Package making – Methods – Forming a cover adjunct or application of a cover adjunct to...
Patent
1995-10-02
1998-04-07
Yeung, George
Package making
Methods
Forming a cover adjunct or application of a cover adjunct to...
53141, 53454, 53560, 156291, 156298, 264 4, 264DIG37, 425804, 426576, A61J 300, B29C 3900, B65B 4700
Patent
active
057351058
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(1) Field of the Invention
This invention concerns a soft gelatin encapsulation apparatus and process.
(2) Description of the Related Prior Art
It is known to provide soft gelatin encapsulation machines in which a pair of gelatin ribbons are cast on respective casting drums and then brought together face-to-face between a pair of rotary dies where capsules are formed and filled by an injection wedge. Removal of the capsules from the remaining ribbons, known as a net, is assisted by stripper rollers.
Traditionally, "food-grade" mineral oil has been used to lubricate the cast gelatin ribbons in gelatin encapsulation machines in order to ease the transfer of the cast gelatin ribbons to the injection wedge and rotary dies. The lubricant not only prevents the adhesion of the cast ribbon to machine surfaces, but also minimizes the adhesion of the gel net to the stripper rollers and minimizes finished capsule clumping. In addition, the lubricant forms a liquid seal between the ribbons and the injection wedge, this seal being necessary to prevent air from entering the capsules as they are formed.
To facilitate capsule drying, the lubricant on the capsules had to be removed. Traditionally, an organic solvent such as petroleum naphtha was used for this purpose. The use of the lubricant and the petroleum solvent resulted in residual amounts of solvent and oil on finished capsules. It was found that the petroleum wash solvent was readily absorbed by the lubricant, and that during encapsulation the lubricant on the upper surfaces of the ribbons, which formed the inside surfaces of the finished capsules, became entrapped within the capsules.
Consumer preference for solvent-free products and the likelihood of legislation to limit or eliminate the use of mineral hydrocarbons created the need for a gelatin encapsulation process that eliminates the use of solvents. In the known processes, however, because of the importance attached to the use of lubricants to obtain trouble free encapsulation, it has been assumed that a solvent washing step to remove the lubricants is essential.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Viewed from one aspect the invention provides a solvent-free gelatin encapsulation process comprising the steps of: gelatin ribbon; side of the first gelatin ribbon and to a first side of the second gelatin ribbon; side of the first gelatin ribbon and to a second side of the second gelatin ribbon to give a lubricated first gelatin ribbon and a lubricated second gelatin ribbon; gelatin ribbon to form gel pockets and injecting fill material into the gel pockets to give freshly formed gelatin capsules; capsules; and
There is thus provided a solvent-free gelatin encapsulation process, i.e. a process in which the use of a solvent wash step is, surprisingly, omitted.
Viewed from another aspect the invention provides lubricant applying apparatus for use with soft gelatin encapsulation apparatus, comprising first applicator means for applying a controlled amount of a food approved lubricant to a first side of a gelatin ribbon, and second applicator means for applying a controlled amount of a food-approved lubricant to a second side of the gelatin ribbon.
The invention also provides soft gelatin encapsulation apparatus in combination with or comprising such lubricant applying apparatus.
The invention also provides a solvent-free gelatin capsule made by the process and apparatus.
The first and second applicator means may be constructed and arranged such that only small amounts of food-approved lubricants are used. There may thus be provided a lubricant addition apparatus associated with a gelatin encapsulation process that applies a minimum amount of a food-approved lubricant to both faces of a cast gelatin ribbon, in order to promote the transfer of cast gelatin ribbons, for example to rotary dies, and to inhibit gelatin capsule agglomeration.
Viewed from a further aspect the invention provides a soft gelatin encapsulation apparatus comprising: second continuous ribbon of gelatin; food-approved lubrica
REFERENCES:
patent: 2288327 (1942-06-01), Scherer
patent: 2663129 (1953-12-01), Donofrio
patent: 4028024 (1977-06-01), Moreland
patent: 5246635 (1993-09-01), Ratko et al.
"Soft Gelatin Capsules" by J.P. Stanley, from The Theory and Practice of Industrial Pharmacy, edited by L. Lachman, H.A. Lieberman and J.L. Kanig, published by Lea & Fabiger, 1970.
"Softgel" (Soft Gelatin Capsule) Update; by R.J. Jimerson, from Drug Development and Industrial Pharmacy, vol. 12, 1986.
Database WPI, Week 8901, Derwent Publicaitons Ltd., London, GB: AN 89-00313 & JP,A,63 280 017 (Scherer R P Corp) 17 Nov. 1988.
Burnett Arthur J.
Garnett Kelvin R.
Stroud Norman S.
Walker David J.
Wood Anthony J.
R. P. Scherer Corporation
Yeung George
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