Rotary tablet press and a method of using and cleaning the press

A rotary tablet press, comprising:

• a housing,
• a rotary die table detachably connected to a drive shaft arranged in the housing for rotation of the die table,
• a plurality of dies arranged circumferentially in the die table, each die being associated with at least a first punch having a first end receivable in the die through an opening of the die and arranged for compression of a powder or granular material in the die by reciprocation of the punch, and
• at least one cam for cooperation with a second end of the punches in order to effect axial displacement of the punches by rotation of the die table, whereby a compression unit detachably mounted in the housing comprises:
• the die table with punches,
• a feeding device for the supply of material to be compressed into the dies, and
• a tablet discharge device for removal of compressed material in the form of tablets,
• wherein the compression unit encloses each die opening and its corresponding first punch end in a chamber, the feeding device and tablet discharge device are enclosed, the feeding device communicates with an inlet for detachable connection with an external supply channel, and the tablet discharge device communicates with an outlet,
• said rotary tablet press further comprising a cleaning station for cleaning of said compression unit detached from said rotary press, wherein said cleaning station comprises:
• at least two separate cleaning fluid devices, each having a connection piece for detachable connection with a corresponding connection piece provided on the compression unit and communicating with an enclosure of the compression unit,
• wherein the cleaning fluid devices are arranged for the supply of cleaning fluid to the compression unit and for the drainage of cleaning fluid from the compression unit.

A method of manufacturing tablets or the like in a rotary tablet press having a press housing and a compression unit comprising a number of dies arranged circumferentially in a rotary die table, each die being associated with at least a first punch having a first end receivable in the die through an opening of the die, a feeding device for the supply of material to be compressed into the dies, and a tablet discharge device for removal of compressed material in the form of tablets or the like, wherein the method comprises:

• pressing a plurality of tablets in batches,
• detaching the compression unit between batches of tablets from the press housing, and
• transferring the compression unit to a cleaning station,
• wherein during the pressing of tablets or the like and during the transfer of the compression unit to the cleaning station, each die opening and its corresponding first punch end are maintained enclosed in a chamber of the compression unit and the feeding device and the tablet discharge device are maintained enclosed, and said method further comprising:
• supplying a cleaning fluid to an enclosure of said compression unit from at least one cleaning fluid device which is in communication with said enclosure of the compression unit, wherein said fluid device has a connection piece which is connected with a corresponding connecting device on said enclosure of the compression unit.