying the radius of curvature across different regions of the cup portion. The first curved surface has a larger radius than the second curved surface, creating locally optimized geometry where each region's curvature is tailored to its specific structural requirements, enhancing overall impact and abrasion resistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If tablets are subjected to strong impacts or different compression forces during production and transport, then production flexibility is improved, but tablet damage occurs due to insufficient structural resistance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to production variationsVSAvoidstructural integrity under impact
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing specific geometric parameters of the cup portion, including the radii of curvature (R1 for the first curved surface, R2 for the second curved surface) and their ratios. By carefully controlling these parameters within specific ranges, the tablet achieves enhanced structural integrity that adapts to varying production conditions and impact forces without compromising manufacturing flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3646856B1tablet
Publication Date: 2023.11.22 DAIICHI SANKYO CO LTD
  • EP3646856B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3646856B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3646856B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The tablet of the present invention is a tablet 1 having a cup portion 12 formed at least above or below a side portion 11, wherein the outer surface of the cup portion 12 includes first, second and third curved surfaces 12a, 12b and 12c having different curvatures R1, R2 and R3, the first curved surface 12a is at least continuous with the second curved surface 12b, the second curved surface 12b is continuous with the first curved surface 12a and the third curved surface 12c, and the third curved surface 12c is at least continuous with the second curved surface 12b.