Chapter 4: Using Your Stoppering Tray Dryer
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Original instructions
To unlatch the shelves, press the latch protruding from the side of the shelf
support structure and move the latch until it clears the shelf and allows the shelf to
drop. The top shelf has one latched position, the middle shelf has two latched
positions, and the bottom shelf should not latch in any position.
Shelf Loading
THE STOPPERING MECHANISM IS CAPABLE OF GENERATING A VERY
STRONG FORCE, WHICH CAN DAMAGE THE SHELVES OR MECHANISM.
THEREFORE, IT IS IMPORTANT TO DISTRIBUTE THE SERUM BOTTLES TO BE
STOPPERED EVENLY ACROSS THE ENTIRE SURFACE OF EACH SHELF.
Your Stoppering Tray Dryer has a unique system for keeping the shelves level
and moving smoothly while stoppering. If a problem occurs during stoppering,
the system is designed to flex a small amount to lessen the possibility of damage
to the unit.
The stoppering action should be monitored by looking through the chamber door.
Cease stoppering when all bottles appear stoppered or if a problem occurs.
Distributing the serum bottles evenly on the shelves also aids in consistent drying
of all serum bottles on each shelf.
Sample Freezing
Before the freeze dry process can occur, the products to be dried must be in a
frozen state. This can be accomplished in a freezer separate from the Stoppering
Tray Dryer or on the shelves in the Stoppering Tray Dryer. First the shelves
should be adjusted to accept the size of the selected sample containers. If desired,
place one temperature probe in a sample vial on each shelf. Sample freezing can
be done in either the MANUAL or PROGRAM mode.
THE VACUUM SHOULD ALWAYS BE TURNED OFF
WHILE USING THE SHELVES TO FREEZE SAMPLES
In MANUAL mode, simply set the Shelf temperature to the desired value for
freezing the sample, and allow an appropriate amount of time for the sample to be
fully frozen before starting the vacuum and the freeze drying process.
In PROGAM mode, the vacuum set point can be programmed to OFF for the
initial pre-freezing step. If multiple steps are desired for more complex pre-
freezing/annealing processes, then program the vacuum set point to OFF for each
of the pre-freezing / annealing steps.
