IP Library Granted Patent US 12,661,306
Granted Patent B2
US 12,661,306 · App. 18/710,229 · Granted Jun 23, 2026

Pharmaceutical production facility comprising a measuring device

Inventors: Thomas Brinz (Bissingen an der Teck, DE); Philipp Stirm (Fellbach, DE); Stephanie Schütz (Mainhardt, DE)
Assignee: Syntegon Technology GmbH
A61J3/072G01N25/72A61J2200/72
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,661,306
App. No.
18/710,229
Filed
May 15, 2024
Granted
Jun 23, 2026
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2855
USPC
374/4
Abstract

The invention relates to a pharmaceutical production facility ( 10 ) comprising a measuring device ( 30, 32 ) for monitoring a seal of capsules ( 20 ). The capsules have a capsule shell which is made of a first shell part and a second shell part, said shell parts being provided with a sealing liquid in a sealing region, wherein the measuring device comprises an infrared camera ( 34 ) or a camera with an infrared filter, and the measuring device detects the temperature or a change in the temperature of the sealing region and/or capsule sections adjoining the sealing region.

Claims (15)

1 . A pharmaceutical production facility ( 10 ) having a measuring device ( 30 , 32 ) for monitoring sealing of capsules ( 20 ), wherein the capsules ( 20 ) have a capsule shell ( 42 ), which is formed by a first shell part ( 44 ) and a second shell part ( 46 ), wherein the shell parts ( 44 , 46 ) are provided in a sealing area ( 24 ) with a sealing liquid ( 22 ), wherein the measuring device ( 10 ) comprises an infrared camera ( 34 ) or a camera having an infrared filter, wherein the measuring device ( 30 , 32 ) detects a temperature or a temperature change of the sealing area ( 24 ) and/or of capsule sections adjacent to the sealing area ( 24 ).

2 . The pharmaceutical production facility ( 10 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutical production facility ( 10 ) comprises an evaluation unit ( 38 , 40 ), wherein the evaluation unit ( 38 , 40 ) is configured to automatically evaluate the temperatures and/or temperature changes detected by the measuring device ( 30 , 32 ).

3 . The pharmaceutical production facility ( 10 ) as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the pharmaceutical production facility ( 10 ) comprises a sealing device ( 16 ) for sealing the capsules ( 20 ) and a control unit ( 26 ), which specifies method parameters for a duration and/or amount and/or position of application of the sealing liquid ( 22 ) to a capsule ( 20 ).

4 . The pharmaceutical production facility ( 10 ) as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the control unit ( 26 ) communicates with the evaluation unit ( 38 , 40 ).

5 . The pharmaceutical production facility ( 10 ) as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the measuring device ( 30 ) is arranged above the sealing device ( 16 ) with respect to a direction of gravity ( 28 ).

6 . The pharmaceutical production facility ( 10 ) as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the measuring device ( 30 ) is arranged above the sealing device ( 16 ) with respect to a direction of gravity ( 28 ).

7 . The pharmaceutical production facility ( 10 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutical production facility ( 10 ) comprises a drying line ( 18 ), along which the capsules ( 20 ) are transported during drying of the sealing liquid ( 22 ).

8 . The pharmaceutical production facility ( 10 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a plurality of measuring devices ( 30 , 32 ) arranged spatially offset in relation to one another is provided, wherein the measuring devices ( 30 , 32 ) each have an infrared camera ( 34 ) or a camera having an infrared filter.

9 . The pharmaceutical production facility ( 10 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutical production facility ( 10 ) comprises a sealing device ( 16 ) for sealing the capsules ( 20 ) and a control unit ( 26 ), which specifies method parameters for a duration and/or amount and/or position of application of the sealing liquid ( 22 ) to a capsule ( 20 ).

10 . A method for monitoring sealing of capsules ( 20 ), wherein the capsules ( 20 ) have a capsule shell ( 42 ), which is formed by a first shell part ( 44 ) and a second shell part ( 46 ), wherein the shell parts ( 44 , 46 ) will be provided or are provided in a sealing area ( 24 ) with a sealing liquid ( 22 ), the method comprising:

a) detecting a temperature or a temperature change of the sealing area ( 24 ) and/or of capsule sections adjacent to the sealing area ( 24 ), and

b) evaluating the temperature or the temperature change.

11 . The method as claimed in claim 10 , wherein a detection according to step a) takes place during an application of sealing liquid ( 22 ) in the sealing area ( 24 ) and/or after the application of sealing liquid ( 22 ) in the sealing area ( 24 ).

12 . The method as claimed in claim 10 , wherein method parameters on a duration and/or amount and/or position of application of the sealing liquid ( 22 ) to a capsule ( 20 ) are adapted as a function of the temperature or temperature change detected according to step a).

13 . The method as claimed in claim 11 , wherein method parameters on a duration and/or amount and/or position of application of the sealing liquid ( 22 ) to a capsule ( 20 ) are adapted as a function of the temperature or temperature change detected according to step a).

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Jul 4, 2026
From: SYNTEGON TECHNOLOGY GMBH
To: SYNTEGON TECHNOLOGY GMBH
Reel/Frame 075893/0756 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 15, 2024
From: BRINZ, THOMAS; SCHÜTZ, STEPHANIE; STIRM, PHILIPP
To: SYNTEGON TECHNOLOGY GMBH
Reel/Frame 067414/0947 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2021 132 328.2 · Dec 8, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250268796A1 · Aug 28, 2025
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