Need a More Flexible Pharmaceutical Solution?

When people think of automated production lines, they often think of traditional industries such as automobile manufacturing and metal processing. However, as automation technology permeates various industries, including pharmaceutical manufacturing, the application of intelligent automation equipment in herb-medicine, a unique and distinctive system, not only enhances production efficiency but also provides new opportunities for the standardization and modernization of herb-medicine. 1. Industry Introduction

 Since 2014, herb-medicine centers have rapidly developed and begun to integrate fully automated control technology. This technology not only enables automatic dual-stage decoction and precise timing for adding ingredients but also automatically adjusts between low and high heat. Using a "one prescription, one code" system, these devices can accurately control personalized requirements such as the amount of water added, ensuring the entire decoction process is traceable. This meets the decoction service needs of the public and ensures the safety and reliability of patient medication. 2. On-site Challenge

 The main challenge of an automated decoction system lies in the precise control of the water quantity and heat levels. Instability in the control system can lead to inconsistent quality of the herb-medicine, which in turn affects its efficacy and therapeutic outcomes. To address these issues, automated decoction systems place high demands on their control systems. Firstly, the control system must be highly stable and reliable to ensure the smooth operation of the decoction process. Secondly, the control system needs excellent communication capabilities to enable efficient data exchange and information transmission between various components and sensors, ensuring coordinated system operation. Given the specific requirements of the herb-medicine process, the control system must also adjust critical parameters such as temperature and time according to set values, ensuring thorough extraction of medicinal ingredients and consistent quality of the decoction. 3. ODOT Solution

 The fully automated TCM decoction production line primarily includes the following steps: medicine loading and dispensing, soaking, decoction, discharge, packaging, and cleaning. For instance, at a client's site, a Siemens S7-1217C is used as the core controller of the entire system, integrated with the ODOT C series remote I/O system to form a complete control system. The modules used on site include models CN-8032-L, CT-121F, CT-2718, CT-3238, and CT-3713. The CN-8032-L is a Profinet network adapter that supports standard Profinet IO Device communication. The CT-121F is a 16-channel digital input module primarily used to receive signals from limit switches and sensors on the production line. On one hand, it detects whether the decoction bucket is in place so the robotic arm can grab it; on the other hand, it checks if the decoction bucket is accurately positioned on the heating plate. The CT-2718 is an 8-channel relay output module that controls the coils of three-phase solid-state relays, which are used to heat the heating plate. The CT-3713 is a 3-channel RTD PT100 temperature acquisition module used for temperature detection of the heating plate. A PT-100 temperature sensor is installed in the center of the heating plate to upload the temperature values to the PLC, thereby controlling the signal output of the CT-2718. By integrating intelligent automation equipment, the application of ODOT Automation's I/O system in fully automated herb-medicine machines effectively addresses many issues present in traditional decoction processes. The precise control offered by the fully automated technology not only ensures the quality and efficacy consistency of each batch of medicine but also significantly enhances production efficiency and service levels. As technology continues to advance, this intelligent decoction method is set to become a new trend in the herb-medicine industry. In the future, automation technology will continue to deeply integrate with herb-medicine production, infusing herb-medicine with modern technological power and allowing more patients to benefit from high-quality, standardized herb-medicine services.