Apparatus for decomposting compressed tablets
AssigneeRichard F. Hurst
InventorRichard F. Hurst
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Abstract
The present invention relates to novel improvements to an apparatus for uniformly decomposing compressed tablets into a uniform size powder form. More particularly, the present invention is directed to improvements to the rotor cap of the apparatus allowing the rotor cap to be easily removed from the apparatus without the need for removal tools thereby allowing easy conversion from right hand operation to left hand operation and vice versa. Such improves also allow for disassembly and cleaning. Additional improvements including providing for a coding tab configured to represent predefined information such as ownership and previous use.
Claims20
An improved end cap for an apparatus for decomposing compressed tablets comprising:
- a discontinuous annular ring;
- a depending section associated with a first side of said annular ring, said depending section extending from said first side to the a point distal from said annular ring thereby defining a distal end;
- and
- wherein said depending section is configured for mechanically associating with a rotor so that said rotor is removably associated with said apparatus so that said rotor can be removed from said apparatus without using a removal tool.
An improved apparatus for decomposing compressed tablets comprising:
- a housing defining a hopper therein, said hopper suitably configured for receiving tablets, said housing further defining a discharge chute for receiving processed tablets;
- a cylindrical aperture extending through said housing and positioned between said hopper and said discharge chute;
- a rotor suitably sized to fit within said cylindrical aperture, said rotor comprising a rotor-first-end and a rotor-second-end and wherein said rotor-first-end is associated with a crank and wherein said rotor is positioned within said cylindrical aperture so that said rotor-first-end is positioned at a first side of said cylindrical aperture and said rotor-second-end is positioned at a second side of said cylindrical aperture;
- a blade positioned between said rotor-first-end and rotor-second-end, said blade protruding from said rotor a predefined distance;
- a pressor foot associated with said housing, said pressor foot configured for pressing tablets into said hopper;
- an end cap releasably associated with said rotor-second-end, wherein said rotor-second-end is configured to receive a latching surface associated with said end cap thereby securing said rotor at least partially within said cylindrical aperture;
- and
- wherein said end cap is appropriately configured to allow the end cap to be disassociated from said rotor without the need for end cap removal tools thereby allowing the rotor to be disassociated from said apparatus without the need for removal tools.
A method of removably associating a rotor assembly within an aperture of a housing of an apparatus for decomposing compressed tablets comprising the steps of:
- providing a housing comprising a cylindrical aperture disposed between a hopper and a discharge chute;
- providing a rotor disposed within said cylindrical aperture;
- providing an end cap comprising a latching surface wherein said rotor is configured to releasably receive said latching surface thereby securing said rotor within said cylindrical aperture;
- and
- wherein said end cap is appropriately configured to allow said end cap to be disassociated from said rotor without the need for end cap removal tools thereby allowing the rotor assembly to be removed from said apparatus.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.