EP2110231A2 - Rotary tablet press - Google Patents

Abstract

The rotary tablet press (10) has a rotor (12), a filling station, print stations (18,22,24), and lower die and upper die guides. The rotary tablet press is formed modular, where individual modules are arranged in detachable manner or transform within the rotary tablet press, for retrofitting the rotary tablet press from two shift operation to one shift operation or vice versa.

Description

Rotary tablet presses are well known. These typically include a rotor having a die plate with a number of dies arranged on a perimeter line. Each die is assigned an upper and a lower punch which are guided by guide curves. In the matrices to be pressed material can be filled via at least one filling device. The upper and lower punches are guided via a filling station, a dosing station, a pre-press station and a main printing station.

Also known rotary tablet presses with which multi-layer tablets, such as two-layer tablets, can be produced. Here, two filling stations, two metering stations and two printing stations are arranged over the circumference of the rotor.

Rotary tablet presses are known, in particular for laboratory operation, which can be converted from a single-shift operation into a two-shift operation. Here are relatively complex conversion work, namely the placement of a second Füllschuhs, as well as an adjustment of the first printing station, the Dosiereinheit- and the filling curves required.

The invention has for its object to provide a rotary tablet press of the generic type, which is characterized by a simple and variable structure.

According to the invention this object is achieved by a rotary tablet press with the features mentioned in claim 1. Characterized in that the rotary tablet press is modular, with individual modules are removable and / or implemented within the rotary tablet press, to convert the rotary tablet press from two-shift operation to single-shift operation or vice versa, is advantageously possible, a rotary tablet press retool quickly and variably. The rotary tablet press is thus versatile, can be used in particular as a laboratory press and can be adapted so quickly to different desired parameters. This concerns both the replacement of individual components as well as the quick conversion from single-shift to two-shift operation or vice versa.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention it is provided that a first filling device and a second filling device are provided, wherein the second filling device is removable. This advantageously makes it possible that by removing the second filling device, for example by removal or by pivoting in a non-use position, very quickly and in particular even without tools, a conversion of the tablet press from a two-shift to a single-shift operation can take place.

Furthermore, it is provided in a preferred embodiment of the invention that - in single-shift operation with the rotary tablet press - the first filling device can be equipped with an enlarged filling shoe. This advantageously makes it possible to drive a higher rotational speed of the rotor during the single-shift operation, without a reliable filling of the dies being impaired.

In addition, in a further preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that a lower pressure roller of a second printing station in two-layer operation assumes a metering function for filling the matrices in single-shift operation. This advantageously makes it possible, on the one hand, to effectively support the conversion of the tablet press from two-shift operation to single-shift operation and, at the same time, to use certain components in a multifunctional manner, that is to say both for the two-shift operation and for the single-shift operation.

Furthermore, it is provided in a preferred embodiment of the invention that the upper punch guide comprises a plurality of segments which are at least partially interchangeable with at least one other segment with a different curve characteristic. Due to this segmentation of the punch guide, the conversion from two-shift operation to single-shift operation or vice versa can be realized in a simple manner. Depending on which operating modes are to be run, the corresponding segments are used for upper punch guide. In this way, in particular, the longer filling distance can be supported in a single-shift operation.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the rotary tablet press comprises drive adapters which are selectively operatively connectable with drive shafts for driving filling devices or parts of filling devices. As a result, the conversion of the filling line from two-shift operation to single-shift operation or vice versa can be supported in a simple manner. In particular, no complex assembly work needs to be performed. The available drive adapters are either coupled to the corresponding drive shafts or not.

In addition, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the rotor can be swung out of a press interior of the rotary tablet press. hereby is advantageously possible to replace either the entire rotor or on the rotor itself, for example, to swap the segments of the punch guides or adjust the top and / or bottom punches according to the desired parameters of the tablets to be pressed. In addition, maintenance and / or cleaning work on the rotor or on the press interior can be carried out in a simple manner.

In addition, it is provided in a preferred embodiment of the invention that the rotor comprises a receptacle for a support arm, wherein the support arm is pivotally mounted with a guide column of the rotary tablet press, preferably in the support arm, a lifting device for lowering or lifting the rotor is integrated , As a result, the removal or installation of the engine advantageously without additional external device or tools is possible.

The present invention thus relates to a universally applicable rotary tablet press, in particular a laboratory press, which has a modular structure and which allows the replacement of a complete rotor or the conversion of the rotor and the necessary peripherals of a two-shift operation in a single-shift operation and vice versa with a few simple steps.

Essential to the invention for this purpose is, on the one hand, the simple and uncomplicated conversion possibility of a two-shift operation in a single-shift operation. For this purpose, only the removal of the upper pressure roller for pressing the first layer - in two-shift operation - and, the upper pressure roller adjacent in two-shift operation, curve segments of the upper punch necessary. These cam segments are exchanged for a straight guide cam segment for the top punches. Furthermore, the filling devices for the first layer and the second layer are removed or converted. Thus, in a simple manner, the metering unit of the filling station for the first layer can be used in two-shift operation simultaneously for filling the matrices in a single-shift operation. Here can be extended by an extension of the filling curve at this dosage in single-shift operation, the filling distance in a simple manner. It is not necessary to replace the dosing unit. The lower pressure roller for pressing the first layer assumes the function of a dosing unit and therefore does not need to be removed or rebuilt. Likewise, by arranging an additional stirring blade of a filling shoe for single-shift operation, a longer filling length of dies becomes possible, so that an increase in the drive rotational speed / operating rotational speed of the rotor can take place. Depending on requirements, the laboratory press can be converted from two-shift to one-shift operation or vice versa within a very short time. Elaborate disassembly or disassembly and assembly work are not required. The coordinated few replacement parts can be positioned in a simple manner, mainly without tools.

Another aspect of the invention is the interchangeability of the entire rotor of the rotary tablet press without expensive disassembly work. For this purpose, it is provided that the rotor is laterally swung out of its operating position. This means the rotor is not raised, but remains in its vertical position. As a result, it is possible to dispense with pivoting out the pressure rollers and disassembling the guide curves for the punches and the punches themselves. It is only the removal of the filling curve required, since in this area, the engaging in their lower punch would be a lateral swing out in the way.

In its operating position, the rotor is non-positively connected to the drive or the anvil at its front end drive shaft ends by mechanically acting connecting elements, such as pneumatically or hydraulically actuated connecting elements, so that an exact reproducible positioning of the rotor is possible. To disassemble the rotor is connected to a support arm and pivoted to a frame-fixed column of the laboratory press to the outside, as I said, without this is changed in its altitude. After swinging out the rotor can then be stored on a lowering device, for example mechanically, hydraulically or pneumatically on a rotor carriage or the like. Thus, in a simple manner replacement of the rotor, for example, for repair and / or maintenance purposes, or cleaning purposes or the like readily possible.

Figur 1

eine schematische Draufsicht auf eine Rundläufer-Tablettenpresse im Zweischichtbetrieb;

Figur 2

eine schematische Draufsicht auf eine Rundläufer-Tablettenpresse im Einschichtbetrieb;

Figur 3

eine schematische Perspektivansicht der Tablettenpresse im Zweischichtbetrieb;

Figur 4

eine schematische Perspektivansicht der Tablettenpresse im Einschichtbetrieb;

Figur 5

einen Vergleich der Kurvenläufe bei Zweischichtbetrieb und Einschichtbetrieb und

Figuren 6 bis 8

schematische Perspektivansichten der Tablettenpresse mit den gekennzeichneten zu demontierenden beziehungsweise zu verschwenkenden Peripheriegeräten;

The basic principle of the invention will be clarified with reference to the following figures. Show it:

FIG. 1

a schematic plan view of a rotary tablet press in two-shift operation;

FIG. 2

a schematic plan view of a rotary tablet press in single-shift operation;

FIG. 3

a schematic perspective view of the tablet press in two-shift operation;

FIG. 4

a schematic perspective view of the tablet press in a single-shift operation;

FIG. 5

a comparison of the curves in two-shift operation and single-shift operation and

FIGS. 6 to 8

schematic perspective views of the tablet press with the marked to be disassembled or to be pivoted peripheral devices;

FIG. 1 shows a highly schematic plan view of a rotary tablet press for the production of two-layer tablets. The tablet press is designated as a whole by 10. The tablet press 10 comprises a rotor 12 which has a die table 14 with matrices, not shown here, arranged on a circumferential line. The matrices are each - also not shown - upper and lower punch assigned. The tablet press 10 comprises - seen in the circumferential direction - successively a first filling device 16, a first printing station 18, a second filling device 20, a second printing station 22 and a main printing station 24 and an ejector 26. About the first feeder 16 'is a medium to be pressed, in particular powder, fed to a first layer of a tablet to be pressed. This first layer is pre-pressed over the first printing station 18. Subsequently, via the second filling device 20, the medium to be pressed, in particular a powder, is introduced onto the pre-pressed first layer. Subsequently, the then two-layer tablet is pressed through the second pre-printing station 22. The main printing station 24 performs the final pressing of the two-layer tablet and via the ejector 26, the finished pressed two-layer tablets are fed to a collecting container or the like.

In FIG. 2 the tablet press 10 is also shown in a highly schematized view in the conversion variant for a single-shift operation. Same parts as in FIG. 1 are provided with the same reference numerals and not explained again.

It becomes clear that here the second filling device 20 is removed or displaced out of the effective range of the rotor 12. Likewise, the upper pressure roller of the first printing station 18 is removed. The first feeder 16 'is either maintained or, as shown, equipped with a larger filling shoe. As a result, a filling of the matrices on a larger peripheral portion of the pitch circle of the die plate 14 is possible. The lower pressure roller of the first printing station 18 takes over the metering function for the control of the lower punch for metered introduction of a certain amount in the matrices, as is well known in the art.

Annhand the schematic representations in FIG. 1 and 2 It becomes clear that the tablet press 10 is converted from a two-shift operation (in FIG. 1 shown) in a single-shift operation (in FIG. 2 shown) can be converted. This conversion is possible without complex assembly work and thus very quickly.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic perspective view of the tablet press 10 in the functional state "two-shift operation". Visible are the first feed device 16 ', the upper pressure roller 28 and the lower pressure roller 30 of the first printing station 18 and the second filling device 20.

Furthermore, the rotor 12 is visible with the die table 14. The rotor 12 further comprises a lower punch guide 32 and a upper punch guide 34. The lower punch and the upper punch are displaced by guide curves in their position to the die table 12 in a conventional manner. As a result, the dosing, pressing and ejection of the tablets can be controlled. In FIG. 3 schematically the upper punch curve 36 is shown, which consists of different segments. A segment 38, a segment 40 and a segment 42 can be seen. The segment 38 is arranged above the feed device 16 ', where the upper punches are essentially guided in a specific starting position. In front of the pressure roller 28, the segment 40 is arranged, via which the upper punches are guided into the pre-printing position. The segment 42 leads the upper punches following the pressure roller 28 from the pre-printing position to the filling position corresponding to the arrangement of the second filling device 20. This is known per se.

FIG. 4 shows the tablet press 10 in a schematic perspective view in its operating state "single-shift operation". Like parts are again provided with the same reference numerals and not explained again. It is clear that the upper pressure roller 28 and the segments 40 and 42 of the punch guide 36 are removed. The segments 40 and 42 are replaced by a new segment 44, so that the upper punches are also guided in the region of the current segment 44 in a filling position, ie above the dies.

FIG. 4 further clarifies that the second filling device 20 is dismantled. A drive shaft 46 of the second filling device 20 (FIG. FIG. 3 ) has been released and is being moved to a new position, as is FIG. 4 clarified. The first feed device 16 is exchanged for a feed device 16 ', of which only the stirring blades 48 of a corresponding filling shoe are shown here for clarification. The drive shaft 46 now serves to drive the second impeller 48 'while the drive shaft 46' of the first feeder 16 ( FIG. 3 ) remains and now serves the drive of the first stirring blade 48. The first feeder 16 is quasi preserved and is supplemented by the second impeller 48 '. In a base plate 11 corresponding drive adapter 47 and 47 'are provided which are operatively connected to the drive shafts 46 and 46' and are operatively connected. The under pressure roller 30 of the first printing station 18 (FIG. FIG. 1 respectively FIG. 3 ) now adopts a metering function for controlling the lower punches on the pitch circle of the feeder 16 '. It becomes clear that this creates a longer filling path in a simple manner during the single-shift operation, so that reliable filling of all matrices is possible even at high rotational speeds.

All other components of the tablet press 10 remain unchanged and are both in two-shift operation as well as in single-shift operation in function.

FIG. 5 schematically shows the development of the rotor 12 of the tablet press 10. Recognizable is the main printing station 24 with upper main pressure roller 50 and lower main pressure roller 52. Furthermore, the first form and pressure station 18 and the second form or pressure station 22 is shown. The first pre-printing station 18 has the upper pressure roller 28 and the lower pressure roller 30. The second pre-printing station 22 has the upper pressure roller 54 and the lower pressure roller 56. Furthermore, the development of the Oberstempelkurve 60 and the lower punch curve 62 is shown.

As already explained with reference to the preceding figures, filling of the matrices in front of the first printing station 18, pre-pressing of the first layer in the printing station 18, filling in front of the second printing station 22, pre-pressing of the second layer in the printing station 22 and main pressing are performed first in the main printing station 24. After the main printing station 24 was an ejection of the finished pressed tablet, here indicated by an arrow 64.

In single-shift operation, the upper pressure roller 28 of the first printing station 18 is removed and the segments 40 and 42 of the upper punch guide 60 are exchanged for the segment 44. The lower pressure roller 30 now assumes the function of a metering roller.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of the tablet press 10, wherein it is illustrated here that the rotor 12 can be completely pivoted out of a press interior 70. The rotor 12 is held by a support arm 72, which is hinged to a guide column 74 of the tablet press 10. The rotor 12 is by simply pivoting pivoted in its horizontal plane out of the press interior 70 out in the position shown. This can be done without disassembly work on the rotor 12. On the rotor 12 can still the pressure rollers (visible here exemplarily the first upper form roller pressure) and the punch guides, the individual curve segments and the punch itself can be swung out without that they would have to be dismantled before. The pivoted-out rotor 12 can be set down via a lifting device integrated into the support arm 72, for example pneumatically, on a rotor carriage or the like (not shown). It is important that the rotor 12 is swung out of the press interior 70 without lifting or lowering. This means that this remains essentially in its horizontal plane. A drive coupling with a drive machine of the tablet press 10 or an abutment takes place via the respective end faces 76 and 78 of the rotor 12 to corresponding counterparts for a frictional assembly.

In the FIGS. 7 and 8th the tablet press 10 is again shown schematically, in which case it is clarified which of the parts must be removed or pivoted so that the rotor 12 - as in FIG. 6 shown - can be swung horizontally out of the press interior.

FIG. 7 illustrates that here the first feeder 16 'and the second filling device 20 and the drive shaft 46' are removed. In the same way, the filling curve is removed.

The removal of these parts is done without tools by loosening the corresponding quick-release connections or the like.

FIG. 8 illustrates that the parts remaining on the tablet press 10, namely the guiding or holding elements for the feeding device 16 'or filling device 20 (need not be pivoted) are pivoted out of the region of the rotor 12. By, as in FIG. 7 shown, dismantled parts and, as in FIG. 8 shown, pivoted parts will swing out of the rotor 12 from the press interior 70, as shown in FIG FIG. 6 is clarified, readily possible. This allows easy handling of the tablet press 10, in particular for cleaning purposes, repair purposes or replacement of the punch curves or dies on the rotor 12. Elaborate disassembly work is not required.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

tablet press

11

baseplate

12

rotor

14

die table

16

first filling device

16 '

feeding

18

first printing station

20

second filling device

22

second printing station

24

Main printing station

26

ejector

28

upper pressure roller

30

lower pressure roller

32

Under punch guide

34

Upper punch guide

36

Punch curve

38

segment

40

segment

42

segment

44

segment

46

drive shaft

46 '

drive shaft

47

drive adapter

47 '

drive adapter

48

impellers

50

upper main pressure roller

52

lower main pressure roller

54

upper pressure roller

56

lower pressure roller

60

Punch curve

62

Under Temple curve

70

Press interior

72

Beam

74

guide column

76

front

78

front

Claims (9)

Rotary tablet press comprising a rotor, at least one filling station and at least one printing station as well as lower punch and upper punch guides,
characterized in that
the rotary tablet press (10) has a modular design, individual modules being removable and / or convertible within the rotary tablet press (10), for converting the rotary tablet press (10) from two-shift operation to single-shift operation or vice versa. Rotary tablet press according to claim 1,
characterized in that
a first filling device (16) and a second filling device (20) are provided, wherein the second filling device (20) is removable. Rotary tablet press according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the first filling device (16) can be equipped with an enlarged filling shoe. Rotary tablet press according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
a lower pressure roller (30) of a second printing station (18) in the two-shift operation assumes a metering function for filling the matrices in single-shift operation. Rotary tablet press according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the upper punch guide (34) and / or lower punch guide (32) comprises a plurality of segments (38, 40, 42) which are at least partially interchangeable with at least one other segment (44) having a different curve characteristic. Rotary tablet press according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the rotary tablet press (10) comprises drive adapters (47, 47 ') which are selectively operatively connectable with drive shafts (46, 46') for driving filling devices or parts of filling devices. Rotary tablet press according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the rotor (12) can be swung out of a press interior (70) of the rotary tablet press (10). Rotary tablet press according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the rotor (12) comprises a receptacle for a support arm (72), wherein the support arm (72) is pivotably arranged on a guide column (74) of the rotary tablet press (10). Rotary tablet press according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
in the support arm (72) a lifting device for covering or lifting the rotor (12) is integrated.

Images