Abstract: An improved Wurster coater in which conditioned fluidizing gas, drawn through a coating chamber bowl from a plenum by a vacuum fan, is directed through a perforated gas distribution plate through one or more Wurster tubes. The perforated gas distribution plate defines three concentric gas flow zones: a central high-flow up-bed zone beneath the Wurster tube, a surrounding annular lower-flow down-bed zone, and an outer peripheral bypass zone defining a bypass cavity underlying the outer lower wall of the bowl. A controlled bypass flow of conditioned fluidizing gas is directed into the bypass zone, either around the edge of the distribution plate or through relatively larger holes in its plate's outer periphery, which causes that portion of the fluidizing gas to flow radially inward across the distribution plate, thereby sweeping particles away which would otherwise stagnate at the inner corners of the bowl due to low gas velocity in that region.

Abstract: An improved Wurster coater in which conditioned fluidizing gas, drawn through a coating chamber bowl from a plenum by a vacuum fan, is directed through a perforated gas distribution plate through one or more Wurster tubes. The perforated gas distribution plate defines three concentric gas flow zones: a central high-flow up-bed zone beneath the Wurster tube, a surrounding annular lower-flow down-bed zone, and an outer peripheral bypass zone defining a bypass cavity underlying the outer lower wall of the bowl. A controlled bypass flow of conditioned fluidizing gas is directed into the bypass zone, either around the edge of the distribution plate or through relatively larger holes in its plate's outer periphery, which causes that portion of the fluidizing gas to flow radially inward across the distribution plate, thereby sweeping particles away which would otherwise stagnate at the inner corners of the bowl due to low gas velocity in that region.

Abstract: A method for quickly forming a high value powdered feed materials, particularly pharmaceuticals, into small, durable granules using known elements of process equipment, comprising the steps of mixing the feed materials with a wetting solution in a high shear mixer or granulator, partially drying the granulated mixture in a first drying means to a state of intermediate dryness, milling the partially dried granulated product in a stream of air to create small partially dried granules of the desired physical size, and drying the product in the second drying means to the desired final Loss On Drying (LOD) percentage of wetting solution. The milled product may be conveyed by vacuum from the milling step to the second drying means through a relatively long cylindrical transfer hose to create uniformly rounded granules.

Abstract: An improved Wurster-type coater including a separator screen located within the Wurster tube in surrounding relationship to the spray nozzle and forming an annular volume through which at least a portion of smaller feed material particles are permitted to preferentially enter the spray pattern before the larger-sized particles can do so, thereby causing the smaller particles to become agglomerated first, resulting in finished product having a more even distribution of particle sizes.

Abstract: A control system for creating, modifying, initiating and controlling a manufacturing process is provided using computer on-screen icons as metaphors for actual process steps. The icons are selected on-screen from a library of icons, and are selectively inserted in, appended to, edited or deleted from the manufacturing process. Each icon represents a discrete process step including associated default-value physical parameters, which may be modified (edited) within predetermined boundary limits. Using the icons, the physical manufacturing process is symbolically assembled on-screen and saved to a storage medium from which it is accessed for use. During actual operation, the manufacturing process is displayed on-screen in an animated graphic representation, with real-time presentation of instantaneous parameter values. The control system also selectively provides on-screen trend graphs showing in strip-chart form the recent history of selected process variables.

Abstract: A control system is provided for a pulverizing mill so that the operation of the mill can be validated. The control system includes a microprocessor, switches which sense proper screen size and inlet shell orientation, and other electrical components to provide consistent operation of the mill according to preprogrammed parameters.

Abstract: A pulverizing mill is disclosed, suitable for wet or dry foodstuffs, chemicals, plastics and pharmaceuticals, having a reversible welded multi-bladed rotor which is substantially seamless and crack-free so as not to catch and retain particles of the material being pulverized. The rotor blades are supported parallel to the rotor's central axis in a picket-fence configuration in which blade position are staggered from one rotor segment to the next whereby the entire rotor shaft internal volume is swept by one or more blades during each revolution. The blades are supported at predetermined points which raise the rotor maximum safe operating to achieve a higher output of pulverized product. The mill inlet housing is attached by quick-release toggle fasteners associated with fiber-optic sensing means to prevent mill operation unless the housing is fully secured in one of two proper operating positions.