An air jet mill with a collection structure for pharmaceutical use

Abstract

This disclosure relates to the field of pharmaceutical equipment technology. One embodiment of this disclosure provides an air jet mill with a collection structure for pharmaceutical use, comprising: a separation tank, an exhaust port, a pulverizer, and a connecting pipe. The exhaust port is located at the top of the separation tank, the connecting pipe is located on the pulverizer, the pulverizer is connected to the bottom of the separation tank through the connecting pipe, the discharge pipe is located at the bottom of the separation tank, and a collection and discharge assembly is located inside the separation tank and the discharge pipe. The separation assembly is located at the top inside the separation tank and includes an inner frame, which is fixed inside the separation tank and extends to the outside of the separation tank at one end. A rotating shaft is rotatably connected to the bottom of the inner frame. This technical solution solves the technical problem in the prior art where non-integrated collection systems result in long material transport paths and easy retention of fine particles on the inner wall of the pipe. Especially when processing viscous or hygroscopic drugs, the retained material may absorb moisture and clump, affecting subsequent collection efficiency and powder purity.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The embodiments of this disclosure relate to the field of pharmaceutical equipment technology, and more specifically, to an air jet mill with a collection structure for pharmaceutical use. Background Technology

[0002] In the pharmaceutical industry, air jet mills, with their highly efficient and precise pulverizing capabilities, have become the core equipment for preparing high-purity drug powders. However, traditional air jet mills generally suffer from design flaws in their collection structures during the pulverizing process, resulting in low material collection efficiency, a high risk of dust leakage, and insufficient pulverizing efficiency, which also restricts production efficiency.

[0003] Existing air jet mills mostly rely on external cyclone separators and dust collectors for material collection, with the equipment connected by pipelines. This split structure has significant drawbacks. On the one hand, dust spillage is easily generated at the pipeline joints due to airflow pressure fluctuations, resulting in not only raw material waste but also potential pollution of the production environment, increased cleaning costs, and the risk of cross-contamination, making it difficult to meet the stringent requirements of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) for pharmaceuticals. On the other hand, the non-integrated collection system leads to long material transport paths, and fine particles are prone to stagnation on the inner walls of the pipelines. Especially when processing viscous or hygroscopic drugs (such as granules of traditional Chinese medicine extracts and raw materials for biological agents), the stagnant material may absorb moisture and clump, affecting subsequent collection efficiency and powder purity.

[0004] Insufficient grinding efficiency is another bottleneck of traditional equipment. Existing equipment mainly relies on the single impact of high-pressure airflow to grind raw materials. For fibrous and high-hardness materials (such as cellulose and antibiotic crystals), multiple grinding cycles are required to achieve the required particle size, taking up to several hours. At the same time, "dead zones" easily form within the grinding chamber, where large particles accumulate near the nozzle, hindering airflow and reducing grinding efficiency. For example, in the preparation of nanoscale drug powders, the grinding cycle of traditional equipment is more than 30% longer than that of newer equipment, and the particle size distribution is uneven, affecting drug dissolution and bioavailability.

[0005] With the development of emerging fields such as biopharmaceuticals and transdermal formulations, the market has placed higher demands on the purity, particle size uniformity, and production efficiency of drug powders. Developing a novel air jet mill that integrates a highly efficient collection structure with enhanced pulverization capabilities is urgently needed. Optimizing the collection system to achieve seamless material transport and efficient separation, while improving the flow field design within the pulverization chamber to enhance collision efficiency, is of great significance for improving the automation level of pharmaceutical production, reducing energy consumption, and ensuring the stability of drug quality. It is also a key breakthrough point for promoting the greening and intelligent upgrading of air jet mill technology. Utility Model Content

[0006] To overcome the above-mentioned defects, the embodiments of this disclosure provide an air jet mill with a collection structure for pharmaceutical use, which solves the technical problem that the non-integrated collection system in the prior art leads to a long material conveying path and fine particulate materials are easy to be retained on the inner wall of the pipe. Especially when processing viscous or hygroscopic drugs, the retained material may absorb moisture and clump, affecting the subsequent collection efficiency and powder purity.

[0007] According to one aspect, at least one embodiment of this disclosure provides a pharmaceutical air jet mill with a collection structure, comprising:

[0008] The separation tank, the exhaust port, the pulverizer, and the connecting pipe are provided. The exhaust port is located at the top of the separation tank, the connecting pipe is located on the pulverizer, and the pulverizer is connected to the bottom of the separation tank through the connecting pipe.

[0009] The discharge pipe is located at the bottom of the separation tank, and the collection and discharge assembly is located inside the separation tank and the discharge pipe.

[0010] A separation assembly is disposed at the top inside the separation tank;

[0011] The material collection and discharge assembly includes an inner frame, which is fixed inside the separation tank. One end of the inner frame extends to the outside of the separation tank. A rotating shaft is rotatably connected to the bottom of the inner frame, and a pusher plate is provided at the lower end of the rotating shaft.

[0012] As a further technical solution, a drive motor is provided on the outer wall of the separation tank, and a transmission wheel is provided at both the output end of the drive motor and the upper end of the rotating shaft. The transmission wheels are connected by belt drive.

[0013] As a further technical solution, a telescopic cylinder is provided at the top of the discharge pipe, and a second motor is fixedly connected to the output end of the telescopic cylinder, and a spiral auger is provided at the output end of the second motor.

[0014] As a further technical solution, a blocking plate is provided on the spiral auger, and a vertical discharge pipe is provided at the bottom of the discharge pipe, with the vertical discharge pipe located between the blocking plate and the inner end face of the discharge pipe.

[0015] As a further technical solution, the separation component includes an inner ring frame, which is disposed on the inner wall of the separation tank, and a separation mesh cover is disposed on the inner ring frame. The separation mesh cover has an overall hemispherical structure.

[0016] As a further technical solution, the bottom perimeter of the separator is a sunken structure, and the pusher plate is L-shaped.

[0017] As a further technical solution, the discharge pipe is generally L-shaped, and the spiral auger is installed horizontally inside the discharge pipe.

[0018] As a further technical solution, the diameter of the blocking plate matches the inner diameter of the discharge pipe, and the blocking plate is in a sealing and sliding fit with the inner wall of the discharge pipe.

[0019] The beneficial effects of the embodiments disclosed herein are as follows:

[0020] 1. The beneficial effects of the material collection and discharge assembly in this disclosure are that the rotational pushing of the pusher plate and the continuous conveying of the auger form a linkage. The L-shaped pusher plate, in conjunction with the bottom sinking structure of the separator tank, can concentrate corner materials and push them to the discharge pipe, avoiding the material retention problem of traditional equipment. The design of the auger and the blockage plate realizes stepless control of the discharge. The blockage plate seals against the inner wall of the discharge pipe to prevent airflow backflow and dust leakage. The L-shaped discharge pipe is horizontally installed with the auger, which can push materials horizontally to ensure stable and uniform discharge. This assembly, through the combination of mechanical pushing and pneumatic control, realizes seamless material transfer from the separator tank to the discharge pipe, improves collection efficiency and discharge controllability, and reduces raw material loss and environmental pollution.

[0021] 2. The beneficial effects of the separation component in this disclosure are as follows: the hemispherical separation mesh increases the gas-solid contact area, enhances the separation effect by utilizing centrifugal force, and allows fine particulate materials to quickly settle to the bottom of the tank, preventing them from being discharged from the exhaust port with the airflow, thus improving the powder recovery rate. The mesh structure supported by the inner ring frame simplifies the separation process, eliminating the need for an external cyclone separator and realizing an integrated design of crushing and separation. This shortens the material transmission path and reduces the risk of leakage at pipe joints. At the same time, the hemispherical structure optimizes the flow field distribution inside the separation tank, reduces airflow resistance, and allows fine particles carried by the gas to be separated more efficiently. Combined with the collection and discharge component, a closed loop is formed from crushing to separation and collection, improving the stability and cleanliness of the overall system. Attached Figure Description

[0022] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this disclosure, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments of this disclosure will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are merely some exemplary embodiments of this disclosure. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the content of the exemplary embodiments of this disclosure and these drawings without any creative effort.

[0023] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a structure in one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0024] Figure 2 This is an isometric drawing of the present disclosure;

[0025] Figure 3 This is an isometric sectional view of the present disclosure;

[0026] Figure 4 Appendix to this disclosure Figure 3 Enlarged view of part A in the middle;

[0027] In the diagram: 1. Separator; 2. Exhaust port; 3. Crusher; 4. Connecting pipe; 5. Discharge pipe; 6. Collection and discharge assembly; 6-1. Inner frame; 6-2. Rotating shaft; 6-3. Pusher plate; 6-4. Drive motor; 6-5. Transmission wheel; 6-6. Telescopic cylinder; 6-7. Second motor; 6-8. Spiral auger; 6-9. Blocking plate; 6-10. Vertical discharge pipe; 7. Separation assembly; 7-1. Inner ring frame; 7-2. Separation screen. Detailed Implementation

[0028] The present disclosure will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the present disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure.

[0029] To keep the drawings concise, each drawing only schematically shows the parts relevant to the disclosure; these do not represent the actual structure of the product. Furthermore, for ease of understanding, in some drawings, only one of components with the same structure or function is schematically shown, or only one is labeled. In this document, "one" not only means "only one," but can also mean "more than one," and "several" includes "two" and "more than two."

[0030] In this document, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linkage" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; they can refer to mechanical connections or electrical connections; they can refer to direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this disclosure based on the specific circumstances.

[0031] In this disclosure, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can include direct contact between the first and second features, or contact between the first and second features through another feature between them. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature includes the first feature directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature includes the first feature directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0032] In the description of this embodiment, terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," and "right" are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of description and simplification of operation, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this disclosure.

[0033] Furthermore, in the description of this application, the terms "first," "second," etc., are used only to distinguish descriptions and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0034] like Figures 1-4 As shown, an air jet mill with a collection structure for pharmaceutical use, according to an embodiment of this disclosure, includes:

[0035] The separation tank 1, the exhaust port 2, the pulverizer 3, and the connecting pipe 4 are provided. The exhaust port 2 is located at the top of the separation tank 1, the connecting pipe 4 is located on the pulverizer 3, and the pulverizer 3 is connected to the bottom of the separation tank 1 through the connecting pipe 4.

[0036] The discharge pipe 5 and the material collection and discharge assembly 6 are provided. The discharge pipe 5 is located at the bottom of the separation tank 1, and the material collection and discharge assembly 6 is located inside the separation tank 1 and the discharge pipe 5.

[0037] Separation component 7, which is disposed at the top of the separation tank 1;

[0038] The material collection and discharge assembly 6 includes an inner frame 6-1, which is fixed inside the separation tank 1. One end of the inner frame 6-1 extends to the outside of the separation tank 1. A rotating shaft 6-2 is rotatably connected to the bottom of the inner frame 6-1. A pusher plate 6-3 is provided at the lower end of the rotating shaft 6-2. A drive motor 6-4 is provided on the outer wall of the separation tank 1. A transmission wheel 6-5 is provided at the output end of the drive motor 6-4 and the upper end of the rotating shaft 6-2. The transmission wheels 6-5 are connected by a belt drive. A telescopic cylinder 6-6 is provided at the top of the discharge pipe 5. A second motor 6-7 is fixedly connected to the output end of the telescopic cylinder 6-6. A spiral auger 6-8 is provided at the output end of the second motor 6-7. A blocking plate 6-9 is provided on the spiral auger 6-8. A vertical discharge pipe 6-10 is provided at the bottom of the discharge pipe 5. The vertical discharge pipe 6-10 is located between the blocking plate 6-9 and the inner end face of the discharge pipe 5.

[0039] In some examples, in the discharge stage of a pharmaceutical air jet mill, a collection and discharge assembly 6 is designed to achieve centralized collection and continuous discharge of materials. This assembly is supported by an inner frame 6-1 fixed inside the separation tank 1. One end of the inner frame 6-1 extends outside the tank, and a rotating shaft 6-2 rotatably connected at the bottom rotates via a drive motor 6-4 and belt drive. The lower pusher plate 6-3 pushes the solid material at the bottom of the separation tank 1 towards the discharge pipe 5, completing the initial collection. The telescopic cylinder 6-6 at the top of the discharge pipe 5 drives a second motor 6-7 and an auger 6-7. 8. Moving up and down, when the auger 6-8 descends, the blocking plate 6-9 on its surface fits against the inner end face of the discharge pipe 5. The rotation of the auger 6-8 can continuously discharge the material through the vertical discharge pipe 6-10. When it is necessary to stop the discharge, the telescopic cylinder 6-6 drives the auger 6-8 to rise, and the blocking plate 6-9 blocks the inlet of the vertical discharge pipe 6-10 to achieve rapid closure. This structure, through the material collection of the pusher plate 6-3, the continuous conveying of the auger 6-8, and the opening and closing control of the blocking plate 6-9, avoids the accumulation of material during the discharge process and ensures the continuity and controllability of the discharge.

[0040] Through the coordinated operation of components such as the inner frame 6-1, rotating shaft 6-2, pusher plate 6-3, drive motor 6-4, transmission wheel 6-5, belt, telescopic cylinder 6-6, second motor 6-7, spiral auger 6-8, blocking plate 6-9, and vertical discharge pipe 6-10, the material collection and discharge assembly 6 achieves the functions of centralized collection, continuous discharge, and rapid closure and stop.

[0041] like Figures 1-4 As shown in the figure, the separation component 7 in this embodiment includes an inner ring frame 7-1, which is disposed on the inner wall of the separation tank 1. A separation mesh cover 7-2 is disposed on the inner ring frame 7-1, and the separation mesh cover 7-2 is generally in the shape of a hemispherical structure.

[0042] In some examples, to achieve efficient separation of pulverized solid particles and gas, a separation component 7 is designed. This component is supported by an inner ring frame 7-1 installed on the inner wall of the separation tank 1. A hemispherical separation mesh 7-2 installed on the inner ring frame 7-1 utilizes the rotational motion of the airflow within the separation tank 1 to cause the solid particles to be thrown against the tank wall by centrifugal force and slide down the mesh to the bottom of the tank, while the gas rises through the mesh openings to the top exhaust port 2 for discharge. The hemispherical structure increases the separation area, prolongs the contact time between the gas and solid phases, and improves the separation efficiency.

[0043] Through the synergistic effect of the inner ring frame 7-1 and the separation mesh 7-2, the separation component 7 effectively achieves the separation of solids and gases, providing a reliable basis for subsequent material collection and gas emission.

[0044] For example, such as Figure 3 As shown, the bottom perimeter of the separator 1 is a sunken structure, and the pusher plate 6-3 has an overall L-shaped structure.

[0045] In some examples, the sinking structure allows material to be concentrated at the sinking point, making it easier to push and fully discharge the material.

[0046] For example, such as Figure 3 As shown, the discharge pipe 5 has an overall L-shaped structure, and the spiral auger 6-8 is installed horizontally inside the discharge pipe 5.

[0047] In some examples, the L-shaped structure allows the auger 6-8 to be installed horizontally, enabling continuous and stable discharge of raw materials.

[0048] For example, such as Figure 4 As shown, the diameter of the blocking plate 6-9 matches the inner diameter of the discharge pipe 5, and the blocking plate 6-9 is in a sealing and sliding fit with the inner wall of the discharge pipe 5.

[0049] In some examples, the circular blocking plates 6-9, with their overall circular structure, can achieve a sealing effect and prevent material leakage.

[0050] In actual use: After the pulverizer 3 pulverizes the pharmaceutical raw materials, it is transported to the separation tank 1 through the docking pipe 4. The separation screen 7-2 uses the centrifugal force of the rotating airflow to separate the solid particles from the gas. The particles slide down the screen to the bottom sinking area of ​​the separation tank 1. The drive motor 6-4 drives the rotating shaft 6-2 and the L-shaped pusher plate 6-3 to rotate through the transmission wheel 6-5 and belt, pushing the particles to the discharge pipe 5. The telescopic cylinder 6-6 drives the second motor 6-7 and the spiral auger 6-8 to descend. The blocking plate 6-9 fits against the inner wall of the discharge pipe 5. The spiral auger 6-8 rotates to continuously discharge the material from the vertical discharge pipe 6-10. When it is necessary to stop the discharge, the telescopic cylinder 6-6 raises the spiral auger 6-8 and the blocking plate 6-9 blocks the inlet of the discharge pipe. The whole process is highly efficient in gas-solid separation, and the material collection is continuous and controllable, avoiding stagnation and leakage.

[0051] It should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this disclosure and are not intended to limit it. Although this disclosure has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications or equivalent substitutions can be made to the technical solutions of this disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of this disclosure, and all such modifications and substitutions should be covered within the scope of the claims of this disclosure.

Claims

1. A pharmaceutical air jet mill with a collection structure, characterized in that, include: The separation tank (1), the exhaust port (2), the pulverizer (3) and the connecting pipe (4) are provided. The exhaust port (2) is located on the top of the separation tank (1), and the connecting pipe (4) is located on the pulverizer (3). The pulverizer (3) is connected to the bottom of the separation tank (1) through the connecting pipe (4). The discharge pipe (5) and the collection and discharge assembly (6) are provided, wherein the discharge pipe (5) is located at the bottom of the separation tank (1) and the collection and discharge assembly (6) is located inside the separation tank (1) and the discharge pipe (5); A separation assembly (7) is disposed at the top inside the separation tank (1); The material collection and discharge assembly (6) includes an inner frame (6-1), which is fixed inside the separation tank (1). One end of the inner frame (6-1) extends to the outside of the separation tank (1). A rotating shaft (6-2) is rotatably connected to the bottom of the inner frame (6-1), and a pusher plate (6-3) is provided at the lower end of the rotating shaft (6-2).

2. The airflow pulverizer with a collection structure for pharmaceutical use according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer wall of the separation tank (1) is provided with a drive motor (6-4). The output end of the drive motor (6-4) and the upper end of the rotating shaft (6-2) are both provided with transmission wheels (6-5). The transmission wheels (6-5) are connected by belt drive.

3. The pharmaceutical air jet mill with a collection structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The top of the discharge pipe (5) is provided with a telescopic cylinder (6-6), and the output end of the telescopic cylinder (6-6) is fixedly connected to a second motor (6-7). The output end of the second motor (6-7) is provided with a spiral auger (6-8).

4. The pharmaceutical air jet mill with a collection structure according to claim 3, characterized in that, A blocking plate (6-9) is provided on the spiral auger (6-8), and a vertical feed pipe (6-10) is provided at the bottom of the discharge pipe (5). The vertical feed pipe (6-10) is located between the blocking plate (6-9) and the inner end face of the discharge pipe (5).

5. A pharmaceutical air jet mill with a collection structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The separation component (7) includes an inner ring frame (7-1), which is disposed on the inner wall of the separation tank (1). A separation mesh cover (7-2) is disposed on the inner ring frame (7-1), and the separation mesh cover (7-2) is in a semi-spherical structure.

6. A pharmaceutical air jet mill with a collection structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bottom perimeter of the separator (1) is a sunken structure, and the pusher plate (6-3) is L-shaped.

7. A pharmaceutical airflow pulverizer with a collection structure according to claim 3, characterized in that, The discharge pipe (5) has an overall L-shaped structure, and the spiral auger (6-8) is installed horizontally inside the discharge pipe (5).

8. A pharmaceutical air jet mill with a collection structure according to claim 4, characterized in that, The diameter of the blocking plate (6-9) matches the inner diameter of the discharge pipe, and the blocking plate (6-9) is in a sealed sliding fit with the inner wall of the discharge pipe.

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