(PATENT PENDING)
FOR TESTING SEGREGATION POTENTIAL, FLOW RATE AND SIEVE ANALYSIS OF POWDERS

MAIN UNIT


OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES

Segregation potential of a powder or powder blend can be determined by agitation and/or vibration and unit-dose samples are removed at pre-determined intervals for chemical content uniformity analysis or particle size analysis.
The unit-dose powder samples can be compacted into tablets in the sampling die itself by using a patented technique in order to reduce the sampling error, which is critical for obtaining reliable results from this apparatus. The sample tablets can be submitted to the laboratory for content uniformity analysis. An optional NIR device will be available in the future for in-line sample analysis. The results can be displayed as a table or plotted as a graph of relative standard deviation (or coefficient of variation, %) versus time. This test can be repeated at different settings of the agitator and the vibration device.

Flow rate of a powder or powder blend can be determined by letting powder flow from the hopper at a pre-set gate opening. The scale records the weights and transmits the data to the PLC. The results will be plotted as incremental weight versus time. Average flow rate and RSD are computed. The effect of agitation and/or vibration on powder flow rate and uniformity of flow may also be studied.

Particle size distribution can be determined by using standard sonic sifter screens. The screens are stacked in a screen holder, clamped and attached to the vibration device saddle.

This attachment replaces the hopper when this test is done. Sonic as well as electromechanical vibration is used to affect sifting for a pre-set time period. After the test is done, the screen stack is simply put on the scale and one screen is removed at a time and ENTER is pressed on the touch screen. PLC automatically determines the weight of the material retained on each screen from the data of the weights of the blank screens entered previously. Particle size distribution is displayed as histogram, frequency distribution curve and log-probability curve. Median particle size is computed and displayed on the screen. The data obtained on this apparatus are in agreement with the data from standard sonic sifters.

Main apparatus includes:

• Variable speed agitator
• Variable amplitude and variable frequency electro-magnetic vibration device
• Electronically adjustable gate for the hopper
• Digital scale
• Medium size hopper to hold up to about 3kg of powder
• Stainless steel console with PLC and touch screen display
• All the necessary electronic hardware and software
• Stainless steel funnel
• Aluminum screen holder for sonic sifter screens
• One stainless steel split sample die for collecting ten unit-dose samples at each time point along with a tablet ejection cup. Customer to specify the sample size. Dies of additional sample sizes are optional.
• Stainless steel powder collecting tray.
• Aluminum sample die with 10 pockets.

This apparatus can act as a stand alone unit and also comes with an Ethernet connection to transport the data to a PC.

Optional accessories include:

• Manual Tablet Compaction machine (MTCH-II) for compacting powder samples into the sampling die itself in order to reduce the sapling error.
• Large Stainless steel hopper to hold up to 12 Kg of powder to study segregation for longer times.
• NIR device for in-line sample analysis will be available.

Specification:

Dimensions: Main apparatus: 16"W x 28"D x 41"H (including the agitator motor)
Console: 12.5"W x 12.5"D x 9.0"H
Net weight: About 40 lbs
Electrical: 110V/60Hz or 220V/1 Phase/50Hz

MAXI-BLEND is a product of GlobePharma, Inc., P.O. Box 10837 New Brunswick, NJ 08906-9998
Tel: 732-819-0381      Fax: 732-777-5129      Email: sanni@globepharma.com
www.globepharma.com