Oral liquid bottling production lines need to be configured according to process requirements (such as sterilization methods and packaging forms) and production capacity. Core equipment must comply with GMP standards. Below is a typical equipment list and functional description for an oral liquid bottling production line:
1. Liquid Preparation and Filtration System
A. Liquid Preparation Tank
- Material: 316L stainless steel, with stirring and heating/cooling jacket (temperature control).
- Function: Dissolves raw materials (such as traditional Chinese medicine extracts, syrups), adjusts pH, and makes volume.
B. Filtration Equipment
- Multi-stage filtration: Titanium rod filter (coarse filtration) → Microporous membrane filter (0.22μm sterilization).
- Activated carbon filtration (optional): Used for decolorization and impurity removal.
2. Filling and Sealing Equipment
A. Bottle Unscrambler (Plastic Bottle) / Bottle Turn Tablet (Glass Bottle)
Automatically arranges and orients disordered oral liquid bottles (glass or PET) and transports them to the filling station.
B. Bottle Washer
- Ultrasonic Cleaning: Removes dust and particles from inside the bottles (requires rinsing with purified water or water for injection).
- Tunnel Sterilization Oven (for glass bottles): Dry heat sterilization at temperatures above 300℃.
C. Filling Machine
- Peristaltic Pump Filling: High accuracy (±1%), suitable for viscous liquids.
- Ceramic Pump Filling: Corrosion resistant, good long-term stability.
Functions: Quantitative filling (5-50ml commonly), with bottle shortage stop function.
D. Sealing Machine
- Aluminum Cap Sealing: Electromagnetic induction sealing (aluminum-plastic composite cap).
- Capping Machine (for threaded caps): Adjustable torque to prevent over-tightening or air leakage.
3. Sterilization and Drying Equipment
A. Sterilization Equipment (selected according to process)
- Water Bath Sterilizer: 100℃ boiling water sterilization (suitable for heat-resistant oral liquids).
- Radiation Sterilization (Cobalt-60 or Electron Beam): Used for heat-sensitive products (dosage validation required).
B. Dryer
Removes residual water stains from bottles (hot air circulation oven or infrared drying).
4. Visual Inspection and Labeling Equipment
A. Visual Inspection Machine (Manual or Automatic)
- Manual Visual Inspection Station: Backlit, visually inspects for foreign objects and sediment.
- Fully Automatic Visual Inspection Machine: High-speed camera + AI algorithm detects suspended matter (≥200 bottles/minute).
B. Labeling Machine
- Self-adhesive Labeling: Prints batch number and expiration date (requires inkjet printer).
- Shrink Film Label (Optional): Provides overall packaging anti-counterfeiting.
5. Packing Equipment
A. Cartoning Machine
B. Shrink Packing Machine or Cellophane Wrapping Machine
C. Automatic Carton Filling Machine with Robot
6. Auxiliary Systems
A. Purified Water/Water for Injection System: Provides water for cleaning and solution preparation (requires multi-effect distillation or RO reverse osmosis).
B. CIP/SIP System: Online cleaning (acid-base circulation) and steam sterilization (above 121℃).
C. Air Purification System: The filling area must meet Class D cleanroom standards (dynamic ≤200,000 class).
Key Considerations
- Compliance: Equipment must comply with GMP requirements (e.g., structure, ease of disassembly and cleaning).
- Interoperability: Conveyor belt heights of all equipment must be matched to avoid bottle jamming.
Production Capacity Matching:
- Small Line (1000-5000 units/hour): Semi-automatic filling + manual light inspection.
- Large Line (10,000-60,000 units/hour): Fully automated continuous production line (from bottle handling to palletizing).
Example: Traditional Chinese Medicine Oral Liquid Production Line Flow:
Liquid Preparation → Filtration → Filling → Sealing → Sterilization → Light Inspection → Labeling → Boxing → Cartoning
For more detailed equipment parameters (such as filling accuracy, sterilization temperature) or special processes (such as aseptic filling), please specify your requirements!