WO2005002991A1

WO2005002991A1 - Pill-dispenser

Info

Publication number: WO2005002991A1
Application number: PCT/EP2004/007004
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alfons Böckmann; Werner Petzold; Martin Presche
Original assignee: Rpc Bramlage Gmbh
Priority date: 2003-07-02
Filing date: 2004-06-29
Publication date: 2005-01-13
Also published as: EP1644267B1; DE502004011180D1; ES2343006T3; DE20310187U1; RU2005123814A; EP1644267A1; RU2299165C2; ATE468285T1

Abstract

The invention relates to a pill-dispenser (1) for distributing pills one-by-one comprising a casing (20) and an internal element (10) which is slidingly insertable therein and displaceable thereinside along a limited distance. Said internal element comprises a pill storage chamber (12), a pill output channel (13) and a return spring (14) supported by the casing (20), for example by the surface (22) of the casing (20) bottom. The inventive pill-dispenser is characterised in that the internal element (10) is made of a material, for instance polypropylene (PP) whose elasticity is less than that of polyoxymethylen (POM) and the return spring (14k) prevents the premature spring force decrease thanks to a certain combination of the spring shape, material and the fixing point thereof to the internal element (10).

Description

Pill dispenser

The invention is directed to a tablet dispenser for dispensing tablets individually, comprising a housing and an insertable into the housing and displaceable therein under stroke limitation inner part consisting of a tablet storage space and a tablet discharge shaft and a return spring, which is supported against the housing, for example against the bottom surface of the housing.

In tablet dispensers simplest construction, the opening and closing of a discharge opening is done by a flap or a slider that are operated, for example, by hand. A separation of tablets is not provided here. Furthermore, dispensers with a arranged in the dispenser housing mechanically actuated device are known, released by the stroke-limited displacement within the dispenser housing a dispensing opening in the dispenser housing and a tablet per stroke is discharged from the dispenser housing. In EP-A-0 345 413, for example, a tablet dispenser is described in which a single tablet is dispensed from a housing by pushing an actuating button, which is connected via a centrally arranged operating shaft with a slider, through a bottom-side opening.

In DE-U-296 01 693 a tablet dispenser is presented, which consists of a prismatic housing with an open end face and a laterally offset opening in the bottom surface. In the housing an inner part is inserted from above, consisting of a slide and an actuating button, connected by a connecting element, which together form a structural unit in the sense of an inner housing, in the upper part of the tablet reservoir is located. This inner part is displaced by finger pressure on the upper part of the actuating button, the lower part being displaced by the bottom opening. The housing is moved and releases a tablet. The displacement of the inner part is stroke-limited by a web which abuts the housing bottom during the downward movement of the inner part, whereby a further downward movement is blocked.

An important component of this tablet dispenser with mechanical actuation button is a return spring, which restores the original initial state after the end of the dispensing process. EP 0 831 035 B1 describes a tablet dispenser with a leaf-shaped return spring arranged on the bottom of the inner part. This return spring is at the tablet output, d. H. at the then taking place within the housing displacement of the inner part, pushed against the bottom surface of the housing and thereby stretched. By relaxation, the return spring presses after completion of the dispensing operation, the inner part back to its original position. The inner part with the return spring of this tablet dispenser is currently made of POM (polyoxymethylene to DIN 7728 T1) and is relatively expensive. Corresponding attempts to replace the expensive POM by the cheaper PP (polypropylene according to DIN 7728 T1 and DIN 600001 T1), failed so far because the return spring loses its spring force during prolonged use and thus the reliability of the tablet dispenser is significantly reduced.

Based on this prior art, it is an object of the invention, for example, from EP 0 831 035 B1 known tablet dispenser develop so that in an inner part made of PP, the initial existing elasticity of the return spring is maintained even with prolonged use, without additional Disadvantages such as particularly increased production costs or to increase the risk of tablet breakage.

The stated object is achieved with the characterizing features of claim 1, characterized in that the inner part of a respect to the material POM (Polyoxymethylene) less elastic material, for example made of PP (polypropylene) is made, and the return spring prevented by a certain combination of spring shape, spring material and mounting location on the inner part early release of the spring force. The return spring can in this case be made of the original material of the inner part and attached directly to the inner part (molded) or it can be made of a material deviating from the inner part material.

In order to ensure the required stability against premature fatigue of the spring force, in particular in the manufacture of springs from the inner part material, according to one embodiment of the invention, the return spring rod or leaf-shaped and attached at one end in the vicinity of the bottom surface of the housing laterally on the inner part. The free end is supported against the bottom surface of the housing. Due to the lateral arrangement of the return spring of the spring travel or its deflection and thus the spring load over known spring arrangements is significantly reduced. To further stabilize the return spring, it may have at least at one end two mutually connected angularly arranged legs, so that at this end two spring elements are effective.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, it is possible to bias the two ends of the rod-shaped or leaf-shaped return spring at two opposite lateral locations of the inner part, that their middle part bulges downward and this middle part is supported against the bottom surface of the housing. By this measure, a further reduction of the spring travel is possible with advantage.

In a production of the return spring of a material deviating from the inner part material and deviation from the rod or sheet-shaped attachment to lateral parts of the inner part does not make sense, as this greatly reduces the possible range of usable spring elements. would be limited. According to the invention, such spring elements are arranged between a lower step surface of the inner part and the bottom surface of the housing, wherein case by case can be completely dispensed with an attachment.

Possible spring elements which can be used here for resetting the inner part are, for example: cylinder springs made of POM (polyoxymethylene), steel springs, foam elements, elements made of a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), but also other elastic materials not mentioned here Spring shapes are selectable as long as they are usable for resetting the inner part and can be used inside the tablet dispenser.

Further details, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following explanation of schematically illustrated in the drawings embodiments.

Show it:

1 shows a tablet dispenser with return spring in a partially sectioned side view according to the prior art,

1a, the inner part of the tablet dispenser of FIG. 1 in a front view,

1 b, the inner part of the tablet dispenser of FIG. 1 in a side view,

2 to 4 attached to a side wall of the inner housing return springs,

5 and 6 fixed to opposite side walls of the inner part return springs, 7 and 8 a return spring with angled legs,

9 is a return spring of several successive circular sections,

10 is a welded-in return spring made of foreign material,

11 is an upwardly curved parabolic return spring made of foreign material,

Fig. 12 to 17 disposed between the bottom surface of the housing and the lower step surface of the inner part return spring made of foreign material.

In the drawing figures described below some variations of different spring geometries, spring materials and mounting options are shown. For a better overview, the same tablet dispenser was used as the basic dispenser. These are the tablet dispensers known from EP 0 831 035 B1. The tablet dispenser 1 of EP 0 831 035 B1 for the single dispensing of tablets comprises a prismatic housing 20 with a bottom opening 21 arranged in the bottom surface 22 and an open roof surface 30. Through this open roof surface 30, a displaceable under stroke limitation inner part 10 is inserted, consisting of a Preferably, prismatic tablet storage space 12 and a vertically oriented, through the bottom opening 21 of the housing 20 feasible tablet discharge shaft 13. In the displacement of the inner part 10 downward by finger pressure on the end face 11 of the inner part 10, wherein the finger through the here v-shaped recesses 23 of Housing side halves engages and pushes the inner part 10 down, the lower end of the tablet output shaft 13 is passed through the bottom opening 21 and discharged a tablet. For resetting the inner part 10 after the dispensing operation, a return spring 14 arranged between the inner part 10 and the housing 20 serves. In Figure 1, this known from EP 0 831 035 B1 known rod or leaf-shaped return spring 14 is fixed at one end to the lower step surface 17 of the inner part 10 and the free end is supported on the bottom surface 22 of the housing 20. Since the distance between the step surface 17 and the bottom surface 22 and thus the length of the return spring 14 is large, there may be the disadvantages described when using PP as spring material.

In Figures 1a and 1b, the inner part 10 of the tablet dispenser 1 is shown separately for better understanding. The geometry of the prismatic tablet dispenser 1 is thereby more clearly recognizable, and in particular it can be seen from FIG. 1b that the return spring 14 is integrally connected to the step surface 17 and thus part of the inner part 10.

In FIGS. 2 and 3, the attachment location for the return springs 14a, 14b made of PP is arranged significantly closer to the bottom surface 22. In Fig. 2, a lateral recess 18 of the tablet discharge chute 13 has been selected as a mounting location, so that the return spring 14a slightly bevelled downwardly supported with its free end on the bottom surface 22. In Fig. 3, the mounting location has been moved even further down, so that the return spring 14b is arranged parallel to the bottom surface 22 and the free end by means of a web 14b 'on the bottom surface 22 is supported. Of particular advantage in this return spring 14b is their production, since all parts are in Endformrichtung and therefore no baking tool is required here.

In FIGS. 4, 5, 6, the return springs 14c, 14d, which are of rod-shaped or leaf-shaped design and made of PP, are arranged prestressed in the vicinity of the bottom surface 22. In FIG. 4, the return spring 14c, just like the restoring spring 14a, is secured at one end to the recess 18 of the tablet discharge chute 13. Due to the bias, however, it bulges upward so that the free end slopes away at the bottom surface 22 at a blunt angle. supports. In Fig. 5 and 6, both ends of the return spring 14d are fixed to the inner part 10 biased so that their middle part 14d 'bulges downward and can be supported on the bottom surface 22. The attachment of the left end of the return spring 14d was performed in Fig. 5 by means of a arranged on the side wall 15 of the tablet discharge shaft 13 web 19 and in Fig. 6 at a protruding edge 18 'of the recess 18 of the tablet discharge shaft 13. The attachment of the other end of the return spring 14 d was made in both figures on the side wall 16 of the inner part 10.

As a further possible variant, the return spring was reinforced by its design with at least two legs in Figures 7 and 8. In Fig. 7, the upper end of the return spring 14 e is fixed to the lower step surface 17 of the inner part 10. Towards the bottom, the return spring 14e splits into two legs 14e ', which now take over the support against the bottom surface 22. In FIG. 8, the return spring 14f splits over its entire length in the manner of a bus, the upper tip of the return spring 14f thus formed being fastened to the lower step surface 17 of the inner part 10 and the lower tip being supported against the bottom surface 22.

In Figure 9, a return spring 14g is shown, which consists of a plurality of interconnected circular sections and can also be preferably made of the inner part material PP. This spring is secured with two legs 14g 'on the lower step surface 17 of the inner part 10, while its lower end, formed by a circular portion, is punctiformly supported against the bottom surface 22. Due to its geometry, this return spring 14g is a highly elastic alternative to the previously described rod or leaf-shaped return springs.

In the figures 10 to 15 return springs 14h to 14m are shown, which in contrast to the previously described return springs 14 to 14 g not from consist of the inner part material and molded directly to the inner part 10, but they are made of a foreign material, which may need to be attached according to the inner part 10. In Fig. 10, a rod or leaf-shaped return spring 14 h is used from the PP better resilient POM, which in a similar manner as the known return spring 14 from the lower step surface 17 of the inner part 10 to. Floor area 22 is enough. For attachment to the step surface 17, this return spring 14h is pushed through by the tablet reservoir 12 forth through a hole in the step surface 17 and the above the step surface 17 remaining crutch 14h 'of the return spring 14h welded there. The return spring 14i of FIG. 11 is also made of the better resilient POM. It is biased into the space between the lower step surface 17 of the inner part 10 and the bottom surface 22 is inserted so that it is supported with its two ends to the bottom surface 22, while their curved center part has contact with the step surface 17.

In FIGS. 12 to 17, in the same way as in FIG. 11, return springs 14i to 14o of different materials are inserted into the intermediate space between the lower step surface 17 of the inner part 10 and the bottom surface 22. Due to their deviating from the bar or leaf shape geometry with larger contact surfaces could be dispensed with an additional attachment at least on the step surface 17 here. In detail, the various return springs in FIG. 12 are a steel spring as the return spring 14j, in FIG. 13 a cylinder spring made of POM as the return spring 14k, in FIG. 14 a foam element as the return spring 141 and in FIG TPE element as return spring 14m. 16 and 17, in which again rod-shaped return springs 14n, 14o were used, could also be dispensed with the additional attachment to the lower step surface 17 of the inner part 10, since here the lower end 14n ', 14o' of the return spring 14n, 14o is fixed in each case in a lower corner of the housing. For this purpose, the lower end 14n ', 14o' parallel to the side wall 24 of the housing 20 abge- arc and in the housing corner between the side wall 24 and an inwardly bent web 25 of the bottom surface 22 is inserted. The attachment of this inserted lower end 14 n ', 14 o' takes place there by, for example gluing or by a latching connection with the correspondingly formed web 25 'of the bottom surface 22.

The invention is not limited only to the embodiments of the return spring shown in the illustrated embodiments and to the tablet dispenser described here. In particular, in terms of the shape and size and the material used in the return spring, a substantial adaptation to the size, design and operation of the tablet dispenser and the required restoring force by the skilled person is possible.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

I tablet dispenser 10 inner part

I I face

12 tablet storage room

13 tablet dispensing slot

14 - 14o return spring

14b 'web on return spring 14b

14d 'bulging middle part of the return spring 14d

14e \ 14f legs of the return springs 14e, 14f

14g 'leg of the return spring 14g

14h 'upper crutch of 14h

14n 'lower end of 14n

14o 'lower end of 14o

15 lateral wall of 13

16 side wall of the inner part 10 with respect to 15

17 lower step surface on the inner part 10th

18 recess in 15

18 'projecting edge of 18

19 jetty at 15

20 housing

21 bottom opening

22 floor area

23 V-shaped recess

24 side wall of the housing 20 25, 25 'web of the bottom surface 22nd

30 roof area

Claims

Expectations

1. tablet dispenser (1) for dispensing tablets individually, comprising a housing (20) and an inner part (10) which can be pushed into the housing (20) and displaceable therein with a stroke limitation, consisting of a tablet storage space (12) and a tablet delivery shaft (13) and a return spring (14) which is supported against the housing (20), for example against the bottom surface (22) of the housing (20), characterized in that the inner part (10) is made of a material which is less elastic than the material POM (polyoxymethylene) , for example made of PP (polypropylene), and the return spring (14a to 14m) prevents a premature release of the spring force by a certain combination of spring shape, spring material and location on the inner part (10).

2. tablet dispenser (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the return spring (14 to 14g) made of the original material of the inner part (10) and is molded directly onto the inner part (10).

3. tablet dispenser (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the return spring (14h to 14m) is made of a material different from the inner part material.

4. tablet dispenser (1) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the return spring (14a, 14b, 14c) is rod-shaped or leaf-shaped and with one end on a side surface (16) of the inner part (10) in the vicinity of the bottom surface (22) of the housing (20) is fixed and is supported with the free end against the bottom surface (22).

5. tablet dispenser (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the return spring (14e, 14f) has at least at one end two interconnected angled legs (14e \ 14f).

6. tablet dispenser (1) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the return spring (14d) is rod-shaped or leaf-shaped and with its two ends on two opposite lateral surfaces (15, 16) of the inner part (10) so is fastened in a pretensioned manner that its central part (14d ') bulges downward and this central part (14d') is supported against the bottom surface (22) of the housing (20).

7. tablet dispenser (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the return spring (14h, 14i) between a lower step surface (17) of the inner part (10) and the bottom surface (22) of the housing (20) arranged rod or leaf-shaped trained unloaded or preloaded spring made of POM.

8. tablet dispenser (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the return spring (14k) between a lower step surface (17) of the inner part (10) and the bottom surface (22) of the housing (20) is arranged cylindrical spring made of POM.

9. tablet dispenser (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the return spring (14j) between a lower step surface (17) of the inner part (10) and the bottom surface (22) of the housing (20) is arranged steel spring.

10. tablet dispenser (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the return spring (141) between a lower step surface (17) of the inner part (10) and the bottom surface (22) of the housing (20) is arranged foam element.

11. Tablet dispenser (1) according to Claim 3, characterized in that the return spring (14m) is a thermoplastic elastomer element arranged between a lower step surface (17) of the inner part (10) and the bottom surface (22) of the housing (20) (TPE) is.

12. tablet dispenser (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the return spring (14n, 14o) is a rod-shaped element which between a lower step surface (17) of the inner part (10) and a lower, from the bottom surface (22) and the side wall (24) of the housing (20) formed housing corner is arranged.

13. Tablet dispenser (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that the lower end (14n \ 14o ') of the return spring (14n, 14o) is bent parallel to the side wall (24) of the housing (20) and in the housing corner between the side wall ( 24) and an inwardly bent web (25, 25 ') of the bottom surface (22) is inserted and fastened there.

14. tablet dispenser (1) according to claim 13, characterized in that the fixing of the return spring (14o) is carried out by a latching connection between the web (25 ') and its lower end (14o').