Capsule Filling Machines (Encapsulators)

Encapsulators, also called capsule fillers, capsule filling machines or encapsulation machines are mechanical devices commonly used for industrial and pharmaceutical purposes. These machines are used to fill empty soft or hard gelatin capsules of various sizes with powders, granules, semi-solids or liquids substances containing active pharmaceutical ingredients or a mixture of active drug substances and excipients. This process of filling empty capsules with substances is termed encapsulation.

Operating principles of a capsule filling machine

Capsule filling machines should all have the following operating principles in common.

1. Rectification (orientation of the bad gelatin capsules).

2. Separation of capsule caps from bodies.

3. Dosing of fill material/formulation (filling the bodies).

4. Rejoining of caps and bodies

5. Ejection of filled capsules.

Types of capsule filling machines

Various types of encapsulation machines are available and these machines are selected based on

1. The requirement of the manufacturer/nature of the capsule (hard capsule or soft capsule).

2. The quantity of capsule to be manufactured.

Encapsulators used in encapsulation of hard gelatin capsule can be classified or said to be of three types.

1. Manual /hand operated capsule filling machine.

2. Semi-Automatic capsule filling machine.

3. Automatic capsule filling machine.