# US 2019/0091103 A1 · Roller compactor with steam > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0091103 A1 - Document ID: US20190091103A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/715,337 - Filed: 2017-09-26 - Published: 2019-03-28 - Earliest claimed: 2017-09-26 - Assignees: Freund-Vector Corporation - Applicants: Freund-Vector Corporation - Inventors: BRIAN K. JENSEN - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190091103A1 ## CPC - A61J 3/02: into the form of powders (pulverising in general B02C) - A61K 9/1682: {Processes} - B30B 11/18: using profiled rollers - B30B 15/308: {in a continuous manner, e.g. for roller presses, screw extrusion presses} - B30B 15/34: Heating or cooling presses or parts thereof - A61J: CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE - A61K: PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES (devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms A61J3/00; chemical aspects of, or use of materials for deodorisation of air, for disinfection or sterilisation, or for bandages, dressings, absorbent pads or surgical articles A61L; soap compositions C11D) - 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 steam or reactant system is provided for a roller compactor to provide improved compaction or functional characteristic of powdered materials, such as active pharmaceutical ingredients. The steam or reactants can be added through conduits terminating in nozzles adjacent the nip zone of the compaction rollers. The injection nozzles can be directed tangentially from the above the rollers or laterally from the sides of the rollers. In one embodiment, the moisture is in the form of steam. The resulting compacting sheet has improved compaction characteristics and reduced compression variability. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A roller compactor machine for compressing powdered pharmaceuticals, the machine having a pair of adjacent rollers defining a nip zone between the rollers and a hopper with a feed screw for feeding the powdered pharmaceuticals to the rollers, the improvement comprising: a source of steam; and a first conduit having an inlet connected to the steam source and an outlet adjacent the nip zone to introduce steam to the powdered pharmaceuticals prior to compaction by the rollers. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The roller compactor machine of claim 1 wherein the machine includes a side seal, and the conduit extends through the side seal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The roller compactor machine of claim 1 wherein the machine includes a top seal, and the conduit extends through the top seal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The roller compactor machine of claim 1 wherein the conduit extends through the feed screw. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The roller compactor machine of claim 1 wherein the conduit extends through one of the rollers. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The roller compactor machine of claim 1 further comprising a second conduit connected to the steam source and having an outlet adjacent the nip zone. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The roller compactor machine of claim 6 wherein the first and second conduits extend along opposite ones of the rollers. ### Claim 8 A method of producing a compressed product from a powdered product using a roller compactor machine having a pair of adjacent rollers defining a nip zone between the rollers and a hopper with a feed screw for feeding the powdered pharmaceuticals to the rollers, the method comprising: feeding powdered material from the hopper to the rollers; and adding a reactant adjacent the nip zone to minimize compression variability in the compressed product. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 wherein the reactant is steam which produces a moisture content in the compressed product of approximately 1%. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 wherein the reactant is added through a side seal in the machine. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 wherein the reactant is added through a top seal in the machine. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 wherein the reactant is added through a feed screw on the machine. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 wherein the reactant is added through one of the rollers. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 wherein the reactant is selected from a group comprising steam, acids, bases, alcohols, liquid binders, liquid polymers, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 15 A compacted API product, made by: supplying powdered API to a hopper; discharging the powdered API from the hopper to a nip zone above a pair of compaction rollers; introducing steam adjacent the nip zone to the powdered API to produce modified API; and passing the modified API between the compactor rollers so as to compact the modified API into the compacted API product. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The product of claim 15 wherein the modification of the API is achieved through the introduction of steam. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The product of claim 15 wherein the modification of the API is achieved through the introduction of a reactant other than steam. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The product of claim 15 wherein the compacted API product has an increased moisture content of approximately or less than 1%.