Single-Punch Tablet Press

TDP-5

User Manual

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 Table of Contents

I. Introduction .............................................................................................3

II. Technical parameters ..............................................................................3

III. Installation & Debugging......................................................................3

IV. Installation & disassembly of punch dies and adjustment ....................4

4.1 Installation of punch dies ................................................................4

4.2 Adjustment of tablet discharging ....................................................5

4.3 Adjustment of filling depth (i.e.: adjustment of tablet weight) ......5

4.4 Adjustment of pressure (i.e.: adjustment of tablet hardness) .........5

4.5 Disassembly of punch dies .............................................................6

V. Disassembly & assembly of main parts .................................................6

VI. Lubrication & Maintenance ..................................................................8

VII. Matters needing attention ....................................................................9

VIII. Troubleshooting ............................................................................... 11

IX. Electrical schematic diagram ..............................................................15

X. Structure of the machine ......................................................................16

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 I. Introduction

TDP-5 Single-Punch Tablet Press can press powder and granular raw materials into
tablets. It is widely used for trial production and small batch production in
pharmaceutical factories, chemical plants, food factories, hospitals, scientific research
institutions and laboratories.
This machine has good performance, strong adaptability, small volume and light weight.
Besides, it is easy to use and repair. Even when power supply is unavailable, it can press
tablets by manually rotating the big wheel. It is only equipped with one set of punch
dies. The filling depth and tablet thickness are adjustable. This machine can meet the
demand of different kinds of both Chinese and Western medicine tablets and other
similar products. It’s very popular among customers in various industries.

II. Technical parameters

Model TDP-5
Max. press strength 50 kN
Max. tablet diameter 20 mm
Max. filling depth 28 mm
Max. production capacity About 4,500 pc/h
Matching punching model TDP-5
Motor power single-phase 0.75 kW; three-phase 0.55 kW
Rotational speed 1,400 r/min
Machine weight 120 kg
Dimension (L*W*H) 650*440*650 mm

III. Installation & Debugging

3.1 The tablet press should be installed on a firm wooden worktable (or a cement table)
and fixed with three pairs of M12 anchor screws. The height between the worktable and
the ground should be about 600 mm (to make manual operation easy). For the

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 convenience of disassembly and repair, there should be a hole with a diameter of about
35 mm at the corresponding position of the lower core punch on the wooden worktable.
3.2 To ensure the safety, first connect the ground wire well. Then, remove the triangle
belt and connect the power supply of the motor. Start the motor and observe whether
the rotation direction of the motor is correct (the rotation direction of the motor shaft
should be the same as the direction of the arrow indicated on the gear protective cover).
If the rotation direction is incorrect, rewire and then install the triangle belt.

IV. Installation & disassembly of punch dies and adjustment

4.1 Installation of punch dies

4.1.1 Installation of lower punch

Unscrew the “set screw of lower punch”. Rotate the “big handwheel” to raise the “lower
punch rod” to the highest position. Then, insert the lower punch to the hole bottom of
the “lower punch rod” (Note: the gap of lower punch should aim at the “set screw of
lower punch”). Finally, tighten the “set screw of lower punch”.
4.1.2 Installation of upper punch
Unscrew the “clamp nut of upper punch”. Insert the upper punch to the hole bottom of
the “upper punch rod”. Then, tighten the “clamp nut of upper punch”.
4.1.3 Installation of middle die
Unscrew the “set screw of middle die”. Horizontally put the middle die into hole of the
“middle die bedplate”. Meanwhile, insert the lower punch into the hole of middle die
and push it to the bottom of the hole. Then, tighten the “set screw of middle die”.
(Notice: The middle die must be put horizontally, so as to avoid damaging the hole wall
due to blockage.
4.1.4 Rotate the “big handwheel” manually to make the upper punch slowly enter the
middle die hole. Observe whether there is collision or friction. If that happens, unscrew
two set screws of “middle die bedplate” and adjust the position of the “middle die
bedplate” to make the upper punch enter the middle die holes. Then, tighten the set
screws of the “middle die bedplate”. Make adjustment until there is no collision or
friction when the upper punch head enters the middle die.

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 4.2 Adjustment of tablet discharging

Turn the “big belt pulley” to raise the lower punch to the highest position. Observe
whether the surface of lower punch and middle die plane are on the same level. If not,
it will influence the tablet discharging. When this situation happens, unscrew the
“adjusting gear” and the “press plate bolt”, loosen the “gear press plate”, and rotate the
upper “adjusting gear” clockwise to make the surface of lower punch and middle die
plane on the same level. Then, install the press plate back and tighten the “press plate
bolt”.
Turn the “big belt pulley” by hand and run the machine without material for 10 circles.
If the machine goes well, add some material to the hopper and try pressing it into tablets.
Make necessary adjustment accordingly.

4.3 Adjustment of filling depth (i.e.: adjustment of tablet weight)

Unscrew the “adjusting gear” and the “press plate bolt”. Loosen the “gear plate”. If you
rotate the lower “adjusting gear” clockwise to raise the lower punch, the filling depth
will be reduced, so as to reduce tablet weight; if you rotate the lower “adjusting gear”
anticlockwise, the filling depth will be increased, resulting in the increase of tablet
weight. After adjustment, install the “gear press plate”, and tighten the “press plate bolt”.

4.4 Adjustment of pressure (i.e.: adjustment of tablet hardness)

Loosen the “connecting rod nut”. If you turn the “upper punch rod” clockwise, the
pressure will increase, resulting in the increase of tablet hardness; if you adjust the
“upper punch rod” anticlockwise, the pressure will decrease, resulting in the decrease
of tablet hardness. After adjustment, use a wrench to lock the hexagon nut at the lower
part of the “upper punch rod” and then tighten the “connecting rod nut”.
Till now, the adjustment of punch die has been completed. Start the machine and try
pressing tablets for several times to check whether the weight, the hardness and surface
finish meet requirements. If tablets are qualified, the machine is ready for production.
In later production process, often check the quality of tablets and make necessary
adjustment in time.

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 4.5 Disassembly of punch dies

4.5.1 Disassembly of upper punch

Loosen the “clamp nut of upper punch” and pull out the upper punch rod. If it is too
tight to pull out, turn to a pair of pliers for help. Be careful not to damage the punch
head.

4.5.2 Disassembly of middle die

Loosen the “set screw of middle die”. Unscrew “set screw of lower punch”, “press plate
bolt”, and “gear press plate”. Turn the upper “adjusting gear” to raise the “lower punch
rod” by about 10 mm. Gently turn the “big handwheel” to make the “lower punch rod”
push out part of the middle die and then take out the middle die. If it is tight in the hole,
do not turn the handwheel by force in order not to avoid damaging the parts. Instead,
dismantle the “middle die bedplate” and then take out the middle die.

4.5.3 Disassembly of lower punch

First, loosen the “set screw of lower punch”. Then, turn the “big handwheel” to raise
the “lower punch rod” to the highest position, and take out the lower punch. If it is tight,
use a pair of pliers to take it out (Note: be careful not to damage the punch head).

4.5.4 After the disassembly of punch dies, it is necessary to turn the upper “adjusting
gear” anticlockwise to drop the “lower punch rod” around 10 mm. When turning the
“big handwheel” to raise the “lower punch rod” to the highest position, ensure its top
is not higher than the bottom of the “middle die bedplate” (Note: this step cannot be
ignored; otherwise, the “lower punch rod” may collide with the middle die next time).
Finally, screw on and tighten the “set screw of lower punch”.

V. Disassembly & assembly of main parts

5.1 Middle die bedplate

Disassembly: pull out the “powder baffle” and take down the “feeding hopper”.
Unscrew the “fixed bolt of feeder” and the “spring”. Take down the “feeder”. Unscrew
the “set screw of middle die bedplate” and remove the “middle die bedplate”.

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 Assembly: follow the reverse order of above steps. Pay attention to alignment when
screwing on the “set screw of feeder” in order not to damage the threaded hole of the
feeder.

5.2 Upper punch

Disassembly: loosen the “connecting rod nut”. Rotate the “upper punch rod” clockwise
to make it separate from the “connecting rod”. Turn the “big handwheel” to raise the
“eccentric wheel sleeve” to the highest position, and then turn the “eccentric wheel
sleeve” to make the “connecting rod” swing to the front above. Now, pull out the “upper
punch rod” upward from the hole of the “bedplate base”.
Assembly: follow the reverse order of above steps.

5.3 Lower punch

Disassembly: screw off the “set screw of lower punch”, “press plate bolt” and “gear
press plate”. Turn the “adjusting gear” to make the “lower punch rod” go down and take
it out from the bottom hole of the “machine body”.
Assembly: follow the reverse order of above steps.

5.4 Big belt pulley, pinion and pinion shaft

Disassembly: remove the triangle belt. Screw off the nut and washer at the right end of
the “pinion shaft” (as they are in the “machine body”, remove the cover plate behind
the machine first). Hold the “big belt pulley” by hand, and pull it out together with the
“pinion” and “pinion shaft” from the “machine body”. Then, take out the “pinion shaft”
from the hole of “pinion”. The “big belt pulley”, “pinion” and “gear copper sleeve” are
connected together, so there is no need to dismantle them. If disassembly is necessary,
use a copper bar to beat the “pinion” out of the hole of “big belt pulley”.
Assembly: follow the reverse order of above steps.

5.5 Main shaft

Disassembly:
● Remove the “protective cover of big gear”, “big belt pulley” and “big gear gland”.
Beat the inside of the “big gear” with a wooden hammer and remove the “big gear”.
● Remove the “taper gland” and “big handwheel”.
● Remove the “feeding rod” and the “feeding cam” (be careful with the “lifting roller”).

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 ● Loosen the fastening bolt of “connecting rod hinge pin” and take out the hinge pin.
● Beat the shaft end of the “big gear” with a wooden hammer and a copper bar (be
careful not to damage the threaded hole at the shaft end). Meanwhile, hold the other
end of the “main shaft” and “eccentric wheel sleeve”, and take out the “main shaft”
from the hole of the “machine body”.
Assembly: follow the reverse order of above steps.

VI. Lubrication & Maintenance

6.1 Lubrication on the friction surfaces of moving parts is an important link to ensure
normal operation and prolong service life of the machine. Especially, if the main
moving parts are kept running in shortage of lubricating grease or oil, they will be
damaged soon and cannot be used again. Thus, before using the machine, all oil cups,
oil holes and friction surfaces of the tablet press must be lubricated with lubricating oil
or grease. Then, run the machine without material to cover the friction surfaces with oil
film. Add lubricating oil or grease every shift but not too much. Otherwise, the oil will
overflow and pollute tablets. Refer to the following chart.

Lubrication part Lubrication sort Times for every shift

Oil cup for spindle hole
Grease 2~3 times
(2 pcs)
Oil cup of eccentric wheel
Grease 2~3 times
(1 pc)
Oil cup at the top of pinion shaft
Grease 2~3 times
(1 pc)
Wipe off dirty on the
Groove and roller of lifting cam Grease groove surface and then
add grease.
Check every shift and
Groove and roller of feeding cam Grease lubricate according the
actual situation.
Check every shift and
Tooth surface of gear Grease lubricate according the
actual situation.
Oil hole of connecting rod Machine oil Once
Swing fulcrum of feeding rod Machine oil Once

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 Surface of upper punch Machine oil Twice
Surface of lifting rod Machine oil Twice

6.2 Before each shift, check whether the screws are loose. In the working process, pay
attention to checking them frequently. If any screw is loose, tighten it immediately to
avoid machine faults. Main screws are as follows.
● Clamp nut of upper punch, set screw of middle die, set screw of lower punch;
● Lock nut of connecting rod, fastening screw of connecting rod hinge pin;
● Lock nut of lifting fork (2 pcs), press plate bolt;
● Set screw of middle die bedplate;
● Set screw of material cup;
● Connecting bolt and fastening screw of feeding rod.

6.3 Before each shift, please try pressing several tablets by manually rotating the wheel.
Do not start automatic tablet pressing until the machine works well.

6.4 In the process of tablet pressing, check the quality of the punch dies frequently. If
there is missing edge, cracks or deformation, replace the punch die in time to avoid
faults which damage the machine and affect the quality of tablets.

6.5 After finishing production every day, take out the remaining powder and clean the
machine. If the machine is left unused for a long time, it is necessary to remove the
punch dies, clean them and immerse them in oil for preservation. Besides, the friction
surfaces and working surfaces of the machine must be wiped to be clean and coated
with antirust oil. To keep clear of dust, cover the machine with dustproof cloth.

6.6 Check the machine twice a month.

VII. Matters needing attention

7.1 Before using the machine for the first time, check the machine and read the user
manual carefully.
7.2 The machine is only allowed to run in a certain direction (see the allow on the

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 protective cover). Do not change its running direction, or machine parts may be
damaged, especially when making adjustment.
7.3 Be careful when adjusting belt tension by turning two adjusting nuts on the
baseplate. Remember to lock the nuts after finishing adjustment.
7.4 When there is no power supply and you press tablets by manually rotating the big
wheel, the triangle belt needs to be removed to reduce resistance and wear. However,
do not remove the “big belt pulley” because it has the function of flywheel to save labor.
7.5 When pressing tablets electrically, pull down the “handle” on the “big handwheel”
to avoid injury during operation.
7.6 Whether you choose electric pressing or manual pressing, the upper punch should
be at high position before the machine is started. If you start the machine when the
upper punch is in low position, the machine will directly start tablet pressing by middle
die. As the rotary speed is not enough, the inertia is small. After the upper punch enters
the middle die, it is jammed by the resistance from tablets, causing that the machine
stops running. Even worse, the machine parts will be damaged and the motor will be
burned down due to heavy load.
7.7 Solution to the above problem
7.7.1 For electric pressing, turn off the power supply at once so as not to burn the motor.
7.7.2 If the situation is not very serious, you can turn the “big handwheel” manually or
with a force rod to make upper punch not be jammed (Note: you mustn’t turn the
handwheel in the opposite direction, or the feeder will repeat feeding and make the
situation more serious).
7.7.3 If the situation is serious, you should loosen the “connecting rod nut”. Turn the
hexagon nut under the upper punch anticlockwise with a wrench and raise the upper
punch to reduce the pressure. Turn the “big handwheel” to get the tablet out. Then,
adjust the tablet hardness.
7.8 In the process of tablet pressing, it is necessary to check the quality of tablets
(including tablet weight, hardness, surface finish, etc.) and make adjustment in time.
7.9 The material preparation process has a great influence on tablet pressing. The
quality of tablets is directly affected by factors including powder condition, material
proportion, water content and so on. There is usually the case that materials fail to be
pressed into tablets and even the machine is damaged due to inappropriate material
preparation. Thus, this machine is not suitable for pressing tablets with semi-solid or
wet or fine powder without granules. During production, if the pressure is large enough,

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 but the machine cannot press powdery material into tablets, or tablets are formed but
too loose, with layer, debris, pock or powder drop, find out causes and solutions from
the aspects of the material selection and preparation. If you focus on increasing the
pressure, the machine will be damaged. Besides, the tablets pressed out by some
material may not have high hardness, but it has certain toughness and not easy to break.
Therefore, the requirements of transportation and storage shall be considered more than
the hardness.

VIII. Troubleshooting

Fault Cause Solution

The pressure is set to be too high. The pressure should be adjusted
gradually, not too much at one time,
and do not make tablets too hard.
The feeding is repeated. Avoid repeating the feeding.
The machine The eccentric wheel sleeve and
stops running the main shaft hole are short of oil
because the so that the rotation resistance is Often lubricate it. If it has been
upper punch is too large and even serious wear seriously worn, dismantle and
jammed in the occurs, which causes blockage. repair it immediately.
middle die. The belt is too loose. Adjust the belt.
There isn’t enough force when When starting manual pressing or
pressing tablets manually. when the upper punch passes
through the lowest position, use
more force.
The friction surfaces of moving Check all parts regularly, and keep
The machine parts lack oil or they are polluted, them clean and lubricated. If they
doesn’t run rusty and even seriously worn. work abnormally, repair them
smoothly. immediately so as not to damage
the machine.
Because the surface of the punch
die is unsmooth or worn, or due to
improper material preparation and Check the middle die. Repair or
The lower punch
granulation, powder adheres to change punch die, or reprocess the
goes up
the surface of the punch head or material.
difficultly or it is
the middle die, increasing the
obstructed to go
resistance of tablet discharging.
up.
The lifting cam is severely worn Check and repair it. Keep it clean
or foreign matters get into it. and lubricated.

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 Improper adjustment causes
friction between lower punch and Notice the concentricity of lower
middle die when lower punch punch and the middle die during
rises. adjustment.
The machine parts and screws are Check them frequently and tighten
loose. the screws in time.
The machine parts are seriously Check the machine frequently.
There is worn. Repair or change worn parts in
abnormal time.
vibration. The friction surfaces lack Ensure that all friction surfaces are
lubricating oil or are polluted by always clean and lubricated,
dirt. especially the friction of main shaft
and eccentric wheel.
The friction
surface between
the main shaft It lacks lubricating oil or are Always keep it clean and
and the hole is polluted by dirt. lubricated. The lubricating oil must
worn or even be clean and free of impurities.
burnt out.
There is quick
wear between the
pinion and shaft,
the upper punch
and the bedplate
base, and The same as above. The same as above.
between the
connecting rod
and the
connecting rod
hinge pin.
Improper material preparation
and granulation or unsmooth Check punch dies. If powder
punch die surfaces resulting in adheres to punch dies, repair or
punch dies stuck by powder change the punch dies, or
increase the resistance of tablet reprocess the material.
The lifting cam
discharging and the load of the
or the feeding
lifting cam groove.
cam groove
The lifting roller cannot rotate
wears rapidly.
because it is too tight or rusty. Dismantle it for repair.

The bottom of the feeder and the Improve the lubrication of feeder
middle die bedplate lack and middle die bedplate, or clean
lubricating oil or powder adheres the bottom surface of feeder in

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 to them, which increases the time. If the feeding cam is seriously
resistance. worn, it needs to be replaced.
The upper punch heads rub
against the middle die due to Readjust it.
improper adjustment.
The surface of
the punch die is Improper material preparation
worn rapidly. and granulation, such as too little
lubricating substance or powder is Reprocess the material.
too coarse.
The adjustment of tablet
discharging is improper, which
The feeder makes the lower punch higher Readjust lower punch.
breaks due to the than the middle die.
collision with the
lower punch. The set screws of the lower punch When installing and adjusting the
are loose, which makes the lower punch dies, if the screws are loose,
punch higher than the middle die. tighten them immediately.
The set screws of middle die
The feeder
bedplate are loose, which makes
breaks due to the
the middle die higher than the The same as above.
collision with the
horizontal plane of middle die
middle die.
bedplate.
The upper punch collides with the
feeder as it is turned inversely
The feeder was during adjustment.
Be careful when making
damaged by the During adjustment, the position of
adjustment.
upper punch. the upper punch is so low that
collision is caused when rotating
the handwheel.
The size of the punch dies or holes
of the tablet pressing machine are
unqualified so that both contact Replace them at installation.
The upper punch,
too tight.
the lower punch
At installation, clean the fitting
or the middle die
surface and apply a layer of oil
fail to be taken
The fitting surface is rusty. film. If it is left unused for a long
out of the holes.
time, take down the punch die,
clean the fitting surface and apply
antirust oil to punch die.
Feeding twice Be careful not to turn the
makes one During adjustment, before the handwheel reversely. For repeated
tablet, as the two tablet comes out, the handwheel feeding but no overlapping, slowly

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 tablets overlap is turned reversely, making the turn the handwheel in the opposite
each other. feeder repeat feeding. direction to push up the tablets,
remove the remaining material and
take out the tablet; if tablets
overlap each other and punch die is
stuck, refer to chapter “7.7”.
Tablet discharging is improperly
adjusted. Lower punch is lower
than the horizontal plane of the Adjust the position of lower punch
middle die, so that tablets are to make it level with plane of
Tablets jump or blocked, causing that tablets jump middle die when it reaches the
break when or break when coming out. highest position.
coming out.
The set screw of middle die is
loose so that the middle die rises Adjust middle die and tighten the
and prevents tablets from coming set screw.
out smoothly.

When the tablet The surface finish of the middle Replace the middle die. (Note: if
is ejected from die is unqualified or it is worn, one side of the middle die is worn,
middle die, its and tablets are not discharged turn it over for installation because
circumferential smoothly. the other side can also be used.)
surface is Improper material preparation
scratched, or and granulation leads to die
even the tablet is sticking, resulting in cracked Reprocess the material.
cracked. tablets or ones with rough edges.
The surface of punch head is Repair or replace it.
There are unsmooth.
pockmarks on the
Material preparation and Reprocess the material.
surface of tablets.
granulation are improper.
The hardness of The pressure isn’t enough. Adjust the pressure. (See chapter
tablets is not “4.4”)
enough, so
tablets are loose Material preparation and
and fragile, and granulation are improper. Reprocess the material.
form layers.
The set screw of lower punch is Press the lower punch to the bottom
loose, so the punch head rises, and then tighten the set screw of
There is too large which reduces the filling amount. lower punch.
difference in
tablet weight. The butterfly screw is loose, so Readjust the lower adjusting wheel
the lower adjusting wheel turns, and tighten the screw.
which changes the filling amount.

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 The granules are uneven. Be careful in material preparation
and granulation.
Loosen the set screw of middle die
bedplate. Turn the handwheel to
The middle die bedplate is make the upper punch go down and
misplaced. insert into the middle die hole.
Adjust the position of middle die
The upper punch
bedplate to ensure there is no
rod is not aligned
collision or friction when the upper
with the middle
punch enters the middle die. Then,
die hole so that it
tighten the set screw of middle die
cannot enter the
bedplate.
middle die.
The upper punch is not installed Loosen the set screw of upper
correctly. punch. Rotate the punch rod to any
angle and tighten its set screw.
Make adjustment until the upper
punch is correctly installed.

IX. Electrical schematic diagram

TC
12
V

+
C

KP
SB2 SB KL2
1

KL1 KL2

KL1 KP KL2

HL（RD）
M HL（GN）

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 X. Structure of the machine

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