| The operating principle of the traditional Chinese medicine pulverizer |
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| 2025-7-28 publish |
The Chinese herbal medicine pulverizer breaks dry Chinese medicinal materials into fine powder through mechanical force. Its operating principle combines multiple mechanical mechanisms such as impact, shearing, grinding and collision, and the specific differences vary depending on the model. The following are the operating principles and features of common types of traditional Chinese medicine pulverizers:
I. General Working Principle
Core process
Feeding → Force crushing in the crushing area → Screen filtration → Powder collection
Objective: To crush the medicinal material particles from the millimeter level (5 to 10mm) to the micrometer level (80 to 300 mesh).
Key mechanical effects
The principle of force type is applicable to medicinal materials
Impact crushing: High-speed rotating blades/hammers strike the brittle medicinal materials (such as Astragalus membranaceus and licorice)
The fixed and moving knives are alternately used for shearing and crushing fibrous medicinal materials (such as Angelica sinensis and Ephedra).
Grinding and crushing medicinal materials: Rub high-hardness medicinal materials (such as shells and mineral medicines) with grinding discs or ball milling media.
Airflow pulverization: High-speed airflow drives particles to collide and break (ultrafine powder) heat-sensitive medicinal materials (such as pollen, resin)
Ii. Common Models and Operating Principles
High-speed universal crusher (hammering type)
Principle
The motor drives the main shaft to rotate at high speed (the rotational speed is usually 3000 to 6000r/min), and the hammer pieces or blades impact and shear the medicinal materials.
The crushed particles are filtered through a screen (the mesh size can be changed). The powder that meets the fineness is discharged, while the coarse particles continue to be crushed.
Features
Suitable for medium-hardness medicinal materials, with a grinding particle size of 80 to 200 mesh.
It generates a large amount of heat and needs to be operated intermittently to avoid high temperatures damaging the efficacy of the medicine.
2. Turbine crusher (air flow classification)
Principle
The medicinal materials are crushed by the centrifugal force generated by the high-speed rotation of the turbine blades in the crushing chamber.
The built-in classifier separates fine powder, and the coarse powder falls back for re-crushing, achieving continuous discharge.
Features
It has a finer particle size (200 to 300 mesh) and is suitable for heat-sensitive medicinal materials.
It has low noise but high energy consumption.
3. Ultrafine grinding machine (Ball mill/Vibration mill
Principle
The grinding tank is filled with stainless steel balls or ceramic balls. Through high-frequency vibration or rotation, the balls rub against the medicinal materials to crush them.
It can reach over 300 mesh (particle size ≤10μm), with a high cell wall breaking rate (for example, the cell wall breaking rate of Ganoderma lucidum spores ≥95%).
Features
Low-temperature grinding (some models are equipped with water cooling systems) to retain active ingredients.
It takes a long time and is suitable for high-value-added medicinal materials.
4. Chinese Herbal Medicine Powdering machine (Household Small type
Principle
Similar to a coffee grinder, it cuts medicinal materials through the high-speed rotation of blades.
It usually has no screen and the particle size is relatively coarse (60 to 100 mesh).
Features
Portable, but prone to generating heat, suitable for a small amount of soft medicinal materials (such as wolfberry, poria cocos).
Iii. Key Factors Affecting the Crushing Effect
Factors influence the optimization method
The characteristics of medicinal materials: Fibrous and oily medicinal materials are difficult to crush. Pre-drying (moisture content ≤8%) and freezing embrittlement are required
The higher the rotational speed, the finer the particles, but the faster the temperature rises. Choose a variable frequency speed regulation model to control the temperature below 50℃
The larger the mesh count of the screen, the finer the powder. Select according to the requirements (the pharmacopoeia standard is usually ≥80 mesh).
If the motor overheats due to continuous operation for a long time, it should be shut down for cooling every 15 minutes, or a water-cooled model can be selected
Iv. Safety and Usage Precautions
Safety protection
The equipment needs to be grounded to prevent static electricity from igniting dust (especially flammable materials such as sulfur).
After crushing toxic medicinal materials (such as aconite), they must be thoroughly cleaned to avoid cross-contamination.
Key points of maintenance
Regularly lubricate the bearings and check for blade wear (blunt blades increase energy consumption).
When the screen is clogged, clean it with a soft-bristled brush. Do not use metal tools to scrape.
V. Industry Standards for Pulverizing Traditional Chinese Medicine
Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2020 Edition
The particle size of common powders should be ≥80 mesh (180μm), and the cell wall breaking rate of ultrafine powders should be indicated.
GMP requirements
The production-grade crusher should be made of stainless steel, which is easy to clean and has no dead corners.
Vi. Selection Suggestions
Reasons for recommending models in demand scenarios
The small-batch high-speed universal pulverizer for clinics/pharmacies offers high cost performance and is easy to operate
The traditional Chinese medicine factory mass-produces a combination of turbine type and ultrafine pulverizer with controllable fineness and continuous operation
The household health care small powder mill (with overheat protection) is safe, convenient and low in noise
Summary: The traditional Chinese medicine pulverizer achieves the fine processing of medicinal materials through mechanical force. When choosing, the model should be matched based on the nature of the medicinal materials, the target fineness, and the output requirements. Attention should also be paid to temperature control and safety regulations to ensure the efficacy of the medicine and production efficiency.
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