Nipro has been granted a patent for a foreign substance checking system that uses vibration and optical photography to determine if a foreign substance is present inside a bag-like container. The system includes a vibration device that applies vibration to the container, a photography device that captures images of the container’s interior, and a determination device that analyzes the images to identify foreign substances. The vibration device features a rotating shaft and a hammer with a flat surface region that collides with the container. GlobalData’s report on Nipro gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s company profile on Nipro, Wearable drug delivery devices was a key innovation area identified from patents. Nipro's grant share as of September 2023 was 42%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
Foreign substance checking system for bag-like container with vibration
A recently granted patent (Publication Number: US11761902B2) describes a foreign substance checking system for bag-like containers that seal powders. The system includes a vibration device, a photography device, and a determination device. The vibration device applies vibration to the container, while the photography device optically photographs the inside of the container through a visible region from the outside. The determination device analyzes the photographed image to determine the presence of foreign substances inside the container.
The vibration device consists of a rotating shaft and a hammer that rotates with the shaft and collides with the container. The hammer has a first surface with a flat region that collides with the container. The system is designed to check for foreign substances in containers with a weight of powder ranging from 0.20 to 10 grams. The hammer is made of an elastic material, and the outer surface of the container that collides with the hammer has a flat surface.
The vibration device operates by rotating the shaft in a first direction, causing the flat surface region of the hammer to repeatedly come into contact with and move away from the container. The hammer's flat surface region extends radially relative to the rotating shaft when it is not in contact with the container. The ratio of the flat surface region to the work area of the container, where the powder is sealed, is between 1 to 4%.
In some embodiments, the vibration device includes multiple hammers attached to one rotating shaft. The collision area, which is the sum of the flat surface regions of each hammer, collides with the corresponding outer surface area of the container. The flat surface region of each hammer ranges from 15 to 25 square millimeters.
Overall, this foreign substance checking system provides a method for detecting foreign substances in bag-like containers that seal powders. By applying vibration and photographing the container's interior, the system can accurately determine the presence of foreign substances. The design of the vibration device, including the hammer and its collision area, ensures effective checking while minimizing the impact on the sealed powder.
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GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
