Testing device for tablets

The invention relates to a tablet testing device for testing oblong tablets or similarly shaped tablets, especially for weighing, measuring and fracture testing of such tablets, in suitable testing stations.

is from the German Utility Model 8402581 a tablet tester with a transport device, in which the tablets from a feeder access to a transport device having a rake which having a plurality of forks, which further move the tablets on a transport path. A movement device for the raking transported to the rake a distance in the direction of transport, then lifts the rake and leads him into the raised position against the transport direction to a corresponding Route back. Thereafter, the rake is lowered and again advanced by one transport path. Along the path of movement Rake are multiple test stations, namely a set of scales, a test station for the thickness measurement and a test station for the breaking test provided. The known Tablet tester is suitable for round or spherical tablets but less for so-called oblong tablets and similar-shaped tablets a substantially oval shape in plan view, a flat web of may have its periphery and a domed top and bottom. Such tablets cause difficulties to the known apparatus. they can in different test stations, as the Dickenmeßstation who Durchmessermeßstation and the station for fracture toughness testing is not always in the as required to be aligned.

The invention is based on the object of a tablet tester for testing oblong tablets or similarly formed tablets, provide in corresponding test stations, with the number of tests, for example, weighing, measuring and fracture testing in appropriate test stations can be carried out, with the individual oblong tablets or similarly shaped tablets in the test stations with the required accuracy can be positioned.

To achieve these objects tablet testing device according to the invention is characterized by a feed device for feeding individual tablets to a scale whose scale in the transport direction in an inclined bottom having the form of a trough and a conveyor below the Pan to which the tablets from the weighing pan with their longitudinal axis are placed parallel to the longitudinal direction of the channel and into the tablet this direction transported by further test stations.

This configuration of the tablet testing device of the invention it can be assured that comparable results when testing the tablets, are obtained in the individual test stations. The thickness of the oblong tablets or similar tablets is defined as the thickness of the tablet perpendicular thereof to its longitudinal axis and in the middle. Therefore, the thickness is measured, by placing the tablet on one of its curved surfaces and with a push button is moved against the opposite curved surface to to measure the distance between the stylus and the support surface. Therefore must the tablet can be positioned appropriately to perform this thickness measurement to. The length of an oblong tablet or a similarly shaped Tablet and the fracture toughness are measured along the longitudinal axis or checked, so däß to the longitudinal axis in a specific orientation must be placed in the respective test station. These requirements can be easily fulfilled with the device according to the invention, because the Oblong tablets or similar tablets have the right orientation, when they arrive on the conveyor.

An advantageous embodiment of the tablet tester invention is characterized in that the supply means comprises in the transport direction has inclined feeder chute into which the tablets, in particular by a Vibratory Separator be fed. In the feeding trough may already certain pre-orientation of the tablet take place.

A further advantageous embodiment of the inventive tablet tester is characterized in that between the balance and of the transport device a flat or profiled transfer trough is provided so that advantageously the orientation of the tablet remains intact, they in the balance received.

A further advantageous embodiment of the tablet tester invention is characterized in that the bottom of a V-shaped pan Cross-section. With this configuration of the channel is ensured, that the tablets with their longitudinal axis in the V-shaped cross section of the bottom the pan be aligned, whereby an optimal orientation of the Oblong tablet is achieved.

A further advantageous embodiment of the test device according to the invention is characterized in that the supply channel and / or the transfer trough likewise have a V-shaped cross section as the trough of the weighing pan.

A further advantageous embodiment of the test device according to the invention is characterized in that between the point at which the oblong tablets are passed from the pan coming onto the transport device, and the other test stations, a stumbling block, especially einKeil, in the Transport device is arranged which may upstanding on its web Oblong tablets tilts so that they fall on their round side. This is in advantageously ensured even for this exceptional situation that the Oblong tablets are positioned correctly before they supplied the test stations will.

A further advantageous embodiment of the tablet tester invention is characterized in that the transport means comprises a Transport rail and a rake which of the tablets on the transport rail moves forward. This ensures that the orientation of oblong tablet when it comes from the scale, during the further transport preserved.

Finally, an advantageous embodiment of the inventive tablet tester is characterized in that the mistake direction in the transport direction arranged stumbling block, especially as a wedge, as in the transport direction arranged Stolpernut, but preferably as a transverse to the transport direction individually vertically displaceable baffle member be driven out to form a stumbling stone above the transport plane can and withdrawn to form a Stolpernut under the transport plane is to be formed. Of course there are also intermediate positions the chicane element, such as flush possible with the transport plane, When a tilting of the specimen is not required. The height or depth of the Chicane element can in this way within the limits of the maximum Movability thereof be selected individually for Prüflingsform.

An embodiment of the invention will now reference to the accompanying Drawings. Show it:<dl tsize="8" compact="compact"><dt>figure 1</dt><dd>is a schematic side view of the upper portion of a tablet testing appliance; and</dd><dt>figure 2</dt><dd>a partial plan view of the tablet testing device according to Figure 1; and</dd><dt>figure 3</dt><dd>a side view of a detail of the tablet tester of FIG. 1</dd></dl>

As can be seen from Figures 1 and 2, the tablet testing device a magazine 2 or a reservoir for tablet tablets on. From the magazine 2 reach the oblong tablets in a vibratory Vereinzlungssystem, consisting of a longitudinal conveyor chute 3 and a circular conveyor 4 consists. Both the longitudinal conveyor channel 3 and the rotary conveyor 4 can in specific device versions omitted. From the circular conveyor 4, the tablets are 6 in the direction of arrow R (Figure 2) transported and a discharge port 8 delivered into a supply groove 10 which is part of the feeder and in the transport direction (arrow X 2) of the outlet opening 8 of the circular conveyor 4 is tilted downward. From the supply groove 10, the tablets are passed to a scale 12 whose scale 13 a in the transport direction inclined bottom 14 has the form of a trough. The pan 13 is at its lower end closed by a flap 16 that out of the way of the tablet can be moved out, so that they leave the pan 13 can. The pan 13 to the bottom 14 and the flap 16 is a Connecting plunger 17 is connected to the scale 12th

Between the scale 12 and a transport device for the oblong tablets a transfer trough 20 is provided.

The pan 13 has at its bottom 14 a V-shaped cross section. The Supply groove 10 and / or the transfer trough 20 can have a corresponding V-shaped have cross-section or a planar shape.

The transport device 18 is below the weighing pan 13 and below the transfer trough 20 is provided, and the oblong tablets are of the pan 16 with its longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal direction of the channel in the bottom 14 of the pan stored. The transport device, consisting of a Transport rail 28 and a rake 26 is transported in the tablets this orientation by further test stations, in particular a test station 22 for the thickness measurement, in which a thickness measurement sensor, the top of Tablet is moved up, and a testing station 24 in which the diameter and the breaking strength of the tablets is measured. The double arrow Y indicates that the rake 26 moves over the transport rail 28 (Figure 1) back and forth, the oblong tablets to be transported through the test station. In the Part of the test station 24, in which the fracture toughness test is performed acts Breaking jaws (not shown) in the direction of arrow Z to the oblong tablets in their longitudinal direction.

Between the point at which the oblong tablets of the weighing pan 13 are coming over to the transport device 18, and the other Test stations 22, 24 is a stumbling block or a wedge 30 in the arranged transportation means, of any on-edge on its web Oblong tablets tilts so that they fall on their round side.

Figure 3 shows an embodiment of the tablet tester of Figure 1, wherein the mistake direction than vertically displaceable baffle member 30 is formed, which is aligned transversely to the transport direction and to form a stumbling stone can be moved beyond the transport plane be withdrawn and to form a Stolpernut under the transport plane can. Figure 3a shows the baffle member 30 in a plane through the transport also driven position to form a stumbling stone, 3b showing the baffle member 30 in a position flush with the transport device 28 and 3c shows the baffle member 30 in an under the Transport plane retracted position to form a Stolpernut

From the foregoing description it is apparent that the oblong tablets or similar tablets in the test stations 22, 24, where it is accurate to the Orientation of the oblong tablets arrives with the correct orientation be positioned.