Method for sealing tamper-evident capsules

Abstract

A method for sealing an assembled gelatine capsule of the type used to contain and dispense medication is disclosed. An assembled capsule the axis of which is oriented perpendicular to the axis of a thin elongated bar is moved along and in contact with a thin edge of the elongated bar. The surface of the assembled capsule, at a point where the cap and body of the capsule overlie each other, is initially in contact with the thin edge of one end of the bar and the capsule is moved along the length of said bar so that the axis of the capsule moves closer to the edge of the bar. The bar is heated so as to be at a first temperature at a first point between its ends that will melt the gelatine, and the remainder of the bar is at a temperature that will heat plasticize the gelatine. As the capsule is moved along the heated bar it is rotated either by friction between the bar and the capsule or by mechanical means. The result is that a circumferential indentation is created around the capsule where the cap and body overlie each other, and the cap and body are fused to each other creating a hermetic seal. When a hermetric seal is not desired the temperature at the first point is below the melting temperature of the gelatine. The formed indentation and the hermetic seal, singly and combinationally, cooperate such that any attempt to separate the cap and body of a sealed capsule will fracture the cap and/or body and thereby provide an indication that the sealed capsule has been tampered with.