Method and apparatus for forming capsules
First Claim
1. Apparatus for forming a pharmaceutical capsule containing a powdered material therein, said apparatus comprising:
- feeding means for feeding a capsule forming material having a cavity formed therein along a predetermined path, said capsule forming material forming a portion of the casing of the capsule;
powder supply means containing a supply of powdered pharmaceutical material;
a cylindrical punch roll having a radially extending chamber therein extending radially inward from an open end on the cylindrical surface of said cylindrical punch roll, said cylindrical punch roll being rotatably mounted adjacent said supply means to receive within said chamber a predetermined charge of powdered material from said supply means as said cylindrical punch roll rotates past said supply means, and said powder supply means and said cylindrical punch roll both being operatively isolated from said predetermined path along which said capsule forming material is fed;
punch compacting means associated with said cylindrical punch roll, said punch compacting means including punch means for compacting said predetermined charge of powdered material in said chamber to form a compacted substantially solid slug as said cylindrical punch roll is rotated;
a cylindrical transfer roll associated with said cylindrical punch roll for transferring said compacted substantially solid slug in said chamber of said punch roll into said cavity in said capsule forming material as said capsule forming material is fed along said predetermined path, said transfer roll having a recess in the cylindrical surface thereof and being rotatably mounted adjacent to said cylindrical punch roll and intermediate said cylindrical punch roll and said predetermined path along which said capsule forming material is fed, said transfer roll being operatively rotatable to align said recess therein with said chamber in said punch roll as said punch roll is rotated after said compacted substantially solid slug is formed in said chamber to receive said compacted substantially solid slug from said chamber into said recess and operatively rotatable to then deposit said compacted substantially solid slug in said recess into said cavity in said capsule forming material;
said transfer roll having means associated therewith for collecting free and uncompacted powdered material transferred with said compacted substantially solid slug to said transfer roll to thereby minimize the depositing of free, excess powdered material onto said capsule forming material; and
sealing means for sealing said cavity in said capsule forming material after it has received said compacted substantially solid slug.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and method for forming sealed pharmaceutical capsules containing precisely compacted charges of a powdered material. A pair of substantially cylindrical sealing rolls are arranged in nipping relationship for directing a pair of webs of gelatin material along predetermined paths between the nip of the sealing rolls. For each sealing roll there is provided a powder supply hopper which contains a supply of powdered material and a cylindrical roll rotatably mounted adjacent the supply hopper. The cylindrical roll has chambers extending radially inwardly from the surface thereof for receiving therewith powdered material as the cylindrical roll rotates past the supply hopper. A compaction mechanism is associated with each cylindrical roll for compacting the predetermined charge of powdered material in the chambers so as to form a compacted slug. A transfer roll associated with each cylindrical roll is provided intermediate the cylindrical roll and its respective sealing roll for transferring the compacted slugs of material to cavities formed in the web as the sealing roll feeds the web along its predetermined path toward the nip between the pair of sealing rolls, the transfer rolls being provided with means for collecting free and uncompacted powdered material and dust to minimize the depositing of dust and free powdered material onto the web.
68 Citations
42 Claims
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1. Apparatus for forming a pharmaceutical capsule containing a powdered material therein, said apparatus comprising:
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feeding means for feeding a capsule forming material having a cavity formed therein along a predetermined path, said capsule forming material forming a portion of the casing of the capsule; powder supply means containing a supply of powdered pharmaceutical material; a cylindrical punch roll having a radially extending chamber therein extending radially inward from an open end on the cylindrical surface of said cylindrical punch roll, said cylindrical punch roll being rotatably mounted adjacent said supply means to receive within said chamber a predetermined charge of powdered material from said supply means as said cylindrical punch roll rotates past said supply means, and said powder supply means and said cylindrical punch roll both being operatively isolated from said predetermined path along which said capsule forming material is fed; punch compacting means associated with said cylindrical punch roll, said punch compacting means including punch means for compacting said predetermined charge of powdered material in said chamber to form a compacted substantially solid slug as said cylindrical punch roll is rotated; a cylindrical transfer roll associated with said cylindrical punch roll for transferring said compacted substantially solid slug in said chamber of said punch roll into said cavity in said capsule forming material as said capsule forming material is fed along said predetermined path, said transfer roll having a recess in the cylindrical surface thereof and being rotatably mounted adjacent to said cylindrical punch roll and intermediate said cylindrical punch roll and said predetermined path along which said capsule forming material is fed, said transfer roll being operatively rotatable to align said recess therein with said chamber in said punch roll as said punch roll is rotated after said compacted substantially solid slug is formed in said chamber to receive said compacted substantially solid slug from said chamber into said recess and operatively rotatable to then deposit said compacted substantially solid slug in said recess into said cavity in said capsule forming material; said transfer roll having means associated therewith for collecting free and uncompacted powdered material transferred with said compacted substantially solid slug to said transfer roll to thereby minimize the depositing of free, excess powdered material onto said capsule forming material; and sealing means for sealing said cavity in said capsule forming material after it has received said compacted substantially solid slug. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method of forming a pharmaceutical capsule containing a powdered material therein, said method comprising the steps of:
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feeding a capsule forming material having a cavity formed therein along a predetermined path, the capsule forming material forming a portion of the casing of the capsule; rotating a cylindrical punch roll having a radially extending chamber therein extending radially inward from an open end on the cylindrical surface of said cylindrical punch roll, said cylindrical punch roll being operatively isolated from said predetermined path along which said capsule forming materal is fed; supplying a predetermined charge of powdered pharmaceutical material into said chamber as said cylindrical punch roll is rotated; compacting said predetermined charge of powdered material in said chamber with punch means to form a compacted substantially solid slug as said cylindrical punch roll is rotated; providing a rotatable cylindrical transfer roll intermediate said cylindrical punch roll and said predetermined path along which said capsule forming material is fed, said transfer roll including a recess in the cylindrical surface thereof; operating said transfer roll to rotate in timed relationship to rotation of said cylindrical punch roll so as to align said recess in said transfer roll with said chamber in said cylindrical punch roll as said recess and said chamber pass through the nip between said punch roll and said transfer roll; transferring said compacted substantially solid slug from said chamber into said recess in said transfer roll when said recess and said chamber are aligned; rotating said transfer roll after said compacted substantially solid slug has been transferred into said recess to align said recess with said cavity in said capsule forming material; depositing said compacted substantially solid slug into said cavity in said capsule forming material when said recess is aligned with said cavity; collecting free and uncompacted powdered material transferred with said compacted substantially solid slug to said transfer roll during a portion of said rotating step to thereby minimize the depositing of free, excess powdered material onto said capsule forming material during said depositing step; and sealing said cavity in said capsule forming material after it has received said compacted substantially solid slug. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification