JP5873375B2 - Soft capsule and method for producing soft capsule - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a soft capsule and a method for producing the soft capsule.

  With soft capsules, the capsule coating may be damaged and the contents may leak out. This is mainly due to the fact that the content enclosed in the soft capsule film is a liquid (solution or suspension), so that the volume change accompanying the environmental temperature change is large. Further, when the soft capsule film is deformed when an impact is applied from the outside due to dropping or the like, a large stress acts locally, and the soft capsule film may be cracked at that location.

  In particular, when a soft capsule film is formed by a rotary die method, two sheet-like films formed from a coating solution are arranged between a pair of die rolls, the contents are filled, and the two films are heat-sealed. The Therefore, the seam (joint part) formed by heat sealing is thinner and lower in strength than the other parts, and the soft capsule film tends to break along the seam and the contents tend to leak out.

  In order to solve such problems, attempts have been made to increase the capsule film thickness. In addition, a technique has been proposed in which a soft capsule having a molded capsule film filled with contents is further immersed in a film solution to make the capsule film have a multi-layer structure (see Patent Document 1). This is because the outer layer is coated on the surface of the capsule film by dipping in the coating solution, and the thickness of the bonded portion is increased by filling the thin junction with the coating solution, thereby increasing the strength of the bonded portion. It is intended.

  However, when the single-layer soft capsule film is thickened or the capsule film has a multi-layer structure as in the technique of Patent Document 1, the disintegration property of the soft capsule may be lowered.

  Therefore, in view of the above situation, the present invention has an object to provide a soft capsule in which leakage of contents is suppressed without fear of a decrease in disintegration, and a method of manufacturing a soft capsule for manufacturing the soft capsule. It is.

  In order to solve the above problems, a soft capsule according to the present invention is a soft capsule in which a soft capsule film having a seam formed by molding with a rotary die molding apparatus is filled with contents, A belt-like film is wound along the outer peripheral surface so as to cross the line. "

  In hard capsules, conventionally, the joint between the body and the cap is sealed with a belt-like film. However, there has been no idea in the past that a strip-like film similar to this is applied to soft capsules. The present invention employs a configuration in which a belt-like film is wound along the outer peripheral surface of the soft capsule. This is a configuration that a person skilled in the art of soft capsule in contact with the technology of hard capsule has never been conceived so far. It is. Moreover, in the hard capsule, the belt-shaped film is wound along the joint portion between the body and the cap, whereas in the present invention, the seam formed by being molded by the rotary die molding apparatus intersects. A strip film is wound in the direction.

  According to the above configuration, the band-like film wound so as to intersect the seam with the force to break the soft capsule film along the “seam” which is a thinner part and thinner than the other part. Oppose. Thereby, when the soft capsule film is about to expand along with the volume change of the contents, or when the soft capsule film is about to deform due to an external force, the soft capsule film is prevented from breaking along the seam. That is, the strip film can increase the strength of the soft capsule and suppress the leakage of the contents.

  In addition, since the belt-like film covers only a small part of the outer peripheral surface of the soft capsule film, the conventional technique in which the entire soft capsule film is thickened for the purpose of preventing leakage of the contents, or Compared with the prior art in which the soft capsule film is multilayered, there is an advantage that the soft capsule film has almost no influence on the disintegration property.

  In addition, a step corresponding to the thickness of the band-shaped film is formed between the band-shaped film and the outer surface of the soft capsule film. Accordingly, when the soft capsule is stored in a container or the like, the contact area between the outer surfaces of the soft capsule film and the contact area between the outer surface of the soft capsule film and the inner surface of the container are reduced. Therefore, the presence of the belt-like film suppresses the adhesion between the soft capsules and the adhesion of the soft capsules to the container.

  In addition, when trying to fill a large amount of contents in the soft capsule film, the soft capsule film is stretched so that the shape of the soft capsule swells outward, the thickness of the seam is further reduced, the strength is lowered, and it is more easily damaged. Sometimes. Therefore, conventionally, when it is desired to fill a large amount of the contents, the die for forming the soft capsule film is made large, so that the internal space of the capsule film has a margin and the expansion of the capsule film is suppressed. For this reason, there are problems in that many types of dies having different sizes are required in accordance with the filling amount of the contents, and the cost increases. On the other hand, in the present invention, even if the filling amount of the contents is slightly increased, the extent to which the soft capsule film is stretched is suppressed by being wound from the outside with the belt-like film. Thereby, the freedom degree of the quantity of the content which can be filled in the soft capsule membrane | film | coat of a predetermined size is high, and the kind of die | dye for shaping | molding can be decreased.

  In addition, if a colorant is added to the belt-like film, the soft capsule can be easily distinguished from the case where the entire soft capsule film is colored. Furthermore, if a sweetener, a corrigent, a fragrance | flavor, etc. are added to a strip | belt-shaped film, compared with the case where these additives are contained in a soft capsule membrane | film | coat, a soft capsule can be seasoned and scented.

  The soft capsule according to the present invention has the above-described configuration, wherein “the belt-like film is wound so as to intersect the seam at a central position in a direction along the seam”.

  In the rotary die type molding apparatus, two films formed from the capsule film liquid are heat sealed to form a soft capsule film opened upward, and extruded through the open portion from the content filling segment. After the filled contents are filled in the soft capsule film, the opened portion is heat sealed. In the soft capsule film formed in this way, the “center position in the direction along the seam” corresponds to a portion where the content is filled from the content filling segment and is finally heat-sealed, and the thickness of the soft capsule film is It is the position where it tends to become the thinnest. In other words, the “center position in the direction along the seam” of the joint is the weakest part in terms of strength and the part that is most likely to break.

  Further, in a soft capsule film having an outward bulge shape such as an oval type, the “center position in the direction along the seam” bulges to the outermost side, and is a portion that is susceptible to impact force from the outside.

  In this configuration, the portion of the soft capsule film that is weakest in strength and is susceptible to external force is reinforced with a strip-shaped film. Thereby, the intensity | strength which resists external force can be raised more and the leakage of the content by the fracture | rupture of a soft capsule film | membrane can be suppressed more effectively.

  Next, a method for producing a soft capsule according to the present invention is described as follows: “A film formed from a capsule film solution is molded by a rotary die type molding apparatus to form a soft capsule film having a seam, and the soft capsule film is formed in the soft capsule film. Fill the contents, and apply the film solution for the belt-shaped film so as to cross the seam along the outer peripheral surface of the soft capsule film filled with the contents. It is gelled to form a band-like film ”.

  According to the manufacturing method of the soft capsule of this structure, the soft capsule of the said structure which has said outstanding effect can be manufactured.

  As described above, as an effect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a soft capsule in which leakage of contents is suppressed without fear of deterioration of disintegration, and a soft capsule manufacturing method for manufacturing the soft capsule.

It is a block diagram of the soft capsule of one Embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, a soft capsule 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention and a soft capsule manufacturing method for manufacturing the soft capsule 10 (hereinafter, simply referred to as “manufacturing method”) will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the soft capsule of the present embodiment is a soft capsule 10 in which a content is filled in a soft capsule film 1 having a seam 2 formed by being molded by a rotary die molding apparatus, and the seam is a seam. The belt-like film 5 is wound along the outer peripheral surface so as to intersect 2. The belt-like film 5 is wound so as to intersect the seam 2 at a central position P in the direction along the seam 2. In the soft capsule 10 of the present embodiment, the strip film 5 is wound in a direction orthogonal to the joint 2.

  The soft capsule having such a configuration can be manufactured by the following manufacturing method. That is, the manufacturing method of the present embodiment forms a soft capsule film having a seam by molding a film formed from the capsule film liquid with a rotary die type molding apparatus, and fills the contents in the soft capsule film. Along the outer peripheral surface of the soft capsule film filled with the contents, the film solution for the strip film is applied in a band shape so as to intersect the seam, and the coated film solution for the strip film is gelled to form a band film It is something to be made. In addition, the coating liquid for the belt-shaped film is applied at a central position in the direction along the seam so as to intersect the seam (in the present embodiment, in a direction orthogonal to the seam).

  More specifically, the manufacturing method of the present embodiment includes a capsule film liquid preparation step for preparing a capsule film liquid that is a stock solution of a soft capsule film, and a band film for preparing a film liquid for a band film that is a stock solution of a band film. A coating liquid preparation process, a molding / filling process for filling and encapsulating the contents in the soft capsule film simultaneously with the molding of the soft capsule film by a rotary die type molding device, and a capsule drying process for drying the soft capsule after the molding / filling process And a coating solution coating step for coating the strip film coating solution along the outer peripheral surface of the soft capsule coating and a gelling step for gelling the coated strip film coating solution.

  In the capsule film solution preparation step and the film solution preparation step for the strip-shaped film, the film base is dissolved in a solvent to obtain a film solution. Additives such as a plasticizer, a colorant, a sweetener, a corrigent, a fragrance, a light hiding agent, and an antiseptic can be added to these coating liquids. As the film base, non-gelatin film base such as hypromellose (HPMC), starch, and agar can be used in addition to gelatin, but the same film base is used for the capsule film solution and the film solution for the belt-like film. If so, the affinity between the soft capsule film and the strip film is high, which is preferable. Even in that case, the type and amount of the additive can be different between the capsule film solution and the film solution for the belt-like film. For example, the colorant, the sweetener, the corrigent, and the fragrance are the film solution for the belt-like film. It can be set as the structure added only to. Moreover, in the film | membrane liquid for strip | belt-shaped films, the addition ratio of a plasticizer can be made smaller than a capsule film | membrane liquid.

  The molding / filling step is performed using a rotary die type molding apparatus. Here, a general rotary die type molding apparatus includes a casting drum that forms a capsule coating liquid into a film, a pair of die rolls having a molding mold formed on the outer surface, and a filling of the contents disposed between the die rolls. It mainly comprises a wedge-shaped segment and a pump that presses the contents into the segment and pushes the contents from the tip of the segment. First, the capsule coating liquid held at a high temperature and in a sol state is cast on the surface of the casting drum, cooled, and gelled to form a film. Next, two of the formed films are fed along a segment between a pair of die rolls. Thereafter, as the pair of die rolls rotate in opposite directions, the two films are heat-sealed to form a soft capsule film that opens upward, and the contents extruded from the segments are filled therein. At the same time, the two films are heat sealed at the top to form a soft capsule in which the contents are enclosed in a closed internal space.

  In addition, as a content, a pharmaceutical ingredient, a crude drug ingredient, a health food ingredient, and a nutritional supplement ingredient can be used without limitation.

  In the drying step, the soft capsules are dried in the dryer until the contents enclosed in the soft capsule film and the moisture content of the soft capsule film reach a predetermined moisture content.

  In the coating liquid application process, first, direction regulation is performed to align the direction of the dried soft capsule. The direction-constrained soft capsule is arranged in the recess of the transfer slat, abuts on the upper surface of the support base through a hole penetrating a part of the recess, and is supported as the transfer slat moves in the horizontal direction. Move while rolling on the table. A pan containing the film solution for the belt-like film is arranged below the support base, and the coating roller partially immersed in the film solution for the belt-like film rotates in the direction opposite to the moving direction of the transfer slats. doing. A through hole portion is formed in a part of the support base, and the height of the upper end of the coating roller is set to be equal to or higher than the height of the upper surface of the support base in this portion. Therefore, as the transfer slat moves, when the soft capsule rolling on the support table passes on the application roller, the film solution for the belt-like film is applied in a belt shape along the outer peripheral surface of the soft capsule film.

  At this time, the position of the soft capsule is guided so that the application roller contacts the soft capsule at a central position in a direction along the seam and in a direction perpendicular to the seam. Moreover, the width | variety of the roller for application | coating is selected according to the width | variety (for example, 2 mm-5 mm) of the strip | belt-shaped film desired. Moreover, the frequency | count of winding the strip | belt-shaped film around the outer peripheral surface of a soft capsule membrane | film | coat can be adjusted with the moving speed of a transfer slat, and the rotational speed of the coating roller.

  In the gelation step, the film solution for the belt-like film applied to the outer peripheral surface of the soft capsule film is gelled by drying, cooling, or a combination thereof. As a result, the coating liquid becomes a belt-like film, and the soft capsule having the above-described configuration is obtained.

  The soft capsule having the above-described structure manufactured in this way has a band-like film that counteracts the force to break the soft capsule film along the seam, so that when the soft capsule film tries to expand as the volume of the contents changes, or When the soft capsule film is deformed by an external force, the soft capsule film is prevented from breaking along the seam.

  In particular, in the soft capsule of the present embodiment, the belt-like film is wound so as to pass through the center position in the direction along the seam, and the portion of the soft capsule film that is the weakest in strength and susceptible to external force is reinforced with the belt-like film. ing. Thereby, the leakage of the content by the fracture | rupture along the seam of a soft capsule membrane | film | coat can be suppressed more effectively.

  A capsule film solution was prepared using gelatin as a film base, and an oval type, capsule size no. 3 soft capsule film was molded and filled with soybean lecithin solution as contents. After drying the soft capsule film filled with the contents, the outer peripheral surface of the soft capsule film is passed through the central position in the direction along the seam and perpendicular to the seam. Was applied along. The coated film solution for a belt-like film was gelled by drying at room temperature to obtain a belt-like film having a width of 3.43 mm. The soft capsule manufactured as described above was used as the soft capsule of the example. On the other hand, a soft capsule identical to the soft capsule of the example except that it was manufactured without applying the coating solution for the belt-like film and not provided with the belt-like film was used as a control example. In addition, since lecithin has a surface active effect | action and does not cut out of the liquid from the segment for content filling, it is easy to adhere to the film of the part which should be heat-sealed. Therefore, a soft capsule containing lecithin as a content is an example of a soft capsule in which a joint failure is likely to occur at a joint.

  The strength (breaking load) was measured for the soft capsules of the example and the control example. For the measurement, a Kiyama hardness tester (manufactured by Fujiwara Seisakusho) was used, and the measurement was performed under the condition that the pressurizer descending speed was 1 mm / second. In order to eliminate the influence of the difference in water content, the soft capsules dried under reduced pressure were subjected to strength measurement until the water content in the soft capsule film (according to the loss on drying method) was 6%.

  As a result, in the soft capsule of the example, the soft capsule film did not break even when a load of 20 kgf (about 196 N) was applied, whereas the soft capsule of the control example broke along the seam at 19 kgf (about 186 N). From the above, it was confirmed that the strength of the soft capsule film was increased by the strip film, and the leakage of the contents due to the break along the seam was effectively suppressed.

  The present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various improvements can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as described below. And design changes are possible.

  For example, in the above, an example in which a belt-like film is wound around an oval type soft capsule film is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can be applied to soft capsules of other shapes such as an oblong type. it can. In the case of a round type (spherical type) soft capsule, the standard has a major axis and a minor axis, and the direction can be regulated, so this is not excluded. Further, even if the direction restriction is not performed in the case of a round type soft capsule, it is considered that the probability that the belt-like film is wound in the direction intersecting the seam is high.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Soft capsule membrane 2 Seam 5 Band-shaped film 10 Soft capsule

JP 2007-320875 A

Claims (3)

A soft capsule film having a seam formed by being molded with a rotary die type molding device, the contents being filled with the soft capsule film,
A soft capsule, wherein a belt-like film is wound along an outer peripheral surface so as to intersect the seam. The soft capsule according to claim 1, wherein the belt-like film is wound so as to intersect the seam at a central position in a direction along the seam. Forming a soft capsule film having a seam by molding the film formed from the capsule film liquid with a rotary die type molding device, and filling the contents in the soft capsule film,
Along the outer peripheral surface of the soft capsule film filled with the contents, a film solution for a band film is applied in a band shape so as to intersect the seam,
A method for producing a soft capsule, wherein the coated film solution for a belt-like film is gelled to form a belt-like film.

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