Ultrasonic Singling Device for Blister Packs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatic singling devices for blister packs are complex, prone to wear, and not economical for efficient separation of medicines in hospital settings, where precise and separate dosing is required.
Innovation Solution
A device with a gripper and ultrasonic cutting head using a blade with no cutting edge, driven by a linear axis motor, making successive rectilinear cuts in blister packs, accompanied by a counterpart and pressure member for precise cutting and waste management, integrated with a robotic system for efficient operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional ultrasonic blade with cutting edge is used, then cutting precision is maintained, but the blade is subject to wear and requires frequent replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the disposable principle by using a blade with no cutting edge that is intentionally designed to be replaced after a single use or limited number of cuts. The blade is made of inexpensive material and is discarded after wear, eliminating the need for maintenance, sharpening, or complex replacement mechanisms. This resolves the contradiction by accepting the blade's short life as a design feature rather than a defect, thereby improving reliability through consistent performance throughout its life cycle while keeping manufacturing and maintenance costs low.
2Manufacturing precision
If a complex movement system is used to position the blister pack, then cutting precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies inversion by reversing the traditional approach: instead of moving the blade to follow a complex cutting path, the blister pack is moved in straight lines along a simple linear path while the blade remains stationary or moves minimally. This inverts the complexity from the cutting head movement to the workpiece movement, thereby maintaining cutting precision through controlled linear motion while significantly reducing the complexity of the movement system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the cutting process into successive rectilinear segments rather than requiring continuous complex curved motion. The cutting path is broken down into multiple straight-line segments that can be executed by simple linear movement mechanisms, reducing system complexity while maintaining overall cutting precision through sequential execution of these segmented cuts.
3Device complexity
If a simple blade design is used, then device complexity is reduced, but cutting precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies mechanics substitution by replacing the traditional mechanical cutting edge with an ultrasonic vibration-based cutting mechanism. The blade has no cutting edge in the conventional sense but instead uses high-frequency ultrasonic vibrations to cut through the blister pack material. This substitution simplifies the blade design by eliminating the need for sharp edges while maintaining cutting precision through the ultrasonic vibration mechanism that erodes or fractures the material along the desired cut path.
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 simpler, more reliable, and cost-effective method for singling blister packs, ensuring accurate and safe separation of medicine doses while minimizing wear and maintaining cutting precision, with efficient waste management.
Implementation Method 1
a cutting head terminating in a blade connected to a sonotrode, wherein the blade, in use, makes cuts in the blister pack in the form of successive rectilinear segments
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3c
AI summary
A device for singling products grouped in blister packs, comprising a gripper (50) for clamping the blister pack, moved by a suitable movement system, a cutting head (12) terminating in a blade (15), connected to a sonotrode (16), and a counterpart (20, 20', 20") for the cutting head (12), in which the blade (15), in use, makes cuts in the form of successive rectilinear segments.