Systems, methods and apparatuses for manufacturing dosage forms

• US 20040191044A1
• Filed: 02/19/2004
• Published: 09/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Harry S. Sowden, William Stuhl
• Inventors: Sowden, Harry S., Stuhl, William
• Granted Patent: US 7,182,199 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 414/729
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 3/04 Sugar-cookers
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 3/368 containing vitamins, antibiotics
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 3/10 into the form of compressed tablets tablet presses B30B11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0056 Mouth soluble or dispersible forms; Suckable, eatable, chewable coherent forms; Forms rapidly disintegrating in the mouth; Lozenges; Lollipops; Bite capsules; Baked products; Baits or other oral forms for animals
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/2013 Organic compounds, e.g. phospholipids, fats
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/2018 Sugars, or sugar alcohols, e.g. lactose, mannitol; Derivatives thereof, e.g. polysorbates
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/2027 obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. polyvinyl pyrrolidone, poly(meth)acrylates
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/2031 obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. polyethylene glycol, polyethylene oxide, poloxamers
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/2054 Cellulose; Cellulose derivatives, e.g. hydroxypropyl methylcellulose
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/2068 Compounds of unknown constitution, e.g. material from plants or animals oils, fats, waxes, shellac A61K9/2013
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/2081 with microcapsules or coated microparticles according to A61K9/50
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/209 containing drug in at least two layers or in the core and in at least one outer layer
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/2095 Tabletting processes; Dosage units made by direct compression of powders or specially processed granules, by eliminating solvents, by melt-extrusion, by injection molding, by 3D printing mechanical aspects A61J3/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/282 Organic compounds, e.g. fats
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/2826 Sugars or sugar alcohols, e.g. sucrose; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/284 obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. polyvinyl pyrrolidone
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/2853 obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. polyethylene glycol, polyethylene oxide, poloxamers, poly(lactide-co-glycolide)
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/286 Polysaccharides, e.g. gums; Cyclodextrin
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/2873 Proteins, e.g. gelatin
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/2886 having two or more different drug-free coatings; Tablets of the type inert core-drug layer-inactive layer of the type active core-drug layer-inactive layer A61K9/209
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/2893 : Tablet coating processes mechanical aspects A61J3/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/5084 : Mixtures of one or more drugs in different galenical forms, at least one of which being granules, microcapsules or (coated) microparticles according to A61K9/16 or A61K9/50, e.g. for obtaining a specific release pattern or for combining different drugs tablets containing such a mixture A61K9/2077
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 29/00 : Non-central analgesic, antipyretic or antiinflammatory agents, e.g. antirheumatic agents; Non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs [NSAID]
• CPC Class Codes: B30B 11/08 : co-operating with moulds carried by a turntable
• CPC Class Codes: B30B 11/34 : for coating articles, e.g. tablets
• CPC Class Codes: B30B 15/04 : Frames; Guides
• CPC Class Codes: B30B 15/047 : C-shaped frames with means for preventing deflection B30B15/044
• CPC Class Codes: B30B 15/304 : by using feed frames or shoes with relative movement with regard to the mould or moulds

Abstract

Systems, methods and apparatuses for manufacturing dosage forms, and to dosage forms made using such systems, methods and apparatuses are provided. Novel compression, thermal cycle molding, and thermal setting molding modules are disclosed. One or more of such modules may be linked, preferably via novel transfer device, into an overall system for making dosage forms.

Claims

1. An apparatus for transferring substrates from a first location to a second location, comprising:

a) a flexible conveying means;

b) a plurality of transfer units mounted to said conveying means, said transfer units being capable of holding said substrates;

c) a cam track defining a path between said first and second locations; and

d) means for driving said conveying means along said cam track.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transfer units are mounted to said conveying means in a cantilever configuration.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each transfer unit comprises first and second retainers made of an elastomeric material and comprising segmented fingers, said first retainer capable of holding a first substrate and said second retainer capable of holding a second substrate.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said first and second retainers are located side by side within each transfer unit.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each transfer unit comprises a plurality of cam followers that ride in said can track.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising vacuum means for applying a vacuum to said substrates while they are held by the transfer units.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said driving means comprises a drive pulley and an idler pulley linked together such that the drive pulley and the idler pulley move together.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said transfer units are rotatably mounted to said conveying means, such that said transfer units are capable of being rotated while they are being transferred from said first location to said second location.

9. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said apparatus further comprises a rotable actuator arm linked to said transfer units such that as said actuator arm rotates, said transfer units rotate.

10. An apparatus for transferring substrates from a first operating module comprising a first rotor adapted to carry said substrates around a first circular path to a second operating module comprising a second rotor adapted to carry said substrates around a second circular path, said apparatus comprising a flexible conveying means traversing a third path, a first portion of said third path being coincident with a portion of said first circular path and a second portion of said third path being coincident with a portion of said second circular path.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said flexible conveying means operates at a velocity matching the velocities of the first rotary module and the second rotary module.

12. An apparatus for transferring substrates from a first location to a second location, comprising:

a) a flexible conveying means;

b) a plurality of transfer units mounted to said conveying means, each transfer unit being capable of holding at least two substrates;

c) a cam track defining a path between said first and second locations; and

d) means for driving said conveying means along said cam track.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the transfer units are mounted to said conveying means in a cantilever configuration.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein each transfer unit comprises first and second retainers, said first retainer and said second retainer each being capable of holding said substrate so that said substrates cannot move or rotate randomly.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said first and second retainers are located side by side within each transfer unit.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the paths for the cam track and plurality of transfer units are defined by separate and distinct components of said apparatus.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the path is non-circular.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said path is dog-bone shaped.

19. An apparatus for transferring substrates from a first location to a second location, comprising:

a) a flexible conveying means;

b) a plurality of transfer units mounted to said flexible conveying means, said transfer units being capable of holding said substrates;

c) a cam track defining a path between said first and second locations; and

d) a driving means for driving said conveying means along said cam track, said driving means comprising a drive pulley and an idler pulley that are linked and driven to reduce side slack condition on said flexible conveying means.

20. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the path for the flexible conveying means and plurality of transfer units is determined by said cam track.

21. An apparatus for transferring substrates from a first location to a second location, comprising:

a) a flexible conveying means;

b) a plurality of transfer units mounted to said conveying means, each transfer unit being adapted to rotate while they are moved from said first location to said second location along a non-circular path, each transfer unit being capable of holding at least two substrates;

c) a cam track defining a path between said first and second locations; and

d) means for driving said flexible conveying means along said cam track.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said path is dog-bone shaped.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a rotable actuator arm linked to said transfer units such that as said actuator arm rotates, said transfer units rotate.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the plurality of transfer units further comprise a plunger shaft mounted therein and capable of vertical movement into the respective space in which a dosage form is retained.

25. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the path for the flexible conveying means and plurality of transfer units is determined by said cam track.

26. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising vacuum means for applying a vacuum to said substrates while they are held by the transfer units.