Improved Apparatus for the Manufacture of Flexible Gelatine Capsules for Medicinal and the like purposes.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd May, 1898--Accepted, 16th July, 1898
Improved Apparatus for the Manufacture of Flexible Gelatine
Capsules for Medicinal and the like purposes.
We, ALEXANDER ROBERTSON, Chemical Engineer, and KENNETH ROBERTSON,
Joiner, both of Rodney Street, Canonmills, Edinburgh, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
-
This invention relates to improved apparatus for the manufacture of flexible
gelatine capsules and comprises a gelatine pan in which the gelatine is pre-
pared; moulds upon which the capsules are formed and fillers whereby the
capsules are filled with the ingredients that they are to contain.
But in order that our said invention may be more readily understood and
easily carried into effect we will proceed to describe the same with reference_to
the accompanying drawings in which
Fig. 1 is a perspective view partly in section of the gelatine pan showing
the capsule moulds in position therein.
Fig. 1 is a side view of the capsule moulds removed from the gelatine pan.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation and
Fig. 3 a front elevation, partly in section, of one form of filler.
Fig. 4 is a section of a portion of a modified form of filler.
Referring to the said drawings the pan A in which the gelatine is prepared is
constructed of copper and formed with a double wall or outer casing B so as to
form a chamber or compartment within which hot water is freely circulated to
melt the gelatine. The pan A is provided with a partition C extending from
side to side but arranged so that a small space is left between it and the bottom
of the pan, the said partition dividing the pan into two compartments. The
gelatine is placed in the right hand compartment, and as it melts flows below
the partition into the left hand compartment, the partition thus serving to strain
or materially free the gelatine from impurities or scum. Any scum passing below the
partition is removed to the other compartment by means of the scraper D leav
ing the pure gelatine for use, which scum being merely thickened gelatine is
again remelted thus avoiding any undue waste of material.
The moulds E Fig. 1 are, in accordance with our invention, made of aluminium
to ensure lightness and are attached to a brass plate F which is tapped to receive
the screwed ends of the stems of the moulds. The moulds are secured to the
plate until the shoulders f bear against it when they are locked by the round or
other shaped nuts e. f¹ is the handle by which the moulds are manipulated.
Fig. 1 shows the moulds E in position within the pan the moulds being dipped
in by the hand and at once withdrawn. When the moulds are removed the space
occupied by them is covered by a lid (not shewn) similar to the lid G covering
the right hand compartment but having a depending flange at one end to close
the opening at the outlet a of the pan. Whilst the moulds are being dipped
both of these covers are removed.
The water is filled into the chamber, to circulate around the pan, by means
of the pipe H which is closed with a screwed cap h, a Bunsen or other burner

page_text: being situated below the chamber to keep the water hot. A small exit pipe is
situated towards the top of the water chamber at the back thereof to conduct
the steam or hot air out of the building or chamber in which the pan is being
used.
After the gelatine has set and the capsules have been removed from the
moulds they are ready to be filled, which operation is performed by means of the
filler shewn in Figs. 2 and 3.
The filler consists of a cylindrical body J which, if the ingredient under treat-
ment is of a thick nature such as cascara, may be provided or formed with a
jacket J so that hot water may circulate around the cylinder to keep the cylinder
warm and the ingredient fluid. The said cylinder is mounted upon a pillar K
secured upon a base k, which pillar also supports the Bunsen or other burner
serving to heat the water in the jacket. The lower extremity of the cylinder J
is bored and fitted with a cock L provided with a hollow needle or
filling nozzlel
over which the tubular portion M of the capsule is slipped. The said filling
nozzle is made of German silver and attached to the cock L by means of the
small screwed stuffing box m so that no leakage may occur. The cylinder J. is
made of gun metal and constructed to stand an air pressure of 100 lbs per square
inch, the air being used for the purpose of forcing the ingredients through the
nozzle into the empty gelatine capsule. To obtain this pressure we employ a
plunger or piston N the rod n of which is situated within a hollow square-
threaded screw P, a strong spiral spring P surrounding the said rod n keeping
the plunger normally in position but allowing it to yield should the pressure
become too severe. The said screw P is provided with an actuating hand wheel
or disc p¹ and passes through a screwed cap Q by removing which the ingredients
can be placed within the cylinder.
The jacket is filled by the pipe R and steam or hot air led away by the pipe r.
As a modification we may, in place of providing each filler with means for
forcing the ingredients into the capsules, employ a main air compresser con-
nected by tubes to the various fillers, the filler being then constructed as shewn
in Fig. 4.
With this filler the compressed air is introduced at the back or other con-
venient position by a pipe or tube such as S and in order to enable the cylinder
or body to be filled we employ a lid or cover T hinged at t and secured by a
hinged bolt and butterfly nut t¹ as shewn. A pipe or tube U is situated at the
lower part of the water jacket and another tube at the top or upperpart thereof,
both similar to those employed with the hand operated fillers, to fill and empty
same with water.
The lower extremity of Fig. 4 though not shewn, is fitted in substantially
the same manner as the fillers shewn in Figs. 2 and 3.
All of the said fillers may be made in various sizes and fitted with water jackets
or they may be constructed without hot water jackets when the nature of the
ingredient is such that it is sufficiently fluid to flow without being heated.
In accordance with our invention the operator is able with moderate pressure
and a minimum movement of the cock to start and stop the flow instantly and
to discharge the contents rapidly through the nozzle into the capsule.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that
what we claim is:-
1. In apparatus for the manufacture of flexible gelatine capsules for medicinal
and the like purposes, the gelatine pan with hot water compartment, arranged
and constructed in the manner as and for the purposes herein before described and
shewn in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings.
2. In apparatus for the manufacture of flexible gelatine capsules for medicinal
and the like purposes, constructing the moulds, upon which the capsules are

page_text: formed, of aluminium, substantially as hereinbefore described and shewn in the
accompanying drawings.
3. The general arrangement and construction of the moulds E, and their
method of attachment, plate F. and handle f¹ as shewn more particularly in
Fig. 1 of the drawings.
4. The general arrangement and construction of parts constituting our im-
proved filler whereby the ingredient is forced under pressure into the gelatine
capsules, substantially as herein before described and shewn in Figs. 2 and 3 of
the accompanying drawings.
5. The modified form of filler arranged to receive the air from a main com-
presser apart from the filler, constructed as hereinbefore described and shewn
in Fig. of the accompanying drawings.
6. Constructing the filling nozzle, over which the capsules to be filled are
slipped, of German silver or like metal and attaching it to the regulating cock
by a screwed stuffing box, substantially as hereinbefore described and shewn
in Figs. 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.
ENTIT TO Con WAN CITTA
1030.
JOHNSONS,
Petitioners' Agents, 115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow.