BACKGROUND

[0001] The subject of this invention is a technical system enabling the use of different blocking units in the base structure of the supply system for dispensing pills in the pharmaceutical industry. The proposed invention can also be used in supply systems for pieced articles of different disciplines.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND REUATED ART

[0002] With the help of gravity, the articles we wish to dispense travel down the filling tubes, which are being opened and closed by the blocking units. The articles suspended in the filling tube are supplied to the space between the blocking units by the upper blocking unit. The lower blocking unit then supplies-dispenses the articles which fall onto a base that supposedly holds plastic packaging with embedded nests for articles.

The essence of the proposed invention is that the guiding of both blocking units is executed as a grooved coupling between blocking units and guides, namely at the standard width of the blocking units that can be customised but must be identical for each system. The guiding is therefore not executed at the extreme edges of the blocking units, unlike in the current state of the art.

Because of this technical invention, we can use blocking units of various lengths in the classic supply system, and special blocking units do not need to be manufactured for each individual article being dispensed.

The second technical invention in this application is executed in such a way that a special element, pivoted onto the carrier, horizontally moves the blocking units in one way. This element is a pin with a spring. An additional advantage is that the springs can be pre-stressed with a special threaded plug. This method is much more accurate. In addition we can set the movement force.

The current state of art is such that the blocking units are horizontally moved into one direction by springs that cannot be pre-stressed. Hence, the blocking units must be moved into the other direction by pneumatic cylinders or any other system that is not the subject of this proposed invention.

The invention being described thus solves the problem that because of the blocking units’ uniform guiding in the supply system in one-customisable supply system blocking mechanism, blocking units of custom lengths can be used for custom articles.

The proposed invention also solves the second problem that we can set the force and consequently the blocking units’ movement speed in one direction by pre -stressing springs. This also raises the article supply stroke, in other words increases the supply system capacity. In addition, the extreme position of the blocking unit is exactly determined by a special element that limits the blocking unit’s stroke.

[0003] Similar systems, such as public goods or patents, are already known yet they do not use the same or similar technical solutions for blocking unit movement and do not use the same or similar technical solutions for determining the blocking unit’s extreme position, unlike the proposed invention.

The following patents can be found in patent bases, having similarities with the proposed invention, but not having shared characteristics in the technical solutions described in this application, as follows:

Patent No.: EP 2110323

Name: Supply and sorting device for packaging machines

This invention relates to the technical invention of drivers for closing/opening units. The drivers are connected to magnets and thusly enable the fast removal and changing of units.

This invention in no way describes the type of closing-opening units guiding or blocking, which is our proposed invention’s foundation.

This invention does not use technical solutions that are the same or similar to our proposed invention. Patent No.: EP 2110325

Name: Blocking gate unit for a supply and sorting device for packaging machines

This invention describes a technical method of closing and opening filling tubes but it uses different technical solutions as our proposed invention, as the blocking fingers are embedded to the blocking unit, while they are additionally installed in our proposition.

Moreover, the method of closing and opening tubes described by this invention is a state of the art that has been in use for at least 50 years.

This invention does not describe the guiding or blocking of blocking units that is the essential invention of our proposed invention. This patent does not possess technical solutions that are the same or similar to our proposed system and is hence in no way similar to our proposed invention.

Patent No.: EP 2163479

Name: Supply and method for operating a supply

This invention proposes to dispense articles via vibrating. The article routing process is similar;

however, this is a part of older state of the art. This invention focuses on transmitting vibrations to the supply plate, and these speed up the article movement.

This invention does not describe or claim for guiding systems of blocking units-plates, and does also not describe blocking systems of blocking units-plates.

This invention describes completely different technical solutions than our proposed invention, hence they do not share common technical solutions.

All of the mentioned patented inventions describe supply units and claim for specific segments of these supply units. The supply units as a basis for all mentioned patented invention and also our proposed invention have been well known state of the art for more than 50 years. Hence the entire packing unit cannot be considered as a new technical novelty. But individual details such as functional units -component mechanical parts and packaging units are technical novelties -inventions, as described and claimed for by the above-mentioned patents.

Our proposed invention describes the guiding of blocking units, the blocking method and the method of accelerated blocking unit movement. We have not observed the same or similar method anywhere, and it is a novelty.

The above-mentioned patented technical inventions use completely different technical solution processes-inventions as our proposed invention. The differences appear mainly in the blocking unit guiding method principle, the blocking unit changing method and the method of determining the blocking units’ final positions.

Our proposed invention also differs from the above-mentioned patented technical inventions as it enables the use of completely custom blocking units of custom length, and for different supply system blocking mechanisms. This is enabled by the fact that the blocking unit guiding is executed in the unit itself, as a formative coupling, and not at the extreme edges of the blocking units as used in the currently established state of the art.

The above-mentioned patented technical inventions use completely different technical solutions- inventions as our proposed invention. The differences mainly appear in the blocking unit guiding principle and the determination of blocking unit final positions. In addition, none of the above- mentioned patents not enable the changing of blocking units’ speed, as enabled by the proposed invention by pre-stressing springs. Our proposed invention also differs from the above-mentioned patented technical inventions as it enables the use of completely custom blocking units of custom length, and for different supply system blocking mechanisms.

This is enabled by the fact that the blocking unit guiding is executed in the unit itself, as a formative coupling, and not at the extreme edges of the blocking units as used in the currently established state of the art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0004] The described invention is further described in more detail with the description of the attached figures and with a technical description of the supply system blocking mechanism’s composition and operation:

Figure 1 : Is an isometric projection of the base plate 1. All elements forming the supply system blocking mechanism are assembled on the base plate 1.

Figure 2: Is a side view projection of Figure 1. Partial cross-section views of the guiding mechanism 2 are visible. For the purpose of transparency, the blocking mechanism 3 visible on Figure 1 is not projected in this Figure.

Figure 3: Is an isometric projection of the base plate 1. All elements forming the supply system blocking mechanism are assembled on the base plate 1, whereas the blocking plates 2.4 and 2.5 visible in Figure 1 are not projected. Sliding surfaces 2.1 and 2.2 via which slide the lower blocking unit ZS and the upper blocking unit ZZ are visible in Figure 3.

Figure 4: Is the side view projection of Figure 3. The blocking mechanism 3, the upper blocking unit ZZ and the lower blocking unit SZ are all visible. Base plate 1, filling tubes K, and on the left in the background the guiding mechanism 2.

Figure 5: Is the exploded view isometric projection of the supply system blocking mechanism.

Figure 6: Displays the blocking mechanism 3 cross-section view with pins 3.2, and their fitting elements 3.2.2 behind the nuts 3.2M. The pin 3.2 length LP and stroke X are also visible

Figure 7: Is the side view projection of the supply system blocking mechanism displaying the partial cross-section view of the blocking mechanism 3, and the detail A displaying this cross-section is also implied.

Figure 8: Is a close-up projection of blocking mechanism 3’s detail A from Figure 7.

The described invention presented in this patent application allows a very simple, fast, and customisable article packaging technical process alteration or adaptation as it allows the application of various blocking units ZZ and SZ in the standard supply system blocking mechanism. The units are adapted to the individual articles being dispensed. The ZZ and SZ blocking unit guiding is actually executed at the horizontal edge of the blocking units ZZ and SZ and not at their extreme edge as in the current established state of the art. Because of this we can apply longer or shorter blocking units ZZ and SZ in one supply system blocking mechanism. This means that the blocking units ZZ and SZ can be freely moved from one supply system blocking mechanism to the other.

For guiding purposes, the upper blocking unit ZZ, has an extension ZZ1 that rests on the surface 2.2 of the guiding mechanism 2, which is mated to the base plate 1 in a customisable manner. It can also be mated with a bolt VS.

The upper blocking unit ZZ has an embedded groove ZZ2 which fits into the guide 2VZ, which is a permanently installed element of the guiding mechanism 2. The fit or gap between the groove ZZ2 and the guide 2VZ is 0.01 -2mm.

The lower blocking unit SZ has completely the same guiding principle, whereas the groove SZ2 of the lower blocking unit SZ fits the guide 2 VS, which is also a permanently fitted element of the guiding mechanism 2. The fit or gap between the groove SZ2 and the guide 2VS is 0.0l-2mm.

All sliding surfaces of the blocking units ZZ and SZ and the guiding mechanisms 2 are treated s that they reach the surface roughness level of at least N7.

The upper blocking unit ZZ and the lower blocking unit SZ are made out of aluminium or its alloy. The upper blocking unit ZZ and lower blocking unit SZ proposed thickness D stands at 2-60mm.

The guiding mechanism 2 is made out of a steel alloy or other material the hardness of which is at least 20% different from the upper blocking unit ZZ or the lower blocking unit SZ. This condition is necessary to prevent scuffing between sliding surfaces. The hardness can be higher or lower in comparison to the blocking unit ZZ or SZ hardness.

The guiding mechanism 2 can also be made out of a polymer. All sliding surfaces must be treated so that they reach the surface roughness level of at least N7.

In order to also achieve the vertical affiliation of ZZ and SZ blocking units in the guiding mechanism 2 we must cover the guides 2VS and 2VZ with two blocking plates 2.4 and 2.5, namely: The guide 2VS must be covered with the blocking plate 2.4 and the guide 2VZ covered with the blocking plate 2.5. The blocking plate 2.4 is mated to the guiding mechanism 2 with a bolt VS. The blocking plate 2.5 is mated to the guiding mechanism 2 with a bolt VZ.

The blocking plates 2.4 and 2.5 have to be l-20mm thick. Their bottom size surface, where the plate limits the lifting of blocking units ZZ and SZ has to reach the roughness level of N7 or finer.

The material they are made out of is optional but it has to meet the criteria of at least lOON/mm ² tensile strength and the hardness of at least 100 Shores, in the case they are made from polymers.

Each blocking unit ZZ and SZ has four guiding spots where the above-mentioned guiding mechanisms 2 are built-in. The guiding spots are close to each blocking unit ZZ and SZ corner from a plan view projection, but at least 30mm away from the extreme edge -length of the blocking units ZZ and SZ. The guiding mechanisms 2 are placed mirrored one facing the other, and are all manufactured in the same way.

The guiding mechanisms’ 2 fitting positions onto the base plate 1 of the individual supply systems blocking mechanisms must always be the same - standardised. With this we achieve the condition that allows us to use blocking units ZZ and SZ having different lengths for each supply system blocking mechanism.

If we wish to use very short blocking units ZZ and SZ, we must place guiding mechanisms 2 as close as possible, as shown by the base M2 marked dimension. All blocking units ZZ and SZ that we wish to use on a specific supply system blocking mechanism must be adapted to the base M2 between the guiding mechanisms 2.

The filling tubes K are installed onto the base plate 1 and can have the same cross-section, and they can also be bent left or right, like spherical filling tubes. The filling tubes K have the function of guiding articles that are being dispensed through the intrinsic cross-sections of filling tubes K. There can be a custom number of filling tubes K in one supply system blocking mechanism. For example, there can be only one filling tube K or up to 500 of them.

The blocking units ZZ and SZ have the function of closing and opening upper cross-sections K1Z and lower cross-sections K1S of the filling tubes K.

For this purpose the upper blocking unit ZZ has affixed blocking fingers ZZK, the lower blocking unit SZ has affixed blocking fingers SZK. The blocking fingers ZZK and SZK are completely identical, made out of steel or polymer with the thickness of 0.1 -5mm. There are as many blocking fingers ZZK or SZK, as there are filling tubes built into the base plate 1.

With the movement of the upper blocking unit ZZ in the SZZ direction, the blocking fingers ZZK open or close the cross-sections K1Z of filling tubes K.

With the movement of the lower blocking unit SZ in the SSZ direction, the blocking fingers SZK open or close the cross-sections K1S of filling tubes K.

The blocking fingers ZZK and SZK are fitted to blocking units ZZ and SZ in a custom technical method from the known state of the art.

On both of its sides the upper blocking unit ZZ, if viewed horizontally in a plan view projection, has an additionally installed blocking finger ZZ3, the task of which is to limit the stroke of the upper blocking unit ZZ in the direction SZZ towards the left side, according to Figure 3.

On both of its sides the lower blocking unit SZ, if viewed horizontally in a plan view projection, has an additionally installed blocking finger SZ3, the task of which is to limit the stroke of the upper blocking unit SZ in the direction SSZ towards the left side, according to Figure 3.

The blocking fingers ZZ3 and SZ3 are in principle of the same thickness D as blocking units ZZ and SZ, and made from the same material. Still the blocking fingers ZZ3 and SZ3 can be made out of custom materials and may be fitted to blocking units ZZ and SZ in a customised manner.

According to Figure 3, during the upper blocking unit ZZ movements, in the direction SZZ towards the left, the blocking finger ZZ3 fits to the surface 3.2.2 that can optionally be the setting element surface 3.2.2 - the pin 3.2.

According to Figure 3, during the lower blocking unit SZ movements, in the direction SZZ towards the left, the blocking finger SZ3 fits to the surface 3.2.2 that can optionally be the setting element surface 3.2.2 - the pin 3.2.

The pin 3.2 is pivoted in the blocking mechanism 3 structure through the bush 3.5. This applies to all pins 3.2 installed onto the base plate 1.

The supply system blocking mechanism has two blocking mechanisms 3 that are installed on each of the sides of the blocking units ZZ, SZ. The two blocking mechanisms 3 are permanently mated to the base plate 1. The mating can be a bolted joint, weld or any other known technical method. Each individual blocking mechanism 3 has two pins 3.2, namely one at the height position from the base plate 1 of the upper blocking unit ZZ and the other at the height position from the base plate 1 of the lower blocking unit SZ. Both pins 3.2, their springs 3.3 and bolts 3.4 can be identical or also different.

The pins 3.2 may have (optional realisation), in their extension in the right direction, built-in setting elements 3.2.2, which are the so-called threaded studs, thread formed into the pin 3.2 via the MNL thread. If they are chosen or affixed to pins 3.2 the setting elements are protected against loosening with nuts 3.2.2M.

It is not necessary that all pins 3.2 have built-in setting elements 3.2.2. Thus the proposed invention offers the option of affixing setting elements 3.2.2 insofar as the technological process of the supply system blocking mechanism demands this for the reason of more accurate and optimal settings of the final blocking units ZZ and SZ positions and setting the upper blocking unit ZZ return speed in the direction of SZZ to the right, and the lower blocking unit SZ in the direction of SSZ to the right.

The pin 3.2 length LP can be adjusted with setting elements 3.2.2 and nuts 3.2.2M. In doing so we determine the blocking units ZZ and SZ final dead position in the directions of the SZZ and SSZ in the extreme left position.

This means that the extreme position of the pressed pins 3.2 is determined by the setting elements 3.2.2 of the length NL of 10-1 80mm and have an embedded thread MNL that is of custom geometry and size. The setting elements 3.2.2 are mated to the pins 3.2 via nuts 3.2.2M and jointly with pins 3.2 determine the pin 3.2 length LP.

The pin 3.2 is cylindrical with a diameter DP of 2-50mm, and the length LP of 20-200mm.

The 3.2 has an affixed extension 3.2.1 that prevents the pin 3.2 from falling from the bush 3.5 when moving to the right in the direction towards which the spring 3.3 is pushing. All pin 3.2 surfaces are executed with the surface roughness level of N7 or finer.

The pins 3.2 or the setting elements 3.2.2 if we choose to use them, can be made out of steel or polymer insofar as the minimal tensile strength is at least lOON/mm ² .

On one side the pin 3.2 is supported by a helical spring 3.3. The spring 3.3 can also be a conical spring 3.3. The spring 3.3 has been prestressed in the blocking mechanism with the bolt 3.4, which can be tightened or loosened with a key 3.4.1 extension that can be custom, via its thread M3.4 into the blocking mechanism 3 or out of it. This way the spring 3.3 is also prestressed and vice-versa. By prestressing the spring 3.3 we create a stronger force that must be overcome by the blocking unit ZZ or SZ so that it pushes the pin 3.2 towards the inside of the blocking mechanism 3. In addition to prestressing the spring 3.3, by tightening the bolt 3.4 via the thread M3.4 towards the inside of the blocking mechanism 3, the distance X is also being decreased and with that the final pin 3.2 is determined when the latter are pushed to the extreme left side in the direction of SZZ or SSZ.

This means that the extreme position of the pushed pins 3.2 is determined by the setting elements 3.2.2 if we choose to use them and the bolt 3.4 that in addition to determining the final position of the pushed pin 3.2, also determines the prestressing of the spring 3.3, which is pushing the pin 3.2 outwards in the SZZ direction towards the right, for upper pins 3.2 and in the direction SSZ towards the right for lower pins 3.2 installed in the blocking mechanism 3.

In addition to prestressing the spring 3.3, the bolts 3.4 also have the function of setting the final pin 3.2 position in its extreme left position according to figure 6.

Hence if we do not use the setting elements 3.2.2, the left final position of pins 3.2 is being set only by the bolts 3.4.

The blocking units ZZ and SZ are being pushed by mechanisms that are not subject to this proposed invention via the mated fits P to the left side in the SZZ direction for the upper blocking unit ZZ and in the SSZ direction for the lower blocking unit SZ.

The upper blocking unit ZZ has two mated fits P, while the lower blocking unit SZ has one mated fit P. The situation can be reversed, thus the upper blocking unit ZZ has one mated fit P, and the lower blocking unit SZ can have two mated fits P.

The mated fits are generally installed at the middle of the blocking unit ZZ and SZ length. This is to allow blocking units ZZ and SZ to move in the SZZ and SSZ directions without additional moments that would try to revolve the blocking units ZZ and SZ, thereby creating additional friction between the guiding mechanisms 2’s sliding surfaces. This could lead to the so-called self-blocking effect in extreme cases. Therefore it is especially important that the mated fits P are installed in the middle of the blocking units ZZ and SZ lengths. It is of course meant that the two mated fits P, which are to be installed to the upper blocking unit ZZ are both set at the same distance from the upper blocking unit ZZ length middle.

When the upper blocking unit ZZ with its blocking finger ZZ3 rests on the surface 3.2.2, pin 3.2 or on the setting element 3.2.2 if we choose to use it, the unit pushes the pin 3.2 towards the left side. The pin 3.2 moves to the left and compresses the spring 3.3 until the spring 3.3 is not fully compressed and the pin 3.2 reaches the so-called hard resting via the spring 3.3 to the bolt 3.4.

In the other way around, when the pressure to the mated fit P is released, the spring 3.3 via the pin 3.2 pushes the blocking units ZZ and SZ back to the right in the SZZ direction for the upper blocking unit ZZ, and to the right in the SSZ direction for the lower blocking unit SZ.

The more the spring 3.3 is prestressed, the higher the blocking units ZZ and SZ speed is. Different custom blocking units ZZ and SZ return speeds can be set via different spring 3.3 characteristics.

The blocking mechanism 3 is construed in such a way that the pin 3.2 has a built-in necking 3.2.3 into which the spring 3.3 is squeezed when the pin 3.2 is fully pressed, or when the spring is fully prestressed by the bolt 3.4.

The normal-average spring 3.3 position is construed in a way that there is an empty space X of 3-60mm between the pin 3.2 and the bolt 3.4.