Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US4522666?ie=ISO-8859-1
Timestamp: 2014-11-27 14:43:49
Document Index: 691599103

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 1', 'art 2', 'art 1', 'art 1', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 1', 'art 2', 'art 1', 'art 2', 'art 1', 'art 2', 'art 1', 'art 1', 'art 1', 'art 2']

Patent US4522666 - Apparatus and method for sealing capsules by application of vacuum and steam ... - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsAn apparatus for the application of controlled combinations of temperature, vacuum, pressure and time to seal capsules is disclosed. Also described are methods to seal capsules and to enhance the bonding of the sealed capsules....http://www.google.com/patents/US4522666?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US4522666 - Apparatus and method for sealing capsules by application of vacuum and steam theretoAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS4522666 APublication typeGrantApplication numberUS 06/440,371Publication dateJun 11, 1985Filing dateNov 9, 1982Priority dateNov 9, 1982Fee statusLapsedPublication number06440371, 440371, US 4522666 A, US 4522666A, US-A-4522666, US4522666 A, US4522666AInventorsFritz WittwerOriginal AssigneeWarner-Lambert CompanyExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (4), Referenced by (16), Classifications (18), Legal Events (4) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetApparatus and method for sealing capsules by application of vacuum and steam theretoUS 4522666 AAbstract An apparatus for the application of controlled combinations of temperature, vacuum, pressure and time to seal capsules is disclosed. Also described are methods to seal capsules and to enhance the bonding of the sealed capsules.
What is claimed is: 1. A method for sealing capsules made from hydrophilic polymer, having hard shell coaxial cap and body parts which overlap when telescopically joined, comprising the steps of:A. placing the capsules within a process vessel having a heated-jacketed chamber; B. evacuating air from the chamber so as to cause a vacuum therein; C. exposing the capsules within the chamber for a time period so as to also cause a vacuum within the capsules; D. injecting steam into the chamber so as to break the vacuum therein and to increase the temperature, relative humidity and pressure within the chamber and within the capsules; E. melting the hydrophilic polymer by the entry of steam within the overlap of the cap and body parts; F. evacuating excess steam from the chamber so that the capsules do not swell, melt or deform; G. exposing the capsules to vacuum within the chamber so as to evaporate water from the melted hydrophilic polymer within the overlap of the cap and body parts; H. cooling the capsules so as to gel the hydrophilic polymer within the overlap between the cap and body parts thereby sealing the tamper-proof capsules; and I. drying the capsules to a stable water content for shipment and use. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the hydrophilic polymer is gelatin.
3. The method of claim 1 where in step A the chamber is heated to a temperature range between about 80� C. to 120� C.
4. The method of claim 1 where in step B the vacuum is in a range between about 2 to 26 inches of mercury for a time period between about 0.5 to 6 minutes.
5. The method of claim 1 where in step C the time period is in a range between about 1 second to 3 minutes.
6. The method of claim 1 where in step D the steam has a range of conditions between about 92 to 97% saturation, between about 20 to 50 psig pressure, and between about 100� to 115� C. temerature.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein step D the steam is a combination of steam and air.
8. The method of claim 1 where in step D the air has a range of conditions between about 15� to 40� C. temperature and 25 to 40% relative humidity.
9. The method of claim 1 where in step E the melting time period is in a range from about 1 to 60 seconds.
10. The method of claim 1 where in in step F the vacuum is in a range from about 2 to 26 inches of mercury.
11. The method of claim 1 where in in step G the exposure to vacuum is in a time period range from about 1 to 60 seconds.
12. The method of claim 1 where in in step H the cooling is in a temperature range between about 20 to 40� C.; a pressure range between about 0 to 2 psig; and a relative humidity range between about 20 to 40%.
13. The method of claim 1 where in step I the capsules are dried to a stable level of water content between about 12 to 16% by weight based on the dry gelatin.
14. The method of claim 13 where in the capsules are dried in a drier having air circulation.
15. The method of claim 1 where in step D the steam is generated from water in combination with azeotropes of organic solvents.
16. Apparatus for sealing capsules made from hydrophilic polymer, having hard shell coaxial cap and body parts which overlap when telescopically joined, comprisinga process vessel having a chamber therein for receiving the capsules; means for evacuating air from the chamber so as to cause a vacuum within said chamber and within the capsules; means for injecting steam into the chamber so as to increase the temperature, relative humidity and pressure within said chamber and within the capsules, thereby melting the hydrophilic polymer within the overlap of the cap and body parts by the entry of steam within said overlap; means for evacuating excess steam from the chamber and causing a vacuum within said chamber so that the capsules do not swell, melt or deform, and water is evaporated from the melted hydrophilic polymer within the overlap of the cap and body parts; and means for cooling the capsules so as to gel the hydrophilic polymer within the overlap between the cap and body parts, thereby sealing the capsules. Description
The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for sealing capsules, and particularly to hard shell pharmaceutical capsules having cylindrical, telescopically joinable, coaxial cap and body parts.
The need for tamper-proof capsules seams from the determination that hard shell gelatin capsules containing medicaments are susceptible to tampering by separating the cap and body parts, modifying or adding to the medicaments therein, and rejoining the body and capsule parts. The prior art of U.S. Pat. No. 1,861, 047 has utilized a circular band of hardened gelatin covering the seam between the body and cap part which indicates when the capsule parts have been separated. This procedure is deficient in that tamperers can easily separate the body part from the cap part, modify or add to the medicaments therein, rejoin the capsule and body parts, and reband the rejoined capsule so as to avoid detection of tampering.
A need therefore exists to provide a simple and effective sealed tamper-proof capsule.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, apparatus and methods for sealing capsules are disclosed. A sealed tamper-proof capsule comprises a hard shell capsule having cylindrical, telescopically joinable, coaxial cap and body parts each having a side wall, an open end and a closed end, the cap and body being adapted to be mutually joined; characterized in that the capsule is sealed by the application of controlled combinations of temperature, vacuum, pressure and time to form a bond between the cap and body parts.
In operation, the hard shell capsule coaxial cap and body parts are telescopically joined and sealed, which makes it more difficult to separate the body part from the cap part for the purpose of tampering.
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a hard shell tamper-proof capsule having cylindrical, telescopically joinable, coaxial cap and body parts which are bonded together.
Other objects and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the detailed description which proceeds with reference to the following illustrative drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a capsule, characterized in that the side wall of body part 1 is completely inserted within the long cap part 2 so that the closed end 3 of the body part 1 presents a minimal exposed outside closed end surface for gripping and withdrawal of the body part 1 from within the cap part 2. FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of FIG. 1 along line 2--2 showing the overlap of long cap side wall 4 over body side wall 5.
FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a tamper-proof capsule characterized in that the cap part 2 has a locking means of a circumferentially extending ridge 6 or ridges extending inwardly from the inner side wall surface 7 of the cap part 2.
It is to be understood that the circumferentially extending ridge or ridges of this and other embodiments of tamper-proof capsules also include a segmented or discontinuous ridge or ridges so that spaces between the ridge or ridges act as vents to permit air to escape from within the capsule when joined.
FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of FIG. 3 along line 4--4 showing the locking means by mating of the ridge 6 or ridges of the inner surface 7 of the long cap part 2 with a groove 8 or grooves on the outer side wall surface 9 of the body part 1, when the capsule has been telescopically joined.
It is to be understood that the circumferentially extending ridge or ridges of the cap part mating with the groove or grooves of the body part of this and other embodiments of tamper-proof capsules are interchangeable with a circumferentially extending groove or grooves of the cap part mating with a ridge or ridges of the body part.
FIG. 5 is a top plan exploded view of a capsule body 1 having substantially the shape of a cylinder closed at one end 3 and having a reduced diameter in the area of its open end 4; and a long cap part 2 having substantially the shape of a cylinder closed at one end 5 and having an open end 6 opposite therefrom.
FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of the assembled capsule of FIG. 5 showing the free edge of the reduced diameter of the closed end 4 of the body part 1 has moved freely and smoothly within the open end 6 of long cap part 2 so as not to damage the edge of open end 6. When completely joined the reduced diameter of the open end 4 of the body part 1 is in frictional engagement with the closed end 5 of the cap part 2.
FIG. 7 is a top plan exploded view of a capsule showing the body part 1 having substantially the shape of a cylinder closed at one end 3 and a reduced diameter in the area of its open end 4; the long cap part having substantially the shape of a cylinder closed at one end 5 and having a reduced diameter in the area of its open end 6.
FIG. 8 is a side sectional view of the assembled capsule of FIG. 7 showing the reduced diameter of the open end 4 of the capsule body 1 in frictional engagement with the closed end 3 of the long cap part 1, which further impedes separation of and tampering with the joined capsule.
FIG. 9 is a top plan view of a capsule chacterized in that the body part 1 is inserted partly within the short cap part 2.
FIG. 10 is a side sectional view of FIG. 9 along line 9--9 showing the partial overlap of short cap side wall 4 over body side wall 5.
FIG. 11 is a schematic view of an apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a graphic view (not to scale) of the cycles, A to I, of methods of the present invention plotted against ranges of pressure and time. The ranges of pressure and time are dependent upon the sizes of the capsules, and whether they have a short or a long cap.
All of the above examples of capsules can be produced on capsule-making machines utilizing dip-molding technology. Such technology involves the forming of hard shell gelatin capsules by dipping of capsule-shaped pins into a gelatin solution, removing the pins from the solution, drying of the gelatin upon the pins, stripping off the gelatin capsule parts from the pins, adjusting for length, cutting, joining and ejecting the capsules.
When the term "gelatin" is used in this specification, gelatin and/or other hydrophilic polymer materials whose properties are pharmaceutically acceptable as capsule materials are also included.
In the present invention the capsule is bonded after the capsule has been filled and the capsule parts have been telescopically joined. Thereafter, the sealing of the filled and joined capsule completely impedes separation of the two capsule parts for the purpose of tampering. The sealing of the capsule is accomplished by the method of the present invention which is shown in FIG. 11 as described hereinafter:
A process vessel 1 is shown with a heated-jacketed chamber 2 used in sealing the capsules 3 on a tray-truck 4. The vessel 1 has an automatic controller 5 for control of cycle sequences, including a choice of various temperature-vacuum-pressure-time combinations. The vessel 1 has a door 6 which is held pressure-tight and locked if the pressure in the chamber 2 exceeds 3 psig. The vessel 1 is mounted on the floor or may be mounted in a pit. The vessel 1 may also be arranged for open mounting or for recessing through one wall or two walls.
The chamber 2 withstands full vacuum and pressure in the range between 40 inches of mercury and 30 psig. Plugged ports for controls and facilities for thermocouples are provided. The chamber 2 is piped, valved and trapped for operation with steam. Plugged ports are also provided for steam and air injection into the chamber 2. A vacuum system is included.
The controller 5 provides controls for: temperature indicator-control/recorder; vacuum/pressure indicator-control/recorder; variable exposure times indicator-control/recorder; variable drying times and relative humidity indicator-control/recorder.
The methods of the present invention for sealing capsules are shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 and are described as follows:
Cycle A: In this cycle the filled and closed capsules 3 are placed in the chamber 2 as shown in FIG. 11. The walls of the chamber 2 have a temperature range of about 80� to 120� C.
Cycle B: In this cycle the chamber 2 is closed by door 6 and the chamber 2 is evacuated from atmospheric pressure to the following conditions:
For a short cap capsule (FIGS. 9,10): 2 to
15 inches of mercury, or
For a long cap capsule (FIGS. 1-8): 10 to
26 inches of mercury.
Evacuation time: according to the capacity of the chamber 2 for a time period in the range of 0.5 and 6 minutes.
Cycle C: In this cycle the capsules 3 are exposed to the vacuum level reached in chamber 2 during Cycle B for the following periods of time:
For a short cap capsule (FIGS. 9, 10): 1 to 90 seconds; or
For a long cap capsule (FIGS. 1-8): 0.5 to 3 minutes.
During this cycle the interiors of the joined capsules 3 also reach the same vacuum conditions as the chamber 2.
Cycle D: In this cycle the vacuum in the chamber 2 and within the capsules 3 during Cycle C is broken by the injection of steam or steam and air.
If steam is used, the steam should have the following range of conditions:
92 to 97% saturation;
20 to 50 psig pressure;
100� to 115� C. temperature.
If steam and air are used, the air should be of a quality that is bacteria filtered, and should have the following range of conditions:
15� to 40� C. temperature;
25 to 40% relative humidity.
During Cycle D the chamber 2 may be pressurized between 0 and 10 psig.
Cycle E: In this cycle the pressure level during Cycle E is held for a time range from 1 to 60 seconds in order for the steam or steam and air to enter and melt the hydrophylic polymer within the overlap of the cap and body parts of the capsule 3.
Cycle F: In this cycle the chamber 2 is evacuated within 0.5 to 6 minutes to the following vacuum levels:
For a short cap capsule (FIGS. 9, 10): 2 to 15 inches of mercury; or
For a long cap capsule (FIGS. 1-8): 10 to 26 inches of mercury.
During Cycle F the excess steam is evacuated from within the chamber 2 so that the capsules 3 do not further swell, melt or deform.
Cycle G: In this cycle the capsules 3 are exposed to a vacuum level for a period of time between 1 and 60 seconds so as to evaporate water from the molten hydrophylic polymer within the overlap of the cap and body part of the capsule 3.
Cycle H: In this cycle the vacuum is broken with air having a temperature of 20� to 40� C.; a relative humidity of 20 to 40%; and a pressure of 0 to 2 psig. The pressure is immediately broken to atmospheric pressure (0 psig) in case of a preset pressure. During this cycle the capsules are cooled so as to gel the hydrophylic polymer which forms a bond between the cap and the body part.
Cycle I: In this cycle the capsules are dried to a standard level of water content between 12 and 16% by weight based on the dry gelatin, so that the capsules are ready for shipment and use.
After evacuating steam from the chamber, an additional step to enhance the sealing of the tamper-proof capsules may be to dry the capsules in the chamber or in a separate drier having air circulation under the following conditions:
Temperature range--20� to 40� C.
Pressure range--0 to 5 psig
Relative humidity range--20 to 40%
Time period--5 to 15 minutes
The values for temperature, vacuum, pressure, humidity and time of the methods of the present invention must be adapted to the individual configuration and size of the capsules.
The principles of the methods of the present invention are as follows:
A vacuum is built up within the joined capsule which gives a driving force for steam vapor to enter between the telescoped body and cap part. Thereafter, the steam condenses and melts the gelatin at the inside surface of the side wall of the cap part where it overlaps with the outside surface of the side wall of the body part. As soon as the excess steam vapor is removed from the chamber by vacuum, the condensed vapor is also evaporated from the seam between the overlapping cap and body part whereby the molten gelatin therein gels and provides a tight capsule bond between the overlapping cap and body part.
When the term "steam" is used in this specification, steam generated from water as well as steam generated from water in combination with azeotropes of organic solvents, especially those having pharmaceutically acceptable properties, may be used. Examples of a number of azeotropes suitable for use in the present invention are given in Table 1. Reference: Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, Section D1 to D44, 53rd Edition, (1972-73) published by Chemical Rubber Co., Cleveland, Ohio.
TABLE 1______________________________________Components          Azeotrope        Boiling    Boiling        Point      Point   PercentCompounds    �C. �C.                           Composition______________________________________(a) Acetic acid  118.1      76.6   3.0(b) Water        100.0            97.0(a) Acetonitrile 82.0       76.5  83.7(b) Water        100.0            16.3(a) Allyl alcohol            97.1       88.2  72.9(b) Water        100.0            27.1(a) 2-Butanol    99.5       88.5  68.0(b) Water        100.0            32.0(a) Butyl acetate            126.5      90.7  72.9(b) Water        100.0            27.1(a) 1-Butanol    117.7      93.0  55.5(b) Water        100.0            44.5(a) Butyl ether  142.0      94.1  66.6(b) Water        100.0            33.4(a) Ethyl acrylate            99.8       81.0  84.9(b) Water        100.0            15.1(a) Ethanol      78.5       78.2  95.6(b) Water        100.0             4.4(a) Ethylbutyl ether            92.2       76.6  88.1(b) Water        100.0            11.9(a) Heptane      98.4       79.2  87.1(b) Water        100.0            12.9(a) Isopropyl acetate            89.0       75.9  88.9(b) Water        100.8            11.1(a) Isopropyl alcohol            82.3       80.4  87.8(b) Water        100.0            12.2(a) Methylethyl  79.6       73.4  88.0    ketone(b) Water        100.0            12.0(a) Methylpropyl 101.7      83.8  80.4    ketone(b) Water        100.0            19.6(a) Propanol     97.2       88.1  71.8(b) Water        100.0            28.2(a) Toluene      110.6      85.0  79.0(b) Water        100.0            20.2(a) Vinylbutyl ether            94.2       77.5  88.4(b) Water        100.0            11.6(a) Vinyl propionate            94.9       79.0  87.0(b) Water        100.0            13.0(a) Allyl alcohol            97.1       80.6  31.4(b) Toluene      110.6            53.4(c) Water        100.0            15.2(a) Diethylformal            87.5       73.2  69.5(b) Ethanol      78.5             18.4(c) Water        100.0            12.1(a) Ethanol      78.5       77.1  48.3(b) Ethyl acrylate            99.8             41.5(c) Water        100.0            10.1(a) Ethanol      78.5       73.2  14.0(b) Methylethyl  79.6             75.0    ketone(c) Water        100.0            11.0(a) Ethanol      78.5       74.4  37.0(b) Toluene      110.6            51.0(c) Water        100.0            12.0(a) Ethanol      78.5       74.7  15.0(b) Triethyl amine            89.5             75.0(c) Water        100.0            10.0(a) Isobutyl acetate            116.5      86.8  45.5(b) Isobutyl alcohol            108.39           23.1(c) Water        100.0            30.4(a) Isopropanol  82.3       75.5  13.0(b) Isopropyl acetate            89.0             76.0(c) Water        100.0            11.0(a) Isopropanol  82.3       73.4   1.0(b) Methylethyl  79.6             88.0    ketone(c) Water        100.0            11.0(a) Isopropanol  82.3       76.3  38.2(b) Toluene      110.6            48.7(c) Water        100.0            13.1(a) Propanol     97.2       82.2  19.5(b) Propyl acetate            101.6            59.5(c) Water        100.0            21.0(a) Propyl alcohol            97.19      74.8  20.2(b) Propyl ether 91.0             68.1(c) Water        100.0            11.7______________________________________
Using the apparatus and methods of the present invention, capsules were satisfactorily sealed as shown in the following examples:
EXAMPLE 1 The bottom part of wide open Erlenmeyer flask was covered with filled and closed hard gelatin capsules, size 1, with a short cap as shown in FIGS. 9, 10. The opening of the flask was covered with a filter paper. The flask was then placed in a chamber having a jacket temperature of 105� C. and a volume of 500 dm3.
A vacuum of 10 inches of mercury was made in the chamber within 3.5 minutes. After having maintained the vacuum level of 10 inches of mercury; steam of 95% saturation; a pressure of 20 psig and a temperature of 110� C. was injected into the chamber for a time period of 60 seconds in order to break the vacuum.
The chamber was again evacuated within 3.5 minutes to a vacuum level of 10 inches of mercury in order to remove the excess steam.
Immediately after having reached the vacuum level of 10 inches of mercury, the vacuum was released within 1 minute to atmospheric pressure (0 psig) by air having a temperature of 25� C. and a relative humidity of 35%.
The flask was removed from the chamber and the capsules were dried for 15 minutes under an air ventiliation system at 30� C. and 30% relative humidity.
The capsules in this example were not deformed and had a complete bond. The capsule parts could not be separated without destroying the capsules.
EXAMPLE 2 Filled and joined hard gelatin capsules as shown in FIGS. 1-8 were placed in a jacketed chamber as described in Example 1.
The following conditions of the process cycles were used:
______________________________________Cycle A:  Time:          60 seconds     Pressure       0 psig     Temperature    105� C.     of chamber jacket:Cycle B:  Time:          3.5 minutes     Vacuum:        10" of mercury     Temperature of 105� C.     chamber jacket:Cycle C:  Time:          40 seconds     Vacuum:        10" of mercury     Temperature of 105� C.     chamber jacket:Cycle D:  Time:          60 seconds     Pressure:      Changing from a                    vacuum of 10" of                    mercury to a                    pressure of 7 psig     Temperature of 105� C.     chamber jacket:     Steam:         97% saturation;                    100� C. temperature                    injected at a                    pressure of 20 psigCycle E:  Time:          10 seconds     Pressure:      7 psig     Temperature of 105� C.     chamber jacket:Cycle F:  Time:          3.5 minutes     Vacuum:        Going from a                    pressure of 7 psig                    to a vacuum of                    15" of mercury     Temperature of 105� C.     chamber jacket:Cycle G:  Time:          10 seconds     Vacuum         15" of mercury     Temperature of 105� C.     chamber jacket:Cycle H:  Time:          60 seconds     Pressure       Going from a                    vacuum of 15" of                    mercury to a                    slight pressure of                    1 psig.     Temperature of 105� C.     chamber jacket:     Air conditions:                    Temperature 25� C.,                    relative humidity                    35%Cycle I:  Time:          10 minutes______________________________________
Capsules were removed from the jacketed chamber and dried under an air circulation system with air of 30� C. and 30% relative humidity.
The capsules in this example were also not deformed and had a complete bond. The capsule parts could not be separated without destroying the capsules.
While there have been described and illustrated several embodiments of the present invention, the scope and working range of the invention shall not be limited by examples given above. The invention comprises as well various changes and modifications which will occur to those skilled in the art.
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS1861047 *May 13, 1929May 31, 1932Parke Davis & CoSealed capsuleUS3078629 *Jan 8, 1960Feb 26, 1963Upjohn CoMethod for sealing hard filled capsulesUS3159546 *Oct 12, 1962Dec 1, 1964F G Okie IncCapsule sealing compositionUS3711939 *Nov 10, 1970Jan 23, 1973Stoll MMethod and apparatus for sealing* Cited by examinerReferenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS4584817 *Mar 11, 1985Apr 29, 1986Nippon Elanco Kabushiki KaishaCapsule sealing apparatusUS4677812 *Aug 18, 1986Jul 7, 1987Capsule Technology International, Ltd.Method for sealing tamper-evident capsulesUS4883182 *Jan 12, 1988Nov 28, 1989Hughes Raymond JTamper evident capsule and insert deviceUS4940499 *May 23, 1989Jul 10, 1990Warner-Lambert CompanyMethod and apparatus for sealing capsules containing medicamentsUS5188688 *Jul 20, 1990Feb 23, 1993Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing CompanyPlacing water soluble amide containing polymer adhesive in a volatile solvent on a edge of first capsule section, placing second section over the first, spreading the selant at overlap , evaporating the solvent to form eccentric and internal sealUS5387287 *Jul 7, 1993Feb 7, 1995Eastman Kodak CompanyApparatus for holding solid compact medicaments during processingUS8181425Jul 19, 2007May 22, 2012Capsugel BelgiumApparatus for sealing capsulesUS8371092 *Sep 8, 2009Feb 12, 2013Viropharma IncorporatedApparatus and methods for reducing capsule elongationUS8590278Jun 22, 2012Nov 26, 2013Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbhMethod for the fluid-tight sealing of filled medicament capsulesUS20100212261 *Jul 8, 2008Aug 26, 2010Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbhTight sealing of filled medicament capsulesCN101214195BJan 21, 2008May 4, 2011丹东金丸集团有限公司Fully automatic capsule body capping machineCN101433499BDec 26, 2008Dec 14, 2011徐云来空心胶囊套合机CN101455618BNov 27, 2008Jul 4, 2012徐家业Capsule detachment conjoined deviceEP0180543A2 *Oct 18, 1985May 7, 1986Warner-Lambert CompanyMethod for sealing capsules and capsuleEP1886657A1 *Aug 11, 2006Feb 13, 2008Pfizer Products Inc.Method and apparatus for sealing capsulesWO1988001160A1 *Dec 8, 1986Feb 25, 1988Raymond J HughesTamper evident capsule and insert device* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification156/69, 156/382, 156/285, 156/294, 206/807, 206/530, 206/828, 428/916, 118/50, 118/58International ClassificationA61J3/07Cooperative ClassificationY10S428/916, Y10S206/828, Y10S206/807, A61J3/072, A61J3/071European ClassificationA61J3/07B1, A61J3/07BLegal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionAug 31, 1993FPExpired due to failure to pay maintenance feeEffective date: 19930613Jun 13, 1993LAPSLapse for failure to pay maintenance feesDec 2, 1988FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4Nov 9, 1982ASAssignmentOwner name: WARNER-LAMBERT COMPANY, TABOR ROAD, MORRIS PLAINS,Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:WITTWER, FRITZ;REEL/FRAME:004068/0387Effective date: 19821105RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services©2012 Google