Bormioli Pharma Dispencer Contest
September 2021
9 weeks
(250 hours)
Brief:
- Pills and micro-pills dispencer in controlled mode.
- Easy to transport, easy to use, usable with only ONE hand.
- Use: manual setting and visual confirmation of number of pills before dispensing.
- Manufacturing & Materials: exclusively
- Injection molding Plastics.
- Aesthetic & Shapes: minimal & modern design, curved & soft shapes.
- Communication: reliability, robustness, confidence, safety, easy of use.
- Possibility to use IOT.
Bormioli Pharma
Bormioli Pharma is an Italian company that produces 7 billion of glass and plastic pharmaceutical packaging annually, exporting them to 100 countries around the world.
Concept
Use concept analysis
The main idea is a tube, helding with one hand, with a top and a bottom button. It is held in one hand holding the upper button number up. The top button is pressed as many times as there are pills to be prepared and shows a counter at the top that counts how many pills are ready. The bottom button is pressed in order to deliver the pills and reset the counter of the top button.
Both the buttons can be pressed bumping a surface: in this way a single hand is sufficient to carry out all the operations.
Concept
Use concept analysis
Press the top button by hitting under the tabletop. The number in the top button indicates how many pills will be dispensed and increases each time the top button is pressed.
Concept
Use concept analysis
The press upper button operation must be repeated until the desired number of pills is reached. In the upper button can be check the number of pills that will be dispensed.
Concept
Use concept analysis
Press the bottom button by hitting above the tabletop. The pills are thus dispensed. By pressing the bottom button, the counter is reset at the same time.
Concept
Use concept analysis
By tilting the tube, the pills come out.
Exploded View
How is made?
Central components are assembled first. The component “b” and the component “f” are fixed in the tube “a”. Superior components”g”, “h”, “i”, “j” are inserted into the component “b”, while the components “k”, “l” and “m” are inserted in the component “n”. All superior components are blocked with componet “o” that is threaded in the component “c”. Inferior component “p” is fixed in component “q” which is threaded in component “e”. All components are realized in plastic material. At the end of life, can be recicled without disassembly.
*3D Model realized with DS Solidworks 2021
Modelling
How does it work?
In the initial phase the elements are in a stable position. The numerator is positioned on the number “0” and the buttons are completely extracted thanks to the central spring (red). The pills are arranged in the lateral channel of the superior funnel and enter the latch of up-down that can accommodate only one at a time.
*3D Model realized with DS Solidworks 2021
Modelling
How does it work?
Push upper botton
Pushing the button compress all the slider that are in direct contact with each other until the green spring that will be compressed too. The button reaches the end of its travel because the lower surface of the button comes into contact with the upper surface of the funnel.
The pill in the lift slide down.
*3D Model realized with DS Solidworks 2021
Modelling
How does it work?
Push upper botton
In this position are aligned the inclined surfaces of the intermediate slider (light blue) and the superior funnel (white) (that is blocked in the tube). The inferior slider (fuchsia) is pushed up by the spring (green) and it slide on the inclined surface of intermediate slider (light blue) and funnel (white) turning counterclockwise. It turn until it reaches the stop on the surface of the intermediate slider (light blue). This rotation is transmitted via the superior slider (orange) to the counter (yellow) which will also perform a counterclockwise rotation. The rotation of the counter (yellow) give the load to the spiral spring (green) that have a blocked end by the internal step of the superior button.
*3D Model realized with DS Solidworks 2021
Modelling
How does it work?
Release upper botton
The button after release, thanks to the thrust of the large spring (red) returns to the initial position.
*3D Model realized with DS Solidworks 2021
Modelling
How does it work?
Release upper botton
The intermediate cursor (light blue), pushed by the internal spring (blue) follows the movement of the button, returning upwards until the inclined surface is realigned with the inclined surface of the funnel (white).
*3D Model realized with DS Solidworks 2021
Modelling
How does it work?
Push bottom botton
In the initial phase the bottom elements are in a stable position. The button is completely extracted thanks to the central spring (red). The pill is stationary on top waiting to be dispensed.
*3D Model realized with DS Solidworks 2021
Modelling
How does it work?
Push bottom botton
Pushing the bottom button (grey) the inferior funnel (light blue) move up freeing the hole from which it will pass the pill that will fall inside the button. As the same time as pressing the button, the rod (blue) releases the upper slider (orange) which will be released from the joint with the intermediate slider (fuchsia). The spiral spring (green) that was loaded when the upper button was pressed, having no upper lock, will rotate the numerator (yellow) clockwise, bringing it back to the initial position, that is to zero.
*3D Model realized with DS Solidworks 2021
Modelling
How does it work?
Release bottom botton
In the initial phase the bottom elements are in a stable position. The button is completely extracted thanks to the central spring (red). The pill is stationary on bottom button waiting to be dispensed.
*3D Model realized with DS Solidworks 2021
Second Concept / Blocking System & IOT
Use concept analysis
In order to lock the buttons that could be accidentally bumped, a lock button has been designed – positioned at the palm of the hand – which, simply by holding the dispenser, automatically unlocks both buttons.
*3D Model realized with DS Solidworks 2021
Second Concept / Blocking System & IOT
Use concept analysis
Everything seen can be considered a finished product in itself. In addition to this product, a button locking system was designed and at the same time also the addition of an electronic system (for IOT functionality). The resulting product can be considered a different product or a variant with added functionality. The result was achieved by modifying some components and adding others. In the following images, in order to explain how it works and for simplicity, we report only the components involved without reporting all the others that remain unchanged.
*3D Model realized with DS Solidworks 2021
Second Concept / Exploded view
How is made?
In addition to the modified tube “a1” also the component “c1” and “e1” are modified, adding a buttonhole necessary for the blocking effect. The lateral button “r” have two locking pins where are inserted two plastic springs “s”. The IOT electronic board (green) responsible for data collection and transmission is blocked inside the lateral button together the battery “t”.
*3D Model realized with DS Solidworks 2021
Second Concept / Modelling
How does it work?
Initially the button is pushed outwards by the two yellow springs. The outward travel is blocked by the four teeth located on the corner of button. The two central pins of the button are engaged in the holes of sliders which are blocked.
*3D Model realized with DS Solidworks 2021
Second Concept / Modelling
How does it work?
While the dispenser is being held, the lateral button is automatically pressed. Moving towards the center of the dispenser, the two central pins release the two sliding components. In fact, the central pins have a groove which, when aligned with the grooves of the two mobile elements, leave them free to move. The buttons are now functional. Here we can see the functionality of bottom button.
*3D Model realized with DS Solidworks 2021
Second Concept / Modelling
How does it work?
Here we can see the functionality of upper button.
*3D Model realized with DS Solidworks 2021
Second Concept / Modelling
How does it work?
With the upper and lower buttons in the rest position, then completely released, by releasing the side button the locking pins will re-enter their seat formed by the slot of slider components. This way the lower and upper buttons will be locked.
*3D Model realized with DS Solidworks 2021
Life Cycle
Recycling
All components are made of plastic. The main idea is to create an object completely in plastic material in order to simplify the recycling operation at the end of its life. The first concept is mono-material, it can be thrown into plastic without separating components. Furthermore, the screwable buttons makes it reusable because it can be filled with pills several times, thus extending the life cycle of the dispenser.
In the second concept we have a side button containing the electronic board that is voluntarily placed outside the dispenser. In this way, the separation of the recyclable parts will be simpler because with 4 snap-fit the lateral button can be easily removed and disassembled in three more parts: button and spings (Plastic), electorinic card (RAEE) and battery. Without button the main tube can be thrown away in the recycling of plastic material.
Drawing
*2D drawing realized with DS Solidworks 2021, render realized with Keyshot 11
Drawing
*2D drawing realized with DS Solidworks 2021, render realized with Keyshot 11
All artworks © Massimo Burberi - All right reserved
