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US 7,404,708 B2Granted
System and process for providing at least one opening in dosage forms
AssigneeMcNeil-PPC, Inc.
InventorHarry S. Sowden
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to apparatus, methods, and processes for making solid dosage forms comprising at least one active ingredient, a core and shell configuration, wherein the shell comprises a hardenable material, such as a thermal-gelling polymer, for example gelatin; and the shell is provided with at least one opening. The opening(s) are formed while the shell is still in a softened state.
Claims15
A system for manufacturing a dosage form that comprises a core and a shell surrounding at least a portion of the core and having one or more openings comprising:
- a) a shell-forming module that overcoats at least a portion of the core with a soft shell;
- b) a post-coating transfer module for conveying a soft dosage form from the shell-forming module that comprises a first dosage form conveyor from the shell-forming module, a substrate velocity modifying means for modifying velocity of dosage forms from the first dosage form conveyor and a second dosage form conveyor from the substrate velocity modifying means;
- c) a punch assembly for producing at least one opening in the shell;
- and
- d) a hardening module having at least one dryer unit, wherein the punch assembly is provided after the shell-forming module but before entering the dryer unit.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.