Abstract: A vibrating feeder provided with a feeder ball 14a having a circular bottom wall and a conveyance path formed along the periphery of the bottom wall 141a; a feeder body 16a supporting the feeder ball 14a so as to apply torsional vibration and conveying substance supplied on the bottom wall 141a along the conveyance path; and a main body supporting member for supporting the feeder body; the conveyance path comprising an ascending rail and descending rail disposed in the downstream of the ascending rail in the conveyance direction; the main body 18a supporting member supporting the feeder body 16a on a horizontal floor so that a torsion axis C, which becomes the center of the torsional vibration, is inclined relative to the vertical direction; the ascending rail and descending rail conveying the conveyed objects upwardly or downwardly relative to the horizontal direction while the feeder body being supported by the horizontal floor via the main body supporting member.

Abstract: A plurality of flat tablets are held in containing holes (211) by pinching the circumferential edge of the flat tablet (t) at the lowermost position at the lower end of the containing hole, and then pinching state of the tablet (t) at the lowermost position is released thus dropping the plurality of flat tablets (t) under a flat state into a capsule body (m) arranged below. The capsule body can be surely filled with a predetermined number of flat tablets under a flat state by preventing occurrence of flat tablets under a standing state effectively.

Abstract: A powder compression molding machine is configured such that a plurality of lower and upper punches 61, 41 are allowed to enter a plurality of through-die holes 31 provided in first and second molding die sections 32, 33 of a slide plate 3 in a compression molding zone 21 to compressively mold powder and the slide plate 3 is slid to push out compacts downward and collect them in compact discharge zones 22a, 22b. Even when powder is compressively molded at a low compression force into solids having high porosity, compacts can satisfactorily be molded and collected without crumblingness, the compacts having sufficient high porosity and being dissolvable in water or the like.

Abstract: A method is provided for the production of hard capsules having a low moisture content and low hygroscopicity, as well as a method for reducing the moisture content and hygroscopicity of hard capsules produced by a gel cooling process using, as principal components, a water-soluble cellulose compound and a gelling agent. The hard capsules have a water-soluble cellulose compound, gelling agent, and, if necessary, a gelling aid that has loss on drying, after 10 days of storage at 25° C. and a relative humidity of 53%, of less than 6% by weight. Such a hard capsule can be produced by heating a gelled capsule film to 50-150° C. before, after, or simultaneously with a drying step after a gelling step in a gel-cooling process for producing a hard capsule having a water-soluble cellulose compound and a gelling agent as principal components.

Abstract: A test object carrying device for use in an appearance inspection device for checking the appearance of the test objects, which includes a back/front reversal means 23 for turning over the test objects being conveyed by the forward conveying means 21 and supplying them to the returning means 22a; the back/front reversal means is provided with a first drum 231a for rotating and conveying the test objects being conveyed by the forward conveying means 21 while holding the test objects on the peripheral surface thereof, and a second drum 232 for rotating and conveying the test objects being conveyed by the first drum 231a while holding the test objects on the peripheral surface thereof; wherein at least one of the first drum 231a and the second drum 232 is structured so that the test objects are transferred in parallel to the forward conveying means 21 and returning means 22a by rotating and conveying the test objects while holding them on the peripheral surface thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a film composition containing caramel (Caramel I, II, III or IV) as a brown colorant, particularly a film composition containing a water-soluble cellulose derivative as a base component and suitably used for a capsule base, the film composition ensuring high degree of transparency because of the suppression of caramel aggregation. The present invention also provides a method for preparing the brown film composition. The present invention is enforced by adjusting pH of an aqueous solution in forming a film composition, which is obtained by solidification of an aqueous solution containing a water-soluble cellulose derivative and caramel, to a predetermined range using a pH adjuster.

Abstract: The present invention provides a non-transparent film composition that has light-shielding properties and can thereby maintain the stability and quality of products, such as formulations, for a long period of time; and formulations using this film composition, and particularly filled capsules. The non-transparent film composition contains a water-soluble metal compound containing at least one metal selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, aluminium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, strontium, and barium; and a water-soluble cellulose derivative. The non-transparent film composition is preferably prepared by: spreading an aqueous solution containing a water-soluble cellulose derivative and a water-soluble metal compound containing a monovalent, divalent or trivalent metal into a film- or sheet-like form; and heating the solution at a temperature of 60° C. or higher to obtain the film composition by drying and solidification.

Abstract: The present invention provides a band seal for hard capsules filled with PEG, particularly a low-molecular-weight PEG, PEG 200 to 600, the band seal being capable of effectively preventing content leakage through the gap between the body and cap of the capsule; and a liquid for preparing the band seal. The present invention further provides a hard capsule filled with PEG, particularly a low-molecular-weight PEG, PEG 200 to 600, the filled capsule being prevented content leakage through the gap between the body and cap of the capsule. The band seal can be prepared using a polyvinyl alcohol, a polyvinyl alcohol copolymer, or a mixture thereof as a main component.

Abstract: The present invention provides a film or a sheet-like moisture indicator that allows one to visually recognize moisture by changing from a non-transparent color such as white to transparent when it is moistened. The present invention also provides a film or a sheet-like time indicator that allows one to visually recognize the passage of a predetermined length of time by becoming transparent when it is moistened. The indicator of the invention has a water-soluble, non-transparent layer formed of a non-transparent, dry film composition, which comprises a water-soluble cellulose derivative, as well as a water-soluble compound containing at least one metal selected from the group consisting of monovalent, divalent, and trivalent metals. The indicator may further comprise, on the water-soluble, non-transparent layer, a water-soluble transparent layer, a water-insoluble support layer, and/or an attachment layer (an adhesive layer and a release paper therefor) for attaching the indicator to a test target.

Abstract: A hard capsule comprising a water-soluble cellulose derivative as a base material, characterized in that the water-soluble cellulose derivative is formulated with one or two or more compound(s) selected from polyvinylpyrrolidones, copolymers of vinylpyrrolidone with vinyl acetate, and polyethylene glycols having a weight-average molecular weight of 400 to 100,000. The hard capsule is easy to detach the cap part from the body part and facilitates the contents to be filled therein.

Abstract: The capsule filling-sealing apparatus in accordance with the present invention comprises a filling unit in which various mechanisms for carrying out filling processing for empty capsules are functionally disposed, a sealing unit for securely sealing filled capsules, and a connection unit for transferring the filled capsules from the filling unit to the sealing unit, wherein the filling unit, the connection unit and the sealing unit are disposed organically and integrated substantially, and the sealing processing is carrying out sequentially after the filling processing on the same production line without requiring unnecessary storage and transfer after the filling processing for capsules.

Abstract: A counting and feeding apparatus for small article, characterized in that tablets are fed intermittently from a feeding means (2) to the outer peripheral surface of a transfer drum (1) multiple pieces at a time and suckingly held on the outer peripheral surface of the transfer drum (1), a plurality rows of tablets orderly arranged along the circumferential direction of the drum are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the transfer drum (1) and transferred, one tablet is inputted from each of the rows into a temporary reservation means at a specified transfer position, and these steps are repeated specified times, whereby the tablets can be counted for each row, and the specified quantity of tablets can be reserved in the temporary reservation means and then fed to containers or a packing mechanism section.

Abstract: A weight selecting apparatus capable of automatically performing calibration, and providing a weight selecting apparatus capable of certainly carrying objects to be inspected with a relatively simple mechanism and performing weight measurement of the objects. The objects, after being subjected to weight measurement by a first weighing unit 2, are sampled by a sampler 5, and those of the objects thus sampled are subjected to weight measurement by a second weighing unit 6. A calibration unit compares, for the same object, the measured result with that obtained by the first weighing unit 2 and discriminates whether or not a difference therebetween is within a specific error range, to perform calibration of the first weighing unit 2. Further, as a carrier 3 for carrying the objects to the weighing unit 2 one by one uses an intermittently rotatable carrying roller 32 having in its outer peripheral surface portion a plurality of carrying pockets 321.

Abstract: A defective capsule removing mechanism is provided wherein a defective capsule discharging window is provided for a capsule pocket and the capsule pocket, is subject to suction through the discharging window so that a cap or a body of a coupling defective capsule is drawn into the defective capsule discharging window in a rolling manner from one end side directed forwardly and then discharged to the outside of the capsule pocket.

Abstract: An apparatus for inspecting the side surfaces of tablets is configured such that images of the side surfaces of tablets are picked up by making the tablets held in holding pockets of an outer cylinder roll on a continuously rotating inner cylinder and thereby rotate on their axes, whereby the images of the side surfaces of the tablets can be picked up in a state in which the tablets stably rotate on their axes in upright states, so that the side surfaces of the tablets can be easily, accurately inspected.

Abstract: A cellulose ether film is formed of a composition comprising a cellulose ether as a base in which some of the hydrogen atoms of cellulosic hydroxyl groups are replaced by alkyl groups and/or hydroxyalkyl groups, a gelling agent, and a gelling aid. The total content of alkoxyl and hydroxyalkoxyl groups in the cellulose ether is limited to 23-37.6% by weight, which is effective for preventing the gelling aid from precipitating out and maintaining a favorable outer appearance during long-term storage.

Abstract: The invention provides a weight selecting apparatus capable of automatically performing calibration, and provides a weight selecting apparatus capable of certainly carrying objects to be inspected with a relatively simple mechanism and performing weight measurement of the objects. The objects, after being subjected to weight measurement by a first weighing unit 2, are sampled by a sampler 5, and those of the objects thus sampled are subjected to weight measurement by a second weighing unit 6. A calibration unit compares, for the same object, the measured result with that obtained by the first weighing unit 2 and discriminates whether or not a difference therebetween is within a specific error range, to perform calibration of the first weighing unit 2. Further, as a carrier 3 for carrying the objects to the weighing unit 2 one by one, there is used an intermittently rotatable carrying roller 32 having in its outer peripheral surface portion a plurality of carrying pockets 321.

Abstract: A capsule filling machine is provided which is characterized in that contents substance m is force fed into a body B accommodated and held in a body pocket 221 using a force feeding screw 33 to fill the contents substance m.

Abstract: A defective capsule removing mechanism is provided wherein a defective capsule discharging window is provided for a capsule pocket and the capsule pocket, is subject to suction through the discharging window so that a cap or a body of a coupling defective capsule is drawn into the defective capsule discharging window in a rolling manner from one end side directed forwardly and then discharged to the outside of the capsule pocket.

Abstract: The invention provides a weight selecting apparatus capable of automatically performing calibration, and provides a weight selecting apparatus capable of certainly carrying objects to be inspected with a relatively simple mechanism and performing weight measurement of the objects. The objects, after being subjected to weight measurement by a first weighing unit 2, are sampled by a sampler 5, and those of the objects thus sampled are subjected to weight measurement by a second weighing unit 6. A calibration unit compares, for the same object, the measured result with that obtained by the first weighing unit 2 and discriminates whether or not a difference therebetween is within a specific error range, to perform calibration of the first weighing unit 2. Further, as a carrier 3 for carrying the objects to the weighing unit 2 one by one, there is used an intermittently rotatable carrying roller 32 having in its outer peripheral surface portion a plurality of carrying pockets 321.