EP2111919A1 - Tablet grinding device - Google Patents
Tablet grinding device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP2111919A1 EP2111919A1 EP08154946A EP08154946A EP2111919A1 EP 2111919 A1 EP2111919 A1 EP 2111919A1 EP 08154946 A EP08154946 A EP 08154946A EP 08154946 A EP08154946 A EP 08154946A EP 2111919 A1 EP2111919 A1 EP 2111919A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- grinder
- grinding
- tablet
- electric motor
- tablets
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
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Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B02—CRUSHING, PULVERISING, OR DISINTEGRATING; PREPARATORY TREATMENT OF GRAIN FOR MILLING
- B02C—CRUSHING, PULVERISING, OR DISINTEGRATING IN GENERAL; MILLING GRAIN
- B02C4/00—Crushing or disintegrating by roller mills
- B02C4/10—Crushing or disintegrating by roller mills with a roller co-operating with a stationary member
- B02C4/12—Crushing or disintegrating by roller mills with a roller co-operating with a stationary member in the form of a plate
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61J—CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
- A61J7/00—Devices for administering medicines orally, e.g. spoons; Pill counting devices; Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine
- A61J7/0007—Pill breaking or crushing devices
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B02—CRUSHING, PULVERISING, OR DISINTEGRATING; PREPARATORY TREATMENT OF GRAIN FOR MILLING
- B02C—CRUSHING, PULVERISING, OR DISINTEGRATING IN GENERAL; MILLING GRAIN
- B02C4/00—Crushing or disintegrating by roller mills
- B02C4/28—Details
- B02C4/30—Shape or construction of rollers
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a device for grinding tablets/pills. More particularly, although not exclusively, the invention relates to a handheld device into which whole tablets can be inserted for grinding into particulate form.
- Tablets come in different sizes depending upon the prescribed or desired dosage. Some tablets are provided with a score line to facilitate easy breakage into two parts. Where a dosage smaller than half a tablet is desired, further breakage becomes difficult - especially for elderly people or people with arthritic conditions for example. For this reason, it is often desired to grind tablets into powdered form for subsequent ease of portioning.
- Some tablets are not rapidly absorbed into the body after being taken. Grinding of tablets into granular or powdered form increases the rate of absorption in the body.
- a device for grinding tablets comprising:
- the grinder is substantially cylindrical and rotates about a longitudinal axis thereof.
- the device further comprises a substantially cylindrical grinding cavity within which the grinder rotates.
- the tablet chute extends radially of the longitudinal axis of the grinder.
- the tablet chute extends tangentially of the grinding cavity.
- the grinder includes a pair of diametrically opposed, longitudinally extending blades.
- the grinder includes four longitudinally extending blades in respective diametrically opposed pairs.
- the grinder can include a peripheral helical blade.
- the grinder can comprise an abrasive grinding surface.
- the grinding cavity includes an exit port communicating with the particle bin.
- the particle bin comprises a sliding drawer.
- the device further comprises a door covering the tablet chute.
- the device further comprises a gearbox for transmitting torque of the motor to the grinder.
- the grinding device comprises a pair of body halves 4 and 7 typically of moulded ABS plastics material and connected together to form a casing to which a footplate 23 is affixed.
- a number of rubber finger grips 2 and 3 are provided at the casing exterior.
- the batteries bear against a set of contact plates 21 and 24 from which wires extend to a switch 9 at the top of the casing.
- the switch 9 is in contact with a switch knob 1 that is exposed at the top of the casing.
- Electrical wire 25 extends from the switch 9 to a DC electric motor 26 situated within the casing above the battery compartment.
- a gearbox including casing parts 10 and 18 houses a number of reduction gears 11, 12, 13, 14, 16 and 19 and shafts 15 and 17.
- the output shaft of motor 26 is input to the gearbox and the final gear 12 of the gearbox is mounted upon a grinder shaft 28 upon which a cylindrical grinder 29 is fixed so as to rotate therewith.
- the grinder 29 is located within a cylindrical grinding cavity 27.
- the grinder 29 is typically made of steel and in one embodiment ( Fig. 5 ) includes a pair of diametrically opposed, longitudinally extending straight blades 32.
- the cylindrical grinder 29' comprises four longitudinally extending straight blades 32' in respective diametrically opposed pairs separated by 90°.
- the cylindrical grinder 29" includes a single helical blade 32" extending from one end of the grinder's cylindrical surface to the other.
- two or more helical blades might be provided either extending in the same direction or crossing one another in opposite directions.
- the outer surface of the cylindrical grinder 29"' has an abrasive surface 33 somewhat like the surface of sandpaper against which the tablets wear.
- a tablet entry chute 30 extends from the top of the casing beneath a tablet chute door 8 to the cylindrical grinding cavity 27.
- the entry chute 30 of tablet grinder G1 extends substantially tangentially from the grinding cavity 27, whereas in the embodiment G2 of Fig. 4 , the grinding chute 30 extends radially of the grinder shaft 28.
- the cylindrical grinding cavity 27 has an exit passage 31 communicating with a particle bin 6.
- the particle bin 6 attaches to the casing like a drawer which can be opened by sliding to reveal ground tablet particles, or removed completely for inversion to dispense ground particles therefrom.
- the switch knob 1 might have three positions. For example, it could have a central OFF position and FORWARD and REVERSE positions at either side of the OFF position enabling the user to reverse rotate the grinder 29 if necessary.
- the switch 9 can be connected electrically to motor 26 to energise it in either polarity.
- the device might be provided with a tablet magazine for containing a plurality of tablets for individual delivery to the grinding cavity.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Food Science & Technology (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Public Health (AREA)
- Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
- Medical Preparation Storing Or Oral Administration Devices (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to a device for grinding tablets/pills. More particularly, although not exclusively, the invention relates to a handheld device into which whole tablets can be inserted for grinding into particulate form.
- Tablets come in different sizes depending upon the prescribed or desired dosage. Some tablets are provided with a score line to facilitate easy breakage into two parts. Where a dosage smaller than half a tablet is desired, further breakage becomes difficult - especially for elderly people or people with arthritic conditions for example. For this reason, it is often desired to grind tablets into powdered form for subsequent ease of portioning.
- Some tablets are not rapidly absorbed into the body after being taken. Grinding of tablets into granular or powdered form increases the rate of absorption in the body.
- It is an object of the present invention to provide a handheld device with which consumers can grind tablets into smaller particles.
- There is disclosed herein a device for grinding tablets, comprising:
- a body,
- an electric motor housed within the body,
- a power source connected to the electric motor via a switch,
- a grinder driven to rotate by the electric motor,
- a tablet chute to the grinder, and
- a particle bin attached to or formed integrally with the body for receiving particles from the grinder.
- Preferably, the grinder is substantially cylindrical and rotates about a longitudinal axis thereof.
- Preferably, the device further comprises a substantially cylindrical grinding cavity within which the grinder rotates.
- Preferably, the tablet chute extends radially of the longitudinal axis of the grinder.
- Preferably, the tablet chute extends tangentially of the grinding cavity.
- Preferably, the grinder includes a pair of diametrically opposed, longitudinally extending blades.
- Alternatively, the grinder includes four longitudinally extending blades in respective diametrically opposed pairs.
- As a further alternative, the grinder can include a peripheral helical blade.
- As yet a further alternative the grinder can comprise an abrasive grinding surface.
- Preferably, the grinding cavity includes an exit port communicating with the particle bin.
- Preferably, the particle bin comprises a sliding drawer.
- Preferably, the device further comprises a door covering the tablet chute.
- Preferably, the device further comprises a gearbox for transmitting torque of the motor to the grinder.
- Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
-
Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective illustration of a tablet grinding device, -
Fig. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional side elevation of the device ofFig. 1 , -
Fig. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional end elevation of the device ofFigs. 1 and 2 having a first tablet chute configuration, -
Fig. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional end elevation of a tablet grinding device having an alternative tablet chute configuration, -
Fig. 5 is a schematic depiction of a twin blade cylindrical grinder, -
Fig. 6 is a schematic depiction of a four blade cylindrical grinder, -
Fig. 7 is a schematic depiction of a helical blade cylindrical grinder, and -
Fig. 8 is a schematic depiction of a cylindrical grinder having an abrasive grinding surface. - In the accompanying drawings there is depicted schematically a tablet grinding device G. The grinding device comprises a pair of
body halves rubber finger grips 2 and 3 are provided at the casing exterior. - Internally of the casing above the footplate 23, there is a battery compartment which houses a pair of
batteries 22. An access door 5 encloses the battery compartment. - The batteries bear against a set of
contact plates 21 and 24 from which wires extend to a switch 9 at the top of the casing. The switch 9 is in contact with a switch knob 1 that is exposed at the top of the casing. -
Electrical wire 25 extends from the switch 9 to a DCelectric motor 26 situated within the casing above the battery compartment. - A gearbox including casing parts 10 and 18 houses a number of reduction gears 11, 12, 13, 14, 16 and 19 and
shafts 15 and 17. The output shaft ofmotor 26 is input to the gearbox and the final gear 12 of the gearbox is mounted upon agrinder shaft 28 upon which acylindrical grinder 29 is fixed so as to rotate therewith. - The
grinder 29 is located within acylindrical grinding cavity 27. Thegrinder 29 is typically made of steel and in one embodiment (Fig. 5 ) includes a pair of diametrically opposed, longitudinally extendingstraight blades 32. In another embodiment (Fig. 6 ), the cylindrical grinder 29' comprises four longitudinally extending straight blades 32' in respective diametrically opposed pairs separated by 90°. In a third embodiment (Fig. 7 ), thecylindrical grinder 29" includes a singlehelical blade 32" extending from one end of the grinder's cylindrical surface to the other. In another embodiment (not shown), two or more helical blades might be provided either extending in the same direction or crossing one another in opposite directions. In a fourth embodiment (Fig. 8 ), the outer surface of thecylindrical grinder 29"' has anabrasive surface 33 somewhat like the surface of sandpaper against which the tablets wear. - A
tablet entry chute 30 extends from the top of the casing beneath atablet chute door 8 to thecylindrical grinding cavity 27. In the embodiment depicted inFig. 3 , theentry chute 30 of tablet grinder G1 extends substantially tangentially from thegrinding cavity 27, whereas in the embodiment G2 ofFig. 4 , thegrinding chute 30 extends radially of thegrinder shaft 28. - The
cylindrical grinding cavity 27 has anexit passage 31 communicating with aparticle bin 6. Theparticle bin 6 attaches to the casing like a drawer which can be opened by sliding to reveal ground tablet particles, or removed completely for inversion to dispense ground particles therefrom. - In use, whole tablets are inserted into the
tablet chute 30 after having opened thetablet chute cover 8. Either before inserting the tablets into the chute or thereafter, the user slides the switch knob 1 to activate the motor, which in turn drives the gearbox to rotate thecylindrical grinder 29. Theblades exit passage 31 to theparticle bin 6. Once no further grinding sound is heard by the user, the switch knob 1 can be returned to its OFF position. - The switch knob 1 might have three positions. For example, it could have a central OFF position and FORWARD and REVERSE positions at either side of the OFF position enabling the user to reverse rotate the
grinder 29 if necessary. To this end, the switch 9 can be connected electrically tomotor 26 to energise it in either polarity. - It should be appreciated that modifications and alterations obvious to those skilled in the art are not to be considered as beyond the scope of the present invention. For example, the device might be provided with a tablet magazine for containing a plurality of tablets for individual delivery to the grinding cavity.
Claims (13)
- A device (G) for grinding tablets, comprising:a body (4,7),an electric motor (26) housed within the body (4,7),a power source (22) connected to the electric motor (26) via a switch (9),a grinder (29) driven to rotate by the electric motor (26),a tablet chute (30) to the grinder (29), anda particle bin (6) attached to or formed integrally with the body (4,7) for receiving particles from the grinder (29).
- The device of claim 1, wherein the grinder (29) is substantially cylindrical and is rotatable about a longitudinal axis thereof.
- The device of claim 2, wherein the grinder (29) includes a pair of diametrically opposed, longitudinally extending blades (32).
- The device of claim 2, wherein the grinder (29') includes four longitudinally extending blades (32') in respective diametrically opposed pairs.
- The device of claim 2, wherein the grinder (29") includes a peripheral helical blade (32").
- The device of claim 2, wherein the grinder (29"') comprises an abrasive grinding surface (33).
- The device of any one of claims 2 to 6, further comprising a substantially cylindrical grinding cavity (27) within which the grinder (29) rotates.
- The device of claim 7, wherein the tablet chute (30) extends radially of the longitudinal axis of the grinder (29).
- The device of claim 7, wherein the tablet chute (30) extends tangentially of the grinding cavity (27).
- The device of claim 7, 8 or 9, wherein the grinding cavity (27) includes an exit port (31) communicating with the particle bin (6).
- The device of any preceding claim, wherein the particle bin (6) comprises a sliding drawer.
- The device of any preceding claim, further comprising a door (8) covering the tablet chute (30).
- The device of any preceding claim, further comprising a gearbox for transmitting torque of the motor (26) to the grinder (29).
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP08154946A EP2111919A1 (en) | 2008-04-22 | 2008-04-22 | Tablet grinding device |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP08154946A EP2111919A1 (en) | 2008-04-22 | 2008-04-22 | Tablet grinding device |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP2111919A1 true EP2111919A1 (en) | 2009-10-28 |
Family
ID=39721931
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP08154946A Withdrawn EP2111919A1 (en) | 2008-04-22 | 2008-04-22 | Tablet grinding device |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP2111919A1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2012115395A2 (en) * | 2011-02-22 | 2012-08-30 | Lim Tae Young | Apparatus for quantitatively distributing powdered medicine |
CN115517968A (en) * | 2022-10-13 | 2022-12-27 | 中国人民解放军西部战区总医院 | Integrated form medicine feed ware |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE1242332B (en) | 1965-07-06 | 1967-06-15 | Oberlind Veb Elektroinstall | Electric coffee grinder |
DE1242331B (en) | 1966-06-27 | 1967-06-15 | Alexanderwerk Ag | Coffee grinder |
EP0526180A1 (en) | 1991-08-01 | 1993-02-03 | Richard Francis Hurst | Apparatus for decomposing compressed tablets |
US7032851B2 (en) | 2003-12-12 | 2006-04-25 | John F. Demske | Portable pill crushing device |
-
2008
- 2008-04-22 EP EP08154946A patent/EP2111919A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE1242332B (en) | 1965-07-06 | 1967-06-15 | Oberlind Veb Elektroinstall | Electric coffee grinder |
DE1242331B (en) | 1966-06-27 | 1967-06-15 | Alexanderwerk Ag | Coffee grinder |
EP0526180A1 (en) | 1991-08-01 | 1993-02-03 | Richard Francis Hurst | Apparatus for decomposing compressed tablets |
US7032851B2 (en) | 2003-12-12 | 2006-04-25 | John F. Demske | Portable pill crushing device |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2012115395A2 (en) * | 2011-02-22 | 2012-08-30 | Lim Tae Young | Apparatus for quantitatively distributing powdered medicine |
WO2012115395A3 (en) * | 2011-02-22 | 2012-10-18 | Lim Tae Young | Apparatus for quantitatively distributing powdered medicine |
CN115517968A (en) * | 2022-10-13 | 2022-12-27 | 中国人民解放军西部战区总医院 | Integrated form medicine feed ware |
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