Hopper for collecting and dispensing discrete medicaments, outlet valve, dispensing device comprising said hopper and method

Abstract

The invention relates to a hopper, an outlet valve, a dispensing device and a method for collecting and dispensing discrete medicaments, wherein the hopper comprises a hopper inlet, a hopper outlet and an outlet valve in the hopper outlet that is movable between a closed position in which the outlet valve blocks passage of the discrete medicaments out of the hopper through the hopper outlet and an open position in which the outlet valve allows passage of the discrete medicaments out of the hopper through the hopper outlet in a drop direction, wherein the outlet valve has a valve body that defines a holding surface at a side of the valve body that supports the discrete medicaments in the hopper outlet when the outlet valve is in the closed position, wherein said holding surface has a cross section for receiving the discrete medicaments.

Claims

1. Hopper for collecting and dispensing discrete medicaments, wherein the hopper comprises a hopper inlet, a hopper outlet and an outlet valve in the hopper outlet that is movable between a closed position in which the outlet valve blocks passage of the discrete medicaments out of the hopper through the hopper outlet and an open position in which the outlet valve (4, 104) allows passage of the discrete medicaments out of the hopper through the hopper outlet in a drop direction, wherein the outlet valve has a lever, that is operable to move the outlet valve between the closed position and the open position, and valve body that defines a holding surface at a side of the valve body that supports the discrete medicaments in the hopper outlet when the outlet valve is in the closed position, wherein said holding surface has a cross section for receiving the discrete medicaments, wherein said cross section is trough-shaped, wherein the hopper further comprises a valve position sensor for detecting the open position and/or the closed position of the outlet valve, based on the position of the lever, wherein the valve position sensor comprises a transmitter and a receiver at a first end of a detection area (A), wherein the outlet valve lever in the closed position at least partially extends into the detection area (A) to intersect with a light beam from the transmitter and deflect the light beam, and in the open position is clear of the detection area.

2. Hopper according to claim 1, wherein the outlet valve is rotatable between the closed position and the open position about a valve axis (S), wherein the cross section is parallel to the valve axis (S).

3. Hopper according to claim 1, wherein the valve body comprises a first half and a second half that converge in the drop direction (D) from opposite sides of a mid-plane (M).

4. (canceled)

5. Hopper according to claim 3, wherein the outlet valve is rotatable between the closed position and the open position about a valve axis (S), wherein the mid-plane (M) extends perpendicular to the valve axis (S).

6. Hopper according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter emits a laser light.

7. Hopper according to claim 6, wherein the transmitter is configured for emitting a beam (B) in a horizontal detection direction (E).

8. Hopper according to claim 1, wherein the cross section (C2) is at least partially concave.

9. Hopper according to claim 1, wherein in the cross section the holding surface has a width (W) and a depth (H) that is at least half the width (W).

10. Hopper according to claim 1, wherein the holding surface has a longitudinal direction (L) that is at an oblique angle (K) to the horizontal plane when the outlet valve is in the closed position.

11. Hopper according to claim 1, wherein the hopper is provided with a pin, wherein the outlet valve is rotatable about said pin between the closed position and the open position, wherein the outlet valve at the location of the pin is provided with a reinforcement bushing to receive the pin.

12. Hopper according to claim 11, wherein the reinforcement bushing has a thickness (T) in an axial direction parallel to the pin that is thicker than valve body directly around said reinforcement bushing.

13.-14. (canceled)

15. Dispensing device comprising a hopper for collecting and dispensing discrete medicaments, wherein the hopper comprises a hopper inlet, a hopper outlet and an outlet valve in the hopper outlet that is movable between a closed position in which the outlet valve blocks passage of the discrete medicaments out of the hopper through the hopper outlet and an open position in which the outlet valve allows passage of the discrete medicaments out of the hopper through the hopper outlet in a drop direction, wherein the outlet valve has a valve body that defines a holding surface at a side of the valve body that supports the discrete medicaments in the hopper outlet when the outlet valve is in the closed position, wherein said holding surface has a cross section for receiving the discrete medicaments, wherein said cross section is trough-shaped, wherein the dispensing device further comprises a valve opener for moving the outlet valve from the closed position into the open position and a control unit operationally connected to the valve opener, wherein the control unit is configured for controlling the valve opener to accelerate the outlet valve from the closed position towards the open position quicker than the gravitational acceleration.

16. (canceled)

17. Dispensing device according to claim 15, wherein the dispensing device comprises a valve position sensor for detecting the open position and/or the closed position of the outlet valve.

18. Dispensing device according to claim 17, wherein the valve position sensor comprises a transmitter and a receiver at a first end of a detection area (A) and a reflector at a second end of the detection area (A) opposite to the first end, wherein the outlet valve in the closed position at least partially extends in the detection area (A) and in the open position is clear of the detection area (A).

19. Dispensing device according to claim 18, wherein the transmitter is configured for emitting a beam (B) in a horizontal detection direction (E).

20. Dispensing device according to claim 17, wherein the outlet valve further comprises a lever that is operable to move the outlet valve between the closed position and the open position and the position sensor detects whether the outlet valve is in the open position or the closed position based on the position of the lever.

21. Method for collecting and dispensing discrete medicaments with the use of a hopper according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises the steps of: positioning the outlet valve in the closed position to block passage of the discrete medicaments out of the hopper through the hopper outlet; supporting the discrete medicaments in the hopper outlet on the holding surface of the outlet valve; and moving the outlet valve from the closed position towards the open position to allow passage of the discrete medicaments out of the hopper through the hopper outlet.

22. Method according to claim 21, wherein during the movement of the outlet valve from the closed position towards the open position, the outlet valve is accelerated quicker than the gravitational acceleration.

23. (canceled)

24. Method according to claim 21, wherein the method further comprises the step of detecting the open position and/or the closed position of the outlet valve by detecting the position of a lever of the outlet valve.

25. Method according to claim 21, wherein the open position and/or the closed position are detected in a horizontal detection direction (E).

26. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0053] The invention will be elucidated on the basis of an exemplary embodiment shown in the attached schematic drawings, in which:

[0054] FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of a hopper according to a first exemplary embodiment of the invention with an outlet valve for dispensing discrete medicaments collected in said hopper;

[0055] FIG. 2 shows a cross section of the hopper according to the line II-II in FIG. 1;

[0056] FIG. 3 shows an isometric view of the hopper with the outlet valve disassembled from the rest of the hopper;

[0057] FIG. 4 shows a cross section of the hopper according to the line IV-IV in FIG. 1, with the outlet valve in a closed position;

[0058] FIG. 5 shows a cross section of the hopper according to FIG. 4, with the outlet valve in an open position;

[0059] FIG. 6 shows a cross section of the hopper according to FIG. 4, with the outlet valve returned to the closed position;

[0060] FIG. 7 shows cross section of an alternative hopper according to a second exemplary embodiment of the invention; and

[0061] FIG. 8 shows a cross section of the hopper according to FIG. 4, and further showing a plurality of feeder units and a camera above said hopper.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0062] FIGS. 1-6 show a hopper 1 according to a first embodiment of the invention for collecting and dispensing discrete medicaments, discrete solid medicaments, pharmaceuticals or solid items, articles or substances 90 for medical use, e.g. pills, tablets, capsules or the like. The discrete medicaments 9 are shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 only. The medicaments are discrete in the sense that they can be collected one-by-one, individually, separately or in dose units in the hopper 1.

[0063] The hopper 1 is configured to be insertable into a dispensing device similar to the apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 10,457,427 B2, which is hereby incorporated by reference. In the dispensing device, the hopper 1 forms part of a circular array of hoppers that is moved in a stepped rotation along a plurality of feeder positions, to receive discrete medicaments from feeder units positioned in said feeder positions.

[0064] As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the hopper 1 comprises a hopper inlet 2 and a hopper outlet 3. The hopper inlet 2 is open at the top, relatively wide and tapers in a drop direction D towards the hopper outlet 3. In this exemplary embodiment, the drop direction D is vertical or substantially vertical. The hopper inlet 2 comprises two inlet side walls 21, 22. The hopper inlet 2 is further provided with an inlet rear wall 23 and an inlet front wall 24 tapering towards each other and interconnecting the two inlet side walls 21, 22. The inlet front wall 24 is facing to the outside of the circular array of hoppers when the hopper 1 is placed in the dispensing device. The front wall 24 may be provided with a handle or grip (not shown) to manually insert and/or take out the hopper 1 from the dispensing device.

[0065] The hopper outlet 3 is located at the tapering end of the hopper inlet 2 and is in open communication with said hopper inlet 2 to receive the discrete medicaments 9 collected by said hopper inlet 2. The hopper outlet 3 is open in the drop direction D to dispense or discharge the discrete medicaments 9 from the hopper 1. The hopper outlet 3 comprises two outlet side walls 31, 32 and an outlet rear wall 33 interconnecting the two outlet side walls 31, 32.

[0066] The hopper outlet 3 is further provided with a dust discharge channel 34 and a dust discharge opening 35 in the rear wall 33 allowing for the extraction of dust or small particles from the hopper outlet 3 through said rear wall 33. The hopper outlet 3 also comprises a suction grating 36 for connection to a vacuum source that cleans the hopper 1.

[0067] In this exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the hopper outlet 3, and in fact the hopper 1 in its entirety, is symmetrical or substantially symmetrical about a mid-plane M, though this could be different in different hoppers.

[0068] The hopper 1 is further provided with an outlet door, shutter or valve 4 at or in the hopper outlet 3 to open or close said hopper outlet 3. In particular, the outlet valve 4 is movable between a closed position, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, in which the outlet valve 4 blocks passage of the discrete medicaments 9 out of the hopper 1 through the hopper outlet 3 and an open position, as shown in FIG. 5, in which the outlet valve 4 allows passage of the discrete medicaments 9 out of the hopper 1 through the hopper outlet 3 in the drop direction D. In this exemplary embodiment, the outlet valve 4 is rotatable about a valve axis S. The valve axis S extends perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the mid-plane M.

[0069] As best seen in FIG. 3, the outlet valve 4 has a valve body 40 that defines a holding surface V1 at a side of the valve body 40 that supports the discrete medicaments 9 in the hopper outlet 4 when the outlet valve 4 is in the closed position. In other words, the holding surface V1 is the upwardly facing side of the valve body 40 when the outlet valve 4 is in the closed position.

[0070] As shown in FIG. 4, the valve body 40 is elongate in a longitudinal direction L. The holding surface V1 extends parallel to, substantially parallel to or in said longitudinal direction L. In the closed position of the outlet valve 4, the valve body 40 is arranged at an oblique angle K to the horizontal plane. In particular, the valve body 40 extends obliquely downwards towards the rear wall 33 of the hopper outlet 3.

[0071] FIG. 2 shows a cross section C1 of the valve body when the outlet valve 4 is in the closed position. The cross section C1 is taken in a plane parallel to the valve axis S. More in particular, in this example, the cross section C1 is taken in the vertical plane, parallel to the valve axis S. The cross section C1 may also have been taken in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L. The cross section C1 is trough-shaped. In the context of the present invention, the term trough-shaped should be interpreted as a cross section that defines a recessed volume in the valve body 40 that is open in an upward direction to receive and support the discrete medicaments 9 in a recessed manner. In particular, the cross section C1 defines a long and narrow, channel-like volume in the longitudinal direction L of the valve body 40. The cross section C1 may be multifaceted, concave or a combination thereof.

[0072] In this exemplary embodiment, the cross section C1 is V-shaped or substantially V-shaped. In particular, the valve body 40 comprises a first half 41 and a second half 42 that converge in the drop direction D from opposite sides of the mid-plane M. The first half 41 and the second half 42 preferably extend at an angle to the mid-plane M that is relatively sharp, e.g. equal to or smaller than forty-five degrees. Note that the first half 41 and the second half 42 are symmetrical or substantially symmetrical about said mid-plane M.

[0073] As shown in FIG. 4, the valve body 40 further comprises a valley 43 interconnecting the first half 41 and the second half 42. Said valley 43 extends linearly, preferably in or parallel to the mid-plane M and/or parallel to the longitudinal direction L of the valve body 40. Note that the valley 43 is aligned with dust discharge opening 35 in the rear wall 33 and the dust discharge channel 34 on the opposite side of the rear wall 33 of the hopper outlet 3.

[0074] As best seen in FIG. 2, the holding surface V1 has a width W in a direction parallel to the valve axis S and a height or depth H in the drop direction D. The width W is chosen such that the valve body 40 fits neatly between the outlet side walls 31, 32. The depth H is typically chosen to be at least half the width W. Hence, the holding surface V1 is relatively deep compared to the width W.

[0075] As shown in FIG. 3, the hopper 1 is provided with a pin 38 to facilitate the rotation of the outlet valve 4 about the valve axis S. At the location of the pin 38, the outlet valve 4 is provided with a reinforcement ring or bushing 48 to receive and rotate about the pin 38. The reinforcement bushing 48 has a thickness T in an axial direction parallel to the pin 38 that is thicker than valve body 40 directly around said reinforcement bushing 48. In this exemplary embodiment, the thickness T of the reinforcement bushing 48 is approximately twice the thickness of the valve body 40 directly around said reinforcement bushing 48. The reinforcement bushing 48 is preferably integrally formed with the rest of the valve body 40.

[0076] As further shown in FIG. 3, the outlet valve 4 further comprises a lever 44 that is operable to move the outlet valve 4 between the closed position and the open position. The lever 44 comprises a first lever side 45 and a second lever side 46 extending mutually parallel at a side of the lever axis S opposite to the valve body 40. In this example, the lever sides 45, 46 are formed as arms. The lever 44 further comprises a lever end 47 interconnecting the lever sides 45, 46 at the distal end of said lever 44.

[0077] FIG. 5 shows the hopper 1 interacting with a valve opener 5 external to said hopper 1. The valve opener 5 may be part of the dispensing device in which the hopper 1 is placed. The valve opener 5 may comprise an actuator, for example a stepper motor, that interacts with the lever 44, more specifically the lever end 47, to open and close the outlet valve 4. The valve opener 5 is strategically positioned at a dispensing position, in particular at a packing unit, to operate the outlet valve 4 when the hopper 1 is almost or directly above said packing unit. The dispensing device further comprises a control unit 8 that is operationally and/or electronically connected to the valve opener 5 to control said valve opener 5.

[0078] The control unit 8 is programmed, arranged and/or configured for controlling the valve opener 5 to accelerate the outlet valve 4 from the closed position, as shown in FIG. 4, towards the open position, as shown in FIG. 5 with rotation arrow R, quicker than the gravitational acceleration, i.e. more than 9.81 m/s.sup.2. As a result, the holding surface V1 can be dropped or pulled away from underneath the discrete medicaments 9 faster than gravity, to ensure that the discrete medicaments 9 can free fall from the hopper outlet 3. In other embodiments, the outlet valve 4 could be moved more slowly such that the outlet valve 4 helps to guide and/or slow the fall.

[0079] As shown in FIG. 6, the hopper 1 is further provided with a return member 7, preferably a biasing element such as a spring, to return the outlet valve 4 to the closed position once the valve opener 5 releases the outlet valve 4 from the open position. This may for example happen when the circular array of hoppers is rotated over another step and the hopper 1, which was previously positioned directly overhead the packing position and at the valve opener 5 associated with said packing position, is now moved away from the valve opener 5 into a subsequent position downstream of the packing position.

[0080] In said subsequent position, the dispensing device may further be provided with a valve position sensor 6 to check if the outlet valve 4 has been returned correctly to the closed position. The outlet valve 4 may not return correctly when something is stuck between the outlet valve 4 and the hopper 1, for example a discrete medicament 9 or a part of a medicament that failed to fall out of the hopper outlet 3 in time. The valve position sensor 6 comprises a transmitter 60 and receiver 61 at a first end of a detection area A and a reflector 62 at a second end of the detection area A opposite to the first end. The transmitter 60 may be configured to emit a light beam B, for example infrared or laser light. The receiver 61 may be photocell sensitive to the spectrum of the light beam B.

[0081] In the open position, shown in dashed lines in FIG. 6, the outlet valve 4 extends clear of the detection area A. In that case, the light beam B may travel interrupted from the transmitter 60 to the reflector 62 and back towards the receiver 61. However, in the closed position, shown in solid lines in FIG. 6, the outlet valve 4 at least partially extends in the detection area A. The outlet valve 4, and in particular the lever 44 thereof, intersects with the light beam B and deflects the light beam B away from the reflector 62. Hence, no signal is detected, which is indicative of the outlet valve 4 correctly being returned to the closed position.

[0082] The operation of the valve position sensor 6 may alternatively be reversed, e.g. by positioning the transmitter 60, the reflector 61 and the receiver 62 such that a signal is detected when the outlet valve 4 is completely closed and no signal is detected when the outlet valve 4 is at least partially open.

[0083] The transmitter 60 and the reflector 62 are positioned such that even a slight offset of the outlet valve 4 from the closed position will cause the lever 44 to move at least partially out of the path of the light beam B. Hence, a signal is detected when the outlet valve 4 is not completely closed. Optionally, the detection direction E is horizontal or substantially horizontal. In other words, the light beam B is emitted and reflected horizontally or substantially horizontally.

[0084] The control unit 8 is operationally and/or electronically connected to the valve position sensor 6 to receive and process the signal (or absence thereof) generated by said valve position sensor 6, and to take appropriate action, for example stop the dispensing operation and/or alert an operator.

[0085] FIG. 7 shows an alternative hopper 101 according to a second embodiment of the invention, which differs from the previously discussed hopper 1 in that its outlet valve 104 has an valve body 140 that defines an alternative holding surface V2 with a concave cross section C2. In particular, the two halves 141, 142 of the valve body 140 are arcuate and converge or taper towards each other from opposite sides of the mid-plane M. Like its V-shaped counterpart, the concave holding surface V2 is symmetrical about said mid-plane M. Again, it has a depth H that is at least equal to half the width W. Hence, the alternative holding surface V2 is equally well suited to receive discrete medicaments 9 in a recessed manner.

[0086] FIG. 8 shows the aforementioned hopper 1 in relation to the feeder units F above it. The feeder units F can individually and/or selectively feed discrete medicaments 9 into the hopper inlet 2. The hopper 1 is optionally provided with a deflection member 200 in the hopper inlet 2 that can deflect the discrete medicaments 9 in a central region of the hopper inlet 2 to optimize their respective falling trajectories through the hopper inlet 2. In this way, it can be prevented that some of the discrete medicaments 9 travel a longer trajectory than others. In particular, the shape of the deflection member 3 is optimized to ensure that all discrete medicaments 9, regardless of the position of the feeder unit F from which they originated, reach the hopper outlet 3 at substantially the same time. Optionally, the deflection member 200 is removable from the hopper inlet 2 to facilitate easy cleaning and stacking of both the hopper inlet 2 and the deflection member 200.

[0087] The deflection member 200 comprises a first deflection surface 201 and a second deflection surface 202 extending at an oblique deflection angle X to the horizontal plane. The deflection angle X is chosen in a range of thirty to sixty degrees, more particularly a range of forty to fifty degrees. In this example, the deflection angle X is approximately forty-five degrees. The deflection surfaces 201, 202 are oppositely angled away from the center of the hopper inlet 2, like an inverted V-shape. In this example, the deflection surfaces 201, 202 are part of a single body. Alternatively, the deflection member 200 may be formed by two or more separate parts, each having its own deflection surface 201, 202. The deflection surfaces 201, 202 can break the fall of the discrete medicaments 9. The oblique deflection angle X can minimize or prevent damage to said discrete medicaments 9.

[0088] The deflection member 200 is further provided with a through-hole 203 that provides a clear line of sight Z between a camera C, located above the hopper 1, to the outlet valve 4. In this example, the line of sight Z is vertical or substantially vertical. In other words, the camera C is aligned vertically above the outlet valve 4. In this example, the through-hole 203 is located between the deflection surfaces 201, 202. Optionally, the dimensions of the through-hole 203 are chosen to be larger than, match or substantially match the field of view of the camera C. The camera C can be used to determine if the outlet valve 4 has been opened or closed correctly, or to determine if there are any discrete medicaments 9 or other materials remaining in the hopper outlet 3.

[0089] The camera C may be arranged in a dedicated camera position between the feeder units F, or it may be configured to be inserted into one of the positions normally occupied by a feeder unit F. In particular, the camera C may be adapted to fit to a docking base for such a feeder unit F, with the line of sight travelling through the aperture that is normally used to feed the discrete medicaments 9 from the respective feeder unit F into the hopper 1. Alternatively, the camera C can be positioned below the hopper outlet 3 with its line of sight pointing upwards. In that case, a backlight can be provided at the top of the hopper 1.

[0090] A method for collecting and dispensing discrete medicaments 9 with the use of any one of the aforementioned hoppers 1, 101 will now be briefly elucidated with reference to FIGS. 4-6.

[0091] FIG. 4 shows the situation in which the outlet valve 4 is positioned in the closed position to block passage of the discrete medicaments 9 out of the hopper 1 through the hopper outlet 3. A plurality of discrete medicaments 9 is supported on the holding surface V1. In particular, because of the trough-shaped cross section C1, as shown in FIG. 2, the holding surface V1 has been able to receive a plurality of the discrete medicaments 9 in a closely packed or nested manner, thereby reducing the chances of said discrete medicaments 9 bouncing off and damaging each other.

[0092] FIG. 5 shows the situation after the outlet valve 4 has been moved from the closed position towards the open position to allow passage of the discrete medicaments 9 out of the hopper 1, 101 through the hopper outlet 3. As mentioned before, the outlet valve 4 is accelerated quicker than the gravitational acceleration. In this way, it can be prevented that the outlet valve 4 interferes with the trajectories of the discrete medicaments 9 after the outlet valve 4 starts to move from the closed position towards the open position. As can be observed in FIG. 5, the group of discrete medicaments 9 previously supported on the holding surface V1 have started their free fall while remaining in relatively close proximity to each other, similar to their original relative positions on the holding surface V1. With little to no relative movement between the discrete medicaments 9, trajectory altering contacts between the discrete medicaments 9 can be prevented as much as possible.

[0093] FIG. 6 shows the situation after the outlet valve 4 has been returned to the closed position, with the valve position sensor 6 detecting said correct closing in the way as previously described.

[0094] It is to be understood that the above description is included to illustrate the operation of the preferred embodiments and is not meant to limit the scope of the invention. From the above discussion, many variations will be apparent to one skilled in the art that would yet be encompassed by the spirit and the scope of the present invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0095] 1 hopper [0096] 2 hopper inlet [0097] 21 inlet sidewall [0098] 22 inlet sidewall [0099] 23 inlet rear wall [0100] 24 inlet front wall [0101] 3 hopper outlet [0102] 31 outlet sidewall [0103] 32 outlet sidewall [0104] 33 outlet rear wall [0105] 34 dust discharge channel [0106] 35 dust discharge opening [0107] 36 suction grating [0108] 38 pin [0109] 4 outlet valve [0110] 40 valve body [0111] 41 first half [0112] 42 second half [0113] 43 valley [0114] 44 lever [0115] 45 first lever side [0116] 46 second lever side [0117] 47 lever end [0118] 48 reinforcement bushing [0119] 5 valve opener [0120] 6 valve position sensor [0121] 60 transmitter [0122] 61 receiver [0123] 62 reflector [0124] 7 return member [0125] 8 control unit [0126] 9 discrete medicament [0127] 101 alternative hopper [0128] 104 outlet valve [0129] 140 valve body [0130] 141 first half [0131] 142 second half [0132] 200 deflection member [0133] 201 first deflection surface [0134] 202 second deflection surface [0135] 203 through hole [0136] A detection area [0137] B beam [0138] C camera [0139] C1 cross section [0140] C2 alternative cross section [0141] D drop direction [0142] E detection direction [0143] F feeder unit [0144] G gravity [0145] H depth [0146] K oblique angle [0147] L longitudinal direction [0148] M mid-plane [0149] R rotation [0150] S valve axis [0151] T thickness [0152] V1 holding surface [0153] V2 alternative holding surface [0154] W width [0155] X deflection angle [0156] Z line of sight