Device for the automatic detection of the movement of objects

• US 7,967,141 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2007
• Issued: 06/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bucci Automations SpA
• Original Assignee: Beldico Integrated Solutions SA
• Inventors: Witczak, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams; Hezron
• Assistant Examiner(s): WEST, PAUL M
• Application Number:
  US11/938,831
• Publication Number:
  US 20080159072A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,323 Days
• Field of Search: 206/459.1, 738/625.41, 738/625.3
• US Class Current: 206/459.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/03 for pills or tablets containers for pills or tablets with special dispensing means therefor B65D83/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0084 for multiple medicaments

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for the automatic and instantaneous detection of movements of an object with respect to a housing containing or capable of containing this object chosen from the introductions of this object in this empty housing and the extractions of this object from its housing. The invention is characterized in that the device comprises a spring system (1) comprising two symmetrical blades (3, 3A) each formed by an upper wing (5, 5A) and of a lower wing (6, 6A) articulated between one another and forming at rest an obtuse angle, wherein these blades are positioned back to back at their articulation (4, 4A) in that the upper wings are configured to form a housing (7) for the object and in that the lower wings are connected to one another by a wire (8) forming a spring which cooperates with a push button (11) capable of moving perpendicularly to a pressure sensor (2) until it comes into contact with it or is freed from it.

Claims

1. A device for the automatic and instantaneous detection of movements of an object with respect to a housing containing or capable of containing this object chosen from the introductions of this object into this housing and the extractions of this object from its housing, which comprises a spring system (1) comprising two symmetrical blades (3, 3A) each formed by an upper wing (5, 5A) and a lower wing (6, 6A) articulated between one another and forming at rest an obtuse angle with each other, wherein these blades are positioned back to back at their articulation (4, 4A), in that the upper wings are configured to form a housing (7) for the object and in that the lower wings are connected to one another by a wire (8) forming a spring which cooperates with a push button (11), the push button (11) being capable of moving perpendicularly to a pressure sensor (2) until said push button (11) comes into contact with said pressure sensor or is freed from said pressure sensor.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the spring system is attached to a support block.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the support block is formed by four longitudinal walls (13) joined by their longitudinal edges defining a volume in which is located a tubular portion (14) parallel to these walls and featuring at least one longitudinal groove (16), wherein this tubular portion is attached to the walls by means of rigid arms (15).

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein each longitudinal groove cooperates by sliding with a longitudinal protrusion (12) on the wall on the outside of the push button.

5. A device according to claim 2, wherein the upper wings of the spring system have tenons (19) which cooperate with orifices located in two opposite walls of the support block or with slots (20) made in the edges of these two opposite walls.

6. A device according to claim 2, wherein the lower edges of the support block have hooks (22) designed to be inserted into slots made in a plate (17) supporting the pressure sensor.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor is managed by an electronic board that carries out a permanent scanning.

8. A device according claim 1, wherein the introduction of a object in the housing (7) causes the separation of the blades (3, 3A) attached to the support block and the development of a force on the ends of the spring (8) which passes this on to the push button (11) inducing the displacement of said push button (11) in the direction of the pressure sensor (2) until it comes into contact with it, which causes the emission of an electrical pulse.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein the electrical pulse is transmitted to a computer processing unit.

10. A device according to claim 1, wherein the withdrawal of an object from the housing (7) causes the blades (3, 3A) attached to the support block to move towards one another inducing the interruption of the contact of the push button (11) with the pressure sensor (2) and its separation from this sensor, which causes the emission of an electrical pulse.