| 摘要 |
956,558. Pharmaceutical granules. GLAXO GROUP Ltd. Sept. 2, 1960 [Sept. 10, 1959], No. 30964/59. Heading A5B. [Also in Divisions A2, B5 and F4] Powdery materials such as pharmaceutical products which may contain a binding agent, e.g. magnesium stearate, are granulated or agglomerated by first forming them into individual masses of contiguous particles which are then subjected to steam treatment and thereafter drying to form coherent granules or agglomerates, the steam-treatment and drying steps being carried out in a manner such that there is no substantial relative movement between the contiguous particles of each individual mass. The steam with which the steam treatment is carried out is free from droplets larger than 0.1 mm. in diameter, and the drying step is conducted using hot air and/or radiant heat. Individual masses of contiguous particles of material deposited by a granulator 18 on a plastic or plastic-covered belt 8 are treated in a lagged chamber 19 with steam issuing from a number of tubes 68, are dried during their passage through a lagged chamber 20 by an electric radiant heater 79 and a current of hot air from a tunnel 80, and the dried granules or agglomerates are directed by a spring-tensioned scraper 93 into a quickly moving stream of cold air in the duct 88 by which they are conveyed to a cyclone for collection. The steam chamber 19 has a steam-heated jacket 65 and a detachable inspection plate 92 heated by steam pipes 91. The material may be forcibly fed into duct 88 by a worm to subdivide the granules or agglomerates into smaller masses. The material may, for example, remain in the steam chamber for 4-11 seconds and in the drying chamber for 5-16 seconds, the average temperature in the drying chamber being 175- 190‹ C. and the temperature of the heated air flow to the drying chamber being 100-110‹ C. Specification 810,813 is referred to. |
