Stanelco Fibre Optics Ltd.

Ingel Technologies Ltd.

Allan Draisey

Ryan Grimes

George Bernard Tidy

David John Smith

Richard Martin Rencourt

Capsules, for example for the delivery of pharmaceuticals, are produced from two films () of a water-soluble polymeric material, by deforming the films to form a multiplicity of recesses, and filling the recesses, using two adjacent rotary dies () with recesses () into which the films () are deformed. The dies () act as electrodes for welding the films together by dielectric welding to form filled capsules (). The capsules () can be separated from the resulting web either by coating at least one of the dies () with an electrical insulator (), or by transferring the web from the dies () to a second pair of dies which cut the capsules () free. The polymeric material may be gelatin, or a water-soluble cellulose derivative such as hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, and may also contain a plasticiser.

Method and apparatus for making capsules

Capsules, for example for the delivery of pharmaceuticals, are produced from at least three films () of a water-soluble polymeric material, by deforming two of the films () to form a multiplicity of recesses, and filling the recesses () with a flowable filling material. A film () is used to cover the recesses () in at least one of the films (), and is welded to it by dielectric welding. The films with filled recesses are then brought together and welded together by dielectric welding to form filled capsules, which are cut or punched out of the welded film. The polymeric material may be gelatin, or a water-soluble cellulose derivative such as hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, and may also contain a plasticiser.

Capsules

Capsules, for example for the delivery of pharmaceuticals, are produced from two films ( ) of a water-soluble polymeric material, by deforming the films to form a multiplicity of recesses, and filling the recesses with a flowable filling material. This is performed using two adjacent rotary dies ( ), with recesses ( ) into which the films ( ) are deformed. The dies ( ) also act as electrodes for welding the films together by dielectric welding to form filled capsules ( ). The capsules ( ) can readily be separated from the resulting web. The polymeric material may be gelatin, or a water-soluble cellulose derivative such as hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, and may also contain a plasticizer.

The invention relates to a device for filling with high accuracy a finely divided powdered medicament having a particle size smaller than 10 &mgr;m into cavities having a size corresponding to the volume of powder to be filled, wherein said device comprises oscillating and rotating means for breaking down aggregates formed in the finely divided powdered medicament and filling and for compacting it in said cavities. The invention also includes a method of filling with high accuracy of a finely divided powdered medicament having a particle size smaller than 10 &mgr;m and to fill said finely divided powdered medicament into cavities, wherein the finely divided powdered medicament is transported and compacted in said cavities by oscillating and rotating means.

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Felpham, United Kingdom

Allan Draisey