GB2164587A

GB2164587A - Seed coating apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2164587A
Application number: GB08423532A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Michael Johnson; David Bretten
Original assignee: GERMAIN S
Current assignee: GERMAIN S
Priority date: 1984-09-18
Filing date: 1984-09-18
Publication date: 1986-03-26
Also published as: GB2164587B; GB8423532D0

Abstract

Apparatus (10) for coating seeds having a vertically extending coating chamber (12), a means (14) for fluidizing the seeds and means for atomizing the coating liquid, includes a pivot mounting (18) for the chamber (12) so that the chamber can be swung between the coating position and a loading and unloading position shown in chain-and-dot. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Coating of seeds, etc The present invention relates to the coating of seeds and other particles.

The coating of seeds and other particles, for instance pharmaceutical preparations, can be achieved using a mobile bed such as is described in European Patent Specification 47794 or UK Patents 801315, 911608, 978264, 1271964, 1451182, 1481034 and 2019302.

More specifically, the present invention relates to apparatus for coating seeds or other particles, the apparatus comprising a vertically extending coating chamber, fluidizing means for fluidizing the particles in the chamber, and atomizing means for feeding a coating liquid as an atomized stream to the fluidized particles. The present invention also relates to a corresponding process employing such apparatus to coat seeds, etc, wherein the particles are placed in the chamber, fluidized, and coated.

In using this type of equipment, a problem arises in loading and unloading of the particles.

According to the present invention, there is provided means for moving the coating chamber between a first position for coating of the particles and a second position for loading and unloading of the particles.

Suitably the moving means for the coating chamber can serve to pivot the chamber about an axis parallel to the vertical axis of the chamber, Such moving means can comprise a pivot mounting spaced from the chamber and attached to the chamber preferably towards the base thereof. The use of a pivotal system allows the chamber to be swung between the two positions. In a particularly preferred construction, the pivot is itself vertically moveable, such that the chamber can be lifted out of the first position before swinging of the chamber to the second position. The vertical movement then permits easy disengagement of the chamber from the associated equipment including the fluidizing means.

For preference, the atomizing means comprise an atomizing nozzle supplied with the coating liquid and an atomizing gas. The nozzle is suitably located at or adjacent the base of the chamber. The fluidizing means preferably includes a gas inlet at the base of the chamber. Thus, in a particularly preferred construction, the gas inlet for fluidization is in the form of an annulus around the atomizing nozzle.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus of this invention; and Figure 2 is a schematic vertical cross-section through part of the apparatus of Figure 1.

Referring to both the Figures, an apparatus 10 for coating seeds comprises a vertically extending coating chamber 12 with hinged lid 19 and conical bottom 17, a gas inlet 14 at the base of the chamber 12, and an atomizing nozzle 16 for atomizing the coating liquid with an atomizing gas. The nozzle 16 is located at the base of the chamber and centrally within a hinged venturi section 13 of the gas inlet 14. An apertured disc 15 surrounds the nozzle 16 and serves to support the seed when no fluidizing gas is being supplied. The detailed construction at the inlet is apparent from the annotations on Figure 2.

As a variation on the arrangement shown in the drawings, the atomizing nozzle can be introduced further in to the chamber to stand well clear of the disc 15. Such an arrangement can give improvements in the coating procedure. Thus, for example, the point of discharge from the nozzle 16 might be around 5 to 50cm, for instance 5 to 15cm, above the plane of the disc 15.

The apparatus includes a pivot mounting 18 for the chamber 12 so that the chamber can be swung between the coating position shown in the Figures and a loading and unloading position shown in chain-and-dot in Figure 1. In this instance, the pivot mounting is itself vertically moveable using the lifter mechanism 20 and thus the chamber can be lifted out of the first position to clear a support collar 21 before swinging of the chamber to the second position. The lid 19 is alsovertically movable as indicated in Figure 1 to clear the top of the chamber during the pivotting. Again, the construction and operation is apparent from the Figures.

Thus, the chamber 12 can be freely loaded and unloaded before return to the illustrated coating position.

In a further development, not shown, there is provision for more than one chamber, in order that one chamber can be in the first, coating position and the other chamber(s) can be loaded/unloaded.

1. Apparatus for coating seeds or other particles, the apparatus comprising a vertically extending coating chamber, fluidizing means for fluidizing the particles in the chamber, atomizing means for feeding a coating liquid as an atomized stream to the fluidized particles, and means for moving the coating chamber between a first position for coating of the particles and a second position for loading and unloading of the particles.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the moving means for the coating chamber serves to pivot the chamber about an axis parallel to the vertical axis of the chamber.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the moving means comprises a pivot mounting spaced from the chamber and attached to the chamber.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the pivot is itself vertically moveable, such that the chamber can be lifted out of the first position before swinging of the chamber to the second position.

5. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the atomizing means comprises an atomizing nozzle.

6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the fluidizing means includes a gas inlet at

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Coating of seeds, etc The present invention relates to the coating of seeds and other particles. The coating of seeds and other particles, for instance pharmaceutical preparations, can be achieved using a mobile bed such as is described in European Patent Specification 47794 or UK Patents 801315, 911608, 978264, 1271964, 1451182, 1481034 and 2019302. More specifically, the present invention relates to apparatus for coating seeds or other particles, the apparatus comprising a vertically extending coating chamber, fluidizing means for fluidizing the particles in the chamber, and atomizing means for feeding a coating liquid as an atomized stream to the fluidized particles. The present invention also relates to a corresponding process employing such apparatus to coat seeds, etc, wherein the particles are placed in the chamber, fluidized, and coated. In using this type of equipment, a problem arises in loading and unloading of the particles. According to the present invention, there is provided means for moving the coating chamber between a first position for coating of the particles and a second position for loading and unloading of the particles. Suitably the moving means for the coating chamber can serve to pivot the chamber about an axis parallel to the vertical axis of the chamber, Such moving means can comprise a pivot mounting spaced from the chamber and attached to the chamber preferably towards the base thereof. The use of a pivotal system allows the chamber to be swung between the two positions. In a particularly preferred construction, the pivot is itself vertically moveable, such that the chamber can be lifted out of the first position before swinging of the chamber to the second position. The vertical movement then permits easy disengagement of the chamber from the associated equipment including the fluidizing means. For preference, the atomizing means comprise an atomizing nozzle supplied with the coating liquid and an atomizing gas. The nozzle is suitably located at or adjacent the base of the chamber. The fluidizing means preferably includes a gas inlet at the base of the chamber. Thus, in a particularly preferred construction, the gas inlet for fluidization is in the form of an annulus around the atomizing nozzle. An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus of this invention; and Figure 2 is a schematic vertical cross-section through part of the apparatus of Figure 1. Referring to both the Figures, an apparatus 10 for coating seeds comprises a vertically extending coating chamber 12 with hinged lid 19 and conical bottom 17, a gas inlet 14 at the base of the chamber 12, and an atomizing nozzle 16 for atomizing the coating liquid with an atomizing gas. The nozzle 16 is located at the base of the chamber and centrally within a hinged venturi section 13 of the gas inlet 14. An apertured disc 15 surrounds the nozzle 16 and serves to support the seed when no fluidizing gas is being supplied. The detailed construction at the inlet is apparent from the annotations on Figure 2. As a variation on the arrangement shown in the drawings, the atomizing nozzle can be introduced further in to the chamber to stand well clear of the disc 15. Such an arrangement can give improvements in the coating procedure. Thus, for example, the point of discharge from the nozzle 16 might be around 5 to 50cm, for instance 5 to 15cm, above the plane of the disc 15. The apparatus includes a pivot mounting 18 for the chamber 12 so that the chamber can be swung between the coating position shown in the Figures and a loading and unloading position shown in chain-and-dot in Figure 1. In this instance, the pivot mounting is itself vertically moveable using the lifter mechanism 20 and thus the chamber can be lifted out of the first position to clear a support collar 21 before swinging of the chamber to the second position. The lid 19 is alsovertically movable as indicated in Figure 1 to clear the top of the chamber during the pivotting. Again, the construction and operation is apparent from the Figures. Thus, the chamber 12 can be freely loaded and unloaded before return to the illustrated coating position. In a further development, not shown, there is provision for more than one chamber, in order that one chamber can be in the first, coating position and the other chamber(s) can be loaded/unloaded. CLAIMS

6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the fluidizing means includes a gas inlet at the base of the chamber.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 when dependent upon claim 5, wherein the gas inlet for fluidization is in the form of an annulus around the atomizing nozzle.

8. A process for coating seeds or other particles, when performed using equipment as defined in any preceding claim.

9. Seeds when coated in apparatus as defined in any of claims 1 to 7.