Working Principle of Auto Coater Machine

Working Principle of Auto Coater Machine

The film to be coated on the tablet is in liquid form before the process is started so the liquid is filled in the solution tank. The liquid is stirred well in the solution tank and then pumped into the coating pan. The coating pan is perforated and holds a batch of tablets that are to be coated. A set of spray guns are present at the center to spray the coating liquid on the tablets. The coating pan is able to rotate on its axis.

Hot air is passed in from a hot air blower which is passed through a series of filters to remove impurities. The filters used are a washable filter, pre-filter, and HEPA filter. The air from the blower is not hot initially so a steam heater is used to heat the air before passing it into the coating pan. The machine is operated by PLC controls from the control panel.

In the coating process, the tablets or similar products that are to be coated with film coating are filled in the coating pan. The coating liquid is pumped from the solution tank into the coating pan. The spray guns spray the tablets with atomized particles of the coating solution as the perforated coating pan is rotated so that the entire batch of tablets is evenly coated. Simultaneously, the hot air from the blower is passed into the drum at negative pressure which dries the sprayed coating evenly and rapidly which then causes it to become a solid and smooth surface film on each of the tablets.

The air is then exited from the perforated coating pan and moves to the exhaust system. The exhaust system consists of an exhaust blower to send the exit air from the coating pan to the external environment. The exhaust system consists of a dust collector which is also called a scrubber. In some systems, wet scrubbers are used to filter the particulates in the exhaust. The liquid droplets within the wet scrubber absorb the particulate matter thereby filtering the exhaust air before release.

Di-iodohydroxyquinoline Tablet

The auto coater consists of a control system

  • A hot air filtering system,
  • Coating pan
  • Solution tank, and
  • Exhaust system.

What is Auto Coating?

Auto coater or automatic coating machine is an apparatus that is used to coat surfaces of small particles with a thin film of coating substance.

The auto coater is used to coat the tablets. The tablets are sprayed with a coating as the tablets move on in a device and then hot filtered air is passed so that the applied coat dries immediately to form a thin layer of coating on the tablet surface.

Coating

It is the application of a coating solution to the rotating bed of tablets with the application of hot air to facilitate evaporation /A compound or multiple layers over the tablet or granules is called a coating.  

Applications

  • Auto-Coater is used in pharmaceutical industries for coating tablets.
  • In food industries candies are coated with sugar using auto coater.
  • Various types of coating are possible like film coating with an organic solvent, enteric coating, and aqueous coating.
  • Film coating to cover the unpleasant taste of tablets.

Parts Auto Coater Parts Installation Advantages Features Specification

  • Automated Control System
  • Electric Motors
  • Touch Screen Operation Panel
  • Guide Plate
  • Peristaltic Pump
  • Spraying System
  • Pan Cooling Surface
  • Auto Coater
  • Spray guns are the major parts of any auto coaters that are used in the industry

Filter integrity machine

Installation of Auto coater

The auto coater is placed in the allocated location in the process area.

Power connections for the functioning of the equipment are done.

Connections for air inlet and outlet are made.

The liquid to be coated is filled in the liquid container and then the machine is turned on.

The rotational speed of the machine is adjusted.

The working temperature and pressure of the process are maintained and controlled externally as per the requirements.

Advantages of Auto-Coater

Clean and automated coating system which prevents dust entry into the coating zone.

The production rate is very high due to the high degree of automation.

Reduced weight of the final product because of thinner film coating compared to other coating types.

Allows easier consumption of product due to film coating. o Flexible batch operations are possible.

The film coating increases the effective period of the drug.

Features

User-friendly control and operation by modern control systems.

High atomizing and flexible spray guns for the coating process.

Spraying is done from different angles as per requirement.

High-tech control systems to regulate the temperature and pressure conditions within the coating zone.

Viewport for visual observation of the coating process.

The perforated pan has larger openings for a high-quality coating finish.

Dust collection system for exhaust air having scrubber, exhaust blower, and filter.

Some auto coaters have a rotating perforated drum for moving the particles while the coating is done.

 Safety Features

The auto coater has an Overload pressure release mechanism.

The auto coater has an Emergency stop button.

The auto coater has Separate production and technical areas.

The auto coater has a perforated pan designed to prevent the breaking up of tablets during rotation.

Specifications

  • Pan Diameter,
  • Approximate Working Capacity,
  • Pan Mouth Diameter
  • Pan Speed
  • Main Drive Motor
  • Inlet Air
  • Blower Motor
  • Inlet air
  • Steam Consumption,
  • Compressed Air

The working capacity of the auto coater ranges from 30 kg per batch to 500 kg per batch.

MFR of Rabeprazole Sodium 20 mg Tablets

About Pharmaceutical Guidanace

Ms. Abha Maurya is the Author and founder of pharmaceutical guidance, he is a pharmaceutical Professional from India having more than 18 years of rich experience in pharmaceutical field. During his career, he work in quality assurance department with multinational company’s i.e Zydus Cadila Ltd, Unichem Laboratories Ltd, Indoco remedies Ltd, Panacea Biotec Ltd, Nectar life Science Ltd. During his experience, he face may regulatory Audit i.e. USFDA, MHRA, ANVISA, MCC, TGA, EU –GMP, WHO –Geneva, ISO 9001-2008 and many ROW Regularities Audit i.e.Uganda,Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe. He is currently leading a regulatory pharmaceutical company as a head Quality. You can join him by Email, Facebook, Google+, Twitter and YouTube

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