WO2008141861A1

WO2008141861A1 - Capsule for accommodating a medium and method for the production of such a capsule

Info

Publication number: WO2008141861A1
Application number: PCT/EP2008/054186
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ralf Schmied; Torsten Grass
Original assignee: Robert Bosch Gmbh
Priority date: 2007-05-22
Filing date: 2008-04-08
Publication date: 2008-11-27
Also published as: EP2152222A1; DE102007023399A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a capsule for accommodating a medium (2) comprising a lower capsule part (3) in which the medium (2) is disposed, an upper capsule part (4), and a cover element (5), wherein the lower and upper capsule parts define an outer shell of the capsule, and wherein the cover element tightly seals the lower capsule part (3). The invention further relates to a method for the production of such a capsule.

Description

description

title

Capsule for receiving a medium and method for producing such a capsule

State of the art

The present invention relates to a capsule for receiving a medium, in particular a powdery or liquid medium, and a method for producing such a capsule.

Capsules for receiving powdered or liquid media are known, for example, from the pharmaceutical field. The known capsules in this case have an oval-cylindrical shape and comprise a lower capsule part and a capsule upper part, which is inserted over the lower capsule part. Inside the capsule, for example, the drug is arranged. The known capsules are made of gelatin or the like, for example. produced and release after taking the drug in the digestive tract. Recently, applications are increasingly in demand, in which liquid media should be arranged in such capsules. In the case of the conventional capsules, however, the problem arises that the liquid can escape relatively easily through the gap, which is present in the overlapping region between the capsule upper part and the capsule lower part, to the outside. Furthermore, the known capsules have the disadvantage that they can be opened relatively easily by the capsule shell can be removed from the capsule base. This results in the possibility of manipulation of the medium received in the capsule. In order to avoid such manipulations, it would be conceivable to fix, for example, at the interface between the capsule top and the capsule base an annular circumferential band. However, this is on the one hand relatively expensive and on the other hand may result in problems in taking the capsules due to difficult swallowing of the capsule.

From DE 38 14 097 Al a machine for moistening an upper part to be fastened to a lower part is known, which moistens an edge of the lower part and the

Arranged upper part to secure it to the lower part. However, this procedure is relative consuming and there is a risk of contamination of the medium during wetting.

DE 101 37 054 A1 also discloses a method for welding plastic capsules for inhalers, which are used in particular in inhalers. These

However, capsules are not suitable for medication use.

Advantages of the invention

The capsule according to the invention for receiving a medium with the features of

Claim 1 has the advantage that it ensures a secure recording of the medium in the capsule. In particular, when the capsule is to receive liquid media, there is no danger that the liquid medium escapes from the capsule. This is inventively achieved in that the capsule comprises a capsule lower part, in which the medium is arranged, a capsule upper part and a lid member. The lid member closes the opening of the capsule lower part, so that the medium therein is enclosed and can not get to the outside. The capsule top can then be arranged in a known manner on the capsule base, for example by sliding. Thus, the capsule according to the invention has a lid element directly on the capsule lower part and a capsule upper part, which practically provides a second slipped-over cover for the capsule lower part. The cover element can be attached by means of any joining method on the capsule base to close the capsule bottom tightly.

The dependent claims show preferred developments of the invention.

Preferably, the lid member is disposed on an upper edge of the capsule lower part. As a result, the opening of the capsule lower part is directly on the upper

Sealed edge.

Alternatively, according to another embodiment of the present invention, the

Cover element arranged on an inner peripheral portion of the capsule lower part.

It can thereby be achieved that the cover element with the upper edge of the

Capsule bottoms forms a flush finish. According to yet another alternative of the present invention, the lid member comprises a step portion, wherein the step portion of the lid member comprises a horizontal surface for fixing to the upper edge of the capsule lower part and a vertical surface for fixing to the inner peripheral portion of the capsule lower part. This allows a particularly secure fixation and sealing of the

Capsule lower parts are achieved by the lid member.

Particularly preferably, the cover element has a spherical segment shape, in particular a hemispherical shape, wherein a dome-like projecting region of the spherical segment shape is directed towards the inside of the capsule lower part. It can thereby be achieved that the capsule lower part closed with the cover element still has sufficient flexibility when the cover element is fixed to the capsule lower part. On the other hand, if the cover element is formed only in a planar manner, the capsule lower part is relatively stiff after a fixation of the cover element on the capsule lower part. There is a risk that in a further handling the capsule or the

Capsule bottom is easily damaged.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the capsule top is fixed to the capsule base. This can be done for example by gluing or welding. This can ensure that the capsule is sealed tamper-proof. The upper part of the capsule is particularly preferably fixed to the lower part of the capsule at two opposite areas, for example by means of spot welding or the like.

Particularly preferably, the cover element, the lower part of the capsule and the upper part of the capsule are made of the same material. For example, in a pharmaceutical application, the parts of the capsule are preferably made of gelatin. A method of joining the cover element to the capsule base can then be accomplished, for example, by gluing or welding with ultrasound, heat or friction or the like. be enabled.

According to the invention thus the capsule has no visible geometric or dimensional changes to the outside. The capsule can thus comply with the known dimensions. By means of the lid element fixed on the lid element, the capsule lower part, - A - in which the medium is arranged, thus safely closed, so that there is no danger that the medium escapes through the gap between the capsule bottom and the capsule top.

The inventive method for producing a filled with a medium

Capsule having the features of the independent method claim comprises the steps of filling a capsule lower part with a medium, closing the filled capsule lower part by means of a lid element and disposing a capsule top part on the capsule lower part. The capsule shell can, for example, by placing or plugging or sliding over o. be arranged on the capsule base.

According to the method according to the invention, the cover element is more preferably separated out of a flat band and at the same time fixed on the capsule lower part. Thereby, in one step, the cover element may be made of a flat strip material, e.g. welded or punched out, and directly onto the capsule base e.g. be fixed by gluing or welding.

The cover element is particularly preferably fixed to the lower part of the capsule by means of welding, in particular by means of ultrasonic welding, or by gluing.

More preferably, according to the inventive method, the lid member is fixed to the upper edge of the capsule lower part and / or the lid member at an inner peripheral portion of the capsule lower part.

Further preferred according to the inventive method, the capsule shell on

Fixed capsule lower part. This can be done for example by gluing or welding. In order to obtain the least possible impairment of the outer dimensions and the external appearance of the capsule, one or two-point welds are particularly preferably carried out. Preferably, the spot welds are arranged opposite each other.

drawing Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawing is:

1 shows a schematic sectional view of a capsule lower part with cover according to a first embodiment of the invention,

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a capsule of the first

Embodiment,

FIG. 3 shows a schematic sectional view of a capsule lower part according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 4 shows a schematic sectional view of a capsule lower part according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 5 shows a schematic sectional view of a capsule lower part according to a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a capsule according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a capsule according to a sixth

Embodiment of the present invention

FIG. 8 shows a schematic sectional view of an apparatus for producing a capsule according to the first exemplary embodiment,

Figure 9 is a schematic sectional view of an alternative device for

Production of a capsule according to the first embodiment,

Figure 10 is a schematic sectional view of an apparatus according to another alternative for producing a capsule according to the first embodiment, and Figure 11 is a schematic sectional view of an apparatus for producing a capsule according to the first exemplary embodiment.

Preferred embodiments of the invention

Hereinafter, a capsule 1 according to a first embodiment of the invention will be described in detail with reference to Figures 1 and 2.

As can be seen from FIG. 2, the capsule 1 comprises a capsule lower part 3 and a capsule upper part 4. The capsule lower part 3 in this case has a substantially cylindrical

Main body and at one end a hemispherical finish on. The capsule base 3 has an upper edge 3a at the opposite end to the hemispherical termination. An inner peripheral region of the capsule lower part 3 is identified by the reference symbol 3b. The capsule lower part 3 is filled with a medium 2, which, for example, a powdered or a liquid medicament or an oil o.a. can be. The capsule 1 further comprises a cover 5, which is fastened on the capsule lower part 3 and closes this medium-tight. As can be seen in particular from Figure 1, the lid is placed on the upper edge 3a of the capsule lower part 3 and welded to the upper edge. As a result, the tightness of the capsule lower part 3 with cover 5 is ensured. Instead of welding, the lid can alternatively be glued or with any other

Joining method can be mounted on the upper edge 3a of the capsule base.

In the production of the capsule 1, the capsule base 3 is thus first provided, then this is filled with the medium 2 and then the lid 5 is fixed on the upper edge 3a of the capsule lower part. In a next step then becomes

Capsule upper part 4 fitted over the capsule lower part 3. Thus, the capsule 1 has the known from other applications form, but the tightness of the capsule 1 by using the lid 5 is significantly improved. In this case, the lid 5 is not visible from the outside. A medium which has been able to escape between the inner wall of the capsule upper part 4 and the outer wall of the capsule lower part 3 in the prior art is held securely in the capsule lower part 3 by the cover 5 in the present invention. According to the invention, the handling of the lower capsule part 3 is further simplified when it is filled with the medium 2. The lid 5 is preferably in a next step after filling the capsule lower part 3 with the medium 2 on the capsule part. 3 applied. The subsequent handling can be significantly simplified, since in particular no longer the orientation of the capsule lower part 3 in the subsequent handling must be strictly adhered to, since the lower part of the capsule 3 is sealed by the lid 5.

The capsule lower part 3, the capsule upper part 4 and the cover 5 are preferably made of the same material, in particular gelatin. In this way, a simple attachment of the lid 5 on the capsule lower part 3, for example, by moistening the upper edge 3 and sticking the lid 5, are made possible.

Hereinafter, a capsule according to a second embodiment of the invention will be described in detail with reference to Figure 3, wherein like or functionally identical parts are denoted by the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment. In contrast to the first embodiment, the lid 5 is fixed to an inner peripheral portion 3b of the capsule lower part 3 in the second embodiment. With others

In words, the upper edge 3 a of the capsule lower part 3 and a surface of the lid 5 form a flat end surface. In this embodiment, in particular, the capsule shell 4 can be easily pushed onto the capsule base 3, without the risk of damage to the lid 5 is present. Otherwise, this embodiment corresponds to the previous embodiment, so that reference can be made to the description given there.

Figure 4 shows a capsule part 3 according to a third embodiment of the present invention, wherein the same or functionally identical parts are denoted by the same reference numerals as in the preceding embodiments.

As shown in Fig. 4, the lid 5 of the third embodiment has an annular horizontal surface 5a and an annular vertical surface 5b. The lid 5 thus has a gradation, wherein the horizontal surface 5 a in the fixed state of the lid with an upper edge 3 a of the capsule lower part 3 is connected and the vertical

Surface 5 b is fixed to an inner peripheral portion 3 b of the capsule lower part 3. Otherwise, this embodiment corresponds to the previous embodiments, so that reference can be made to the description given there. FIG. 5 shows a lower part of a capsule according to a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention, wherein in turn identical or functionally identical parts are designated by the same reference numerals as in the preceding exemplary embodiments.

The fourth embodiment is constructed similarly to the second embodiment, wherein the lid 5 is fixed to an inner peripheral portion 3b of the capsule lower part 3. However, the lid 5 of the fourth embodiment has a hollow spherical portion shape with a protruding portion 5c being disposed inside the capsule base 3. The sealed with the lid 5 capsule base 3 thus no longer has a flat surface in the region of the lid, but a part-spherical recess corresponding to the shape of the spherical segment shape of the lid 5. The use of such a spherical segment shape as a cover 5 has the advantage that after attachment of the lid 5 on the capsule base still sufficient flexibility of the capsule part 3 is maintained. When using flat lids, as in the previous embodiments, a certain stiffening of the closed with a lid

Capsule bottoms occur. This stiffening is not present in the closed capsule lower part of the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 6 shows a capsule 1 according to a fifth exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The capsule 1 of the fifth embodiment substantially corresponds to that of the first embodiment, wherein additionally the capsule upper part 4 is fixed to the capsule lower part 5 by means of a first connection point 6 and a second connection point 7. Thus, the capsule top and the capsule bottom are firmly connected to each other, so that a removal of the capsule shell of the capsule base is possible only with destruction of the two connection points 6, 7. The two connection points 6, 7 are arranged at opposite positions at approximately the same height. By providing the connection points 6, 7, the capsule 1 is particularly tamper-proof, ie, the capsule top can not be removed from the capsule base without destroying the connection points 6, 7. This has particular advantages when the capsule contains, for example, a drug, which must always be taken according to a predetermined dose. Otherwise, this embodiment corresponds to the first embodiment, so that reference may be made to the description given there. Figure 7 shows a capsule 1 according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention, which substantially corresponds to the capsule of the fifth embodiment. In contrast to the capsule of the fifth embodiment, the capsule of the sixth embodiment, instead of connecting points in each case a first connecting line 8 and a second connecting line 9. The two connecting lines 8, 9 are arranged opposite one another and fix the capsule upper part 4 securely on the lower capsule part 3. Otherwise, this embodiment corresponds to the previous exemplary embodiment, so that reference can be made to the description given there.

Figures 8 to 11 show schematic devices with which a production of a capsule according to the invention is possible. In particular, Figures 8 to 11 show the process of attachment of the lid 5 on the capsule part 3. As can be seen from Figure 8, the apparatus of Figure 8 comprises a holder 11, on which the filled capsule base 3 is held, a movable plunger 12 and a Stationary sonotrode 13. The lid 5 is thereby separated from a gelatin band 15, which is guided between the sonotrode 13 and the holder 11, and simultaneously welded onto the upper edge 3 a of the capsule lower part 3. For this purpose, the capsule lower part 3 is pushed by means of the movable plunger 12, as indicated by the arrow A, up against the gelatin ribbon 15 until the gelatin ribbon 15 comes into contact with the sonotrode 13. In this case, the gelatin strip 13 is welded to the upper edge 3 a of the capsule lower part 3 and at the same time separates the upwardly pressing capsule base

3 annularly the lid of the gelatin band 15. The sealed with the lid 5 capsule base 3 then has the shape shown in Figure 1 on.

Figure 9 shows an alternative of a manufacturing method, wherein in this embodiment, a plunger 22 is stationary and a sonotrode 23 is movable. In this illustrated device and the associated method, the movable sonotrode 23, as indicated by the arrow B, pressed down, so that the gelatin ribbon 15 is pressed onto the upper edge 3 a of the capsule lower part 3. In this case, the lid 5 is also simultaneously separated out of the gelatin band 15 and welded onto the upper edge 3a of the capsule lower part.

FIG. 10 shows a further alternative for producing a sealed capsule lower part, wherein in this method, in turn, the sonotrode 23 is movable and the plunger 22 is stationary. As can be seen from FIG. 10, the sonotrode 23 has a central opening 23a which bears a negative pressure, so that, as indicated by the arrows C, the gelatin ribbon 15 is sucked against the sonotrode 23. As a result, the gelatin band 15 can be held on the sonotrode 23. Further, a die 24 is provided, through which then the gelatin ribbon is pushed through the movable sonotrode 23. When the gelatin ribbon 15 is completely pushed through the die 24, the lid is again separated from the gelatin ribbon 15 and simultaneously welded onto the upper edge 3 a of the capsule lower part 3.

The method shown in Figure 11 is similar to the method shown in Figure 10, in contrast, the die 24 has a plurality of holes 25 through which a

Adhesive can be supplied. The reference numeral 26 denotes a movable punch, which, as indicated by the arrow D, is movable downwards. The gelatin ribbon 15 is sucked in again, as indicated by the arrows C, against the plunger 26 by means of a negative pressure and the plunger shears a lid out of the gelatin ribbon 15 as soon as it is level with the die 24. Subsequently, the punch 26 is guided further downwards, so that the lid sheared off from the gelatin strip 15 comes into contact with the adhesive supplied through the bores 25 on its outer circumference. Thus, the outer peripheral edge of the lid is wetted with adhesive, and the punch 26 is further moved downward until the lid is in contact with an inner peripheral portion 3b of the capsule base 3. The movement of the punch 26 is such that a

Surface of the sheared lid 5 with the upper edge 3 a of the capsule lower part 3 results in a plane plane.

The capsules according to the invention are used in particular in the pharmaceutical sector for the intake of conclusive medicaments or oils. But there are others too

Application examples for the capsules conceivable.

Claims

claims

1. A capsule for receiving a medium (2) comprising a capsule lower part (3) in which the medium (2) is arranged, a capsule top (4) and a cover element (5), wherein the capsule bottom and the capsule upper part define an outer shell of the capsule , and wherein the lid member tightly closes the capsule base (3).

2. Capsule according to claim 1, characterized in that the cover element (5) on an upper edge (3a) of the capsule lower part (3) is arranged.

3. Capsule according to claim 1, characterized in that the cover element (5) is arranged on an inner peripheral region (3b) of the capsule lower part (3).

4. Capsule according to claim 1, characterized in that the cover element (5) comprises a step portion, wherein the step portion has a horizontal (5a) for fixing to an upper edge (3a) of the capsule lower part (3) and a vertical surface (5b) Fixing at an inner peripheral portion (3b) of the capsule lower part (3).

5. Capsule according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover element (5) has a spherical segment shape, in particular a hemispherical shape, wherein a projecting region (5c) of the spherical segmental shape to the inside of the

Capsule lower part (3) is directed.

6. Capsule according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the capsule upper part (4) on the capsule lower part (3) by means of connecting regions (6, 7, 8, 9) is fixed.

7. Capsule according to claim 6, characterized in that the capsule upper part (4) is fixed to the capsule lower part (3) at two opposite areas.

8. Capsule according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the Capsule lower part (3), the capsule upper part (4) and the cover element (5) are made of the same material, in particular of gelatin.

9. A process for producing a capsule (1) filled with a medium (2), comprising the steps of:

- Infested a capsule lower part (3) with the medium (2),

- Fluid-tight closing of the filled capsule lower part (3) with a cover element (5), and

- Arranging a capsule shell (4) on the capsule bottom part (3), wherein the capsule upper part (4) and the capsule bottom part (3) in the assembled state defines an outer shape of the capsule.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that the cover element (5) is cut out of a flat band (15) and at the same time fixed to the capsule lower part (3).

11. The method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the cover element (5) by means of welding, in particular by means of ultrasonic welding, or by means of gluing to the capsule base (3) is fixed.

12. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the

Cover element (5) on the upper edge (3a) of the capsule lower part (3) and / or on an inner peripheral portion (3b) of the capsule lower part (3) is fixed.

13. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that the capsule upper part (4) is fixedly fixed to the capsule lower part (3), in particular by means of punctual

Gluing or spot welding.