Banner Gelatin Products Corp.

Banner Pharmacaps, Inc.

Gregory L Dietel

Hani Sadek

Qi Fang

Don A Archibald

Linus G Fonkwe

Charles S Casault

Don Steele

A film-forming composition comprising a hydrocolloid, a plasticizer, and water is described. A process and apparatus for producing a non-gelatin film comprising a hydrocolloid, a plasticizer, and water is also disclosed. The process includes combining at least one non-gelatin hydrocolloid, water, and at least one plasticizer into a substantially homogeneous film-forming composition comprising at least about 40 percent water by weight. A substantial portion of the water is then extracted from the film-forming composition to form a dried portion having a water content of less than or equal to about 25 percent by weight. The dried portion of the film-forming composition is formed into a film. A film produced according to the process preferably has a tensile strength at rupture of at least about 0.4 N/mn, and a percent elongation of at least about 50 percent at rupture at room temperature. An apparatus for performing the process is also described, as well oral dosage forms encapsulated or enrobed in the produced film.

Non-gelatin film and method and apparatus for producing same

Enrobed tablet

A medicine tablet is described as a new article of manufacture. The tablet is enrobed in a gelatin coating formed by application of respective layers of elastic gelatin film to opposite sides of the tablet. The applied gelatin layers conform tightly to the tablet surface, bond securely to the tablet, and are sealed together in essentially edge-to-edge manner at a seal line which extends around the tablet at a desired place on the tablet. The gelatin layers can be colored differently from the tablet and differently from each other. A range of formulations are described for film which can be peelable from a tablet or other product core, and for films which bond to the core. A presently preferred formulation for producing tablets having a bonded tamper-evident coating comprises a water-based gelatin preparation having about 45% gelatin and about 9% plasticizer (glycerin and/or sorbitol) by weight. Method and apparatus for producing such new products are also described. Product cores can be dispensed on a self-timed basis into essentially simultaneous contact with two enrobing films which are supported on locally recessed coacting rotary dies. The cores contact the films adjacent a nip between the dies at places on the films which overlie die recesses which are oversize relative to the cores. The films deform around each core and are sealed by the dies to each other before the dies coact to cut the enrobed cores from the films. A core feeding mechanism can include an alignment device which causes the cores to have a desired orientation as they are handled by the dies.

Tablet enrobing apparatus

After softgels are encapsulated and dried in a drying tunnel, the resulting softgels are subjected to a further stress relieving step. During the stress relieving step, the temperature and humidity conditions in the drying tunnel are heightened. By utilizing the stress relieving step, the volume and number of dimples and bubbles in the softgels are reduced, and dimensional uniformity is maximized.

Softgel manufacturing process

A medicine tablet is described as a new article of manufacture. The table is enrobed in a gelatin coating formed by application of respective layers of elastic gelatin film to opposite sides of the tablet. The applied gelatin layers conform tightly to the tablet surface, bond securely to the tablet, and are sealed together in essentially edge-to-edge manner at a seal line which extends around the tablet at a desired place on the tablet. The gelatin layers can be colored differently from the tablet and differently from each other. A range of formulations are described for film which can be peelable from a tablet or other product core, and for films which bond to the core. A presently preferred formulation for producing tablets having a bonded tamper-evident coating comprises a water-based gelatin preparation having about 45% gelatin and about 9% plasticizer (glycerin and/or sorbitol) by weight. Method and apparatus for producing such new products are also described. Product cores can be dispensed on a self-timed basis into essentially simultaneous contact with two enrobing films which are supported on locally recessed coacting rotary dies. The cores contact the films adjacent a nip between the dies at places on the films which overlie die recesses which are oversize relative to the cores. The films deform around each core and are sealed by the dies to each other before the dies coact to cut the enrobed cores from the films. A core feeding mechanism can include an alignent device which causes the cores to have a desired orientation as they are handled by the dies.

Growing community of inventors

Moorpark, CA, United States of America

Gregory L Dietel