Application of GIPL make compressed air operated systems
in pharmaceutical industry |
| Introduction
: |
- One of the leading pharmaceutical company in India,
manufacturing wide range of premium drugs had a problem
of cleaning tablets coming out of tablet punching
presses.
- After tablets are punched, tablets usually have
“Burrs” (edges which are formed due to clearance between
punch and die) and has a powder stick on its surface.
- “Burrs” and powder on tablet is required to be cleaned
prior to packing of tablet. As burrs makes tablets
uneven in size to fit into blister pack and powder
hinders the proper sealing of blister film and aluminum
foil.
|
|
Current Method of Tackling Problem : |
Usually
pharmaceutical companies, manufacturing tablets employs
vibratory tablet cleaning equipment called “TABLET
DE DUSTER”. Tablets formed in tablet press are cleaned
in to vibratory tablet de duster.
Tablet de duster has one
port which is supposed to be connected to suitable suction
device. Currently almost all the manufacturers employs
either Vacuum Cleaners (Industrial or domestic) or blower
based suction system.
Both, vacuum cleaners and
blower based vacuum cleaners has several disadvantages
like: |
-
Higher noise.
-
Lower suction as they are not
meant for such application.
-
Frequent break down, as powder
gets into the motor and cause damage to the bearing
and subsequently motor born out.
Poor yield and productivity.
-
Zero reusability of reclaimed
powder because of complexity in design and electrical
motors and switch, equipment can not be
-
cleaned thoroughly using water.
As it has been observed that most pharma companies
washes their equipment using water prior to change
in formulations.
|
|
Customer Requirement : |
When technical personnel from customer approached
GIPL, they came with specific requirement as
follows:
-
Equipment should
be light in weight.(To make plant more operator
friendly)
-
Should not
have any motor. (To ensure zero down time
for maximum recovery of costly powder)
-
Should make
noise considerable lower than motorized equipment.
(To make work environment more pleasant and
improved efficiency)
-
Easy to clean & Washable
including filter ensure no powder is left
in nooks and corners. (To ensure quality of
drugs and this is requirement of FDA)
-
Installable
without stopping the process. (To ensure smooth
changeover)
-
Replaceable
filter with shaking arrangement to clean filter
without stopping system. (To upkeep efficiency
of system and maximum recover
|
| GIPL
make compressed air operated systems virtually meets all
the criteria mentioned above. |
| Photo
of Tablet Deduster suction system. |
|
Inset shows GIPL
deduster suction system in front.
|
| Schematic
Diagram of Offered System: |
|
| Component
List : |
- Vac Blow Gun (Three Nos.) (same system can be made
using Vac In Line)....2
- High Efficiency, finger type filter, made out of
5 micron non woven polypropylene.....3
- Powder drain arrangement.....4
- Legs....5
- Manual filter shaking arrangement. (Pneumatic shaking
arrangement with timer can be provided against specific
 requirement)....6
- Lid....7
- Compressed air inlet to suction pump.....8
- Suction, flexible hose attached to gun adapter.....9
|
| Operation |
-
There are total three
Vac Blow Guns attached to system, to ensure maximum
efficiency and recovery. Finger type filter with
shaking arrangement is provided for maximum filtration
area and consistent efficiency. When unit is supplied
with filtered compressed air, Vac Blow Gun start
suction from rear end. Flexible hose attached to
Vac Blow gun is attached to following places in
Tablet Press and tablet de duster system.
- Two suction hoses are connected to two de duster
placed both the side of tablet press.
-
One suction end is
connected to collect puffed powder from turret of
tablet press.
|
| Supplied
Module |
|
| Air
Consumption |
- 20 CFM at 5 bar pressure, each suction unit.
|
| Maintenance
& Down Time |
|
|
