Rotary tablet press measurement

Oates, R. J., and Mitchell, A. G. (1994), A new method of estimating volume during powder compaction and the work of compaction on a rotary tablet press from measurements of applied vertical forces, J. Pharm. Pharmacol., 46, 270-275. 

Upper precompression and main compression rollers insertion depth adjustments Insertion depth for both precompression and main compression is adjusted in the upper cam section. The insertion depth determines the location of tablet formation in the die cavity relative to the top of the die table as shown in Fig. 5. It is measured as the distance at which the upper punch enters into the die at the tangent between the upper punch head and the compression roller. Insertion depth can be varied between 2 and 6 mm on most machines and is typically maintained between 3 and 4 mm. For precompression and main compression, the insertion depth should be maintained at approximately the same position. On most modern rotary tablet presses, the adjustments for precompression and main compression insertion depth are independent. However, on many older designs, the precompression roller is attached to the main compression roller assembly and its position is measured relative to the main compression roller position. In this way, the ratio of precompression to main compression remains constant as machine adjustments are made. 

Many modern rotary tablet presses use off-the-shelf load cells for force measurement. These load cells are highly accurate, durable, and easily replaced and calibrated. However, the final accuracy and repeatability of force measurement in the machine not only depend on the quality of the load cell, but also on the design of the compression assembly and the placement of the load cell within the assembly. 

During tablet compression, the distance between the rollers remains constant unless a machine adjustment is made to change tablet hardness or thickness. Additionally, all tooling dimensions (tooling length and die cavity size) are constant within established standards. Under these conditions, for a specific material of uniform density, if the same volume of material is delivered to each die, the maximum measured compression force for each punch station is the same. If, on the other hand, different volumes of material are delivered to each die, the maximum measured compression force for each punch station is different. On this basis, adjustment of fill depth (fill volume) to maintain a constant compression force should result in a constant tablet weight. This concept is the general basis of all rotary tablet press force control systems. 

Williams, J.J. Force Measurement and Analysis Particularly Relating to Rotary Tablet Presses. US Patent 4,030,868, 1977. 

Tablet Press. The main components of a tablet compression machine (press) are the dies, which hold a measured volume of material to be compressed (granulation), the upper punches which exert pressure on the down stroke, and the lower punches which move upward after compaction to eject the tablets from the dies. Mechanical components deflver the necessary pressure. The granulation is fed from a hopper with a feed-frame on rotary-type presses and a feeding shoe on single-punch presses. A smooth and even flow ensures good weight and compression uniformity. Using the proper formulation, demixing in the hopper is minimized.

The details of instrumentation for tablet presses is thoroughly described in several texts and review papers [1,2,9,10] and will not be repeated here. The concepts, however, are important. The first and most important result of the instrumentation results in a plot of force vs. time (see Fig. 1). This shows the maximum force (or pressure) used for compaction of a tablet and such plots become even more important on a rotary press, when this measurement can be made on each tablet produced. 

In 1966, a U.S. patent was granted to Knoechel and co-workers for force measurement on a tablet press. This patent was followed by two seminal articles in Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences on the practical applications of instrumented rotary tablet machines. A number of other patents related to press instrumentation and control followed from 1973 on ward. ... 

Ilkka, J. Instrumentation of rotary tablet machine by a portable measuring system. In Data Acquisition and Measurement Techniques Munoz-Ruiz, A., Vromans, H., Eds. Interpharm Press Buffalo Grove, IL, 1998. 

Punch displacement measurements are easily done on a single station press by attaching LVDT to the punch. On a rotary press, such measurements can be done by means of slip ring, telemetry, or instrumented punch. Punch displacement profiles may be used in conjunction with compression force to estimate work of compression and work of expansion (measure of elasticity). Because capping tendency increases with the punch penetration depth, it may be desirable to monitor actual punch movement into the die. The shape of a force-displacement curve is an indication of the relative elasticity or plasticity of the material whereas plastic deformation is desirable for stronger tablets, excess plasticity usually results in tablets that tend to cap and laminate. ... 

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