Method for molding capsules

Claim 2

In an automatic capsule molding apparatus a. a hopper unit for receiving, storing, maintaining and feeding gelatin, having a discharge outlet; b. an injection unit for melting, dissolving in water and plasticizing the gelatin into platicized gelatin including, an extruder barrel having an inlet end connected to the hopper unit to receive gelatin from the discharge outlet thereof, a heating means, and a transport and ram member rotatably and slidably mounted in said extruder barrel; c. a molding unit connected to the end of the extruder barrel remote from the inlet end including, capsule part mold means for molding plasticized gelatin, and means for ejecting molded capsule parts therefrom; d. normally closed valve body means connected between the extruder barrel and the mold means and operatively associated with the transport and ram member whereby on movement of the valve body means to open position a predetermined quantity of plasticized gelatin will be delivered to said mold means; e. a microprocessor having parameters stored therein to define both a plurality of time settings to provide a desired work cycle for said injection unit and molding unit and for the optimum conditions of pressure temperature and wat content of the gelatin stored in the hopper unit; f. sensing means for sensing the actual operating tine of the injection unit and the molding unit and the temperature, pressure and water conditions of the gelatin in the hopper unit, said sensing means including a signaling means; g. means connected to said sensing means and said microprocessor for detecting the deviation between the sensing means singals and the stored parameters in the microprocessor including, means for signaling said deviation; and h. actuating means connected between said deviation signaling means, and the injection unit, molding unit, hopper unit, and valve body means for signaling adjustments, of the operating parameters of the injection unit, the molding unit and the hopper unit to maintain optimum operation of the automatic capsule molding device.

Claim 3

In the automatic capsule molding apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said hopper unit includes, means for maintaining the gelatin at a predetermined temperature and water content within the parameters stored in said microprocessor.

Claim 4

In the automatic capsule molding apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said injection unit includes, a. hydraulic means for sliding the transport and ram element in the axial line of the cylindrical member; b. means interconnecting the actuating means to selectively operate the hydraulically operated means and the valve body means; and c. said actuating means operable to maintain a rate of movement of said hydraulically operable means and the opening and closing of the valve body means within the optimum operating conditions for the automatic capsule molding apparatus.

Claim 5

In an automatic capsule molding apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said normally closed valve body means includes, a. nozzle means defining a charging chamber for plasticized gelatin, an outlet port in said nozzle means disposed to-provide communication between the charging chamber and the molding unit; b. needle valve means normally disposed to maintain the outlet port closed; c. means for actuating said needle valve to open position to pass the charge of plasticized gelatin from said charging chamber through said outlet port into the molding unit; and d. said valve body means defining an inlet opening on rearward movement of said transport and ram member to permit a new charge of plasticized gelatin to enter the nozzle therein.

Claim 6

In the automatic capsule molding apparatus as claimed in Claim 4 wherein said transport and ram member closes the inlet opening in said valve body.

Claim 7

In the automatic capsule molding apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 wherein, a. said heating means is disposed along a substantial length of the extruder barrel and is selectively operable to melt and dissolve in water the gelatin and to permit the same to plasticize therein, and b. said hydraulic assembly operatively associated with the transport and ram member in said cylindrical means to control the injection pressure of the plasticized gelatin when the valve body means is moved to opened position.

Claim 8

In an automatic capsule molding apparatus as claimed in Claim 6 including, a. cooling means in said mold unit operative to solidify the plasticized gelatin to form the capsule part, and b. said cooling means operative during the normally closed cycle of said valve body means.

Claim 9

In the automatic capsule molding apparatus as claimed in Claim 3 wherein, a. said heating means is disposed along a substantial length of the extruder barrel to heat the gelatin in a range from 50° to 190°C, b. said mold unit having a cooling means therein operative to solidify the plasticized gelatin to form capsule parts, c. said hydraulic assembly operatively associated with the transport and ram member in said cylindrical means to control the injection pressure of the plasticized gelatin when the valve body means is moved to open position, and d. said cooling means operative only during the normally closed cycle of the valve body means. 9. In an automatic capsule molding apparatus; a. a hopper unit for receiving, storing, maintaining and feeding gelatin having an outlet; b. an injection unit for moving and plasticizing gelatin including, an extruder barrel having an inlet end connected to the hopper unit to receive gelatin from the outlet thereof, a heating means disposed along the length of said extruder barrel, and a transport and ram member rotatably and slidably mounted in said extruder barrel; c. A molding unit connected to the end of the extruder barrel remote from the inlet end including, capsule part mold means for molding plasticized gelatin, cooling means, and means for ejecting molded capsule parts therefrom; d. normally closed valve body means connected between the extruder barrel and the mold means and operatively associated with the transport and ram member whereby on movement of the valve body means to open position a predetermined quantity of plasticized gelatin will be delivered to said mold means; e. a microprocessor having parameters stored therein to define both a plurality of time settings to provide a desired work cycle for said injection unit and mold unit and for the optimum conditions of pressure, temperature and water content of the gelatin stored in the hopper unit; f. sensing means for sensing the actual operating time of the injection unit and the molding unit and the temperature, pressure and water conditions of the gelatin in the hopper unit, said sensing means including a signaling means; g. means connected to said sensing means and said microprocessor for detecting the deviation between the sensing means signals and the stored parameters in the microprocessor including, means for signaling said deviation; h. actuating means connected to said deviation signaling means, injection unite, molding unit, hopper unit and valve body means for adjusting the operation thereof to the desired operating parameters of the injection unit, the molding unit and the hopper unit for maintaining optimum operation of the automatic capsule molding apparatus; an i. said heating means and cooling means selectively operable when the valve body means is in the cormally closed position.

Claim 10

In the automatic capsule molding apparatus as claimed in Claim 9 wherein said hopper unit includes means.for maintaining che gelatin at a predetermined temperature and water content within the parameters stored in said microprocessor.

Claim 11

In the automatic capsule.molding apparatus as claimed in Claim 9 wherein said injection unit includes, a. hydraulic means for sliding the transport and ram element in the axial lie of the cylindrical member; b. means connecting the hydraulically operated means to the actuating means for opening and closing the valve body means; c. said actuating means operable to maintain a rate of movement of said hydraulically operable means within the optimum operating conditions for the automatic capsule molding apparatus.

Claim 12

In an automatic capsule molding apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said normally closed valve body means includes, a. nozzle means defining a charging chamber for plasticized gelatin, an outlet port in said valve body means disposed to provide communication between the charging chamber and the molding unit; b. needle valve means normally disposed to maintain the outlet port closed; c. means for actuating said needle valve to open position to pass the charge of plasticized gelatin from said charging chamber through said outlet port into the molding unit; and d. said nozzle means defining an inlet opening on rearward movement of said transport and ram member to permit a new charge of plasticized gelatin to enter the charging chamber therein.

Claim 13

In the automatic capsule molding apparatus as claimed in Claim 12 wherein said transport and ram member closer the inlet opening in said nozzle.

Claim 14

In an automatic capsule molding apparatus as claimed in Claim 10 wherein the means in the hopper unit maintains the water content of the gelatin in a range between 5 to 25% by weight of the dry gelatin therein.

Claim 15

In the automatic capsule molding apparatus as claimed in Claim 9 wherein the heating means in the extruder barrel is selectively operable to melt and dissolve in water the gelatin therein in a temperature range between 50° and 190°C o

Claim 16

In an automatic capsule molding apparatus as claimed in Claim 9 including, means for controlling the pressure in the extruder barrel in a range from 600 to 3000 newtons per square meter.

Claim 19

The method of Claim 17 wherein the temperature is in a range from 50° to 190°C.

Claim 20

The method of Claim 17 wherein the operating pressure at which melting and dissolving in water is affected is in a range from 600 to 3000 newtons per square meter.

Claim 21

The method of Claim 17 wherein the water content range of the gelatin is between 5 to 25% by weight of the dry gelatin.

Claim 22

The method of claim 17 wherein the gelatin is heated with a water content in a range from 5 to 25% by weight of the dry gelatin until it.passes through the glass transition range.

Claim 23

The method according to Claim 21 wherein the melted and dissolved gelatin above the glass transition range is plasticized in a temperature range from 50°C to 190°C.

Claim 24

The method of Claim 22 wherein the plasticizing of the gelatin above the glass transition range is conducted in a pressure range from 600 to 3000 Newtons per square meter.

Claim 25

The method of Claim 22 wherein the water content of the plasticized gelatin is maintained in a range between 5 to 25% by weight of the dry gelatin.

Claim 26

The method according to Claim 17 wherein the injection of the plasticized gelatin into the mold is in a pressure range from 600 to 3000 Newtons per square meter.

Claim 27

The method of Claim 17 wherein the plasticized gelatin is molded at a temperature at least below 50°C.

Claim 28

The production of capsules by the apparatus and methods described in any of Claims 1 to 26.