Wihin an IBC System the transfer of powder and tablets to and from the IBC
is often a complex operation and an area in which Buck Systems has become a
market leader.
Difficult flowing materials, product segregation, damage
and the need to transfer highly potent materials in a high-contained manner are
all challenges inherent with charging and discharging IBCs. Buck Systems'
unique technology developed by its team of skilled engineers offers practicable
highly solutions.
Manual or fully automatic, charging and discharging
stations can incorporate a number of different options including vibration for
difficult flowing products, air-blast of the valve face and dust extract, and
weighing and dosing options for accurate filling and discharging.
Advanced split butterfly valve technology
Buck® and Buck Systems are names which have become synonymous with supplying
high containment systems incorporating advanced split butterfly valve
technology. Buck Systems' charging and discharging stations use the patented
docking system technology available from its sister company Buck® GEA Pharma
Systems AG.
The Buck® Docking System uses two valves:
- The passive valve is the non-driven half located on the outlet and inlet of
the IBC, and
- The Active valve facilitates the docking and undocking of the two valve
halves and the opening and closing of the valve discs.
With the IBC loaded onto either the discharge or charging station, the
passive and the active valves dock. The two external faces of the valves are
sealed together to prevent dust contaminating the surfaces. Joint turning
allows powder to pass through the valve without the disc faces contacting
the product.
Difficult flowing products
The unique patented Vibroflow™ discharges even the most difficult flowing
products. Vibration is applied from the discharge station to the discharger
located in the container. Powder is prevented from bridging as vibration is
applied at the key area where bridging of powder occurs. The product flow
maintains a constant speed without hindrance, effectively removing the risk of
product segregation.
Accurate dosing system
Proportional control of the butterfly valve, linked into an integrated load
cell system, allows highly accurate IBC charging and discharging. Proportional
opening and closing pf the valve accurately controls the flow rate of product.
The weight of the IBC is fed back to the control system, and as the required
weight is reached the system gradually closes the valve to reduce flow of
material. Once the required weight has been reached, the valve is closed fully.
Buck Systems' dosing systems are of particular benefit during the dispensing
stage of the drug manufacturing process, where raw materials need to accurately
dosed into IBCs for recipe and batch formulation.
Containment to reduce Operator Exposure Levels (OEL)
Latest designs of discharging and charging stations can further reduce
Operator Exposure Levels (OEL) with the addition of the latest Ultra High
Containment (UHC) technology.
Product deceleration systems
A range of deceleration
systems have been developed by Buck Systems to improve control of solids
discharging between processes. These can either be stand-alone devices or an
additional feature of the discharge station. The decelerator provides a new
technique for feeding products at a controlled low velocity, therefore
eliminating segregation of powder or granular materials. Tablet or capsule
'outfeed' systems benefit from reduced breakage, chipping or mechanical damage,
resulting in increased production performance and reduced product rejects.
Mechanical and pneumatic decelerators are available. Both exert a
'pinch' at the top of the flexible product chute, preventing the product
falling. The 'pinch' is gradually released to allow product to fall at a
controlled speed.