CA2519800C - Method and apparatus for transferring substrates - Google Patents
Method and apparatus for transferring substrates Download PDFInfo
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- CA2519800C CA2519800C CA2519800A CA2519800A CA2519800C CA 2519800 C CA2519800 C CA 2519800C CA 2519800 A CA2519800 A CA 2519800A CA 2519800 A CA2519800 A CA 2519800A CA 2519800 C CA2519800 C CA 2519800C
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- conveying means
- receiving station
- substrate receiving
- transfer
- substrate
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Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B30—PRESSES
- B30B—PRESSES IN GENERAL
- B30B11/00—Presses specially adapted for forming shaped articles from material in particulate or plastic state, e.g. briquetting presses, tabletting presses
- B30B11/02—Presses specially adapted for forming shaped articles from material in particulate or plastic state, e.g. briquetting presses, tabletting presses using a ram exerting pressure on the material in a moulding space
- B30B11/08—Presses specially adapted for forming shaped articles from material in particulate or plastic state, e.g. briquetting presses, tabletting presses using a ram exerting pressure on the material in a moulding space co-operating with moulds carried by a turntable
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B30—PRESSES
- B30B—PRESSES IN GENERAL
- B30B11/00—Presses specially adapted for forming shaped articles from material in particulate or plastic state, e.g. briquetting presses, tabletting presses
- B30B11/34—Presses specially adapted for forming shaped articles from material in particulate or plastic state, e.g. briquetting presses, tabletting presses for coating articles, e.g. tablets
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B30—PRESSES
- B30B—PRESSES IN GENERAL
- B30B15/00—Details of, or accessories for, presses; Auxiliary measures in connection with pressing
- B30B15/32—Discharging presses
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
- B65G47/00—Article or material-handling devices associated with conveyors; Methods employing such devices
- B65G47/74—Feeding, transfer, or discharging devices of particular kinds or types
- B65G47/84—Star-shaped wheels or devices having endless travelling belts or chains, the wheels or devices being equipped with article-engaging elements
- B65G47/841—Devices having endless travelling belts or chains equipped with article-engaging elements
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Medicinal Preparation (AREA)
- Specific Conveyance Elements (AREA)
Abstract
An apparatus (12) for continuously transferring substrates such as tablets (10a,10b) from a rotary, double-sided tablet press (10) to a second location is provided. The apparatus comprises a flexible conveying means (13) on which transfer units (14) adapted to receive the substrates (10a,10b) are mounted.
The flexible conveying means (13) travels along a path that is coincident with those portions (7a,7b) of the tablet press where tablets are ejected.
The flexible conveying means (13) travels along a path that is coincident with those portions (7a,7b) of the tablet press where tablets are ejected.
Description
METHOD AND APPARATUS
FOR TRANSFERRING SUBSTRATES
Cross Reference to Related Application This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 09/967,414, filed on September 28, 2001, entitled "Systems, Methods and Apparatuses for Manufacturing Dosage Forms" (MCP0295), and incorporated herein by reference.
1o Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to methods and apparatuses for transferring substrates, such as tablets, from one location to another.
Background of the Invention 15 Double-sided tablet presses are commonly used in the pharmaceutical industry for making tablets. Their configuration is well known. Typically, they comprise a rotor having dies located along its periphery. The rotor rotates through first and second compression zones. In each compression zone, powder is fed to dies, optionally the powder is precompressed and then compressed within the dies, and finally finished tablets 2o are ejected from the press. Because double-sided tablet presses contain two compression zones, with each revolution of the rotor two sets of tablets are made. The tablets are ejected from opposite sides of the press at first and second tablet ejection zones. The ejected tablets are conventionally transferred away in bulk by an ejection chute leading to a collection container such as a drum or hopper.
25 Commonly assigned, copending U.S. Patent Application Serial No.
09/967,414, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a transfer device capable of handling substrates such as tablets having a high degree of friability and softness. It is a rotating device comprising a plurality of transfer units attached to a flexible conveying means, such as a belt. It is preferably used for 3o transferring substrates within a continuous process from one operating unit to another, for example from a compression apparatus to a coating apparatus. The flexible conveying means follows a path from the first operating unit to the second operating unit. The velocity and positions of the transfer units are synchronized with the operating units to which it is coupled, so that substrates can be smoothly captured from the first operating unit and released to the second operating unit. The transfer units comprise retainers for holding the substrates. The retainers are preferably flexible and constructed from an elastomeric material. In a preferred embodiment, the retainers are circular and comprise segmented fingers of elastomeric material.
Applicants have now designed a transfer device having transfer units comprising inner and outer, side by side retainers that sequentially rather than simultaneously capture substrates. The device may be used to transfer tablets or other substrates, preferably from a rotary, double-sided tablet press to a second location. The transfer units are mounted on a flexible conveying means that travels along a path coincident with those portions of the tablet press where tablets are ejected.
In one embodiment, the transfer units are adapted to receive first tablets at a first substrate receiving station of the apparatus located proximal to the first tablet ejection zone of the tablet press, and adapted to receive second tablets at a second substrate receiving station located proximal to the second tablet ejection zone of the tablet press.
Summary Of The Invention The invention provides an apparatus for transfernng substrates, comprising: a) a flexible conveying means; b) a plurality of transfer units mounted to said conveying means, each transfer unit adapted to hold first and second substrates; c) a cam track 2o defining a path from a first substrate receiving station, passing through a second substrate receiving station, and then to a substrate transfer station; and d) means for driving said conveying means along said cam track.
The invention also provides an apparatus for transfernng tablets from a double sided tablet press comprising first and second tablet ejection zones to a second location, said apparatus comprising a plurality of transfer units mounted to a flexible conveying means, each transfer unit adapted to hold first and second tablets, a cam track defining a path from a first substrate receiving station located proximal to the first tablet ejection zone, passing through a second substrate receiving station located proximal to the second tablet ejection zone, and then to a substrate transfer station located at the second location;
and means for driving said conveying means along said cam track.
Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 depicts a conventional double-sided tablet press.
Figure 2 depicts a transfer apparatus according to the invention coupled with the tablet press of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a transfer apparatus according to the invention.
Figures 4- 8 illustrate a preferred embodiment of a transfer unit.
Detailed Description of the Invention Figure 1 depicts a conventional, double-sided tablet press 1. The tablet press comprises a rotor 2 having a plurality of dies 3 around its periphery. Figure 1 depicts 12 dies. Accordingly, each revolution of this tablet press produces 24 tablets.
Tablet press 1 comprises first and second powder feeders 4a, 4b, first and second precompression rollers Sa, 5b (which are optional), and first and second main compression rollers 6a, 6b. First powder feeder 4a is located on the opposite side of rotor 2 from second powder feeder 4b. First precompression roller Sa is located on the opposite side of rotor 2 from second precompression roller 5b. Likewise, first main compression roller 6a is located on the opposite side of rotor 2 from second main compression roller 6b. A first compression zone 11 a comprises first powder feeder 4a, first precompression roller 5a and first main compression roller 6a. A second compression zone l 1b comprises second powder feeder 4b, second precompression roller 5b and second main compression roller 5b. Tablets 10a, l Ob are ejected from opposite sides of tablet press 1 at a first tablet ejection zone 7a and a second tablet ejection zone 7b.
The tablet press operates as follows. Powder is fed from the first powder feeder 4a to dies 3 passing thereunder as rotor 2 rotates in the direction shown by arrows a. This powder is optionally precompressed by the first precompression roller 5a, and compressed by the first main compression roller 6a into tablets 10a. Tablets 10a are ejected from the dies 3 at first tablet ejection zone 7a. Empty dies 3 next pass underneath the second powder feeder 4b and new powder is fed to the dies 3. The new powder is optionally precompressed by the second precompression roller 5b, and compressed by second main compression roller 6b into tablets 10b. Tablets lOb are ejected from the dies 3 at the second tablet ejection zone 7b.
The apparatus for transfernng substrates (also referred to herein as the transfer apparatus) may be coupled with a double-sided tablet press as described above, as shown for example in Figure 2. In particular, the transfer apparatus may be used to retrieve tablets from a double-sided tablet press and transfer them to a second location for further processing, for example coating. Advantagously, the transfer apparatus transfers the tablets on a continuous basis.
Refernng to Figure 2, the transfer apparatus 12 comprises a flexible conveying means 13, shown here as a belt, to which a plurality of transfer units 14 are attached. The flexible conveying means may be made of any suitable material, one example of which is a composite consisting of a polyurethane toothed belt with reinforcing cords of polyester or poly-paraphenylene terephthalamide (Kevlai , E.I. duPont de Nemours and Company, Wilmington, DE). Other flexible materials, such as chains, linked belts, metal belts, and the like can be used as the flexible conveying means.
The transfer apparatus can be driven by any suitable power source such as an electric motor. In one embodiment, the transfer apparatus is linked to the tablet press and driven by mechanical means through a gearbox (not shown) that is connected to a main drive motor (not shown). In this configuration the velocity and positions of the individual transfer units of the transfer apparatus can be synchronized with the dies of the tablet press.
In one embodiment of the invention, as shown in Figure 3, the transfer apparatus includes a drive pulley 20 and an idler pulley 21. A drive shaft 22 connects drive pulley to a main drive train (not shown). Drive shaft 22 drives drive pulley 20 to rotate. Drive pulley 20 has teeth that engage teeth 23 disposed on the interior of flexible conveying 2o means 13, which in turn moves the transfer apparatus in the direction of arrows b shown in Figure 2. Idler pulley 21 has teeth that engage flexible conveying means 13 as well, which causes the idler to rotate with flexible conveying means 13.
The transfer apparatus further comprises a cam track 24 that precisely determines the path for the flexible conveying means 13. The path of cam track 24, the pitch distance between the transfer units 14, the pitch of the flexible conveying means 13, and the gear ratio between the driving means of the transfer apparatus and the driving means of the tablet press (as well as the driving means of other operating units to which the transfer apparatus is coupled) are all selected such that the transfer apparatus is precisely aligned with the tablet press and any other operating units linked to it. As each operating unit rotates, the transfer apparatus remains synchronized and phased with each, such that a precise and controlled transfer from one operating unit to another is achieved.
The velocity and positions of the transfer units 14 are matched to the velocity and positions of the dies 3 in the tablet press along two portions of the path defined by the cam track 24. As shown in Figure 2, the path travels through a first substrate receiving station 18a, a second substrate receiving station 18b, and a substrate transfer location 19.
Substrate transfer location 19 may be located for example at a second location remote from the tablet press, for instance proximal to another operating unit 17.
First portion 16a of the path defined by the cam track is an arc coincident with tablet press rotor 2 when it passes through the first tablet ejection zone 7a of the tablet press. Second portion 16b of the path is an arc coincident with the tablet press rotor 2 when it passes through the second tablet ejection zone 7b. Substrates are received along these two arc lengths.
to A preferred transfer unit 14 is depicted in Figure 4. Each transfer unit is adapted to hold first and second substrates in a side-by-side fashion. Each transfer unit 14 generally includes a pair of plunger shafts 25, one or preferably more than one cam follower 26, a plurality of bearings 27 to retain the plunger shafts 25, a spring 28, a plate 29 that secures the plunger shafts 25 to cam follower 26 thereby controlling their movement, first retainer 15 30a and second retainer 30b. Preferably, each transfer unit 14 is attached to flexible conveying means 13 in a cantilever configuration so that retainers 30a, 30b are cantilevered over the path of the substrates.
Retainers 30a, 30b are preferably flexible and constructed from an elastomeric material. Retainers 30a, 30b flex upward as shown in Figures 6-8 to grasp substrates, 2o shown as tablets 100, therein. Substrates are ejected from the retainers 30a, 30b by pushing down on them, thereby flexing the retainers. Once released, the retainers 30a, 30b flex back to their original positions to receive further substrates. In a preferred embodiment, the retainers 30a, 30b are circular and include segmented fingers of elastomeric material as shown in Figure 5, but need not be so constructed. The retainers 25 30a, 30b need only be flexible enough to flex, hold a substrate, and release the substrate.
First and second retainers 30a and 30b are disposed side-by-side within each transfer unit. In one embodiment of the invention, each transfer unit is attached to the center of the flexible conveying means as shown in Figure 2, such that the first and second retainers 30a and 30b are disposed on either side of the flexible conveying means. Viewed 3o from the perspective of forward movement of the flexible conveying means along the path, the first retainer 30a is located on the outside of each transfer unit, while second retainer 30b is located on the inside of each transfer unit, i.e., closer to the center of the transfer apparatus. This inner/outer configuration, coupled with the path followed by the cam track, allows the transfer unit to pick up one substrate at a time, as described below.
Referring to Figure 4, riding in cam track 24, cam follower 26 is mounted so that it can move up and down as shown in Figures 4-8. Plate 29 is coupled to cam follower 26.
Spring 28 biases the plate 29 and cam follower 26 to an upper position. Plate 29 is also coupled to each plunger shaft 25, so that movement of the plate 29 will cause movement of the plunger shafts 25. Each plunger shaft 25 is mounted within a transfer unit 14 by a plurality of bearings 27 that permit vertical movement of the plunger shafts 25. The plunger shafts 25 are mounted so that one end of each plunger shaft 25 can move into the respective space in which a substrate is retained to eject it from the associated retainer, as shown in Figure 8. The plunger shafts 25 and bearings 27 may be made of any suitable material.
The transfer apparatus operates as follows. As shown in Figure 2, flexible conveying means 13 is moved along the path defined by the cam track 24 and wheels 15a, 15b, 15c in the direction of arrows b. This directs each transfer unit 14 in series to the first substrate receiving station 16a. Here, a transfer unit 14 comes into proximity with a die 3 containing a first tablet in the first tablet ejection zone7a of the tablet press. The first retainer 30a of the transfer unit 14 aligns with the die 3. The first tablet is ejected from the die 3 by the punches of the tablet press and into the retainer 30a as shown in Figures 6-8.
Retainer 30b remains empty.
Further rotation of the transfer apparatus by the drive pulley causes the flexible 2o conveying means 13 and its attached transfer units 14 to travel farther along the path shown by arrows b. Retainer 30a continues to hold a first tablet therein. When the transfer unit 14 reaches the second substrate receiving station 16b it comes into proximity with a die 3 containing a second tablet in the second tablet ejection zone 7b of the tablet press. The second tablet is ejected from the die 3 and into retainer 30b. Now, retainers 30a and 30b contain first and second tablets, side-by-side in the transfer unit.
As each full transfer unit 14 reaches substrate transfer location 19, cam track 24 pushes on the cam follower 26, which pushes on plate 29. Plate 29 moves the plunger shafts 25, which in turn move down and contact the retained substrates. The substrates are pushed past the elastomeric collets and ejected from the retainers. Plunger shafts 25 return to their original upward position.
The transfer device may alternatively comprise rotatable transfer units, as described in commonly assigned, copending U.S. Patent Application Serial No.
09/967,414, particularly as shown in Figures 77-81 therein. This is useful for example with elongated dosage forms, i.e., caplets that are compressed horizontally but then must be coated in a vertical position. As shown in Figure 80 of the '027 application, each transfer unit 602 comprises of a dosage form holder 608 rotatably mounted in a housing.
Each dosage form holder comprises two sets of flexible retainers 630, 630B, one for entry of a substrate 630 and one for exit of a substrate 630B. During transit along path defined by the cam track 606, the dosage form holder rotates 90 degrees due to motion of a cam follower 626 within the cam track 606. An ejector pin assembly 612 enters through holes 608A in the dosage form holder 608 to eject the substrate. The dosage form holder 608 rotates 90 degrees again, returning to its horizontal position to begin the cycle over again.
1o The following non-limiting example further illustrates the claimed invention.
Example Acetaminophen-containing tablets are compressed in a double-sided tablet press, Fette model 3090. The press operates at 2000 tablets per minute per side, or 4000 tablets 15 per minute total. The tablet press is coupled to a coating apparatus via a transfer device according to the invention. The transfer device, tablet press and coating apparatus are all driven by a common motor, and are synchronized. The transfer device comprises transfer units, each with first and second retainers, and receives acetaminophen tablets from both sides of the tablet press. The first retainer receives first tablets from one side of the tablet 20 press, and the second retainer receives second tablets from the other side of the tablet press. The transfer units proceed to a coating apparatus, where they are ejected and coated with gelatin.
FOR TRANSFERRING SUBSTRATES
Cross Reference to Related Application This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 09/967,414, filed on September 28, 2001, entitled "Systems, Methods and Apparatuses for Manufacturing Dosage Forms" (MCP0295), and incorporated herein by reference.
1o Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to methods and apparatuses for transferring substrates, such as tablets, from one location to another.
Background of the Invention 15 Double-sided tablet presses are commonly used in the pharmaceutical industry for making tablets. Their configuration is well known. Typically, they comprise a rotor having dies located along its periphery. The rotor rotates through first and second compression zones. In each compression zone, powder is fed to dies, optionally the powder is precompressed and then compressed within the dies, and finally finished tablets 2o are ejected from the press. Because double-sided tablet presses contain two compression zones, with each revolution of the rotor two sets of tablets are made. The tablets are ejected from opposite sides of the press at first and second tablet ejection zones. The ejected tablets are conventionally transferred away in bulk by an ejection chute leading to a collection container such as a drum or hopper.
25 Commonly assigned, copending U.S. Patent Application Serial No.
09/967,414, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a transfer device capable of handling substrates such as tablets having a high degree of friability and softness. It is a rotating device comprising a plurality of transfer units attached to a flexible conveying means, such as a belt. It is preferably used for 3o transferring substrates within a continuous process from one operating unit to another, for example from a compression apparatus to a coating apparatus. The flexible conveying means follows a path from the first operating unit to the second operating unit. The velocity and positions of the transfer units are synchronized with the operating units to which it is coupled, so that substrates can be smoothly captured from the first operating unit and released to the second operating unit. The transfer units comprise retainers for holding the substrates. The retainers are preferably flexible and constructed from an elastomeric material. In a preferred embodiment, the retainers are circular and comprise segmented fingers of elastomeric material.
Applicants have now designed a transfer device having transfer units comprising inner and outer, side by side retainers that sequentially rather than simultaneously capture substrates. The device may be used to transfer tablets or other substrates, preferably from a rotary, double-sided tablet press to a second location. The transfer units are mounted on a flexible conveying means that travels along a path coincident with those portions of the tablet press where tablets are ejected.
In one embodiment, the transfer units are adapted to receive first tablets at a first substrate receiving station of the apparatus located proximal to the first tablet ejection zone of the tablet press, and adapted to receive second tablets at a second substrate receiving station located proximal to the second tablet ejection zone of the tablet press.
Summary Of The Invention The invention provides an apparatus for transfernng substrates, comprising: a) a flexible conveying means; b) a plurality of transfer units mounted to said conveying means, each transfer unit adapted to hold first and second substrates; c) a cam track 2o defining a path from a first substrate receiving station, passing through a second substrate receiving station, and then to a substrate transfer station; and d) means for driving said conveying means along said cam track.
The invention also provides an apparatus for transfernng tablets from a double sided tablet press comprising first and second tablet ejection zones to a second location, said apparatus comprising a plurality of transfer units mounted to a flexible conveying means, each transfer unit adapted to hold first and second tablets, a cam track defining a path from a first substrate receiving station located proximal to the first tablet ejection zone, passing through a second substrate receiving station located proximal to the second tablet ejection zone, and then to a substrate transfer station located at the second location;
and means for driving said conveying means along said cam track.
Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 depicts a conventional double-sided tablet press.
Figure 2 depicts a transfer apparatus according to the invention coupled with the tablet press of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a transfer apparatus according to the invention.
Figures 4- 8 illustrate a preferred embodiment of a transfer unit.
Detailed Description of the Invention Figure 1 depicts a conventional, double-sided tablet press 1. The tablet press comprises a rotor 2 having a plurality of dies 3 around its periphery. Figure 1 depicts 12 dies. Accordingly, each revolution of this tablet press produces 24 tablets.
Tablet press 1 comprises first and second powder feeders 4a, 4b, first and second precompression rollers Sa, 5b (which are optional), and first and second main compression rollers 6a, 6b. First powder feeder 4a is located on the opposite side of rotor 2 from second powder feeder 4b. First precompression roller Sa is located on the opposite side of rotor 2 from second precompression roller 5b. Likewise, first main compression roller 6a is located on the opposite side of rotor 2 from second main compression roller 6b. A first compression zone 11 a comprises first powder feeder 4a, first precompression roller 5a and first main compression roller 6a. A second compression zone l 1b comprises second powder feeder 4b, second precompression roller 5b and second main compression roller 5b. Tablets 10a, l Ob are ejected from opposite sides of tablet press 1 at a first tablet ejection zone 7a and a second tablet ejection zone 7b.
The tablet press operates as follows. Powder is fed from the first powder feeder 4a to dies 3 passing thereunder as rotor 2 rotates in the direction shown by arrows a. This powder is optionally precompressed by the first precompression roller 5a, and compressed by the first main compression roller 6a into tablets 10a. Tablets 10a are ejected from the dies 3 at first tablet ejection zone 7a. Empty dies 3 next pass underneath the second powder feeder 4b and new powder is fed to the dies 3. The new powder is optionally precompressed by the second precompression roller 5b, and compressed by second main compression roller 6b into tablets 10b. Tablets lOb are ejected from the dies 3 at the second tablet ejection zone 7b.
The apparatus for transfernng substrates (also referred to herein as the transfer apparatus) may be coupled with a double-sided tablet press as described above, as shown for example in Figure 2. In particular, the transfer apparatus may be used to retrieve tablets from a double-sided tablet press and transfer them to a second location for further processing, for example coating. Advantagously, the transfer apparatus transfers the tablets on a continuous basis.
Refernng to Figure 2, the transfer apparatus 12 comprises a flexible conveying means 13, shown here as a belt, to which a plurality of transfer units 14 are attached. The flexible conveying means may be made of any suitable material, one example of which is a composite consisting of a polyurethane toothed belt with reinforcing cords of polyester or poly-paraphenylene terephthalamide (Kevlai , E.I. duPont de Nemours and Company, Wilmington, DE). Other flexible materials, such as chains, linked belts, metal belts, and the like can be used as the flexible conveying means.
The transfer apparatus can be driven by any suitable power source such as an electric motor. In one embodiment, the transfer apparatus is linked to the tablet press and driven by mechanical means through a gearbox (not shown) that is connected to a main drive motor (not shown). In this configuration the velocity and positions of the individual transfer units of the transfer apparatus can be synchronized with the dies of the tablet press.
In one embodiment of the invention, as shown in Figure 3, the transfer apparatus includes a drive pulley 20 and an idler pulley 21. A drive shaft 22 connects drive pulley to a main drive train (not shown). Drive shaft 22 drives drive pulley 20 to rotate. Drive pulley 20 has teeth that engage teeth 23 disposed on the interior of flexible conveying 2o means 13, which in turn moves the transfer apparatus in the direction of arrows b shown in Figure 2. Idler pulley 21 has teeth that engage flexible conveying means 13 as well, which causes the idler to rotate with flexible conveying means 13.
The transfer apparatus further comprises a cam track 24 that precisely determines the path for the flexible conveying means 13. The path of cam track 24, the pitch distance between the transfer units 14, the pitch of the flexible conveying means 13, and the gear ratio between the driving means of the transfer apparatus and the driving means of the tablet press (as well as the driving means of other operating units to which the transfer apparatus is coupled) are all selected such that the transfer apparatus is precisely aligned with the tablet press and any other operating units linked to it. As each operating unit rotates, the transfer apparatus remains synchronized and phased with each, such that a precise and controlled transfer from one operating unit to another is achieved.
The velocity and positions of the transfer units 14 are matched to the velocity and positions of the dies 3 in the tablet press along two portions of the path defined by the cam track 24. As shown in Figure 2, the path travels through a first substrate receiving station 18a, a second substrate receiving station 18b, and a substrate transfer location 19.
Substrate transfer location 19 may be located for example at a second location remote from the tablet press, for instance proximal to another operating unit 17.
First portion 16a of the path defined by the cam track is an arc coincident with tablet press rotor 2 when it passes through the first tablet ejection zone 7a of the tablet press. Second portion 16b of the path is an arc coincident with the tablet press rotor 2 when it passes through the second tablet ejection zone 7b. Substrates are received along these two arc lengths.
to A preferred transfer unit 14 is depicted in Figure 4. Each transfer unit is adapted to hold first and second substrates in a side-by-side fashion. Each transfer unit 14 generally includes a pair of plunger shafts 25, one or preferably more than one cam follower 26, a plurality of bearings 27 to retain the plunger shafts 25, a spring 28, a plate 29 that secures the plunger shafts 25 to cam follower 26 thereby controlling their movement, first retainer 15 30a and second retainer 30b. Preferably, each transfer unit 14 is attached to flexible conveying means 13 in a cantilever configuration so that retainers 30a, 30b are cantilevered over the path of the substrates.
Retainers 30a, 30b are preferably flexible and constructed from an elastomeric material. Retainers 30a, 30b flex upward as shown in Figures 6-8 to grasp substrates, 2o shown as tablets 100, therein. Substrates are ejected from the retainers 30a, 30b by pushing down on them, thereby flexing the retainers. Once released, the retainers 30a, 30b flex back to their original positions to receive further substrates. In a preferred embodiment, the retainers 30a, 30b are circular and include segmented fingers of elastomeric material as shown in Figure 5, but need not be so constructed. The retainers 25 30a, 30b need only be flexible enough to flex, hold a substrate, and release the substrate.
First and second retainers 30a and 30b are disposed side-by-side within each transfer unit. In one embodiment of the invention, each transfer unit is attached to the center of the flexible conveying means as shown in Figure 2, such that the first and second retainers 30a and 30b are disposed on either side of the flexible conveying means. Viewed 3o from the perspective of forward movement of the flexible conveying means along the path, the first retainer 30a is located on the outside of each transfer unit, while second retainer 30b is located on the inside of each transfer unit, i.e., closer to the center of the transfer apparatus. This inner/outer configuration, coupled with the path followed by the cam track, allows the transfer unit to pick up one substrate at a time, as described below.
Referring to Figure 4, riding in cam track 24, cam follower 26 is mounted so that it can move up and down as shown in Figures 4-8. Plate 29 is coupled to cam follower 26.
Spring 28 biases the plate 29 and cam follower 26 to an upper position. Plate 29 is also coupled to each plunger shaft 25, so that movement of the plate 29 will cause movement of the plunger shafts 25. Each plunger shaft 25 is mounted within a transfer unit 14 by a plurality of bearings 27 that permit vertical movement of the plunger shafts 25. The plunger shafts 25 are mounted so that one end of each plunger shaft 25 can move into the respective space in which a substrate is retained to eject it from the associated retainer, as shown in Figure 8. The plunger shafts 25 and bearings 27 may be made of any suitable material.
The transfer apparatus operates as follows. As shown in Figure 2, flexible conveying means 13 is moved along the path defined by the cam track 24 and wheels 15a, 15b, 15c in the direction of arrows b. This directs each transfer unit 14 in series to the first substrate receiving station 16a. Here, a transfer unit 14 comes into proximity with a die 3 containing a first tablet in the first tablet ejection zone7a of the tablet press. The first retainer 30a of the transfer unit 14 aligns with the die 3. The first tablet is ejected from the die 3 by the punches of the tablet press and into the retainer 30a as shown in Figures 6-8.
Retainer 30b remains empty.
Further rotation of the transfer apparatus by the drive pulley causes the flexible 2o conveying means 13 and its attached transfer units 14 to travel farther along the path shown by arrows b. Retainer 30a continues to hold a first tablet therein. When the transfer unit 14 reaches the second substrate receiving station 16b it comes into proximity with a die 3 containing a second tablet in the second tablet ejection zone 7b of the tablet press. The second tablet is ejected from the die 3 and into retainer 30b. Now, retainers 30a and 30b contain first and second tablets, side-by-side in the transfer unit.
As each full transfer unit 14 reaches substrate transfer location 19, cam track 24 pushes on the cam follower 26, which pushes on plate 29. Plate 29 moves the plunger shafts 25, which in turn move down and contact the retained substrates. The substrates are pushed past the elastomeric collets and ejected from the retainers. Plunger shafts 25 return to their original upward position.
The transfer device may alternatively comprise rotatable transfer units, as described in commonly assigned, copending U.S. Patent Application Serial No.
09/967,414, particularly as shown in Figures 77-81 therein. This is useful for example with elongated dosage forms, i.e., caplets that are compressed horizontally but then must be coated in a vertical position. As shown in Figure 80 of the '027 application, each transfer unit 602 comprises of a dosage form holder 608 rotatably mounted in a housing.
Each dosage form holder comprises two sets of flexible retainers 630, 630B, one for entry of a substrate 630 and one for exit of a substrate 630B. During transit along path defined by the cam track 606, the dosage form holder rotates 90 degrees due to motion of a cam follower 626 within the cam track 606. An ejector pin assembly 612 enters through holes 608A in the dosage form holder 608 to eject the substrate. The dosage form holder 608 rotates 90 degrees again, returning to its horizontal position to begin the cycle over again.
1o The following non-limiting example further illustrates the claimed invention.
Example Acetaminophen-containing tablets are compressed in a double-sided tablet press, Fette model 3090. The press operates at 2000 tablets per minute per side, or 4000 tablets 15 per minute total. The tablet press is coupled to a coating apparatus via a transfer device according to the invention. The transfer device, tablet press and coating apparatus are all driven by a common motor, and are synchronized. The transfer device comprises transfer units, each with first and second retainers, and receives acetaminophen tablets from both sides of the tablet press. The first retainer receives first tablets from one side of the tablet 20 press, and the second retainer receives second tablets from the other side of the tablet press. The transfer units proceed to a coating apparatus, where they are ejected and coated with gelatin.
Claims (26)
1. An apparatus for transferring substrates, comprising:
a) a flexible conveying means;
b) a plurality of transfer units mounted to said conveying means, each transfer unit adapted to hold first and second substrates;
c) a cam track defining a path from a first substrate receiving station, passing through a second substrate receiving station, and then to a substrate transfer station; and d) means for driving said conveying means along said cam track.
a) a flexible conveying means;
b) a plurality of transfer units mounted to said conveying means, each transfer unit adapted to hold first and second substrates;
c) a cam track defining a path from a first substrate receiving station, passing through a second substrate receiving station, and then to a substrate transfer station; and d) means for driving said conveying means along said cam track.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transfer units are mounted to said conveying means in a cantilever configuration.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each transfer unit comprises first and second retainers made of an elastomeric material and comprising segmented fingers, said first retainer adapted to hold a first substrate and said second retainer adapted to hold a second substrate.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said first and second retainers are located side by side within each transfer unit.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the transfer units are mounted to the center of the conveying means, such that said first and second retainers are positioned on either side of the conveying means.
6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the path positions the conveying means on opposite sides of the first and second substrate receiving stations.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the path positions the conveying means on the inside of the first substrate receiving station, and on the outside of the second substrate receiving station.
8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the path positions the flexible conveying means on the outside of the first substrate receiving station, and on the inside of the second substrate receiving station.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising vacuum means for applying a vacuum to said substrates while they are held by the transfer units.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said transfer units are rotatably mounted to said conveying means, such that said transfer units are capable of being rotated while they travel along said cam track.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said apparatus further comprises a rotable actuator arm linked to said transfer units such that as said actuator arm rotates, said transfer units rotate.
12. An apparatus for transferring tablets from a double-sided tablet press comprising first and second tablet ejection zones to a second location, said apparatus comprising a plurality of transfer units mounted to a flexible conveying means, each transfer unit adapted to hold first and second tablets, a cam track defining a path from a first substrate receiving station located proximal to the first tablet ejection zone, passing through a second substrate receiving station located proximal to the second tablet ejection zone, and then to a substrate transfer station located at the second location;
and means for driving said conveying means along said cam track.
and means for driving said conveying means along said cam track.
13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said double-sided tablet press comprises a rotor that travels through the first and second tablet ejection zones, and said path comprises first and second portions, said first portion being an arc coincident with said rotor when it travels through the first tablet ejection zone and a second portion being an arc coincident with said rotor when it travels through the second tablet ejection zone.
14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein each transfer unit comprises first and second retainers made of an elastomeric material and comprising segmented fingers, said first retainer adapted to hold a first tablet and said second retainer adapted to hold a second tablet.
15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said first and second retainers are located side by side within each transfer unit.
16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the transfer units are mounted to the center of the conveying means, such that said first and second retainers are positioned on either side of the conveying means.
17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the path positions the conveying means on opposite sides of the first and second substrate receiving stations.
18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the path positions the conveying means on the inside of the first substrate receiving station, and on the outside of the second substrate receiving station.
19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the path positions the flexible conveying means on the outside of the first substrate receiving station, and on the inside of the second substrate receiving station.
20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said first retainer is adapted to receive tablets at said first substrate receiving station and said second retainer is adapted to receive tablets at said second substrate receiving station.
21. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said path positions said first retainer to receive tablets at said first substrate receiving station and positions said second retainer to receive tablets at said second substrate receiving station.
22. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising vacuum means for applying a vacuum to said substrates while they are held by the transfer units.
23. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said transfer units are rotatably mounted to said conveying means, such that said transfer units are capable of being rotated while they travel along said cam track.
24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said apparatus further comprises a rotable actuator arm linked to said transfer units such that as said actuator arm rotates, said transfer units rotate.
25. A method for transferring substrates using the apparatus of claim 1, which comprises in sequence:
a) receiving a first substrate at said first substrate receiving station;
b) receiving a second substrate at said second substrate receiving station;
and c) transferring said first and second substrates simultaneously to said substrate transfer station.
a) receiving a first substrate at said first substrate receiving station;
b) receiving a second substrate at said second substrate receiving station;
and c) transferring said first and second substrates simultaneously to said substrate transfer station.
26. The method of claim 25, wherein steps a) through c) are repeated as a continuous process.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US2003/008848 WO2004094280A1 (en) | 2003-03-21 | 2003-03-21 | Method and apparatus for transferring substrates |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2519800A1 CA2519800A1 (en) | 2004-11-04 |
| CA2519800C true CA2519800C (en) | 2011-01-11 |
Family
ID=33308980
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA2519800A Expired - Fee Related CA2519800C (en) | 2003-03-21 | 2003-03-21 | Method and apparatus for transferring substrates |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| AU (1) | AU2003220469A1 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2519800C (en) |
| WO (1) | WO2004094280A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ITMO20050048A1 (en) * | 2005-03-01 | 2006-09-02 | Sacmi | EQUIPMENT AND METHODS. |
| CH701560A2 (en) * | 2009-07-24 | 2011-01-31 | Robert Hefti | Transfer wheel and method for grouping of rod-shaped or tubular articles. |
Family Cites Families (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3518866A (en) * | 1967-12-12 | 1970-07-07 | Bliss Co | Feed or discharge mechanism for a forming press |
| US5538125A (en) * | 1990-11-05 | 1996-07-23 | Mcneil-Ppc, Inc. | Indexing and feeding systems for apparatus for gelatin coating tablets |
| ES2157726B1 (en) * | 1998-06-12 | 2002-03-01 | Bonals S A J | PERFECTION IN THE ROTATING MACHINES FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF TABLETS. |
-
2003
- 2003-03-21 CA CA2519800A patent/CA2519800C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2003-03-21 WO PCT/US2003/008848 patent/WO2004094280A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2003-03-21 AU AU2003220469A patent/AU2003220469A1/en not_active Abandoned
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA2519800A1 (en) | 2004-11-04 |
| WO2004094280A1 (en) | 2004-11-04 |
| AU2003220469A1 (en) | 2004-11-19 |
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKLA | Lapsed |
Effective date: 20180321 |