Apparatus and methods for forming patterned soft gelatin capsules
AssigneeR. P. Scherer Corporation
InventorsGregory A. Schurig, Bud Bezaire, Michael Ratko, Lawrence A. Baker, Robert Mikalian
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Abstract
An apparatus and a process useful for producing patterned gelatin ribbons for forming patterned soft gelatin capsules are disclosed. The apparatus and process use multiple spreader boxes to form a wide variety of possible patterns.
Claims18
An apparatus for producing a patterned gelatin ribbon useful forming patterned soft gelatin capsules comprising, a first spreader box al to hold a first flowable gelatin mass and a second spreader box adapted to hold a second flowable gelatin mass, the second gelatin mass being of a type that is visually distinct from the first gelatin mass,
- the second spreader box being positioned within the first spreader box such that an outer surface of the second spreader box and an inner surface of the first spreader box define a gap through which the first flowable gelatin mass may flow to form a base gelatin ribbon,
- the second spreader box having at least one opening through which the second flowable gelatin mass may flow onto a portion of the base gelatin ribbon to form the patterned gelatin ribbon.
The apparatus of claim I wherein the second spreader box is a hollow tube.
The apparatus of claim I wherein the second spreader box is movable with respect to the first spreader box.
The apparatus of claim I wherein the rate at which the second flowable gelatin mass flows through the at least one opening in the second spreader box is controllable.
A process for producing a patterned gelatin ribbon useful for forming patterned soft gelatin capsules comprising the following steps:
- a. flowing a first gelatin mass contained in a first spreader box through a gap formed by an inner surface of the first spreader box and an outer surface of a second spreader box, the second spreader box being positioned within the first spreader box, thereby forming a base gelatin ribbon;
- and
- b. flowing a second gelatin mass contained in the second spreader box through at least one opening in the second spreader box onto a portion of the base gelatin ribbon, the second gelatin mass being visually distinct from the first gelatin mass thereby forming the patterned gelatin ribbon.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.