IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF GELATINE CAPSULES
Year: 1884

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the firm of A. M. and Wm. Clark, of
53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent
Agents, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF GELATINE CAPSULES," and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement:—
This Invention has for its object to produce mechanism on which gelatine
capsules can be rapidly and economically manufactured. The mechanism in
question comprises the whole manufacture of the capsule from the dipping of the
mould pins or spindles into the liquid gelatine, to the production of the complete
capsule detached from the spindle.
The Invention comprises means for oiling the spindles so that the gelatine will
not adhere to them too closely, means for holding and revolving the capsulos,
means for cutting them to proper lengths, and finally, means for detaching them
from the spindles. Although in the accompanying Drawing these several means
are shown as detached devices, yet in the manufacture of capsules they constitute
practically one machine.
In the Drawing Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the mechanism employed
for oiling the spindles. Figure is a top view of the same. Figure 3 is a vertical
cross-section, on an enlarged scale, taken on the plane of the line cc Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of the mechanism for cutting the capsules. Figure 5
a top view of the same. Figure 6 a vertical longitudinal section, on an enlarged
scale, taken on the plane of the line kk Figure 5. Figure 7 is a top view of the
spindle frame employed in this apparatus, showing it with the capsules on the ends
of the spindles. Figure 8 is a similar view of said spindle frame without the
capsules. Figure 9 is a vertical cross-section, on an enlarged scale, taken on the
plane of the line ck, Figure 4.. Figure 10 is a sectional view of a series of spindle
frames, showing them strung on a rod for dipping. Figure 11 is a side view,
partly in section, of the capsule stripping mechanism. Figure 12 a top view of
the same. Figure 13 a front elevation of the same.
I will first describe the
clearly in Figures 7 and 8.
spindle carrying frames B which are shown more
Each of these consists of two parallel bars a a, which

page_text: are or may be held the proper distance apart by braces b, b, and which serve as
bearings for the swivelled spindles A A. These spindles are rods of steel, with
rounded ends, as appears more clearly from Figure 3, both ends of each spindle
projecting from the carrying frame B, so that both may be utilized for dipping
purposes. Between the bars a a each spindle is surrounded with a pulley-like
enlargement d which is fixed to it, so that by its means the spindle may be
revolved. These enlargements & have by preference, circumferential grooves, which
are marked 1, 2, 3 in Figures 7 and 8, for the purpose of guidance on the oiling
and cutting frames, as hereinafter more fully stated.
It will be seen that these little frames B, B, having the swivelled spindles A A,
are very casily handled. They may be strung upon a stick C, as in Figure 10, for
dipping purposes, may be easily suspended from suitable hooks or devices for
drying purposes and, because of the peculiar construction of the swivelled
spindles A with the enlargements d, the said frames are readily ranged for
continuous operation of the oiling and cutting devices.
Before the ends of the spindles A, A, can be dipped in the gelatine mixture they
should be oiled, in order to prevent too close adhesion of the gelatine to the bodies
of the spindles. For this purpose the oiling mechanism shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3
has been devised. This mechanism consists of a frame D, carrying the parallel
shafts E, E, which in turn, carry pulleys e, around which is placed the endless
belt F. The said belt is held taut by suitable friction roller f, or otherwise, and
passes beneath series of little rollers that are hung in a frame h, which is capable
of vertical adjustment on posts i and pressed downwards on said posts by springs j.
Figure 3 shows clearly the belt F beneath one of these rollers g and the springs j
above the frame h.
Directly below the place where the rollers g are thus ranged the frame D carries
a pair of parallel rails k, and also parallel thereto a pair of platforms 1, that have
on their outer sides vertical flanges m, as shown in Figure 3. To the inner sides
of these flanges m are fastened springs n, which are shown in Figure 3, and also
clearly indicated in Figure 2.
The spindle frames B B are introduced in this machine by an attendant, who
places them on the rails kk, and pushes them under the belt F, whoreupon the
belt, which is revolved in the direction of the arrow which is shown in Figure 1,
carries said frames along, beneath the rollers g, thereby exposing the ends of the
spindles A to contact with oiled cotton or the like, which is on the platforms land,
which, moreover, is or may be pressed against the ends of said spindles by the
springs n. The frames B, B, are guided in their longitudinal motion by means of
the rails entering grooves 1 and 3, as is more clearly shown in Figure 3, but instead
of said grooves being in the enlargements & of the spindles, there may be analogous
projections bearing against the sides of the rails. The springs ; can be compressed
by thumb nuts above them, so that the pressure of the belt upon the travelling
frames B B may be regulated. The attendant pushes one frame B after the other
into this machine, and so soon as it issues. from the machine, the ends of all the
spindles A A will bave been properly oiled.
2
It will be seen that the spindles A, A, while passing over the rails k are revolved,
thus exposing them properly to contact with the oiled cotton or the like, and
preventing any part of the mold portion of each spindle remaining dry.
The spindles having been properly oiled, the frames B may then be strung upon
the rod C, in the manner shown in Figure 10. The ends of the spindles are then
dipped into the gelatine, and the frames are then hung up to let the gelatine dry.
The frames now appear in the condition shown in Figure 7, that is, with the
gelatine cups o covering the ends of the spindles A.. They are. now ready for the
cutting mechanism, which is shown in Figures 4, 5, 6 and 9, and which has, in a
frame 12 bearings for shafts E2 E2, over which is placed an endless belt F, the
frame also carrying suitable rails k³, for guiding the frames B'under the belt.
The belt F2 also passes beneath a frame h², having rollers g² that are in every
respect like the rollers g and their supports in the oiling, apparatus. That is to

page_text: say, the frames h² slide on posts and are under pressure of springs ², so that the
belt F2 revolving in the direction of the curved arrow which is shown in Figuro 4,
will carry along the frames B B, which are placed on the rails and will cause
the spindles A A of said frames to revolve by their contact with the rails and belt.
The frame D carries beneath the rollers g² the knives G G (see Figure 6 and 9).
These are vertical blades, that are placed beneath the ends of the spindles at the
proper distances apart, and whose lower ends rest on rubber cushions por
analogous elastic supports. I prefer to have three blades G G on each side, as
indicated in Figure 6, so that the cutter on each side will practically be sectional
and will yield to whatever undulating motion, through the inequalities of machinery
and the setting of spindles, may be necessary for the purpose of performing a proper
cutting operation.
The lower parts of the blades G are set in pockets q, which are indicated in
Figure 9, and which may be vertically adjustable on the frame D². While the
spindles A are above these cutters their ends are between vertical check. pioces rr
which are attached to screw spindles H, as shown in Figure 9, and which prevent
the frames B from jumping the tracks while the knives are operating.
As the frames B, with the spindles A that carry the capsules o at their ends, are
passed beneath the belt F over the rails 2, the capsules will be brought in contact
with the knives G G and will be cut at the places where these knives are located
to their proper lengths, the spindles revolving by contact with the belt and rails, or
either, while they pass over the knives.
The incisions for giving the capsules the proper length having thus been
produced, it only remains to detach them from the spindles. To this end the
apparatus shown in Figures 11, 12 and 13 is employed. The same consists of a
frame I, carrying a crank shaft J to which a rotary motion is imparted by suitable
means, and which shaft connects by links s with reciprocating sliding rods L that
carry hooks t at their free ends, said hooks being forked as appears more clearly
from Figure 12. The same shaft J may move one or more rods L and hooks t.
On the frame I is also supported, for every set of hooks t an upright ledge u, which
has its upper edge notched, as appears more clearly from Figure 13, each notch
corresponding, as to depth and distance from the others to the position of one of
the spindles A in the frame B.
Above this ledge u is supported on posts v, a sliding plate w having in its lower
edge notches to correspond with those of the ledge u. The posts are united to a
cross piece which connects by a rod y with a treadle M. Normally the plate w
is raised off the ledge u by springs z or weights, as in Figure 13. In this position
of parts a frame B, having the cut capsules on its ends, is inserted between the
plates u and w, so that they engage the spindles A A in said frame directly back
of the capsules thereon. At the same time the rod a, of said frame B, which is
nearest the hooks t is placed under said hooks, while they are nearest the plate w,
as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 11.
The treadle M is now depressed, so as to bring the plate w down upon the
spindles A A back of the capsules, and the shaft J revolving the hooks t draw the
frame B towards the shaft J allowing the plates u and w by their close contact
with the spindles A to strip the capsules off the spindles at the ends of the latter
which were gripped between the plates u and w. The treadle M is now let go, the
frame B reversed, so as to get the other ends of the spindles A between said
gripping plates, and the operation performed as before.
The action of the machine is practically instantaneous, and the capsules will
all be stripped off the frame without any danger of breaking or spoiling them.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1 In a capsule machine the spindle-carrying frame B, having parallel rods a a
combined with the swivelled spindles A A that are hung in said rods, substantially
as described.
'

page_text: 2nd In a capsule machine the spindle-carrying frame B, having parallel rods a a,
combined with the swivelled spindles A A, that are hung in said rods, and that are
provided with the pulley enlargements d, substantially as described.
3rd In a capsule machine, the spindle carrying frame B, having parallel rods a a,
combined with the swivelled spindles A A, that are hung in said rods, and that
are provided with the pulley enlargements d having circumferential grooves for
guiding purposes, as specified.
4th The combination of the endless belt F with the platforms guide rails k and
pressure rollers 9. substantially as and for the purpose described.
5th The combination of the endless belt F with the rollers g springs j, platforms 7,
springs n and rail or rails, all arranged substantially as described for oiling the
ends of spindles A A, that are swivelled in frames B, substantially as described.
6th The combination of the belt F2 and rail or rails 2 with the cushioned
knives G G. for use on frames B having swivelled spindles A substantially us
described.
7th The combination of the belt F2 and rail or rails with the adjustable cheek
pieces, and with the cushioned knives G G, substantially as described.
8th In a capsule cutting machine the knives G G, made sectional substantially as
herein shown and described.
9th The combination of the belt F with the rollers g², adjustable roller frame ²,
rail or rails k³ sectional cushioned knives G G and adjustable check pieces r for use
on frames B, carrying swivelled spindles A A substantially as and for the purpose
herein shown and described.
10th The combination of the hook t and means substantially as described for
reciprocating it, with the gripping plates u and w, and means substantially as
described for bringing them together, and with the frame B having the spindles AA,
substantially as specified.