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 corresponding test stations.

is from the German Utility Model 8402581 a tablet tester with a Transport device, in which the tablets A from a supply means on access transport means with a rake having a plurality of forks, the tablets continue to move on a transport path. A movement device for the rake the rake transported by a distance in the direction of transport, then raises the Rake and leads him in the raised position against the transport direction to a appropriate distance back. Thereafter, the rake is lowered and again advanced by one transport path. Along the path of movement of the rake are several Test stations, namely a set of scales, a test station for measuring the thickness and Test station for the breaking test provided. The known tablet tester is for round or spherical pellets suitable, but less so for so-called oblong tablets and similar shaped specimens that a fla-chen a substantially oval shape in plan view, Web can have on its periphery and a domed top and bottom. Such Samples present difficulties to the known apparatus. You can on in various Test stations as the Dickenmeßstation who Durchmessermeßstation and the station Fracture toughness test are not always aligned in the required manner.

From FR 2142655 A discloses a device for weighing and sorting of tablets known, said tablets are first weighed and depending on the weight of processed either or be discarded.

From US 4,393,717 A a method and an apparatus for automatic known quality inspection of round tablets or pills. The tablets are of a issued production machine in reservoir. are from the tablet stream pattern the implementation of quality control diverted, and the dropped tablets tested in a separate Tablettenprüfeinrichtung. The round tablets roll from the supply means via a V-shaped groove into the test station where it on a plate of a Thickness measurement, and a break test are subjected to, which is due to the shape of the tablets does not depend on their orientation on the plate.

From DE 42 41 985 Al an apparatus for testing of tablets is known in centered the individual tablets in circular shots of a turntable in a central axis and rotated in the range of Härteprüfstation with a surface plate so that their Longitudinal axis in the radial longitudinal axis of the pressure member a hardness tester is to not circularly symmetric tablets always same test to submit to the test. For the orientation of the caplets additional Centering required.

From the "User RQ100" of 20 July 1993 from the company. Kilian GmbH & Co. KG is a device known to be measured by the weight, thickness and hardness of tablets can. The tablets are given by a funding pot to a pan and from there transported via a tablet chute on a turntable for thickness and hardness measurement. In the case of tablets form a specific shape of the turntable is used to the device switch to the measurement of tablet form, ie the form of tablets by the special Embodiment of the rotary plate oriented so that a reproducible thickness measurement is possible.

The invention is based on the object of a tablet tester for Testing oblong tablets or similarly formed tablets in corresponding Teststätionen provide, the more test, for example, weighing, measuring and Fracture testing can be carried out in corresponding test stations, wherein the individual Oblong tablets or similarly formed tablets in the measuring stations with the necessary Accuracy can be positioned.

To achieve these objects, the test device according to the invention in the main claim is manner indicated in.

Thus, by this embodiment of the tablet testing device according to the invention ensures be that similar results when testing the tablets in the various stations are obtained. The thickness of the oblong tablets or similar test items defined than the thickness of the tablet of the same perpendicular to its longitudinal axis and in the middle. Therefore the thickness is measured by placing the tablet on one of their curved surfaces and is driven with a push-button against the opposite curved surface, the distance measured between the probe and the support surface. Therefore, the tablet must accordingly be positioned to perform this thickness measurement can. The length of a Oblong tablet or a similarly shaped tablet and the fracture toughness are along the longitudinal axis measured or checked, so that specific to the longitudinal axis in a Orientation in the corresponding test station must be arranged. This Erfordemis-se can be easily fulfilled with the device according to the invention, because the Oblong tablets or similar tablets have the correct orientation when they are on the Transport means arrive.

An advantageous embodiment of the device according to the invention is characterized, that the supply means comprises an inclined in the direction of transport supply groove, in which the tablets are in particular fed from a vibratory singler. In the feeding trough a certain pre-orientation of the tablet there may already be.

Another advantageous embodiment of the tablet tester invention characterized in that between the balance and the transport device has a flat or profiled transfer trough is provided, so that advantageously the orientation the tablets remains that they have received in the balance.

Another advantageous embodiment of the tablet tester invention characterized in that the floor of the weighing pan has a V-shaped cross section. With this configuration of the channel is ensured that the test pieces with their longitudinal axis are aligned in the V-shaped cross section the bottom of the pan, whereby a optimal orientation of the oblong tablet is achieved.

Another advantageous embodiment of the tablet tester invention characterized in that the supply channel and / or the transfer trough also a V-shaped having cross section as the trough of the weighing pan.

Another advantageous embodiment of the tablet tester invention characterized in that between the point at which the oblong tablets from the pan are coming over to the transport device, and the other test stations a baffle is provided which may upstanding on its web oblong tablets tilts so that they fall on their round side, and that the harassment as a transverse to Transport direction vertically vefahrbares chicane element is formed, the one to form Stumbling block can be moved over the transport plane addition and to form a may be withdrawn under the Stolpernut Tansportebene.

Finally, an advantageous embodiment of the tablet tester invention characterized in that the transport means a transport rail and a having rake which moves the tablets on the conveying rail forward. Thus, to ensure that the orientation of the oblong tablet when the scale of is obtained during the further transport remains.

An embodiment of the invention will now reference to the accompanying drawing be-written. Show it:<dl tsize="7" 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 appliance as a magazine 2 or a reservoir on for specimens. From the magazine 2 reach the Oblong tablets in a vibratory Vereinzlungssystem, and out of a longitudinal conveyor chute 3 a circular conveyor 4 there. Both the longitudinal conveyor channel 3 and the rotary conveyor 4 can be avoided in certain device versions. From the circular conveyor 4, the tablets are 6 in the direction of arrow R (Figure 2) and transported in a delivery port 8 given a supply groove 10 which is part of the feeding device and in the direction of transport (Arrow X, Figure 2) is inclined from the discharge port 8 of the circular conveyor 4 downward. From the feed trough 10 are passed the tablet to a scale 12 whose scale 13 an inclined in the direction of transport floor 14 having the form of a trough. The weighing pan 13 is on its lower end by a flap 16 closed that moves out of the way of the tablet out can be so that they leave the balance 13 can. The pan 13 to the bottom 14 and the flap 16 is connected via a connecting plunger 17 with the balance 12.

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

The pan 13 has at its bottom 14 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 channel 20 provided, and the oblong tablets are of the Pan 16 with its longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal direction the trough in the floor of the weighing pan 14 stored. DieTransporteinrichtung consisting of a transport rail 28 and a rake 26 is transported the tablets in this orientation by further Test stations, in particular a test station 22 for the Thickness measurement, in which a thickness measurement sensor shall approach from the top to the tablet, and a Test station 24 in which the diameter and the fracture toughness the tablet is measured. The double arrow Y indicates that the rake 26 located above the transport rail 28 (1) moves back and forth to the oblong tablets transported through the test station. In the Part of the test station 24 in which carried out the fracture toughness test is a fraction acting jaws (not shown) in Direction of the arrow Z on the oblong tablets in their Longitudinally.

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

Figure 3 shows a Ausrührungs form of tablets tester of Figure 1, in which the mistake direction As a vertically moveable baffle member 30 is formed, the aligned transversely to the transport direction and is capable of forming a stumbling over the stone the transport plane can be driven out and to form a Stolpernut under the transport plane may be withdrawn. Figure 3a shows the baffle member 30 also driven in a above the transport plane Position to form a stumbling stone, 3b shows the baffle member 30 in a Position flush with the transport system 28 and Figure 3c shows the baffle member 30 in an under the Transport plane retracted position for forming a Stolpernut.

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