# US 10,501,213 B2 · Feeder unit, feeder module comprising feeder units, and method for discharging a constant mass flow of one or more powders into a receiving container > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,501,213 B2 - Document ID: US10501213B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/640,654 - Filed: 2017-07-03 - Published: 2017-11-23 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2017-07-03 - Assignees: GEA Process Engineering nv - Applicants: GEA Process Engineering nv - Inventors: Bart Peter Verhoest; Alexander Clemens Henricus Josef Schaepman; Johannes Adrianus Jozef Maria Vugts - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10501213B2 ## CPC - B29B 7/78: by gravity, e.g. falling particle mixers - B65B 1/04: Methods of, or means for, filling the material into the containers or receptacles - B01F 21/00: Dissolving (separating by dissolving B01D; dissolving to effect cooling F25D5/00) - B29B 7/244: {of several materials} - B29B 7/28: for measuring, controlling or regulating, e.g. viscosity control {(B29B7/242 takes precedence)} - B29B 7/603: {in measured doses, e.g. proportioning of several materials} - B29B 7/72: Measuring, controlling or regulating - B65B 1/32: by weighing (check-weighing of filled containers or receptacles B65B1/46) - G01G 11/08: having means for controlling the rate of feed or discharge (regulation of flow of fluent material G05D) - G01G 13/006: {Container supply or discharge mechanism (means for automatic loading or discharging G01G13/02, G01G13/16, G01G13/24)} - G01G 17/00: Apparatus for or methods of weighing material of special form or property (determining weight by measuring volume G01F) - G01G 19/393: using two or more weighing units - B30B 11/08: co-operating with moulds carried by a turntable - B30B 15/302: {Feeding material in particulate or plastic state to moulding presses} - B29B: PREPARATION OR PRETREATMENT OF THE MATERIAL TO BE SHAPED; MAKING GRANULES OR PREFORMS; RECOVERY OF PLASTICS OR OTHER CONSTITUENTS OF WASTE MATERIAL CONTAINING PLASTICS - B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00) - B01F: MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING (mixing paints B44D3/06) - G01G: WEIGHING (sorting by weighing B07C5/16) - B30B: PRESSES IN GENERAL (producing ultra-high pressure or ultra-high pressure and high temperature to effect modifications of a substance, e.g. for making artificial diamonds B01J3/00 ){(compressing means for refuse receptacles B65F1/1405)} ## Abstract A method for processing pharmaceutical powders, which comprises providing a feeder module including a plurality of feeder units each with a storage hopper, a weighing cell, a conveyer, and a discharge end, connecting the storage hopper to a refilling system with a refilling valve, connecting the refilling valve to a level or weight indicator disposed above the refilling valve, connecting the discharge end to a common receiving container, refilling the storage hopper with a powder intermittently 40 to 80 times per hour, storing data during refilling, transporting powder from the storage hopper with the respective conveyer, and discharging powder from each feeder unit into the common receiving container. During each refilling of the storage hopper, the refilling valve dispenses powder into the storage hopper and, during the step of transporting the powder from the storage hopper, the conveyer is operated according to the data collected during previous refills. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for processing pharmaceutical powders, which comprises: providing a feeder module including a plurality of feeder units; providing each feeder unit with a storage hopper, a weighing cell, a conveyer, and a discharge end; connecting the storage hopper of each feeder unit to a refilling system with a refilling valve; connecting the refilling valve to at least one of a level or weight indicator disposed above the refilling valve; connecting the discharge end of each feeder unit to a common receiving container; refilling the storage hopper of each feeder unit with a powder intermittently 40 to 80 times per hour; storing data about the powder filled in the feeder unit during refilling; transporting powder from the storage hopper of each feeder unit with the respective conveyer; and discharging powder from each feeder unit into the common receiving container, wherein: during each refilling of the storage hopper of each feeder unit, the respective refilling valve dispenses approximately the same amount of the powder into the storage hopper; and during the step of transporting the powder from the storage hopper of each feeder unit, the conveyer is operated according to the data collected during previous refills. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the storage hopper is refilled 50 to 70 times per hour. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further defining a stabilizing time of the feeder module and wherein the stabilizing time after each refill is in a range of 2 to 4 seconds. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the storage hopper of each feeder unit is provided with a predefined volume to define a capacity of below 10 liters. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method according to claim 4, wherein the maximum volume of powder in the storage hopper in each feeder unit lies in a range of 1.6 to 2 liters. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The method according to claim 4, wherein the powder is transported from the storage hopper of each feeder unit to the receiving container at a predefined maximum flow rate of below 100 liters per hour. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method according to claim 6, wherein a maximum refilling interval in h is defined by a ratio of a volume of the storage hopper and a maximum flow rate. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method according to claim 7, wherein each feeder unit is provided with a dead weight in a range of 1 to 8 kg. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein: a working space in kgh is defined by an arithmetic product of the dead weight in kg of each feeder unit and the refilling interval in h; and the working space is below 0.2 kgh. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, wherein the working space is below 0.1 kgh. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the receiving container is connected to a granulator and further comprising the step of granulating the mixture of the one or more powders to provide a granulated mixture. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, wherein the receiving container is connected to a tablet press and further comprising the step of tabletting the mixture of the one or more powders or granulated mixture to provide a tableted pharmaceutical product. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A feeder module for use in the method according to claim 1, the feeder module comprising: a plurality of feeder units, each feeder unit including a storage hopper, a weighing cell, a conveyer, and a discharge end; a refilling system including a refilling valve and at least one of a level or weight indicator disposed above the refilling valve, the refilling system being connected to the storage hopper of each feeder unit; a common receiving container connected to the discharge end of each feeder unit; and the plurality of feeder units are two to eight feeder units disposed in a spokes-like configuration, each feeder unit extending radially outwards from an imaginary inner circle defined by the discharge ends of the feeder units in the common receiving container to an imaginary outer circle defined by radially opposite ends of the feeder units, the feeder units being positioned substantially on radii extending from the imaginary inner circle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The feeder module according to claim 13, which further comprises a controller programmed to store a conveying parameter together with at least one of a level or a weight. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The feeder module according to claim 13, wherein the weighing cell of each feeder unit is a weighing cell with Electro Magnetic Force Restoration (EMFR). ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The feeder module according to claim 13, wherein the storage hopper, the conveyer, and the discharge end of each feeder unit are releasably connected to the weighing cell. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The feeder module according to claim 13, wherein at least one of the conveyers of the feeder units are twin screw conveyors. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The feeder module according to claim 17, wherein at least one of: at least one of the screws of the twin screw conveyor has a variable pitch along its length underneath the storage hopper; at least one of the screws has a variable diameter along its length underneath the storage hopper; and both of the screws have a variable diameter along its length underneath the storage hopper. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The feeder module according to claim 13, which further comprises a controller programmed to process weight signals and compensate for external forces. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The feeder module according to claim 13, which further comprises a sensor configured to sense material variations. ### Claim 21 (depends on 13) The feeder module according to claim 13, wherein the storage hopper, the conveyer, and the discharge end of the feeder unit are contained and isolated from the weighing cell. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The feeder module according to claim 21, wherein the discharge end of each feeder unit is connected to the receiving container by a lay flat tube. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The feeder module according to claim 21, wherein each feeder unit has a pre-feeder element and which further comprises a lay flat tube between the storage hopper and the pre-feeder element of each feeder unit. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The feeder module according to claim 23, which further comprises a casing around the storage hopper, the conveyer and the discharge end of each feeder unit. ### Claim 25 (depends on 13) The feeder module according to claim 13, wherein a diameter of the imaginary inner circle is smaller than a diameter of the receiving container. ### Claim 26 (depends on 13) The feeder module according to claim 13, which further comprises an active vibration compensation scale integrated in the feeder module. ### Claim 27 (depends on 13) The feeder module according to claim 13, wherein the storage hopper is provided with a stirrer device.