Small-scale mill and method thereof
First Claim
1. A small-scale mill for milling a non-soluble product contained in a dispersion containing attrition milling media, comprising:
- a shaft mount;
a rotatable shaft mounted for rotation about the shaft mount;
a relatively small vessel having an opening;
an agitator having a rotor and a rotor shaft extending from the rotor, the shaft being connected to the rotatable shaft and the rotor being dimensioned to be inserted in the vessel with a small gap formed between an outer rotating surface of the rotor and an internal surface of the vessel;
a coupling detachably connecting the vessel to the shaft mount, the coupling having an opening through which the rotor shaft extends, wherein the shaft mount sealing the vessel opening to seal the dispersion in the vessel.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A small-scale or micro media-mill and a method of milling materials or products, especially pharmaceutical products, use a dispersion containing attrition milling media and the product to be milled. The milling media can be polymeric, formed of polystyrene or cross-linked polystyrene, having a nominal diameter of no greater than 500 microns. Other sizes include 200 microns and 50 microns and a mixture of these sizes. The mill has a relatively small vessel having an opening, an agitator, a coupling, and a motor. The agitator can have a rotor and a shaft extending therefrom. The rotor can be cylindrical or have other configurations, and can have tapered end surfaces. The coupling can close the vessel opening, or attaching the coupling to the motor can close the opening. The coupling has an opening through which the rotor shaft extends into the motor. A sealing mechanism, such as a mechanical or lip seals the shaft while permitting the rotor shaft to rotate. The vessel can contain one or more ports for circulating the dispersion, where milling can be made in batches or recirculated through the milling chamber. The media can be retained in the vessel or recirculated along with the process fluid. The rotor is dimensioned so that its outer periphery is spaced with a small gap from an inner surface of the vessel. The vessel also can have a way of cooling the dispersion.
126 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A small-scale mill for milling a non-soluble product contained in a dispersion containing attrition milling media, comprising:
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a shaft mount;
a rotatable shaft mounted for rotation about the shaft mount;
a relatively small vessel having an opening;
an agitator having a rotor and a rotor shaft extending from the rotor, the shaft being connected to the rotatable shaft and the rotor being dimensioned to be inserted in the vessel with a small gap formed between an outer rotating surface of the rotor and an internal surface of the vessel;
a coupling detachably connecting the vessel to the shaft mount, the coupling having an opening through which the rotor shaft extends, wherein the shaft mount sealing the vessel opening to seal the dispersion in the vessel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A small-scale mill for milling a non-soluble product contained in a dispersion containing attrition milling media, comprising:
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an inner cylindrical wall having a bottom and an open top;
an outer cylindrical wall spaced from and surrounding the inner cylindrical wall, the inner and outer cylindrical walls being connected together so that a chamber is formed therebetween;
at least first and second passages that communicate with the chamber and adapted to pass coolant;
an agitator dimensioned to be inserted in the vessel through the open top;
a coupling that closes the open top, the coupling having an opening through which a portion of the agitator extends upwardly;
a seal that seals the portion of the agitator while permitting the agitator to rotate; and
a motor connected to the portion of the agitator extending through the coupling. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A small-scale mill for milling a non-soluble product contained in a dispersion containing 500 micron attrition milling media, comprising:
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a shaft mount;
a rotatable shaft mounted for rotation about the shaft mount;
a relatively small vessel having an opening;
an agitator having a rotor and a rotor shaft extending from the rotor, the shaft being connected to the rotatable shaft and the rotor being dimensioned to be inserted in the vessel with a small gap no greater than 3 mm formed between an outer rotating surface of the rotor and an internal surface of the vessel;
a coupling detachably connecting the vessel to the shaft mount, the coupling having an opening through which the rotor shaft extends, wherein the shaft mount sealing the vessel opening to seal the dispersion in the vessel. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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31. A small-scale mill for milling a non-soluble product contained in a dispersion containing polymeric attrition milling media, comprising:
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a shaft mount;
a rotatable shaft mounted for rotation about the shaft mount;
a relatively small vessel having an opening;
an agitator having a rotor and a rotor shaft extending from the rotor, the shaft being connected to the rotatable shaft and the rotor being dimensioned to be inserted in the vessel with a small gap formed between an outer rotating surface of the rotor and an internal surface of the vessel;
a coupling detachably connecting the vessel to the shaft mount, the coupling having an opening through which the rotor shaft extends, wherein the shaft mount sealing the vessel opening to seal the dispersion in the vessel.
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32. A small-scale mill for milling a non-soluble product contained in a dispersion containing polymeric attrition milling media, comprising:
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an inner cylindrical wall having a bottom and an open top;
an outer cylindrical wall spaced from and surrounding the inner cylindrical wall, the inner and outer cylindrical walls being connected together so that a chamber is formed therebetween;
at least first and second passages that communicate with the chamber and adapted to pass coolant;
an agitator dimensioned to be inserted in the vessel through the open top;
a coupling that closes the open top, the coupling having an opening through which a portion of the agitator extends upwardly;
a seal that seals the portion of the agitator while permitting the agitator to rotate; and
a motor connected to the portion of the agitator extending through the coupling.
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33. A small-scale for milling a non-soluble product contained in a dispersion containing 500 micron polymeric attrition milling media, comprising:
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a shaft mount;
a rotatable shaft mounted for rotation about the shaft mount;
a relatively small vessel having an opening;
an agitator having a rotor and a rotor shaft extending from the rotor, the shaft being connected to the rotatable shaft and the rotor being dimensioned to be inserted in the vessel with a small gap no greater than 3 mm formed between an outer rotating surface of the rotor and an internal surface of the vessel;
a coupling detachably connecting the vessel to the shaft mount, the coupling having an opening through which the rotor shaft extends, wherein the shaft mount sealing the vessel opening to seal the dispersion in the vessel.
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34. A small-scale mill for milling a pharmaceutical product contained in a dispersion containing attrition milling media, comprising:
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a shaft mount;
a rotatable shaft mounted for rotation about the shaft mount;
a relatively small vessel having an opening;
an agitator having a rotor and a rotor shaft extending from the rotor, the shaft being connected to the rotatable shaft and the rotor being dimensioned to be inserted in the vessel with a small gap formed between an outer rotating surface of the rotor and an internal surface of the vessel;
a coupling detachably connecting the vessel to the shaft mount, the coupling having an opening through which the rotor shaft extends, wherein the shaft mount sealing the vessel opening to seal the dispersion in the vessel.
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35. A small-scale mill for milling a pharmaceutical product contained in a dispersion containing attrition milling media, comprising:
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an inner cylindrical wall having a bottom and an open top;
an outer cylindrical wall spaced from and surrounding the inner cylindrical wall, the inner and outer cylindrical walls being connected together so that a chamber is formed therebetween;
at least first and second passages that communicate with the chamber and adapted to pass coolant;
an agitator dimensioned to be inserted in the vessel through the open top;
a coupling that closes the open top, the coupling having an opening through which a portion of the agitator extends upwardly;
a seal that seals the portion of the agitator while permitting the agitator to rotate; and
a motor connected to the portion of the agitator extending through the coupling.
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36. A small-scale for milling a pharmaceutical product contained in a dispersion containing 500 micron attrition milling media, comprising:
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a shaft mount;
a rotatable shaft mounted for rotation about the shaft mount;
a relatively small vessel having an opening;
an agitator having a rotor and a rotor shaft extending from the rotor, the shaft being connected to the rotatable shaft and the rotor being dimensioned to be inserted in the vessel with a small gap no greater than 3 mm formed between an outer rotating surface of the rotor and an internal surface of the vessel;
a coupling detachably connecting the vessel to the shaft mount, the coupling having an opening through which the rotator shaft extends, wherein the shaft mount sealing the vessel opening to seal the dispersion in the vessel.
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Specification