Abstract: A slow strain rate shear strength tester for a tablet of compressed pharmaceutical powders, which apparatus includes a ram assembly having a reciprocal ram horizontally slidably supported on a housing. The ram projects outwardly of the housing and mounts a compression member on the free end thereof. A head arrangement is removably mounted on a pair of brackets which project from the end of the housing. The head arrangement has opposed holding members which cooperate to define a notch for accommodating a compact therein in position for compression by the ram.

Abstract: A tester for testing hardness of a tablet formed from a compact of pharmaceutical powders. The tester has a spherical indenter suspended from a wire to impact the tablet to evaluate the hardness thereof. The tablet is contained in a split die holder which can regulate the die wall pressure. The indenter is supported against an electromagnet and, when released, swings through a controlled arc and impacts the tablet. The indenter passes three photocells in its downward arc toward the tablet, and the last photocell activates both a timing device connected to the first two photocells and a shutter plate to prevent reimpact of the indenter with the tablet face. After impact with the tablet face, the indenter is timed as it rebounds past the first two photocells. Since the distance between the first two photocells is known, the time it takes the indenter to travel between the first two photocells is sent to a computer and the velocity is calculated.

Abstract: A press particularly for forming a blocklike tablet or compact from powder. A die is split into opposed halves for defining a die opening vertically therethrough. The die is supported within a carrier having an openable front door. The carrier is mounted on a carriage which is horizontally rollable on a base frame between compacting and loading positions. The carrier preferably has limited resilient floating movement relative to the carriage in the vertical direction. A first pressure cylinder has its housing carried by the carrier so that its piston rod extends horizontally for direct compression against a rear side of the die. A second pressure cylinder has its housing mounted on the frame and its piston rod extending vertically downwardly for compression against a punch which projects downwardly into the die opening to compress the powders therein against a lower punch. The die is vertically aligned with the piston rod of this second cylinder only when the carriage is in the compacting position.