One of the Method to Select Automatic Dividing and Packing Machine for Powder and Granule Drugs: Comparison of Efficiency between OMP-90 and YS-63R

In order to examine the efficiency of dispensing work in the stage of dividing and packing of powders, by new automatic dividing and packing machines introduced, Monte Carlo simulation was carried out by a computer. At the same time, the new machines were tested for error of dividing weight, the accuracy of dividing weight in relation to the number of subpacks, and the rate of loss. The machines tested were TOKYOSYOKAI OMP-90 type (OMP) equipped with a linear vibrator to feed powders into the division holes by alternating motion, and YUYAMA YS-63R type (YS) with a linear vibrator to feed into the revolving disk (80rpm), which was formed by gap of V-like. Fine Lactose, SM®, powder, Crystalline Lactose, MIYA-BM®, Fine Granule, and Berizyme®, Granule were selected as the sample for the studies. As a result of simulation, YS was more efficient than OMP in the service system. YS showed smaller variations of dividing weight than OMP tested. In case of OMP, dividing weight of the third and the third last packages at the turn of linear vibrator, was much heavier than that of other packages. In some of these drugs, errors in dividing weight increased with a greater number of subpacks.For the rate of loss, YS was slightly smaller than OMP tested. As for the automatic dividing and packing machine, the accuracy of dividing weight is contrary much to efficiency of dividing and packing speed. Therefore, these results suggest that this method is much useful to select a machine by using the two kinds of contrary factors from the practical point of view.