Measuring and testing – Testing of material
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-30
2001-07-10
Noland, Thomas P. (Department: 2856)
Measuring and testing
Testing of material
C073S865800, C177S050000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06257079
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an appliance for testing oblong tablets or similarly shaped tablets and more especially for the weighing, measuring and fracture testing of such tablets, in suitable testing stations.
The German utility model 8,402,581 discloses a tablet testing appliance with a conveying means, in the case of which the tablets are passed from a feed means onto a conveying means with a rake, which possesses a plurality of forks which move the tablets further on along a conveying path. A moving means for the rake moves the rake along a distance in the direction of the conveying means, then lifts the rake and moves the rake in the raised state a corresponding distance back again against the conveying direction. After this the rake is lowered and again moved through a certain conveying distance. Along the path of movement of the rake a plurality of testing stations are provided, namely a weighing means, a testing station for measuring thickness and testing station for the fracture test. The known tablet testing appliance is suitable for round or spherical tablets, but less so for so-called oblong tablets and similarly formed tablets, which may possess a substantially oval form in plan view, a flat edge about their periphery and vaulted top and bottoms sides. Such tablets give rise to difficulties with the known appliance. In the various testing stations such as the thickness measuring station, the diameter measuring station and the station for fracture testing they cannot always be aligned in the necessary fashion.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In contradistinction to this, the invention has the aim of providing for testing of oblong tablets or similarly formed tablets in suitable testing stations, using which a plurality of tests as for example weighing, measuring and fracture testing may be performed in corresponding testing stations, the individual oblong tablets or similarly shaped tablets being able to be positioned in the testing stations with the necessary accuracy.
In order to attain such aims the tablet testing appliance in accordance with the invention is characterized by a feed means for the feed of individual tablets to a weighing means, whose weighing pan possesses a floor, inclined in the direction of conveying, in the form of a trough, and by a conveying means underneath the weighing pan, on which the tablets are deposited from the weighing pan with their longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal direction of the trough and which conveys the tablets with such alignment through further testing stations.
Due to this design of the tablet testing appliance of the invention, it is possible to ensure that comparable results are obtained on testing the tablets in the individual testing stations. The thickness of the oblong tablets or similar tablets is defined as the thickness of the tablets perpendicularly to their longitudinal axis and in the middle of the same. Consequently the thickness is measured by placing the tablet on one of its vaulted surfaces and moving a feeler against he opposite vaulted surface in order to measure the distance between the feeler and the engaged surface. Consequently it is necessary for the tablet to be suitably positioned in order to implement such measurement of thickness. The length of an oblong tablet or of a similarly shaped tablet and fracture hardness are measured and, respectively, tested along the longitudinal axis so that a predetermined alignment is necessary in the respective testing station on the longitudinal axis. These requirements can be readily fulfilled with the apparatus of the invention, because the oblong tablets or similar tablets will have the correct alignment when they arrive on the conveying means.
An advantageous embodiment of the tablet testing appliance of the invention is characterized in that the feed means possesses a feed trough inclined in the conveying direction, into which the tablets are fed, more particularly by a vibratory individualizing device. In the feed trough a certain pre-alignment of the tablets may take place.
An advantageous further embodiment of the tablet testing appliance of the invention is characterized in that between the weighing means and the conveying means a flat or shaped transfer trough is provided so that there is the advantage that the alignment of the tablets produced in the weighing means is maintained.
An advantageous further embodiment of the tablet testing appliance of the invention is characterized in that the floor of the weighing pan has a V-shaped cross section. This design of the trough ensures that the tablets are aligned with their longitudinal axis in the V-shaped trough cross section of the floor of the weighing pan, thereby ensuring an optimum alignment of the oblong tablets.
An advantageous further embodiment of the tablet testing appliance of the invention is characterized in that the feed trough and/or the transfer trough also possesses a V-shaped cross section like the trough in the weighing pan.
An advantageous further embodiment of the tablet testing appliance of the invention is characterized in that between the point, at which the oblong tablets coming from the weighing pan are transferred to the conveying means, and the further testing stations, a toppling means, more particularly a wedge, is arranged in the conveying direction, which topples over any oblong tablets standing on their edges so that the tablets fall onto their round side. It is thus possible to ensure that even in this exceptional case the oblong tablets are correctly positioned, before same are fed to the testing stations.
An advantageous further embodiment of the tablet testing appliance of the invention is characterized in that the conveying means possesses a conveying rail and a rake, which moves the tablets forward on the conveying rail. This makes it possible to ensure that the alignment of the oblong tablets, as the tablets come from the weighing means, is maintained during further conveying.
Lastly, an advantageous further embodiment of the tablet testing appliance of the invention is characterized in that the toppling means can have the form of a toppling stone in the conveying direction, more particularly a wedge, a toppling groove in the conveying direction, or preferably an individually and vertically movable toppling element that can be moved to extend over the conveying plane to form a toppling stone, and that can be withdrawn under the conveying plane to form a toppling groove. Of course, the toppling element can take intermediate poisons, for example flush with the conveying plane, in case the probe does not need to be toppled. Thus, the height or depth of the toppling element can individually be varied within the limits of it's maximum movement, according to the form of the probe.
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ERWEKA Gmbh
Fleit Martin
Noland Thomas P.
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