Abstract
The automated manufacturing process of cold remedy granules using a tumbling fluidized bed will be described.Powdered materials, containing salicylamide and acetaminophen as the main components and having been used for the extrusion process previously, were granulated by a tumbling fluidized bed. Effects of the operational variables on the properties of granules were investigated, which led to the conclusion that the exact control of bed height and moisture content was indispensable for continuously producing desired granules. The fuzzy control method based on a linguistic algorithm of if-then rules was applied to the bed height control, and programmed control of the moisture content was used for the continuous operation from mixing, granulation to drying. By means of the system developed, a series of operations could be conducted automatically. Properties of the granules thus obtained were evaluated, and a comparison of the granules by this process to those by the extrusion process used previously was conducted.It was concluded that by means of the control system developed, desired granules which had sharp particle size distribution, high yield, i.e., almost 100% of granules, large apparent density and remarkably good flowability were easily produced.
