US2205837A - Capsule making machine - Google Patents

Description

J1me 1940- E. A. RAVENSCROFT ET AL 2,205,337

CAPSULE MAKING- MACHINE Filed March 12, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I 1 1/ 1 II II 1 1 1 11 11 1 1 1 1 1 11 1/ 1 /I /1 II I II I I 1 I I I 11 '1 I/ 11 /1 I1 June 25, 1940. E. A. RAVENSCROFT ET AL CAPSULE IIAKING MACHINE Filed March 12, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheen 2 J1me 25, 1940. I E. A. RAVENSCRQFT ET AL ,2 5,

CAPSULE MAKING MACHINE June 25, 1940.

E. A. RAVENSCROFT ET AL CAPSULE MAKING MACHINE Filed March 12, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Z five CZ /Q6W a @016? Patented June 25, 1940 PATENT OFFICE CAPSULE MAKING MACHINE EdwardA. Ravenscroft, Glencoe, and Ferdinand H. Young, Lake Bluff, lll., assignors to Abbott Laboratories, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application March l2, 11 Claims.

Our invention relates generally to machines for manufacturing filled capsules and is particularly concerned with, although not necessarily limited to, machines for manufacturing capsules of predetermined and controllable shapes or forms which are provided with walls of gelatine or similar material and which are filled-with liquid medicaments or the like. In its broadest aspects the present invention is an improvement upon the capsule making machine disclosed in our co-pending application, Serial No. 123,098, which was filed on January 30, 1937, and which is assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

As we pointed out in the above identified application, vast numbers of capsules filled with medicaments are used in the pharmaceutical and drug industries, and for many years there has been a great need for a capsule making machine which when supplied with suitable raw materials would automatically 'manufacture filled capsules of uniform size at relatively high speeds and at low cost, while at the same time assuring the preservation of absolutely sanitary conditions throughout the manufacturing operation. This need has been substantially met by the capsule making machine disclosed in our copending application, Serial No. 123,098.

However, the machine disclosed in that application possesses certain inherent limitations. Particularly, the machine, as designed, manufactures capsules which are pillow shaped and is substantially incapable of manufacturing capsules of any other shape. Since this shape is somewhat different from the shape of the capsules in common use at the present time, there is considerable doubt as to whether or not the consuming public could be prevailed upon to adopt and use such capsules, and the machine while fully operative is of doubtful commercial value. Accordingly, the principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved, fully automatic capsule making machine which shall possess all of the advantages of the capsule making machine disclosed in our co-pending application, but which at the same time shall be inherently capable of forming the capsules-made by it to any desired shape or configuration.

By virtue of the ability of the machine of the present invention to manufacture capsules having definite and controllable shapes or forms, it is possible to mark capsules manufactured by the machine with suitable identifying marks or the like as an incident to their manufacture. The provision of means for accomplishing such 1937, Serial No. 130,534

marking constitutes another of the objects of the present invention, and it might be mentioned at this point that heretofore it has been considered impractical, if not impossible, to provide capsules of the subject type with external identifying marks.

Other objects of our invention are to provide a simple, foolproof machine capable of accomplishing the above stated objects and capable of continuous operation over long periods of time with little or no supervision by the operator; to provide an improved capsule making machine which may be easily cleaned and sterilized and which can be changed over from the manufacture of capsules filled with one medicament or other filling material to the manufacture of capsules filled with a different filling material within a relatively short period of time and with little or no adjustment; to provide a capsule making machine of the subject type which shall effectively utilize the raw materials with which it is supplied with little or no waste and without the.

formation of the so-called nets formed during the operation of the machines at present known to the art; and, generally, to provide an improved machine for manufacturing filled capsules, especially capsules of predetermined shapes.

One structural embodiment of our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Referring to these drawings,

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a capsule making machine in accordance with the present invention, together wtih certain auxiliary apparatus;

Figure 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view showing certain of the structural features of the capsule making machine illustrated generally in Figure l;

Figure 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2 and illustrates certain of the features of the orifice mechanism forming a part of the machine of our invention;

Figure 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 2 illustrating certain of the features of the cutter knives used in conjunction with the machine of our invention;

Figure 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view on the line 55 of Figure 2 and illustrates certain of the structural features of the mechanism utilized for actuating the pump for the capsule filling material; v

Figure 6 is a sectional view on the general line G6 of Figure 2;

Figure '7 is a fragmentary elevational view, 5

partially in section, illustrating the gearing and other structural elements utilized in conjunction with the machine of Figure 2;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary elevational view generally similar to Figure -7 showing the position'of certain of the structural elements of the position of certain of the structural elements of a the machine during its operation;

Figure 10 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view on the general line III-I0 of Figure 6 and illustrates a number of the structural details of the machine of our invention;

Figure 11' is a perspective view illustrating one of the cooperating mold members utilized in the machine of our invention;

Figure 12 is a fragmentary view illustrating the mechanism for actuating the pump for the filling material utilized in conjunction with the machine of our invention;

, Figure 13 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the features of a modified form of mold;

" Figures 14 and 15 are perspective views of two types of capsules, one spherical and the other ellipsoidal, which may be readily manufactured by the apparatus of the present invention; and

Figure 16 is a perspective view illustrating one manner in which capsules manufactured by the machine of our invention may be marked with an identifying letter or design as an incident to their manufacture.

Reduced to its simplest elements, the capsule making machine of the present invention operates by forming a relatively thin walled, hollow tube of gelatine or other suitable capsule envelope material, at least a portion of which tube is formed within a hollow mold adapted to produce a finished capsule of the desired shape or form, filling this tube, preferably as it is formed, with a filling material supplied under sumlcient pressure to cause the portion of the tube which is located within the mold to expand and fill that mold, and-then cutting off the portionof the tube located within the mold so as to form a capsule. The apparatus includes means: for opening the mold, for removing the finished capsule from the mold, and for automatically restoring the several structural elements of the machine to an operative condition following the manufacture of each individual capsule. This mode of operation results in a device having a plurality of intermittently moving, mechanical elements, and certain of the mechanical arrangements utilized for accomplishing this intermittent movement constitute important features of the invention.

The shape of the hollow tube formed by the machine is preferably, but not necessarily, cylindrical. In the machine illustrated in the drawings the tube is formed by extrusion, and at the point of formation has a diameter materially less than the cross sectional dimensions of the mold cavity, i. e., the cross sectional dimensions of the finished capsule. This arrangement aids in producing a thin walled tube and also in assuring proper shaping of the capsule by the mold. As

' tured thereby assures the effective utilization of substantially all 01' the raw materials with which the machine is supplied and overcomes the waste sageway I I.

and need for reclaiming the materials making up the nets formed during the operation of the prior art devices.

Referring to the drawings. the capsule forming machine illustrated therein includes a hopper or reservoir I which is closed at its top and which is adapted to hold a quantity of the gelatine or other material, indicated at 2 in Figure 2, utilized in forming the tube which serves as the enclosing envelope or casing for the capsules. The hopper or reservoir I is jacketed, as is illustrated particularly at 3 in Figure '2, and terminates in a member'lfl, preferably of cast metal, which is provided with a centrally arranged passageway II, conically flared at its upper end, for receiving a tube forming element I3 and for defining the outer walls of the tube forming orifice proper. The orifice mechanism is fixedly held in place at the lower end of the pump 1 by means of four bolts I4 which are adapted to extend entirely through the body member Ill. The pump 7 and the reservoir or hopper I in turn are rigidly supported upon a suitable bed plate I5 which serves as the main frame for the entire structure. The annular inner passageway I6 formed within the body member I0 serves as a jacket for the tube forming portions of the mechanism.

The tubeforming element I3 includes a hollow, generally conically shaped body member adapted to fit within the upper conical portion of the passageway II and a pipe or tube I1 supported centrally within the body member by means of three symmetrically arranged arms I8 (Figure 3) between which the gelatine or therefor of other similarly proportioned elements adapted to produce tubes of differing size and, if desired, may be provided with keying means to assure its proper positioning within thepas- The upper end of the pipe I! is adapted to connect with a horizontal passageway l9 formed in the top wall of the member I0.

The medicament or other liquidor semi-liquid filling material is supplied to the capsule making machine proper from a suitable clo'sed reservoir 2| by means of a variable stroke, intermittently operated, piston pump 23, illustrated in Figures 1, 6, and 12, suitable piping 25 serving to connect the filling material reservoir 2| and the pump 23 with the passageway IS in the body III of the orifice mechanism 9. I

The cutters utilized in conjunction with the machine illustrated in the drawings comprise a pair of oppositely arranged, elongated knives 21 which are adapted to be slidably supported directly beneath the outlet of. the orifice mechanism'9 by means, such as the tongue and groove connection 29 illustrated particularly in Figures 4 and 10. v 7

To lubricate the tongue and groove connection 29 and to prevent sticking of the knives 21' to the walls of the gelatine tube or to the capsule during the cutting operation, means is provided whereby lubricating oil may be applied directly to the knives 21 during their operation. As illustrated in the drawings, this means includes a pair of L-shaped passageways 31 formed in the body ll! of the orifice mechanism and adapted to be connected to a suitable source of lubricating oil as by the piping 32 illustrated particularly in Figure 1. Any neutral mineral oil of the proper viscosity may be utilized for accomplishing this lubrication.

As mentioned previously, one of the important objects of our invention is to provide means for controlling and determining the form or shape of the capsules manufactured by the machine. This means constitutes, in the apparatus illustrated in the drawings, a pair of mold members 33 (Figures 6, 7, and 11) which may be of metal adapted to be pivotally supported upon the main frame 15 in opposed cooperative relationship. The support means constitutes four pivot pins or stub shafts 35 which are supported upon and keyed to suitable brackets 31 formed integrally with the frame iii of the machine. These mold members 33 are movable from the normal position shown in Figure 7 to the position shown in Figure 9, which latter figure illustrates the extreme separation of those members and is the position to which they are moved following the formation and the cutting off of each of the capsules. Suitably proportioned cavities 38 within the free end of each of the mold members determine the shape of the capsules formed by the machine. The mold members 33 are removable so as to permit the substitution therefor of similarly proportioned members having mold cavities of other shapes.

Each of the mold members 35 is provided with an ejector mechanism for aiding in effecting disengagement of thecapsule from the mold following its formation. The ejector mechanisms comprise elongated plunger members 35 slidably supported within suitable recesses 4| formed in the body of the mold and biased to a normal inoperative position by a suitable spring 42. The outer end of each of the plunger members 39 is adapted to ride against a suitably proportioned cam 43 fixedly supported upon the supporting shafts 35 for the mold member 33 with which it is associated, as is illustrated in Figures 7 and 9. Each of the plunger members 39 is thus automatically moved by the cam 43 against which it bears to effect removal of the capsule as an incident to the opening of the mold members.

To prevent sticking of the capsules to the mold members 33 and to generally improve the operation of the machine, spray nozzles 45 are arranged for spraying suitable mineral oil into the mold cavities when the mold members 33 are in the separated position (Figure 9).

In the machine described in our co-pending application Serial No. 123,098, the capsule forming operation is carried on substantially continuously, this method of operation being made possible primarily'because rotary cutters are used and because the capsules are not formed to any particular shape. In the machine of the present invention, however,'the capsule formation is carried out by steps primarily because of the capsule molding function inherent therein. In general the operation of the machine of the present invention is substantially as follows: With the various structural elements in the position shown in Figure 2, the gear pump I forforcing the gelatine or other envelope forming material through the tube forming orifice mechanism 8 and the piston pump 23 for the medicament or other filling material are operated simultaneously toform a relatively thin walled tube of gelatine at the lower end of the orifice mechanism 9. This tube is filled with the medicament. or other filling material introduced into the interior of the tube under sufiicient pressure to cause the portion of the tube extruded into the mold .cavity to swell sufiiciently to completely fill that cavity. When this has been accomplished, further feed of the gelatine and the medicament is stopped and the cutter knives 21 are moved from the normal position shown in Figure 2 to the position shown in Figure 8 to accomplish the cutting off of the end portion of the filled tube which is located within the mold cavity to form the capsule and to accomplish the sealing off of the filled tube at the lower end of the orifice mechanism. Then, while the cutter knives 21 are retained in the engaged position in order to close the end of the tube forming orifice, the mold members 33 are moved from the position shown in Figures 7 and 8 to the position shown in Figure 9 thereby accomplishing the discharge of the formed capsule from the mold cavity. The capsule preferably falls into a trough Mi leading into a suitable receptacle or container or the like pending the packaging of the capsules. The mold members 33 are then returned to their normal position, and the cutter knives 21 moved back away from the open end of the orifice. Upon the completion of these operations the cycle may be are both actuated simultaneously through the agency of a connecting shaft 5| and suitable bevel gears 53. The connecting shaft 5| is also journaled upon the main frame I5 of the apparatus as by the bearings 54 (Figure 6), and is adapted to be directly driven by a variable speed electric motor 55 through the-agency of a chain and sprocket drive 51.

The medicament or filling material pump 23 is provided with check valves so arranged that the filling material can be discharged only into the orifice mechanism. Intermittent operation of this pump is accomplished by a cam member 59 which is keyed to the upper end of the right handlFigure 6) drive shaft 49. This cam 59 is engaged by a suitable roller follower 60 or the like aifixed to the end of a pivoted lever iii, the outer end of which is provided with a fork 63 for engaging the piston" rod ofthe medicament pump 23. The lever 6| is pivotally supported intermediate its length upon an adjustable bracket 65, and by reference to Figures 5 and 6, it will be seen that variation in the stroke of the pump 23 may be readily accomplished by adjusting the fulcrum of the lever B! with reference to the cam 59.

Intermittent movement of the gear pump 1 for the gelatine or other material 2 utilized in forming the walls of the capsule is effected simultaneously with the intermittent movement of the medicament pump 23 through the agency of a train of gears indicated generally at 66, the first two elements of which train, the driving gear 61 and the first driven gear 69, are mutilated. The drivinggear 61 is keyed to the-rear end of the left hand drive shaft 49, as is illustrated particularly in Figures 2, 6, and .7. The

relative position of the gears 61 and 69 at the beginning of the gelatine extruding or tube forming operation is illustrated in Figure 2, and it will be seen that the teeth of the unmutilated portion 10 of the driving gear 67 are just about to engage one of the two unmutilated segments ll of the second'gear 69. Thus, during the interval when the driving gear 61 rotates clockwise from the position shown in Figure 2 to the position shown in Figure 7, the gelatine pump 1 will be operated, the pump thus acting as a measuring pump during the tube forming operation. While this movement of the gelatine pump i is taking place, the drive cam 59 for the filling material pump '23 is also being operated to fill the extruded tube. As soon as the gears 61 and 69 have moved from the position shown in Figure 2 to the position shown in Figure '7, the mutilated sections 13 and M of the driving gear 61 and the second gear 69 engage, and further operation of the gelatine pump 5 is stopped until the mutilated section 13 of the driving gear Bl has been turned completely past the cooperating mutilated section M on the second gear 69.

As mentioned previously, the cutter knives 27 are slidably supported by a tongue and groove connection 29 immediately beneath the orifice mechanism 9. Each of the knives is rigidly attached at its outer end to a fork member 15 adapted to straddle the adjacent drive shaft 68. These fork members I5 are provided with suitable cam followers 16 for engaging the slots 11 in cams 19 which are keyed to each of the drive shafts 49, and the cams 19 are so arranged that during the movement of the drive shafts 49 from the position shown in Figure '7, which figure illustrates the position of the mechanism at the conclusion of the extrusion and filling operation, to the position shown in Figure 8 the knives 21 are moved toward each other soas to accomplish the cutting off of the end of the filled tube formed within the mold cavity and the simultaneous sealing off of the upper end of the capsuleformed by the cutting operation. This operation also effects the sealing of the lower end of the gelatine tube at the orifice mechanism.

The cam slots TI are so shaped that the knives 21 after being moved toward each other to sever the capsule from the tube are held in engagement with each other during the opening and closing of the mold.

The opening of the mold is accomplished through the use of a second pair of forked members 8| which are provided at their inner ends with racks 83 adapted to engage with teeth 85 formed in the hub of each of the mold members 33. The racks 83 are held in engagement with the teeth 85 by'suitable guide members 81 bolted to the bracket supports 31 for the mold supporting shafts 35 as is illustrated particularly in Figures 6, 9, and 10. Movement of the forked members 8| and the racks 83 integral therewith is effected by a pair of cam members 81 having suitably shaped slots 89 adapted to be engaged by followers 9| aflixed to the forked end of the members 8|. These slots 99 are so proportioned that immediately following the cutting operation the molds 33 are rotated about their supporting pivots away from each other, and at the extreme position of this movement take the position shown in Figure 9. The actuation of the ejector plungers 39 is accomplished simultaneously with the opening movement of the mold members 33 by virtue of the engagement between the outer ano es? ends of the ejector plungers and the operating cams 93 therefor.

At least when the mold members 33 are in the open position (Figure 9) they are sprayed with mineral oil. Further movement of the drive shafts 99 from the position shown in Figure 9 serves to successively restore the mold members 33 to their normal position beneath the orifice mechanism 9 and to withdraw the knives 27 from engagement with each other, this last movement being accomplished substantially at the point where the teeth of the unmutilated section ill of the main drive gear 91 for the gelatine gagement takes place the entire cycle of oper-' ation described in the foregoing is repeated.

To accomplish the most satisfactory operation of the machine of our invention, it is desirable to maintain accurate temperature control of the gelatine or other material used for forming the walls of the filled capsule and of the filling material and the orifice mechanism 9 during the operation of the machine. The gelatine in the reservoir I and in the gelatine pump 7 are preferably maintained at the same temperature, this temperature being, of course, sufllciently high to keep the gelatine in a liquid or semi-liquid state. The orifice mechanism 9 is preferably maintained at a somewhat lower temperature. This aids in accomplishing slight setting of the gelatine or other envelope material as it is forced through the orifice. mechanism 9 by the pump 7. The temperature of the filling. material may be maintained the same as the temperature of the orifice mechanism 9 or even somewhat lower.

These temperature differentials may be best accomplished through the use of an exchanger system for circulating a suitable liquid through the jackets of the gelatine reservoir l and the gelatine pump, a second heat exchanger system for circulating a liquid through the jacket of the orifice mechanism 9, and a third heat exchanger system for circulating a liquid through the jacket of the supply reservoir 2| for the filling material.

These three heat exchanger devices are illustrated diagrammatically in Figure 1. Each of the systems includes a reservoir 95, a motor driven circulating pump 91, piping such as indicated at 99 for connecting each of the heat exchanger systems with the jackets of the respective parts, and an adjustable thermal switch control ID! for controlling the temperature of the liquid circulated through the jackets. Water may be conveniently used in the systems, and the heating may be supplied by electrical immersion heaters controlled by the thermal switches II. It is desirable, but not essential, that the piping and jackets shall be covered with thermal insulation.

Suitable indicating thermomenters I83 are provided for aiding in attaining accurate control of the temperature of the gelatine, the filling material, and the orifice mechanism. It has been found that the control of the several tempera.- tures may be best accomplished by placing the thermometers in the fluid circuits of the heat exchangers, and such an arrangement is illus trated in the drawings.

It is desirable that the entire equipment shall be operated in a room or enclosure wherein the temperature and the humidity may be accurately controlled. Such an enclosure is illustrated at I05 in Figure 1, suitable air conditioning apparatus for accomplishing humidity and temperature control being indicated at I01.

It is a property of gelatine when it is maintained at the proper temperature that the cutting ad of a tube, such as is formed by the present machine, will at the same time seal both of the cut surfaces. This property is, of course, of great importance in accomplishing the satisfactory operation of the machine of our invention, for the reason that it assures the sealing off of the end of the extruded tube and the sealing of the capsule as an incident to the severing of each capsule from the tube. It is also a property of gelatine that it may be stretched comparatively easily. Thus, the cross sectional dimension of the tube formed at the orifice mechanism 9 may be maintained considerably smaller than the cross sectional dimension of the capsule which it is desired to form by the machine. The formation of a small diameter tube in this manner aids in accomplishing the best possible shaping of the capsule, and also assures that the walls of the capsule shall be relatively thin.

In the apparatus of our invention, it is a relatively simple matter to accomplish the marking of the capsules formed thereby with a design, insignia, letter, or the like. Under certain circumstances this may be accomplished merely by the provision of a suitable raised or cut out portion in the mold cavities 38. However, the best results are usually obtained through the utilization of an electrically heated mold insert W9 such as is illustrated particularly in Figure 13.

-By raising the temperature of the mold a slight amount adjacent the portion therein in which it is desired to form the mark, a freer flow of the gelatine at such portion, and hence a better marking of the capsule, will be attained. A marked capsule produced by a heated insert such as is illustrated in Figure 13 is illustrated in Figure 16. The oil spray for the mold members 33 effectively prevents sticking of the capsule to the heated section of the insert.

The maintenance of proper temperature throughout the operation of the machine is, as mentionedpreviously, of very great-importance in assuring satisfactory operation of the apparatus. Experiments indicate that particularly good results can be accomplished if the gelatine in the hopper or reservoir I and in the measuring pum p I is maintained at a temperature within the range of about 125 F. to 130 F. and if the gelatine at the orifice is maintained at a temperature within the range of F. to F. The

exact temperature to be used, of course, depends upon the composition of the gelatine or other envelope forming material." The medicament or other filling material and the lubricating oil for the sprays and the knives are preferably fed at the same temperature as that maintained in the orifice mechanism 9.

It will be noted that the discharge passageway for the gelatine pump is of relatively small diameter and that the distance between the pump gears and the orifice mechanism is relatively short. Thisis an important feature, for the reason that it minimizes the volume'of gelatine which is maintained under pressure during the operation of the pump. Gelatine, in addition to its other properties, may be very materially compressed and unless the volume of'gelatine under pressure is kept within relatively small limits, some difilculty may be experienced in maintaining even capsule formation by the machine.

The pump 23 for the filling material serves to maintain the filling material within the gelatine tube under pressure during the cutting off operation. This assures proper shaping and filling of of the capsules. When the machine is started up it is, of course, necessary to accomplish the sealing off of the ends of the tube as it is formed. Usually this will result automatically from the first cutting operation, and ordinarily not more than one defective capsule will be formed.

The fact that the filling material is introduced into the tube under considerable pressure makes possible the formation of capsules of almost any conceivable shape. The importance of this from 'the viewpoint of identification and from the standpoint of a merchandizing feature is, of course, apparent. Also, the fact that the medicament or other filling material is introduced into the capsule under considerable pressure assures a smooth appearance to the outer wall of the capsule which is also desirable from. a merchandizing viewpoint.

While we have disclosed a gear pump for forcing the gelatine or other wall forming material through the tube forming orifice, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various other arrangements may be satisfactorily accomplished for this purpose. For example, the gelatine or other material may be moved through the orifice mechanism 9 by an intermittently operated plunger pump or by some arrangement utilizing valves and a weighted plunger or air pressure.

The machine of our invention may be easily cleaned and sterilized. The fiow paths of the gelatine and of the filling material are very short I and easily reached. If it is desired to stop the operation of the machine so as to change over to the use of another filling material, it is necessary merely to stop the flow-of filling mate rial, to operate the machine for a short interval of time so as to clean. out the remaining filling material which may be contained therein, wash out the filling material conduits and the pump 23 by a suitable washing agent, and then proceed with the manufacture of the capsules filled with a different material. Experience shows that the machine may be changed over from one filling material to another within a very few minutes.

About any of the known types of liquid or semiliquid filling materials which are capable of being pumped can be used in the machine of the present invention with very satisfactory results. Accordingly when the term liquid filled capsule is used herein it will be understood to include capsules filled with any liquid, semi-liquid. Plastic, or paste filling material.

The machine of the present invention is relatively compact, and since the raw materials are completely enclosed within the mechanism of the machine during the entire capsule forming operation, it is possible to carry out the manufacture of capsules under very highly aseptic conditions. Further, the mechanical arrangements utilized are simple and capable of easy access for repair, adjustment, or cleaning.

The apparatus of the present invention particularly lends itself to quantity production methods since a number of gelatine pump and orifice mechanism units may be arranged side by side and operated from a single gelatine reservoir and by a single driving mechanism. The heat exchanging unitsin such multiple installation may, of course, be readily arranged to accommodate additional capsule forming equipment.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various machines may be evolved embodying the principles disclosed in the foregoing, and it is our intention, therefore, that the accompanying claims shall be accorded the broadest reasonable construction consistent with the state of the art.

We claim the following as our invention:

1. The method of manufacturing liquid filled, soft gelatine capsules which consists in extruding a relatively thin-walled tube of gelatine directly into a mold cavity of the same shape as,

that desired in the finished capsule, said tube having a cross-sectional area which is substantially less than the cross-sectional area of the finished capsule, forcing liquid filling material into said tube under sufficient pressure to cause that portion of said tube which is within said mold cavity to expand and fill said mold cavity, then simultaneously cutting off and sealing the expanded portion of said tube to form a capsule, and finally removing the finished capsule from the mold.

2. In capsule making apparatus of the class described, an orifice mechanism having a tube forming opening at one end thereof, means for forcing gelatine through said tube forming opening" to form a tube, a hollow mold having an inlet opening and a mold cavity of substantially the same shape as that desired in the finished capsule, said inlet opening and said tube forming opening being aligned to permit the formed tube to be extruded into the mold, means for forcing liquid filling material through said tube during each capsulemaking operation, whereby the portion of the tube within said mold cavity is expended to fill said mold cavity and shear means interposed between said mold and said orifice mechanism, said mold being spaced from said orifice mechanism a distance substantially equal to the thickness of said shear means.

3. In capsule making apparatus of the class .described, an orifice mechanism having a tube forming opening at one end thereof, means for forcing gelatine through said tube forming opening to form a tube, a hollow mold having a mold cavity of substantially the same shape as that desired in the finished capsule, said mold cavity being normally completely closed except for an inlet opening which aligns with said tube forming opening whereby a portion of said tube is admitted into said mold cavity during each operation of said apparatus, shear means interposed between said orifice mechanism and said mold, said mold being spaced from the outlet 'ofsaid orifice mechanism a distance substantially equal to the thickness of said shear means, means for injecting liquid filling material into said tube under substantial pressure during each capsule making operation whereby the portion of said tube within said mold cavity is expanded to fill that cavity, means for operating said shear means to cut off the expanded tube portion located within said mold cavity, and means for opening said mold to permit the removal of the capsule therefrom.

4. In capsule making apparatus of the class described, an orifice mechanism having a tube forming outlet opening at one end thereof, means for forcing gelatine through said tube forming opening to form a tube, a hollow mold having a mold cavity of considerably greater cross-sectional area than said tube forming opening, said ,mold cavity being normally completely closed except for an inlet opening which aligns with said tube forming opening, whereby a portion of said tube is admitted into said mold cavity, shear means interposed between said orifice mechanism and said mold, said shear means, when open, providing an enclosed passageway between said tube forming opening and the inlet opening to said mold, means for injecting liquid filling material into said tube under substantial pressure during each capsule making operation whereby the portion of said tube within said mold cavity is expanded to fill said mold cavity, means for operating said shear means to cut oil the expanded tube portion located within said mold cavity, and means for opening said mold to per mit the removal of the capsule therefrom.

5. In capsule making apparatus of the class described, an orifice mechanism having a tube forming outlet opening at one end thereof, means forforcing gelatine through said tube forming opening to form a tube, a hollow mold having a mold cavity of substantially the same shape as that desired in the finished capsule, said mold cavity being normally completely closed except for an inlet opening which aligns with said tube forming opening whereby a portion of said tube is admitted into said mold cavity during each operation of said apparatus, means for forcing liquid filling material through said tube during each capsule making operation, whereby the portion of the tube within said mold cavity is ex panded to fill said mold cavity and shear means interposed between said orifice mechanism and said mold, said mold being spaced from the outlet of said orifice mechanism a distance substantially equal to the thickness of said shear means, said shear means including guide means and opposed knife members movable from a normally separated position to an engaging position, and said guide and said knife means providing an enclosed passageway between said tube forming opening andthe inlet opening to said mold when said knife members are in the separated position;

6. In capsule making apparatus of the class described, an orifice mechanism having a tube forming opening at one end thereof, means for forcing gelatine through said tube forming opening'to form a tube, a hollow mold having a mold cavity of considerably greater cross-sectional area than said tube forming opening,- said mold cavity being normally completely closed except for an inlet opening which aligns with said tube forming opening whereby a portion of said tube is admitted into said mold cavity, shear means, including spaced shear members and guide means for said members, interposed between said orifice mechanism and said mold, said mold being spaced from the outlet of said orifice mechanism a distance substantially equal to the thickness of said shear means, said shear members and said guide means when open providing an enclosed passageway between said tube forming opening and the inlet to said mold, means for injecting liquid filling material into said tube under substantial pressure during the capsule making operation whereby the portion of said tube within said mold cavity is expanded to fill said mold cavity, means for moving said shear members into engagement with each other following each .tube expanding operation, said engaging shear members simultaneously cutting oil and sealing the expanded tube portion located, within said mold cavity, and means for opening said mold to permit the removal of the capsule therefrom. A

7. In capsule making apparatus of the class described, an orifice mechanism'havinga tube 1 forming opening at one end thereof, means for forcing gelatine through said tube forming opening to form a tube, a pair of oppositely arranged, pivotally supported mold members movable from a normal, engaged position to a separated position, said mold members being provided with cooperating, hollowed out portions which, when said mold members are in said engaged position, define a mold cavity which is completely closed except for an opening which aligns with said tube forming opening whereby a portion of said tube is admitted into said mold cavity during each capsule making operation, shear means interposed between said orifice mechanism and said mold, said shear means when open providing an enclosed passageway between said tube forming opening and the inlet opening to said mold, means for injecting liquid filling material into said tube under substantial pressure during each capsule making operation whereby the portion of said tube within said mold cavity is expanded to fill said mold cavity, means for operating said shear means to cut off and seal the expanded tube portion located within said mold cavity, and means for moving said mold members from. said engaged position to said separated position following each operation of said shear means to effect the removal of the capsule from said mold cavity.

8. In capsule making apparatus of the class described, an orifice mechanism having a tube forming opening at one end thereof, means for forcing gelatine through said tube forming opening to form a tube, a hollow mold having an inlet opening and a mold cavity of substantially the same shape as that desired in the finished capsule, said inlet opening and said tube forming opening being aligned to permit the formed tube to be extruded into the mold, means for forcing liquid filling material through said tube during each capsule making operation, whereby the portion of the tube within said mold cavity is expanded to fill said mold cavity and shear means interposed between said mold and said orifice mechanism, said mold being spaced from said orifice mechanism a distance substantially equal to the thickness of said shear means, said shear means being movable from a normal, separated position to an engaged position to cut off said tube and to close said tube forming opening.

9. In capsule making apparatus of the class described, an orifice mechanism having a tube forming opening at one end thereof and a filling tube located centrally of said opening, means for forcing gelatine through said tube forming opening to form a tube, a hollow mold having an inlet opening and a mold cavity of substantially the same shape as that desired in the finished capsule, said inlet opening and said tube forming opening being aligned to permit the formed tube to be extruded into the mold means for forcng filing materal through said filling tube to fill and expand said gelatine tube simultaneously with the formation thereof, shear means interposed between said mold and said orifice mechanism, said mold being spaced from the outlet of said orifice mechanism a distance substantially equal to the thickness of said shear means, said shear means including cooperating members movable across said outlet opening from a normal, separated position to an engaging position to sever said tube and to close said tube forming opening and said filling tube, and means actuable during each operation of said apparatus to move said cooperating shear members from said separated position to said engaging position.

10. In capsule making apparatus of the class described, an orifice mechanism having a tube forming opening at one end thereof, means for forcing gelatine through said tube forming opening to form a tube, a hollow mold having a mold cavity of considerably greater cross-sectional areathan said tube forming opening, said mold cavity being normally completely closed except for an inlet opening which aligns with said tube forming opening whereby a portion of said tube is admitted into said mold cavity, shear means which includes a pair of shear members movable from a normal, separated position to an engaging position interposed between said orifice mechanism and said mold, said shear means when open providing an enclosed passageway between said tube forming opening and the inlet opening of said mold, means for injecting liquid filling malterial into said tube under substantial pressure during each capsule making operation whereby the portion of said tube within said mold cavity is expanded to fill said mold cavity, means for moving said shear members from said separated to said engaging position following each tube expanding operation to cut off the expanded tube portion located within said mold cavity, means for opening said mold to permit the removal of the capsule therefrom, said shear members when in the engaged position serving to close and seal said tube forming opening.

11. In capsule making apparatus of the class described, an orifice mechanism having a tube forming opening at one end thereof, means for forcing gelatine through said tube forming opening to form a tube, a hollow mold having an inlet opening and a mold cavity of substantially the same shape as that desired in the finished capsule, said inlet opening and said tube forming opening being aligned to permit the formed tube to be extruded into the mold, means for forcing liquid filling material through said tube during each capsule making operation, whereby the portion of thetube within said mold cavity is expanded to fill said mold cavity, a plate mem-

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