Glatt Air Techniques, Inc.

Markus J Baettig

Bernhard Luy

David M Jones

John Patrick Kennedy

Frank Maurer

Richard Andrew Smith

Matthias Georg Tondar

A fluidized bed apparatus for applying a coating liquid onto the surface of particles includes a vertically disposed cylindrical product container having a peripheral wall, at least one cylindrical partition defining a centrally located up bed region and a peripherally located down bed region. The product container further includes an upper end connected to an expansion chamber and a lower end including an orifice plate having a plurality of openings for passage of fluidized air or gas. A nozzle is centrally located through the orifice plate and is adapted to generate a spray of coating liquid upwardly into the up bed. Particles located within the product container circulate upwardly through the partition and the coating liquid spray, between the up bed and the down bed. A central discharge assembly is provided at the lower end of the product containers for emptying particles from the machine. Air is preferably discharged from the manifold during the emptying process to help direct particles towards the discharge assembly.

Product discharge and cleaning assembly for an apparatus for coating tablets

A fluidized bed apparatus for applying a coating liquid onto the surface of particles includes a vertically disposed cylindrical product container having a peripheral wall, at least one cylindrical partition defining a centrally located up bed region and a peripherally located down bed region. A nozzle is centrally located through the orifice plate and is adapted to generate a spray of coating liquid upwardly into the up bed. A nozzle ramp is provided around the nozzle. The nozzle ramp is generally cusp shaped and includes nozzle-ramp surface. The nozzle ramp is centrally positioned around the nozzle and is directed upwardly towards the partition so that the nozzle-ramp surface directs particles moving generally horizontally across the orifice plate from the down bed upwardly into the partition and the up bed. The nozzle ramp may further include air passages for passing fluidized air upwardly to the nozzle-ramp surface.

Ramp surface for an apparatus for coating tablets

A fluidized bed apparatus for applying a coating liquid onto the surface of particles includes a vertically disposed cylindrical product container having a peripheral wall, at least one cylindrical partition defining a centrally located up bed region and a peripherally located down bed region. The product container further includes an upper end connected to an expansion chamber and a lower end including an orifice plate having a plurality of openings for passage of fluidized air or gas. The fluidized apparatus further includes a central first plenum located below the orifice plate and being aligned with the up-bed and the partition, the first plenum being sized and shaped to direct gas upwardly through the orifice plate and into the up-bed; and a second plenum located below the orifice plate positioned around the first plenum for directing gas upwardly through the orifice plate and into contact with particles located on the orifice plate.

Split plenum arrangement for an apparatus for coating tablets

A fluidized bed apparatus for applying a coating liquid onto the surface of particles includes a vertically disposed cylindrical product container having a peripheral wall, at least one cylindrical partition defining a centrally located up bed region and a peripherally located down bed region. The product container further includes an upper end connected to an expansion chamber and a lower end including an orifice plate having a plurality of openings for passage of fluidized air or gas. A nozzle is centrally located through the orifice plate and is adapted to generate a spray of coating liquid upwardly into the up bed. Particles located within the product container circulate upwardly through the partition and the coating liquid spray, between the up bed and the down bed. A plurality of inwardly directed discharge jets are positioned along the periphery of the product container and generally adjacent to the orifice plate. A source of pressurized air or gas is connected to the plurality of discharge jets and provide a radially inwardly directed flow of air or gas through the particles of the down bed so that the particles located adjacent to the peripheral wall of the product container are displaced radially inwardly along the orifice plate towards the nozzle and the up bed.

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Sissach, Switzerland

Markus J Baettig