초록 ▼

An axial force measurement apparatus (40) comprises a head member (42) adapted for receiving force imparted by an external force-applying source, and a transducer (44) such as a load cell for measuring the amount of force applied to the head member (42). Electronic circuitry (61) for receiving, pro

An axial force measurement apparatus (40) comprises a head member (42) adapted for receiving force imparted by an external force-applying source, and a transducer (44) such as a load cell for measuring the amount of force applied to the head member (42). Electronic circuitry (61) for receiving, processing, storing and/or sending electrical information generated by the transducer is provided either externally to the measurement apparatus (40), or is integrated with the apparatus (40). The apparatus (40) can be used to calibrate the valve crimping station (75) and/or the test firing station (125) of a metered dose delivery canister production line. The apparatus (40) is designed to emulate an actual canister (12).

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus comprising: (a) a main body member; (b) a head member attached to the main body member, the head member including, an impact surface adapted for contact with a force; and a transducer in communication with the head member, the transducer adopted to receive force

What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus comprising: (a) a main body member; (b) a head member attached to the main body member, the head member including, an impact surface adapted for contact with a force; and a transducer in communication with the head member, the transducer adopted to receive force imparted to the head member wherein the head member includes a flanged portion extending radially outwardly from a longitudinal axis of the apparatus, the flanged portion includes an aperture coaxially disposed about the longitudinal axis, and the head member is adapted to receive a valve assembly secured around the flanged portion during a valve assembly crimping process. 2. An axial force measurement apparatus composing: (a) a head member coaxially disposed about a longitudinal axis of the measurement apparatus, the head member including a flanged portion extend radially outwardly from the longitudinal axis, wherein the head member presents an outer profile adapted to securably receive a value assembly on the head member during a valve assembly crimping process; and (b) an axial force transducer coaxially disposed about the longitudinal axis in mechanical communication with the head member, the transducer adapted to receive an axial force imparted to the head member generally along the longitudinal axis and transferred from the head member to the transducer, and adapted to produce an electrical output signal indicative of a magnitude of the axial force transferred to the transducer. 3. The apparatus according to claim 2 comprising electronic circuitry communicating with the transducer and adapted to receive the output signal produced by the transducer. 4. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the electronic circuitry is disposed remotely in relation to a housing of the apparatus and communicates with the transducer through an electrical conduit. 5. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the electronic circuitry is disposed within a housing of the apparatus. 6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the electronic circuitry is present in a data module, and wherein said data module is capable of processing the output signal produced by the transducer. 7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the data module is removable from the apparatus. 8. The apparatus according to claim 5 comprising at least one electrical contact accessible from outside the housing and adapted to enable communication between the electronic circuitry and an external computer device disposed remotely in relation to the housing. 9. The apparatus according to claim 8 comprising a mode switch electrically communicating with the electronic circuitry and accessible from outside the housing, the mode switch being alternatively switchable to a record mode of the apparatus and to a communicate mode of the apparatus, wherein electrical communication is established between the transducer and the electronic circuitry in the record mode, and electrical communication is established between the electronic circuitry and the external computer device in the communicate mode. 10. The anparatus according to claim 9 wherein the mode switch is mounted to the apparatus. 11. The apparatus according to claim 9 comprising a cradle in which the apparatus is adapted to be mounted, the cradle including tho mode switch. 12. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the cradle includes a contact adapted for electrical communication with the apparatus to provide power to the apparatus. 13. An axial force measurement apparatus comprising: (a) a head member coaxially disposed about a longitudinal axis of the measurement apparatus, the head member including a flanged portion extending racially outwardly from the longitudinal axis, wherein the head member presents an outer profile adapted to securably receive a valve assembly on the head member during a valve assembly crimping process; (b) an axial force transducer coaxially disposed about the longitudinal axis in mechanical communication with the head member, the transducer adapted to receive an axial force imparted to the head member generally along the longitudinal axis and transferred from the head member to the transducer, and adapted to produce an electrical output signal indicative of a magnitude of the axial force transferred to the transducer; and (c) electronic circuitry disposed remotely in relation to the transducer and communicating with the transducer through an electrical conduit, the electronic circuitry adapted to receive the output signal produced by the transducer. 14. An axial force measurement apparatus comprising: (a) a head member coaxially disposed out about a longitudinal axis of the measurement apparatus, the head member including a flanged porting extending radially outward from the longitudinal axis, wherein the head member presents an outer profile adapted to securably receive a valve assembly on the head member during a valve assembly crimping process; (b) a housing; (c) an axial force transducer disposed within the housing in mechanical communication with the head member, the transducer adapted to receive an axial force imparted to the head member generally along the longitudinal axis and transferred from the head member to the transducer, and adapted to produce an electrical output signal indicative of a magnitude of the axial force transferred to the transducer; and (d) electronic circuitry disposed within the housing in communication with the transducer and adapted to receive the output signal produced by the transducer. 15. A method for measuring the axial force applied by a machine element, comprising the steps of: (a) providing an axial force measurement apparatus including a head member coaxially disposed about a longitudinal axis of the measurement apparatus and an axial force transducer mechanically communication with the head member; (b) causing a machine element to apply a force having an axially-oriented force component to the head member, wherein the axially-oriented force component is translated from the head member to the transducer; and (c) using the transducer to produce an electrical output signal indicative of the axially-oriented force component translated to the transducer during application of the force to the head member. 16. The method according to claim 15 comprising the step of installing a valve assembly onto the head member by crimping the valve assembly around an outer periphery of the head manner. 17. The method according claim 15 comprising the step of operatively aligning the measurement apparatus at a valve assembly crimping station, wherein the machine element is a crimping tool. 18. The method according to claim 15 comprising the step of operatively aligning the measurement apparatus at a metered dose inhaler canister test firing station, wherein the machine element is a valve actuation tool. 19. The method according to claim 15 comprising the step of storing the signal produced by the transducer in a digital data format in an electronic data storage medium disposed externally in relation to the measurement device. 20. The method according to claim 15 comprising the step of storing the signal produced by the transducer in a digital data format in an electronic data storage medium housed within the measurement device. 21. The method according to claim 15 comprising the step of storing the signal produced by the transducer in digital data format in an electronic storage medium disposed internally in the measurement device. 22. The method according to claim 21 wherein the electronic storage medium is present as a data module, and wherein the data module is removable from the measurement device. 23. The method according to claim 15 comprising the steps of switching the measurement device to a record mode to store the signal produced by the transducer in a digital data format, and subsequently switching the measurement device to a communicate mode to send it stored digital data to a computer device. 24. A system for determining whether a valve assembly crimping station, as utilized on a metered dose inhaler unit production line, is properly calibrated, the system comprising: (a) a valve assembly crimping station; and (b) an axial force measurement device adapted for operative alignment with the crimping station, the measurement device including: (i) a head member coaxially disposed about a longitudinal axis of the measurement apparatus, the head member including a flanged portion extending radially outwardly from the longitudinal axis, wherein the head member presents an outer profile adapted to securably receive a valve assembly on the head member during a valve assembly crimping process effected at the crimping station; (ii) an axial force transducer coaxially disposed about the longitudinal axis in mechanical communication with the head member, the transducer adapted to receive an axial force imparted to the head member by the crimping station generally along the longitudinal axis and transferred from the head member to the transducer, and adapted to produce an electrical output signal indicative of a magnitude of the axial force transferred to the transducer; and (iii) electronic circuitry communicating with the transducer and adapted to receive the output signal produced by the transducer. 25. The system according to claim 24 comprising a conveying assembly including a movable transport device directed to and from the comprising station, wherein the measurement device is disposed on the transport device and moves with the transport device. 26. A system for determining whether a metered dose delivery device test firing station, as utilized on a metered dose inhaler unit production line, is properly calibrated, the system comprising: (a) a test firing station adapted to actuate a valve assembly; and (b) an axial force measurement device adapted for operative alignment with the test firing, station, the measurement device inducting: (i) a head member coaxially disposed about a longitudinal axis of the measurement apparatus, the head member including a flanged portion extending radially outwardly from the longitudinal axis, wherein the head member presents an outer profile adapted to securably receive a valve assembly on the head member during a valve assembly crimping process; (ii) a valve assembly installed on the head member around the outer profile, the valve assembly including a valve and a valve stem in actuatable engagement with the valve; (iii) an axial force transducer coaxially disposed about the longitudinal axis in mechanical communication with the head member, the transducer adapted to receive an axial force imparted to the valve assembly by the test firing station generally along the longitudinal axis and transferred from the valve assembly, through the head member and to the transducer, and adapted to produce an electrical output signal indicative of a magnitude of the axial force transferred to the transducer; and (iv) electronic circuitry communicating with the transducer and adapted to receive the output signal produced by the transducer. 27. The system according to claim 26 comprising a conveying assembly including a movable transport device directed to and from the test firing station, wherein the measurement device is disposed on the transport device and moves with the transport device.