FEEDING AND BLENDING ASSEMBLY FOR A SYSTEM FOR CONTINUOUS PROCESSING OF POWDER PRODUCTS

Abstract

A feeding and blending apparatus for a system for continuous processing of powder products comprises at least two system inlets for powder products; and at least two feeding and dosing devices arranged in a row. Each of the at least two feeding and dosing devices comprises, an inlet being connected with a system inlet, at least one feeder, at least one actuator configured to operate the at least one feeder, and an outlet being connected with an inlet of the powder blending device. A separation wall is configured to separate a process area from a technical. Process components of the at least two feeding and dosing devices are positioned in the process area and technical components of the feeding and dosing devices are positioned in the technical area. Connections between the at least one actuator and the at least one feeder pass through the separation wall.

Claims

1. A feeding and blending apparatus for a system for continuous processing of powder products, the feeding and blending apparatus comprising: at least two system inlets for powder products; and at least two feeding and dosing devices arranged in a row, wherein each of the at least two feeding and dosing devices comprises, an inlet being connected with a system inlet, at least one feeder, at least one actuator configured to operate the at least one feeder, and an outlet being connected with an inlet of the powder blending device; and a separation wall configured to separate a process area from a technical area, wherein process components of the at least two feeding and dosing devices are positioned in the process area, wherein the at least one feeder is a process component, wherein technical components of the feeding and dosing devices are positioned in the technical area, wherein the at least one actuator is a technical component, and wherein connections between the at least one actuator and the at least one feeder pass through the separation wall.

2. The feeding and blending apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the process area is positioned within a protective housing.

3. The feeding and blending apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the separation wall is part of the protective housing.

4. The feeding and blending apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least one automatic refill system configured to refill the at least one feeder, wherein the at least one automatic refill system comprises one or more refill units configured to be actuated by at least one actuator to automatically refill the at least one feeder with powder product, wherein the one or more refill units are positioned in the process area, and wherein the at least one actuator configured to actuate the one or more refill units is arranged in the technical area, and wherein connections between the at least one actuator and the one or more refill units pass through the separation wall.

5. The feeding and blending apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the one or more refill units are arranged above the at least one feeder, wherein the one or more refill units each comprise a horizontal refill screw, and wherein each horizontal refill screw is positioned with a pitch angle towards another horizontal refill screw.

6. The feeding and blending apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a powder blending device comprising, a powder blender; and at least one actuator configured to actuate the powder blender, wherein the powder blender is positioned in the process area and the at least one actuator is positioned in the technical area, and wherein at least one connection between the at least one actuator and the powder blender passes through the separation wall.

7. The feeding and blending apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the technical area further comprises at least one of: (1) drives; (2) load cells; (3) sensors; and (4) cables.

8. The feeding and blending apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising at least one hopper positioned between the at least one feeder and the powder blending device, wherein the at least one hopper comprises, an inlet being connected with at least two outlets of the at least two feeding and dosing devices, and an outlet connected with an inlet of the powder blending device.

9. The feeding and blending apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising at least two hoppers, wherein the at least two hoppers comprise hopper inlets of different widths, and wherein the at least two hoppers are positioned alternatively between the at least two feeding and dosing devices and the powder blending device.

10. The feeding and blending system according to claim 8, wherein the at least one hopper comprises a vibration device configured to vibrate the at least one hopper.

11. The feeding and blending apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the at least one hopper is surface treated by abrasive blasting.

12. The feeding and blending apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the at least one hopper is surface treated by abrasive blasting and shot peening.

13. The feeding and blending apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the powder blending device comprises more than one inlet and wherein at least one outlet of the at least two feeding and dosing devices is connected with a different inlet of the powder blending device.

14. A system for continuous processing of powder products, comprising: a feeding and blending system according to claim 6; and a production machine comprising an outlet, wherein the powder blending device comprises an outlet configured to dispense a product mixture produced in the powder blending device, and wherein the production machine comprises an inlet connected with the outlet of the powder blending device.

15. The system according to claim 14, further comprising a product conveying device positioned between the outlet of the powder blending device and the inlet of the production machine and configured to continuously convey the product mixture from the outlet of the powder blending device to the inlet of the production machine.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the production machine is configured to continuously produce solid dosage forms from the product mixture.

17. The system according to claim 15, wherein the production machine is one of a (1) tablet press, (2) a capsule filling machine, and (3) a sachet filling machine.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] An embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to drawings. The drawings schematically show:

[0043] FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of an embodiment of a system for continuous processing of powder products;

[0044] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective front view of an embodiment of a feeding and blending apparatus of the system shown in FIG. 1; and

[0045] FIG. 3 illustrates a partial sectional view of the embodiment of the feeding and blending apparatus shown in FIG. 2.

[0046] In the drawings the same reference numerals shall denote the same parts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0047] The system for continuous processing of powder products shown in FIG. 1 is a system for continuous production of solid dosage forms in direct processing. The system comprises a feeding and blending apparatus 10 and a production machine 12, for example a tablet press, such as a rotary tablet press, or a capsule filling machine, or a sachet filling machine, or a granulation machine or an extrusion machine. The production machine 12 comprises an inlet 14 which is connected with a hose 16 of a product conveying device conveying a product mixture from the feeding and blending apparatus 10 to the inlet 14 of the production machine 12, where the product mixture is continuously processed to solid dosage forms, such as tablets or capsules or sachets. The produced solid dosage forms are discharged via an outlet 18 of the production machine 12. The production machine 12 comprises a machine housing 20 with a window 22. The feeding and blending apparatus 10 comprises a system housing 24 with two doors 26, which are shown in an opened state in FIG. 2 to view the internal parts of the feeding and blending apparatus 10. The system shown in FIG. 1 is a one-floor arrangement where the feeding and blending apparatus 10 and the production machine 12 are provided on the same level, in particular the same floor level.

[0048] In FIGS. 2 and 3, six (6) system inlets 28 can be seen via which different powder products can be introduced into the feeding and blending apparatus 10. The system inlets 28 lead to six automatic refill systems, each comprising a refill unit 30 comprising a horizontal refill screw. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the refill units 30 are arranged at a pitch angle towards each other such that the inlets of neighbouring refill units 30 have a larger distance from one another than the inlets of feeders 32 of feeding and dosing devices arranged underneath the automatic refill systems. As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the feeding and dosing devices, in particular the feeders 32, are arranged in a row, in particular along a horizontal line. The feeding and dosing devices, in particular the feeders 32, each comprise an inlet 34 arranged between the refill units 30 and the feeders 32. The feeding and dosing devices, in particular the feeders 32, further each comprise an outlet 36 for feeding a powder product supplied via the inlets 28 and the refill units 30 to a powder blender 38 of a powder blending device. The powder blender 38 comprises a horizontal blending tube in which a blending screw is arranged for blending the different powder products to the desired product mixture. In the embodiments shown in the drawings, a funnel 40 is arranged between the feeders 32 and the powder blender 38, said funnel combining product streams from four of the six feeders 32 into one product stream and into a first inlet 42 of the powder blender 38. The funnel 40 is equipped with a vibration device 41 for vibrating the funnel 40, in the shown example an ultrasonic vibration device 41. This improves flowability of powder products inside the funnel 40. The powder blender 38 comprises further inlets 44 through which powder streams from further feeders 32 can be introduced into the powder blender 38 for example via vertical tubes 58. A venting pipe 47 is provided on the end opposite inlet 42 of the powder blender 38 for venting air into the process area for pressure equalisation. Another venting pipe 45 is provided for the funnel 40 and feeder outlets. The powder blender 38 further comprises an outlet 46 through which the produced product mixture is provided to a product conveying device 48, which conveys the product mixture via hose 16 to the inlet 14 of the production machine 12 for further processing.

[0049] As can be seen in particular from FIGS. 2 and 3, a separation wall 50 is provided inside system housing 24 separating a process area, seen in FIG. 2, and seen in FIG. 3 on the left-hand side, from a technical area, not shown in FIG. 2, and seen in FIG. 3 on the right-hand side. This separation wall 50 may provide a contained or dust tight separation between the process area and the technical area, as explained above. In the process area, process components of the automatic refill systems, the feeding and dosing devices and the powder blending device are arranged which come into direct contact with the powder products to be processed. For easier and manual installation and removal these process components can be embodied in a lightweight execution. In the technical area, technical components of the automatic refill systems, the feeding and dosing devices, and the powder blending device are arranged which do not come into direct contact with the powder products. In the case at hand these technical components comprise actuators 52 for actuating the refill units 30, actuators 54 for actuating the feeders 32, and actuators 56 for actuating the powder blender 38. The actuators 52, 54, 56 may for example be drives for driving the refill units 30, the feeders 32, and the powder blender 38, respectively. The actuators 52, 54, 56 may comprise for example electric motors. The connection between the technical components, such as the actuators 52, 54 and 56, and the process components, such as the refill units 30, the feeders 32, and the powder blender 38, are arranged in a through the wall technique through the separation wall 50. For easier installation and maintenance these connections may be quick release connections. While the system housing 24 provides a protective housing 24, the separation wall 50 securely separates the process area, in which the powder products are handled, from the technical area, where no powder products shall be present. In this manner on the one hand an intrinsic containment can be achieved of the process area in comparison to the technical area, and on the other hand a containment towards the environment can be achieved through the protective housing 24. Also, the housing 20 of the production machine 12 may provide containment towards the environment, as generally explained above.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0050] 10 feeding and blending system [0051] 12 production machine [0052] 14 inlet of production machine [0053] 16 hose [0054] 18 outlet of production machine [0055] 20 machine housing [0056] 22 window [0057] 24 system housing/protective housing [0058] 26 doors [0059] 28 system inlet [0060] 30 refill units [0061] 32 feeders [0062] 34 inlets of feeders [0063] 36 outlets of feeders [0064] 38 powder blender [0065] 40 funnel [0066] 41 vibration device [0067] 42, 44 inlets of powder blender [0068] 46 outlet of powder blender [0069] 45, 47 venting pipes [0070] 48 product conveying device [0071] 50 separation wall [0072] 52 actuators for refill units [0073] 54 actuators for feeders [0074] 56 actuators for powder blender [0075] 58 vertical tubes