Multiple-fill/chamber softgel die
AssigneeR.P. Scherer Technologies, LLC
InventorsShawn P. McKee, David G. Williams, Sr., Lester David Fulper
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention provides a die suitable for producing a multi-chamber softgel capsule. The die comprises a die pocket defined by a die pocket wall and a bottom surface. The die comprises one or more partitioning walls dividing the die pocket into two or more chambers The top of the land of the partitioning walls have a lowest point that is lower than the plane formed by the top of the land along the perimeter of the die pocket wall by a gap. A die roll comprising a plurality of the dies is also provided, as well as rotary-die encapsulation machine comprising the die roll.
Claims25
A die for a multi-chamber softgel capsule, the die comprising:
- a die pocket defined by a die pocket wall and a bottom surface;
- and
- one or more partitioning walls dividing the die pocket into two or more chambers, wherein
- the die pocket wall and the one or more partitioning walls have their respective top sections defined as lands,
- a top of the land of the perimeter of the die pocket wall is in a plane,
- a lowest point of the top of the land of the one or more partitioning walls is lower than the plane by a gap;
- at least one of the one or more partitioning walls has a recess in the top of its land;
- and
- a size of the gap is less than a thickness of one gel ribbon used to make the softgel capsule such that two gel ribbons used to make the softgel capsule are pressed tightly together by the tops of the lands of the partitioning walls of the pair of mated dies.
A pair of mated dies for producing a multi-chamber softgel capsule, wherein each of the pair of mated dies comprises:
- a die pocket defined by a die pocket wall and a bottom surface;
- and
- one or more partitioning walls dividing the die pocket into two or more chambers,
- wherein the die pocket wall and the one or more partitioning walls have their respective top sections defined as lands,
- the partitioning walls of the pair of mated dies have heights such that there is a gap between a top of the land of one said partitioning wall of one of the dies and the top of the land of at least one of the partitioning walls of the other die;
- at least one of the one or more partitioning walls has a recess in the top of its land;
- and
- a size of the gap is less than a thickness of one gel ribbon used to make the softgel capsule such that two gel ribbons used to make the softgel capsule are pressed tightly together by the tops of the lands of the partitioning walls of the pair of mated dies.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.