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EP-4735240-A1 - ROTARY PRESS AND METHOD FOR PRE-CLEANING THE PRESS HOUSING OF A ROTARY PRESS

EP4735240A1EP 4735240 A1EP4735240 A1EP 4735240A1EP-4735240-A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a rotary press comprising a press housing (54) and a rotor (56) which is arranged in the press housing, wherein the rotor has an upper and a lower punch guide (18, 20) for upper and lower press punches (14, 16) and a die disc (10) between the punch guides, and the press punches interact with receiving areas (12) of the guide disc. The rotary press additionally comprises at least one filling device (26), in which the material to be pressed is filled into the receiving areas, and at least one pressing device (34) which interacts with the upper press punches and the lower press punches during operation such that the punches press the material located in the receiving areas into pressed articles. The rotary press also comprises an ejection device (44) for the pressed articles produced in the rotary press. The invention additionally relates to a method for pre-cleaning the press housing of such a rotary press.

Inventors

  • Issmer, Marcel
  • BRÜGMANN, Jonas

Assignees

  • Fette Compacting GmbH

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20240415

Claims (19)

  1. 1. Rotary press with a press housing (54) and a rotor (56) arranged in the press housing (54), the rotor (56) having an upper and a lower punch guide (18, 20) for upper and lower press punches (14, 16) and a die plate (10) between the punch guides (18, 20), the press punches (14, 16) interacting with receptacles (12) of the die plate (10), furthermore with at least one filling device (26) in which material to be pressed is filled into the receptacles (12), furthermore with at least one pressure device (34) which interacts with the upper press punches (14) and with the lower press punches (16) during operation so that they press material located in the receptacles (12) into pressed pieces, and with an ejection device (44) for the pressed pieces produced in the rotary press, characterized in that in the press housing (54) or outside the press housing (54) a binder tank (58) containing a liquid binder is arranged, that at least one atomizing nozzle (80) is arranged within the press housing (54), and that between the binder tank (58) and the atomizing nozzle (80) a binder line (64) runs at least partially within the press housing (54), wherein a conveying device is provided which, during operation, conveys binder via the binder line (64) from the binder tank (58) to the atomizing nozzle (80), so that the atomizing nozzle (80) within the press housing (54) produces a spray mist (66) from the binder which binds dust in the press housing (54).
  2. 2. Rotary press according to claim 1, characterized in that a control device (52) is provided which is designed to control the conveying device for a period of less than 5 minutes, preferably less than 2 minutes, more preferably less than 1 minute, for conveying of the binder via the binder line (64) from the binder tank (58) to the atomizing nozzle (80).
  3. 3. Rotary press according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the binder tank (58) is arranged on an outer side of the press housing (54).
  4. 4. Rotary press according to claim 3, characterized in that the binder line (64) runs from the binder tank (58) to the atomizing nozzle (80) through a dust-tight opening of the press housing (54).
  5. 5. Rotary press according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the binder tank (58) is docked to the press housing (54) via a rapid transfer port.
  6. 6. Rotary press according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the binding agent comprises water and/or a cleaning agent and/or a preservative.
  7. 7. Rotary press according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conveying device comprises a compressed air device which conveys the binding agent by means of compressed air from the binding agent tank (58) to the atomizing nozzle (80).
  8. 8. Rotary press according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the atomizing nozzle (80) is pivotably arranged in the press housing (54), and that a pivot drive (76) is provided which pivots the atomizing nozzle (80) during the generation of the spray mist (66) in the press housing (54).
  9. 9. Rotary press according to claim 8, characterized in that the atomizing nozzle (80) is arranged on a nozzle assembly (62), and that the nozzle assembly (62) comprises the pivot drive (76).
  10. 10. Rotary press according to one of claims 8 or 9, characterized in that the swivel drive (76) is a pneumatically operated swivel drive (76).
  11. 11. Rotary press according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the atomizing nozzle (80) is arranged above the rotor (56) in the press housing (54).
  12. 12. Rotary press according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rotary press is a containment rotary press with a suction device, wherein the suction device generates a negative pressure in the press housing (54) compared to the environment of the press housing (54).
  13. 13. Rotary press according to claim 12, characterized in that a control device (52) is provided which controls the suction device during the generation of the spray mist (66) by the atomizing nozzle (80) in the press housing (54) such that it generates a negative pressure in the press housing (54) compared to the environment of the press housing (54), wherein the spray mist (66) is distributed in the press housing (54) by a turbulent flow generated by the suction device.
  14. 14. Rotary press according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the atomizing nozzle (80) is detachably arranged in the press housing (54).
  15. 15. Rotary press according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a manually operable spray lance is also provided, with which an operator can spray areas within the press housing (54) with a binding agent.
  16. 16. A method for pre-cleaning the press housing (54) of a rotary press according to one of claims 1 to 15, in which a spray mist from the binding agent which binds dust in the press housing (54) is generated with the atomizing nozzle (80) within the press housing (54).
  17. 17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that after completion of the pre-cleaning no binding agent flows out of the press housing (54).
  18. 18. Method according to one of claims 16 or 17, characterized in that the conveying device is controlled for a period of less than 5 minutes, preferably less than 2 minutes, more preferably less than 1 minute, for conveying the binder via the binder line (64) from the binder tank (58) to the atomizing nozzle (80).
  19. 19. Method for introducing an atomizing nozzle into a press housing (54) of a rotary press according to one of claims 1 to 15, in which the atomizing nozzle (80) and optionally a nozzle holder (62) holding the atomizing nozzle (80) are introduced into a container outside the press housing (54), in which the container is then introduced into the press housing (54) via a feed opening of the press housing (54). is introduced, and in which the atomizing nozzle (80) and optionally a nozzle holder (62) holding the atomizing nozzle (80) are subsequently removed from the container within the press housing and connected to the binder line (64) in the press housing (54).

Description

Rotary press and method for pre-cleaning the press housing of a rotary press The invention relates to a rotary press with a press housing and a rotor arranged in the press housing, wherein the rotor has an upper and a lower punch guide for upper and lower press punches and a die disk between the punch guides, wherein the press punches interact with receptacles of the die disk, furthermore with at least one filling device in which material to be pressed is filled into the receptacles, furthermore with at least one pressure device which interacts with the upper press punches and with the lower press punches during operation so that they press material located in the receptacles into compacts, and with an ejection device for the compacts produced in the rotary press. The invention also relates to a method for pre-cleaning the press housing of a rotary press according to the invention and a method for introducing an atomizing nozzle into a press housing of a rotary press according to the invention. In rotary presses, a large number of upper and lower press punches are usually provided, which are assigned in pairs to a cavity of a die plate. When the rotary press is in operation, the upper and lower press punches rotate together with the die plate, with their axial movement being controlled by control cams and guided by upper and lower punch guides. As it rotates, the die plate passes through various devices of the rotary press, namely a filling device in which powder material to be pressed is fed into the cavities of the die plate and a pressure device in which the upper and lower press punches are usually pressed into the cavities by upper and lower pressure rollers to press the powder material into pellets, such as tablets. The upper press rams are guided upwards out of the cavities and the pressed parts produced in the cavities are pushed by the lower press rams onto the top of the die plate. Ejector curves are provided for this purpose, which move the lower press rams upwards accordingly. The pressed parts are then stripped from the die plate into an outlet of the rotary press, for example by a stripper, from where they are fed for further processing. Product dust is generated during the production of pellets in rotary presses, for example when the powdered material to be pressed is fed in, when the material is pressed into pellets or when the pellets are ejected. The product dust can remain in the press housing and may need to be completely or partially removed by manual suction when the product is changed or when components of the rotary press, such as punches or other wearing parts, are replaced. In particular, it should be prevented that press dust gets into the environment when the press housing is opened and can pose a health risk there, for example with pharmaceutical material. Personal protective equipment has been used to protect operators. Dry cleaning is known to remove product dust from surfaces of the rotary press, for example window flaps of the press housing, for example manual suction. However, dry cleaning does not always completely remove product dust from the surfaces and especially from the air. It is also known to thoroughly clean rotary presses, in particular the press housing, by spraying them with a cleaning fluid. To do this, a cleaning fluid can be sprayed onto the surfaces of the interior of the rotary press, in particular the press housing, using a spray device in order to bind and wash away powder residues. One problem with this is that Due to the amount of liquid required to clean the surfaces, accumulations of liquid can form, particularly on horizontal surfaces of the press housing, which must be laboriously drained away after cleaning is complete. This is particularly true if the remaining cleaning liquid does not drain through the drainage channels provided for this purpose due to the horizontal surfaces. Liquid standing in the press housing can also lead to corrosion of the surfaces of the press housing, resulting in increased drying and cleaning effort. In addition, an external liquid supply must be connected to the rotary press in order to transport the cleaning liquid into the interior of the rotary press. In DE 10 2008 046 670 A1, it is therefore proposed to tilt the press housing or the entire tablet press machine by means of an actuator to drain cleaning fluid that collects on horizontal surfaces, so that the cleaning fluid that has collected in the press housing can drain off via a drainage channel. However, this involves considerable constructional effort and time. Based on the prior art explained above, the object of the invention is therefore to provide a rotary press and method of the type mentioned at the outset, with which the interior of the press housing can be freed of product dust in an effective and, compared to the prior art, less complex manner. The invention solves the problem through the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments can be found in t