RU2299165C2 - Tablet dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: item-by-item issuing of tablets.

SUBSTANCE: proposed tablet dispenser has housing and inner part shifted into housing and arranged inside at limited travel. Inner part consists of tablet storage space and table issuing channel, and pull-back spring. Pull-back spring rests on housing base surface. Pull-back spring is made of original material of inner part made of polypropylene or of material differing from material of inner part. Pull-back spring can be secured on inner part by pressure casting. Inner part with its pull-back spring is made of material whose elasticity is lower than that of polyoxymethylene, for instance, of polypropylene. Pull-back spring is made in form of plate or rod. Owing to corresponding combination of material of spring, form of spring and place of its attachment on inner part, travel is reduced and, consequently, deflection of pull-back spring. Owing to such make of spring, load on spring is reduced.

EFFECT: preservation of initial flexibility of pull-back spring at long period of operation and prevention of destruction of tablets at issuing.

7 cl, 19 dwg

Description

The invention is directed to a dispensing device for dispensing tablets by the piece, including a housing and a housing that is retractable into the housing and placed there while restricting the stroke, consisting of a storage space for tablets and a channel for dispensing tablets, as well as a return spring that rests on the housing, for example, on the surface of the base of the housing.

In tablet dispensers of the simplest design, the opening and closing of the outlet is carried out using a valve or valve, which are actuated, for example, manually. Separation of tablets into separate portions is not provided. Further, dispensers are known with a mechanically actuated device disposed in the dispenser housing, by moving which, with limited travel, an outlet opening in the dispenser case is opened inside the dispenser case, and during each stroke one tablet is removed from the dispenser case. In European application EP-A-0345413, for example, a dispensing device for tablets is described in which, by pressing on the manipulation button, which is connected to the valve by means of the actuation rod located in the middle, a separate tablet is discharged through the opening located in the base.

In a utility model of Germany, DE-U-29601693, a tablet dispensing device is presented which consists of a housing made in the form of a prism with an open end surface and a side-shifted hole in the base surface. The inner part is pushed into the casing from above, consisting of a valve and a manipulation button connected by a connecting element, which together form a structural system in the sense of an inner casing, in the upper part of which there is a storage space for tablets. By pressing the upper part of the manipulation button with a finger, this inner part is moved, and the lower part moves through the hole in the base and releases the tablet. The shift of the inner part has a limited stroke due to the rod, which, when moving downward of the inner part, encounters the base of the housing, thereby blocking further movement down.

An important component of this tablet dispenser with a mechanical manipulation button is the return spring, which at the end of the dispensing process restores the original state. EP 0831035 B1 describes a tablet dispenser with a leaf spring located at the base of the inside. This return spring when dispensing tablets, i.e. when there is then a shift of the inner part inside the housing, it is shifted relative to the surface of the base of the housing and is tensioned. When unloading, the return spring at the end of the dispensing process presses back the inner part again to its original position. The return spring interior of this tablet dispenser is currently made from POM (polyoxymethylene according to DIN 7728 T1) and is relatively expensive. Corresponding attempts to replace the expensive POM with a more cost-effective PP (polypropylene according to DIN 7728 T1 and DIN 600001 T1) rested so far on the fact that with prolonged use the return spring loses its spring properties, and thereby the reliability of the functioning of the tablet dispenser is significantly reduced.

Based on this prior art, the object of the invention is to improve the tablet dispensing device known, for example, from EP 0831035 B1, so that during the manufacture of the inner part from PP and with prolonged use, the springback elasticity that is initially available is retained without creating additional disadvantages, as, for example, the particularly high cost of manufacturing or increasing the risk of destruction of the tablets.

The problem is solved using the distinguishing features of claim 1 of the claims due to the fact that the inner part is made of a less elastic material compared to the POM (polyoxymethylene) material, for example, PP (polypropylene), and due to the special combination of the shape of the spring, spring material and the spring attachment points on the inside prevent premature reduction of the spring force of the return spring. The return spring can be made from the original material of the inner part and directly fixed to the inner part (by extrusion), or it can be made from a material different from the material of the inner part.

In order to ensure stability against premature spring fatigue, in particular in the manufacture of the spring from the material of the inner part, according to one embodiment of the invention, the return spring is made in the form of a plate or a rod and is attached at one end to the inner side near the surface of the housing base. The free end rests on the surface of the base of the housing. Due to the location of the return spring on the side, the springing path or its deflection and thereby the spring load is significantly reduced in comparison with the known locations of the springs. In order to further increase the stability of the return spring, it can have at least one end two connected to each other, arranged at an angle to each other, so that two spring elements are active at this end.

According to another embodiment of the invention, both ends of a spring-shaped plate or rod can be preloaded in two opposite lateral places of the inner part so that their middle part bends downward and this middle part rests on the surface of the housing base. Thanks to this event, a further reduction in the stroke of the spring is possible with success.

In the manufacture of a return spring from a material different from the material of the inner part, and when the spring is not in the form of a plate or a rod, mounting on the lateral parts of the inner part is not advisable, since this would greatly limit the possible range of applied spring elements. According to the invention, such spring elements are located between the lower surface of the ledge in the inner part and the surface of the base of the housing, and in some cases it is possible to completely abandon the fastening.

Possible spring elements that can be used here to return the inside are, for example,

- coil springs made of POM (polyoxymethylene),

- steel springs,

- foam elements,

- elements from thermoplastic elastomer (TPE),

as well as other, not mentioned here elastic materials and spring forms can be selected if they can be used to return the inside and used inside the tablet dispenser.

Other details, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following explanation of exemplary embodiments schematically presented in the drawings.

Figure 1 - distributing device for tablets with a return spring according to the prior art in a partially cut side view.

Figa - the inside of the dispensing device for tablets according to Fig.1, front view.

Fig.1b is the inside of the dispensing device for tablets according to Fig.1, side view.

Fig.2-4 - fixed on the side wall of the inner housing return springs.

5 and 6 - return springs mounted on opposite side walls of the inner part.

7 and 8 - return spring with bent shoulders.

Fig.9 - return spring, consisting of several attached to each other made in the form of a circle of partial elements.

Figure 10 - welded return spring of another material.

11 - bent up made in the form of a parabola return spring of another material.

12-17 is a return spring of another material located between the surface of the base of the housing and the lower surface of the ledge of the inner part.

In the drawings described below, several variants of the most varied in geometry of the springs, spring materials and attachment possibilities are shown. For better clarity, accordingly, the same tablet dispensers are used as the base dispenser. We are talking about a dispensing device for tablets, known from the publication EP 0831035 B1. The tablet dispenser 1 according to the publication EP 0831035 B1 for dispensing tablets individually includes a prismatic housing 20 with an opening 21 located in the base surface 22 and an open cover surface 30. Through this open surface 30 of the lid, an inner part 10, which is movable with a limited stroke, is inserted, consisting of a tablet storage space 12 preferably made in the form of a prism and directed vertically, which can be passed through the hole 21 in the base surface of the housing 20 of the tablet delivery channel 13. When the inner part 10 is shifted down by pressing a finger on the end surface 11 of the inner part 10, the finger entering through the V-shaped recesses 23 in the side halves of the housing and pressing the inner part 10 down, the lower end of the tablet dispensing channel 13 passes through the hole 21 to the base, and the tablet is taken out. To return the inner part 10 after the issuing process, a return spring 14 located between the inner part 10 and the housing 20 is used.

In figure 1 this known from the publication EP 0831035 B1 made in the form of a plate or rod return spring 14 is attached at one end to the lower surface 17 of the ledge in the inner part 10, and the free end rests on the surface 22 of the base of the housing 20. Since the distance between the surface 17 ledge and the surface 22 of the base and, thus, the length of the return spring 14 is large, this can lead to the above disadvantages when using PP as the material of the spring.

1a and 1b, the interior 10 of the tablet dispenser 1 is presented in detail for better understanding. The geometry of the prismatic dispenser 1 for tablets can therefore be more clearly recognized and, in particular, it can be seen from FIG. 1b that the return spring 14 is connected integrally with the surface 17 of the ledge and, thus, is an integral part of the inner part 10.

2 and 3, the attachment point for the return springs 14a, 14b made of PP is located closer to the surface 22 of the base. In Fig. 2, a side recess 18 of the channel 13 for dispensing tablets is selected as the attachment point, so that the return spring 14a, with a slight inclination, rests on its base surface 22 with its free end. In Fig. 3, the attachment point is moved even further downward, so that the return spring 14b is parallel to the base surface 22, and the free end is supported by a jumper 14b 'on the base surface 22. A particular advantage with such a return spring 14b is its manufacture, since all the parts are in the final molding direction and thus no clamping tool is required here.

In figures 4, 5, 6 made in the form of plates or rods and made of PP return springs 14c, 14d in a prestressed state are located near the surface 22 of the base. On figa return spring 14C in the same way as the return spring 14a, is fixed at one end at the recess 18 of the channel 13 for dispensing tablets. Due to the pre-tensioning, however, it is preliminarily bent upward, so that the free end rests on the base surface 22 at a more obtuse angle. 5 and 6, both ends of the return spring 14d are pre-tensioned on the inner part 10 so that its middle part 14d 'is bent down and can rest on the base surface 22. The left end of the return spring 14d is fastened in FIG. 5 with a protrusion 19 located at the side wall 15 of the tablet dispensing channel 13, and in FIG. 6, on the protruding edge 18 'of the recess 18 of the tablet dispensing channel 13. The other end of the return spring 14d in both figures is mounted on the side wall 16 of the inner part 10.

As possible options in FIGS. 7 and 8, the return springs are reinforced due to their implementation with at least two shoulders. In Fig. 7, the upper end of the return spring 14e is fixed on the lower surface 17 of the ledge of the inner part 10. In the downward direction, the return spring 14e is split into two arms 14e ', which now assume the bearing function on the base surface 22. In Fig. 8, the return spring 14f splits along its entire length in the form of a rhombus, with the upper edge of the return spring 14f made in this way mounted on the lower surface 17 of the ledge of the inner part 10, and the lower edge rests on the surface 22 of the base.

Fig. 9 shows a return spring 14g, which consists of several circle-shaped partial elements and can also be preferably made of polypropylene - the material of the inner part. This spring with two shoulders 14g 'is fixed on the lower surface 17 of the ledge of the inner part 10, while its upper end, formed by a circle-shaped partial element, rests at one point on the surface 22 of the base. Due to its geometry, this return spring 14g is an alternative to the previously described leaf or rod return springs which provides a high resilience.

Figure 10-15 presents the return springs, which, in contrast to the previously described springs 14-14g, do not consist of the material of the inner part and are directly pripritsovanny to the inner part 10, and are made of another material, which, if necessary, must be fixed accordingly on the inner parts 10. In Fig. 10, a return spring 14h made in the form of a plate or a rod is used from a spring material having higher spring properties compared to the PP material POM, which in a similar manner to the known return Single spring 14, comes from the lower surface 17 of the ledge portion 10 to the inner surface 22 of the base. For fastening on the ledge surface 17, this return spring 14h extends from the tablet storage space 12 through a hole in the ledge surface 17, and the curved portion 14h ′ of the return spring 14h remaining above the ledge surface 17 is welded thereon. The return spring 14i of FIG. 11 is also made of a POM having higher spring properties. She is in a prestressed state is pushed into the intermediate space between the lower surface 17 of the ledge of the inner part 10 and the surface 22 of the base so that she at both ends rests on the surface 22 of the base, while its curved middle part has contact with the surface 17 of the ledge.

12-17, similarly to FIG. 11, the return springs 14i-14o, made of various materials, are pushed into the intermediate space between the lower surface 17 of the ledge of the inner part 10 and the surface 22 of the base. Due to their geometry, which differs from the plate and rod forms, with large contact surfaces, it was possible to refuse additional fastening here, at least on the ledge surface 17. In particular, with various return springs in Fig. 12, we are talking about a steel spring as a return spring 14j, in Fig. 13 - a cylindrical spring from POM as a return spring 14k, in Fig. 14 - about a foam element as a return spring 14l and FIG. 15 about a TPE element as a return spring 14m. 16 and 17, on which the rod-shaped return springs 14n, 14o are again used, additional fastening on the lower surface 17 of the ledge of the inner part 10 can also be omitted, since here the lower end 14n ', 14o' of the return springs 14n, 14o fixed accordingly in the lower corner of the housing. In addition, the lower end 14n ', 14o' is bent parallel to the side wall 24 of the housing 20 and pushed into the corner of the housing between the side wall 24 and the base surface 22 bent inwardly by the strut 25. The fastening of this retracted lower end 14n ', 14o' is carried out there, for example, by means of gluing or by means of a fixing connection with the correspondingly made stand 25 'of the surface 22 of the base.

The invention is not limited only to the options for the formation of return springs shown in the examples. In particular, with regard to the shape and size, as well as the material used, return springs have a wide possibility of selection in accordance with the size, formation and principle of operation of the dispensing device for tablets and the required return force.

List of designations:

1 - dispensing device for tablets,

10 - the inner part,

11 - end surface,

12 - storage space for tablets,

13 - channel dispensing tablets

14-14o - return springs,

14b '- return spring jumper 14b,

14d '- pre-curved middle part of the return spring 14d,

14e ', 14f' - the shoulders of the return springs 14e, 14f,

14g '- the shoulders of the return spring 14g,

14h 'is the upper curved portion from 14h,

14n 'is the lower end of 14n,

14o 'is the lower end of 14o,

15 - side wall of the channel 13,

16 - the side wall of the inner part 10 opposite the wall 15,

17 - the lower surface of the ledge on the inner part 10,

18 - recess in the wall 15,

18 '- the protruding edge of the recess 18,

19 - protrusion on the wall 15,

20 - case,

21 - hole in the base,

22 - surface of the base,

23 - V-shaped recess,

24 - side wall of the housing 20,

25, 25 '- the rack surface of the base,

30 - the surface of the cover.

Claims (7)

1. A dispensing device (1) for the single-issue dispensing of tablets, including a housing (20) and retracted into the housing (20) and placed there with a limited stroke, the inner part (10), consisting of a space (12) for storing tablets and a channel ( 13) dispensing tablets, as well as a return spring (14), which rests on the surface (22) of the base of the housing (20), and the return spring (14) is made of the original material of the inner part (10), for example, of PP (polypropylene) and at the same time, for example, it is fixed on the inside (10) by injection molding, or flax from a material different from the material of the inner part (10), characterized in that the inner part (10) with its return spring (14a-14g) is made of a less elastic material compared to the POM (polyoxymethylene) material, for example, PP ( polypropylene), and the return spring (14d) is made in the form of a plate or a rod, and due to the corresponding combination of the spring material, in particular the inner part (10) or a different material, the shape of the spring and its mounting location on the inner part (10) is reduced move and, accordingly Actually, the deflection of the return spring (14a-14g) and, thus, the load on the spring. 2. The dispensing device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the return spring (14a-14c) is fixed at one end on the side surface (16) of the inner part (10) near the surface (22) of the housing base (20) and the free end leans on the surface (22) of the base. 3. The dispensing device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the return spring (14d) is fixed at both opposite ends on two opposite side surfaces (15, 16) of the inner part (10) so that its middle part (14d) has a preliminary deflection in the downward direction and rests on the surface (22) of the base of the housing (20). 4. The dispensing device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the return spring (14e-14g) is located, leaning between the lower surface (17) of the ledge of the inner part (10) and the surface (22) of the base of the housing (20). 5. The dispensing device (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the return spring (14e, 14f), at least at one end, has two shoulders (14e, 14f) connected to each other at an angle to each other. 6. The dispensing device (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the return spring (14i) is pre-stressed in the shape of a parabola, installed at both surfaces on the surface (22) of the base of the housing (20) and rests on its lower surface with its curved middle part (17) the ledge of the inner part (10). 7. The dispensing device (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the lower end (14n ', 14 °') of the return spring (14n, 14 °) is bent parallel to the side wall (24) and pushed into the corner of the housing between the side wall (24) and the base surface (22) bent inward by the resistant (25, 25) surface and is fixed there, for example, by means of a fixing connection.

Images