(57) An apparatus and method for forming hard shell gelatin capsules. The apparatus is
the type that includes a container for holding liquid gelatin therein, and a plurality
of separate and distinct rigid bars are provided to rigidly support a plurality of
upright pins. The pins are shaped and sized to have individual halves of the capsules
formed thereon. Apparatus is provided for dipping a preselected number of adjacent
bars with the pins thereon into the liquid gelatin. The gelatin is dried on the pins
that are carried on the bars. The capsules are stripped from the pins. A drive operates
the dipping system, the drying system, and the stripping system at a selected speed,
when five of the bars are dipped simultaneously into the liquid gelatin. The improvement
in the apparatus and process involves dipping six or more of the bars simultaneously,
into the liquid gelatin, and providing drive means that operates at least the stripping
means at a speed which is at least twenty percent greater than the selected speed
when the apparatus utilizes a five bar dip.
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