US-20260124794-A1 - COMPRESSION-MOLDING MACHINE

US20260124794A1US 20260124794 A1US20260124794 A1US 20260124794A1US-20260124794-A1

Abstract

A compression-molding machine includes a turret including a die table having die bores penetrating the die table, an upper punch and a lower punch slidably retained respectively above and below each of the die bores, an upper roll and a lower roll respectively provided adjacent the upper punch and the lower punch, and a feeder, the compression-molding machine being of a rotary type configured to horizontally rotate the turret, fill the die bore passing below a feeder with a powdery material containing a lubricant from the feeder, and compression-mold the powdery material filled in the die bore when the upper punch and the lower punch being paired pass between the upper roll and the lower roll to produce a molded product, in which the feeder includes an agitating rotor configured to agitate the powdery material therein, and during a trial operation of producing molded products at a reduced rotational speed of the turret in comparison to a normal operation for mass production of molded products, the compression-molding machine measures a load torque of a motor configured to drive to rotate the agitating rotor in the feeder or current flowing in a coil of the motor, and controls to reduce a rotational speed of the agitating rotor in the feeder if the load torque or the current is higher than a predetermined value.

Inventors

Shinsuke FUSHIMI

Assignees

KIKUSUI SEISAKUSHO LTD.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20251030
Priority Date: 20241101

Claims (20)

1 . A compression-molding machine comprising: a turret including a die table having die bores penetrating the die table; an upper punch and a lower punch slidably retained respectively above and below each of the die bores; an upper roll and a lower roll respectively provided adjacent the upper punch and the lower punch; and a feeder, the compression-molding machine being of a rotary type configured to horizontally rotate the turret, fill the die bore passing below the feeder with a powdery material containing a lubricant from the feeder, and compression-mold the powdery material filled in the die bore when the upper punch and the lower punch being paired pass between the upper roll and the lower roll to produce a molded product, wherein the feeder includes an agitating rotor configured to agitate the powdery material therein, and a motor, and during a trial operation of producing molded products at a reduced rotational speed of the turret in comparison to a normal operation for mass production of molded products, the compression-molding machine measures a load torque of the motor configured to drive to rotate the agitating rotor in the feeder or current flowing in a coil of the motor, and controls to reduce a rotational speed of the agitating rotor in the feeder if the load torque or the current is higher than a predetermined value.
2 . A compression-molding machine according to claim 1 , wherein the agitating rotor comprises a first agitating rotor, and wherein the feeder further includes a housing configured to receive the powdery material fed from a powdery material mixing and feeding device, a second agitating rotor configured to rotate in the housing along with the first agitating rotor, to agitate the powdery material as well as drop the powdery material from the housing into the die bores of the die table, the motor being configured to output drive power to rotate the first and second agitating rotors, and a transmission mechanism configured to transmit rotation of an output shaft of the motor to shafts of the first and second agitating rotors.
3 . A compression-molding machine according to claim 1 , wherein the agitating rotor comprises a first agitating rotor, wherein the feeder further includes a second agitating rotor configured to rotate along with the first agitating rotor, to agitate the powdery material as well as drop the powdery material into the die bores of the die table, and wherein the motor comprises first and second motors being configured to individually output drive power to rotate the first and second agitating rotors, respectively.
4 . A compression-molding machine according to claim 2 , wherein the first agitating rotor rotates in a direction opposite to a rotation direction of the second agitating rotor.
5 . A compression-molding machine according to claim 2 , wherein the first and second agitating rotors rotate in an identical direction.
6 . A compression-molding machine comprising: a turret including a die table having die bores penetrating the die table; an upper punch and a lower punch slidably retained respectively above and below each of the die bores; an upper roll and a lower roll respectively provided adjacent the upper punch and the lower punch; and a feeder, the compression-molding machine being of a rotary type configured to horizontally rotate the turret, fill the die bore passing below the feeder with a powdery material containing a lubricant from the feeder, and compression-mold the powdery material filled in the die bore when the upper punch and the lower punch being paired pass between the upper roll and the lower roll to produce a molded product, wherein the compression-molding machine is accompanied by a powdery material mixing and feeding device including an agitating rotor configured to agitate the powdery material mixed with the lubricant and simultaneously feeding the feeder with the powdery material thus mixed, and during a trial operation of producing molded products at a reduced rotational speed of the turret in comparison to a normal operation for mass production of molded products, the compression-molding machine measures a load torque of a motor configured to drive to rotate the agitating rotor of the powdery material mixing and feeding device or current flowing in a coil of the motor, and controls to reduce a rotational speed of the agitating rotor of the powdery material mixing and feeding device if the load torque or the current is higher than a predetermined value.
7 . A compression-molding machine according to claim 6 , wherein the agitating rotor comprises a first agitating rotor, and wherein the feeder further includes a housing configured to receive the powdery material fed from a powdery material mixing and feeding device, a second agitating rotor configured to rotate in the housing along with the first agitating rotor, to agitate the powdery material as well as drop the powdery material from the housing into the die bores of the die table, the motor being configured to output drive power to rotate the first and second agitating rotors, and a transmission mechanism configured to transmit rotation of an output shaft of the motor to shafts of the first and second agitating rotors.
8 . A compression-molding machine according to claim 6 , wherein the agitating rotor comprises a first agitating rotor, wherein the feeder further includes a second agitating rotor configured to rotate along with the first agitating rotor, to agitate the powdery material as well as drop the powdery material into the die bores of the die table, and wherein the motor comprises first and second motors being configured to individually output drive power to rotate the first and second agitating rotors, respectively.
9 . A compression-molding machine according to claim 6 , wherein the first agitating rotor rotates in a direction opposite to a rotation direction of the second agitating rotor.
10 . A compression-molding machine according to claim 6 , wherein the first and second agitating rotors rotate in an identical direction, and wherein the powdery material mixing and feeding device includes a plurality of vertical mixers and at least one horizontal mixer, the horizontal mixer including the agitating rotor of the powdery material mixing and feeding device and configured to add the lubricant to the mixed powdery material, and the powdery material mixing and feeding device provides the lubricant and powdery material thus mixed to said feeder.
11 . A compression-molding machine comprising: a turret including a die table having die bores penetrating the die table; an upper punch and a lower punch slidably retained above and below each of the die bores; an upper roll and a lower roll respectively provided adjacent the upper punch and the lower punch; and a feeder, the compression-molding machine being of a rotary type configured to horizontally rotate the turret, fill the die bore passing below a feeder with a powdery material containing a lubricant from the feeder, and compression-mold the powdery material filled in the die bore when the upper punch and the lower punch being paired pass between the upper roll and the lower roll to produce a molded product, wherein the compression-molding machine is accompanied by a powdery material mixing and feeding device including an agitating rotor configured to agitate the powdery material mixed with the lubricant and simultaneously feeding the feeder with the powdery material thus mixed, the feeder includes an agitating rotor configured to agitate the powdery material therein, and during a trial operation of producing molded products at a reduced rotational speed of the turret in comparison to a normal operation for mass production of molded products, the compression-molding machine measures a load torque of a motor configured to drive to rotate the agitating rotor of the powdery material mixing and feeding device or current flowing in a coil of the motor, and controls to reduce a rotational speed of the agitating rotor in the feeder if the load torque or the current is higher than a predetermined value.
12 . A compression-molding machine according to claim 11 , wherein the agitating rotor comprises a first agitating rotor, and wherein the feeder further includes a housing configured to receive the powdery material fed from a powdery material mixing and feeding device, a second agitating rotor configured to rotate in the housing along with the first agitating rotor, to agitate the powdery material as well as drop the powdery material from the housing into the die bores of the die table, the motor being configured to output drive power to rotate the first and second agitating rotors, and a transmission mechanism configured to transmit rotation of an output shaft of the motor to shafts of the first and second agitating rotors.
13 . A compression-molding machine according to claim 11 , wherein the agitating rotor comprises a first agitating rotor, wherein the feeder further includes a second agitating rotor configured to rotate along with the first agitating rotor, to agitate the powdery material as well as drop the powdery material into the die bores of the die table, and wherein the motor comprises first and second motors being configured to individually output drive power to rotate the first and second agitating rotors, respectively.
14 . A compression-molding machine according to claim 12 , wherein the first agitating rotor rotates in a direction opposite to a rotation direction of the second agitating rotor.
15 . A compression-molding machine according to claim 12 , wherein the first and second agitating rotors rotate in an identical direction, and wherein the powdery material mixing and feeding device includes a plurality of vertical mixers and at least one horizontal mixer, the horizontal mixer including the agitating rotor of the powdery material mixing and feeding device and configured to add the lubricant to the mixed powdery material, and the powdery material mixing and feeding device provides the lubricant and powdery material thus mixed to said feeder.
16 . A compression-molding machine comprising: a turret including a die table having die bores penetrating the die table; an upper punch and a lower punch slidably retained above and below each of the die bores; an upper roll and a lower roll respectively provided adjacent the upper punch and the lower punch; and a feeder, the compression-molding machine being of a rotary type configured to horizontally rotate the turret, fill the die bore passing below a feeder with a powdery material containing a lubricant from the feeder, and compression-mold the powdery material filled in the die bore when the upper punch and the lower punch being paired pass between the upper roll and the lower roll to produce a molded product, wherein the compression-molding machine is accompanied by a powdery material mixing and feeding device including an agitating rotor configured to agitate the powdery material mixed with the lubricant and simultaneously feeding the feeder with the powdery material thus mixed, the feeder includes an agitating rotor configured to agitate the powdery material therein, and a motor, and during a trial operation of producing molded products at a reduced rotational speed of the turret in comparison to a normal operation for mass production of molded products, the compression-molding machine measures a load torque of the motor configured to drive to rotate the agitating rotor in the feeder or current flowing in a coil of the motor, and controls to reduce a rotational speed of the agitating rotor of the powdery material mixing and feeding device if the load torque or the current is higher than a predetermined value.
17 . A compression-molding machine according to claim 16 , wherein the agitating rotor comprises a first agitating rotor, and wherein the feeder further includes a housing configured to receive the powdery material fed from a powdery material mixing and feeding device, a second agitating rotor configured to rotate in the housing along with the first agitating rotor, to agitate the powdery material as well as drop the powdery material from the housing into the die bores of the die table, the motor being configured to output drive power to rotate the first and second agitating rotors, and a transmission mechanism configured to transmit rotation of an output shaft of the motor to shafts of the first and second agitating rotors.
18 . A compression-molding machine according to claim 16 , wherein the agitating rotor comprises a first agitating rotor, wherein the feeder further includes a second agitating rotor configured to rotate along with the first agitating rotor, to agitate the powdery material as well as drop the powdery material into the die bores of the die table, and wherein the motor comprises first and second motors being configured to individually output drive power to rotate the first and second agitating rotors, respectively.
19 . A compression-molding machine according to claim 17 , wherein the first agitating rotor rotates in a direction opposite to a rotation direction of the second agitating rotor.
20 . A compression-molding machine according to claim 16 , wherein the first and second agitating rotors rotate in an identical direction, and wherein the powdery material mixing and feeding device includes a plurality of vertical mixers and at least one horizontal mixer, the horizontal mixer including the agitating rotor of the powdery material mixing and feeding device and configured to add the lubricant to the mixed powdery material, and the powdery material mixing and feeding device provides the lubricant and powdery material thus mixed to said feeder.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The exemplary invention relates to a compression-molding machine configured to compress a powdery material and mold a tablet of a pharmaceutical product, a food product, an electronic component, or the like. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There has been known a rotary compression-molding machine including a turret including a die table having an outer circumferential portion including a large number of die bores, and an upper punch and a lower punch slidably retained respectively above and below each of the die bores, and configured to horizontally rotate the die bores and the punches together and fill each of the die bores with a powdery material when the die bore passes just below a powdery material filling device to compression-mold or tablet the powdery material in the die bore when the paired upper and lower punches pass between an upper roll and a lower roll. The filling device mounted in the rotary compression-molding machine is typically configured as an agitated feeder incorporating a rotatable agitating rotor and configured to inject a powdery material into a die bore while agitating the powdery material. The feeder of the compression-molding machine is fed with a powdery material from a powdery material mixing and feeding device. A powdery material feeding device mixes a plurality of powdery materials (i.e., a principal agent (i.e., main ingredient), an excipient, a lubricant, and the like for production of a pharmaceutical tablet) and then deliver the mixed powdery materials toward the feeder (e.g., see JP 2021-000647 A or the like). A method of adding a lubricant to powdery materials obtained by mixing a principal agent, an excipient, and the like to feed a compression-molding machine with the powdery materials, and compression-molding the mixed powdery materials in the molding machine to obtain a molded product is called an “internal lubrication method”. This processing is to prevent part of the mixed powdery materials from adhering to an inner circumferential surface of a die bore or a tip end surface of a punch of the molding machine and obtaining a partially missing (e.g., incomplete or defective) molded product. Specific examples of the lubricant include magnesium stearate and talc. These lubricants have expansibility. It is thus not preferred to add a lubricant to a powdery material as a raw material for molded products, mix together, and then continuously agitate the mixed powdery materials. The lubricant is kneaded in a way to expand and coat powdery material particles of the principal agent, the excipient, and the like to possibly disturb compression-moldability of the powdery materials in the molding machine and to deteriorate elution properties of the principal agent in the completed-molded product, that is, affect quality of the molded product. During a normal operation for mass production of molded products with use of the compression-molding machine, the turret of the molding machine rotates at high speed and the feeder quickly fills the die bores in the die table with mixed powdery materials a large amount of which are thus consumed. This also increases a flow rate of powdery materials fed from the powdery material mixing and feeding device to the feeder of the molding machine. Accordingly, the powdery materials are less likely to stay in the feeder and the powdery material mixing and feeding device, and the powdery materials containing an internal lubricant are agitated and mixed at a degree that does not increase excessively. On an actual production site for molded products, a trial operation of the compression-molding machine is executed prior to an actual normal operation for mass production of molded products. A trial operation is important for optimization of tableting conditions for mass production of molded products (e.g., a rotational speed of the turret in the molding machine, an amount of the powdery material to be filled in each die bore (e.g., a position of the lower punch in the die bore (e.g., a height of a bottom of the die bore)), a pressure to compress the powdery material (e.g., positions of the upper and lower rolls configured to press the punches), a rotational speed of the agitating rotor incorporated in the feeder, and the like). Parameters of the conditions differ for each type of molded products to be produced, and are finely adjusted also depending on properties of the powdery material, temperature, humidity, and the like. Trial operation is executed again also after replacement of any of members such as molds like dies or punches and a rail configured to guide the punches. The rotational speed of the turret in the compression-molding machine is intentionally reduced during a trial operation in comparison to a normal operation. This is also for reducing as much as possible the amount of the powdery material consumed during the trial operation. The amount of the powdery material filled in the die bores of the die table from the feeder