Capsule filling

Methods of Capsule filling

1. Capsule filling Techniques Mr. Sahebrao S. Boraste Assistant Professor Sir Dr. M.S.Gosavi College of Pharmacy, Nashik-05

2. 2 Filling of Hard Gelatin Capsule shells The process of working includes : Rectification Separating the caps from empty capsules Filling the bodies Scraping the excess powder Replacing the caps Sealing the capsules Cleaning the outside of the filled capsules

3. 3 Rectification The empty capsules are oriented so that all point the same direction i.e. body end downwards In general, capsule pass one at a time through a channel just wide enough to provide grip at cap end The capsules will always be aligned body end downwards, regardless of which end entered the channel first with the help of specially designated blades

4. 4 Separation of caps from body The rectified capsules are delivered body end first into the upper portion of split bushings or split filling rings A vacuum applied from below pulls the body down into the lower portion of the split bushing The diameter of the bush is too large to allow them to follow body The split bushings are separated to expose the bodies for filling

5. 5 Filling Filling of powder in to capsule body takes place by following methods Plate method Auger feed method Dosater feed method Vacuum filling. Dosing disc & tamping finger method

6. Plate method: In this method powder of uniform density is spread over the capsule bodies to fill them completely. The excess powder remaining after capsule filling is removed & caps are replaced. The machine use vibrations to fill the powder

7. 2 . Auger feed method : It is modification of plate method. Auger is a device located in powder hopper. A agitater is a material used to feed material to the auger which in turn feeds powder to capsule body. Auger transfer powder to capsule body due to mechanical movement.

8. 3. Dosater feed method : This is widely used mechanism. It consist of dosing tube containing spring loaded piston inside. The internal volume can be changed by movable piston inside. The doster tube is plunged in powder bed & material enters the tube to form plug of powder. This assembly is then raised & positioned over capsule body. When piston is lowered the powder plug is ejected in to capsule body. Examples of machines: MG2, Zanasi , Macofar , farmatic

9. 4. Dosing disc & tampering finger method: Here the disc has series of accurately filled drilled holes. The powder is set of metal rods which are lowered in to holes through powder bed.

10. At each tap the fingers push the material in to holes before they go to next position . At the sixth position the plug is pushed in to capsule body . Filled weight can be varied by adjusting thickness of dosing disc, movement of tamping finger & pressure applied on tamping fingers.

11. 5. Vacuum Fill ( Accofill ) Peery industries developed a method using vacuum to fill powders in vials by technique called Accofill . The powder is drawn in to dosater by suction. This material is held in its place by vacuum until dosater tube is positioned over capsule body. After positioning over capsule body the powder is ejected by releasing vaccum . Example: perry capsule filling machine

12. Tamper evident capsules by sealing the joint between the 2 capsule parts Distinctive looking capsules by sealing them with colored band of gelatin ( Kapseals ). If removed, the band cannot be restored without expert sealing with gelatin Through a heat welding process that fuses the capsule cap to the ring around the capsule where heat welded. Capsule may also be sealed through a heat welding process that fuse capsule cap to the body . Lightly coating the inner surface of the cap with a warm gelatin solution immediately prior to placement on the filled capsule body. Example : Weld’s gelatin seal Capsule sealing

13. Thank you