Apparatus and Method for the Production of Solid Dosage Forms

A method for manufacturing a solid dosage form product comprising:

• operating a material processing chamber for manufacturing the product according to a pre-set product formation process path;
• continuously monitoring formation of the product in the material processing chamber during the product formation process non-invasively in real time by sensing at least one product functional attribute value by two on-line sensors mounted at a side wall of the material processing chamber which do not come into contact with any process material within the processing chamber;
• generating real-time on-screen images pertaining to particle size and shape of material being processed within the material processing chamber, and measuring moisture content of product within the material processing chamber;
• comparing each sensed product functional attribute value with a desirable product functional attribute value for that point on the product formation process path;
• and
• controlling operation of the material processing chamber in response to the sensed product functional attribute value for maintaining the product on the product formation process path.

Apparatus for the production of solid dosage forms, comprising:

• a material processing chamber which is operable for manufacturing a product according to a pre-set product formation process path;
• at least two sensors for continuously monitoring formation of the product in the material processing chamber during the product formation process non-invasively in real time by sensing at least one product functional attribute value;
• two on-line sensors being provided, namely a first sensor and a second sensor, wherein the first sensor senses a first desirable product functional attribute value and the second sensor senses a second desirable product functional attribute value, the second desirable product functional attribute value being different to the first,
• each sensor being mounted on a side wall of the material processing chamber, such that, in use, each sensor does not come into contact with any process material within the material processing chamber;
• the sensors including a direct imaging particle analyzer operable to generate real-time on screen images pertaining to particle size and shape of material being processed within the material processing chamber, and a multipoint near-infrared spectrometer which enables moisture measurement of product within the material processing chamber;
• means for comparing each sensed product functional attribute value with a desirable product functional attribute value for that point on the product formation process path;
• and
• a processor for controlling operation of the material processing chamber in response to the sensed product functional attribute value for maintaining the product on the product formation process path.