The capsule polishing and sorting machine is a key equipment in the solid dosage production line, which can ensure the appearance quality and drug safety of capsule drugs. From a functional point of view, it is dedicated to removing dust from the capsule surface, removing defective products and improving the finish of the product.
The specific role is mainly reflected in the first that the capsule shell is prone to scratches, pits and spots during the filling and transportation process. The defects of the capsule shell can be repaired by capsule polishing.
Second, the tiny dust generated by the friction between the capsule and the equipment may also cause the risk of microbial breeding. The dust on the surface of the capsule can be removed by capsule polishing. Third, after a large number of capsules are filled and sealed, there may be impurities such as metal debris and plastic fragments attached to the production environment. Therefore, the role of polishing and sorting is to remove this foreign body risk.
From a technical comparison, even if manual sorting is low-cost, there is a high rate of inaccuracy in naked eye inspection. Using intelligent technology to polish and sort capsules is a correct choice in the long run.
Technical Working Principle of Capsule Polishing Machine
The capsule polishing and sorting machine is the core equipment in the production of solid preparations. It ensures the appearance quality and medication safety of capsules through the collaborative work of multiple modules.
Negative Pressure Dust Removal System
The negative pressure dust removal system achieves all-round removal from macro particles to micro dust through the triple effects of physical sweeping, pneumatic stripping and vacuum adsorption. The core of its design lies in graded processing and dynamic balance: the mechanical cleaning efficiency of the brush group can reach 85%, the compressed air nozzle is used for directional treatment of residual dust in the gap, and the negative pressure air duct is used to achieve a dust-free working environment. The system dust removal efficiency exceeds 98%, and the residual dust can meet the industry’s requirements for visible foreign matter control of solid preparations, eliminating the drug quality risks caused by surface contamination from the source.
Polishing Unit
The polishing unit adopts flexible contact and multi-level progressive bionic design to achieve surface modification while ensuring the integrity of the capsule structure. The elastic modulus of the silicone polishing wheel accurately matches the mechanical properties of different capsule materials. Through pressure gradient adjustment, the roughness of the capsule surface is improved, and the glossiness is increased by more than 60%. The intervention of the temperature control module further expands the compatibility of the equipment, so that gelatin, HPMC, pullulan and other material capsules can all achieve ideal polishing effects, completely replacing the traditional manual wiping process.
Sorting System
The visual inspection system equipped in the equipment can identify defects on the surface of the capsule, such as pits and cracks. Then, through the weight screening dynamic weighing sensor, capsules with large weight deviations and non-standard weights are eliminated.
The Precautions for Capsule Polisher
Standard operation of capsule polishing machine is the key link to ensure production safety and product quality. During use, it is necessary to strictly abide by the operating procedures, pay attention to environmental adaptation and risk prevention, ensure efficient and stable operation of the equipment, and fully implement personnel safety and compliance management requirements.
Preparation before Operation
Before officially starting the machine, we need to confirm whether the equipment’s polishing wheel, brush, pneumatic nozzle and other parts are firmly installed and whether there is any wear or deformation. Check the air duct smoothness and filter cleanliness of the negative pressure dust removal system. Verify the accuracy of the weighing module of the sorting system and the stability of the visual inspection light source.
Adjust the polishing pressure and speed according to the capsule material (gelatin/HPMC), and set the sorting threshold (such as weight deviation ±7%, defect size ≥0.5mm) to avoid excessive rejection or missed detection.
Production Process Control
When operating the capsule polisher, it is best to control the temperature and humidity of the workshop to prevent the capsule from absorbing moisture or electrostatically adsorbing dust. Regularly monitor the dust concentration in the polishing area to ensure the effective operation of the dust removal system.
Operators must wear dust masks and goggles to avoid contact with high-speed rotating parts. Ensure that the emergency stop button must be accessible at any time and test its response time to less than 2 seconds.
Check the processed capsules and check whether the surface roughness, glossiness and weight deviation of each batch of capsules meet the standards. Record the scrap data of the sorting system and analyze the main defect types (such as cracks and weight abnormalities) to optimize the upstream process.
Maintenance and Cleaning
After shutdown, clean the capsule debris left in the gap of the polishing wheel in time to prevent accumulation from affecting the balance. Lubricate the moving parts such as bearings and guide rails every week (use food-grade lubricants).
It is important to remember that the silicone polishing wheel should be replaced every 500 hours to avoid surface scratches caused by decreased elasticity. The high-efficiency filter of the dust removal system should be replaced every 3 months to prevent wind pressure attenuation.
During deep cleaning, use dust-free cloth and 75% ethanol to wipe the inside of the equipment, especially the detection window and weighing tray of the sorting system, and avoid washing electrical components with water to prevent short circuits.
Where to Buy Capsule Polishing Machine
When choosing a capsule polishing and sorting machine, you need to consider the following aspects:
- Compatibility with capsules
- Equipment performance
- Production standards
- Equipment price
- Supplier qualifications
Usually, choosing a reliable supplier can solve most of your concerns. As an innovative leader in the field of capsule production equipment, SED Pharma has always taken technology research and development as its core driving force, focusing on providing full-chain intelligent solutions for global pharmaceutical companies. From high-precision capsule filling machines, multi-stage cascade control polishing and sorting systems to automated packaging lines, we have built an integrated equipment matrix covering “raw material processing → filling → polishing → quality inspection → packaging”, fully adapting to the differentiated production needs of hard capsules, soft capsules and special function capsules.
Therefore, if you are looking to buy a capsule polisher, please contact us today to get a quote!
