A softer touch

New, gentle approach to tablet conveying introduced

Conveying speed control technology is the key to the success of a new tablet conveyor. piGentle from Piab sets out to redefine the automated conveying of the pharmaceutical industry's delicate tablets as it sits at the core of the piFlow, the industry's first dedicated tablet conveyor. piGentle adapts the conveying speed to suit individual products, ensuring that tablets are not damaged or chipped.

”The secret of careful vacuum handling lies in a controlled low and constant speed as tablets are transferred from one place to another. This new system has been specifically designed to ensure that a continuous and gentle flow of tablets is maintained throughout the entire conveying system,” explains Jarno Tahvanainen, vice president of Piab's Material Handling division.

A patent application has been filed for the PiGentle technology that regulates the feed pressure of the pump by sensing the vacuum level in the system. As tablets fill up the pipe line, the vacuum level increases, triggering an increase in feed pressure. The solution will regulate the feed pressure between 2 and 6bar.

A low start pressure allows tablets to be picked up at low speed. The start level can be manually adjusted to suit specific products, according to their size, shape and weight. The piFlow/piGentle technology has undergone extensive testing at Piab's experimental facility in Taby, Sweden. Excellent results have been achieved for several different types of pharmaceutical tablets and capsules.

Due to the use of flexible hoses and the compact design of piFLOW, a minimum installation space is required, making it a versatile solution. The system can handle conveying distances of up to 20m between the feeding point and discharge without a drop in capacity.

Tablets are gently guided into the conveyor through a specially designed flow-guiding flap. This enables a smooth transition between the conveying pipeline and the conveyor inlet. The flap angles the tablets in a tangential direction to the interior walls of the conveyor, allowing them to spiral down and decelerate over time.

The inlet is designed without sharp edges in the direction of flow, giving the material free passage without damage.

Because the piFLOW system is modular, it can be designed specifically according to the end user’s requirements. For example, to minimise the building height the pump can be placed remotely and the material transported to a pre-separator. This way it also separates dust from the tablet stream. The system also comes in several capacity ranges, to meet the specific customer requirements.

This new solution is an extension to the company’s popular range of conveyors for powder and bulk materials, and is specially developed to meet the stringent demands regarding operational safety and hygiene within the pharmaceutical, food and chemical industries.

Pic: piFLOW_press.tif

Caption if needed; piGentle aims to redefine the automated conveying of the pharmaceutical industry's delicate tablets as it sits at the core of the piFlow system

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