Roller Compactor Rim Strippers and Agitator for Dry Granulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing roller compactors face challenges in producing consistent quality granules due to build-up issues, which lead to poor flowability, segregation, and difficulties in compressing granules into tablets, resulting in inefficient and interrupted manufacturing processes.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating an agitator and roller rim strippers into the roller compactor design to prevent material accumulation, ensuring continuous production by agitating and stripping off materials that tend to accumulate, thereby maintaining consistent quality and extending production cycles without interruptions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If roller compactor is used for dry granulation, then continuous production of granules is achieved, but material build-up occurs leading to poor flowability and process interruptions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous productionVSAvoidprocess continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful accumulated material is continuously removed from the roller surfaces and chamber using strippers and an agitator, preventing build-up that would otherwise interrupt the continuous production process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The roller compactor equips itself with self-cleaning mechanisms (strippers and agitator) that automatically remove accumulated material during operation, maintaining continuous production without external intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Manufacturing precision

If material is compacted into ribbons and then milled to form granules, then granules are produced, but build-up in the chamber causes segregation and non-homogeneity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegranule homogeneityVSAvoidmaterial homogeneity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The vibratory agitator applies mechanical vibration to the compacted material in the chamber, preventing material build-up and segregation, ensuring homogeneous granule composition throughout the process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #18Mechanical vibration

Solution Approach 2:

The agitator continuously removes and redistributes material that would otherwise accumulate and segregate in the chamber, maintaining uniform composition

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Productivity

If roller compactor operates continuously, then production efficiency increases, but cleaning cycles are required causing interruptions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction efficiencyVSAvoidcleaning interruptions

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The strippers and agitator operate continuously during production to prevent material build-up, eliminating the need for periodic cleaning interruptions and maintaining continuous useful action

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The self-cleaning mechanisms continuously prevent material build-up before it can accumulate to levels requiring cleaning cycles, maintaining uninterrupted production

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution effectively prevents build-up, ensuring consistent granule quality and extended continuous production, reducing the need for frequent cleaning cycles and enhancing the yield of the dry granulation process.

Implementation Method 1

The roller compactor compacts dry powder into ribbons by applying mechanical force on a moving bed of the dry powder using a set of rollers

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Implementation Method 2

The roller compactor further comprises an agitator adapted for agitating material tending to accumulate or build-up in the compaction chamber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Implementation Method 3

The roller compactor further comprises roller rim strippers adapted for stripping off material tending to accumulate on the roller rims

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentUS20220072493A1Roller compactor and method of dry granulation using a roller compactor

Publication Date: 2022.03.10 NOVO NORDISK AS

AI summary

A continuous method of producing granules comprising a salt of N-(8-(2-hydroxybenzoyl)amino)caprylic acid or SNAC. The method comprises: (i) providing a powder comprising a salt of N-(8-(2-hydroxybenzoyl)amino)caprylic acid, (ii) dry granulating the powder by using a roller compactor, (iii) continuously during dry granulation removing material accumulating on roller rims and leading the material towards the outlet. The roller compactor comprises a pair of pressing rollers 212 comprising a first 212a and a second pressing roller 212b, and wherein the first pressing roller 212a comprises roller rims 213. The roller compactor may further comprise a granulator 216, a sieve 218, and an exit chute 203 mounted below the sieve 218. The roller compactor further comprises roller rim strippers 250 for removing material accumulating on the roller rims 213. The roller compactor can further comprise an agitator adapted for agitating product tending to accumulate or build-up below the sieve insert 218.