US4550238A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus and method for sealing capsules
Assignee: Warner Lambert Co LLC
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Filing: 1982-11-05
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Granted: 1985-10-29
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Expires: 2002-11-05
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus using a coherent mono-chromatic radiation source, preferably using a laser, for bonding capsule elements is disclosed. The systems described include means for providing a spot, short-line, or continuous seam. Also described are methods to enhance the bonding technique which utilize a small quantity of water or plasticol in the region to be bonded.
Inventors
- 👤 Louis Van Herle
- 👤 Fritz Wittwer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 16:23
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C65/00; B29C65/02; B29C65/14; B29C65/16; B29C65/1629; B29C65/1632; B23; B23K; B23K26/00; B23K26/02; B23K26/06; B23K26/0604; B23K26/0619; B23K26/067; B29C65/1654; B29C65/48; B29C65/4895; B29C66/00; B29C66/01; B29C66/05; B29C66/10; B29C66/13; B29C66/137; B29C66/50; B29C66/51; B29C66/54; B29C66/542; B29C66/65; B29C66/70; B29C66/73; B29C66/731; B29C66/7317; B29C66/73171; B29C66/90; B29C66/91; B29C66/914; B29C66/9161; B29C66/93; B29C66/934; B29C66/93451; A; A61; A61J; A61J3/00; A61J3/07; A61J3/071; A61J3/072; B29C65/1645; B29C65/1648; B29C65/1661; B29C65/1664; B29C65/1677; B29C65/1687; B29C66/11; B29C66/112; B29C66/1122; B29C66/52; B29C66/522; B29C66/5221; B29C66/71; B29C66/737; B29C66/7379; B29C66/73793; B29C66/939; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/712; B29L2031/7174
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
62 words
An apparatus for bonding hydrophilic polymer capsule elements which comprises a source of coherent monochromatic radiation, an assembled hydrophilic polymer capsule, means to support said capsule, means to direct a beam of said radiation at adjacent portions of said elements, and means to control the amount of raidant energy absorbed by said portion of said elements, whereby said adjacent portions are bonded.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
62 words
An apparatus for bonding hydrophilic polymer capsule elements which comprises a source of coherent monochromatic radiation, an assembled hydrophilic polymer capsule, means to support said capsule, means to direct a beam of said radiation at adjacent portions of said elements, and means to control the amount of raidant energy absorbed by said portion of said elements, whereby said adjacent portions are bonded.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said source is a laser.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said source is a carbon dioxide laser.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said source is an argon laser.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said source is a helium neon-laser.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means to direct radiation includes reflective surfaces to simultaneously direct said radiation at a plurality of locations on said elements.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means to direct radiation includes reflective surfaces to sequentially direct said radiation at a plurality of locations on said elements.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means to direct radiation includes means to shape the cross-section of said beam.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said source is a pulsed laser and said means to control the amount of radiation includes means to vary the pulse duration.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said source is a pulsed laser and said means to control the amount of radiation includes means to vary the number of pulses.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
10 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the elements are moved.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means to control the amount of radiation includes means to control the speed the elements are moved.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said elements form a gelatin capsule.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
10 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said capsule is rotated.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further including means to deposit a small quantity of a liquid at the location of said ajacent portions.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the capsule is gelatin and the liquid is water.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the liquid is a plasticol.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the cross-section of the beam is circular.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the cross-section of the beam is a line.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
18 words
A method of bonding hydrophilic elements which comprises fusing ajacent portions of said elements with a laser beam.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
18 words
A method of bonding hydrophilic elements which comprises fusing ajacent portions of said elements with a laser beam.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method claim 20 wherein one of said elements carries an absorber of radiation.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 21 wherein said absorber is selective to the wavelength of said beam.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
9 words
The method of claim 22 wherein said elements overlap.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method of claim 20 wherein said elements have a composition selected from the group consisting of gelatin, crosslinked gelatin, sunflower proteins, soybean proteins, cotton seed proteins, peanut proteins, rape seed proteins; lactose; gum arabic; acrylates; methacrylates; water soluble cellulose and its derivatives including hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methycellulose, hydroxypropyl methycellulosephthalate, methycellulose and sodium carboxymethylcellulose; sodium starch glycolate; acrylic acid polymers; polyvinylpyrrolidone; shellac; polyvinylacetatephthalte; phthalated gelatin; succinated gelatin; and crotonic acid.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 24 wherein said capsule is gelatin.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 25 wherein said portions have a water content of about 15% to 50%.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 26 wherein the water content is about 20%.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 26 wherein the increased water content lies as a film on the surface of ajacent portions.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 24 wherein a small quantity of a solution containing said composition is deposited at the location of said adjacent portions.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 28 wherein said solution is aqueous.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-10-28 | 1989-04-29 | 1989-10-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-10-28 | 1993-04-29 | 1993-10-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-10-28 | 1997-04-29 | 1997-10-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |