Abstract: An apparatus for electrostatically applying a powder material to a solid dosage from includes a source (1) of charged powder material, a support assembly (2) for supporting the solid dosage form (3) with a front face in the vicinity of the source of powder material and facing the source of powder material, the support assembly (2) including an electrically conducting member (5) in the vicinity of the rear face of the solid dosage form and an electrically conducting shield (8) disposed closely around the solid dosage from (3) between the front face and the rear face of the solid dosage form, and means (4) for creating a potential difference between the source of powder material and the electrically conducting member and for maintaining the electrically conducting shield at a potential more similar to that of the source of powder material than to that of the electrically conducting member.

Abstract: In a method of electrostatically applying a powder material to a solid dosage form, charged powder material is applied to a photoconductive drum (3), is transferred to an intermediate belt (4) and then to a solid dosage form (5). The belt (4) makes contact with the solid dosage form (5).

Abstract: A method of electrostatically applying a powder material to a solid dosage form comprises the following steps: applying a bias voltage to generate an electric field between a source (1) of the powder material and the solid dosage form (5); applying an electrostatically charged powder material to the solid dosage form (5), the powder material being driven onto the solid dosage form (5) by the interaction of the electric field with the charged powder material, an the presence of the charged powder material on the solid dosage form serving to build up an electric charge on the solid dosage form (5) and thereby reduce the electric field generated by the bias voltage between the source (1) of powder material and the solid dosage form (5), and continuing the application of the electrostatically charged powder material to the solid dosage form (5) until the electric field between the source (1) of powder material and the solid dosage form is so small that the driving of the powder material by the electric field onto

Abstract: In a method of electrostatically applying a powder material to a solid dosage form, charged powder material is applied to a photoconductive drum (3), is transferred to an intermediate belt (4) and then to a solid dosage form (5). The belt (4) makes contact with the solid dosage form (5).

Abstract: A method for making confectionery products and an apparatus for use in the method. The method involves dissolving confectionery-based ingredients in water to provide a confectionery-based slurry and concentrating the slurry by applying the slurry onto a first hot surface having a first temperature to remove moisture from the slurry, scraping the slurry from the first surface to move the slurry onto a second hot surface having a second temperature to remove additional water from the slurry and provide a concentrated slurry having a final solids content, and scraping the concentrated slurry from the second surface after the desired total solids content is obtained. The concentrated slurry can then be formed into a confectionery product. The method is economical, clean, and may be used to prepare a wide variety of confections.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for depositing confectionery into a mold. The device includes a piston member for discharging in a stroke a confectionery mass into the mold; a valve for cutting off the stroke to stop the discharge; and a nozzle having an outlet portion of reduced diameter. The piston member can have an operative stroke profile comprising a velocity that increases during the stroke. Additionally, the valve may move relative to the nozzle during cut-off and can have a starting cut-off motion magnitude of at least 400 mm/sec. The invention eliminates the tailing problems and can improve the accuracy and repeatability of weights during deposition.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for making confectionery products and an apparatus for use in the method. The apparatus includes a hopper for mixing the ingredients of a confectionery mix with water to provide a confectionery-based slurry, a device to deliver the confectionery-based slurry from the hopper to a scrape evaporator, and a scrape evaporator. The scrape evaporator includes at least a substantially cylindrical upper cooking section having a first surface at a first temperature for receiving the slurry from the hopper and first scrapers. The first scrapers remove the slurry from the first surface and urge the slurry towards a substantially cylindrical lower cooking section having a second surface at a second temperature and second scrapers.