PRESS-FIT RAPID RELEASE MEDICAMENT AND METHOD AND APPARATUS OF MANUFACTURING

Abstract

A caplet having press-fit gelatin capsule shell halves includes one or more dimples formed in one or both ends of the caplet shells, which significantly reduces the thickness of the gelatin which thereby dissolves more quickly, allowing the medicament to be rapidly released into the body's digestive system. In one embodiment of the invention, the closing pins used to press the conventional capsule shell halves onto a core include a raised projection for debossing the dimples. As holding blocks of a press-fit machine move to encapsulate a caplet, closing pins form compressed dimples in at least one or preferably both ends of the gelatin capsule shell as the shells are applied to the core.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a medicament embodying one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a right end view of the medicament shown in FIG. 1, it being understood that the left end view is substantially the same;

FIG. 3 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary view, taken in the encircled area III of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of one of the press-fit stations of a machine, showing the configuration of the closure pins employed in the manufacture of the medicament shown in FIGS. 1-3; and

FIG. 5 is an end view of one end of an alternative embodiment of the invention.

Claims

1. A gelatin covered core comprising: a dissolvable core; anda pair of gelatin shells press-fitted onto said core, wherein at least one of said shells includes an indentation formed therein to reduce the thickness of said gelatin in the area of said indentation to allow rapid release of the contents of said dissolvable core.

2. The gelatin covered core as defined in claim 1 wherein said indentation is at an end of said gelatin shell.

3. The gelatin covered core as defined in claim 2 wherein said indentation is generally circular having a diameter of from about 0.03 mm to about 0.15 mm.

4. The gelatin covered core as defined in claim 3 wherein said gelatin shell has a thickness of from about 0.020 inches to about 0.060 inches and the thickness of the shell at said dimple is from about 0.001 mm to about 1 mm.

5. The gelatin covered core as defined in claim 1 wherein said core is a medicament.

6. The gelatin covered core as defined in claim 1 wherein said core is caplet shaped.

7. The gelatin covered core as defined in claim 1 wherein said core is a caplet-shaped medicament and includes a plurality of indentations in at least one of said shells.

8. The gelatin covered core as defined in claim 1 wherein said indentation has a depth of from about 50% to about 100% of the original gelatin shell thickness.

9. The gelatin covered core as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said shells include at least one indentation at an end thereof.

10. A closure pin design for a press-fit caplet encapsulating machine comprising: a cylindrical body having an end for engaging a capsule shell, said end including a concave surface and further including a convex projection extending from said concave surface to engage a capsule for forming a dimple therein.

11. The closure pin design as defined in claim 10 wherein said concave surface is generally hemispherical.

12. The closure pin design as defined in claim 11 wherein said projection is centered in said concave surface.

13. The closure pin design as defined in claim 12 wherein said convex projection is generally hemispherical.

14. The closure pin design as defined in claim 10 and further including a plurality of projections.

15. An apparatus for assembling gelatin shell halves onto a caplet-shaped core comprising: at least one processing station for sequentially inserting a gelatin shell half in a holding block, a caplet-shaped core in said holding block, and a second gelatin shell half onto said caplet-shaped core; andfirst and second closure pins movable in opposite directions in alignment with said holding block for compressing said gelatin shell halves onto said caplet-shaped core wherein each of said closure pins include a cylindrical body having an end for engaging a capsule shell, said end including a concave surface and further including a convex projection extending from said concave surface to engage a capsule shell for forming a dimple therein.

16. The apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein said concave surface is generally hemispherical.

17. The apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said convex projection is generally hemispherical.

18. The apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein each of said closure pins include a plurality of projections.

19. A method of assembling gelatin shell halves onto a caplet-shaped core comprising the steps of: inserting a gelatin shell half in a holding block;inserting a caplet-shaped core into said holding block;inserting a second gelatin shell half onto said caplet-shaped core on an end opposite said first named gelatin shell half; andmoving first and second closure pins in opposite directions for compressing said gelatin shell halves onto said caplet-shaped core wherein each of said closure pins include a cylindrical body having an end for engaging a capsule shell, said end including a concave surface and further including a convex projection extending from said concave surface to engage an end of said capsule shells for forming a dimple therein.

20. The method as defined in claim 19 wherein the closure pins include a plurality of projections for forming a plurality of dimples during the moving step.