Design Qualification of Blister Packing Machine (Model – BQS)

DESIGN QUALIFICATION (DQ) of Blister Packing Machine (BQS)

TABLE OF CONTENT

  • Objective
  • Scope
  • Responsibility
  • Machine description
  • Technical specification
  • Technical specifications and make of sub-components/ bought out items.
  • Details of Utilities
  • Identification of components for calibration
  • Material of construction of all components
  • Safety features and alarms
  • FAT procedure
  • Change control procedure
  • Qualification Document report approval
  • Appendix
  • OBJECTIVE

To design, engineer, and supply the Blister Packing Machine (Model: BQS) as per the URS and to ensure that it complies with the Scope of Supply.

To prove that each operation proceeds as per the design specification and the tolerances prescribed there in the document are the same at utmost transparency. Validation procedure is set for complete satisfaction of the customer & building confidence of the user in the machine.

  • SCOPE

The scope of this qualification document is limited to the Design Qualification of Blister Packing Machine (Model – BQS) for the Pam Pac Machines Pvt. Ltd.  This qualification document is part of a validation activity for the Blister Packing Machine (Model – BQS).

Qualification of support utilities is not within the scope of this qualification document.

The equipment shall be used for the blister format drawings and the change parts there of – as supplied by the above supplier. The equipment shall operate under dust free environment and conditions as per the GMP requirements.

  • RESPONSIBILITIES
    • CLIENT
      • To check and approve the design qualification.
    • MANUFACTURER
      • To design, engineer and provide the complete technical details of the equipment pertaining to its design qualification viz.
        • Machine overview
        • General arrangement drawing.
        • Specifications of the sub-components/ bought out items, and their make, model & quantity, and backup records/ brochures.
        • Details of Utilities,
        • Identification of components for calibration
        • Material of construction of all components
        • Brief process description
        • Safety features and alarms
      • To facilitate the client for the Factory acceptance test of the machine at their works/ site.
      • To confirm the safe delivery of the equipment to the user site.
      • To ensure that no un-authorized and / or unrecorded design modifications shall take place. If at any point in time, any change is desired in the mutually agreed design, Change control procedure shall be followed and documented.
      • To ensure the proper installation and commissioning of the equipment.
  • MACHINE DESCRIPTION

Pam-Pac’s Blister Packing Machine consist of following major stations

  • Forming foil unwinding station

This station is provided for various types of forming foils like PVC, PVDC, and Alu-Alu etc. Foil is clamped by the leading screw. The center distance with respect to base plate face is 170 mm, which can be maintained with the help of adjusting screw. The tension on the foil can be adjusted by the spring provided from backside. Foil unwinding operation is carried out with help of separate drive motor. To have a constant pressure on the foil operating of drive is controlled by the sensors.

  • Forming foil sensor

A lever type of sensor is fitted on the foil guide roller which will show the presence / non-presence of foil. In case of foil is fully consumed or foil is broken then there will be an indication on the MMI as ” FOIL END ” and machine will stop in Run mode

  • Base foil splicing station

Two clamps are fitted on the splicing plate which hold the base foil for which splicing is to be done. Foils are to be cut by paper knife and join with help of adhesive tape. The joint detection sensor is provided which sense the joint and reject the blister automatically with the help of program in the PLC. The joint should be always on the top side. 

  • Heating station

Heating station is required to heat the forming foil in case of PVC-Alu blister formats. Two heating plates are provided i.e. bottom and top side. For both the plates temp. is kept @ 110 – 125 degree C. depending upon the size of the foil and cavity size .

To avoid the sticking of forming foil with heating plates, teflon coating is provided on heating plates. Top heating plate is operated with the help of pneumatic cylinder. Bottom heating plate and top heating plate are with embedded type heater.

  • Dedicated feeding station (Optional)

This station consist of hopper ,linear vibrator and rotary vibrator. Product material is put into the hopper which is of 50 Lt. capacity. From hopper the product transferred into the linear vibrator, which vibrates with the help of electro magnetic coils. The vibrations are controlled by the sensor provided in the rotary vibrator. The vibration level can be changed with the help of vibrator controller. From linear vibrator the product is transferred into the rotary vibrator. The vibration level in rotary vibrator is controlled by controller. In case of PVC-Alu. formats from rotary vibrator the product is fed into the formed cavities with the help of either continues filling shoe or through feeder springs. In case of Alu-Alu format, product is fed into the feeding drum cavities and further the product is dropped into the formed cavities from drum.

  • Forming station

PVC – Alu forming

This station consists of bottom plate, top plate, bottom forming plate, blowing plate and other pneumatic parts. The heated foil is clamped by the hydraulic pressure (90-100 Bar) with Power Pack and the air is blown from blowing plate ( 6 Bar ).Operation of clamping the plates and blowing the air is done through electronic timings.

Alu – Alu forming – ( Optional )

This station consists of bottom plate, top plate, bottom-forming plate, plugs mounting plate. Heating of base foil is not required. The forming of the blister cavities is done with the help of plugs mounted on upper plate These plugs are operated by the pneumatic cylinder (Pressure – 6 Bar).

  • Overprinting station (Optional)

This station is used to give batch code printing provision on the blister. The ink used is DIPL 33 and thinner is DIPL 20 for the ink cartridge. The stereos are fixed on the stereo roller and foil is passed through the stereo roller and pressure roller to get the impressions of stereos on the foil.

  • Print registration system (Optional)

Basically this system is provided to maintain position of the particular print matter on the Al.foil to the forming pocket. The eye mark on the Al.foil is sensed by the print mark scanner in every cycle and the correction is done by pulling roller so that the matter on the lidding foil matches with particular pocket or with particular blister.

  • Non filled detection system (NFD) (Optional)

Basically this system is provided to detect any non-filled blisters. Each and every pocket of the blister is sensed by the sensor. After getting the signal, the empty blisters are rejected by the suckers provided in the pick up station which are connected to the pneumatic line and the vacuum line.

  • Sealing station

This station consist of bottom plate, top plate, bottom sealing plate, top sealing plate, heater plate and pneumatic parts. To match sealing station with formed blister, sealing station can be adjusted with the help of allen key. After station gets closed, the hydraulic pressure operates and sealing takes place. The temp. of the top sealing plate is kept from 180- 200 degree C. depending upon the format size. The hydraulic pressure is same like forming station as operated by same Power Pack.

  • Cooling station

Cooling station is used to cool the sealed web immediately after sealing. This station consist of top plate, bottom plate and the change part cooling plate. The web is guided in between top plate and the change part cooling plate. The bottom plate is operated in every cycle and the operation is controlled by the pneumatic cylinder, which is operated by PLC.

  • Pulling station

The pulling station is used to pull the sealed web in continues motion. The web is pulled by pulling roller and the thrust roller.  In this the speed of the pulling roller is synchronized with main cam.

  • Embossing cum perforation station –  ( Optional )

This station is provided to do the embossing ( for providing batch no. etc.) and making perforation on the blister as per the requirements. The perforation cum embossing is a change part which consist of sliding plate, moving plate and fixed plate. In case of only embossing, embossing unit is a basic part of the machine and the spacers with embossing tools with holder is a change part. This station is operated by eccentric. The speed synchronization is done with help of Servo motor.

  • Indexing station

This station pushes the sealed web into the punching station with the help of indexing roller which is a part of change part. The stroke (equal to blister width) is set with help of indexing change gears.

  • Punching station

Punching unit is operated with the help of eccentric and levers. This unit consist of  punch , cutting plate and support plate which is a change part as per the size of the blister. The speed synchronization is done with help of Servo motor.

  • Pick up station

This system is provided to pick up the blisters after cutting operation. This system is operated with pneumatic pressure and vacuum. Good blisters (filled) are accepted and picked up by the suction cups provided and dropped in 90 degree. The half filled blisters are picked up and dropped at 45 degree into the rejected bin.

  • Control panel / switch board

MMI  panel and control box is provided on the machine to carry out the following functions.

  • Control of forming and sealing temp.
  • Control of vibrator and feeder motor speed
  • Control of main motor speed.
  • To regulate the power supply
  • Contactors and drives are fitted in control panel.
  • Brief Process Description

General Function

Blister packing machine BQS is a flat bed compressed air forming and flat sealing continuous motion machine suitable for blister packing of tablets/hard gelatine capsules / soft gelatine capsules and cavity depth upto 12mm.

BQS can handle PVC/PVDC & ALU. -ALU. as base films for forming the cavities. Aluminum foil or Paper foil is used for sealing the cavities & suitable lacquer is used to seal the film to base foil. 

Working

In case of thermoplastic PVC/PVDC thermoplastic as base foil, cavities are formed by compressed air normally 4-6 bar after heating the foil in heating station at 120 ° C. This web is formed in continuous motion through forming & sealing station & pulled by pulling roller. Forming & sealing stations carry out the shuttle movement. Formed web is then sealed in sealing station with suitable foil.

After sealing, sealed web is passed through perforation /embossing station & then to punching station for cutting the blister. Different types of product infeed systems are used for feeding the product in cavities at higher speed in continuous motion.

The machine is designed for single or twin lane operation .Its output depends on type of product, its layout & arrangement of stripes in one stroke as well as infeed of the products into the cavities.

All systems are selected to produce the maximum output of the quality blister stripes. The machine is also designed to handle special type of films like Alu-Alu with additional parts. 

Following are the forming techniques used in BQS Compressed air forming:

Flat bed machines are normally designed with compressed air forming.

Thermoplastic film is heated by flat heating plates at 120 –130 ° C & then passed in forming station to form the cavities .In forming station compressed air with 4-6 bar is blown on hot film which is clamped between forming & blowing plates.

Cavities formed by this process are stiff at bottom side compare to vacuum forming  & also very less temperature is required to form the cavities as cavity formation process is very fast.

Plug assisted air forming:

In plug assist air compressed forming, first partial forming takes place by inserting the plug into the cavity with the heated PVC web and then the compressed air is injected from the sides of the plug for cavity forming. In plug assist forming cavity formed is of more uniform thickness and thickness achieved is more compared to vacuum forming and compressed air forming. Mainly it is recommended for deep cavities.

Cold forming (ALU. -ALU. Blister forming):

In recent years a new base film is developed having extremely good barrier properties for hydroscopic products or products affected by light.  In cold forming, forming takes place with help of plugs (Metallic or Teflon) which are pressed with very high pressure against firmly clamped ALU-ALU film (special type Multi layered film). Blister produced with this type of forming gives very good barrier properties & product stability. Packing cost is comparatively high.

Forming temperature Air Compressed forming & Plug Assisted forming

Type of Forming – Compressed air forming

Forming Temp Range – 110   –  130

Pressure  4 -6  Bar Pressure

Type of Forming – Plug assist air Forming

Forming Temp Range – 85  –  110

Pressure –4- 6   Bar Pressure

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Model – BQS

Type- Thermoforming Blister Packing Machine

Weight

Basic machine – 2500 kg approx.

Packing case -3400 kg approx.

Dimension –4500L X 1900W X 2000H

Output

45 Cycles/min. for PVC/ALU forming

35 Cycles/min. for ALU/ALU forming

200 cycles / min. in punching station.

Forming area

240 x 180 mm

Max. Draw depth 12 mm

Max. Draw of Length 180 mm.

Max. Roll Diameter (Forming Film)

450 mm x 252 mm width

74 – 76 mm core dia.

Max. Roll Diameter (Lidding Foil)

250 mm x 246 mm width

74 – 76 mm core dia.

Suitable Working   Temperature range

5 to 40 Degree C.

Noise Level 

70 db (approx.)

Suitable Humidity range for the machine

40 – 70 %

Electrical Supply   Requirement

Supply Voltage: 415 V AC +/- 10% Phase + Earth

Supply Frequency: 50 Hz +/- 2%

Power Consumption: Average: 7 KW

Peak: 14 KW.

Compressed Air Requirement

30-35 CFM at 7-8 bar near the machine.

Water requirement

Chilled water at 18-20 + / – 2 degree C

(Flow 16 Liters/min)

Cooling Capacity –4500 Kcal/hr.

 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS OF COMPONENTS & SUB- COMPONENTS USED / BOUGHT OUTS.

 Sub assembly Name = PVC Unwinding station

Manufacturer = Pam Pac Machines

PVC Unwinding motor

Make -Technocraft

HP -0.15 HP

RPM -1400 RPM

Voltage -415 V AC

Phase – Three Ph.

Quantity -1 No.

Rubber ring

Material -Silicon Rubber

Size -50 X 5

Quantity -2 Nos.

Base foil Joint Detection Sensor

Make -Datalogic

Model -TL 10

Specification -PNP / 24 V DC

Quantity -1 No.

Sensor for Dancing lever

Type – Inductive

Specification -M10

Quantity -2 No.

Sub assembly Name = Heating station

Heating Plate (Bottom)

Material -Al. Casting (LM 9)

Treatment -Teflon coating

Quantity -1No.

Heating plate top

Material -Al. Casting (LM 9)

Watt -W

Quantity -1No.

Pneumatic Cylinder (Tendom)

Make -Festo

Size – 25 x 30

Quantity -1 No.

Pneumatic Cylinder

Make -Festo

Size -50 x 25

Quantity -1 No.

Sub assembly Name = Forming station,   Manufacturer = Pam Pac Machines

Top Plate

Material – LM 6 ( Alloy )

Treatment – Anodizing

Quantity -1 No.

Bottom Plate

Material -IS 734 Al. Alloy

Treatment – Anodizing

Quantity -1 No.

Power pack

Make -Zeon Make

Working pressure -160 Bar

Motor make -Bharat Bijali

Motor HP -5 HP

Phase -3 Ph.

Voltage -415 V AC

RPM -1440 RPM

Quantity -1 No.

Hydraulic

Valve

Make -CETOP

Voltage -24 V

Quantity -1 No.

Hydraulic

Cylinder

Part No. -GPP 726

Make -IPH

Size -Dia. 80×15

Quantity -1 No.

Hopper

Material -SS 316

Finish -Buffed RA 0.2

Capacity -50 Ltrs.

Quantity -1 No.

Linear

Vibrator

Material -SS 316

Finish -Buffed RA 0.2

Quantity -1 No.

Vibrator Controller ( Linear )

Make -Sai Control

Voltage -230 V 3 A

Vibrator

Controller

( Rotary )

Make -Sai Control

Voltage -230 V 3 A

Vibrator

Coil

( Linear )

Make -Jadhav Brothers

Voltage -230 V

Watt -180 W

Vibrator

Coil

( Rotary )

Make-Feedtech

Voltage -230 V

Watt -180 W

Distributor

plate

Material -SS 316

Finish -Matt

Vibrator

Strips

Material -58 CRV 4

Hardness -40 – 45 HRC

Treatment -Blackodising

Aluminum Roll unwinding Motor

Make -Siemens

HP -0.25 HP

RPM -1380 RPM

Voltage -415 V AC

Phase -3 Ph.

Gear for

unwinding

Material -Hylum

Quantity -1 No.

Sub assembly Name = Sealing station, Manufacturer = Pam Pac Machines

Top Plate 

Material -Al-H 20 T 6

Treatment -Anodizing

Bottom plate

Material -Al-H 20 T 6

Treatment – Anodizing

Power pack 

Make -Zeon

Working pressure -160 Bar

Motor make -Bharat Bijali

Motor HP -5 HP

Phase -3 Ph.

Voltage -415 V AC

RPM

1440 RPM

Hydraulic valve 

Make -CETOP

Voltage -24 V

Heater plate

Material -LM-9

Hardness -120 BHN 

Treatment -GBB

Hydraulic Cylinder

Make -IPH

Size -Dia. 80 x 15

Sub assembly Name = Cooling station ,    Manufacturer = Pam Pac Machines

Bracket

Material

LM 16

Hardness

90-100 BHN

Treatment

GBB

Top Plate

Material

H9 T6

Treatment

GBB

Bottom plate 

Material

H9 T6

Treatment

GBB

Sub assembly Name = Overprinting station, Manufacturer = Pam Pac Machines

Ink Cartridge

Size -Dia.50 X 245 Lg.

Ink type -DIPL 39

Thinner type -DIPL 20

Pressure roller

Material -M. S.

Treatment -BNP

DETAILS OF UTILITIES

Equipment Name – Blister Packing Machine

Equipment Model – BQS

The following utilities are required

Compressed Air ( Dry )

Pressure – 7 to 8 Kg / Sq.cm

Capacity  – 30 to 35 CFM.

Chilled water 

Cooling Capacity -4500 KCAL / hr.

Temp. – 18 to 20 Degree C

Flow rate – 15-20 Liters / min.

Elect. Supply

415 V, 50 Hz.

Average 7 KW

Peak 14 KW.

Cable

5C X 6 Sq. Mm- Copper cable

4 Sq. mm

Sub assembly Name = Punching and perforation station,  Manufacturer = Pam Pac Machines

Cutting plate (change part) 

Material – HCHCr

Hardness – 58-60 HRC

Treatment – Blackodising

Punch (change part)

Material – HCHCr

Hardness – 58-60 HRC

Treatment – Blackodising

Change gear (Change part) 

Material -EN8 / SAE 8620

Hardness -55-60 HRC

Treatment -Blackodising

Sub assembly Name = Punching and perforation station, Manufacturer = Pam Pac Machines

Moving plate (Change part) 

Material – EN-8

Treatment – Blackodising

Sliding plate (Change part)

Material – M.S.

Treatment – Blackodising

Support plate (Change part)

Material – H9 T6

Treatment – Anodized

Sub assembly Name = Pick up station,   Manufacturer = Pam Pac Machines

Vacuum pump 

Make – Indovac

Capacity – 500 LPM

Pressure – 25 ” of Hg.

Vacuum pump motor

Make – Hindustan

Supply voltage – 415 V AC

HP – 2 HP

RPM – 1410 RPM

Phase – 3 Ph.

Suction Cup 

Make – IWKA

Material – Polyurethane

Good bad sorting chute

 Material- SS 304

Suction wheel 

Material – Nylon

IDENTIFICATION OF COMPONENTS FOR CALIBRATION

In the Thermoforming Blister Packing Machine model BQS, the following are the components, which need calibration. They shall be calibrated during/ before the installation of the equipment at the site.

The following are the components:
  1. Temperature controller for sealing station
  2. Temperature controller for forming station
  3. Vibrator controller for linear vibrator
  4. Vibrator controller for Rotary vibrator
  5. Temperature controller (Heating plate top)
  6. Temperature controller (Heating plate bottom)
  7. Temperature sensor (Inlet water temp.)
  8. Vacuum Gauge
  9. All pressure gauges (main pressure)

MATERIAL OF CONSTRUCTION

Main frame – M. S.

Cladding covers  – SS 304

Hopper -S.S 316

Distributor plate -SS 316

Linear vibrator -SS 316

Feeding sector – Al. Anodized

Good Bad Sorting Chute – SS 304

SAFETY FEATURES AND ALARMS

    • Safety interlocks have been incorporated for :
    • The acrylic guards
    • The safety switches are provided for protection from the moving parts. In case any of the above are opened in run mode the machine will immediately stop.
    • Provision of emergency stops

Emergency switches are provided at common working places of the machine on the MMI box.

  • All the electrical / electronics components are mounted in a fully enclosed cabinet.  This provides proper safety from live parts.
  • All components are having proper earthing.
  • Operator accessible area i.e. MMI, Console, safety interlocks, switches and sensors etc. Are given 24 VDC supply.
  • All moving parts are housed in an enclosed cabinet having two doors with locking arrangement and safety interlock. 
  • SAFETY FEATURES AND ALARMS IN RUN MODE

Sensor for forming foil

-Foil end

-Foil consumed / broken

-Machine stops at zero position

Air pressure

-Low air pressure

-Air pressure bellow 5 Bar

-Machine stops at zero position

Water pressure

-Low water pressure

-No water supply

-Machine stops at zero position

Machine guard

-Guard open

-Forming/sealing station guard not closed properly

-Machine stops at zero position

Vacuum pump

-Vacuum pump off

-Vacuum pump shut off

-Machine stops at zero position

Low temp.- forming

-Temp. is low

-When the actual temp.is less than 15 degree C.

-Machine stops at zero position

Low temp.- sealing

-Temp. is low

-When the actual temp.is less than 20 degree C.

-Machine stops at zero position

High temp.- forming

-Temp. is high

-When the actual temp.is more than 20 degree C.

-Machine stops at zero position

High temp.- sealing

-Temp. is high

-When the actual temp. is more than 20 degree C.

-Machine stops at zero position

Eye mark

-Eye mark missing

-Continues 5 eye mark not sensed by scanner

-Machine stops at zero position

Buzzer

-Buzzer operates

-Continuously product missing

-Buzzer operates

Sealing thermocouple

-Thermocouple open

-Thermocouple is open for more than 3 min.

-Machine stops at zero position

Sensor for lidding foil

-Foil end

-Foil consumed / broken when clutch is ON

-Machine stops at zero position

Emergency off

-Emergency off

-Pressed Emergency push button

-Machine stops instantly

Water pressure

-No heating, No water

-When water flow is off

-Machine stops at zero position

Overload

-Machine overload

-When there is mechanical load on the machine

-Machine stops at zero position

MCB

-MCB Trip

-Any MCB trip

-Machine stops at zero position

Air blowing – sealing

-Air blows while machine is in stopped condition

Air blowing – Punching

-Air blows while machine is in running condition

Indexing

-Indexing overload

-Web slipped during indexing and sensed web

-Machine stops at zero position

FAT PROCEDURE

Factory Acceptance Test Procedure shall be as follows:

After the completion of erection work of the machine, client shall be informed to perform the factory acceptance test (FAT).

Client shall perform the FAT at the manufacturer site and record all the data in the prescribed FAT document as per the details given below:

  1. Functioning of Machine operating panel with MMI
  2. Interlocks and safety features provided.
  3. Details of major components fitted on the machine
  4. Carry out product run and fill test criteria with product.
  5. Check deficiency and corrective action taken report.
  6. Fill up chart of pre-requisites of installation.
  • CHANGE CONTROL PROCEDURE:

Change in the agreed design shall be addressed through the well-defined Change control procedure. 

  • DESIGN QUALIFICATION REPORT APPROVAL