A dry powder particle processing apparatus

Abstract

A dry powder particle processing apparatus for coating carrier particles with guest particles including: a vessel supported for rotation about an axis A, the vessel including a first end wall, a secon

Claims

1. A dry powder particle processing apparatus for coating carrier particles with guest particles including:a vessel supported for rotation about an axis A, the vessel including a first end wall, a second end wall and a side wall extending therebetween to define a chamber within which said particles are retained during processing;a motor connected to the vessel and adapted to rotate the vessel to create a centrifugal acceleration (a) at the side wall which is at least equal to 0.5g during use;a gas outlet member defining a gas flow path extending into the vessel and connectable to a gas supply for introducing gas into the chamber, wherein the gas outlet member has an outlet portion which is spaced apart from, and extends in a direction parallel to the axis A, and the outlet portion includes at least one or more outlet apertures in communication with the gas flow path for directing gas from the gas outlet member into the chamber in a direction towards the side wall.

2. A dry powder particle processing system for coating carrier particles with guest particles, the system including:a processing apparatus including:a vessel supported for rotation about an axisA, the vessel including a first end wall, a second end wall and a side wall extending therebetween to define a chamber within which said particles are retained during processing;a motor connected to the vessel and adapted to rotate the vessel to create a centrifugal acceleration (a) at the side wall which is at least equal to 0.5g during use;a gas outlet member defining a gas flow path extending into the vessel and connected to a gas supply for introducing gas into the chamber, wherein the gas outlet member has an outlet portion which is spaced apart from, and extends in a direction parallel to the axis A, and the outlet portion includes at least one or more outlet apertures in communication with the gas flow path for directing gas from the gas outlet member into the chamber in a direction towards the side wall, andwherein the system is arranged with no means for introducing liquid into the chamber during use of the system.

3. A dry powder particle processing apparatus for coating carrier particles with guest particles including:a vessel supported for rotation about an axis A, the vessel including a first end wall, a second end wall and a side wall extending therebetween to define a chamber within which said particles are retained during processing;a motor connected to the vessel and adapted to rotate the vessel to create a centrifugal acceleration (a) at the side wall which is at least equal to 0.5g during use;a gas outlet member connected to the first end wall and defining a gas flow path extending into the vessel and connectable to a gas supply for introducing gas into the chamber, wherein the gas outlet member has an outlet portion including at least one or more outlet apertures in communication with the gas flow path for directing gas from the gas outlet member into the chamber in a direction towards the side wall; andthe vessel includes a gas exhaust outlet provided on the first end wall and in communication with the chamber.

4. An apparatus or system according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the outlet portion is generally elongate or is elongate, and / or extends parallel to the side wall.

5. An apparatus or system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the outlet portion is positioned closer to the side wall than the axis A.

6. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the gas outlet member includes a first portion in communication with the outlet portion and the first portion is spaced apart from the outlet portion, optionally or preferably the first portion extends in a direction parallel to axis A and / or is closer to axis A than the outlet portion.

7. An apparatus or system according to claim 6, wherein the first portion is generally elongate or is elongate and extends parallel to the side wall.

8. An apparatus or system according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the gas outlet member includes a second portion which extends between the outlet portion and the first portion, optionally or preferably the second portion is positioned adjacent to the second wall.

9. An apparatus or system according to any one of claims 1 to 7 including one or more of the following:a) wherein the outlet portion is generally elongate or is elongate, and the outlet portion terminates in first and / or second free ends,b) optionally or preferably the first and / or second free ends are positioned in the chamber,c) optionally or preferably wherein the first free end is adjacent or near the first end wall and / or the second free end is adjacent or near the second end wall; and / ord) when directly or indirectly dependent on claim 6 or 7, wherein the first portion is connected to the outlet portion by a connecting portion which extends generally radially or radially away from the first portion.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, when directly or indirectly dependent on claim 6 or 7, wherein the first portion extends into the chamber, and the outlet portion has a length which is longer than the distance the first portion extends into the chamber.11 .An apparatus according to claim 9 or 10 wherein the connecting portion and the outlet portion generally form a T-shape.12.An apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the outlet portion has first and / or second end portions which terminate in the respective first and / or second free ends, and wherein the first and / or second end portions extend transversely with respect to the rest of the outlet portion, optionally or preferably the first and / or second end portions may extend inwardly towards axis A.

13. An apparatus or system according to any one of claims 6 to 12, wherein the first portion extends through the first wall.

14. An apparatus or system according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the gas outlet member includes a third portion that extends away from the outlet portion, and optionally or preferably the third portion forms a free end of the gas outlet member.

15. An apparatus or system according to any preceding claim wherein the first wall is connected to the side wall and may be opened to permit access to the chamber, optionally or preferably wherein the first wall is releasably connected to the side wall.

16. An apparatus or system according to any preceding claim wherein the gas outlet member is connected to the first wall and / or wherein the vessel includes a gas exhaust outlet in communication with the chamber, optionally or preferably the gas exhaust outlet is separate from the gas outlet member, and optionally or preferably the gas exhaust outlet is provided in the first wall, and / or the gas outlet member terminates in the chamber.17.An apparatus or system according to any preceding claim including a pressure regulation system for regulating pressure within the chamber, optionally or preferably for extracting gas from the chamber, and / or optionally or preferably the pressure regulation system is connected to the gas exhaust outlet.

18. An apparatus or system according to any preceding claim including a gas recirculation system for extracting gas from the chamber and providing the extracted gas to the gas outlet member, optionally or preferably including a pump for extracting the gas and / or providing the extracted gas to the gas outlet member, and / or optionally or preferably the gas recirculation system is connected to the gas exhaust outlet and / or the gas outlet member.

19. An apparatus or system according to any preceding claim wherein the dry powder particles are sealed within the chamber during use and may only be removed when the vessel has been opened.

20. An apparatus or system according to any preceding claim wherein the motor is adapted to rotate the vessel to create a centrifugal acceleration (a) at the side wall in the range 0.5g <(a) <800g.21 .An apparatus or system according to any preceding claim wherein the vessel has a radius (r) and the motor is adapted to rotate the vessel at R revolutions per minute such that:0.5g <([R / 60]*2tt)2 * r <800g22. An apparatus or system according to any preceding claim wherein the gas flow rate to the gas outlet member is up to 120 L / min, preferably or optionally up to 90 L / min, preferably or optionally up to 60 L / m, preferably or optionally 5 - 50L / min.

23. An apparatus or system according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one or more outlet apertures in communication with the gas flow path direct gas from the gas outlet member into the chamber in a direction radially towards the side wall.

24. A dry powder particle process for coating carrier particles with guest particles, the process comprising the steps of:a. providing an apparatus or system according to any one of the preceding claims;b. adding the particles to the chamber and sealing the vessel so that only the gas outlet member and / gas exhaust outlet are in communication with the vessel;c. rotating the cylindrical processing vessel about its axis at a rotational speed to create a centrifugal acceleration (aj at the side wall of at least 0.5g;d. flowing gas from the gas outlet member and into the chamber through the one or more outlet apertures; ande. retaining the particles in the chamber until the process has been completed.

25. A process according to claim 24 wherein no liquid or solvents are introduced into the chamber during the process.

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