METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SOFT CAPSULE AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME

摘要

[PROBLEMS] To provide a novel process for capsule production in which a conventional rotary-die type automatic soft-capsule production technique which has been modified so as to have an enhanced drying ability is used to enable the water content of a capsule shell sheet to be regulated at will. [MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS] The process employs an apparatus which comprises: a sheet formation part in which a raw shell material in a molten state is formed into a shell sheet having an almost constant thickness; a capsule formation part in which the shell sheet is fed to the nip between a pair of die rolls to bond the shell sheet; and a filling supply part in which a filling is supplied to the shell sheet simultaneously with the bonding. By the process, a soft capsule comprising a shell part formed from the shell sheet and the filling covered with the shell part is produced. The process is characterized in that the sheet formation part has a dryer equipped with a medium-wavelength infrared heater, and that the shell sheet is irradiated with medium-wavelength infrared rays by the heater to regulate the shell sheet so as to have an almost constant thickness, moderate viscosity, and moderate water content and this sheet is fed to the capsule formation part.