Labconco FreeZone Stoppering Tray Dryers 79480 Series - Manual (Page 29)

Chapter 4: Using Your Stoppering Tray Dryer
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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. Next, turn
On the power switch and set the controls to cool the shelves. This is most simply
done by setting the temperature in the manual mode, although segment 1 in the
automatic mode can also be programmed to cool the shelves and start the vacuum
after the end of Segment 1. Load the samples onto the shelves after the system
temperature is below the sample eutectic temperature. If desired, place one
temperature probe in a sample vial on each shelf. The temperature can be
monitored by pressing the Display button until the Monitor LED lights.
Freeze Drying
Turn on the FreeZone Freeze Dry System base unit. Following the instructions
for the unit, this may be accomplished in either the automatic or manual mode.
When the collector temperature is less than –40°C and the vacuum is less than
0.133 mBar, the manual mode set point temperature may be adjusted or the
automatic mode program may be initiated. At no time during the primary drying
phase should the product temperature be allowed to rise higher than the eutectic
temperature.
The ice collecting coil temperature and the vacuum level should be monitored.
Higher than desired collector coil temperature or vacuum levels will inhibit or
ruin the freeze dry process.
Stoppering
The stoppering operation (when desired) is performed after the freeze dry process
is complete. To stopper, move the Stoppering control toward the “RAISE”
position. This action allows the actuator beneath the bottom shelf to inflate
causing the bottom shelf to rise. The vials on the shelf will then contact the
middle shelf causing it to rise and the top shelf will eventually be contacted and
rise. When all three shelves have raised and made contact with each other,
stoppers will be pressed into the vials. Monitor the stoppering process by looking
through the chamber door.