Apparatus for manufacturing encapsulated products
View Patent ↗This invention relates to a method and apparatus for forming soft capsules and provides novel processing flexibility. The apparatus includes extrusion dies as an alternative to spreader boxes and the use of melt-on-demand technology to enhance the long term stability of the film-forming materials. Preferred embodiments provide a positive displacement pump to transport the molten film-forming material from the melt-on-demand device to the extrusion device and preferably a reservoir means disposed between said extrusion device and said means to melt said film-forming material. The encapsulation apparatus may also include a valved injection wedge.
1. A film preparation apparatus comprising:
a) at least one casting drum;
b) means for melting solid film-forming material on demand;
c) pump means; and
d) an extrusion device;
wherein said apparatus prepares encapsulation films from a solid film-forming material.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said film-forming material has an aqueous component.
3. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said film-forming material comprises at least one component selected from the group consisting of starch, gelatin, carrageenans, gums and synthetic materials.
4. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said film-forming material comprises iota-carrageenan and modified starch; water a plasticizer, and a buffer.
5. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said film-forming material comprises gelatin, water and plasticizers.
6. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for melting solid said film-forming material comprises a melt grid.
7. An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said melt grid is above the sold film-forming material.
8. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said melt grid is below said solid film-forming material.
9. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said pump means is a positive displacement pump.
10. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said positive displacement pump is selected from the group consisting of gear pumps, lobe pumps, sine pumps, worm pumps, and archimedes screws.
11. An apparatus according to claim 1 additionally comprising a reservoir means disposed between said means to melt said film-forming material and said extrusion device.
12. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said extrusion device comprises a chamber and an extrusion slot.
13. An apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said extrusion device is a coat hanger die.
14. An apparatus according to claim 11 additionally comprising a manifold disposed between said reservoir means and said extrusion device.
15. An apparatus for applying a polymer to a substrate comprising:
a) means to melt a solid polymer on demand;
b) pump means to transport the molten polymer to an extrusion device;
c) reservoir means disposed between said means to melt said solid polymer and said extrusion device; and
d) at least one casting drum.
16. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said extrusion device comprises a chamber and an extrusion slot.
17. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said extrusion device is a coat and hanger die.
18. The apparatus according to claim 15 additionally comprising a distribution manifold disposed between said reservoir means and said extrusion device.