Method and an equipment for installing a medicine capsule on a support

The invention relates to a method and an equipment for inserting a tubular medicinal capsule on a support. In accordance with the invention, the opening extending through the capsule is expanded by blowing pressurized air into the opening immediately ahead the support being inserted into the opening. After the capsule has entered into its position, the pressurization is relieved, whereby the capsule opening contracts and locks the capsule on the support.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a method and an equipment for installing a 
tubular medicinal capsule on a support. The medicinal capsule concerned 
may be, e.g., a capsule releasing a contraceptive subtance, and which is 
installed on a suitable support for fixing the capsule inside the womb. 
Such contraceptive means are known per se and manufactured in different 
ways. In these, the support is formed from an anchor-like element of an 
inert substance, on whose arm the hollow tubular medicinal capsule is 
installed. 
It it known to install such a tubular medicinal capsule on the support by 
swelling of the capsule in a suitable solvent and thereafter inserting the 
capsule in its swollen state on the support. The capsule shrinks as the 
solvent evaporates, and consequently becomes fastened on the support. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In the equipment according to the invention, a different principle is 
followed. This principle is based on the expansion of the capsule by an 
internal pressure to such a state that the support may be inserted inside 
it. When the pressure has been relieved, the capsule then returns towards 
its initial state and becomes fastened on the support. The characteristic 
features of the method and equipment according to the invention appear 
from the enclosed claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
FIG. 1 shows the basic parts of the inventive equipment in the initial step 
of the installation cycle. A connecting mold or housing 4 is in its open 
position and a pressure needle 7 is inserted in an opening 5 of the mold 
prepared to receive a capsule 1, which is brought to the connecting mold 
on a mandrel 6, when the mold is open. When the capsule supported by the 
mandrel and the pressure needle meet at the mouth of the opening of the 
mold, the pressure needle starts a withdrawal movement. After this, the 
mandrel 6 and the capsule 1 thereon as well as the pressure needle located 
against the end of the capsule continue their movement in a direction, 
where the capsule advances into the open mold. 
When the capsule has totally entered into the connecting mold, the 
situation is as shown in FIG. 3, i.e., the mold is closed and the mandrel 
6 has started its return movement. At the same time, the pressurized 
needle 7 follows the mandrel inside the capsule, and expands then the 
capsule by means of air discharging from the openings at the needle tip, 
and thereby helps the removal of the mandrel. After the mandrel has left 
the capsule and the pressure needle has reached the end of the capsule, a 
support 3 on which the capsule is to be installed is brought to the end of 
the capsule, from which the mandrel has been removed, as shown in FIG. 4. 
After this, the support 3 is pushed inside the capsule to follow the 
pressurized needle 7 expanding the capsule when escaping ahead the 
support, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. When the support has been pushed to an 
accurate position in the capsule, the connecting mold is opened and the 
ready product is removed. The pressure needle is pushed to the opened 
mold, and the operating cycle is started from the beginning according to 
FIG. 1. 
The equipment described also includes two guides 8, 9 on both sides of the 
connecting mold 4, which help the operation by guiding on one hand the 
movements of the mandrel 6 and on the other hand the movements of the 
pressure needle 7. However, these guides are not essential, if the 
movements of said parts and the tightness of the operation can be ensured 
by other means. 
The cross-sectional form of the opening 5 of the connecting mold 4 is 
preferably selected to be compatible with the cross-sectional form of the 
support 3. 
For controlling the correct mutual operation of the equipment parts, the 
equipment naturally includes an electric control system, whose detailed 
construction and operation are well known to those skilled in the art, and 
they do not form an essential part of the present invention.