Rotary press and method for pre-cleaning the press housing of a rotary press
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- FETTE COMPACTING GMBH
- Filing Date
- 2024-04-15
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-06
AI Technical Summary
Rotary presses face challenges in effectively and efficiently removing product dust from their press housings, leading to health risks and increased cleaning efforts, as existing methods like dry cleaning and liquid spraying often leave residual dust and require extensive liquid drainage.
A system with an atomizing nozzle and a binder tank generates a spray mist within the press housing using a conveyor device, binding dust particles and preventing them from becoming airborne, thus allowing for safer operation without extensive liquid usage or drainage.
The system effectively binds and removes dust from the press housing, reducing health risks and cleaning efforts, eliminating the need for complex liquid drainage and external fluid supplies, while ensuring operator safety without additional protective measures.
Smart Images
Figure EP2024060177_02012025_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] Rotary press and method for pre-cleaning the press housing of a
[0002] Rotary press
[0003] The invention relates to a rotary press with a press housing and a rotor arranged in the press housing, wherein the rotor has an upper and a lower punch guide for upper and lower press punches and a die plate between the punch guides, wherein the press punches interact with receptacles of the die plate, furthermore with at least one filling device in which material to be pressed is filled into the receptacles, furthermore with at least one pressure device which interacts with the upper press punches and with the lower press punches during operation so that they press material located in the receptacles into compacts, and with an ejection device for the compacts produced in the rotary press.
[0004] The invention also relates to a method for pre-cleaning the press housing of a rotary press according to the invention and a method for introducing an atomizing nozzle into a press housing of a rotary press according to the invention.
[0005] Rotary presses usually have a multitude of upper and lower press punches, each paired with a cavity in a die table. During operation of the rotary press, the upper and lower press punches rotate together with the die table, with their axial movement controlled by control cams and guided by upper and lower punch guides. As it rotates, the die table passes through various devices on the rotary press, namely a filling device, in which powder material to be pressed is fed into the cavities of the die table, and a pressure device, in which the upper and lower press punches are pressed into the cavities, usually by upper and lower pressure rollers, to compress the powder material into pellets, such as tablets.Following the compression device, the upper press rams are guided upwards out of the cavities, and the compacts produced in the cavities are pushed onto the upper side of the die plate by the lower press rams. Ejector cams are provided for this purpose, which move the lower press rams upwards accordingly. The compacts are then stripped from the die plate, for example, by a stripper, into an exit of the rotary press, from where they are fed for further processing.
[0006] During the production of pellets in rotary presses, product dust is generated, for example, during the feeding of the powdered material to be compressed, during the compression of the material into pellets, or during the ejection of the produced pellets. The product dust can remain in the press housing and may need to be fully or partially removed by manual extraction when changing products or replacing components of the rotary press, such as punches or other wear parts. In particular, it is important to prevent press dust from entering the environment when the press housing is opened, where it could pose a health risk, for example, with pharmaceutical material. Personal protective equipment has been used to protect operators.Dry cleaning, such as manual extraction, is a common method for removing product dust from surfaces of rotary presses, such as the window flaps of the press housing. However, dry cleaning does not always completely remove product dust from the surfaces, especially from the air.
[0007] It is also known to comprehensively clean rotary presses, in particular the press housing, by spraying them with a cleaning fluid. For this purpose, a cleaning fluid can be sprayed onto surfaces in the interior of the rotary press, in particular the press housing, using a spray device in order to bind and wash away powder residues. One problem with this is that, due to the amount of fluid required to clean the surfaces, fluid builds up, particularly on horizontal surfaces of the press housing, and this has to be laboriously drained away after cleaning is completed. This is particularly true if the remaining cleaning fluid does not drain away via the drainage channels provided for this purpose due to horizontal surfaces. Fluid standing in the press housing can also lead to corrosion of surfaces of the press housing, resulting in increased drying and cleaning effort.In addition, an external fluid supply must be connected to the rotary press to supply the cleaning fluid to the interior of the rotary press.
[0008] DE 10 2008 046 670 A1 therefore proposes, to drain cleaning fluid accumulating on horizontal surfaces, tilting the press housing or the entire tablet press machine by a certain angle using an actuator so that the cleaning fluid collected in the press housing can drain through a drainage channel. However, this involves considerable design effort and time.
[0009] Based on the prior art explained above, the object of the invention is therefore to provide a rotary press and method of the type mentioned at the outset, with which the interior of the press housing can be freed of product dust in an effective and, compared to the prior art, less complex manner.
[0010] The invention solves the problem through the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments can be found in the dependent claims, the description and the figures. For a rotary press of the type mentioned at the outset, the invention solves the problem in that a binder tank containing a liquid binder is arranged in the press housing or outside the press housing, that at least one atomizing nozzle is arranged inside the press housing, and that a binder line runs at least partially inside the press housing between the binder tank and the atomizing nozzle, wherein a conveying device is provided which, during operation, conveys binder via the binder line from the binder tank to the atomizing nozzle, such that the atomizing nozzle generates a spray mist from the binder within the press housing that binds dust in the press housing.
[0011] The invention also achieves the object by a method for pre-cleaning the press housing of a rotary press according to the invention, in which a spray mist from the binding agent is generated by the atomizing nozzle within the press housing, which spray mist binds dust in the press housing.
[0012] The basic structure of the rotary press, as it is the subject of the present invention or is used in the method according to the invention, was explained at the beginning. As explained, the upper and lower punch guides guide the press punches during their axial movement. The punch heads interact with control cams which move the press punches in the axial direction as they rotate with the rotor, in particular towards and away from each other. The control cams are generally made up of several control cam elements. They can accommodate the punch heads in corresponding guide receptacles or only rest against a mirror surface of the punch heads. The pressure device generally comprises an upper pressure roller and a lower pressure roller which interact with the punch heads of the upper and lower press punches, respectively. Several pressure devices of this type can also be provided, for example pre-pressure devices and main pressure devices.The ejector cam, as part of the control cams, moves the lower press punches upwards after the pellets have been produced in the respective cavity, so that the respective pellet reaches the top of the die plate, from where it can be guided into a tablet outlet, for example by a scraper arranged stationary above the die plate.
[0013] According to the invention, at least one atomizing nozzle, for example, two or more than two atomizing nozzles, is arranged within the press housing. A binder line, which extends at least partially within the press housing, is provided between a binder tank arranged in the press housing or outside the press housing, for example, on the press housing, and the atomizing nozzle. By means of a conveying device of the rotary press, a binder, in particular a liquid binder, is conveyed via the binder line from the binder tank to the atomizing nozzle. The atomizing nozzle sprays a mist of the supplied binder within the press housing, which binds and thus renders harmless dust present in the press housing, in particular in the air within the press housing—namely, product dust from the material, in particular powdery material, pressed in the rotary press.The atomizing nozzle, in particular, only generates the spray mist, thus not spraying liquid directly onto surfaces of the press housing, such as a cleaning lance. The dust bound by the binder spray mist falls slowly downwards into the press housing together with the spray mist due to gravity. The spray mist from the liquid binder binds, on the one hand, dust present in the air inside the press housing and, on the other hand, dust present on the surfaces of the press housing. In this way, the interior of the press housing is freed of product dust that could be problematic, for example, for an operator. According to the invention, a pre-cleaning process is provided that does not claim to be a pharmaceutical cleaning process, in the sense that the system can be used without further cleaning after carrying out the method according to the invention.If necessary, the method according to the invention can be used to perform additional cleaning of the press housing, for example, by vacuuming out bound dust or the like. The invention is based on the finding that the inventive removal of dust from the press housing by binding the dust in the manner according to the invention allows, for example, safe access to the press interior without the need for complex additional protective measures. At the same time, the effort associated with spraying large quantities of cleaning fluid to remove the fluid from the press interior is avoided.
[0014] The binding agent is fed from the binding agent tank, which can be installed within the press housing or elsewhere within the rotary press or even on the rotary press. The atomizing nozzle can, for example, be a dual-fluid nozzle, so that to generate the spray mist, an air-liquid mixture is processed by the atomizing nozzle and sprayed as a spray mist. The atomizing nozzle or the multiple atomizing nozzles can be arranged above the rotor of the rotary press. Unlike a cleaning fluid sprayed onto surfaces of the press housing via a spray lance, for example, the spray mist generated by the atomizing nozzle automatically distributes itself widely within the interior of the press housing and thus effectively binds dust throughout the entire interior of the press housing.The operation of the conveyor system for generating the spray mist through the atomizing nozzle can be initiated, for example, by an operator, for example, via a user interface of the rotary press (Human Machine Interface HMI). The atomizing nozzle can be pre-assembled in the press housing or inserted as needed for the process according to the invention, as explained in more detail below. The inventive generation of a spray mist from the liquid binder that is widely distributed within the press housing ensures, on the one hand, a widespread distribution of the spray mist within the press housing. This eliminates the need to specifically spray specific areas of the press housing with a cleaning fluid.By generating a spray mist and distributing it evenly within the interior of the press housing, the accumulation of liquid on, for example, horizontal surfaces of the press housing, in particular the formation of puddles, is also avoided. Accordingly, according to the invention, after completion of the pre-cleaning process, i.e., after the generation of the spray mist has ended, no liquid needs to be drained from the press housing via a drain channel. Accordingly, it is possible for the press housing or rotary press according to the invention to not have a drain channel for draining cleaning liquid.
[0015] According to the invention, dust from the material to be pressed in the rotary press is effectively and reliably bound in a manner that is both structurally and time-efficient. At the same time, corrosion of the surfaces of the press housing is avoided. The dust bound by the spray mist is no longer suspended, so that it cannot disperse into the environment even when the press housing is open and therefore cannot be inhaled by an operator. A high level of operator protection is enabled without the need to completely wet the press housing as envisaged in the prior art. A drain for cleaning fluid from the rotary press, in particular the press housing, is not required. Likewise, the binder tank and the binder line avoid the need for a complex external media supply for a cleaning fluid.By binding the airborne dust, the press housing can be opened by an operator, even without full protection, depending on the operator's assessment or responsibility. The assembly and, if necessary, disassembly of the components according to the invention is simple.
[0016] According to one embodiment, a control device can be provided which is designed to control the conveying device for a period of less than five minutes, preferably less than two minutes, more preferably less than one minute, in particular less than 30 seconds, more particularly less than 20 seconds, to convey the binder via the binder line from the binder tank to the atomizing nozzle, and thus to generate the spray mist through the atomizing nozzle. While the conveying device is being controlled, the atomizing nozzle continuously generates a spray mist from the supplied binder.By controlling the conveying device and thus generating the spray mist according to the aforementioned design only for a short period of time, for example, a period of less than 30 seconds, a large amount of liquid is prevented from entering the interior of the press housing while reliably binding the dust in the press housing. This reliably prevents the accumulation of liquid on the surfaces of the press housing and thus the risk of corrosion or the necessary removal of these liquid accumulations. The control device can be integrated into a machine control system for controlling the operation of the rotary press or can form a separate control device.
[0017] According to a particularly practical embodiment, the binder tank can be arranged on an outer side of the press housing. The binder line can then run from the binder tank to the atomizing nozzle through a dust-tight opening in the press housing. In particular, the binder tank can be docked to the press housing via a Rapid Transfer Port (RTP). This embodiment allows, on the one hand, particularly simple and standardized assembly of the binder tank, including the connection of the binder line between the binder tank and the atomizing nozzle. On the other hand, the embodiment is particularly suitable for containment presses, since opening the press housing and thus breaking the containment is not necessary or is possible via the dust-tight opening, for example the Rapid Transfer Port, without breaking the containment.Accordingly, the rotary press according to the invention can be a containment rotary press, as explained below.
[0018] The binder can comprise water and / or a cleaning agent and / or a preservative. Water is a particularly effective binder for product dust. As already explained, an air-water mixture can be processed by the atomizing nozzle or applied as a spray mist to generate the spray. If the binder also contains a cleaning agent, the cleaning effect can be improved, particularly when the binder settles on the surfaces of the press housing. A preservative contained in the binder even more reliably prevents corrosion of press housing surfaces that come into contact with the spray mist.
[0019] The conveying device can comprise a compressed air device that conveys the binder from the binder tank to the atomizing nozzle using compressed air. This allows the binder to be conveyed in a particularly reliable and simple manner.
[0020] According to a further embodiment, the atomizing nozzle can be pivotably mounted in the press housing, with a pivot drive being provided that pivots the atomizing nozzle during the generation of the spray mist in the press housing. The pivoting of the atomizing nozzle by the pivot drive can, in particular, take place automatically as soon as the conveyor device conveys binding agent from the binding agent tank to the atomizing nozzle, thus generating the spray mist. By pivoting the atomizing nozzle during the generation of the spray mist, a particularly extensive and even distribution of the spray mist in the press housing is enabled. The dust-binding effect is further improved, and the risk of liquid puddles accumulating on surfaces is further reduced.
[0021] The atomizing nozzle or the plurality of atomizing nozzles can be arranged on one or more nozzle assemblies, with the nozzle assembly or assemblies comprising the pivot drive. In a particularly practical manner, the pivot drive can be a pneumatically operated pivot drive. The nozzle assembly can also comprise a rotary distributor. This allows the binder line, in particular an air and / or water line, to be moved without having to be moved when the atomizing nozzle is moved.
[0022] As already explained, the atomizing nozzle(s) can be arranged above the rotor in the press housing. This ensures optimal gravity-induced distribution of the spray mist within the press housing.
[0023] According to a further embodiment, the rotary press can be a containment rotary press with an extraction device, wherein the extraction device creates a negative pressure in the press housing relative to the environment of the press housing. The rotary press can, for example, have a containment level of 0EB3 or higher, measured, for example, according to the SMEPAC test (Standardized Measurement of Equipment Particulate Airborne Concentration). Such containment rotary presses are generally provided with an extraction device that creates a negative pressure in the press housing relative to the environment, so that any toxic product dust cannot escape into the environment but is extracted from the press housing.According to a further embodiment, a control device can then be provided which controls the suction device during the generation of the spray mist by the atomizing nozzle in the press housing such that said device creates a negative pressure in the press housing compared to the surroundings of the press housing, wherein the spray mist is distributed in the press housing by a turbulent flow generated by the suction device. The control device can be integrated into the machine control system of the rotary press or be a separate control device. In particular, it can be the same control device that also controls the conveyor device for the binding agent and, if necessary, also controls the pivot drive for pivoting the atomizing nozzle.The extraction system generates turbulent air currents within the press housing, which promote the distribution of the spray mist throughout the entire press housing, particularly in areas not directly exposed to the atomizing nozzle, for example, because they are obscured by components within the press housing. Such areas can be advantageously reached by the flow generated by the extraction system.
[0024] According to a further embodiment, the atomizing nozzle can be detachably mounted in the press housing. The binder tank and / or the binder line can also be detachably mounted. This also applies to any nozzle holder that holds the atomizing nozzle. This makes it possible to assemble or disassemble the components as needed.
[0025] The rotary press can further comprise a manually operated spray lance, with which an operator can spray areas within the press housing with a binding agent, in particular the binding agent from the binding agent tank. Accordingly, the spray lance can also be supplied from the binding agent tank supplying the atomizing nozzle. However, it is also possible for a separate binding agent tank, for example containing a liquid cleaning agent, to be provided for the spray lance. The manually operated spray lance can also generate a spray mist that binds dust in the press housing. In this way, an operator can manually spray hard-to-reach areas of the press housing that are not reached by the atomizing nozzle, such as a filling device.
[0026] The invention also relates to a method for introducing an atomizing nozzle into a press housing of a rotary press according to the invention, in which the atomizing nozzle and optionally a nozzle holder holding the atomizing nozzle are introduced into a container outside the press housing, in which the container is then introduced into the press housing via a particularly dust-tight feed opening, for example a rapid transfer port, of the press housing, and in which the atomizing nozzle and optionally a nozzle holder holding the atomizing nozzle are then removed from the container inside the press housing and connected to the binder line in the press housing.
[0027] As already explained, it is possible for the atomizing nozzle to be detachably arranged in the press housing. In this case, the atomizing nozzle, and if applicable a nozzle holder holding the atomizing nozzle, must be brought into the interior of the press housing and mounted there prior to a pre-cleaning according to the invention. In particular in the case of containment rotary presses, this should be done without opening the press housing and the associated breach of the containment. For this purpose, the atomizing nozzle and, if applicable, the nozzle holder must be introduced into the interior of the press housing. Before introduction, coarse dust can be extracted from the press housing using a suction system, for example a manual suction system, which is usually present in such rotary presses. In the next step, the atomizing nozzle and, if applicable, a nozzle holder holding it are placed in a container which serves to protect the atomizing nozzle or nozzle holder.The atomizing nozzle, if applicable, along with the nozzle assembly, is then introduced into the press housing of the rotary press via a preferably dust-tight feed opening, such as a Rapid Transfer Port, in the press housing. This allows for introduction while maintaining containment within the rotary press. In the press housing, the atomizing nozzle, if applicable, along with the nozzle assembly, can be removed from the container, installed at the specified position, and connected to the binder line leading to the binder tank. The removal of the atomizing nozzle and, if applicable, the nozzle assembly from the press housing during disassembly can be performed in the reverse order.
[0028] An embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the figures. They show schematically:
[0029] Figure 1 shows a rotary press in a developed view of the rotor,
[0030] Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a rotary press according to the invention,
[0031] Figure 3 is a schematic partially sectioned view of a binder tank of a rotary press according to the invention, and
[0032] Figure 4 is a schematic representation of a nozzle assembly with atomizing nozzles arranged thereon of a rotary press according to the invention.
[0033] Unless otherwise stated, like reference numerals designate like objects in the figures. The rotary press shown in Figure 1 is a rotary press for tablet production, as can be used in the present invention, and in which powdered material is compressed into tablets. The rotor of the rotary press is driven in rotation by a rotary drive and comprises a die plate 10 which has a plurality of cavities 12. The cavities 12 can be formed, for example, by bores in the die plate 10. Furthermore, the rotor comprises a plurality of upper press punches 14 and lower press punches 16 which rotate synchronously with the die plate 10. The upper press punches 14 are guided axially in an upper punch guide 18 and the lower press punches 16 are guided axially in a lower punch guide 20.The axial movement of the upper press rams 14 and lower press rams 16 during the rotation of the rotor is controlled by upper control cam elements 22 and lower control cam elements 24. Furthermore, a filling device 26 is provided, which has a filling reservoir 28 and a filling chamber 30, which are connected via a filling tube 32. In this way, in the present example, powder material flows from the filling reservoir 28 via the filling tube 32 into the filling chamber 30 by gravity, and from there, via a filling opening provided on the underside of the filling chamber 30, into the cavities 12 of the die plate 10 by gravity.
[0034] The rotary press also comprises a printing device 34. The printing device 34 comprises a pre-pressing device with an upper pre-pressing roller 36 held on an upper holder 35 and a lower pre-pressing roller 38 held on a lower holder 37, as well as a main printing device with an upper pressure roller 40 held on an upper holder 39 and a lower pressure roller 42 held on a lower holder 41. In addition, the rotary press comprises an ejection device 44 and a stripping device 46 with a stripping element which feeds the tablets 48 produced in the rotary press to a discharge device 50 for removal from the rotary press.The stripping device 46 can, for example, comprise a preferably sickle-shaped stripping element which, in the region of the ejection device 44, strips tablets 48 conveyed by the lower press punches 16 onto the upper side of the die plate 10 from the die plate 10 and feeds them to the discharge device 50.
[0035] Furthermore, the rotary press comprises a control device 52 for controlling the operation of the rotary press and for carrying out the method according to the invention, as explained in more detail below.
[0036] Figure 2 shows a rotary press according to the invention, which comprises a press housing 54 in which, for example, the components shown in Figure 1 are arranged, including the rotor 56. A binder tank 58 is arranged on the press housing 54 and can be connected in a dust-tight manner to the interior 60 of the press housing 54, for example via a rapid transfer port. The rotary press can be a containment rotary press, in which a negative pressure is created in the interior 60 of the press housing 54 relative to the environment via an extraction device arranged, for example, in the press housing 54.
[0037] In the example shown, two nozzle assemblies 62 are arranged above the rotor 56 in the interior 60 of the press housing 54, each holding at least one atomizing nozzle, as will be explained in more detail below. The nozzle assemblies 62 and, with them, the atomizing nozzles are connected to the binder tank 58 via binder lines 64, which are shown very schematically in Fig. 2. During operation, a liquid binder, in particular water, to which a cleaning agent and / or a preservative can optionally be added, is fed to the nozzle assemblies 62 and, with them, to the atomizing nozzles by a conveying device integrated into the binder tank 58, in particular a compressed air device, so that a spray mist 66 is discharged into the interior 60 of the press housing 54 through the atomizing nozzles.This process can be controlled automatically by the control device 52, particularly after the process has been initiated by an operator, for example, via an operating terminal of the rotary press. The spray mist emitted binds the dust present in the air in the interior 60 of the press housing 54 from the powder material pressed in the rotary press, preventing the dust particles from floating in the air and, accordingly, from escaping into the environment when the press housing 54 is opened, thus posing a health risk to operators.
[0038] Figure 3 shows the binder tank 58 in an enlarged and partially sectioned view. In the example shown, it comprises two tank containers 68 filled with binder, which are connected to a line connection 70 to which the binder line 64 is connected. In addition, a compressed air supply 72 of the conveying device is arranged in the binder tank 58, via which compressed air for conveying the binder is conveyed from the tank containers 68 to the line connection 70 and via the binder line to the atomization nozzles. On one end face, the binder tank 58 has an interface 74 for docking to the press housing 54 of the rotary press, in particular an interface 74 for connecting to a rapid transfer port of the rotary press.
[0039] Figure 4 shows one of the nozzle assemblies 62 in more detail. It comprises a pivot drive 76, to which a rod-shaped nozzle holder 78 is attached, which is rotated about its longitudinal axis during operation of the pivot drive 76, i.e. about the vertical in Figure 4. In the example shown, two atomizing nozzles 80 are arranged on the nozzle holder 78 and are aligned at an angle to one another. The binder line is connected to a further line connection 82, and the binder supplied via the line connection 82 is fed during operation to the atomizing nozzles 80, which discharge it in the form of a spray mist into the press housing. The atomizing nozzles 80 are rotated as described via the pivot drive 76 during the discharge of the spray mist. The pivot drive 76 can, for example, be controlled pneumatically. A pneumatic connection 84, in particular an air connection 84, is provided for this purpose.The control of the conveyor device and the swivel drive 76 can - as explained - be carried out via the control device 52, in particular after a pre-cleaning process has been started by an operator.
[0040] By applying the spray mist according to the invention via rotating atomizing nozzles 80, a fine, dust-binding spray mist is widely and evenly distributed in the interior 60 of the press housing 54, so that the dust is reliably bound and subsequently settles on the surfaces of the rotor 56 or the press housing 54. The pre-cleaning process with the generation of the spray mist can be carried out by the control device 52 for a relatively short period of time of less than two minutes, more preferably less than one minute, in particular less than 30 seconds, so that only a relatively small amount of liquid is applied into the interior 60 of the press housing 54 and the risk of large amounts of liquid accumulating on surfaces of the rotary press is minimized.A suction device of the rotary press for generating a negative pressure in the interior 60 of the press housing 54 supports the distribution of the spray mist, in particular through turbulent air flows.
[0041] The nozzle assemblies 62 with the atomizing nozzles 80 can be detachably arranged in the press housing 54. For assembly or disassembly of the nozzle assemblies 62 with the atomizing nozzles 80, they can be placed in a transfer container and channeled into or out of the press housing 54 via a rapid transfer port without having to break the containment of the rotary press. It is understood that the line connections 82, 84 provided on the nozzle assemblies 62 are disconnected from or connected to the corresponding lines for assembly or disassembly. List of Reference Symbols
[0042] 10 Matzo discs
[0043] 12 cavities
[0044] 14 upper press rams
[0045] 16 lower press punches
[0046] 18 upper punch guide
[0047] 20 lower punch guide
[0048] 22 upper control cam element
[0049] 24 lower control cam element
[0050] 26 Filling device
[0051] 28 Filling reservoir
[0052] 30 filling chamber
[0053] 32 filling tube
[0054] 34 Printing device
[0055] 35 upper bracket
[0056] 36 upper pre-print roll
[0057] 37 lower bracket
[0058] 38 lower pre-print roll
[0059] 39 upper bracket
[0060] 40 upper pressure roller
[0061] 41 lower bracket
[0062] 42 lower pressure roller
[0063] 44 Ejection device
[0064] 46 Stripping device
[0065] 48 tablets
[0066] 50 Drainage device
[0067] 52 Control unit Press housing Rotor Binder tank Interior Nozzle blocks
[0068] Binder line spray mist tank container
[0069] Line connection Compressed air supply Interface Swivel drive Nozzle holder Atomizing nozzle Line connection Line connection
Claims
Claims 1. A rotary press comprising a press housing (54) and a rotor (56) arranged in the press housing (54), wherein the rotor (56) has an upper and a lower punch guide (18, 20) for upper and lower press punches (14, 16) and a die plate (10) between the punch guides (18, 20), wherein the press punches (14, 16) interact with receptacles (12) of the die plate (10), further comprising at least one filling device (26) in which material to be pressed is filled into the receptacles (12), further comprising at least one pressure device (34) which, during operation, interacts with the upper press punches (14) and with the lower press punches (16) so that they press material located in the receptacles (12) into compacts, and comprising an ejection device (44) for the compacts produced in the rotary press, characterized in thatthat a binder tank (58) containing a liquid binder is arranged in the press housing (54) or outside the press housing (54), that at least one atomizing nozzle (80) is arranged within the press housing (54), and that a binder line (64) runs between the binder tank (58) and the atomizing nozzle (80), at least in sections within the press housing (54), wherein a conveying device is provided which, during operation, conveys binder via the binder line (64) from the binder tank (58) to the atomizing nozzle (80), so that the atomizing nozzle (80) generates a spray mist (66) from the binder within the press housing (54) that binds dust in the press housing (54).
2. Rotary press according to claim 1, characterized in that a control device (52) is provided which is designed to control the conveying device for a period of less than 5 minutes, preferably less than 2 minutes, more preferably less than 1 minute, for conveying of the binder via the binder line (64) from the binder tank (58) to the atomizing nozzle (80).
3. Rotary press according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the binder tank (58) is arranged on an outer side of the press housing (54).
4. Rotary press according to claim 3, characterized in that the binder line (64) runs from the binder tank (58) to the atomizing nozzle (80) through a dust-tight opening of the press housing (54).
5. Rotary press according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the binder tank (58) is docked to the press housing (54) via a rapid transfer port.
6. Rotary press according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the binder comprises water and / or a cleaning agent and / or a preservative.
7. Rotary press according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conveying device comprises a compressed air device which conveys the binder by means of compressed air from the binder tank (58) to the atomizing nozzle (80).
8. Rotary press according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the atomizing nozzle (80) is pivotally arranged in the press housing (54), and that a pivot drive (76) is provided which pivots the atomizing nozzle (80) during the generation of the spray mist (66) in the press housing (54).
9. Rotary press according to claim 8, characterized in that the atomizing nozzle (80) is arranged on a nozzle block (62), and that the nozzle block (62) comprises the pivot drive (76).
10. Rotary press according to one of claims 8 or 9, characterized in that the pivot drive (76) is a pneumatically operated pivot drive (76).
11. Rotary press according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the atomizing nozzle (80) is arranged above the rotor (56) in the press housing (54).
12. Rotary press according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rotary press is a containment rotary press with a suction device, wherein the suction device creates a negative pressure in the press housing (54) compared to the environment of the press housing (54).
13. Rotary press according to claim 12, characterized in that a control device (52) is provided which controls the suction device during the generation of the spray mist (66) by the atomizing nozzle (80) in the press housing (54) in such a way that it generates a negative pressure in the press housing (54) compared to the environment of the press housing (54), wherein the spray mist (66) is distributed in the press housing (54) by a turbulent flow generated by the suction device.
14. Rotary press according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the atomizing nozzle (80) is detachably arranged in the press housing (54).
15. Rotary press according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a manually operable spray lance is further provided, with which an operator can spray areas within the press housing (54) with a binding agent.
16. A method for pre-cleaning the press housing (54) of a rotary press according to one of claims 1 to 15, wherein a spray mist from the binding agent which binds dust in the press housing (54) is generated with the atomizing nozzle (80) within the press housing (54).
17. Method according to claim 16, characterized in that after completion of the pre-cleaning no binding agent flows out of the press housing (54).
18. Method according to one of claims 16 or 17, characterized in that the conveying device is controlled for a period of less than 5 minutes, preferably less than 2 minutes, more preferably less than 1 minute, for conveying the binder via the binder line (64) from the binder tank (58) to the atomizing nozzle (80).
19. Method for introducing an atomizing nozzle into a press housing (54) of a rotary press according to one of claims 1 to 15, in which the atomizing nozzle (80) and optionally a nozzle holder (62) holding the atomizing nozzle (80) are introduced into a container outside the press housing (54), in which the container is then introduced into the press housing (54) via a feed opening of the press housing (54). is introduced, and in which the atomizing nozzle (80) and optionally a nozzle holder (62) holding the atomizing nozzle (80) are then removed from the container within the press housing and connected to the binder line (64) in the press housing (54).