Tablet manufacture
AssigneeGamlen Tableting Limited
InventorsMichael John Desmond Gamlen, Joseph Charles Domingue, Henry David Kafeman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention relates to improvements in tablet manufacturing, particularly in the small scale/bespoke manufacture of tablets. The application describes the mechanism of a motor driven tablet press (10) with biasing means (222) and wherein the angular position of the motor (28) is controllable, the inclusion of load cells (26,234), an improved die mounting (100,300) and die assembly (36′), and improved compaction methods including controlled pauses (75,90) during tablet forming.
Claims58
A tablet press comprising:
- a base;
- a die assembly mounted on an upper surface of the base;
- a compaction mechanism extending from within the base to a location above the die assembly;
- a press member mounted on the compaction mechanism above the die assembly for compacting powder received, in use, within the die assembly;
- a load cell mounted between the press member and the compaction mechanism for determining the load applied, during use, by the press member;
- an electric motor engaged with the compaction mechanism to drive the compaction mechanism vertically relative to the base;
- a second load cell located below the die assembly and extending upward from the base;
- and
- a controller to control the speed and direction of the electric motor to move the press member between a predetermined position and at least one further position.
A tablet press comprising:
- a base;
- a die assembly mounted on an upper surface of the base;
- a compaction mechanism extending from within the base to a location above the die assembly;
- a press member mounted on the compaction mechanism above the die assembly for compacting powder received, in use, within the die assembly;
- a load cell mounted between the press member and the compaction mechanism for determining the load applied, during use, by the press member;
- an electric motor engaged with the compaction mechanism to drive the compaction mechanism vertically relative to the base;
- and
- a controller to control the speed and direction of the electric motor to move the press member between a predetermined position and at least one further position, wherein the controller monitors a limit value during a compaction operation and stops the motor to hold the mechanism at a fixed location for a defined period of time when the limit value is reached, wherein the period of time is a function of the speed of the motor during the compaction operation.
A pivotally mounted die assembly, for a linearly operating tablet press, and comprising a pivoting part mounted at a pivot to a supporting frame;
- the pivoting part comprising a die assembly with a chamber for forming a tablet;
- the chamber having an open end for receiving a linearly operating punch of the tablet press along an axis extending through the chamber, and a sliding floor component opposite the open end;
- and
- the sliding floor component being movable substantially at right angles to the axis between first and second positions;
- wherein restraining means are provided to selectively stop rotation of the pivoting part at first and second defined angular positions relative to the supporting frame.
A pivoting die mounting apparatus for mounting a die assembly from a linearly operating tablet press, the die mounting apparatus comprising a supporting frame and a pivoting part, for receiving the die assembly, mounted at a pivot to the supporting frame;
- the pivoting part being open at one end so as not to obstruct access to an end of the die assembly;
- wherein restraining means are provided to selectively stop rotation of the pivoting part at first and second defined angular positions relative to the supporting frame.
A method of forming a tablet using a linearly operating tablet press and a die assembly with a tablet forming chamber comprising an open end for receiving a linearly operating punch of the tablet press, and a sliding floor component opposite the open end;
- the method comprising, in sequence, the steps of:
- A) actuating the punch of the tablet press to compress the powder contained in the chamber against the sliding floor component;
- B) withdrawing the punch from the chamber;
- C) rotating the die assembly from a first set angular position to a second set angular position;
- and
- D) actuating the punch of the tablet press to move the sliding floor component from a first position to a second position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.