EP4232275B1 - Filling unit for a rotary press, and method for providing an optimized rotary press - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a filling unit for a rotary press with the features of the preamble of claim 1 and a method for providing an optimized rotary press with features of the independent claim.

Rotary presses are used in the pharmaceutical, technical, chemical or food industries to produce tablets or pellets in large quantities from powdered materials.

Rotary presses have a rotating die plate with die holes arranged in it that move on a circular path. Upper and lower punches are typically provided, which move with the die plate on a circular path and move up and down during the rotation. The upper and lower punches are designed in such a way that their upper and lower punch ends engage in the die holes arranged in the die plate in order to compress the powder material introduced into them into tablets.

The powder to be pressed is fed into the die holes via a hopper with attached filling unit with rotating impellers. Such filling units are used, for example, in EP 3 406 436 A1 and DE 20 2007 002 707 U1 shown.

WO 2015/186905 A1 discloses a filling unit with features of the preamble of the claim

With the help of the impellers, the powder flow from the funnel into the die holes is supported in order to achieve a consistent filling and thus a constant weight of each individual tablet.

The impellers are usually available in flat or round blade shape with a circular hub. The flow behavior or the properties of the powder are influenced by the immersion depth of the blades and the blade shapes (e.g. flat blades with a rectangular cross-section or cylindrical blades with a round cross-section). The flat wing profile is suitable for free-flowing, non-sticky mixtures and ensures good filling of the die holes as long as the cohesive forces of the materials remain quite low.

For powder materials with higher cohesive forces (fines content, moisture content, surface structure), round-shaped blades have a smaller contact area and cut better through the powder bed instead of compacting it.

Depending on the flow behavior/properties of the powder, the filling unit can be equipped with appropriate impellers and therefore manually converted in order to obtain an adapted dosing behavior.

The object of the present invention is to provide a filling unit for a rotary press and a method for providing an optimized rotary press which eliminate the above disadvantages.

This object is achieved by the filling unit according to the invention for a rotary press with the features of claim 1. The filling unit according to the invention comprises:
A filling wheel which is designed to fill a medium to be dosed, in particular powder, into die holes of a die plate of the rotary press. The filling wheel is designed as an impeller wheel. The filling wheel has vanes and is designed to convey the medium to be dosed by means of a rotating movement by means of its vanes. With In other words, the blades of the impeller-shaped filling wheel move in a circular path around the center of the filling wheel.

The filling unit also has a dosing wheel, which is designed to precisely dose a quantity of medium to be dosed into the respective die holes of the die plate. The dosing wheel is designed as an impeller. The dosing wheel has vanes and is designed to precisely dose the quantity of medium to be dosed by sweeping over the die holes of the die plate with its vanes by means of a rotating movement. Excess medium is removed by sweeping over the die holes of the die plate. In other words, the vanes of the dosing wheel, which is designed as an impeller, move on a circular path around the center of the dosing wheel and sweep over the die holes in the process.

The filling wheel moves the powder into the die holes of the die plate. Typically, the underside of the die hole is closed by a corresponding lower punch. Before the die hole reaches the dosing wheel, the lower punch can be raised slightly to a precisely specified position in order to define a precisely defined size of the die hole. The portion of powder protruding upwards from the die hole is then "scraped off" - i.e. removed - using the dosing wheel.

The filling unit can have a feed wheel which is designed to supply the medium to be dosed to the filling wheel The feed wheel is designed as an impeller. The feed wheel has vanes and is designed to convey the medium to be fed to the filling wheel by means of a rotating movement by means of its vanes. In other words, the vanes of the feed wheel designed as an impeller move on a circular path around the center of the feed wheel. In doing so, they convey the medium to be dosed to the filling wheel.

The filling unit further comprises at least one media feed unit which is designed to feed the medium to the filling wheel. Alternatively or additionally, the media feed unit can feed the medium to the feed wheel. The medium enters the filling unit via the media feed unit. The media feed unit can comprise, for example, a funnel, a pipe or a hose.

The blades of the filling wheel, dosing wheel and/or feed wheel designed as an impeller are designed in such a way that a conveying surface of the respective blades can be varied in its shape.

The conveying surface of the vanes is formed by the surface of the vanes with which the respective impeller conveys the medium. The conveying surface is therefore the part of the vanes that is designed and configured to contact the medium during operation of the filling unit and to convey or dose it through the respective rotational movement.

The variation of the shape of the conveying surface can be achieved by rotating the blades of the filling wheel, which is designed as an impeller, Dosing wheel and/or feed wheel around their respective axis of extension. The blades of the filling wheel, dosing wheel and/or feed wheel designed as impeller wheels can be designed to be rotatable around their respective axis of extension. The blades can be brought into at least two rotational positions by rotating around their respective axis of extension, in which the blades form differently shaped conveying surfaces. The medium to be dosed can be conveyed with differently shaped conveying surfaces depending on the rotational position of the blades.

By rotating/turning the blades into different rotation positions, differently shaped conveying surfaces can be created. The rotation/turning of the blades can be achieved, for example, by a gear mechanism, a sliding mechanism, a crank drive, a cable pull, a piston drive and/or cam-controlled.

The blades can have a conveying surface in the form of a circular section, in particular a semicircle, on a first side, and a flat conveying surface can be provided on an opposite side. By simply rotating it by 180 degrees, the conveying surface can be switched back and forth between the shape of a blade with a circular cross-section and a blade with, for example, a square cross-section.

The wings can in particular have a triangular cross-section. In particular, the cross-section of the wings can correspond to an isosceles triangle, in particular an equilateral triangle. The wings can be Rotation can be brought into a position in which one corner of the triangular cross-section points downwards, thus forming an angular underside of the blades. In this way, a "sharp-edged" underside can be created. The blades can also be rotated so that one corner of the triangular cross-section points upwards. In this case, one of the triangular sides of the cross-section forms the underside of the blades. This allows you to choose between the different undersides of the blades and a desired setting. Of course, the conveying surface of the blades with a triangular cross-section can also be varied by rotating the blades. Here, too, you can choose between a conveying surface that is flat and a conveying surface that is angular.

The blades can in particular have a rectangular, in particular square, cross-section. With a rectangular cross-section, two opposite sides can be shorter and the other two opposite sides can be longer. The two longer sides of the rectangular cross-section form a larger side surface of the blades compared to the two shorter sides of the rectangular cross-section. Thus, by rotating the blades, it is possible to choose between a conveying surface with a larger surface and a conveying surface with a smaller surface.

The shape of the conveying surface can be changed by a variable inclination of the blades with respect to a radial direction extending from the axis of rotation of the respective impeller.

In other words, the blades of the filling wheel, dosing wheel and/or feed wheel designed as an impeller can be designed in such a way that an angle spanned by the respective extension axis of the blades (or their extension) and a radial direction of the respective impeller extending from the axis of rotation can be varied. The inclination of the blades can also be achieved using a gear mechanism. A type of "cable pull solution" for changing the inclination of the blades is also conceivable.

The shape of the conveying surface can be changed by a variable curvature of the blades of the filling wheel, dosing wheel and/or feed wheel designed as an impeller. A curvature in the sense of this application means a deviation from a straight course, at least in sections, in particular in an arc. In particular, the curvature can be a deviation from the radial direction extending from the axis of rotation of the respective impeller, at least in sections, in particular in an arc. The blades can have at least one section with a variable curvature.

A variable curvature of the wings can be achieved, for example, by means of a bimetal, a cable pull and/or a tension or pressure element. It is also conceivable that the variable curvature can be implemented only along one section or several sections of the wings. In particular, the variable curvature can be realized along the entire length of the wings.

By changing the shape of the conveying surface of the blades, the filling wheel, dosing wheel and/or feed wheel designed as an impeller can be adapted to different media with different flow behavior/properties without the individual impellers having to be replaced. This means that it is unnecessary to remove the respective impellers. The shape of the conveying surface of the blades can be varied/changed when the respective impeller is mounted without the respective impeller having to be removed.

It is therefore conceivable that the shape of the conveying surface of the blades can be varied/adjusted during operation of the rotary press.

It is conceivable that the shape of the conveying surfaces can be varied during the tablet manufacturing process or while the respective impellers transport the medium to be dosed through the filling unit. However, it can also be provided that the tablet manufacturing process or the transport of the medium to be dosed through the filling unit is briefly paused (interrupted), then the shape of the conveying surfaces is changed and then the tablet manufacturing process or the transport of the medium to be dosed through the filling unit is resumed. In both cases, dismantling the respective impellers or the filling unit is not necessary.

The blades of the filling wheel, dosing wheel and/or feed wheel designed as an impeller can be designed in such a way that they are parallel to the axis of rotation of the respective impeller. In other words, the vanes are designed to be height-adjustable. For example, when the vanes, whose cross-section deviates from a circular shape, rotate around their respective axis of extension, the lower edge of the vanes can be kept at a constant height or level. This ensures that no gaps arise between the impeller and the element of the filling unit arranged underneath. In other words, by adjusting the height of the vanes, it can be ensured that while the medium is being transported by means of the respective impeller, the entire medium to be transported is captured and transported by the vanes.

The blades of the filling wheel, dosing wheel and/or feed wheel designed as an impeller have a triangular or at least partially rounded cross-section. Of course, cross-sections with other geometric shapes are also conceivable. For example, a quadrangular, in particular square, cross-section is conceivable.

The blades of the filling wheel, dosing wheel and/or feed wheel designed as an impeller can have a constant cross-section along a region of their respective extension axis. In particular, the cross-section can be the same along the entire respective extension axis. However, it is also conceivable that the area of the cross-section along the respective extension axis becomes larger or smaller in the radial direction from the respective axis of rotation or changes along the extension axis, in particular uniformly.

The number of blades of the filling wheel, dosing wheel and/or feed wheel designed as an impeller can vary for each impeller and can be even and/or odd. The blades of the filling wheel, dosing wheel and/or feed wheel designed as an impeller can be designed to be interchangeable. In particular, the blades can be designed as a replacement element of the individual impellers. This means that the blades can be quickly and easily replaced with other blades, in particular with blades with a different cross-section. For example, if a blade is damaged, the corresponding blade can be replaced without having to replace the entire impeller. In addition, the interchangeability increases the number of different shapes of the conveying surface.

The filling wheel, dosing wheel and/or feed wheel designed as an impeller can each have vanes that have a different cross-section along their respective extension axis. In other words, the filling wheel, dosing wheel and/or feed wheel can each have differently shaped vanes. For example, the filling wheel can have vanes with a triangular cross-section, the dosing wheel can have vanes with a round cross-section and the feed wheel can have vanes with a square cross-section.

The blades of the filling wheel, dosing wheel and/or feed wheel designed as an impeller can be arranged in such a way that an extension of the respective extension axis runs at a distance from a rotation axis of the respective impeller. The extension of the respective extension axis thus forms a tangent to a circle around the axis of rotation, the circle having a radius other than zero. In other words, the blades are arranged at an angle with respect to a radial direction emanating from the center of the respective impeller. In other words, the extension of the respective extension axis and the radial direction emanating from the center of the respective impeller form an angle that is other than zero, in particular between zero and 90 degrees, in particular between zero and 45 degrees, in particular between 0 and 20 degrees.

The filling unit can be designed in such a way that the direction of rotation and/or the speed of rotation of the filling wheel, dosing wheel and/or feed wheel designed as an impeller can be varied. The direction of rotation and/or the speed of rotation can be preset before the tablet production according to the respective medium (or powder). However, it is also conceivable that the direction of rotation and/or the speed of rotation can be varied during the tablet production, i.e. during the conveying of the medium (or during the rotation of the respective impellers). In particular, the direction of rotation can be varied independently of the speed of rotation.

The filling unit can be designed in such a way that the feed wheel can be switched into or out of a conveying path of the medium to be dosed. This can be done in particular by a pivoting movement of the feed wheel. In particular, the feed wheel can be pivoted about a rotation axis of the dosing wheel designed as an impeller. For this purpose, a corresponding A pivoting device can be provided. The feed wheel can be bridged or bypassed in particular by means of a second media feed unit. It is also conceivable that the media feed unit can be designed to be displaceable in such a way that by moving the media feed unit it can be selected whether the conveying path of the medium to be dosed leads through the feed wheel or not.

In this case, the conveying path of the medium to be dosed refers to the path of the medium through the filling unit into the die bores.

The media feed unit can include a conveyor switch. Using this conveyor switch, the medium to be dosed can be fed either to the feed wheel or the filling wheel. This allows a choice to be made as to whether the medium is fed via the feed wheel or not, without having to remove the feed wheel or switch the feed wheel out of the conveyor path.

The filling unit can have at least one electric motor. The electric motor can drive the filling wheel, dosing wheel or feed wheel designed as an impeller directly or indirectly, for example via at least one gear wheel and/or a toothed belt. It is also conceivable that several impellers are driven by the electric motor. However, it is also conceivable that each impeller is driven by a separate electric motor.

Alternatively or additionally, the electric motor can directly or indirectly, for example via at least one gear and/or a toothed belt, vary the rotational position of the blades and/or the inclination or the angle spanned by the respective extension axis of the blades and a radial direction of the respective impeller extending from the axis of rotation. It is conceivable that the rotational position of the blades and the inclination of the blades with respect to a radial direction extending from the axis of rotation of the respective impeller are varied by means of the same electric motor. However, it is also conceivable that a separate electric motor can be provided for varying the rotational position and the inclination of the blades.

In particular, several electric motors can form an electric motor group and can be designed as a replacement element. In this way, several electric motors can be quickly and easily exchanged as one element for another electric motor group (e.g. in the event of damage). It is also conceivable that the gears that transmit torque from the electric motors to the impellers can be designed as a gear group, whereby these can also be designed as a replacement element.

In particular, the electric motor can be designed in the form of a servo motor or a compressed air motor. In particular, all electric motors can be designed in the form of servo motors or compressed air motors. It is also conceivable that a pneumatic and/or hydraulic drive can be provided as an alternative or in addition to the electric motor. Other types of drive as well as manual drive ("by hand") are also conceivable.

The blades of the filling wheel, dosing wheel and/or feed wheel designed as an impeller can be designed to be rotatable by more than 180°, in particular by 360°. In other words, the blades can be designed to be freely rotatable by at least more than 90°, in particular by 180°, in particular by 270°, in particular by at least 360°. The blades can therefore be brought into different rotational positions in the specified angular range. In particular, the blades are designed to be rotatable about their respective extension axis.

The large angle of rotation, e.g. at least 180°, makes it possible to use different (more) sides of the blade profile (cross-section of the blades) to transport the medium to be dosed on the die plate.

The blades of the filling wheel, dosing wheel and/or feed wheel designed as an impeller can have a cross-section that has at least one corner and a rounded section. The blades can, for example, have a drop-shaped cross-section.

With such a cross-section of the blades, particularly in conjunction with a large angle of rotation, e.g. at least 180°, an increased number of different shapes of the conveying surfaces of the respective blades (profile sections) results, which can be used for dosing, particularly in conjunction with the die plate.

The above object is also achieved by the method according to the invention for providing an optimized rotary press with the features of the independent claim. The method according to the invention comprises the steps:
Provision of a first rotary press with an adjustable filling unit. The adjustable filling unit has at least one element with at least one adjustable configuration parameter. Configuration parameter in the sense of this application means a variable that influences the conveyance of the medium within the filling unit (or rotary press) and/or properties of the tablets produced (e.g. tablet quality).

Production of several tablets with the first rotary press, each with different settings of the configuration parameter. For example, batches of tablets can be produced, with each batch being produced with a different setting of the configuration parameter.

This means that the first rotary press with the adjustable filling unit can be used to try out different settings for a configuration parameter in order to find the optimal settings. Changing and/or replacing the corresponding elements relating to the configuration parameter is not necessary.

Analyzing the manufactured tablets for desired properties in order to select a tablet (or batch of tablets) with preferred properties from the manufactured tablets. properties. These can be quality features of the tablet (e.g. particularly good strength, weight, breaking strength, web height).

Identification of the configuration parameter setting at which the tablet (or batch) with preferred properties was produced.

Provision of at least one second rotary press with an optimized filling unit. The optimized filling unit has at least one element with a fixed configuration parameter, in which the tablet (or tablet batch) was produced with preferred properties.

In other words, after the optimal configuration parameter has been identified using the first rotary press with the adjustable filling unit, this configuration parameter is transferred to a second rotary press. This configuration parameter can then no longer be adjusted on the second rotary press. It is also conceivable that the first rotary press is designed with such an optimized filling unit. In other words, the first rotary press with an adjustable filling unit can be converted to a rotary press with an optimized filling unit.

Since the elements of the second rotary press already have the optimal configuration parameters and no longer need to be adjusted, these elements can be designed more simply. Additional elements/parts that are required for the Adjustability can be omitted. This makes the corresponding elements cheaper to manufacture. The second rotary press can therefore be made cheaper and smaller. In addition, the elements of the second rotary press can be made more robust and durable.

When producing tablets using a rotary press, a certain start-up time is necessary. For example, it takes some time until the medium to be dosed is evenly distributed along the entire conveyor path. This means that the first tablets in a batch can have properties that differ from the other tablets in the same batch. It is therefore conceivable that, in order to identify the optimal configuration parameter, the first tablets in a batch are not taken into account when analyzing the tablets produced. However, it is also conceivable that the batch contains such a large number of tablets that the deviation in the tablet properties between the first tablets and the remaining tablets in a batch is negligible due to the high number of tablets in the batch.

The adjustable filling unit of the first rotary press is a filling unit as described above.

The adjustable configuration parameter can be the direction of rotation or the speed of rotation of the filling wheel, dosing wheel/or feed wheel designed as an impeller.

It is also conceivable that the adjustable configuration parameters speed, pre-pressure, main pressure, Weight dosage, immersion depth or position of the pellet in the die.

Switching the feed wheel into or out of the conveying path of the medium to be dosed can also represent a configuration parameter. In other words, a configuration parameter can represent the arrangement of the feed wheel in or outside the conveying path of the medium to be dosed.

The adjustable configuration parameter can be the shape of the conveying surfaces of the blades or the inclination of the blades. The shape of the conveying surfaces of the blades can be changed by rotating the blades around their respective extension axis. The inclination of the blades refers to the angle spanned by the respective extension axis (or its extension) of the blades and a radial direction of the respective impeller extending from the axis of rotation.

During the step of producing tablets with the first rotary press, several configuration parameters can be changed at the same time. It is conceivable that several configuration parameters can be set on the same element. However, it is also conceivable that several configuration parameters can be set on several elements, whereby in particular one configuration parameter can be set on one element at a time.

Fig. 1

eine Seitenansicht auf eine Rundlaufpresse mit einer Fülleinheit;

Fig. 2

eine Draufsicht auf die Fülleinheit mit einer Matrizenscheibe gemäß Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

eine perspektivische Ansicht auf ein weiteres Ausführungsbeispiel der Fülleinheit;

Fig. 4

eine perspektivische Ansicht auf ein weiteres Ausführungsbeispiel der Fülleinheit;

Fig. 5

eine perspektivische Ansicht auf ein weiteres Ausführungsbeispiel der Fülleinheit;

Fig. 6

einen Ausschnitt einer perspektivischen Ansicht auf die Fülleinheit gem. Fig. 5 von einer anderen Perspektive;

Fig. 7

eine perspektivische Ansicht auf ein als Flügelrad ausgebildetes Füllrad, Dosierrad und Zuführrad nebst Zahnräder;

Fig. 8

eine perspektivische Ansicht auf ein Flügelrad gem. Fig. 7;

Fig. 9

eine perspektivische Ansicht auf ein weiteres Ausführungsbeispiel des Flügelrads;

Fig. 10

eine perspektivische Ansicht auf ein weiteres Ausführungsbeispiel des Flügelrads;

Fig. 11

eine perspektivische Ansicht auf ein weiteres Ausführungsbeispiel des Flügelrads und

Fig. 12

ein Flussdiagram eines Verfahren zur Bereitstellung einer optimierten Rundlaufpresse.

Further features, details and advantages of the invention emerge from the wording of the claims and from the following description of embodiments with reference to the drawings. They show:

Fig. 1

a side view of a rotary press with a filling unit;

Fig. 2

a top view of the filling unit with a die plate according to Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3

a perspective view of another embodiment of the filling unit;

Fig. 4

a perspective view of another embodiment of the filling unit;

Fig. 5

a perspective view of another embodiment of the filling unit;

Fig. 6

a section of a perspective view of the filling unit according to Fig. 5 from a different perspective;

Fig. 7

a perspective view of a filling wheel, dosing wheel and feed wheel designed as an impeller together with gears;

Fig. 8

a perspective view of an impeller according to Fig. 7 ;

Fig. 9

a perspective view of another embodiment of the impeller;

Fig. 10

a perspective view of another embodiment of the impeller;

Fig. 11

a perspective view of another embodiment of the impeller and

Fig. 12

a flow chart of a process for providing an optimized rotary press.

In the following description and in the figures, corresponding components and elements have the same reference symbols. For the sake of clarity, not all reference symbols are shown in all figures.

Figure 1 shows a side view of a rotary press 12 with a filling unit 10. In this case, the medium to be dosed, i.e. the powder to be pressed into the tablets, enters the rotary press 12 via a funnel 13. After the tablets have been pressed, they are conveyed out of the rotary press 12 via the discharge chute 15.

Figure 2 shows a top view of the filling unit 10 with a die plate 18 according to Fig. 1 The die plate 18 has a plurality of die bores 16 arranged on a circular path, into which the medium to be pressed into the tablets is metered by means of the filling unit 10.

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of the filling unit 10. The medium to be dosed is fed to a filling wheel 14 via the media feed unit 36. In the present case, the media feed unit 36 is designed as a straight pipe.

The filling wheel 14 is designed as an impeller 20 with vanes 22. The filling wheel 14 conveys the medium to be dosed into the die holes 16 of the dosing slide 18. This is done by rotating the filling wheel 14 about its axis of rotation 42 (indicated by a dashed line).

The amount of medium to be dosed in the die holes 16 of the die plate 18 is precisely dosed by means of a dosing wheel 24. The dosing wheel is designed as an impeller 26 with blades 28. This is done by rotating the dosing wheel 24 about its axis of rotation 42 (indicated by a dashed line). The die holes 16 are swept over by the blades 28 of the dosing wheel 24 so that excess medium is removed and a precisely defined amount of medium remains in the die holes 16.

The amount of medium remaining in a die bore 16 is then pressed into a tablet. This can be achieved, for example, by means of a lower and/or upper punch, which are moved relative to one another (not shown).

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the filling unit 10. The illustrated Filling unit 10 has, analogous to the Figure 3 illustrated embodiment, a filling wheel 14 and a dosing wheel 24. In the present case, the die plate 18 with the die holes 16 is not shown. In this embodiment, the filling unit 10 also has a feed wheel 30.

The media supply unit 36 supplies the medium to be dosed to the feed wheel 30. The feed wheel 30 is designed as an impeller 32 with vanes 34. The medium to be dosed is supplied to a filling wheel 14 by means of the feed wheel 30. This is done by rotating the feed wheel 30 about its axis of rotation 42 (indicated by a dashed line).

In the present case, the feed wheel 30 is arranged on a swivel device 33. The swivel device 33 and thus also the feed wheel 30 can be swiveled about the swivel axis 35. In the present case, the swivel axis 35 and the rotation axis 42 of the metering wheel 24 are identical. The feed wheel 30 can thus be swiveled out of the conveying path of the medium or swiveled into the conveying path of the medium.

The medium conveying path shown runs via the media feed unit 36, which feeds the medium to the feed wheel 30. This feeds the medium to the filling wheel 14 by rotating about its axis of rotation 42. The filling wheel 14 fills the die holes 16 (not shown) by rotating about its axis of rotation 42 (not shown). The medium filled into the die holes 16 is then precisely This is also achieved by rotating the dosing wheel 24 about its axis of rotation 42.

If the feed wheel 30 is pivoted out of the conveying path about the pivot axis 35, the conveying path of the medium then runs via the media feed unit 36, which feeds the medium directly to the filling wheel 14. The medium is then filled into the die holes by the filling wheel and then precisely dosed by the dosing wheel 24 (see above).

Alternatively or in addition to the pivoting device 33, the media feed unit 36 can have a conveyor switch (not shown) which optionally feeds the medium either directly to the feed wheel 30 or to the filling wheel 14. In this way, a choice can be made between a conveyor path with the feed wheel 30 and a conveyor path without the feed wheel 30, without the feed wheel 30 having to be pivoted out of the conveyor path.

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of the filling unit 10. In the present case, the filling wheel 14, the feed wheel 30 and the dosing wheel 24 are hidden by a cover 51 and are not shown.

In the present case, six electric motors 50 are shown, which are designed in the form of servo motors 52. Two servo motors 52 are arranged opposite each other. Each servo motor 52 can be controlled or operated individually and independently of the remaining servo motors 52. The servo motors 52 can be designed as a servo motor group, which acts as a For example, the exchange elements in Figure 5 three upper servo motors 52 form an exchange element and the Figure 5 three lower servo motors 52 form another replacement element. In the event of a defect, for example, the servo motors 52 can be replaced quickly and easily.

Figure 6 shows a section of a perspective view of the filling unit 10 according to Fig. 5 from a different perspective. In this case, the cover 51 is not shown, so that the Figure 5 The concealed filling wheel 14, the feed wheel 30 and the dosing wheel 24 are visible.

The filling wheel 14, the feed wheel 30 and the dosing wheel 24 are coupled to the servo motors 52 by means of gears 46, 48. A torque can be transmitted from the respective servo motor 52 to the filling wheel 14, feed wheel 30 and dosing wheel 24 by means of the gears 46, 48. The transmitted torque can then be used to rotate the filling wheel 14, the feed wheel 30 and/or the dosing wheel 24, which is designed as an impeller 20, 26, 32, and/or to adjust the rotational position, the inclination and/or the curvature of the blades 22, 28, 34 of the corresponding impeller 20, 26, 32.

Figure 7 shows a perspective view of a filling wheel 14, dosing wheel 24 and feed wheel 30 together with gears 46, 48. Six servo motors 52 are indicated by dashed lines. In this case, the torque is generated by three Figure 7 servo motors 52 arranged above are each transmitted to a first gear 46. This meshes with a second gear 46 and the second gear 46 meshes with a third gear 46, which is arranged on the filling wheel 14, dosing wheel 24 or feed wheel 30. Accordingly, the torque is transmitted by the three remaining (in Figure 7 The torque of the servomotors 52 (servomotors 52 arranged below) is transmitted to a first gear 48. This gear meshes with a second gear 48 and the second gear 48 meshes with a third gear 48 which is arranged on the filling wheel 14, the dosing wheel 24 or the feed wheel 30. In this way, the torque of the respective servomotor 52 is transmitted to the filling wheel 14, the dosing wheel 24 or the feed wheel 30.

Figure 8 shows a perspective view of an impeller 20, 26, 32 according to Fig. 7 The impeller 20, 26, 32 shown can be a filling wheel 14, a feed wheel 30 or a dosing wheel 24.

The impeller 20, 26, 32 has an axis of rotation 42 about which the filling wheel 20, 26, 32 can rotate. The impeller 20, 26, 32 has ten vanes 22, 28, 34. In the present case, the vanes 22, 28, 34 extend along a radial direction 45 that extends radially outward from the axis of rotation 42 and perpendicular to the axis of rotation 42. The vanes 22, 28, 34 have an extension axis 38 that corresponds to the longitudinal axis of the vanes 22, 28, 34.

The wings 22, 28, 34 have a triangular cross-section in the present case, wherein in the position shown one corner of the triangle represents the lower edge of the respective wing 22, 28,34.

The impeller 20, 26, 32 has an upper gear 46 and a lower gear 48, whereby the impeller 20, 26, 32 and the two gears 46, 48 each have the same axis of rotation 42, i.e. are arranged coaxially to one another. The impeller 20, 26, 32 is designed to be rotatable via the lower gear 48. This can be achieved, for example, by the lower gear 48 and the impeller 20, 26, 32 being coupled to one another in a rotationally fixed manner.

If the impeller 20, 26, 32 is rotated, it turns about the axis of rotation 42 and conveys the medium located between the individual blades 22, 28, 34 with a respective conveying surface 40.

The upper gear 46 can rotate the blades 22, 28, 34 about their respective axis of extension 38. It is also conceivable that the height (displacement parallel to the axis of rotation 42), the inclination and/or the curvature of the blades 22, 28, 34 can be changed via the gear 46. The elements required for this, for example in the form of a corresponding mechanism and/or electrics, can be arranged in a body 49 of the impeller 20, 26, 32.

The lower gear 48 is arranged between the upper gear 46 and the impeller 20, 26, 32. Of course, it is conceivable that the upper gear 46 is arranged between the lower gear 48 and the impeller 20, 26, 32 or that the functions of the upper and lower gears 46, 48 are swapped.

Figure 9 shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of the impeller 20, 26, 32. In the present case, the impeller 20, 26, 32 has straight blades 22, 28, 34 with a quadrangular (square) cross-section.

Figure 10 shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of the impeller 20, 26, 32. In the present case, an impeller 20, 26, 32 with inclined blades 22, 28, 34 is shown. The extension of the respective extension axis 38 of the blades 22, 28, 34 (indicated by dashed lines) does not intersect the center of the impeller 20, 26, 32 marked as "x" and designated by the reference number 47. The respective extension axis 38 or its extension is therefore arranged at a distance from the center 47.

In an impeller 20, 26, 32 with a variable inclination, the blades 22, 28, 34 can be adjusted in such a way that the angle between the extension axis 38 (or its extension) of the respective blade 22, 28, 34 and the radial direction 45 can be varied. For example, a blade 54 can be brought from its first arrangement 56 shown in the sketch into a second arrangement 58 indicated by a dashed line. As can be clearly seen, the angle between the blade 54 in the first arrangement 56 and the radial direction 45 is different (larger) than that between the blade 54 in the second arrangement 58 and the radial direction 45. The variation of the inclination is indicated here by a double arrow.

Figure 11 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the impeller 20, 26, 32. The present The embodiment of the impeller 20, 26, 32 has blades 22, 28, 34 with a curvature. The blades 22, 28, 34 each have a first section 60 in which the blades 22, 28, 34 extend along the radial direction 45 (i.e. straight radially outwards). The first section 60 is followed by a second section 62 which is curved in relation to the radial direction 45. The second section 62 is followed by a third section 64 which is again straight (analogous to the first section 60).

A possible variable curvature of the blades 22, 28,34 of the impeller 20, 26, 32 is (analogous to Figure 10 ) by a double arrow and a first arrangement 66 and a second arrangement 68 (indicated by dashed lines) of the blade 70. In the present case, the outside diameter of the impeller 20, 26, 32 is also changed by varying the curvature. A stronger curvature of the blades 22, 28, 34 in relation to the radial direction 45 results in a smaller outside diameter of the impeller 20, 26, 32. A smaller (smaller) curvature of the blades 22, 28, 34 in relation to the radial direction 45 results in a larger outside diameter of the impeller 20, 26, 32.

Figure 12 shows a flow chart of a method for providing an optimized rotary press. The method step of providing a first rotary press 12 with an adjustable filling unit 10, wherein the adjustable filling unit 10 has at least one element with at least one adjustable configuration parameters, designated by the reference number 72.

The subsequent process step of producing several tablets with the first rotary press 12, each with different settings of the configuration parameter, is designated by the reference number 74.

This process step 74 can be carried out as often as desired with as many different configuration parameters as desired.

After the tablets have been produced, the process step of analyzing the produced tablets for desired properties, especially quality characteristics, follows in order to identify a tablet with preferred properties among the produced tablets. This process step is described in the Figure 12 designated by the reference number 76.

The process step of identifying the configuration parameter setting at which the tablet with preferred properties was produced is identified by reference number 78.

The final process step of providing at least one second rotary press with an optimized filling unit, wherein the optimized filling unit has at least one element with a fixed configuration parameter, in which the tablet with preferred properties is marked with the reference number 80. It is also conceivable that, alternatively or in addition to the provision of a second rotary press, the first rotary press can be converted into a rotary press with an optimized filling unit.

The Figure 12 The flow chart shown is intended in particular to illustrate the temporal sequence of the individual process steps 72, 74, 76, 78 and 80. The process steps 72, 74, 76, 78 and 80 are carried out one after the other in the sequence shown in the flow chart.

However, it is also conceivable that a process step is repeated as often as desired before the next process step is carried out.

Claims (15)

1. Filling unit (10) for a rotary press (12), the filling unit (10) comprising:

   A filling wheel (14) which is designed to fill a medium to be dosed into die bores (16) of a die plate (18) of the rotary press (12);

   wherein the filling wheel (14) is designed as an impeller wheel (20) and is designed to convey the medium to be dosed by a rotating movement by means of its blades (22);

   A dosing wheel (24) which is designed to dose a quantity of medium to be dosed in the respective die bores (16) of the die plate (18), in particular as accurately as possible,

   wherein the dosing wheel (24) is designed as an impeller wheel (26) and is designed to dose the quantity of medium to be dosed by sweeping over the die bores (16) of the die plate (18) with its blades (28) by means of a rotating movement, in particular as accurately as possible, and to remove excess medium;

   Optionally, a feed wheel (30) designed to feed the medium to be dosed to the filling wheel (14),

   wherein the feed wheel (30) is designed as an impeller wheel (32) and is designed to convey the medium to be fed to the filling wheel (14) by a rotating movement by means of its blades (34);

   At least one media feed unit (36) which is designed to feed the medium to the filling wheel (14) and/or the feed wheel (30),

   wherein the blades (22, 28, 34) of the filling wheel (14), dosing wheel (24) and/or feed wheel (30) designed as an impeller wheel (20, 26, 32) each have a conveying surface (40) with which the respective impeller wheel (20, 26, 32) conveys the medium

   characterized in that

   the blades (22, 28, 34) of the filling wheel (14), dosing wheel (24) and/or feed wheel (30) designed as an impeller wheel (20, 26, 32) are designed such that a conveying surface (40) of the respective blades (22, 28, 34) can be varied in shape, wherein the blades (22, 28, 34) of the filling wheel (14), dosing wheel (24) and/or feed wheel (30) designed as an impeller wheel (20, 26, 32) have a triangular or an at least partially rounded cross-section, wherein the shape of the conveying surface (40) can be changed by rotating the blades (22, 28, 34) of the filling wheel (14), dosing wheel (24) and/or feed wheel (30) designed as an impeller wheel (20, 26, 32) about their respective extension axis (38),

   or can be changed by a variable inclination of the blades (22, 28, 34) of the filling wheel (14), dosing wheel (24) and/or feed wheel (30) designed as an impeller wheel (20, 26, 32) with respect to a radial direction (45) extending from the axis of rotation (42) of the respective impeller wheel (20, 26, 32),

   or can be changed by a variable curvature of the blades (22, 28, 34) of the filling wheel (14), dosing wheel (24) and/or feed wheel (30) designed as an impeller wheel (20, 26, 32).
2. Filling unit (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the blades (22, 28, 34) of the filling wheel (14), dosing wheel (24) and/or feed wheel (30) designed as an impeller wheel (20, 26, 32) are designed to be adjustable in parallel with the axis of rotation (42) of the respective impeller wheel (20, 26, 32).
3. Filling unit (10) according to either of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that the blades (22, 28, 34) of the filling wheel (14), dosing wheel (24) and/or feed wheel (30) designed as an impeller wheel (20, 26, 32) have a constant cross-section along at least a region of their respective extension axis (38), in particular along their entire respective extension axis (38).
4. Filling unit (10) according to any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that the blades (22, 28, 34) of the filling wheel (14), dosing wheel (24) and/or feed wheel (30) designed as an impeller wheel (20, 26, 32) are designed to be exchangeable, in particular are designed as an exchange element between the individual impeller wheels (20, 26, 32).
5. Filling unit (10) according to any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that the filling wheel (14), dosing wheel (24) and/or feed wheel (30) designed as an impeller wheel (20, 26, 32) each have blades (22, 28, 34) with a different cross-section along their respective extension axis (38).
6. Filling unit (10) according to any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that the blades (22, 28, 34) of the filling wheel (14), dosing wheel (24) and/or feed wheel (30) designed as an impeller wheel (20, 26, 32) are arranged such that an extension of the respective extension axis (38) runs at a distance from an axis of rotation (42) of the respective impeller wheel (20, 26, 32).
7. Filling unit (10) according to any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that the filling unit (10) is designed in such a way that the direction of rotation and/or the speed of rotation of the filling wheel (14), dosing wheel (24) and/or feed wheel (30) can be varied.
8. Filling unit (10) according to any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that the filling unit (10) is designed in such a way that the feed wheel (30) can be switched into or out of a conveying path of the medium to be dosed, in particular by a pivoting movement, in particular about an axis of rotation (42) of the dosing wheel (24) designed as an impeller wheel (20, 26, 32).
9. Filling unit (10) according to any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that the media feed unit (36) comprises a conveying switch by means of which the medium to be dosed can be fed selectively to the feed wheel (30) or the filling wheel (14).
10. Filling unit (10) according to any one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that the filling unit (10) has at least one electric motor (50), in particular a servo motor (52), wherein the filling wheel (14), dosing wheel (24) and/or feed wheel (30) designed as an impeller wheel (20, 26, 32) are driven directly or via at least one gear wheel (48) by the electric motor (50), in particular servo motor (52), and/or wherein the rotational position of the blades (22, 28, 34) and/or the inclination of the blades (22, 28, 34) with respect to a radial direction (45) extending from the axis of rotation (42) of the respective impeller wheel (20, 26, 32) is varied directly or via at least one gear wheel (46) by the electric motor (50), in particular servo motor (52).
11. Filling unit (10) according to any one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that the blades (22, 28, 34) of the filling wheel (14), dosing wheel (24) and/or feed wheel (30) designed as an impeller wheel (20, 26, 32) are designed to be rotated by more than 180°, in particular by 360°.
12. Filling unit (10) according to any one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that the blades (22, 28, 34) of the filling wheel (14), dosing wheel (24) and/or feed wheel (30) designed as an impeller wheel (20, 26, 32) have a cross-section which has at least a corner and a rounded section.
13. Method for providing an optimized rotary press comprising the steps of:

    Providing a first rotary press (12) having an adjustable filling unit (10), the adjustable filling unit (10) having at least one element with at least one adjustable configuration parameter;

    Producing a plurality of tablets with the first rotary press (12) with different settings of the configuration parameter in each case;

    Analyzing the produced tablets for desired properties, in particular quality characteristics, in order to identify a tablet with preferred properties among the tablets produced;

    Identifying the configuration parameter setting at which the tablet with preferred properties was produced;

    Providing at least a second rotary press having an optimized filling unit, the optimized filling unit having at least one element with a fixedly predetermined configuration parameter at which the tablet with preferred properties was produced, wherein the adjustable filling unit is a filling unit (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 12.
14. Method according to claim 13, characterized in that the adjustable configuration parameter is the direction of rotation or the speed of rotation of the filling wheel (14), dosing wheel (24) and/or feed wheel (30) designed as an impeller wheel (20, 26, 32),
    or the shape of the conveying surfaces (40) of the blades (22, 28, 34), wherein the shape of the conveying surfaces (40) can be changed by rotating the blades (22, 28, 34) about their respective axis of extension (38), or by inclining the blades (22, 28, 34) with respect to a radial direction (45) extending from the axis of rotation (42) of the respective impeller wheel (20, 26, 32), or by varying the curvature of the blades (22, 28, 34), or the switching of the feed wheel (30) in/out of the conveying path of the medium to be dosed.
15. Method according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that in the step of
    Producing tablets with the first rotary press (12), the settings for multiple configuration parameters are changed simultaneously.

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