Patent ID: 7908992

Claim:
A capsule dusting system ( 50 ) for coating a plurality of capsules ( 10 ) with a dusting agent ( 20 ), comprising: (A) a tumbling basket ( 100 ) having a proximal side ( 110 ), a distal side ( 120 ), and at least one sidewall ( 130 ) connecting the proximal side ( 110 ) to the distal side ( 120 ) such that together the proximal side ( 110 ), the distal side ( 120 ), and the sidewall ( 130 ) form a basket interior surface ( 140 ) and a basket exterior surface ( 150 ), wherein the proximal side ( 110 ) has a proximal side port ( 112 ) extending from the basket interior surface ( 140 ) to the basket exterior surface ( 150 ), the distal side ( 120 ) has a distal side port ( 122 ) extending from the basket interior surface ( 140 ) to the basket exterior surface ( 150 ), and the capsules ( 10 ) enter into the tumbling basket ( 100 ) through the proximal side port ( 112 ) and are discharged through the distal side port ( 122 ); (B) at least one drive shaft ( 200 ) rotationally coupled to the tumbling basket ( 100 ) whereby the tumbling basket ( 100 ) rotates in relation to the drive shaft ( 200 ) causing the capsules ( 10 ) to tumble along the basket interior surface ( 140 ); (C) an enclosure ( 300 ) having a partition wall ( 310 ) and a containment lid ( 320 ), wherein the partition wall ( 310 ) and the containment lid ( 320 ) cooperate to form an enclosure containment surface ( 330 ) and an external surface ( 340 ), wherein the tumbling basket ( 100 ) is located within the enclosure ( 300 ); and (D) a dust injection system ( 400 ) having a dusting injector ( 410 ), wherein the dusting injector ( 410 ) transports the dusting agent ( 20 ) into the tumbling basket ( 100 ) to expose the capsules ( 10 ) to the dusting agent ( 20 ).