Tablet Press Machine

1.1 What is a Tablet Pressing Machine?

A tablet press is an advanced machine or equipment that is used in the manufacturing of tablets. It is a mechanical device that is specifically designed and manufactured to press the powders for drugs so that they form uniform shapes and sizes.

The tablet press machine comprises various components such as punches which are responsible for executing the compression action onto the powders that will end up forming tablets. The components are programmed to operate by controllers so that they achieved the desired parameters for the tablets.

Tablet press machines can compress the powder and granules without affecting the composition of the ingredients that make up that product.

The punches and dies are just some of the key components that are used for the compression of tablets.

It is also important to note that there are different types of tablet press machines in the market and each one has its unique specifications. Also, you don’t have to be in the pharmaceutical industry to use a tablet press machine. Many other industries deploy the use of these machines (we will highlight them later on).

1.2 Applications of Tablet Press Machines

Tablet press machine has a wide range of applications in different industries. Any industry that is involved with tablet manufacturing and processing must be deploying the use of tablet presses.

Here are some of the most common application areas of tablet compression machine;

Pharmaceuticals

This is the most common application area of the tablet press machine. The equipment is used in the manufacturing of drugs or medicines. The compression machine is responsible for giving the drugs their shapes and designs. It also defines the size and compactness of the drugs.

In this field, the press machine mainly focuses on the oral solid dosage forms. This encompasses tablets that are swallowed and ingested orally.

Nutraceuticals

This is an industry that deals with products that are designed for nutrition. Here, companies manufacture a variety of products that when ingested will have nutritional value in the body. Some of these products come in the form of tablets and pills.

Companies that manufacture protein supplements, vitamin supplements, and other nutritional products use tablet press machines to prepare their products.

The press pill machine will accept the ingredients of the intended products and compress them until you get the final nutraceutical.

Research and development organizations

Agencies that specialize in doing research and development of different products are also likely to reap the full benefits of tablet press machines.

Usually, such organizations bring together a collection of different elements and combine them to form products that will be useful to the general population. Some of these products will be used for pharma needs while others for manufacturing purposes.

Such types of organizations may have to use different types of pill compression machines so that they can press different tablets.

Biotechnology

Companies and organizations under this umbrella create different products that will be used by biological systems. The products can be used by human beings, animals, and plants. Since some of the products come in the form of tablets and pills, and capsules. Tablet press equipment will come in handy in manufacturing and producing these products.

Herbal manufacturing

We also have herbal companies that specialize in manufacturing products straight from nature. Some of these products have potent medicinal value and are approved by various organizations. Since some herbal products come in the form of tablets and pills, it will be necessary to use the best tablet press machines for sale.

Agrochemicals

This industry specializes in products that are mainly used for agricultural purposes. Some of the products are used for making fertilizers while others are animal products. Since some of the agrichemical solid dosage form products come in the form of tablets, we can confidently state that the press machine for pills is usable in this field.

Cosmetic industry

Cosmetics entails products that are used for improving a person’s body outlook. The products are used for skincare, haircare, face among other body parts. While most cosmetic products exist in the form of cream, we have some that are in solid dosage form. Some are pills, capsules, and tablets.

This means that tablet compression machines are easily applicable in this delicate but important industry.

So, which of the above industry do you belong to? If you think a tablet press machine will be important in your production, don’t hesitate to contact us. We have an array of pill press machines for sale. All you need is to choose one that is applicable in your specific industry or application. We can also customize your tablet press machine to meet your industrial needs.

1.3 Features of tablet press machine

Let’s look at the key characteristics  or features that distinguish tablet press machine and make them fully operational;

cGMP design

The design of the Senieer tablet press machine is fully compliant with the cGMP rules and regulations. One of the tenets of cGMP is the ease of handling the equipment. The ergonomic design of the tablet presser ensures that you can easily handle it when using it.

The design also makes it easy to execute changeover of the materials during batch processing. The simplicity of the design makes it easy to clean and maintain the tablet compressor. In short, the design guarantees easy accessibility of the tablet press machine.

AISI materials

All the contact parts of the pill pressing machine are made of premium quality equipment. In this case, it is AISI 304 and AISI 316 stainless steel metals. This material is strong and durable. It also guarantees the highest levels of safety when it comes to the process of pressing the tablets. The inert nature of AISI metal means that there will be no contamination due to the reaction of the materials with ingredients.

High-speed compression

The tablet press machine has been manufactured to execute the high-speed pressing of the tablets. It has a central drive that accepts and presses many materials within a short time. This will eventually improve the productivity of the company.

Pre-compression system

The pre-compression system entails the application of minimal pressure on the material before the final compaction or compression of the material. The importance of this initial step is to improve the quality of the product to be compressed.

Control system for tablet parameters

The tablet press machine has an advanced control mechanism that allows you to enter all the required parameters for the tablet. You can choose the shape, size, and thickness of the tablets and it will press them accordingly.

East to tune

Still on the aspect of control Senieer tablet compressor will allow you to tune its level of performance. The tuning majorly entails adjusting the compressional pressure depending on the level of compactness that you intend to achieve.

You can also tune to change the speed of compression, whether you want fast compression, medium, or slow compression.

1.4 Parts and Components of Tablet Press Machine

To know how a tablet press machine works, let’s first have a look at the key components that make up this system.

1. Tablet press machine hopper

This component is positioned at the very opening of the press machine. It receives the materials that are about to be subjected to the tablet compression process. The hopper is funnel-shaped or conical-shaped to ensure that all the materials flow smoothly to the machine for further compression.

The hopper is well-polished to minimize adhesive force between the materials and the walls of the hopper. It ensures that no materials remain stuck on the walls of the hopper. It is also made of stainless steel to sustain constant contact with the material.

Hoppers are designed to have optimal flow angles. This ensures that the flow will be automatic due to the gravitational force. Some are installed with vibratory rods to ensure that no product remains in the input section of the rotary tablet press machine.

1. Feed peddle

The feed peddle is part of the pressing machine’s feeding system. Materials from the hopper are directed straight to the feeding system and prepare for the next stage of tablet compression.

Before the material reaches the feed peddle, it passes through the feeder housing. It facilitates a constant flow of the materials flowing to the tablet compressors. Like the hopper, the feeder housing is made of stainless steel and is polished to ensure that there is 99% of the product delivery.

From the feeder housing, the materials flow to the feed peddles. They maintain the accuracy and consistency o the materials that are fed into the compression systems. They will have the same size and thickness. The feed peddle is designed to keep up with the high speed of the material delivery.

2. Tablet punches

The punches are designed to execute repeated punches on the materials to achieve the desired compression and compactness.

This component comes in different designs, configurations, and dimensions. It plays a role in determining the final shape and characteristics of the tablets. The punches also have a direct influence on the quality of the tablet.

Tablet press punches are designed to operate with high levels of accuracy. They should punch the materials at exactly desired spots as this is the only way to get tablets of specific shapes and dimensions.

All the tablet compression machines have two types of punches. The upper punching system and the lower punching system.

The upper punch is positioned on the upper side of the compression system. It makes vertical movements in and out of the tablet press chamber. On the other hand, the lower punch is positioned on the lower section of the rotary system.  It is designed to remain stationary with the die for every punching cycle.

3. Turrets

The turrets are considered the primary tooling systems for the tablet compression machine. They help to determine the size and thickness of the tablets being pressed and compressed.

The turrets have pores that are drilled to accommodate the die. This way, they position the materials in the perfect position for pressing. Keep in mind that the turrets keep rotating to change the positions of the tablets.

Modern Senieer pill compressors have segmented turrets which makes it possible to get different tablet sizes. The design means that every cycle results in larger volumes of tablets being compressed. This helps to increase productivity in the tablet manufacturing process.

It is also vital to note that turrets are the key determinants of the number of punching stations. So, it can be designed to have many stations which will ultimately increase the tablet pressing productivity.

4. Cam tracks

Cam racks for the tablet compressors are directly connected to the punching system. They control the movements of both the upper and lower punches during the tablet pressing cycles.

Cam tracks take note of the movements of the turrets. They react by b moving the punches vertically and horizontally. For example, the cam track can withdraw the punches to allow the cavities to be filled with the materials for making tablets.

Cam tracks are tuned to operate with high levels of accuracy. This in turn ensures that the punches are accurate in all their operations. Once the tablet has achieved the desired compression, the cam track will withdraw the punches.

All the movements and operations of the cam track are controlled by the settings on the tablet compressor.

5. Die cavity

The die cavity of the tablet press machine is just a part of the whole press die system. The cavity provides a platform in which the whole punching process takes place. It is sometimes known as the die bore for tablet pressing.

The die and the punch must be compatible for accurate and effective punching. This is because the punch compresses tablet materials in the die cavity.

Tablet press cavities come in different sizes, designs, and configurations. It is the size of the die that will determine the dimensions and properties of pills and tablets.

The design of the cavity should ensure that the punches deliver clean punches for every tablet compression cycle. This helps to minimize damages and chippings on the tablets. The surface has a non-stick treatment to ensure that the tablet ingredients don’t get wasted because of sticking on the cavity or punches.

The design also takes care of the tapering angle. This is the angle at which the punches hit the materials in the cavity.

6. Tablet adjuster

The function of the tablet adjuster is to control the volume of the material that is to be pressed in the tablet press machine. It determines the weight and the amount of the ingredient for each tablet or pill. The adjuster is fully programmed. This means that it uses the programmed logical instructions to adjust the volume of the materials for the tablets.

7. Tablet press compression rollers

While the primary role of the tablet compression machine is to achieve compact shapes of tablets, it is possible to find traces of air in between the particles of the tablets. This is where the compression rollers come in. The function of this equipment is to compress the ingredients and in doing so, it expels air that might have been trapped between the particles.

A compression roller comprises a series of rollers that are designed to exert a significant amount of pressure on the powder materials. The roller is usually used before the actual process of tablet compression.

The pre-compression rollers apply a small amount of pressure on the punches. This expels a small pigment of air that might have been trapped in the die cavity and punches.

There is almost a main compression roller that exerts some force during the actual tablet pressing process. Here, it applies more pressure than that of the pre-compressed roller.

8. Ejection cam

The ejection cam gives access to processed or compressed tablets. It is positioned at the end of the whole compression process. After the tablet has been pressed, it will remain in the die cavity as the punches withdraw to their original positions.

The ejection cams are designed to propel the bottom punch upwards. The tablet will remain at the very top of the cavity facilitating easy ejection.

9. Tablet compressor control panel

The control panel is the command center of the tablet pressing machine. It determines the operational parameters of the machine. The control panel can be embedded onto the main tablet compressor or it may come as a separate entity.

PLC control systems are preferred because they will give you the freedom to exercise maximum control over the tablet pressing machine. You can easily execute most commands through the touchpad of the control panel.

10. Capacity control

What volume of the materials or ingredients moves to the die cavity?  The volume is usually determined by the capacity control system of the tablet compression machine. The control mechanism of the tablet press machine is by the servo motors.

The movements of the motors ensure that each tablet has an accurate dosage of the material. The operation is also highly computerized hence the accuracy and efficiency.

The weight of the tablet is determined by controlling the depth fill of the cavity. The lower cam rack moves the lower bottom punch to the desired height to allow the filling of the required volume of the material.

11. Discharge chute and take-off blades

Most tablet press machines have a take-off blade that is positioned near the feeder housing. The blade is designed to deflect tablets that have been completely compressed.

The deflected tablets will then land on the discharge chute. The chute directs the tablets to the collection bin or drum. From here, the tablets may be subjected to additional processing or may be packaged ready to be delivered to the market.

Those are the key parts and components that you should focus on when you are planning to buy the tablet press machines. Otherwise, other more technical and underlying components control.