Modular filling shoe for a rotary press

Abstract

The invention relates to an impeller filling shoe for material feed to die bores of a rotary press, which is built-up modularly in order to enable a change in function between a 2-chamber filling shoe comprising a filling vaned wheel and a proportioning vaned wheel, and a 3-chamber filling shoe comprising a filling vaned wheel, a proportioning vaned wheel and a feeding vaned wheel, wherein the impeller filling shoe does not comprise a gearbox for driving the vaned wheels. Furthermore, the invention relates to a rotary press comprising the modular impeller filling shoe, whereby the gearbox for driving the vaned wheels is located outside the impeller filling shoe. The invention relates in addition to the use of the impeller filling shoe according to the invention in methods for converting the modular impeller filling shoe from a 2-chamber filling shoe to a 3-chamber filling shoe and vice versa. The functional conversion of the impeller filling shoe can take place both outside the tablet press as well as in the mounted state inside the tablet press.

Claims

1. An impeller filling shoe for material feed to die bores of a rotary press, the impeller filling shoe comprising: a modular impeller filling shoe configured to enable a change in function between a 2-chamber filling shoe and a 3-chamber filling shoe, the 2-chamber filling shoe comprising a filling vaned wheel and a proportioning vaned wheel, the 3-chamber filling shoe comprising a filling vaned wheel, a proportioning vaned wheel and a feeding vaned wheel, and wherein the modular impeller filling shoe excludes a gearbox for driving the vaned wheels, wherein the modular impeller filling shoe comprises a base module in which the filling vaned wheel is present in a first left chamber and the proportioning vaned wheel is present in a second right chamber, wherein the modular impeller filling shoe comprises a base module in which the filling vaned wheel is present in a first left chamber and the proportioning vaned wheel is present in a second right chamber, wherein the 2-chamber filling shoe has a first modular build-up being mountable to the base module and having a first material inlet which in a mounted state is located above the filling vaned wheel and the 3-chamber filling shoe has a second modular build-up in which the feeding vaned wheel is present inserted into a third center chamber, the second modular build-up being mountable on the base module and having a second material inlet.

2. The modular impeller filling shoe of claim 1, wherein the vaned wheels each have an adaptor for attaching a driving shaft for connecting an external gearbox.

3. The modular impeller filling shoe of claim 1, wherein individual mounting components of the modular impeller filling shoe weigh no more than 20 kg.

4. The modular impeller filling shoe of claim 1, wherein in the 2-chamber filling shoe, pressing material is passed from the first material inlet to the filling opening and the die bores in one Z-stage and in the 3-chamber filling shoe, pressing material is passed from the second material inlet to the filling opening and the die bores in two Z-stages.

5. The modular impeller filling show of claim 1, wherein the base module has a filling opening at the bottom which is provided with resilient, exchangeable sandwich seals on both sides.

6. The modular impeller filling shoe of claim 1, wherein the components of the modular impeller filling shoe comprise at least one of the materials selected from the group comprising stainless steel, aluminium and plastic.

7. The modular impeller filling shoe of claim 1, in combination with a rotary press, wherein the rotary press has a gearbox for driving the vaned wheels which is located external to the modular impeller filling shoe and the vaned wheels are connectible to the gearbox by means of pluggable driving shafts.

8. The rotary press according to claim 7, wherein the gearbox for driving the vaned wheels is located below the modular impeller filling shoe.

9. The rotary press according to claim 7 wherein, the rotary press has a material feeding device in a head piece above the filling shoe comprising an outlet tube wherein the outlet tube is settable in at least two positions such that in case of a 2-chamber filling shoe being mounted the outlet tube is in a first position above the first material inlet of the 2-chamber filling shoe and in case of a 3-chamber filling shoe being mounted the outlet tube is in a second position above the second material inlet of the 3-chamber filling shoe.

10. A method for converting a 2-chamber filling shoe to a 3-chamber filling shoe, the method comprising: a. providing a modular impeller filling shoe comprising a modular impeller filling shoe configured to enable a change in function between a 2-chamber filling shoe and a 3-chamber filling shoe, the 2-chamber filling shoe comprising a filling vaned wheel and a proportioning vaned wheel, the 3-chamber filling shoe comprising a filling vaned wheel, a proportioning vaned wheel and a feeding vaned wheel, the modular impeller filling shoe excluding a gearbox for driving the vaned wheels, the modular filling shoe initially configured as a 2-chamber filling shoe, and the modular impeller filling shoe further comprising a base module in which the filling vaned wheel is present in a first left chamber and the proportioning vaned wheel is present in a second right chamber, wherein the 2-chamber filling shoe has a first modular build-up being mountable to the base module and having a first material inlet which in a mounted state is located above the filling vaned wheel and the 3-chamber filling shoe has a second modular build-up in which the feeding vaned wheel is present inserted into a third center chamber, the second modular build-up being mountable on the base module and having a second material inlet; b. removing the first modular build-up of the 2-chamber filling shoe comprising a first material inlet; c. providing the second modular build-up for the 3-chamber filling shoe comprising a second material inlet; d. inserting the feeding vaned wheel in the third chamber of the second modular build-up; and e. mounting of the second modular build-up on the base module of the modular impeller filling shoe.

11. A method for converting a 3-chamber filling shoe to a 2-chamber filling shoe, the method comprising: a. providing a modular impeller filling shoe comprising a modular impeller filling shoe configured to enable a change in function between a 2-chamber filling shoe and a 3-chamber filling shoe, the 2-chamber filling shoe comprising a filling vaned wheel and a proportioning vaned wheel, the 3-chamber filling shoe comprising a filling vaned wheel, a proportioning vaned wheel and a feeding vaned wheel, the modular impeller filling shoe excluding a gearbox for driving the vaned wheels, the modular filling shoe initially configured as a 3-chamber filling shoe, and the modular impeller filling shoe further comprising a base module in which the filling vaned wheel is present in a first left chamber and the proportioning vaned wheel is present in a second right chamber, wherein the 2-chamber filling shoe has a first modular build-up being mountable to the base module and having a first material inlet which in a mounted state is located above the filling vaned wheel and the 3-chamber filling shoe has a second modular build-up in which the feeding vaned wheel is present inserted into a third center chamber, the second modular build-up being mountable on the base module and having a second material inlet; b. removing the second modular build-up of the 3-chamber filling shoe comprising a second material inlet and the feeding vaned wheel; c. providing the first modular build-up comprising a first material inlet; d. mounting of the first modular build-up on the base module of the modular impeller filling shoe.

12. A method for converting a 2-chamber filling shoe to a 3-chamber filling shoe, the method comprising: a. providing a rotary press in combination with a modular impeller filling shoe comprising a modular impeller filling shoe configured to enable a change in function between a 2-chamber filling shoe and a 3-chamber filling shoe, the 2-chamber filling shoe comprising a filling vaned wheel and a proportioning vaned wheel, the 3-chamber filling shoe comprising a filling vaned wheel, a proportioning vaned wheel and a feeding vaned wheel, the modular impeller filling shoe excluding a gearbox for driving the vaned wheels, the modular filling shoe initially configured as a 2-chamber filling shoe, the modular impeller filling shoe further comprising a base module in which the filling vaned wheel is present in a first left chamber and the proportioning vaned wheel is present in a second right chamber, wherein the 2-chamber filling shoe has a first modular build-up being mountable to the base module and having a first material inlet which in a mounted state is located above the filling vaned wheel and the 3-chamber filling shoe has a second modular build-up in which the feeding vaned wheel is present inserted into a third center chamber, the second modular build-up being mountable on the base module and having a second material inlet, and wherein the rotary press has a gearbox for driving the vaned wheels which is located external to the modular impeller filling shoe and the vaned wheels are connectible to the gearbox by means of pluggable driving shafts; b. removing the first modular build-up of the 2-chamber filling shoe comprising a first material inlet; c. providing the second modular build-up for the 3-chamber filling shoe comprising a second material inlet; d. inserting the feeding vaned wheel in the third chamber of the second modular build-up; e. mounting of the second modular build-up on the base module of the modular impeller filling shoe; f. changing the outlet tube of the material feeding device from the first position to the second position; and g. connecting the feeding vaned wheel to the gearbox using a pluggable drive shaft.

13. A method for converting a 3-chamber filling shoe to a 2-chamber filling shoe, the method comprising: a. providing a rotary press in combination with a modular impeller filling shoe comprising a modular impeller filling shoe configured to enable a change in function between a 2-chamber filling shoe and a 3-chamber filling shoe, the 2-chamber filling shoe comprising a filling vaned wheel and a proportioning vaned wheel, the 3-chamber filling shoe comprising a filling vaned wheel, a proportioning vaned wheel and a feeding vaned wheel, the modular impeller filling shoe excluding a gearbox for driving the vaned wheels, the modular filling shoe initially configured as a 3-chamber filling shoe, the modular impeller filling shoe further comprising a base module in which the filling vaned wheel is present in a first left chamber and the proportioning vaned wheel is present in a second right chamber, wherein the 2-chamber filling shoe has a first modular build-up being mountable to the base module and having a first material inlet which in a mounted state is located above the filling vaned wheel and the 3-chamber filling shoe has a second modular build-up in which the feeding vaned wheel is present inserted into a third center chamber, the second modular build-up being mountable on the base module and having a second material inlet, and wherein the rotary press has a gearbox for driving the vaned wheels which is located external to the modular impeller filling shoe and the vaned wheels are connectible to the gearbox by means of pluggable driving shafts; b. disconnecting the drive shaft mounted between the feeding vaned wheel and the gearbox; c. removing the second modular build-up of the 3-chamber filling shoe comprising the second material inlet and the feeding vaned wheel; d. providing the first modular build-up comprising a first material inlet; e. mounting of the first modular build-up on the base module of the modular impeller filling shoe; and f. changing the outlet tube of the material feeding device from the second position to the first position.

14. The modular impeller filling shoe of claim 1, wherein the modular impeller filling shoe has a resilient pressure piece along a rotation on the end of the filling opening to reduce a loss in material.

15. The rotary press according to claim 7, wherein the gearbox for driving the vaned wheels is located on the bottom of a vibrationally decoupled carrier plate of the rotary press.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) FIGS. 1-3 Schematic diagrams of a preferred embodiment of the impeller filling shoe as a 2-chamber filling shoe

(2) FIGS. 4, 5 Schematic diagrams of a preferred embodiment of the first modular build-up for a 2-chamber filling shoe

(3) FIGS. 6-8 Schematic diagrams of a preferred embodiment of the impeller filling shoe as a 3-chamber filling shoe

(4) FIGS. 9-11 Schematic diagrams of a preferred embodiment of the impeller filling shoe as a 3-chamber filling shoe

(5) FIG. 12 Schematic diagram illustrating the connection of a preferred embodiment of the 2-chamber filling shoe to the gearbox with drive motor

(6) FIG. 13 Schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of the 2-chamber filling shoe from below to illustrate the plug-in adaptors for the drive shafts

(7) FIG. 14 Schematic diagram illustrating the connection of a preferred embodiment of the 3-chamber filling shoe to the gearbox with drive motor

(8) FIG. 15 Schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of the 3-chamber filling shoe from below to illustrate the attaching of the drive shafts

(9) FIGS. 16a-c Schematic views of a preferred embodiment of the material feeding device for flexible adjustment for a 2-chamber or 3-chamber filling shoe

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(10) FIGS. 1-3 show different schematic views of a preferred embodiment of the impeller filling shoe as a 2-chamber filling shoe 9. FIG. 1 shows a three-dimensional overview of the 2-chamber filling shoe 9, wherein only the components visible from the outside are shown. FIG. 2 shows a schematic 3D cross-sectional view and FIG. 3 a plan view of the preferred embodiment of the 2-chamber filling shoe 9.

(11) The 2-chamber filling shoe 9 shown in FIGS. 1-3 comprises a base module 39, which has a base plate 14 and a cover 21. The base plate 14 and the cover 21 form a left chamber for the filling vaned wheel 24 and a right chamber for the proportioning vaned wheel 17 in the base module 39. The cover 21 of the base module 39 can be fastened to the base plate 14 using T-handle screws 15. The mounting element 28 is used to support and seal the drive shafts of the vaned wheels. The 2-chamber filling shoe 9 has a first modular build-up 40 installed on the cover 21 of the base module. The fixing of the modular build-up 40 is also preferably carried out by means of T-handle screws 13, which allow simple assembly. The modular build-up 40 contains in particular a first material inlet 11, which is equipped with a clamping ring 10 for the material inlet sleeve. The outlet tube of the material feeding device (not shown) is connected to the material inlet 11. During operation of the 2-chamber filling shoe 9 in a tablet press, powdery material is first fed from the material feeding device through the material inlet 11 into the left chamber, comprising the filling vaned wheel 24. The filling vaned wheel 24 usually rotates clockwise in plan view, the proportioning vaned wheel 17 counterclockwise. Thus, the filling vaned wheel 24 rotates in the same direction as the pitch circle of the dies (not shown) at the point of intersection. The pressing material is transferred by the filling vaned wheel 24 from the left side into the filling opening 26 of the base plate 14 and from there into the individual die bores. The filling curve is located in the tablet press, which fills the die bore by withdrawing the lower punch under the die surface. The lower punches can then be lifted after the filling process using a proportioning unit so that a defined filling volume remains in the die holes. The proportioning vaned wheel 17 in the right chamber, which rotates counterclockwise, returns the excess material to the left chamber, i.e. to the filling vaned wheel 24. Powder material can be discharged from the chambers via the material discharge tubes 18 and 19, which are controlled by locking sliders 35. Furthermore, inspection windows 16 enable monitoring of the chambers and vaned wheels during operation.

(12) FIGS. 4 and 5 show schematic diagrams of a preferred embodiment of the first modular build-up for a 2-chamber filling shoe 9 according to the FIGS. 1-3. FIG. 4 is a three-dimensional view, FIG. 5A a sectional view and FIG. 5B a plan view. The modular build-up 40 comprises an intermediate plate 12, which can be installed on the base module 39 using T-handle screws 13 as shown in FIGS. 1-3. The material inlet 11 with the clamping ring for the material inlet sleeve is installed on the left side of the intermediate plate 12 so that the material inlet 11 is located in the 2-chamber filling shoe 9 (see FIGS. 1-3) above the filling vaned wheel 24.

(13) FIGS. 6-8 show different schematic views of a preferred embodiment of the impeller filling shoe as a 3-chamber filling shoe 38. FIG. 6 shows a three-dimensional overview of the 3-chamber filling shoe 38, wherein only the outside visible components are shown. FIG. 7 shows a schematic 3D cross-sectional view and FIG. 8 a plan view of the preferred embodiment of the 3-chamber filling shoe 9.

(14) The 3-chamber filling shoe 38 shown in FIGS. 6-8 comprises the same base module 39 as the 2-chamber filling shoe 9 shown in FIGS. 1-3. The base module 39 comprises a base plate 14 and a matching cover 21, which is fixed to the base plate 14 with T-handle screws 15. In the base module 39, the filling vaned wheel 24 is located in a left chamber and the proportioning vaned wheel 17 in a right chamber. In contrast to the 2-chamber filling shoe 9 shown in FIGS. 1-3, the 3-chamber filling shoe 38 does not have the first modular build-up 40 installed on the base module 39, but the second modular build-up 41. The second modular build-up 41 for the 3-chamber filling shoe 38 comprises an intermediate plate 22, which is installed on the cover 21 of the base module using T-handle screws 13. On the intermediate plate 22 there is the material inlet 23, which is positioned above the middle, third chamber formed by the intermediate plate 22. In the middle, third chamber there is the feeding vaned wheel 25.

(15) In the preferred configuration of the 3-chamber filling shoe 38 shown, the impeller filling shoe thus has three vaned wheels. The outlet tube of the material feeding device (not shown) is connected to the material inlet 23. In the 3-chamber filling shoe 38, the powdery material is not fed directly to the filling vaned wheel 24 as in the case of the 2-chamber filling shoe 9. Instead, the material is fed through the material inlet 23 first to the feeding vaned wheel 25, which is located in the middle, third chamber. When installed, the feeding vaned wheel 25 is located on an outer circle offset from the filling vaned wheel 24. This results in a first Z-stage for the transport path of the powdery material, which is first conveyed by the feeding vaned wheel 25 in the middle chamber to the filling vaned wheel 24 in the left chamber offset below. From the filling impeller 24 the powdery material is transported in a further Z-stage to the material outlet or to the filling opening 26, whereby the die bores are filled as described for the 2-chamber filling shoe 9.

(16) After filling, the filling level of the die holes is proportioned. The lower punches are lifted with the aid of a dosing unit and excess material is fed back to the filling vaned wheel 24 by the proportioning vaned wheel 17. The function of the 3-chamber filling shoe 38 is the same as that of the 2-chamber filling shoe 9 with regard to the filling vaned wheel 24 and the proportioning vaned wheel 17. However, the additional feeding vaned wheel 25 allows an improved material feed. In particular, the additional feeding vaned wheel 25 allows for a double Z-stage and thus a particularly even transport of the powder material. With the 3-chamber filling shoe 38, excellent tableting results can be achieved largely independently of the flow behaviour of the press material.

(17) FIGS. 9-11 show schematic diagrams of a preferred embodiment of the second modular build-up 41 for the 3-chamber filling shoe 38 according to the FIGS. 6-8. FIG. 9 shows a three-dimensional view of modular build-up 41 from an oblique top perspective, whereas FIG. 10 shows an oblique bottom view. FIG. 11 corresponds to a plan view of the preferred design of the modular build-up 41.

(18) The second modular build-up 41 comprises an intermediate plate 22, which can be installed on the base module 39 using T-handle screws 13 as shown in FIGS. 6-8. As shown in particular in FIG. 10, there is a middle, third chamber in the intermediate plate 22 in which the feeding vaned wheel 25 is located. The feeding vaned wheel 25 can be put into operation by means of a pluggable drive shaft 31. The fastening element 28 allows the bearing and sealing of the drive shaft 31 of the vaned wheel 25. The material inlet 23 is positioned on the intermediate plate 22 in such a way that the powdery material is first fed into the middle chamber of the feeding vaned wheel 25. As explained for FIGS. 6-8, a double Z-stage for the transport of the powdery material can be achieved, which ensures an even filling.

(19) FIG. 12 shows a schematic diagram of the connection of the 2-chamber filling shoe 9 to the gearbox 32 for driving the vaned wheels. The gearbox 32 is located below the vibrationally decoupled carrier plate 34 of the tablet press and is driven by a servo motor 33. The gearbox 32 is connected to the vaned wheels by means of two pluggable drive shafts 29 and 30. A first drive shaft 29 drives the left filling vaned wheel 24, while a second drive shaft 30 drives the right proportioning vaned wheel 17. Since there is no feeding vaned wheel in the configuration of the 2-chamber filling shoe 9, a third drive shaft is not required.

(20) FIG. 13 shows a schematic view of a preferred embodiment of the 2-chamber filling shoe 38 from below. As can be seen there, an adaptor 30a for the drive shaft 30 for driving the right proportioning vaned wheel 17 and an adaptor 29a for the drive shaft 29 for the left proportioning vaned wheel 24 are available on the base plate 14. Furthermore, FIG. 13 illustrates the sandwich seal 36 and the resilient pressure piece 37, which prevent powder material from escaping from the surface of the die plate out of the area of the filling shoe.

(21) FIG. 14 shows a schematic diagram of the connection of the 3-chamber filling shoe 38 to the gearbox 32 for driving the vaned wheels. The gearbox 32 is located below the vibrationally decoupled carrier plate 34 of the tablet press and is driven by a servo motor 33. The gearbox 32 is connected to the vaned wheels by means of three pluggable drive shafts 29, 30 and 31. A first drive shaft 29 drives the left filling vaned wheel 24, while a second drive shaft 30 drives the right proportioning vaned wheel 17, and a third drive shaft 31 drives the middle feeding vaned wheel 31.

(22) FIG. 15 shows a schematic view of a preferred embodiment of the 3-chamber filling shoe 38 from below. As can be seen there, an adaptor 30a for the drive shaft 30 for driving the right proportioning vaned wheel 17, an adaptor 29a for the drive shaft 29 for the left proportioning vaned wheel 24 and a third adaptor 31a for driving the drive shaft 31 for driving the middle feeding vaned wheel 25 are available on the base plate 14.

(23) FIGS. 16a-c show schematic views of a preferred embodiment of the material feeding device 43 for flexible adjustment for a 2-chamber or 3-chamber filling shoe. FIG. 16a shows the material feeding device 43 in a plan view, FIG. 16b in a three-dimensional side view and FIG. 3c in the sectional view. The material feeding device 43 is located in a head piece above the filling shoe and comprises an outlet tube 3, which is adjustable in two positions 7 and 8. Three T-handle screws 2 and a mounting flange or plate 1 are used to install the material feeding device 43 in the tablet press. The Tri-Clamp flanges 4 and 5 ensure a secure sealing of the outlet tube 3. Furthermore, there is a shut-off valve 6 at the lower end of the outlet tube 3. The material is fed into the material inlet for the 2-chamber or 3-chamber filling shoe via the outlet tube 3. As shown in FIGS. 1-15, if the impeller filling shoe is configured as a 2-chamber filling shoe 9, the material inlet 11 is in a different position from the material inlet 23 for the 3-chamber filling shoe 38. It is therefore necessary to adjust the position of the outlet tube 3 to the position of the respective material inlet. For this purpose, the outlet pipe 3 is positioned asymmetrically in the circular mounting flange 1 in such a way that the outlet tube 3 can be swivelled between two positions 7 and 8. In the preferred embodiment shown, the swivel angle is 35°. However, the swivel angle depends on the positioning of the material inlets 11 and 23 in the different modular build-ups 40 and 41. In the present case, position 7 corresponds to the position of the outlet tube 3 for the 2-chamber filling shoe 9, while position 8 corresponds to the position of the outlet tube 3 for the 3-chamber filling shoe 38. The shown embodiment of the material feeding device 43 allows a particularly easy change of assembly between the two configurations of the impeller filling shoe.

(24) It should be noted that various alternatives to the described embodiments of the invention might be used to carry out the invention and to arrive at the solution according to the invention. The impeller filling shoe according to the invention, the rotary press comprising the impeller filling shoe according to the invention as well as the described methods are therefore not limited in their designs to the above preferred embodiments. Rather, a variety of design variants is conceivable that may differ from the illustrated solution. The aim of the claims is to define the scope of protection for the invention. The scope of protection of the claims is aimed at covering the impeller filling shoe according to the invention, a rotary press comprising the impeller filling shoe according to the invention and preferred methods as well as equivalent embodiments thereof.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(25) 1 Attachment flange/plate 2 Tommy screw 3 Outlet tube 4 Tri-clamp flange 5 Tri-clamp flange 6 Shut-off valve 7 Position of the material opening for the 2-chamber filling shoe 8 Position of the material opening for the 3-chamber filling shoe 9 2-chamber filling shoe 10 Clamping ring for the material inlet sleeve 11 First material inlet for the 2-chamber filling shoe 12 First intermediate plate for the 2-chamber filling shoe 13 T-handle screw 14 Base plate of the base module 15 T-handle screw 16 Inspection window 17 Proportioning vaned wheel 18 Material discharge tube right chamber 19 Material discharge tube left chamber 21 Cover of the base module 22 Second intermediate plate for the 3-chamber filling shoe 23 Second material inlet for the 3-chamber filling shoe 24 Filling vaned wheel 25 Feeding vaned wheel 26 Material outlet and/or filling opening in the base plate 28 Bearing and sealing of the drive shaft of the vaned wheels 29 Pluggable drive shaft for the left filling vaned wheel 29a Adaptor for the drive shaft for the left filling vaned wheel 30 Pluggable drive shaft for the right proportioning vaned wheel 30a Adaptor for the drive shaft for the right proportioning vaned wheel 31 Pluggable drive shaft for the third/middle feeding vaned wheel 31a Adaptor for the drive shaft for the third/middle feeding vaned wheel 32 Gearbox for driving the vaned wheels 33 Servo motor 34 Vibration-decoupled carrier plate 35 Locking slider for the material discharge tubes 18 and 19 36 Sandwich seal 37 Resilient pressure piece 38 3-chamber filling shoe 39 Base module 40 First modular build-up for the 2-chamber filling shoe 41 Second modular build-up for the 3-chamber filling shoe 43 Material feeding device