ES2701973B2 - PILL SELECTOR AND DISPENSER MACHINE - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

PILLS SELECTOR AND DISPENSER MACHINE

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention application is the registration of a tablet sorting and dispensing machine, which incorporates notable innovations and advantages over the techniques used up to now.

More specifically, the invention proposes the development of a tablet sorting and dispensing machine, in particular for pharmacological treatments, which, due to its particular arrangement, allows an adequate selection and automatic dispensing of tablets that have been previously stored, according to some desired proportions and measurements in the three directions of space given by a chip previously chosen as a standard.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the current state of the art, different means and systems are known for the selection of elements, such as tablets, which are produced in large series and runs.

In such known media and systems, the selection of the elements after their production based on their size and precise and adequate proportions is carried out manually, which means that the adequate quality in said selection resides in the expertise and powers of the media. humans used for this purpose.

This means that said selection is susceptible to repeated human errors, and that therefore it cannot be guaranteed that the quality resulting from said selection complies with the quality levels required in the global manufacturing process.

The present invention contributes to solving and solving the present problem, as it allows an adequate selection and automatic dispensing of tablets that they have been previously stored, according to desired proportions and measurements in the three directions of space given by a tablet chosen as a standard.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been developed in order to provide a tablet sorting and dispensing machine, comprising a storage means for tablets, a tablet dispensing means enabled for the extraction of tablets from the storage means, and a means for drive linked to the storage means and metering means; which is essentially characterized by the fact that the metering means includes a linear conveyor belt for tablets from the storage means and also includes discriminating means enabled for the selection of the tablets from the storage means; said discriminating means comprising a template or space that is adjustable in its volume in the three directions of space and that is conforming to a housing with a geometry and proportions suitable for the insertion of a standard tablet, and means for adjusting the height, the length and width of the housing; Such regulating means have adjustability up to their contact with the standard pellet inserted in the housing, in such a way that the effective and resulting output amplitude of the pellets from the storage means through the conveyor belt is determined and limited by the dimensions of height, length and width determined by the contact of the adjustment means with the standard bar placed in the housing of the template.

Preferably, in the tablet sorting and dispensing machine, the housing is predetermined and limited by a horizontal table or base and a first vertical wall and a second vertical wall perpendicular to each other and in mutual contact and arranged on the upper face of the table and integral with each other, the table being mobile in a horizontal direction and perpendicular to the movement of the conveyor belt and being fixed in the other two directions of space, and the first wall being perpendicular to the movement of the table.

Preferably, in the tablet sorting and dispensing machine, the height adjustment means comprise a height limiter in the manner of a movable plate that is movable in a vertical direction and is incident on the storage means, a height sensor as a stop that is movable in a vertical direction and incident on the housing until its contact with the standard tablet inserted in said housing, and a manual actuator mechanism; the manual actuating mechanism being simultaneously connected to the height limiter and the height probe, so that the height probe and the height limiter are integrally linked in their vertical movement; the vertical and incident displacement of the height limiter on the storage means defining the height dimension of the effective amplitude resulting from the output of the tablets from the storage means.

Preferably, in the tablet sorting and dispensing machine, the width adjustment means comprise a width limiter that is movable in a horizontal direction and perpendicular to the movement of the conveyor belt and that also has a flat surface perpendicular to its movement that is pass-through on the conveyor belt, a fixed stop interposed in the direction of movement of the table and a manual actuator mechanism; the table being horizontally movable until the contact of the fixed stop with the standard bar inserted in the housing; the manual actuating mechanism being simultaneously connected to the table and the width limiter, such that the width limiter and the table are integrally linked in their horizontal movement; the displacement of the width limiter with its flat surface passing over the conveyor belt defining the width dimension of the effective width resulting from the output of the tablets from the storage means.

Preferably, in the tablet sorting and dispensing machine, the length adjustment means comprise a door at the outlet of the conveyor belt and which is movable in a direction parallel to the conveyor belt and being in an arrangement adjacent to the same conveyor belt, a length probe as a stop that is movable in a direction parallel to the movement of the conveyor belt and incident on the housing until its contact with the master tablet inserted in said housing, and a manual actuator mechanism; the manual actuating mechanism being simultaneously connected to the exit door and the length sensor, so that the length sensor and the exit door are integrally linked in their movement; the horizontal displacement of the exit door adjacent to the conveyor defining the length dimension of the resulting effective width of exit of the tablets from the storage means.

Preferably, in the tablet sorting and dispensing machine, the storage means comprise a receptacle of circular geometry and equipped with a rotating base on its own axial axis and on which the tablets are deposited; the height limiter being interposed in the rotary path of the tablets deposited on the base, and the conveyor belt and the width limiter being arranged in a tangential geometry in relation to the rotary base.

Thanks to the present invention, a suitable selection and automatic dosage of tablets that have been previously stored is achieved, according to the desired proportions and measurements in the three directions of space given by a tablet chosen as a standard.

Other characteristics and advantages of the tablet sorting and dispensing machine will be apparent from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment, which is illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1.- It is a schematic view and from different perspectives of a preferred embodiment of a tablet sorting and dispensing machine of the present invention.

Figure 2.- It is a schematic view in plan and elevation of a preferred embodiment of a machine for selecting and dispensing pills of the present invention.

Figures 3 and 4.- These are descriptive schematic views of the means for adjusting the height of the standard tablet housing, of a preferred embodiment of a tablet sorting and dispensing machine of the present invention.

Figures 5 and 6.- These are descriptive schematic views of the means for adjusting the width of the standard tablet housing, of a preferred embodiment of a tablet sorting and dispensing machine of the present invention.

Figures 7 and 8.- They are descriptive schematic views of the means for adjusting the length of the standard tablet housing, of a preferred embodiment of a tablet sorting and dispensing machine of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The tablet sorting and dispensing machine of the proposed invention comprises storage means for tablets, tablet dispensing means enabled for the extraction of tablets from the storage means, and drive means linked to the storage means and the dosing means.

In accordance with the invention itself, the metering means also include discriminating means that are enabled to select the tablets from the storage means, previously stored and arranged in said storage means.

In this preferred embodiment of the tablet sorting and dispensing machine of the invention, as represented schematically and from different perspectives in Figure 1 and in plan and elevation in Figure 2, the storage means comprise a receptacle 1 of circular geometry provided with a base 10 rotatable about its own axial axis and on which the tablets are previously arranged. The metering means further includes a linear conveyor belt 2 for tablets from the storage means. The conveyor belt 2 is arranged in a tangential geometry relative to the rotating base 10.

The discriminating means comprise a template or space that is adjustable in volume in the three directions of space. In turn, the template is the shape of a housing 3 with a geometry and proportions suitable for the insertion of a pattern pellet 31. Said pattern pellet 31 is the one that provides the desired proportions and measurements in the three directions of space to be fulfilled. the tablets previously stored and arranged in the storage means, to be finally selected and dosed by the tablet sorting and dispensing machine of the present invention.

In addition, the metering means also include means for regulating the height, length and width of the housing 3, that is, of the desired proportions and measurements in the three directions of space and provided by the standard tablet 31 housed in accommodation 3.

Such regulation means are located in an outlet region of the tablets from the storage means, and are adjustable until their contact with the standard tablet 31 inserted in the housing 3.

This assumes that the effective and resulting amplitude of exit of the tablets from the storage means through the conveyor belt 2 is determined and limited by the dimensions of height, length and width determined by the contact of the adjustment means with the tablet. pattern 31 placed in slot 3 of the template.

Figures 1 to 8 schematically represent a possible preferred embodiment of the tablet sorting and dispensing machine of the proposed invention.

In this preferred embodiment of the tablet sorting and dispensing machine of the invention and represented in Figures 1 to 8, the housing 3 is predetermined and limited by a table 7 or horizontal base and a first vertical wall 71 and a second wall 14 vertical.

The first vertical wall 71 and the second vertical wall 14 are perpendicular to each other and are in mutual contact, and are arranged on the upper face of the table 7 and furthermore are integral with each other.

Table 7 is mobile in a horizontal direction and perpendicular to the movement of conveyor belt 2, and is fixed in the other two directions of space, the first wall 71 being perpendicular to the movement of table 7, as indicated by the arrows in Figures 5 and 6.

As schematically represented in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, the height adjustment means comprise a height limiter 4 as a movable plate, a height probe 5 movable as a stop, and an actuator mechanism 6 manual.

As can be seen above all by the arrows in figure 4, the height limiter 4 is movable in a vertical direction and is incident on the receptacle 1, and the height sensor 5 is movable in a vertical direction and is incident on accommodation 3 of the template until its contact with the pattern pellet 31 inserted in said housing 3. In figure 3, the pattern pellet 31 is shown in lines because it is hidden.

When, by means of the manual actuating mechanism 6, the height probe 5 descends and makes contact with the pattern pellet 31 of housing 3, as the pattern pellet 31 is in turn on the table 7, the downward movement of the height probe 5 is limited, as can be deduced from figures 3 and 4.

At the same time, the manual actuating mechanism 6 is connected simultaneously to the height limiter 4 and the height probe 5, so that the height probe 5 and the height limiter 4 are integrally linked in their vertical movement, as as seen in figure 4.

The vertical and incident displacement of the height limiter 4 on the receptacle 1, which is in turn integral with the vertical displacement of the height probe 5, defines the height dimension in the effective amplitude resulting from the output of the tablets from the receptacle 1 .

As can be seen in Figures 1 and 2, the height limiter 4 is interposed in the rotary path of the pads arranged on the base 10, so that they can only pass under the height limiter 4 and reach the belt. conveyor 2 the tablets whose height does not exceed the height dimension established by the height probe 5 when moving vertically and impacting on the housing 3 of the template until its contact with the pattern tablet 31 inserted in said housing 3.

On the other hand, the width adjustment means comprise a width limiter 6, a fixed stop 8 and a manual actuating mechanism 9, as can also be seen in Figures 5 and 6.

The width limiter 6 is movable in a horizontal direction and perpendicular to the movement generated by the conveyor belt 2. Furthermore, the width limiter 6 has a flat surface 61 perpendicular to its movement and which passes through the conveyor belt 2.

The fixed stop 8 is interposed in the direction of movement of the movable table 7, as is also deduced by the arrows in Figures 5 and 6.

At the same time, the manual actuating mechanism 9 is simultaneously connected to the table 7 and to the width limiter 6, so that the width limiter 6 and the table 7 are integrally linked in their movement, as shown by arrows in figure 6.

When by means of the manual actuating mechanism 9, the table 7 and therefore the first wall 71 move horizontally and perpendicularly to the movement of the conveyor belt 2, the interposed stopper 8 makes contact with the master pellet 31 of the housing 3, and being at In turn, the pattern chip 31 on the table 7 and its movement limited by the first wall 71, the movement of the table 7 and the first wall 71 is limited, as can be deduced from Figures 5 and 6.

The horizontal displacement of the width limiter 6 with its flat surface 61 passing over the conveyor belt 2, which is in turn integral with the horizontal displacement of the table 7 and the first wall 71, defines the width dimension in the effective amplitude Resulting output of the tablets from the receptacle 1.

As can be seen in Figures 1 and 2, the width limiter 6 is arranged in a tangential geometry in relation to the rotating base 10, with its flat surface 61 contiguous and parallel to the conveyor belt 2, so that it can only be the tablets arranged on the rotating base 10 enter the conveyor belt 2 that their width does not exceed the width dimension established by the table 7 when moving horizontally until the standard tablet 31 inserted in the housing 3 makes contact with the fixed stop 8.

On the other hand, the length adjustment means comprise a door 11, a length sensor 12 as a stop and a manual actuating mechanism 13, as can be seen in Figures 3, 5, 7 and 8.

The door 11 is arranged at the exit of the conveyor belt 2 and is movable in a direction parallel to the conveyor belt 2 and adjacent to the conveyor belt 2. As can be seen in figures 3, 5 and 7, gate 11 is adjacent to the conveyor belt 2 on the side of the outlet end of said conveyor belt 2 and just on the same conveyor belt 2.

The length probe 12 as a stop is movable in a direction parallel to the movement of the conveyor belt 2 and is incident on the housing 3 of the template until its contact with the pattern tablet 31 inserted in said housing 3, as shown seen in figure 7.

When, by means of the manual actuating mechanism 13, the length probe 12 moves in the direction of movement of the conveyor belt 2 and makes contact with the pattern pellet 31 of the housing 3, as the pattern pellet 31 is in turn limited in its movement by the second vertical wall 14, the movement of the length probe 12 is limited, as can be deduced from Figures 7 and 8.

At the same time, the manual actuator mechanism 13 is simultaneously connected to the exit door 11 and the length probe 12, so that the length probe 12 and the exit door 11 are integrally linked in their horizontal movement, such as and as seen by the arrows in figure 8.

The horizontal displacement of the exit door 11 adjacent to the conveyor belt 2, which in turn is integral with the longitudinal displacement of the length probe 12, defines the length dimension of the effective amplitude resulting from the outlet of the tablets from the receptacle 1.

The exit door 11 is arranged adjacent to the conveyor belt 2, so that only the tablets can exit from the conveyor belt 2 that their length does not exceed the length dimension established by the length probe 12 when moving horizontally and impacting on the housing 3 of the template until it comes into contact with the pattern plate 31 inserted in said housing 3.

With the length adjustment means, a final individualized output of the tablets is achieved one after the other, thus avoiding the risk of two or more tablets leaving simultaneously.

1

The tablet sorting and dispensing machine of the invention can use pattern tablets 31 of different geometry and shape for its operation and performance, as can be seen comparatively between Figures 3 and 7 with Figures 5 and 6.

The details, shapes, dimensions and other accessory elements, as well as the materials used in the manufacture of the tablet sorting and dispensing machine of the invention, may be conveniently substituted by others that are technically equivalent and do not deviate from essentiality. of the invention or the scope defined by the claims that follow.

Claims (1)

1. Tablet sorting and dispensing machine, comprising storage means for tablets, dispensing means for tablets enabled for the extraction of tablets from the storage means, and drive means linked to the storage means and dispensing means ; in which the metering means includes a linear conveyor belt (2) of tablets from the storage means and also includes a discriminating means enabled for the selection of the tablets from the storage means; said discriminating means comprising a template or space that is adjustable in its volume in the three directions of space and that is conforming to a housing (3) with a geometry and proportions suitable for the insertion of a standard tablet (31), and means to regulate the height, length and width of the housing (3); Such regulating means have the ability to adjust until their contact with the standard pellet (31) inserted in the housing (3), in such a way that the effective and resulting amplitude of the pellets from the storage means through the belt conveyor (2) is determined and limited by the dimensions of height, length and width determined by the contact of the regulating means with the pattern tablet (31) placed in the housing (3) of the template; the housing (3) being predetermined and limited by a table (7) or horizontal base and a first vertical wall (71) and a second vertical wall (14) perpendicular to each other and in mutual contact and arranged on the upper face of the table (7) and integral with each other, the table (7) being mobile in a horizontal direction and perpendicular to the movement of the conveyor belt (2) and being fixed in the other two directions of space, and the first wall (71) being perpendicular to the movement of the table (7); the height adjustment means comprising a height limiter (4) as a movable plate that is movable in a vertical direction and is incident on the storage means, a height probe (5) as a stop that is movable in a vertical direction and incident on the housing (3) until its contact with the master tablet (31) inserted in said housing (3), and a manual actuator mechanism (6); the manual actuator mechanism (6) being simultaneously connected to the height limiter (4) and the height probe (5), so that the height probe (5) and the height limiter (4) are integrally linked in your displacement; defining the vertical and incident displacement of the height limiter (4) on the storage means the dimension of height of the resulting effective amplitude of exit of the tablets from the storage means; the width adjustment means comprising a width limiter (6) that is movable in a horizontal direction and perpendicular to the movement of the conveyor belt (2) and that also has a flat surface (61) perpendicular to its movement that passes over the conveyor belt (2), a fixed stop (8) interposed in the direction of movement of the table (7) and a manual actuator mechanism (9); the table (7) being horizontally movable up to the contact of the fixed stop (8) with the master tablet (31) inserted in the housing (3); the manual actuating mechanism (9) being simultaneously connected to the table (7) and to the width limiter (6), such that the width limiter (6) and the table (7) are integrally linked in their movement; the displacement of the width limiter (6) with its flat surface (61) passing on the conveyor belt (2) defining the width dimension of the resulting effective amplitude of exit of the tablets from the storage means; and characterized by the fact that the length adjustment means comprise a door (11) at the outlet of the conveyor belt (2) and which is movable in a direction parallel to the conveyor belt (2) and said door (11 ) located adjacent to the same conveyor belt (2) on the side of the outlet end of said conveyor belt (2) and just on the same conveyor belt (2), a length probe (12) as a stop that is movable in a direction parallel to the movement of the conveyor belt (2) and incident on the housing (3) until its contact with the master tablet (31) inserted in said housing (3), and a manual actuator mechanism (13); the manual actuating mechanism (13) being simultaneously connected to the exit door (11) and the length sensor (12), so that the length sensor (12) and the exit door (11) are integrally linked in their displacement; the horizontal displacement of the exit door (11) adjacent to the conveyor belt (2) defining the length dimension of the resulting effective amplitude of exit of the tablets from the storage means; and the storage means comprising a receptacle (1) of circular geometry and provided with a base (10) rotatable about its own axial axis and on which the tablets are deposited; the height limiter (4) being interposed in the rotary path of the tablets deposited on the base (10), and the conveyor belt (2) and the width limiter (6) being arranged in a tangential geometry in relation to the base (10) swivel 1