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US 4,656,066 AGranted
Apparatus and method for sealing capsules
AssigneeWarner-Lambert Company
InventorFritz Wittwer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods are disclosed for the sealing of gelatin capsules having coaxial cap and body parts which overlap when telescopically joined. Also described are apparatus and denaturation-melting point depression mixtures to seal the capsules.
Claims22
A method for hermetically sealing capsules having coaxial cap and body parts which overlap when telescopically joined, comprising the steps of:
- a. contacting the capsules with denaturation melting-point depression mixture comprising about 20% to about 98% of an aliphatic monohydric alcohol having from one to four carbon atoms which may be substituted by one alkoxy group having one or two carbon atoms, or mixtures thereof, and about 2% to about 80% of water;
- b. removing the denaturation melting-point depression mixture from exposed surfaces of said capsules by air driving at a temperature of about 20.degree. to about 32.degree. C.;
- and
- c. sealing the capsules at a temperature of from about 40.degree. C. to about 140.degree. C. using hot air whereby the capsules are hermetically sealed.
1 more element
Apparatus for hermetically sealing gelatin capsules having coaxial cap and body parts which overlap when telescopically joined, characterized in that it has the following three stations:
- a. A capsule wetting station having means for contacting the capsules with a gelatin denaturation and melting point depression mixture so that this mixture can enter by means of capillary forces between the overlapping sections of the capsule body and cap parts;
- b. A drying station for removing the mixture from capsule surfaces said drying station including means to blow air on the capsules;
- and
- c. A sealing station for heating the overlapping sections of the capsule causing the denaturation and melting of the contacting surfaces of said overlapping section.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.