WO2008071233A1

WO2008071233A1 - Tablet dispenser

Info

Publication number: WO2008071233A1
Application number: PCT/EP2006/069676
Authority: WO
Inventors: Cristian Hallin
Original assignee: Medicpen Ab
Priority date: 2006-12-13
Filing date: 2006-12-13
Publication date: 2008-06-19

Abstract

A magazine (21), a tablet dispenser for receiving said magazine, and a kit comprising the two is provided. The magazine comprises a tablet channel (22) with a first mouth in a first end of the magazine and an output mouth (24) in a second end of the magazine.

Description

TABLET DISPENSER

Technical Field This invention pertains in general to the field of a tablet dispenser. More particularly the invention relates to a magazine for such a tablet dispenser. A tablet dispenser of this kind is disclosed in SE 515 202.

Background of the Invention

It is known that a dispenser for tablets is put into use in, for example, the dosing of medicines. In such instance, a dispenser for tablets has been provided by the present inventors, which tablet dispenser comprises a housing containing a container in the form of a tube formed to accommodate the tablets, which are to be located in the container. These tablets are stacked in said container to thereafter be delivered by a delivering mechanism to the user of the dispenser. A tablet dispenser of this kind is disclosed in SE 515 202.

A problem with a tablet dispenser of this kind is that the tablet dispenser only is suitable for one kind of tablet, i.e. a tablet of a certain size and proportion, corresponding to the size of the container. Thus, the user needs to change dispenser when he/she needs to change medicament, which new medicament comes in the form of a tablet with a different size and proportion than the original tablet. Also, different tablets do not only have different sizes in respect of surface area but also in respect of heights. This provides a further problem in respect of the output mechanism of the tablet dispenser.

Hence, an improved tablet dispenser would be advantageous, and in particular a tablet dispenser allowing for the possibility to adapt the tablet dispenser to different tablets with different sizes, and also a tablet dispenser allowing for an adaptability of the output mechanism of said tablet dispenser with regard to different surface areas and heights of the tablets to be delivered, would be advantageous .

Summary of the Invention

Accordingly, the present invention preferably seeks to mitigate, alleviate or eliminate one or more of the above-identified deficiencies in the art and disadvantages singly or in any combination and solves at least the above mentioned problems by providing a magazine comprising a tablet channel with a first mouth in a first end of the magazine and an output mouth in a second end of the magazine; a tablet dispenser comprising a housing, enclosing a channel, adapted for receiving said magazine, a slide, and a means for moving said slide in a reciprocating movement transversely of a longitudinal direction of said magazine; and a kit comprising a magazine according to above and a dispenser according to above, wherein the relationship between the distance from the output mouth to the bottom of the slide or a bottom of the housing, and the maximum width of the tablet channel is in the interval of 0,25 to 2,25. Further advantages and characterizing features of the present invention are apparent from the appended specification, drawings and dependent claims.

Brief description of the Drawings

These and other aspects, features and advantages of which the invention is capable of will be apparent and elucidated from the following description of embodiments of the present invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which

Fig. 1 is a cross sectional view of a tablet dispenser according to one embodiment of the present invention; Figs. 2a and 2b is a cross sectional view of a magazine according to embodiments of the present invention in the x-y plane;

Figs. 3a and 3b is a view of a magazine according to embodiments of the invention in the x-z plane; and

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of a magazine according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Description of Embodiments The following description focuses on an embodiment of the present invention applicable to a dispenser, and in particular to a magazine suitable to be inserted in said dispenser. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this application. In Fig. 1 an embodiment of a tablet dispenser is provided. The tablet dispenser comprises a housing 11. The housing 11 is of substantially rectangular cross section and wholly encloses a channel 12, adapted for receiving a tablet magazine 21 according to Fig. 2a and 2b. This channel 12 may have the form of a tube of circular cross section or a cross section formed to accommodate said magazine 21, which is to be located in the dispenser. The tablet dispenser is also provided with an output mechanism, comprising an operating unit, such as a button. The operating unit may comprise a joint mechanism for transferring the movement on depression of a button to a reciprocating slide 13. The joint mechanism may include a first arm connected to the operating unit and a second arm, connected to the slide 13. The first arm may be connected to the operating unit by the intermediary of a first pivot and to the second arm by the intermediary of a second pivot. Furthermore, this tablet dispenser may comprise a lid or a closure member. The dispenser may also be provided with an abutment 14. This abutment 14 serves to support the magazine 21, such that the slide 13 is movable in a reciprocating movement transversely of the longitudinal direction of the magazine 21. Then, during use, the slide 13 slides through an output opening 15 at the bottom 16 of the tablet dispenser. The tablet dispenser may also be provided with a lid 17, which may be pivotably arranged at the top of the tablet dispenser.

In another embodiment of the output mechanism is driven electrically. In this instance electric energy is transformed into mechanical energy, to thereby initiate movement of said first arm, or to said reciprocating slide.

In Fig. 2a and 2b an embodiment of a tablet magazine 21 is illustrated in the x-y plane. The magazine 21, according to Fig. 2a and 2b, has a tablet channel 22 and a cover 23. The tablet channel 22 has a first mouth in a first end of the magazine and an output mouth 24 in a second end of the magazine. Said second end is closest to the slide 13 of the tablet dispenser when the magazine is arranged in a tablet dispenser. This output mouth 24 comprises a mouth edge 25 and an end edge 26. Thus, the second end of the tablet channel may have an end edge 26 and a mouth edge 25, wherein the mouth edge 25 is located at a greater distance than the end edge 26 from the slide

13 when the magazine is arranged in the tablet dispenser.

In another embodiment the mouth edge 25 and the end edge 26 are located at the same distance from the slide 14, whereby one may say that such a magazine lacks a mouth edge 25. In this embodiment the abutment 14 has to be located in a distance from the slide 13 that ensures that an appropriate output opening 15 is obtained, such that the output opening corresponds to the height of the tablets intended to be contained in the magazine.

In Figs. 3a and 3b it is illustrated that the magazine 21, according to Figs. 2a and 2b, respectively, may be provided with a tablet channel 22 with a first cross section width, and a cover 23, with a second cross section width. Figs. 3a and 3b shows a magazine in the x-z plane. The first cross section width is adapted to correspond to the cross section width of a certain tablet. The second cross section width is adapted to correspond to the channel 12 of a tablet dispenser. Thus the tablet channel 22 has a maximum cross section width that is smaller than the minimum cross section width of the cover 23. This tablet dispenser may in one embodiment be a tablet dispenser according to Fig. 1. Thus, one tablet dispenser may be used for different medicaments, i.e. tablets of different sizes, by changing magazine, instead of having to get a new tablet dispenser when a change in medication is made. Therefore, the only limitation in respect of which tablets the tablet dispenser may dispense is the cross section area of the channel 12 of the tablet dispenser, and the height of the output opening 15 of the tablet dispenser.

In its position of rest, the slide 13 is placed directly beneath the lower aperture of the magazine 21 so that the lowest of the tablets, contained in the magazine 21, accommodated in the tablet dispenser may fall down into the slide 13. Suitably, the slide 13 is therefore designed as a scoop or the like with cup-shaped inner walls. Alternatively, the slide 13 may have a through-going aperture so that the lowest tablet, contained in the magazine 21, rests on the inside of the bottom 16 of the housing 11.

The height of the output opening 15 may therefore be the distance between the bottom of the slide 13, if the slide 13 designed as a scoop or the like with cup-shaped inner walls, and the mouth edge 25, or the distance between the bottom 16 of the tablet dispenser and the mouth edge 25, if the slide 13 has a through-going aperture, if the magazine is provided with a mouth edge 25.

In the embodiment where the mouth edge 25 and the end edge 26 are located at the same distance from the bottom of the slide 13 or the bottom 16 of the tablet dispenser, the height of the output opening 15 may be the distance between the bottom of the slide 13, if the slide 13 designed as a scoop or the like with cup-shaped inner walls, and the end edge 26, or the distance between the bottom 16 of the tablet dispenser and the end edge 26, if the slide 13 has a through-going aperture.

When the tablet, intended to be dispensed by the tablet dispenser, has a size smaller than, or corresponding to, the cross section area of the channel 12 and/or a height smaller than the output opening 15, a magazine corresponding to this tablet is inserted in the tablet dispenser. In this regard, also the height of the tablet may affect the output and/or delivery of the tablet. Hereby, it may also be of importance to adjust the output opening 15. To make it possible to adjust the output opening 15 in a higher degree in accordance with the tablet intended to be arranged in the magazine, without changing tablet dispenser, also the magazine contribute to the height of the output opening 15.

The magazine 21 may in one embodiment be provided with a lid 27, in accordance with Fig. 4. This lid 27 may be provided with a first spring 28. The spring 28 then extends at least partly inside the magazine 21 and rests against pushing member 29 located in the magazine 21 and in its turn resting on the top tablet contained in the magazine. The spring 28 serves for advancement of the tablets arranged in the magazine. The spring 28 may also return, i.e. move towards the first end of the magazine, on pushing button. The magazine may rest at the bottom against the abutment 14 beneath which the slide 13 is movable in a reciprocating movement transversely of the longitudinal direction of the magazine 21.

When the mouth edge 25 and the end edge 26 are at the same distance from the slide 13 the determining factor regarding the output opening IS is the distance from the abutment 14 and/or the end edge 25 and the bottom of the slide 13 or the bottom 17 of the housing 11, depending on the design of the slide 13. This implies limitations in respect of the tablets that may be dispensed by the tablet dispenser, since the limitations purely are determined by the design of the tablet dispenser and not the design of the magazine and the tablet dispenser put together. Thus, it is preferred to provide the magazine with a mouth edge 25 having a greater distance to the abutment 14 and/or the slide 13 than the end edge 26. This also means that the mouth edge 25 is closer to said first end of the magazine than the end edge 26. This provides an increase in respect of the variability of the height of the output opening 15. The height of the output opening 15 has to be smaller than two heights of the tablet intended to be dispensed by the tablet dispenser when only one tablet shall be dispensed at a time. If the output opening is greater than, or equal to, two heights of the tablet intended to be dispensed, two tablets will be affected by the movement of the slide 13, when the slide 13 moves vertically to the column of tablets arranged in the magazine.

When manufacturing the different magazines according to the different embodiments herein, the manufacturer has to take into account the distance from the abutment 14 or, the output mouth 24 to the bottom of the slide 13 or the bottom 17 of the housing 11, depending on the design of the slide 13, and the size of the tablet for which the magazine is manufactured, i.e. the height, width, and breadth of said tablet, to make sure that the output opening 15 will be appropriately sized. In this respect the manufacturer may take into account the height and the maximum diameter of said tablet. The present inventors have surprisingly found that the relationship between the maximum diameter and the height, i.e. maximum diameter divided by height, of a common tablet is in the interval of 0,5 and 4,5, such as 0,75 and 4,25. It is even more common that this interval is 2,0 to 4,25, such as between 2,25 and 2,9. For example a tablet with a maximum diameter of 6,5 mm may have a height of 4,5 mm, which means that the diameter/height relationship is approximately 1,44. Another example is a tablet with a maximum diameter of 9 mm and a height of 6,5 mm, which gives a diameter/height relationship of approximately 1,38. Still another example is a tablet with a maximum diameter of 14 mm and a height of 9 mm, which gives a diameter/height relationship of approximately 1,56. Yet still another example is a tablet with a maximum diameter of 21 mm and a height of 9 mm, which gives a diameter/height relationship of approximately 2,33. Still another example is a tablet with a maximum diameter of 17,7 mm and a height of 5,2 mm, which gives a diameter/height relationship of approximately 3,4. The relationship interval mentioned above may therefore be used by the manufacturer to manufacture standard magazines for accommodating tablets, which magazines are adapted to be inserted in a tablet dispenser of the kind described in embodiments herein. By the use of this relationship interval the manufacturer may provide the magazine with a tablet channel and a distance between the mouth edge 25 and the end edge 26, to obtain a suitable output opening 15. This may be obtained when the manufacturer takes into account the distance from the abutment 14 or the end edge 26 and the bottom of the slide 13 or the bottom 16 of the housing 11, whereby also the distance between the mouth edge 25 and the end edge 26 may be established. Thus, the relationship between the maximum diameter of the tablet channel 22 and the height of the output opening, i.e. the maximum diameter of the tablet channel divided by height of the output opening, may preferably be selected to be in the interval 0,25 to 2,25, such that 0,375 to 2,125, since the output opening 15 has to be smaller than two heights of the tablet intended to be arranged in the magazine and thus dispensed by the tablet dispenser.

The obtainment of a suitable output opening 15 may in this respect mean to obtain an output opening 15 that has a height that is smaller than two heights of the tablet intended to be dispensed by the dispensed, i.e. the tablet intended to be arranged in the magazine.

In still another embodiment the lid 17 of the tablet dispenser is provided with a spring. This spring then may extend at least partly inside a magazine 21, arranged in said tablet dispenser, to thereby rest against a pushing member. This pushing member may then perform the same action as the pushing member 29 according to Fig. 4. The spring may then be flexible, such that said spring with pushing member 29 may be inserted into the magazine.

The magazine 21 may be designed in different manners and with a different cross sectional configuration to that shown, such that the tablet channel 22 corresponds to the tablets intended to be inserted in said magazine 21. Thus, it is appropriate that its configuration is adapted to the configuration of the tablets, which are to be placed therein. These different configurations may also apply in respect of the height of the different heights of said tablets.

The tablet dispenser and the magazine may be manufactured from a suitable plastic material, such as thermoplastics, such as polypropylene, polycarbonate, polystyrene, polyolefin, polyurethane, thermoplastic polyester, ABS (poly acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) , and copolymers thereof, or metals, such as stainless steel, aluminium, etc.

The tablet dispenser and the magazine according to the various embodiments may also be employed for other types of objects, which are stackable in a suitable manner. The invention can be implemented in any suitable form including hardware, software, firmware or any combination of these. The elements and components of an embodiment of the invention may be physically, functionally and logically implemented in any suitable way. Indeed, the functionality may be implemented in a single unit, in a plurality of units or as part of other functional units. As such, the invention may be implemented in a single unit, or may be physically and functionally distributed between different units and processors.

Although the present invention has been described above with reference to specific embodiments, it is not intended to be limited to the specific form set forth herein. Rather, the invention is limited only by the accompanying claims and, other embodiments than the specific above are equally possible within the scope of these appended claims.

In the claims, the term "comprises/comprising" does not exclude the presence of other elements or steps. Furthermore, although individually listed, a plurality of means, elements or method steps may be implemented by e.g. a single unit or processor. Additionally, although individual features may be included in different claims, these may possibly advantageously be combined, and the inclusion in different claims does not imply that a combination of features is not feasible and/or advantageous. In addition, singular references do not exclude a plurality. The terms "a", "an", "first", "second" etc. do not preclude a plurality. Reference signs in the claims are provided merely as a clarifying example and shall not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims in any way.

Claims

1. A magazine for a tablet dispenser, comprising a tablet channel (22) with a first mouth in a first end of the magazine and an output mouth (24) in a second end of the magazine.

2. The magazine according to claim 1, comprising a cover (23), such that said tablet channel (22) has a maximum cross section width that is smaller than the minimum cross section width of said cover (23) .

3. The magazine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the output mouth (24) comprises a mouth edge (25) and an end edge (26), such that said mouth edge (25) is closer to said first end than said end edge (26) .

4. The magazine according to claim 1, 2, or 3, comprising a lid (27), arranged in said first end of said magazine.

5. The magazine according to claim 4, wherein said lid (27) comprises a spring (28), extending at least partly in said tablet channel (22), wherein said spring (29) is attached to said lid in a first end of said spring (29) .

6. The magazine according to claim 5, comprising a pushing member (29), attached to said spring (28) in a second end of said spring (28), such that said pushing member (29) is movable along said tablet channel (22) .

7. A tablet dispenser adapted to receive a magazine according to any of claims 1 to 6, comprising a housing (11), enclosing a channel (12), adapted for receiving said magazine, a slide (14), and a means for moving said slide (14) in a reciprocating movement transversely of a longitudinal direction of said magazine.

8. The dispenser according to claim 7, comprising an abutment (15), located in said channel (12), which abutment

(15) serves to support the magazine when the magazine is arranged in said channel (12) .

9. A kit comprising a magazine according to any of claims 1 to 6 and a dispenser according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the relationship between the distance from the output mouth (24) to the bottom of the slide (14) or a bottom (17) of the housing (11), and the maximum width of the tablet channel (22) is in the interval of 0,25 to 2,25.

10. The kit according to claim 9, wherein the relationship between the distance from the mouth edge (25) to the bottom of the slide (14), or a bottom (17) of the housing (11), and the maximum width of the tablet channel (22) is in the interval of 0,25 to 2,25.