An 8-channel counting line is a core and standard piece of equipment in the pharmaceutical packaging field, especially in solid oral dosage form production lines. Due to its high efficiency, high precision, and robust compliance design, it is widely used in the packaging of the following pharmaceutical products:
I. Main Applicable Drug Types (by Dosage Form)
1. Tablets
This is the most classic and primary application.
- Uncoated Tablets: Uncoated tablets of various shapes (round, oval, triangular, irregular shapes).
- Coated Tablets: Film-coated tablets, sugar-coated tablets. The equipment must be able to handle them gently to prevent damage to the sugar coating.
- Chewable Tablets: Usually larger in size, requiring adjustment of channel dimensions.
- Effervescent Tablets: Require high moisture control; the counting environment needs humidity control.
2. Hard Capsules
- All sizes of hard capsules (000# to 5#), regardless of whether the contents are powder, granules, or microcapsules.
- The equipment can accurately distinguish capsules of different colors and sizes.
3. Soft Capsules
- Fish oil, vitamin E, and various pharmaceutical soft capsules.
This is a technically challenging application because soft capsules are prone to sticking, deformation, and may be transparent. It requires:
- High-level optical sensing systems (such as high-resolution cameras or specialized infrared sensors) for accurate identification.
- A specialized vibratory feeding system to ensure gentle separation, preventing capsule sticking and oil contamination of the equipment.
II. Why is an 8-channel counting line particularly suitable for pharmaceutical packaging?
1. High Precision and Zero Errors:
- Pharmaceutical counting requires 100% accuracy. Eight channels working in parallel, combined with high-precision optical sensors (such as CCD cameras) and redundant verification systems (such as dual-probe counting), ensure error-free counting, meeting the critical quality requirements of GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice).
2. High Speed and High Efficiency:
- Counting simultaneously through eight channels can achieve speeds of hundreds or even thousands of tablets per minute, meeting the high-volume production needs of modern pharmaceutical plants and improving overall production line efficiency (OEE).
3. Cleanroom and Dust-Free Design:
- Parts of the equipment that come into contact with pharmaceuticals are typically made of 304 or 316L stainless steel, which is easy to clean and corrosion-resistant.
- It can be integrated into cleanroom environments (such as Class D), with a design that eliminates unsanitary corners and prevents cross-contamination.
4. Data Integrity and Traceability:
- Modern counting lines are equipped with SCADA systems or can connect to the pharmaceutical plant's MES system to record counting data, equipment status, operation logs, etc., for each batch of products in real time, meeting the stringent data integrity requirements of GMP.
5. Flexibility:
- Each channel parameter (vibration frequency, optical sensitivity) can be independently adjusted, easily handling the need to change between different varieties and sizes of tablets/capsules on the same production line, reducing changeover time.
- It can seamlessly connect to upstream elevators and downstream capping machines, sealing machines, labeling machines, and cartoning machines to form a complete automated packaging line.
The 8-channel counting line is the industry-standard solution for modern solid oral dosage form (tablets, capsules, soft capsules) packaging production. It not only solves the core problems of "fast and accurate counting," but is also a key piece of equipment for pharmaceutical companies to meet GMP regulations, ensure drug quality, and achieve automated and intelligent production.