Automatic ampoule cutter

An automatic ampoule cutter including a driving device, cutter mechanism having a cutting member, a fixing member and a clamping member, a slant board, a collector and a fan, whereby when an ampoule is placed into the cutter mechanism, a micro switch is touched and activated by the ampoule to make the driving device drive the cutter mechanism, urging the cutting member, fixing member and clamping member to tightly clamp the ampoule, permitting the cutting member to rotate for several turns and cut a groove on the neck of the ampoule so that a knocking member can knock off the conic head to roll down on the slant board into the collector, and the cutting chips is blown by the fan also into the collector, and when the left ampoule is taken out to leave the micro switch, the operation of the cutter then stops.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to an automatic ampoule cutter, and more 
particularly to an automatic ampoule cutter with high security. 
At present time, an ampoule containing liquid drug used in a hospital is 
often cut by a cutter made from a kind of hard stone or metal, having a 
blade or saw portion. 
The ampoule is often cut in such a manner that the cutter is applied to 
sand the neck of the ampoule to cut a groove thereon, and then the ampoule 
can be manually broken off into two. As a result, two openings with sharp 
and irregular periphery are respectively formed on the left ampoule and 
the discard head thereof. 
Consequently, the sharp and irregular openings often cause serious injury 
to a medical worker. Another type of glass ampoule with precut groove is 
also on the market. Such ampoule is also apt to be formed with irregular 
sharp opening after broken off, and is still dangerous to the medical 
worker. 
Moreover, the glass chips produced during cutting and breaking procedure 
are so easy to drop into the ampoule and mix with the liquid drug. As a 
result, the glass chips are quite apt to be injected into a patient's body 
along with the liquid drug and therefore do unexpected hurt to the 
patient. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide an automatic 
ampoule-cutter with high security wherein no opening with irregular saw 
periphery will be formed on the broken ampoule. 
It is a further object of this invention to provide the above 
ampoule-cutter wherein the glass discards are collected into a collector 
without bounding or dropping out and thus the possible hurt to a medical 
worker or cleaner can be avoided. 
It is still a further object of this invention to provide the above 
ampoule-cutter wherein a user only needs to place the ampoule into the 
cutter and take the same out after completion of the cutting procedure, 
and no more need to break the ampoule with both two hands. As a result, 
the injury to the worker can be reduced to a minimum degree, and the 
safety of the worker can be ensured. 
It is still a further object of this invention to provide the above 
ampoule-cutter which occupies small room and can be conveniently located 
at any place for a user to apply.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Please first refer to FIGS. 1 and 2, wherein when a ampoule 3 is placed by 
a hand 301 into a cutter mechanism 2, a micro switch 7 is touched and 
activated to make the cutter 100 of this invention operate. At this time, 
a power indicator 71 is lighted, and a clamping member 23 automatically 
tightly clamps the ampoule 3 to fix the same. The cutter mechanism 2 then 
rotates for several turns to cut the ampoule 3. Thereafter, a knocking 
member 24 will automatically knock off the upper portion of the already 
cut ampoule 3. When the cutting operation is completed, a "bi-bi" sound is 
emitted from a buzzer (not shown) which may be provided by modifying the 
present invention to indicate the completion of the cutting operation. At 
this time, the lower portion of the ampoule 3 with an opening can be taken 
out. 
Please now refer to FIG. 3. The ampoule cutter 100 of this invention 
includes a driving means 1, a cutter mechanism 2, a slant board 9, a 
collector 5, a fan 6 and a micro switch 7. Most of the above members are 
disposed on the slant board 9 and covered by a shade board 10. The micro 
switch 7 is disposed on an arch board 8. After the ampoule 3 is cut, the 
slant board 9 permits the cut off conic head of the ampoule 3 to roll down 
into the collector 5. The shade board 10 is used to prevent the glass 
chips from bounding or dropping out. Moreover, a controlling motor 14 is 
disposed. 
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, when the cutter 100 is powered on and alternate 
electricity is converted into direct electricity by a commutator 110 for 
the cutter 100 to operate. The driving means 1 includes a driving motor 
11, fan motor 12, and two controlling motors 13, 14. When the ampoule 3 is 
placed into the cutter 100, the micro switch 7 is touched and activated, 
making the power indicator 71 lighted. Also, the driving means 1 operates 
and the driving motor 11 transmits power to the transmitting members 15, 
16, 17 and cutting member 21 and the fixing member 22 disposed on the 
slant board 9 via a driving belt 18. The transmitting member 16 rotates in 
a direction opposite to that the other three transmitting members 15, 17, 
17' rotate. 
Please now refer to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, wherein the cutter mechanism 2 
includes a cutting member 21, a fixing member 22, a clamping member 23 and 
a knocking member 24. The fixing member 22 and clamping member 23 and 
knocking member 24 are provided with rubber rings 25 to enhance the 
clamping force exerted on the ampoule 3. When the driving motor 11 is 
actuated to drive the transmitting members 15, 16, 17, 17' to rotate the 
cutting member 21 and the fixing member 22, the ampoule 3 located between 
the cutting member 21 and the fixing member 22 will be rotated when the 
ampoule 3 is rotatably clamped by the clamping member 23 which moves in 
arrow A direction when driven by the controlling motor 13, for several 
turns to cut a groove on the neck of the ampoule 3. Thereafter, the 
knocking member 24 is driven by the controlling motor 14 to move in arrow 
B direction and knock off the conic head of the ampoule 3 along the groove 
on the neck thereof. The shade board 10 will prevent the knocked off conic 
head from bounding out and make the same roll down on the slant board 9 
into the collector 5. Furthermore, the glass chips created during cutting 
procedure will be blown by the fan 6 into the collector 5. When "bi-bi" 
sound is emitted from buzzer, it is indicated that the cutting operation 
is completed, and the cut ampoule 3 with an opening can be taken out. Once 
the ampoule 3 is separated from the micro switch 7, the cutter 100 stops 
and the power indicator 71 is extinguished. 
According to the above arrangement, the ampoule cutter of this invention is 
an automatic ampoule-cutter with high security. It can be placed in any 
place and needs no particular cleaning. The dangerous glass chips are 
automatically collected to prevent possible injury to persons.