IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GELATINE CAPSULES, AND APPARATUS THEREFOR
Year: 1884

page_text: "
SELVITICATION
I HENRY HARRIS LAKE of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co Patent Agents
Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature
of said Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GELATINE
CAPSULES, AND APPARATUS THEREFOR" 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 the manufacture of gelatine capsules and to apparatus
therefor.
The process of manufacturing gelatine capsules, such as are employed for holding
dry medicaments and which are of necessity divided into two parts, the first being
the body, and the second the cap to the same, is as follows:-The gelatine is
warmed in a device, hereinafter described, adapted to keep the entire mass of such
gelatine in an equal state of limpidity, into the mould pins of the proper or required
Bize having been greased or lubricated by means of a device substantially as
hereinafter described are dipped; such mould pins project from the surface of a
wheel or circular plate adapted to roll upon its edge along an inclined plane, so that
when such mould pins are removed from their immersion in the gelatine, the plate
to which they are attached is rolled down this inclined plane, and such motion
prevents the gelatine which has adhered to the mould pins from running to one
side, this rotary motion in the revolution of the plate preserves the uniform
thickness of the gelatine on the pins until the same is set or chilled in the passage
through the air. From the inclined plane the circular plate rolls on to a
polygonally shaped rack, adapted as each face is filled to be rotated to bring the
next face into co-incidence with the inclined plane, until all the faces of the rack
are filled with these circular plates, with the mould pins projecting outwardly;
the peculiar construction of the mould plates and the rack will be hereinafter
described.
Whenever the gelatine has set upon the mould pins sufficiently, by means of
the mechanism hereinafter described and which is operated by hand, the gelatine
CD
77

page_text: capsules are cut to an uniform and desired length, and by means of another
implement hereinafter described such cut capsules are withdrawn from the mould
pins in a finished condition. The caps for such gelatine capsules are made in
precisely the same way and by the same pieces of mechanism,
which reference
has hereinbefore been bad, the only difference being that such caps are cut shorter
in the body and are made upon a larger size of mould pins, so that they may be
easily slipped over the bodies of the capsules.
I will now proceed to describe the various parts of mechanismn which I employ
in the manufacture of gelatine capsules in the order above given.
In the accompanying Drawing
Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the device for holding and keeping at
the proper limpid stage, gelatine, preparatory to its being deposited upon the
mould pins.
Figure 2 is a vertical section thereof.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the rotary plate with mould pins projecting
from its face.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the device which is employed to lubricate the
mould pins.
Figure 5 is a cross-section on the line a, a, Figure 4.
Figure 6 is a vertical section of one of the lubricating thimbles detached.
Figure 7 is a perspective view of the drying rack.
Figure 8 is a perspective view, looking towards the front, of the device employed
for cutting the capsules into lengths upon the moulds.
Figure 9 is a like view taken from the reverse side.
Figure 10 is a cross-section through one of the series of the cutters.
Figure 11 is a perspective view of the pulling off device.
Figure 12 is a vertical central section.
Figure 13 is a diagram hereinafter referred to.
Figure 14 is a perspective view with the top plate removed.
Figure 15 is a perspective view of one of the jaws detached.
Figure 16,
a perspective view showing the position of the parts of the joining
device when left by the discharge of the finished capsule.
Figure 17 is a like view showing the device ready to receive the body and cap;
and
Figure 18 is a cross-section of the jaws on the line x¹ x¹ Figure 17.
A indicates a stand-pipe which supports the steam jacket B and into which
steam has access through the pipe A from any convenient source of supply; around
this stand-pipe A I place a coil spring C which supports a sleeve D, from which
latter rises a series of brackets E, upon the upper ends of which is detachably
secured the ring plate F. In this ring I secure the downwardly projecting stirring
coil G, which carries a vertically stirring bar H; one or more of these stirring
appliances may be used as the size of the dipping pan may require, in order that in
operation the solution contained therein shall be sufficiently agitated to prevent
the formation of a crust upon the surface of the solution. If desired the sleeve D
may be connected to a treadle or foot lever, so that the operator may, by pressing
down upon the lever, cause a partial rotation of such sleeve upon the pipe A, and
necessarily impart a like motion to the stirrer within the dripping pan, as shown in
the Drawing. Where power is convenient a loose belt may be arranged in
connection with this eleeve, so that such sleeve, together with the stirrers which
are indirectly connected thereto, as herein before described, will have a continuous
movement except at such times as when the capsule mould plate is imposed upon
the ring F, at which time the belt will slip upon the sleeve.
In practice, the parts being constructed substantially as described and standing
in the position shown in Figure 1, the capsule plate with its moulds is placed upon
the ring F with the mould pins projecting downward; by then pressing down upon
this plate the mould pins are immersed in the solution, the stirrer H sliding
vertically in the coil stirrer. The operator then allows the spring C to exert its

page_text: force so as to gradually raise the parts which have been depressed and thereby
remove the capsule moulds from the solution. If it is desired to regulate the
depth that such mould pins shall be inserted into the solution, such can readily be
done by having adjusting stops, or by having regulating stops so arranged that the
sleeve can be depressed to a greater or lesser degree as desired. To keep the
solution within the pans in its soluable state, steam is admitted into the jacket
through the pipe A, the radiation from which will gradually keep the gelatine at
the desired consistency, but should it prove too hot, water may be placed in the
jacket between it and the pan holding the solution.
I will now proceed to describe the construction of the plate of mould pins
I indicates a nould-plate, circular in form, and preferably (although not necessarily)
made of metal secured thereto, and projecting from one face thereof, are a series of
mould pins a, which are made in the form the capsule is desired to have; these
pins in each mould plate are of equal lengths and project at equal distances apart,
or nearly so, from the face of the mould plate. I propose in the construction of
this plate of moulds to provide for each plate not less than one hundred mould
pins although any desired number may be made. At four points equi-distant (or
nearly so) from each other, and near the periphery of the mould plate, are formed
four holes b, to act as guides in the use of a device to be hereinafter described for
cutting the capsules upon the mould pius a, at any desired length. To the rear
face of this mould plate, and at its axis, a pin c is secured, upon which is sleeved a
handle d.
Before immersing the mould pine in the liquid in the limpid gelatine it is
necessary that they be very slightly lubricated or greased, to facilitate the removal
of the capsule after it is formed. In order to do this I use a device consisting of a
suitable plate J, through which is bored a series of holes e somewhat larger than
the lubricating thimbles K which are inserted in such holes. These thimbles are
located at such distances apart and in relation to each other that they will register
with the mould pins in the plates upon which they are designed to be used. Upon
the two sides of the plate J I rigidly secure the india-rubber or other suitable
elastic face plates L, L', through which are likewise formed holes for the reciproca-
tion of lubricating thimbles. These lubricating thimbles each consist of a hollow
or tubular body K, the inner end of which terminates in a solid pin or stud g, the
body K being slotted or divided longitudinally by the slot h. The bore of the
bodies is designed to be somewhat larger, than the circumference of the mould
pins with which they are to be employed, and receive a greasing rag i which has
been properly saturated or supplied with a suitable lubricant. The said thimbles
are held in place by a cord which passes through the slots in the bodies of the
thimbles, over the lubricating cloth along the side of the pins, and out through a
similar hole in the plate L' upon which such cord is tied the thimble being secured
against displacement by a pin k, or other suitable means. The free ends of the
lubricating cloth are then brought over the ends of the thimbles, which are provided
with a slight enlargement or flange, and receive upon them an elastic band preferably
which holds them in place and yet admits of a certain amount of giving or
elasticity to the body of the thimbles, as hereinafter described. In practice, the
device being constructed substantially as herein shown and set forth, it is held over
the mould pins in such manner that each pin will enter its respective lubricating
thimble; the device is now pushed down over the mould pins bringing their ends
and sides in contact with the lubricating cloths, after which the device is withdrawn
ready to be used on the next plate of moulds. By providing the elastic faces and
slotting the thimbles, I provide means whereby the various thimbles will have.a
certain amount of lateral adjustment so that they will register with the mould pins,
should the latter be out of truth or bent one way or the other to the side, while at
the same time if these thimbles are separate they are speedily or readily removed
when in need of repair and can readily be supplied with a fresh lubricant.
Having now described the gelatine heater the mixer the plate of molds and the
greaser, I would say that the gelatine having been brought to a proper consistency,

page_text: the plate of moulds is taken by the hand and the mould pins immersed in the
limpid gelatine to a suitable depth; on withdrawing the mould pins, a sufficient
amount of gelatine will adhere thereto to form the capsule. To prevent the
gelatine on the pins, which will very quickly cool in the atmosphere, from settling
to one side of the mould pin and making the walls of the capsules thicker in one
place than another, the plate of moulds is immediately, upon being withdrawn from
the gelatine, laid upon its edge on an inclined plane down which it rolls to the rack,
such rolling motion preventing the accidental thickening of the capsule walls.
This rack to which reference has been had, consists of two heads N, polygonally
shaped, secured to a shaft so that the faces are co-incident, and this shaft is
journalled at each end in the standards O of the frame P, which are preferably
supported upon a small truck Q. Each of the polygonal faces of the head. is
provided with two bars l, l, to the latter of which is secured a projecting ledge m,
which receives the rolling plate of moulds as it passes off the inclined plane on to
the rack. The faces of the rack being long enough to receive several of these plates
of moulds as they are successively dipped and rolled down the incline plane, they
are received upon the face of the rack presented until it is full, each one as
it assumes its position upon the rack being secured thereto by clips n. Any device
adapted to the purpose may be employed to hold the rack from revolving until one
of the faces is filled with plates of moulds, when it should be revolved until the
next one of the faces is presented to receive the succeeding plates of moulds, and this
operation is repeated until the rack upon all its faces is filled, when the rack may
be rolled away to a drying room or elsewhere and a fresh one placed in its place,
while the capsules formed upon the mould pins upon the rack which has been
removed are cut and withdrawn.
The peculiar construction of the cutting. device used in my system of manu-
facturing gelatine capsules by hand instead of by the use of complicated mechanism,
is as follows:-A', indicates the front, and B¹ the rear plate, through which are
formed the co-incident holes a, b, Between these plates is a plate C' of sheet
india-rubber, with holes co-incident with the holes a', b¹, and of larger diameter.
The ring cutters D' sharpened on their inner peripheries or edges are fitted into the
holes in the india-rubber plate, and held in place by the front and rear plates, which
are secured together, with such india-rubber plate between them, by the rods E¹
and nuts c¹, d; these rods also project from the reverse side of the device, and are
provided with adjusting nut stops e¹. In order to allow these stop nuts to
be adjusted the rods are suitably threaded, or any other form of an adjusting stop
may be employed without departing from the nature of my Invention.
In practice, the stops are adjusted to the length the capsule is desired, such
length being represented by the distance between the stop and the face of the
plate B¹; the device is then grasped by the hand of the operator, and the projecting
ends of the rods entered into co-incident holes in the plate of moulds herein before
described, the mould pins of such mould plate, being arranged in series co-incident
with the series of holes in this cutting device, entering the ring cutters until the
stops are brought into contact with the front of such mould plate. A rotary
motion is then communicated to the plates carrying the ring cutters by the hand of
the operator, which motion brings the cutting device into contact with the capsules
on the mould pins and cuts them off into uniform lengths; the pressure necessary
to perform this cutting is imparted through the india-rubber plate, the elasticity of
which will allow of any slight variation in the position of the mould pins, without
interfering with the perfect working of the cutters.
Having now the capsules formed and cut into the desired and uniform size, the
next step is to remove them from the mould pins, preparatory to using each
successive plate of mould pins over again, and this is done by means of the use of
the hand-tool, which I will now describe. A" indicates the upper, and B" the
lower plates of this device, the latter being provided with slots a, through which
pass screws 61, which engage with the upper plate A". Through these two plates
is formed a series of holes c, equal in number to the pins upon the mould plate

page_text: with which they are to engage, such plate having been fully described hereinbefore.
Upon the under face of the plate A", and upon one side of such lateral row of
holes c, I secure a strip all of india-rubber or other suitable material, and upon
the upper face of the bottom plate B" I secure similar strips ell, but upon the
opposite side of the holes c¹¹ from that upon which the strips are arranged.
Upon each end of the strips place the plates or jaws C", arranged in pairs, the.
meeting edges of which are provided with segmental griping edges h", those in
each pair of jaws being co-incident with the holes c¹ through the plates A", B",
which should be provided with a suitable opening so as to keep the jaws open or
separated, except as they are closed upon the mould plates as hereinafter stated.
Upon each of the plates A, B, and at opposite ends thereof, I properly secure
the rock-shafts D", E", respectively, each of which is provided with an actuating
lever F; upon the rock-shaft Du I secure one or more ears G¹¹, the heel of which
rests against the corresponding edge of the plate B¹¹.
In practice, as I have before described, this device is designed to follow a capsule
cutting device which has been herein before described as one of the devices to be
employed in the successive steps and processes of making gelatine capsules. After
the capsules upon the mould pins have been cut, this device, which I term a
"puller," is placed over the mould plate, which is standing upon the revolving rack,
the pins and capsules projecting into and through the holes c¹¹, the jaws C¹¹ coming
between the tag of the capsule and the mould plate.. This being done, I then
simply raise the lever of the rock-shaft D¹¹ of the upper plate, which compels the
two plates to slide upon each other and the consequent approach towards each
other of the jaws C, which latter encircle, or nearly encircle, the mould pins, and
in this position they are locked. By then raising both levers of the rock-shafts
the cams are brought in contact with the face of the mould-plate, and forcibly
slide themselves up the mould pins and strip or push the capsules off in advance of
it, unless they fall into any suitable receptacle. Upon returning the levers to the
positions from which they started, the parts assume their normal positions, ready
to be again employed in withdrawing capsules from another series of pins.
The body and cap of the gelatine capsule is now completed, separately, but
another step must be taken to put them into marketable condition, and that is to
join the cap and body together like two adjoining lengths of stove-pipe, so that the
purchasers can be supplied with the completed article.
This is done by the employment of the following described device, whereby the
slow and expensive process of hand labor wherein one hand is employed to hold
the capsule body and the other to put on the cap, is avoided. The joining device
will automatically, accurately, and without marring the same, insert the open end
of the body into the open end of the cap, and discharge the finished capsule.
This device is illustrated in Figures 16 to 18 in which 1 indicates a suitable bed
or table which supports the working mechanism and 2 a hollow guide through
which the plunger 3 reciprocates, 4 indicates a slide having a transverse reciprocating
motion in a recess 5 in the face of the table; this is one of the jaws which is
secured to the guide 2 so as to overhang the slide 4 and allow the same to
reciprocate freely underneath it. 7 indicates the opposite jaw secured to the slide 4.
These jaws are formed by being placed face to face, and centrally bored out on a
line axial with the plunger, such bore being the size of the body of the capsule to
be operated upon. This bore is enlarged at one end by so much as the increased
diameter of the cap; that is to say, the smaller and longer portion of the bore is of
sufficient size to loosely grasp the body of the capsule, and the larger and shorter
portion of the bore is of sufficient size to grasp the cap. The parts are so arranged
that when the movable part is closed upon the fixed part of the jaw, the bore is in
axial line with the plunger, which passes through the guide 2. 8 indicates the
discharge opening through the table, into which the agitated and finished capsule
is thrown and 9 is a slide having a horizontal reciprocating motion in the same
direction with that of the plunger and running in suitable guides. To the exposed
end of the plunger is secured an arm 10 in such manner that it will reciprocate

page_text: with the like motion of the plunger. This arm passes through a guide 11 on the
slide, and through another guide 12 on the table, and is curved as shown, so that
in the forward motion of the plunger the arm acting upon the guide 11, closes the
part 7, of the jaw upon its fellow, and when such plunger is retracted (as shown in
Figure 17), the curvature of the arm acting upon the same guide forces the part 7
of the jaw from the part 6, as shown in this Figure. The free end of this arm is so
arranged as to engage with the slide when the plunger is retracted, and thereby
draw such slide against the end of the jaws, and, when the plunger is projected, to
force such slide in the same direction, uncovering the opening through which the
capsules are ejected from the machine. It will be noticed that the slide forms the
point of resistance at the end of the jaws until the plunger has acted to force
the cap and body into conjunction, and does not commence its rearward reciprocating
motion until this is done, when the continued projection of the plunger engages the
free end of the arm with the slide and projects it to the rear to disclose the opening
in the table.
I do not desire to confine myself to the exact construction and arrangement of
parts as hereinbefore described in any of the devices employed to carry out the full
process of manufacturing and finishing capsules, for it will readily be seen that
various appliances to produce a similar result may be obtained by a different
arrangement of parts, and such different arrangement of parts would come within
the scope of my Invention.
By the process herein described, and the use, to carry out such process, of the
simple tools used consecutively and conjointly, I avoid the employment of expensive
machinery; while I am enabled to put a more finished capsule into the market at
a less price than can be done by any existing apparatus.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
First. The process of manufacturing gelatine capsules, the said process consisting
in immersing mould pins projecting from the face of a circular base-plate and which
have been lubricated to facilitate the removal of the capsules when finished, into a
vessel adapted to keep the gelatine in a suitable limped condition, with drawing
such mould pins after such immersion, rolling the base-plate to which they are
attached along an inclined plane to a revolving rack, cutting the capsules upon the
pins to any equal but desired length, and then removing the same from the pins by
a pinching mechanism all substantially as described.
Second. A device, adapted to hold the gelatine in proper condition, consisting of
a vertically moving supporting frame carrying stirrers adapted to recede and
advance as the moulds are immersed, and provided with mechanism substantially
ns described by means of which such stirrers are rotated, or partially rotated,
within the dipping vessel, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Third. A circular plate provided with mould pins projecting from one of its faces
and with a handle projecting from the axis of said plate at its rear, and adapted to
be rolled upon its edge along an inclined plane, substantially as, and for the
purposes, described.
Fourth. A lubricating device, consisting of a series of slotted thimbles within
the bore of which are secured cloths saturated with the lubricating material, such
thimbles being arranged in a yielding bed-plate, by means of which they are
adapted to adjust themselves and register with the pins of the mould plate to be
lubricated, substantially as, and for the purpose, setforth.
Fifth. A polygonally shaped rack, each of the faces of which is provided with
locking devices adapted to secure the circular mould plates as they are delivered to
such rack from an inclined plane extending from such rack to a point near where
the dipping part of the process is carried on, substantially as, and for the purposes,
specified.
Sixth. A cutting device, consisting of hollow or ring cutters secured between
rigid front and rear plates and within a spring plate between such front and rear

page_text: plates through which spring plate are co-incident holes, and provided with stops
and guide-rods, whereby when the ring cutters in their plates are passed over and
upon the mould pins herein-before described an eccentrically rotary motion given
by the hand of the operator will cut the capsules upon the mould plates into
desired and uniform lengths, substantially as set forth.
Seventh. A device for removing the said capsules from the mould pins after such
capsules have been cut to the desired and uniform Jengths, the said device consisting
of a series of sliding jaws actuated by levers that first clamp the jaws upon the
mould pins upon which the capsules are formed, and then by means of cams
striking the face of such mould plate, push such capsules from the mould pins,
substantially as described.
Eighth. A device substantially as herein described by meads of which a
conjunction is effected between the capsule body and its cap, the parts being
constructed and operating substantially as herein described.
Dated thi. 01L
1100
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.