Patent ID: 6277407
Filing Date: 2001-08-21
Classification: B30B

Abstract:
A water soluble soft drink tablet dissolvable in non-carbonated water, fabricated by the process of:(a) providing tablet material being free of hydrophobic lubricants;(b) providing a tablet press including:at least one die circuitously moveable about the press and adapted for receiving tablet materials therein;a first punch and a second punch each having a working face free of external lubricants, said first and second punches being circuitously moveable with, and being adapted for operative engagement with, said at least one die;a punch movement device adapted to alternately move at least one of said first and second punches relatively towards and away from an other of said first and second punches to alternately compress the tablet material in said at least one die to form the tablet, and release the tablet;a punch cleaner having resilient bristles disposable in operative engagement with each of said working faces of said first and second punches to remove tablet material from said working faces after each of said first and second punches has released said tablet;(c) introducing the tablet material in the form of powder or granules to the at least one die;(d) moving the at least one of said first and second punches relatively towards the other of said first and second punches to compress the tablet material within the at least one die to form the tablet;(e) moving the at least one of said first and second punches relatively away from the other of said first and second punches to release the tablet; and(f) engaging the punch cleaner with each of said working faces to remove tablet material therefrom;wherein said tablet has a diameter in a range of about 0.5 to 1.5 inches (1.2 to 3.8 cm); andsaid tablet material has a grit size in a range of about 930 to 3460 microns.