News

NEW ORBITAL BRUSH ENSURES CORRECT TABLET PLACEMENT
May 2007

Leading blister pack feeder manufacturer Electro-mec has developed a solution to help ensure that tablets and capsules are securely placed into every blister pocket during the filling operation, thus minimising seal failures and blister rejects.

The shape and size of certain tablets and capsules can mean that they do not always lie flat or flush within the blister form. Current solutions to the problem include rotary and static brushes, but the rotary action can sometimes draw product out of the pockets while a static brush may not be able to reach all affected tablets.

The newly-launched Electro-mec Orbital Brush features a unique wiping motion that brushes every tablet securely into its pocket regardless of the tablet orientation. During the feed cycle, the Orbital Brush pad is lowered towards the web to a position where it just touches any protruding tablets, and is simultaneously swept through 360° while keeping the pad parallel to the web. The direction of the pad is then reversed and at the end of this cycle the pad is lifted back to its starting position.

The gentle sweeping motion ensures that all incorrectly orientated products are safely guided into the blister forms while product already correctly placed is unaffected.

The Orbital Brush is easily interchangeable between different blister machines, and brush height and speed can be adjusted according to different product or filling requirements. Individual brush pads can also be designed for specific products.

"As tablet and pack designs become more complicated and sophisticated, so filling systems have to respond to ensure speed and accuracy can be maintained," explains Ray Kirby of Electro-mec.

"Our new Orbital Brush is the ideal solution for incorrectly orientated product, ensuring maximum filling line efficiencies and providing extra peace of mind for manufacturers and packers."