IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE Manufacture of MedicinaL CAPSULES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Stanislas Limousin, of No. 2 bis, Rue Blanche, in the City
of Paris, in the Republic of France, Chemist, for the Invention of " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE Manufacture of MedicinaL CAPSULES."
Sealed the 30th June 1876, and dated the 25th January 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Stanislas Limousin at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th January 1876.
STANISLAS LIMOUSIN, of No. 2 bis, Rue Blanche, in the City of Paris, in the
Republic of France, Chemist. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF MEDICINAL
CAPSULES."
66
This Invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of medicinal
capsules.
My process consists in hermetically enclosing the medical powders or pills in
bread (without leaven) or other substance readily soluble in the stomach.
By means of suitable mechanism, similar to that employed for stamping sheets of
metal or paper, I impress on one side of my envelope the name and dose of the
medicine, and on the other my trade mark.
A mould is constructed so as to give to these envelopes a slightly concave shape
to form the cavity to receive the medicine.
By means of a spoon of known capacity the quantity of medical substance that
it is wished to administer is introduced between two envelopes. These two enve-
lopes are mathematically of the same dimensions, and have at their circumference a
Hat annular space, which is cut out of and reproduced by the mould. This flange
slightly moistened serves to join together the two envelopes, which is done by
means of a press having a projection corresponding to this circular part. By this
means the medical substance rigorously measured is protected from deterioration
resulting from contact with the air and atmospheric influences.
Each capsule has upon it the name and the dose of the medicine, which prevents
the possibility of error when the packet is extracted from the box in which it
is sold.
Finally, the patient has only to soak the medical capsule in water in a spoon to
take it easily when the envelope is sufficiently softened.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING,
annamatuva one-fifth of the actual size

page_text: Figure B. Trays upon which are fixed concave wooden discs (b, b, b,) of the form
and dimensions of the capsules figured at E (c, c, c).
Figure C. Dampers consisting of two concentric metallic rings, between which is
n lamp wick intended to absorb water, and to 'place it on the circular margins of
the capsules before combining them in the press. These two rings are fixed in a
wooden head h, k, k
Figure D. Metal discs which correspond to the three dimensions of the capsule
(c, c, c,) and which can be fitted to the press A.
Figure F. Box containing a pad of felt saturated with water to moisten the
dampers C.
Figure G. Spoon with bottom moveable by a screw p, which permit by means of
the plate q of raising and lowering the bottom so as to vary the capacity at will.
This spoon serves to measure the doses of powder before enclosing them in the
capsules.
With this apparatus the dispensing chemist will be able to enclose the medicines
in the capsules, the open capsules being supplied to him.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Stanislas Limousin in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 25th July
1876.
STANISLAS LIMOUSIN, of No. 2 bis, Rue Blanche, in the City of Paris, in the
Republic of France, Chemist. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF MEDICINAL
CAPSULES."
This Invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of medicinal
capsules.
My process consists in hermetically enclosing the medical powders or pills in
bread (without leaven) or other substance readily soluble in the stomach.
By means of suitable mechanism, similar to that employed for stamping sheets of
metal or paper, I impress on one side of my envelope the name and dose of the
medicine, and on the other my trade mark.
A mould is constructed so as to give to these envelopes a slightly concave shape
to form the cavity to receive the medicine.
By means of a spoon of known capacity the quantity of medical substance that
it is wished to administer is introduced between two envelopes. These two enve-
lopes are mathematically of the same dimensions, and have at their circumference
a flat annular space, which is cut out of and reproduced by the mould. This flange
slightly moistened serves to join together the two envelopes, which is done by
means of a press having a projection corresponding to this circular part. By this
means the medical substance rigorously 'measured is protected from deterioration
resulting from contact with the air and atmospheric influences.
Each capsule has upon it the name and the dose of the medicine, which prevents
the possibility of error when the packet is extracted from the box in which it
is sold.
Finally, the patient has only to soak the medical capsule in water in a spoon to
take it easily when the envelope is sufficiently softened.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS A,
which shows an apparatus one-fifth of the actual size.
Figure A. Press carrying moveable concave discs (a, a,) which may be replaced
by other dises of different sizes (Figure D, a, a, a).
Figure B. Trays upon which are fixed concave wooden discs (b, b, b,) of the form
and dimensions of the capsules figured at E (c, c, c).

page_text: Figure C. Dampers consisting of two concentric metallic rings, between which is
a lamp wick intended to absorb water, and to place it on the circular margins of
the capsules before combining them in the press. These two rings are fixed in a
wooden head h, k, k.
Figure D. Metal discs which correspond to the three dimensions of the capsule
(c, c, c,) and which can be fitted to the press A.
Figure F. Box containing a pad of felt saturated with water to moisten the
dampers C.
Figure G. Spoon with bottom moveable by a screw p, which permits by means
of the plate q of raising and lowering the bottom so as to vary the capacity at will.
This spoon serves to measure the doses of powder before enclosing them in the
capsules.
With this apparatus the dispensing chemist will be able to enclose the medicines
in the capsules, the open capsules being supplied to him.
Another arrangement of apparatus for effecting the same object is shewn full size
at Drawings B.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS B.
This arrangement of apparatus is composed of a stamp B (Figure 2), having at
the bottom a moveable piece N, as shewn at (Figure 3), from which a rod T, M, rises
up through a passage U, V, (Figure 1), formed through the handle of the stamp. At
its lower end the stamp has a circular flange H projecting beyond the moveable
bottom M, and which can embrace the lower die b (Figure 4). The moveable
bottom M is formed of a disc slightly hollowed at the centre on its under side, and
with an annular surface n, n, Figure 3, surrounding the hollow, corresponding with
a similar surface of the lower die b, Figure 4.
When compressing a medicinal capsule on to the die b by the stamp B, the two
envelopes, one of which has previously been moistened over its outer flat surface,
can easily be united together.
The capsule thus formed remains ordinarily adhering to the stamp B, and can
readily be detached from it by a slight pressure with a finger upon the upper end of
the rod T.
In the stamp shewn in the Drawing the rod T and moveable bottom M are at
other times held up by a spiral spring p placed around the rod, but other kinds of
spring may be used for holding up the moveable bottom M.
A series of stamps corresponding to dies a, b, c, (Figure 4), may be provided,
which will allow of medicated capsules, such as herein-before described, being made
of different sizes.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention and the manner of performing
the same, I would have it understood that I claim,
First. The manufacture of medicinal capsules, substantially as herein described.
Second. I also claim the arrangements of apparatus, substantially as herein
described and shown in the Drawings annexed, for the manufacture of medicinal
capsules.
In witness whereof, I, the said Stanislas Limousin, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
ST. LIMOUSIN. (L.S.)