Laboratory Products
Introduction to volumetric powder fi lling technology Marta Schiano Moriello – Biopharma Group
Volumetric powder fi lling technology has proven to be an excellent solution for not only accurate and repeatable dosage requirements, but also a cost-effi cient answer for various product applications.
Comparably, net-weight fi llers may reduce the need for a check-weight measurement, but they can signifi cantly increase the fi lling time; nor do they cope well with fi ne powders due to their design. The product is fi rstly transported via vibratory plate/belt onto a load cell to satisfy the initial dosing procedure (near the samples target weight). This is then followed by a slowing of the feed stream, to complete the desired fi ll size; a feature which may impact dispensing time, effi ciency, and dusting. In answer to this issue, auger fi lling machines have a closed off design, more suitable for use with fi ne or consistent particle distribution powders. However, their downfall lies in the additional attention required for a steady and even feeding process. Failure to do so could result in unreliable accuracy levels as well as possible product damage due to the compression inside of the cylinder and auger.
Kinematics and Controls Corporation (KCC), on the other hand, utilise volumetric powder fi lling technology in their equipment design for a fast, accurate and economical powder fi lling solution; suitable for not only a free fl owing, but also fi ne, powders. Furthermore, KCC’s engineers have introduced a modular design of their systems in order to overcome any possible concerns of volumetric fi ll limits being too low. This enables operators to upgrade from a base model system (4400VC), to a fully automated production machine (4400TX or 5500TX).
The Process
Desirable results are achieved by using an uniform vacuum force to pick up the product and compact it in a cylindrical chamber. The homogeneously compressed powder assures consistency in the powder density, as well as repeatable dosage weight with accuracy levels often achieving a ±1% variation. Then, the product can be dispensed into the user specifi ed container by applying a gentle positive pressure, minimising the risk of dusting.
Semi-Automatic 4400/VC system
In the case of the 4400/VC powder dispenser, the maximum dosing speed is often determined by the time taken to manually handle the containers between the dosages. For example, the upper dosage output per minute will be 20 fi lls whereby 1 second picks up the container, 2 seconds to dose the powder inside and fi nally rest the container onto the surface. Of course, some factors will infl uence the upper dosage number, described below.
Automatic
Where a greater level of automation is needed, similar restrictions can be applied and further consideration taken place in relation to the way the container will be introduced to the system.
The PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) based program can then be confi gured to the desired mode/program selection, which will initiate the start of the fi ll step. This can be determined with use of the sensor or timer, depending on user preference. Additional accessories, like the funnel or large product hopper with the sensor can further improve the effi ciency of your fi lling process and decrease the down time between batches. Furthermore, for fully automated production lines, the KCC powder fi llers can also be integrated into a conveyed belt line with container washing and capping capabilities.
LABMATE UK & IRELAND - APRIL 2019
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44
