Vibrating Pill Grinder to Prevent Powder Adhesion and Clogging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pill grinders face issues with powder adherence to inner surfaces, leading to incomplete grinding and user difficulties in swallowing tablets or pills, particularly for children and individuals with swallowing conditions, and there is a need for a device that ensures efficient grinding and easy administration of medication.
Innovation Solution
A pill grinder equipped with a grinding mechanism driven by an electric motor and planetary gearbox, featuring first and second rotatable grinding plates, a powder reservoir, a sensor for detecting clogs, a juddering device to dislodge powder, and a reverse switch to alter motor direction, along with anti-static coating to prevent adhesion and a portable design for easy use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a grinding mechanism is used to ground pills into powder, then the medication can be easier to swallow and absorb, but ground pill powder adheres to inner surfaces of the grinding mechanism resulting in incomplete grinding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies ultrasonic vibration to the grinding plates during the grinding process. The vibration prevents ground pill powder from adhering to the inner surfaces of the grinding mechanism by creating oscillating motion that disrupts adhesion forces, ensuring complete grinding and minimal powder loss while maintaining ease of medication administration
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and properties of the grinding process by introducing vibrational energy and controlling grinding parameters. The ultrasonic vibration alters the interaction between powder and surface, changing from adhesive to non-adhesive conditions, thereby preventing powder loss while achieving complete grinding
2Productivity
If the grinding mechanism operates continuously, then grinding efficiency is improved, but powder clogs the mechanism requiring disassembly and cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic pulsed operation of the grinding mechanism with intermittent ultrasonic vibration cycles. This periodic action prevents continuous operation clogging by introducing regular vibration bursts that clear accumulating powder, maintaining high grinding efficiency while preventing mechanism blockage and reducing cleaning frequency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains continuous grinding action enhanced by periodic ultrasonic vibration to prevent clogging. The vibration ensures continuous flow of ground powder through the mechanism without interruption, maintaining productivity while preventing the harmful effect of clogging that would require stopping and cleaning
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
Ensures complete grinding of pills into powder, reducing remnants and enhancing user convenience by minimizing adhesion and providing a portable solution for easy administration.
Implementation Method 1
at least one juddering device which is operative to apply a vibrating force in order to dislodge ground pill powder from surfaces or recesses within the housing
Implementation Method 2
anti-static coating to prevent adhesion
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a pill grinder including a housing containing a grinding mechanism which is driven by a drive means.The grinding mechanism comprises first and second relatively rotatable grinding plates, between which a pill is ground. The pill grinder further includes a powder reservoir for receiving ground pill powder; and at least one juddering device which is operative to apply a vibrating force in order to dislodge ground pill powder from surfaces or recesses within the housing.