Method and apparatus for manufacturing pharmaceutical cellulose capsules - drying the capsule

摘要

A method and apparatus for manufacturing pharmaceutical capsules use an aqueous solution of a thermogelling cellulose ether composition and use capsule body pins and capsule cap pins as molds. The method involves heating the pins, dipping the pins into the solution to cause the solution to gelatinize on the surface of the pins, removing the pins and drying the gelatinized solution on the surface of the pins to form capsule bodies and capsule caps. Counterflow air is applied to provide drying from the inside and the invention provides humid air to slow down the rate of drying and prevent the formation of capsule defects. The invention also includes indirect drying of the capsules by radiative heat and direct drying by heating of the pins. <IMAGE>