JPH0615030B2 - Powder processing equipment - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a fluidized bed in which air is blown into the container from the bottom of the container to bring the powder into a fluidized state, forming a so-called fluidized bed, and drying wet powder. A powder processing apparatus for performing processing such as drying, fluidized bed granulation for spraying a binding liquid onto powder to form particles, or fluidized bed coating for spraying a coating liquid onto particles to form a film on the surface of the particles Is.

This device can be widely used as a processing device for medicines, agricultural chemicals, foods, ceramics and other chemical products.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention Conventionally, fluidized bed drying, in which air is blown from the bottom of a container to keep the powder in a fluidized state, a so-called fluidized bed is formed and then wet powder is dried, Fluidized bed granulation in which a binding liquid is sprayed to form particles, and fluidized bed coating in which a coating liquid is sprayed to coat particles are also widely used.

Most of the apparatuses used for these powder treatments have a method of introducing air through these openings by forming the bottom surface of the container into a net shape, forming a punching plate, or forming a slit, or JP-B-61- As seen in Japanese Patent No. 7326, a method is adopted in which an intake port is provided at the center of the bottom surface of the container and a circular top plate larger than the intake port is mounted on the intake port. However, such a method has a drawback that a large amount of powder falls below the bottom of the container.

Further, in order to reduce the fall of the powder, measures have been taken to make the mesh fine or to provide a top plate on the bottom of the container as close as possible to the bottom of the container over the holes or slits. However, in the method of making the mesh fine, it takes time to completely remove the powder clogging the mesh. Therefore, various problems remain in the so-called industrial fields in which GMP is coordinated, such as medicines and foods, and in the industrial fields in which cross-contamination is a problem due to frequent switching of varieties.

When using a punching plate or slit,
Alternatively, when the top plate is covered on the ventilation hole, it is necessary to attach the top plate so as to be extremely close to the bottom of the container in order to completely prevent the powder from falling.
As described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 58-11377 and Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 58-11377, the shaft of the air introduced into the container for the purpose of preventing the powder from entering the air passage communicating with the shaft sealing portion. In the method of disposing the shaft sealing seal made of a flexible material between the sealing portion and the discharge port of this air into the container body, it is possible to avoid the powder from falling and entering. However, on the other hand, the top plate portion and the shaft seal exert a blocking function against the air flow flowing into the container body, and hinder the uniform and smooth outflow of air into the container body. Therefore, when such an apparatus is used for fluidized bed drying, fluidized bed granulation, agitated fluidized bed granulation, fluidized bed coating, etc., it is difficult to introduce an amount of air necessary for treating powder, The drying condition of the introduced powder to be treated becomes non-uniform, which causes deterioration in quality of the finally obtained product due to poor fluidity of the fluid. Further, in such a method, there is a drawback that a high-pressure and large-horsepower air supply source is required in order to introduce the air amount necessary for flow into the container.

That is, in any of the above-mentioned conventional powder processing apparatus, when trying to prevent the powder being processed from falling from the bottom of the container,
The flow air introduction part becomes complicated, making it difficult to clean the air introduction part, or the air passage resistance at the air introduction part becomes large, making it difficult to introduce a large amount of air into the container. There was a problem.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems found in a conventional powder processing apparatus, to efficiently and uniformly flow air for flowing in a container without causing a problem on GMP. It is intended to provide a powder processing apparatus having a structural feature of forming an ideal fluidized bed while flowing into the powder processing apparatus.

Means for Solving Problems The present invention has been completed as a result of various studies in order to solve the above problems.

That is, the present invention is a powder that blows air from the bottom of a cylindrical container containing the powder to make the powder in a fluidized state, perform processing such as granulation or coating, or dry the wet powder. In the body treatment device, a hollow top cone having a height gradually increasing toward the center is provided on the bottom plate of the cylindrical container, and an air supply outside the system is provided inside the cone. A hollow, which has an inclined wall facing the outer wall surface of the conical body, is formed on an axis of the cylindrical container which is rotatably supported at a substantially central portion of the cylindrical container and which forms an air flow path communicating with the air source. Is fixed to the conical truncated cone, and the entire circumference between the outer wall surface of the conical body and the inner wall surface of the conical body, from above the inside of the conical body to the inclined wall tip outer peripheral portion of the conical body. Form a labyrinth flow path that extends toward and supply air to the truncated cone if necessary Air blowing nozzles communicating with, and is intended to provide a powder treating apparatus which is fixed with a stirrer.

Examples Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on examples shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view showing a first specific example of the powder processing apparatus according to the present invention, in which the bottom of the cylindrical container (1) is hollow and its height gradually increases toward the center. Further, a bottom plate (1a) having a frustoconical body (2) having an opening at the upper side is provided, and an air supply source (not shown) provided outside the system is provided inside the conical body (2). An air flow path (3) communicating therewith is formed. On the other hand, a pivot shaft (5) rotatably supported at the center of the cylindrical container (1) through a bearing (4).
A hollow frustoconical truncated cone (6) having an inclined wall (6a) facing the outer wall surface (2a) of the conical body (2) and having an upper portion closed by a top plate (6b) is fixed thereto. . The above truncated cone (6)
The inclination angle of the inclined wall (6a) is 20 to 70 degrees, and it is desirable to form a smooth concave surface if possible. It is formed inside the conical body (2) by the outer wall surface (2a) of the cone (2) and the inner wall surface (6c) of the inclined wall (6a) of the truncated cone (6), the diameter of which gradually decreases upward. A labyrinth flow passage (7) for air outflow is formed, which extends obliquely from the air flow passage (3) toward the base end outer peripheral portion (2b) of the cone (2) and has a gap of about 1 to 5 mm. . The air flowing out from the labyrinth flow path (7) flows radially outward on the upper surface of the bottom plate (1a) of the cylindrical container (1) and is supplied to the cylindrical container (1). For [not shown],
A fluidized bed is formed to achieve the granulation or coating function.

More specifically, the base end outer peripheral portion (2
Between b) and the tip of the inclined wall (6d) of the truncated cone (6),
For diffusing the air flow flowing out of the labyrinth flow passage (7) over the entire upper surface of the bottom plate (1a) of the cylindrical container (1) toward the outside in the radial direction of the cylindrical container (1).
An air diffusion gap (8) of about 0.1 mm to 5 mm is formed. The size of the air diffusion gap (8) is adjusted by moving the truncated cone (6) up and down. An air inlet (9) is opened in the lower part of the cylindrical container (1) for sending air into the air flow path (3). Due to the air flow introduced from the intake port (9), the pressure difference between the air flow path (3) and the inside of the cylindrical container (1) is maintained at 50 to 500 mm of water column. This pressure difference is selected at any time depending on the type of processing and the processing conditions. Air is ejected from the air diffusion gap (8) into the inside of the cylindrical container (1) at an outflow speed of 5 to 50 m / sec toward the outside in the radial direction of the cylindrical container (1). In order to circulate the air flow ejected from the air diffusion gap (8) along the inner wall surface (1b) of the cylindrical container (1) in a convection manner, the diameter of the tip end (6d) of the inclined wall of the truncated cone (6) ( d) is 30 to 70 of the diameter (D) of the cylindrical container (1)
%, Preferably 40 to 50%. An annular curved surface (1c) having an appropriate radius of curvature according to the cylindrical container (1) is formed at the intersection of the bottom plate (1a) and the inner wall surface (1b) of the cylindrical container (1).

The powder placed on the upper surface of the truncated cone (6) is inclined by the centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the truncated cone (6) and the convectively circulating air flow (6).
It slides down while forming a vortex along the outer surface of a), and is air-transported toward the inner wall surface (1b) of the cylindrical container (1) by the air flow ejected from the air diffusion gap (8). The blown-off powder moves upward in the air flow, then descends toward the center of the cylinder at the upper part of the cylindrical container (1), reaches the upper part of the truncated cone (6), and is again centrifuged by the truncated cone ( Recycle by sliding down the outer surface of 6) while forming a vortex. This recycling can be performed more efficiently by providing a stirring blade described below on the inner wall surface of the truncated cone (6). In this way, the powder flows in the cylindrical container (1), during which a desired treatment such as drying, granulation or coating is performed. In the upper part of the cylindrical container (1), a spray nozzle (10) for granulating liquid or a coating liquid according to a conventional method, and a bag filter (11) for solid-gas separation,
Also, an exhaust port (12) is attached. The spray nozzle (10) may be located above the flowing powder layer as shown in FIG.

In many cases, as described in the above examples, a blower is connected to an air supply source to feed air into the cylindrical container (1), or a blower is connected to this exhaust port (12) to form a cylindrical container ( The air in 1) can be sucked in to form a desired fluidized bed.

The flow rate of the air supplied into the cylindrical container (1) through the air flow path (3), the labyrinth flow path (7), and the air diffusion gap (8) depends on the powder in the cylindrical container (1). It is adjusted according to the treatment conditions of the body, but the drive conditions of the blower,
Also, it is set to an optimum value by adjusting the opening degree of a damper (not shown). The outflow speed of the air flowing out from the air diffusion gap (8) into the cylindrical container (1) is adjusted by moving the truncated cone (6) up and down.

FIG. 2 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of a specific example of the powder processing apparatus equipped with means for assisting the air flow flowing through the labyrinth flow path (7). Descriptions of matters common to the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 are omitted, but in this powder processing apparatus,
Radial or spiral blades (13) (14) functioning as an air flow outflow promotion member are fixed to the inner wall surface (6c) of the inclined wall (6a) of the truncated cone (6). The blades (13) (14) function as a pressure-feeding member for the air flow like the rotary blades of a known blower, and the air passage (3) to the labyrinth passage (7) and the air diffusion gap (8). The extrusion pressure is positively applied to the air flow flowing toward
It promotes convective circulation of the air flow supplied into the cylindrical container (1) from the air diffusion gap (8).

FIG. 3 shows that the fumarolic nozzle (15) communicating with the labyrinth flow path (7) is arranged integrally with the truncated cone (6). Two types of fumaroles (15a) and (15b) are bored in the fumarolic nozzle (15). The first fumarole (15a) is bored in the outer end surface of the fumes nozzle (15) facing the inner wall surface (1b) of the cylindrical container (1), and the air flow ejected from this fumarole (15a) This prevents the powder from adhering to the annular curved surface (1c) and the inner wall surface (1b) of the cylindrical container (1). The second fumarole (15b) is provided facing the bottom plate (1a) of the cylindrical container (1),
A function to lift powder that is trying to stay on the bottom plate (1a),
Also, it has a function of preventing particles from being trapped between the fumarolic nozzle (15) and the bottom plate (1a).

Further, the air blown into the cylindrical container (1) from these air jet nozzles (15) forms an ideal fluidized bed by synergistic action with the air blown into the cylindrical container (1) from the air diffusion gap (8). To help.

The ratio between the amount of air blown into the cylindrical container (1) from the air diffusion gap (8) and the amount of air blown into the cylindrical container (1) from the air jet nozzle (15) moves the truncated cone (6) up and down. The mechanism is not shown].

The air is supplied to the fumarolic nozzle (15) through the labyrinth flow path (7), and, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, air which is provided inside the pivot shaft (5) and communicates with an external air supply source. It may be performed from the flow path (16).

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a specific example in which the powder flow can be performed more ideally by disposing the stirring blade (17). Further, FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the stirring blade (17).
In the following description, the description of the items common to the powder processing apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be omitted.
In the powder processing apparatus shown in FIG. 5, two or more stirring blades (radially extending below the inclined wall (6a) of the truncated cone (6) that form a predetermined phase angle along the circumference ( 17) is fixed to the bottom plate (1a) of the cylindrical container (1) with a slight gap, and the tip of the stirring blade (17) is close to the inner wall surface (1b) of the cylindrical container (1). At the same time, the height of the stirring blade front part (17a) is gradually reduced toward the rotation direction, and the stirring blade rear part (17b) is formed into a substantially horizontal plane. This stirring blade (1
Below the 7), as shown in FIG.
5) may be provided. As shown in Fig. 8, the stirring blade (1
The structure of 7) and the gas nozzle (15) may be integrated.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the stirring blade (17) has a sizing member having a shape that extends substantially horizontally along the inner wall surface (1b) of the cylindrical container on the rear side in the rotational direction ( 18) may be provided, and a fixed blade (19) [FIG. 3] or a rotary blade (20) that performs a particle size regulating action by interlocking with a substantially horizontal stirring blade rear portion (17b).
[FIG. 4] may be provided.

As is clear from the above description, according to the powder processing apparatus of the present invention, the powder that tries to invade from the inside of the cylindrical container to the outside of the system is blocked by the cone and at the same time, The air flow flowing at high speed through the gap between the outer wall surface and the inner wall surface of the truncated cone and the gap between the base end of the cone and the bottom plate of the cylindrical container pushes it back into the cylindrical container, causing the problematic powder. Completely prevent the fall of. Further, unfortunately, a small amount of powder remaining under the truncated cone can be easily and completely removed by washing by removing the truncated cone.

Further, the powder in the cylindrical container flows by the air flow uniformly blown into the cylindrical container through the gap between the bottom of the truncated cone and the bottom of the cylindrical container. The flow of the powder is further effectively performed by the air flow ejected toward the bottom or the wall of the cylindrical container by the jet nozzle fixed to the truncated cone and the stirring by the stirring blades provided on the truncated cone.

Thus, when performing powder treatment using a fluidized bed such as fluidized bed drying, fluidized bed granulation, fluidized bed coating, etc., the mechanism is extremely simple, and especially GMP which is important in the fields of medicine and food.
We have completed a powder processing system with the structural features that efficiently and uniformly flow the fluidizing air into the container without causing the above problems and form an ideal fluidized bed. is there.

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION The present invention contributes to the development of the industry by providing an apparatus that has a simple mechanism and effectively forms a fluidized bed, particularly in the fields where GMP is important, such as pharmaceuticals, foods and agricultural chemicals. The place to do is extremely large.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 to 5 are schematic longitudinal sectional views of a powder processing apparatus according to the present invention, and FIGS. 6 and 8 are transverse sectional views of a jet nozzle and a stirring blade. FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a stirring blade provided with a particle size regulating member, and FIG. 10 is a plan view thereof. (1) ... Cylindrical container, (2) ... Conical body, (3) ... Air flow path, (5) ... Axis, (6) ... Frustum cone, (7) ... Labyrinth flow path, (8) …… Air diffusion gap, (9) …… Intake port, (10) …… Spray nozzle, (11) …… Bag filter, (12) …… Exhaust port, (13) (14) …… Vane , (15) …… Nozzle nozzle, (17) …… Agitation blade, (20) …… Particle sizing member.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification number Reference number within the agency FI Technical indication location F26B 3/08 9140-3L (72) Inventor Yoshiyuki Asaba No. 7 Noboitocho, Koshigaya City, Saitama Prefecture (72) Kenichi Kasuya, Inventor 7-8-10 Toshima, Kita-ku, Tokyo 103

Claims (4)

[Claims] Claims: 1. A powder in which air is blown from the bottom of a cylindrical container containing the powder to make the powder in a fluidized state and to be subjected to treatments such as granulation and coating, or to dry wet powder. In the processing apparatus, the bottom plate of the cylindrical container is provided with a hollow conical body whose height gradually increases toward the center, and an upward opening is provided, and an air supply source outside the system is provided inside the conical body. While forming an air flow path communicating with the, the pivot that is rotatably supported in the substantially central portion of the cylindrical container, is hollow with an inclined wall facing the outer wall surface of the conical body, and the upper is The closed truncated truncated cone is fixed, and the whole circumference between the outer wall surface of the cone and the inner wall surface of the cone is directed from above the inside of the cone to the outer peripheral portion of the inclined wall of the cone. A powder processing apparatus having a labyrinth flow path extending in a vertical direction. 2. The powder processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein radial or spiral blades are fixed to the inner surface of the inclined wall of the truncated cone as an air outflow promoting member. The powder processing apparatus according to. 3. The powder processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the truncated cone is provided with an air-jet nozzle which communicates with an air supply source and jets air into a cylindrical container. The powder processing apparatus according to item 1. 4. The powder processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a stirring blade is fixed to an outer peripheral wall portion of the inclined wall of the truncated cone in the powder processing apparatus.