Gelatin coated caplets and process for making same

An apparatus for coating a caplet with a gelatinous material to produce a capsule-like medicament comprising:

• (a) inserting means for inserting a first end of said caplet into a first holding means while leaving a second end of said caplet exposed;
• (b) said first holding means having at a first side a caplet channel defined therein for permitting the passage of said caplet, said holding means further comprising retaining means which is positioned near said first side to grip said caplet at a first end of said caplet and hold said caplet in position for application of a gelatinous coating to said second end;
• (c) first application means for applying a gelatinous coating to said second exposed end of said caplet including a bath of gelatinous material into which said second exposed end is moved while being held by said first holding means;
• (d) first drying means positioned after said first application means for permitting said second gelatinous coating to dry to form a coated second end;
• (e) gripping means which engages one end of said caplet for displacing said caplet through said caplet channel to expose said first end;
• (f) retaining means positioned adjacent one end of said holding means for retaining side caplet in said holding means with said first end exposed;
• (g) second application means for applying a gelatinous coating to said first end of said caplet including a bath of gelatinous material into which said first end is dipped while being held by said holding means;
• (h) dipping means positioned adjacent the bath of gelatinous material for moving said caplet ends into their respective bath of gelatinous material and removing the caplets from the bath once application is complete;
• and
• (i) second drying means positioned after said first application means for permitting said gelatinous coating on said first end to dry, forming a simulated capsule-like medicament.