Device for supporting tablet press components, use thereof and method for adjusting the position of tablet press components

Abstract

In a first aspect, the invention relates to a device (10) for supporting a component of a tablet press, wherein the device (10) comprises as components (12, 14, 16) an upper part (12), an intermediate element (14) and a lower part (16). In a further aspect, the invention relates to a tablet press comprising the described device, as well as to a method and use of the device for adjusting the position of a component of a tablet press. With the proposed device, preferably during machine setup and also during operation of a rotary press, in particular the position of a filling shoe clamping plate of a tablet press and thus preferably of a filling device above a die table can be adjusted easily, quickly and reproducibly, so that material losses are minimized.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] In a first aspect, the invention relates to a device for supporting a component of a tablet press, the device comprising as components an upper part, an intermediate element and a lower part. In a further aspect, the invention relates to a tablet press comprising the described device and to a method or use of the device for adjusting the position of a component of a tablet press. With the proposed device, preferably during machine setup and also during operation of a rotary tablet press, in particular the position of a feeder support of a tablet press and thus preferably of a filling device above a die table can be adjusted easily, quickly and reproducibly, so that material losses are minimized. Background Art

[0002] It is known in the prior art that pills or tablets can be produced using tablet presses, which are designed, for example, as rotary tablet presses. In rotary tablet presses, tablets are produced by forming pills from the tabletting material that forms the tablet after compression between an upper punch and a lower punch in an opening or a bore of a die table. The tabletting material is pressed into pills in the opening and / or bore of the die table, wherein the die table can be part of a rotating turntable. It is preferred in the sense of the present invention that the turntable rotates around a turntable axis, wherein the turntable axis is preferably formed perpendicularly to the preferably flat turntable surface and / or turntable bottom surface, and the turntable axis is preferably arranged in the center of the turntable.

[0003] In order to fill the openings and / or the bores with tabletting material, filling devices are used, wherein in the state of the art, for example, so-called gravity feeders or motor-driven filling devices are described. Gravity feeders are distinguished in that the tabletting material enters the die table region due to gravity. For this purpose, for example, outlet pipes can be used, wherein the outlet of the tabletting material can be controlled and / or limited, for example, by means of slide valves or rotary valves. The use of gravity feeders is particularly advantageous when tabletting material with good flowability and filling properties is to be pressed into pellets and / or tablets.

[0004] In a motor-driven feeding device, for example, a feeding wheel can be arranged to convey the tabletting material to the die groove. In this way, a good filling effect can be achieved even for a pressed material with poor fluidity. For example, a filling device known in the prior art can be installed in a tablet press by a metal frame and / or a feeder support. Depending on the specific installation method, the feeder support may also preferably be referred to as a feeder support, but the terms "feeder support" and "feeder plate" are preferably used as general terms for these two terms in the context of the present invention. Typically, the feeder support is adjusted relative to the die table of the turntable of the tablet press so that the feeder plate plane is aligned parallel to the die table and is at a certain distance from the die table. For example, the distance can be in the range of 0.1-0.3mm. In particular, the filling device is also 0.1-0.3mm higher than the die table of the rotary tablet press. This distance can be adjusted by means of adjustment means and / or adjustment elements, and the invention is particularly concerned with simplifying and optimizing the setting and / or adjustment of the feeder support and / or the filling device, which was previously very time-consuming and labor-intensive due to the installation of conventional filling devices in tablet presses. In particular, the correct adjustment of the feeder plate requires a great deal of experience, patience and manual precision on the part of the operator.

[0005] Both the frame of the gravity filler and the housing of the motor-driven filler can be fastened to a feeder support, the bracket of which is preferably mounted immovably on the machine housing or the machine base relative to the rotating turntable of the rotary tablet press. When mounted, the bottom surface of the filler must not contact the rotating die table, otherwise the die table and / or the feeder plate may be damaged. If the filler is mounted on the feeder support, the bottom surface of the filler must be aligned preferably plane-parallel to the die table and also at a consistent distance of, for example, 0.1-0.3 mm from the die table.

[0006] For example, the feeder support can be connected to the tablet press by clamping and / or adjusting screws, and the tablet press is connected by an adjustment plate (for example, a metal frame) of a bracket. In addition, adjustment elements, such as spindles, screws and / or lock nuts, can be used. The disadvantage of using such traditional adjustment elements when the filling device is arranged and fastened in the tablet press is that these traditional adjustment elements may influence each other in their effects. In other words, the setting and / or adjustment of the feeder support is not simple and is also very time-consuming, because when adjusting the position of an adjustment element, the positions of other adjustment elements are often also automatically adjusted. In particular, the adjustment element is used to adjust the feeder support and / or the filling device in different spatial directions, and these directions are preferably referred to as parameters in the sense of the present invention.

[0007] The feeder support can have an optimal setting and / or adjustment in all parameters except one. If one of the mutually influencing adjustment elements is then adjusted in order to optimize the setting of the feeder support and make it more favorable for all parameters, it can happen that the setting of other parameters is thereby deteriorated and the result obtained overall and from the perspective of all parameters as a whole is worse than before. One object of the invention is to avoid such a situation.

[0008] Another concern of the present invention is to be able to optimize the position of the feeder relative to the die table, especially when the tablet press is running. Within the meaning of the present invention, the term "feeder position" preferably includes the adjustment and / or tightening of the feeder support and / or the filling device. By being able to adjust the feeder support and / or the filling device when the tablet press is running, it is also advantageous to minimize the amount of material loss that is bound to occur during adjustment or readjustment. The extent of material loss can be visually verified, for example, by visually inspecting the surface of the die table. If it looks like a mirror, shining, especially no powder and material streaks can be seen on the die table, then the feeder plate is adjusted very well or the distance between the bottom surface of the filling device and the die table is optimal. This means in particular that the feeder plate is at a consistent short distance from the rotating die table. During the operation of the tablet press, the adjustability of the feeder position relative to the die table cannot be achieved by the traditional tightening of the filling device or the feeder support and the aforementioned adjustment element.

[0009] It is therefore desirable to provide a device which eliminates the above-mentioned disadvantages and allows an easily manageable and precise adjustment of the feed plate relative to the die table with little design effort. In the known prior art, there has not been any adequate solution so far:

[0010] DE4133761A1 proposes a support for the spatial alignment of objects, comprising a lower receiving block, a central swivel plate and an upper holding plate. The contact surfaces between the swivel plate and the holding plate are preferably each designed as a part of a cylindrical barrel about two axes at right angles. By loosening or tightening the mirror-symmetrical adjustment screws, a tilting or swivel movement of about 1 / 100 mm can be achieved around the corresponding axis. The use of the support to align components of a tablet press is not disclosed.

[0011] US650644A discloses a swivel or tilt bracket in a machine vise. For this purpose, an attachment on a workbench is proposed, which has a lower plate and concave or convex parts superimposed on each other. The tilt angle can be adjusted by a screw with a spiral thread. US650644A also does not describe the use of the bracket to align the components of the tablet press.

[0012] CN2053466U describes a cleaning device for smaller tablet presses, which has a cutter head with an outer diameter matching the die slot to be cleaned. The cutter head is attached to a guide rod, which is connected to a handle by a universal joint. The joint is a universal joint. The tablet press components to be cleaned are not themselves aligned by the joint.

[0013] CN201645875U discloses a three-point fine-tuning device for a filling device in a rotary tablet press, which is intended to align the lower surface of the filling device with the die table more accurately. To this end, a retaining frame is proposed, which is supported on three support columns. The upper end of each support column has a fine-tuning device and a convex or concave spherical surface. During installation, the filling device and its base plate are placed on the three support columns. This is to achieve 3-point fine-tuning, which allows adjustment of the inclination and elevation angle relative to the die table. The disadvantage is that the design complexity is increased and three separate support columns need to be adjusted.

[0014] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which does not have the disadvantages and drawbacks of the prior art. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to simplify the setting and / or adjustment of the feeder support and / or the filling device. Further objects of the present invention are to enable readjustment and / or adjustment of the feeder support and / or the filling device during operation of the tablet press in order to minimize material losses when adjusting the distance between the die table and the filling device, and to provide a method for visually checking the functionality and / or quality of the feeder position. Summary of the invention

[0015] The above mentioned objects are solved by the features of the independent claims.

[0016] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims. According to the invention, a device for supporting a component of a tablet press is provided, the device comprising an upper part, an intermediate element and a lower part as components. The device is characterized in that the upper part, the intermediate element and the lower part are arranged one above the other and that the surfaces of the components in contact with each other are formed corresponding to each other, so that the upper part and the intermediate element are formed to be able to slide relative to each other in a first spatial direction and the intermediate element and the lower part are formed to be able to slide relative to each other in a second spatial direction. In this case, these spatial directions are defined by or preferably coincide with two rotation axes that are essentially perpendicular to each other in a plane.

[0017] It is particularly preferred within the meaning of the present invention that the components of the tablet press are feeder supports, feeder plates and / or filling devices. Therefore, hereinafter, reference will be mainly made to feeder plates or filling devices. However, it is also preferred that the components of the tablet press other than these can be fixed by the proposed device. It is preferred in the sense of the present invention that the device is suitable for supporting and / or receiving the components of the tablet press. It can also be preferred in the sense of the present invention that the components are attached to the tablet press by the device, or the proposed device forms a supporting device for the components of the tablet press. Preferably, the device can also be considered as a holding device for tablet press components, which is preferably suitable for setting and / or adjusting the position and / or orientation of the tablet press components in space. This ability is particularly due to the proposed device structure and the arrangement of the device components that can slide relative to each other so as to allow the components to move relative to each other in two different spatial directions, which is especially ensured by the corresponding shapes of the surfaces facing each other of the components. The tablet press can be particularly preferably a rotary tablet press.

[0018] Therefore, in a particularly preferred aspect, the present invention relates to a tablet pressing machine comprising a turret, a die table with die cavities, a filling device for filling the die cavities and a device for supporting the filling device,

[0019] The device comprises an upper part, an intermediate element and a lower part as components, wherein the upper part, the intermediate element and the lower part are arranged one above the other, and the surfaces of these components in contact with each other are formed in a corresponding manner:

[0020] The upper part and the intermediate element are formed so as to be able to slide relative to each other in a first spatial direction, and the intermediate element and the lower part are formed so as to be able to slide relative to each other in a second spatial direction, and wherein the filling device is mounted on a feeder support which is mounted on the upper part of the device and allows the feeder support to be set and / or adjusted relative to the mold table.

[0021] It may be particularly preferred within the meaning of the invention that the proposed device enables the installation of the feeder plate and / or the filling device on two intersecting axes of rotation, which are preferably formed essentially perpendicular to each other. In particular, it may be preferred within the meaning of the invention that the center of gravity of the components of the tablet press is preferably located below the intersection of the axes of rotation. This preferably results in that the components of the tablet press do not follow the inclination of their surroundings. It is completely surprising that the proposed device can provide such a device, that is, by means of which the adjustment can be significantly facilitated and by which the feeder position can be adjusted relative to the die table, in particular when the tablet press is in operation.

[0022] It is preferred within the meaning of the invention that the upper part of the device has a surface and a cylindrical lower surface, wherein the upper surface of the upper part is in particular flat. The flat upper surface within the meaning of the invention is preferably characterized in that the flat upper surface is suitable for supporting and / or receiving plate-shaped objects.

[0023] For example, the flat upper surface of the upper part of the proposed device can preferably be used for placing a feeder plate thereon. In addition, the skilled person knows how to obtain a flat upper surface. The terms "upper side" and "upper surface" are preferably used synonymously within the meaning of the present invention. It is further preferred within the meaning of the present invention that the upper part has a cylindrical lower surface. Within the meaning of the present invention, this preferably means that the lower area of ​​the upper part of the device is formed as a partial area similar to a cylinder. In this case, the lower surface is preferably formed by a curved outer wall. In addition, the lower outer edge of the upper part can be an arc or represent a part of a circle. In other words, the lower surface of the upper part of the device is formed as a crescent. This means that there is an outward curvature on the preferably cylindrical lower surface, wherein the "outward curvature" within the meaning of the present invention is preferably referred to as a "convex" configuration of the lower surface.

[0024] Within the meaning of the invention, an imaginary axis of revolution can be derived from the cylindrically formed lower surface of the upper part of the device. This axis of revolution can preferably coincide with the first spatial direction in which the upper part of the device and the intermediate element can be formed to be able to slide relative to each other. Within the meaning of the invention, this preferably means that the upper part of the device is formed so that it can move around this axis of revolution, which preferably represents the rotation axis of the movement.

[0025] Within the meaning of the present invention, such a movement of the proposed upper part of the device is preferably referred to as a movement "in the first spatial direction". In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, if, for example, an imaginary center axis is placed on a partial cylinder which is completed to form a complete cylinder, an axis of revolution can be derived from the partial cylindrical shape of the upper part. In particular, it is preferred that this imaginary axis of revolution can be derived from the preferably partially arc-shaped outer edge of the lower surface of the upper part of the device or from the preferably cylindrical outer wall of the upper part. It is preferred within the meaning of the present invention that this axis of revolution, which is determined, for example, by the shape of the lower surface of the upper part of the device, is associated with the y-axis and / or that this axis of revolution coincides with the first spatial direction.

[0026] Preferably, this movement of the upper part is assisted by the shape of the upper surface of the intermediate element, which preferably has a cylindrical upper surface that is particularly suitable for receiving the lower surface of the upper part of the proposed device. Within the meaning of the present invention, this ability is described as such that the upper surface of the intermediate element and the lower surface of the upper part are formed to correspond to each other.

[0027] It is particularly preferred within the meaning of the invention that the shape of the lower surface of the upper part corresponds to the shape of the upper surface of the intermediate element. Advantageously, this allows the upper part and the intermediate element to be formed so as to be slidable relative to each other in the first spatial direction. In the context of the invention, the intermediate element preferably has an inwardly curved upper surface, which within the meaning of the invention is preferably referred to as a "concave" upper surface or curvature, wherein the preferred correspondence between the upper surface of the intermediate element and the lower surface of the upper part is preferably achieved by a concave configuration of the upper surface of the intermediate element and a corresponding convex configuration of the lower surface of the upper part.

[0028] It is further preferred within the meaning of the invention that the upper surface of the intermediate element and the lower surface of the upper part are formed relative to each other similarly to a component of a ball joint, wherein in this analogy the intermediate element represents a joint socket and the upper part represents a joint head, wherein the upper part is preferably arranged to move in a cavity of the intermediate element, in particular to rotate therein. In particular, it is preferred within the meaning of the invention that the axis of revolution lies in the plane of the die table. Most preferably, one axis of revolution intersects the turntable axis.

[0029] It is further preferred that the intermediate element has a cylindrical upper surface and a cylindrical lower surface. It is particularly preferred that the upper surface of the intermediate element is concave and the lower surface of the intermediate element is convex. In this respect, it is particularly preferred that the curvatures do not extend at equal distances from one another and reflect, for example, the shape of a uniform overhanging rail, but it is more preferred within the meaning of the invention that the respective lowest points of the preferably concavely formed upper surface and the preferably convexly formed lower surface are arranged rotated by approximately 90° relative to one another. If the preferably concave upper surface and the preferably convex lower surface of the intermediate element are theoretically supplemented to form a circular cylinder, the center axes passing through the two cylinders in the center will preferably be perpendicular to one another and lie in one spatial plane.

[0030] It is preferred within the meaning of the invention that the shape of the lower surface of the intermediate element corresponds to the shape of the upper surface of the lower part. It is thereby achieved that the intermediate element and the lower part are formed to be slidable relative to each other, wherein the movement relative to each other preferably represents a rotational movement, which within the meaning of the invention is preferably a rotational movement in a second spatial direction, which preferably coincides with the x-axis of the device. Preferably, the x-axis and the y-axis are substantially perpendicular to each other, the x-axis and the y-axis preferably being located in a plane parallel to and / or identical to the die table plane of the tablet press. It is preferred within the meaning of the invention that the x-axis represents the axis of revolution for the movement of the intermediate element in the lower part of the device, wherein the axis of revolution or its arrangement in space can preferably be derived from the preferably circular shape of the upper surface of the lower part of the device. For example, the axis of revolution can be considered as an imaginary central axis of a partial cylinder that is formed by making a complete cylinder, which is formed by the lower surface of the intermediate element and preferably corresponds to the upper surface of the lower part of the device.

[0031] It is preferred within the meaning of the present invention that the axes of the cylinder are substantially at right angles to one another in the first spatial direction and in the second spatial direction. Preferably, within the meaning of the present invention, the axis of revolution is also referred to as "axis of the cylindrical surface", "axis of rotation" or "cylinder axis". It is preferred within the meaning of the present invention that the device enables components of a tablet press to be rotated, preferably around the axis of revolution.

[0032] Preferably, these axes of rotation are imaginary axes of rotation, the term "imaginary axes of rotation" within the meaning of the present invention preferably being understood to mean that the axes of rotation do not necessarily have to exist objectively or be designed to be visible and / or tangible. Preferably, the present invention comprises at least one preferably imaginary axis of rotation, but in the context of the present invention two or three axes of rotation may also be preferably present. Most preferably, there are two axes of rotation.

[0033] It is particularly preferred within the meaning of the present invention that, by rotating the components of the device, the components of the tablet press to be rotated and / or adjusted can be placed in an advantageous position, preferably regardless of whether other components or other obstacles hinder the attachment of the actually existing "axis" - for example in the form of another component of the tablet press - at this position. It is particularly preferred that the component of the tablet press to be rotated and / or adjusted is formed by a support of the filling device. It is particularly preferred within the meaning of the present invention that the rotation axis is placed in the plane of the mold table, in particular so that one rotation axis intersects the turntable axis. In the sense of the present invention, this preferably means that the rotation axis intersecting the turntable axis is preferably arranged in the radial direction of the turntable, while the other rotation axis can preferably be arranged perpendicular to the turntable and approximately tangentially to the reference circle of the mold table.

[0034] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the mutually contacting surfaces of the upper part, the intermediate element and the lower part are designed to correspond to each other, so that the rotatable upper part can be assigned a rotation axis corresponding to the first spatial direction, and the intermediate element can be rotated around a rotation axis corresponding to the second spatial direction. For example, as described above, such a rotation axis can be ensured by corresponding cylindrical upper and lower surfaces of the components.

[0035] In this way, the inclination of the feeder support can be advantageously adjusted, wherein in particular the inclination can be adjusted preferably by means of a radial and / or tangential axis relative to the turntable. In particular, the ability to adjust the inclination of the feeder support can be achieved without influencing the corresponding other parameters and without simultaneously starting an undesirable translational movement. By the preferred attachment of an adjustment element (e.g., a spindle and / or a calibration device), the adjustment can preferably be carried out parameter by parameter, precisely, purposefully and reproducibly. In addition, within the meaning of the invention, it is preferred to use a high-precision displacement measuring system and / or an electric drive device in order to further optimize, automate and in particular simplify the adjustment of the inclination parameters.

[0036] In the context of the present invention, the use of a closing component is particularly preferred, so that the proposed device can be integrated particularly well into an overall GMP-compliant concept.

[0037] Therefore, it is particularly preferred that the present invention relates to a device for supporting a feeder and / or a filling device, which device comprises an upper part, a lower part and an intermediate element, wherein the upper part has a flat surface and a cylindrical lower surface, the intermediate element has a cylindrical upper surface and a cylindrical lower surface, the axes of the cylinders are located in a first spatial direction and a second spatial direction relative to each other, wherein the spatial directions are approximately at right angles to each other, wherein the shape of the lower surface of the upper part corresponds to the shape of the upper surface of the intermediate element, and the upper part and the intermediate element are arranged slidably relative to each other in the first spatial direction, and wherein the shape of the lower surface of the intermediate element corresponds to the shape of the upper surface of the lower part, and the intermediate element and the lower part are arranged slidably relative to each other in the second spatial direction.

[0038] It is particularly preferred within the meaning of the invention that the upper surface of the lower part and the lower surface of the intermediate element are formed relative to each other similarly to a component of a ball joint, wherein in this analogy the lower part represents the joint socket and the intermediate element represents the joint head, and the intermediate element is suitable for moving, in particular rotating, in a cavity in the lower part, which cavity is preferably formed by the concave upper surface of the lower part.

[0039] In this case, the components of the device are advantageously preferably simultaneously positively secured against unwanted lifting. Preferably, the axes of the cylindrical surfaces are arranged essentially perpendicular to one another and in one spatial plane. It is preferred within the meaning of the invention that the axis of the cylindrical surface forms an imaginary axis of rotation of the device, wherein in a preferred embodiment of the invention the device can assume the function of a joint and / or tilting device. It is preferred within the meaning of the invention that, by suitable selection and arrangement of the cylinder axis and / or cylinder radius, the device can be designed variably and flexibly adapted to different requirements.

[0040] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the device comprises an adjustment element, for example, an adjustment spindle and / or a calibration device. Advantageously, this can improve the operability and reproducibility of the arrangement and / or adjustment of the components to be adjusted of the tablet press. For example, the calibration device can, for example, be arranged on the side surface of the components of the device, whereby they can preferably be a height scale with indications in the millimeter or micrometer range or an angle scale with indications in the angle or sub-angle range.

[0041] The adjusting spindle can be, for example, a threaded spindle or a fine-threaded spindle, with which particularly fine adjustments can be advantageously realized and / or set. For example, the spindle can be adjusted manually. However, the adjustment can also be carried out by means of an adjusting wheel with an integrated position indicator and / or in an electric manner.

[0042] In a further embodiment of the invention, it is preferred that the device comprises a Belleville spring. Preferably, the disc spring can be in the form of a Belleville spring package. Preferably, the Belleville spring is used to eliminate and / or reduce the play between components of the device and / or components of the tablet press. In particular, it is preferred within the meaning of the present invention that the Belleville spring is arranged to permanently preload the device. It is particularly preferred within the meaning of the present invention that the play between the three components of the proposed device, namely the upper part, the lower part and the intermediate element, is eliminated by two components of preferably Belleville springs.

[0043] It is further preferred that the device comprises a clamping element. It is advantageous to provide a clamping element in order to be able to subsequently clamp the device and / or its components. It is preferred within the meaning of the invention that the device comprises at least one clamping element, which within the meaning of the invention is preferably also referred to as a clamping device. In particular, it is preferred that the clamping device is arranged substantially perpendicular to the device and / or the adjustment element in order to particularly effectively avoid subsequent adjustments of the position during clamping.

[0044] The device may also include a height adjustment device for the bottom of the filling device relative to the die table, which height adjustment device may be present, for example, in a holding column of the proposed device. The height adjustment device may in particular be in the form of a mechanical height adjustment device. It is preferred in the sense of the invention that the height adjustment device can be used to adjust the distance, in particular the height distance, of the bottom surface of the charging plate from the die table surface.

[0045] Preferably, the proposed device enables a component (i.e. a component of the tablet press) to be able to swivel about a defined "imaginary axis". In the sense of the invention, this means in particular that the axis of swivel itself does not have to be represented by a component, but the axis of swivel can preferably be present at almost any position outside the device. It is also preferred within the meaning of the invention that the axis of swivel is "located" in another component of the tablet press, without actually having to be there an "axis" - in the form of a component. In this way, the proposed device advantageously makes it possible to set the horizontal inclination of the support and preferably to define two clear, fixed and mutually perpendicular axes of swivel at the height of the die table.

[0046] In particular, a device is provided by which the inclination of the tablet press components supported and / or received by the device can be continuously changed around a defined axis without affecting each other parameter and without causing displacement of the components of the tablet press. For the purposes of the present invention, displacement is preferably also referred to as translational motion. In particular, the proposed invention is particularly effective in avoiding the undesirable "swinging" motion of the feeder support, which is usually problematic for conventional holders of the feeder support that are usually operated with three-point support, adjustment and clamping, especially when the feeder plate is adjusted at a certain point. This shortcoming may be due to the fact that in these conventional systems, the corresponding axis of rotation is not in the plane in which the feeder plate is to rotate. The present invention particularly provides a remedy, that is, the axis of rotation advantageously maintains their intersection points respectively during adjustment, which is especially independent of the two rotation angles and / or their positions in space. Therefore, when adjusting one or another parameter, the feeder support or other machine parts will not have undesirable "swinging".

[0047] The invention is described below with reference to an example of embodiment: The proposed device is based on components designed to slide relative to each other on a cylindrical contact surface. Therefore, these components are preferably fixed at the same time to prevent lifting. The axes of the cylindrical surface can be conveniently arranged perpendicularly to each other in a plane. The axis of the cylindrical surface preferably forms the "imaginary" axis of revolution of the device. By selecting and arranging the cylindrical axis and radius, the rotation geometry of the device can be variably designed and adapted to various structural requirements in the tablet press.

[0048] The proposed device can be installed in a tablet press by lowering on a holding column, wherein a manual or electric height adjustment device can be integrated into the holding column. The proposed device and the holding column can be arranged on a support plate of the tablet press, the unit preferably serving to hold a feeder support to which a filling device can be fastened. With the proposed device, the filling device mounted on the feeder support can be adjusted simply and reproducibly in the radial and axial direction relative to the surface of the die table. The desired height distance of the bottom surface of the feeder plate to the surface of the die table can be fine-tuned manually or by means of a height adjustment device integrated in the feeder support by means of a motor.

[0049] In a tablet press for producing tablets and other pills, the pressed material is filled into the bore of the die by means of a filling device, which is preferably located above the die table. The filling device is preferably positioned at a variable short distance above the die table in a plane parallel to the die table. This position of the filling device is preferably caused by the setting and / or adjustment of the feeder support on which the filling device is mounted. The feeder support is mounted on the proposed device. Preferably, the device has two rotation axes in the x-direction and the y-direction, which can be substantially perpendicular to each other. It may be further preferred that the upper rotation plane is used to align the fixing device preferably radially around the x-axis relative to the die table. In addition, it may be preferred that the lower rotation plane aligns the proposed device preferably tangentially to the die table around the y-axis. It is further preferred within the meaning of the present invention that the adjustment around the rotation axis is performed manually by adjusting the mandrel, wherein a scale can be set for reproducible adjustment. It may be further preferred that a handwheel with an integrated scale can also be used for adjustment and / or the adjustment can be electric. Preferably, the position can be fixed after adjustment by means of a clamping device, wherein within the meaning of the invention, the clamping device can preferably also be referred to as a clamping device or clamping element. Preferably, the device can be mounted on a support column, wherein the sensitive manual height adjustment device can be integrated into the support column. It is particularly preferred within the meaning of the invention that the height adjustment device is electric.

[0050] It is completely surprising that the proposed device can be used to rotate the components of the tablet press about a defined "imaginary" axis, i.e. an axis that does not necessarily exist in the machine. The present invention therefore intentionally departs from the devices of the prior art in which the adjustment of the inclination of the feeder support in the tablet press has hitherto been accomplished by at least three vertically arranged adjustment elements. These elements can be, for example, a spindle, a screw and a locking nut. Disadvantageously, these adjustment elements can influence each other in their effect, i.e. each element is not specifically used to set the parameters assigned to it, but the adjustment elements can, for example, influence several or all degrees of freedom of the components of the tablet press to be rotated and / or adjusted.

[0051] In addition, the proposed device surprisingly avoids undesirable translational movements of the components of the tablet press. This may be due to the fact that in the conventional holding and adjustment devices known from the prior art, the axis of rotation is located outside the die table plane, which may have the disadvantage that the axis of rotation may be displaced in space according to the corresponding actuated adjustment element. As a result, in addition to the desired rotational movement of the components of the tablet press, a mainly horizontal, undesirable translational movement is often generated, and the components are often fixed and / or clamped in the same direction as the adjustment, so that the adjustment result is subsequently subject to the undesirable influence of the subsequent fixing and / or clamping, and therefore the adjustment or setting of the feeder plate or the filling device may be lost again. This is particularly advantageously achieved by the axis of rotation maintaining their respective intersections during the adjustment. By means of the proposed device - preferably in combination with a height adjustment device integrated in the retaining column - preferably during the machine setting and also during the operation of the rotary tablet press, the feeder support of the tablet press and therefore preferably the position of the filling device above the die table can be easily, quickly and reproducibly adjusted, so that material losses are minimized.

[0052] In a further aspect, the invention relates to a tablet pressing machine comprising the described apparatus for supporting or arranging and adjusting components of a tablet pressing machine, in particular preferably a filling device and / or a feeder plate.

[0053] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the tablet press is a rotary tablet press. The claimed rotary tablet press belongs to the type of rotary tablet presses known in the prior art. In this case, the turntable preferably has upper and lower punch guides for receiving the punches, so that during the rotation cycle, the comminuted material is pressed into pills or tablets in the socket of the die table under the interaction of the upper punch and the lower punch.

[0054] The device provided according to the invention allows the positioning of components of a rotary tablet press in a particularly precise and simple manner. This is particularly important for components of a rotary tablet press which, for example, are immovably mounted on a machine housing or a carrier plate and must be aligned with a rotary die table.

[0055] The device according to the invention is therefore particularly suitable for simple and precise positioning of a feeder plate or a filling device.

[0056] Therefore, in a preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to a tablet press comprising a turntable, a die table with die cavities and a filling device for filling the die cavities, and wherein the filling device is mounted on a feeder support and the tablet press comprises the described apparatus, wherein the feeder support is mounted in the upper part of the apparatus and allows the feeder support to be arranged and / or adjusted in all axes relative to the die table.

[0057] In a preferred embodiment, the device is mounted immovably on the housing and / or on the carrier plate of the tablet press.

[0058] In a preferred embodiment, the device is arranged to be attached to a support column within a tablet press, the support column preferably being mounted on a support plate.

[0059] In a further aspect, the invention relates to the use of the proposed device for adjusting the position of a component of a tablet press, and to a method for adjusting the position of a component of a tablet press. The method is characterized in that a holding device is provided for the components of the tablet press, wherein the mutually contacting surfaces of the components of the device are respectively arranged relative to each other so that the components can slide relative to each other, wherein the spatial directions in which the first and second components can move relative to each other and the spatial directions in which the second and third components can move relative to each other are arranged substantially perpendicular to each other and lie in one plane. It is preferred within the meaning of the invention that the holding device corresponds to the proposed device and that the first component of the holding device corresponds to the upper part, the second component corresponds to the intermediate element and the third component corresponds to the lower part of the device.

[0060] A person skilled in the art will realize that the preferred embodiments, advantages, effects and definitions disclosed in connection with the proposed device apply equally to its use as well as to the claimed method and tablet press. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0061] The present invention is described in more detail by the following drawings; the drawings show:

[0062] Figure 1 A view showing a preferred embodiment of the invention with a retaining column

[0063] Figure 2 A cross-sectional view showing a preferred embodiment of the present invention DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0064] Figure 1 A view of a preferred embodiment of a device 10 with a retaining column 30 is shown. In particular, the components 12, 14, 16 of the device can be seen, namely the upper part 12, the intermediate element 14 and the lower part 16. Figure 1 In the preferred embodiment of the present invention shown, the upper part 12 has a flat upper surface 12O, on which a feeder support (not shown) can be placed. In addition, the upper part 12 has a cylindrical lower surface 12U. In particular, the lower surface 12U of the upper part 12 is curved outwards, and this type of curvature is referred to as a convex configuration of the lower surface 12U of the upper part 12 within the meaning of the present invention.

[0065] Also shown is an intermediate element 14, the upper surface 14O of which corresponds to the lower surface 12U of the upper portion 12. The upper surface 14O of the intermediate element 14 has an inward curvature, which within the meaning of the present invention is referred to as a concave configuration of this surface. Figure 1It can be seen that the curvature of the upper surface 14O of the intermediate element 14 and the lower surface 12U of the upper part 12 correspond to each other and are referred to as "corresponding to each other" within the meaning of the present invention. It is preferred within the meaning of the present invention that the area between the upper part 12 and the intermediate element 14 of the device 10 is referred to as the y-axis swivel area, because the rotation of the upper part 12 in the curvature of the intermediate element 14 preferably occurs about the y-axis, the position of which is preferably defined by the cylindrical configuration of the upper surface 14O of the intermediate element 14 and / or the lower surface 12U of the upper part 12. Within the meaning of the present invention, this y-axis is preferably also referred to as the swivel axis, wherein the movement of the upper part 12 in the curvature of the intermediate element 14 preferably occurs in the first spatial direction 18.

[0066] The lower surface 14U of the intermediate element 14 is preferably also cylindrical, in particular convex. The shape of the lower surface 14U of the intermediate element 14 preferably corresponds to the shape of the upper surface 16O of the lower part 16 of the device 10, which preferably means within the meaning of the invention that the curvature of the lower surface 14U of the intermediate element 14 and the curvature of the upper surface 16O of the lower part 16 correspond to each other and that the intermediate element 14 can move in a sliding manner, in particular rotate, in the curvature of the lower part 16. It is preferred within the meaning of the invention that the area between the intermediate element 14 and the lower part 16 of the device 10 is referred to as the rotation area of ​​the x-axis, because the rotation of the intermediate element 14 in the curvature of the lower part 16 preferably occurs about the x-axis, the position of which is preferably defined by the cylindrical configuration of the upper surface 16O of the lower part 16 and / or the lower surface 14U of the intermediate element 14. Within the meaning of the invention, this x-axis is preferably also referred to as the axis of rotation, wherein the movement of the intermediate element 14 in the curvature of the lower part 16 preferably occurs in the second spatial direction 20.

[0067] Figure 1 A support column 30 is also shown, which in a preferred embodiment of the invention may include a height adjuster, for example, the height adjuster may be integrated in the support column 30 .

[0068] Figure 2 A sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the device 10 is shown to illustrate further possible components of the device. In particular, a scale 24, a Belleville spring 26 and an adjustment spindle 22 are shown, wherein the adjustment spindle 22 preferably represents a possible embodiment of an adjustment element within the meaning of the present invention.

[0069] List of reference numerals:

[0070] 10. Equipment

[0071] 12 upper part

[0072] 12 Upper surface of the upper part

[0073] 12U upper lower surface

[0074] 14 Intermediate components

[0075] 14O Upper surface of the intermediate element

[0076] 14U Bottom surface of the middle unit

[0077] 16 lower part

[0078] 16O Upper surface of the lower part

[0079] 18 First spatial direction

[0080] 20 Second spatial direction

[0081] 22 Adjust the spindle

[0082] 24 scale

[0083] 26 Belleville Springs

[0084] 28 Clamping device

[0085] 30 Support Column

Claims

1. A tablet pressing machine comprising a turntable, a die table with die cavities and a filling device for filling the die cavities, and a device (10) for supporting the filling device of the tablet pressing machine, the device (10) comprising as components exactly one upper part (12), exactly one intermediate element (14) and exactly one lower part (16), It is characterized in that The upper part (12), the intermediate element (14) and the lower part (16) are arranged one above the other, and the mutually contacting surfaces (12U, 14O, 14U, 16O) of the components are correspondingly formed, so that the upper part (12) and the intermediate element (14) are formed to be able to slide relative to each other in a first spatial direction (18), and the intermediate element (14) and the lower part (16) are formed to be able to slide relative to each other in a second spatial direction (20), The filling device is mounted on a feeder support, and the feeder support is mounted on an upper part (12) of the apparatus (10) and allows adjustment and / or positioning of the feeder support relative to the die table.

2. The tablet press according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The first spatial direction (18) and the second spatial direction (20) form approximately a right angle with one another.

3. The tablet press according to claim 1 or 2, It is characterized in that The mutually contacting surfaces (12U, 14O, 14U, 16O) of the upper part (12), the intermediate element (14) and the lower part (16) are formed corresponding to each other so that the upper part (12) can rotate around a rotation axis corresponding to a first spatial direction (18), and the intermediate element (14) can rotate around a rotation axis corresponding to the second spatial direction (20).

4. The tablet press according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The upper part (12) has a flat upper surface (12O) and a cylindrical lower surface (12U) and / or the intermediate element (14) has a cylindrical upper surface (14O) and a cylindrical lower surface (14U).

5. The tablet press according to claim 1 or 2, It is characterized in that The shape of the lower surface (12U) of the upper portion (12) corresponds to the shape of the upper surface (14O) of the intermediate element (14).

6. The tablet press according to claim 1 or 2, It is characterized in that The shape of the lower surface (14U) of the intermediate element (14) corresponds to the shape of the upper surface (16O) of the lower portion (16).

7. The tablet press according to claim 1 or 2, It is characterized in that The device (10) comprises a regulating element.

8. The tablet press according to claim 7, It is characterized in that The adjustment element is an adjustment spindle (22) and / or a scale (24).

9. The tablet press according to claim 1 or 2, It is characterized in that The device (10) comprises a Belleville spring (26) and / or a clamping element (28).

10. The tablet press according to claim 1 or 2, It is characterized in that The device (10) is immovably mounted on the housing and / or the support plate of the tablet press.

11. The tablet press according to claim 1 or 2, It is characterized in that The device (10) is attached to a support column (30) within the tablet press.

12. The tablet pressing machine according to claim 11, It is characterized in that The support column (30) is mounted on the support plate.

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