IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GELATINE CAPSULES OR CASES FOR CONTAINING AND PRESERVING FOOD, MEDICINE, AND VARIOUS SUBSTANCES, SOLID AND LIQUID
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Donald Nicoll, of Clement's Inn, Strand, London; Esquire,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GELATINE
CAPSULES OR CASES FOR CONTAINING AND PRESERVING FOOD, MEDICINE, AND
VARIOUS SUBSTANCES, SOLID AND LIQUID."
ealed the 27th June 1876, and dated the 1st March 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Donald Nicoll at the Office
"IMPROVEMENTS
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st March 1876.
DONALD NICOLL, of Clement's Inn, Strand, London, Esquire.
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GELATINE CAPSULES OR CASES FOR CONTAINING AND
PRESERVING FOOD, MEDICINE, AND VARIOUS SUBSTANCES, SOLID AND LIQUID."
I do not cast capsules or cases in tubes or bottles in the ordinary way, but I take
a sheet of gelatine of suitable size, thickness, and shape, and place the same in a
machine similar to that in use by envelope makers, with this exception, I burn a
flame of gas beneath the folding plates so as to give by moderate heat sufficient
pliability to the gelatine, on which I place the required quantity of the substance,
paste, or liquid I am about hermetically to enclose, and having previously moistened
with water the edges of the gelatine, I rapidly bring up the folding flap of the
machine, and so cause by the adhesion of the moistened edges the gelatine to
surround the contents as described, as they or other substances would be enclosed
in an ordinary paper envelope; the capsule is then ready for sale or use, and they
may be of any suitable size or shape to enable them to be swallowed by human
beings or animals, or the capsules may be dissolved and their contents pass to the
stomach in the usual way. I do not confine myself to the use of the envelope
machine, as for making small quantities of capsules, where expense is not of great
object, I make up the sheets of gelatine by hand labour, using similar movements to
that of the envelope machine, but I prefer to form the capsule and cause the
moistened edges to adhere over a block or mould, which is completely enclosed
except at one side or end of the capsule, and through which I withdraw the block
or mould, and the capsule is thus ready for fitting and to be hermetically sealed by
the part left open being moistened and pressed together.
The utility of my Invention consists in the increased cheapness secured by
diminished waste and the accuracy of the required doses or quantities of the drugs,
paste, or liquids enclosed within the capsules.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Donald Nicoll in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st September
1876.
DONALD NICOLL, of Clement's Inn, Strand, London, Esquire. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GELATINE CAPSULES OR CASES FOR CONTAINING AND
PRESERVING FOOD, MEDICINE, AND VARIOUS SUBSTANCES, SOLID AND LIQUID."
And in order that my said Invention of improvements in the manufacture of
gelatine capsules or cases for containing and preserving food, medicine, and various
substances solid and liquid may be properly understood, I will now proceed to
describe the manner in which I prefer to carry the same into practical effect.
I take a number of sheets of gelatine which, if necessary, I subdivide into smaller
pieces or parts of a size suitable to form envelopes or cases for the particular article.
I wish to put up or enclose for general use, such envelopes or cases being made to a
predetermined size or figure, and so as to enclose or contain the precise quantity of
ingredients or materials that are desired to be made up. The sheets of gelatine are
then placed successively in a machine or apparatus similar to that used by envelope
makers in their business of folding and preparing envelopes, that is to say, it is a
machine by means of which the flaps of paper are folded successively by the moving
parts of the machine so as to form the complete envelope. As this machine,
however, forms no part of my Invention, and is otherwise well known to be in
. ordinary use, it is unnecessary for me to enter into any particular description of the
same. The machine, however, that is required for the gelatine envelope or case
making has this difference in its construction, it must be so arranged that heat may
be conveniently applied to the flap folding plates, in order that the sheet of gelatine
under operation may have a certain amount of heat imparted to it. The object of
this is to admit of the flaps being folded over without breaking or otherwise injuring
the sheet to be folded, but when the temperature of the atmosphere is high the
application of heat may be dispensed with. When the piece of gelatine is placed
upon the machine ready for the folding operation the required quantity of materials
or ingredients to be sealed up is laid upon the gelatine and its edges are moistened
with water, which has the effect of imparting a gummy or glutinous surface to the
moistened part. The flaps are now folded over by the automatic folding action of
the machine, and in this manner the moistened edges are brought into contact and
pressed together, so as to close and seal hermetically the flaps of the gelatine case or
envelope. The heat which is necessary in order to give the gelatine the requisite
amount of pliability is most conveniently obtained from a jet of gas, the burner of
which is arranged below the folding plates so that the heat may be regulated with
the greatest ease and nicety. In this way the gelatine envelope, case, or capsule is
completely and effectively sealed up, and its contents completely preserved from the
external air, as well as being put into a form peculiarly convenient and suitable for
sale and general public use. The mode I have described of manufacturing these
envelopes by means of a suitable machine is adapted for making them in large
quantities, and is thus suitable for purposes such as enclosing articles of food that
are consumed daily by the million, for example, tea, coffee, cocoa, milk, butter, &c.
Such articles may be put in a form so as to be instantly ready for use, and in the
exact quantity required. It may be here observed that the gelatine envelope may
with advantage be dissolved with the article of food which it encloses, it being not
only perfectly harmless, but highly nutritious. So also concentrated soups and
other dessicated condiments may be presented in a form highly convenient and
available for general public use as well as for the army and navy, the traveller,
emigrant, and others who require food put up in the most compact and portable
form and ready for instant use. But for articles where the demand is to a certain
extent limited I prefer in that case to make the envelopes by hand labour, the
cutting, the folding of the flaps, and the sealing up of the contents being done in a
series or sequence of movements or operations equivalent to the mechanical and
manual processes herein-before described.

page_text: In many instances I should prefer to form the envelope or case upon a suitable
mould, the edges of the envelope being sealed by moisture as before described, but
leaving one end open for the purpose of withdrawing the mould, and of subsequently
introducing the contents to be sealed. In this way a vast variety of articles may
be sealed up for public use and sent out in moulded cases having a distinctive and
appropriate shape or outline, which, combined with an attractive appearance, would
be calculated to command a largely increased demand and consumption. In
addition to other advantages secured by this mode of putting up articles of general
use in gelatine, there is that of avoiding to a large extent waste of material as well
as of securing increased accuracy of weight and proportions in the quantities of the
several articles so put up and prepared for general use; and, moreover, gelatine
softens and extracts the essence of tea and coffee called theine and coffeine.
I am aware that medicines have been enclosed and retained in gelatine capsules,
but these capsules have been chiefly made by a process of casting in a mould, and
they differ altogether from mine.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is or may be used or carried into effect, I wish
it to be understood that what I claim as my Invention, and believe to be novel is, the
mode of preparing from gelatine hermetic envelopes or cases suitable for articles of
general public consumption, and the application and adaptation of the same to the
purposes of utility, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Donald Nicoll, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Thirty-first day of August, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-six.
Witness,
CHARLES BARLOW, Patent Agent,
23, Southampton Buildings,
London, W.C.
DONALD NICOLL. (L.S.)