Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
BASF Aktiengesellschaft O.Z. 0480/01154
Molding belt calender
The present invention relates to a machine and a process for pro-
5 ducing flat moldings, in particular tablets, from a product com-
position containing active ingredients.
A known process for producing tablets is melt calendering. A pro-
cess of this type is described, for example, in DE-A 17 66 546
10 and US-A 4,880,585. The principle of this process is the embed-
ding of an active ingredient in a melt of a carrier, for example
fatty substances or water-soluble, thermoplastic polymers. The
melt is produced by the mixture of active ingredient, polymer
and, where appropriate, other ancillary substances being melted,
15 for example in an extruder, and being shaped as melt in a down-
stream molding calender to tablets, which harden by cooling.!The
molding calender comprises a pair of counter-rotating molding
rolls which have on their surface engravings (depressions) which
correspond to the shape of one half of the required tablet. The
20 tablet molding takes place in the region of contact of the two
rolls by combination of the tablet compositions in the depres-
sions in one roll with those in the opposite depressions in the
other roll.
25 However, this process for producing tablets has disadvantages.
Thus, for example, construction of the rolls is very complicated.
The depressions are cut into the rolls and must in most cases be
subsequently polished in order to obtain a tablet surface of max-
imum smoothness. The production of such rolls is very costly be-
30 cause the depressions must be introduced with great precision.This is because the rolls must be adjusted so that two depres-
sions are always opposite as accurately as possible. This condi-
tion is particularly difficult to achieve when the depressions
are very small.
In addition, such a machine is inflexible because, for example,
if it is wished to produce different tablet shapes and/or sizes
with the same machine, this is possible only by complete replace-
ment of the rolls and elaborate readjustment. However, great
40 flexibility in respect of different tablet sizes and shapes is
required of machines for tablet production, especially in the
drugs sector.
It is an object of the present invention to indicate a machine
45 for producing tablets which, on the one hand, is less costly than
known machines, and, on the other hand, provides greater flexi-
CA 022323~3 1998-04-20
bility. It is also an object cf the invention to provide a
simple and flexible process for tablet production.
We have found that this object is achieved by a machine for
producing flat moldings from a product composition containing
an active ingredient, having at least one charging means for
supplying the product composition, at least one pair of rolls
consisting of two counter-rotatable calender rolls, where the
machine comprises a circulating molding belt, preferably as
continuous belt, which passes between the two rolls of a pair
of rolls, the molding belt having recesses on its surface to
receive the product composition.
The rolls are arranged so that they have, between their outer
surfaces, a slit-like passage. Moreover, the smallest distance
between the outer surfaces of the pair of rolls essentially
corresponds to the thickness of the molding belt. The product
composition is supplied, preferably as broad product ribbon,
parallel to the direction of movement of the molding belt to
the trough-like hollow between the two rolls. The molding belt
and product composition are passed further into the
increasingly narrow region between the calender rolls, with the
product composition being forced into the recesses in the
molding belt. The spacing between the rolls moreover
essentially determines the pressure exerted on the product
composition and thus the thickness of the moldings produced in
this way.
The use of a molding belt leads to a considerably greater
flexibility in the production of tablets. Different tablet
shapes or sizes can now be produced by merely exchanging the
molding belt in the machine, while the same pressure rolls can
be used for different tablet sizes. The machine can, moreover,
be produced at lower cost because the recesses in the molding
belt no longer have to be introduced with high precision
because only one recess is now necessary per tablet. Elaborate
~MENDED SHEET
CA 022323~3 1998-04-20
adjustment of components movable in opposite directions is
dispensed with.
Molding belts made of plastic are particularly economical, it
being possible to produce the recesses in them by molding. It
is, of course, necessary in this case to take care that the
plastic is dimensionally stable at the temperatures occurring
during the tablet production.
The apertures are preferably produced by punching; thereby it
is possible to produce any desired tablet shapes depending on
the punching tool used. The product composition forced into the
molds during the tablet production comes into contact with both
outer surfaces of the pair of calender rolls in this
embodiment, so that in this case the tablets which are produced
have two flat surfaces.
It is self-evident that the recesses or the apertures in the
molding belt are introduced in such a way that the product com-
position can be converted into the product moldings with minimumloss.
Recesses or apertures which are preferably used are those having
a circular, oval or hexagonal shape when viewed from above.
The apertures may also have, for example, bars on their periph-
eral surface which are produced by corresponding notches in the
punch shape, so that tablets with scores can be produced.
The molding belt can consist of any desired material, but prefer-
ably of metal, particularly preferably of steel, plastic or rub-
ber. If a molding belt of relatively rigid material is used, thethickness of the belt essentially corresponds to the desired
thickness of the tablets. Thicker tablet shapes thus require a
thicker belt which can, where appropriate, be in the form of an
articulated belt so that it can more easily be passed around the
AMENDED SHEET
CA 022323~3 1998-04-20
3a
deflecting rollers of the machine. However, it is also possible
to use molding belts of flexible material, which can then also be
thicker than the desired thickness of the tablets. In this case,
the molding belt is, in particular, thicker than the slit between
the calender rolls. When fed between the rolls, the molding belt
is increasingly compressed so that a different pressure can be
exerted on the tablet moldings depending on the distance apart of
the calender rolls.
The calender rolls preferably have smooth outer surfaces. If tab-
let moldings with an increased surface area are required, how-
ever, calender rolls whose surface has a certain roughness are
also conceivable, for example.
Temperature-controllable calender rolls are advantageously used.
This is because if a product composition which is plastic at high
temperature and becomes solid on cooling is used, it will be
preferable to employ cooled calender ro
P~MENDED SHEET
CA 022323~3 1998-04-20
BASF Aktie~gesellschaft O.Z. Og80/01154
product compositions which are plastic in the moist state and
solid in the dry state are also known, so that in this case heat-
able calender rolls will preferably be employed. The rolls are
accordingly used to cool or to dry the product composition. The
5 product composition is in thermal contact with these rolls for
different lengths of time depending on the diameter of the rolls.
The pressure rolls are all-purpose tools which are preferably
thermally conducting, stable to compressive force and inert to
the substances used. The distance between the rolls can be ad-
10 justed to produce different contact pressures.
In a simple embodiment, the machine has only one charging meansfor the product composition. However, it may also be desired to
produce, for example, multilayer tablets so that other embodi-
15 ments may also have a plurality of charging means which produce aplurality of product ribbons. The product ribbons can be supplied
simultaneously to one pair of rolls. However, it is also possible
to pass the molding belt through a plurality of pairs of rolls,
in which case the different product ribbons are supplied succes-
20 sively in the individual pairs of rolls. The distance between thepairs of rolls in this case will preferably be adjusted so that
the contact pressure is lowest for the first pair of rolls and
highest for the last pair of rolls. The tablets produced in this
way are then multilayer tablets.
However, it is also conceivable to coat tablets with a thin pro-
tective film, for example a diffusion-resistant polymer, to
achieve a specific release of active ingredient. It is possible
to produce protective films which dissolve, and release the ac-
30 tive ingredient, only under specific environmental conditions(for example in respect of pH or temperature). The coating can
also serve as taste mask or light stabilizer. If the complete
tablet is to be coated with a protective film, this will in
general be carried out in a separate subsequent step using known
35 coating processes. However, it is also possible according to the
invention to feed one or two film webs together with the melt
into the roll arrangement in such a way that the melt is located
between the two film webs. This results in tablets which are pro-
vided on their upper and/or lower side with suitable protective
40 films. The protective films on the upper and lower sides need not
be identical. In the case of multilayer tablets the protective
films may, for example, lead to a different release of active in-
gredient.
45 Extruders and/or heatable filling wedges are the preferred charg-
ing means used.
CA 022323~3 1998-04-20
BASF Aktiengesellschaft O.Z. 0480/01154
The machine according to the invention can be used to produce
tablets or pellet-like moldings continuously. The machine is ex-
tremely all-purpose because the basic roll equipment remains un-
changed and it is necessary to exchange only the molding belt.
5 Depending on the molding belt used and the dimensions of the re-
cesses or of the apertures, the range of products which can be
produced extends from very small pellet-like products to tablet
weights of 1 gram and more. The moldings have edge angles of gO
or less, which facilitates deflashing of the tablets, especially
10 with brittle product compositions. The apertures in the molding
belt are preferably spaced apart so that no formation of twinned
tablets occurs during production. Subsequent singling of the tab-
lets is therefore unnecessary.
15 The frictional coupling with a pressure roll drive means that a
separate drive of the molding belt is unnecessary. The length of
the molding belt can be varied within wide limits. It proves to
be particularly advantageous that this makes it possible to ex-
tend the residence time of the tablets in the molds as much as
20 required so that ejection of tablets which have not yet cooled
(not yet hardened) is avoided.
After leaving the calender roll, removal of the products from the
molding belt is possible in a simple manner through deflection of
25 the roller or, where appropriate, through use of a spiked roll.
This particularly applies to the case of molding belts with con-
tinuous apertures because in this case the tablets are accessible
from the upper and lower sides and can easily be pushed out of
the belt.
The flat moldings obtainable with the molding belt calender are
particularly suitable for use as tablets. Suitable in this con-
nection are, in particular, IR tablets, that is to say tablets
which release the active ingredient rapidly (instant release), SR
35 tablets, ie. tablets with slow release of active ingredient (slow
release), delayed action tablets, ie. tablets with delayed re-
lease of active ingredient, sublingual tablets whose active in-
gredients are absorbed through the oral mucosa and which are
therefore intended to dissolve "under the tongue , pastilles or
40 soluble tablets.
The tablets which can be produced in this way can be used, of
course, in the drugs sector or the food sector (eg. in the form
of vitamin tablets), but applications in crop protection and in
45 many industrial sectors are also conceivable.
CA 022323~3 1998-04-20
BASF Aktiengesellschaft O.Z. 0480/01154
The present invention also relates to a process for producing
flat moldings from a product composition containing an active in-
gredient, where a molding belt provided with recesses is passed
between the counter-rotating rolls of a pair of calender rolls,
5 at least one product strand consisting of the composition con-
taining active ingredient is formed, preferably as broad ribbon,
this product strand is supplied to the pair of rolls, with the
product composition being, when fed between the rolls of the pair
of rolls, forced into the recesses, and the moldings being re-
10 moved from the recesses after passing through the pair of rolls.The re~uired contact pressure with which the product composition
is compressed is fixed beforehand by adjusting the distance of
the two rolls apart. The distance apart of the rolls, ie. the
smallest distance between their outer surfaces, should preferably
15 not be larger than the thickness of the molding belt used. In the
case of a particularly elastic molding belt it is possible for
the slit between the rolls to be chosen to be distinctly smaller
than the thickness of the belt so that a higher pressure can be
exerted on the product composition.
In another embodiment of the process according to the invention,
the product ribbon is passed through a plurality of consecutive
pairs of rolls. It is also possible to form a plurality of dif-
ferent product strands which are supplied simultaneously to one
25 pair of rolls or successively to a plurality of pairs of rolls.
As a variant of this embodiment, a multilayer melt having the re-
quired sequence of layers of the later tablet even in the melt
can be produced by coextrusion.
30 The product composition is plastic when hot or when moist, de-
pending on the required tablet. Depending on the mode of produc-
tion, the pair of rolls will be either heated or cooled in order
to obtain, solid, dimensionally stable tablets.
35 The tablets are produced from a mixture which contains one or
more pharmaceutical active ingredients and one or more conven-
tional ancillary substances and which, owing to melting or soft-
ening of at least one component, becomes pasty or viscous and
therefore extrudable.
This comprises, in particular, mixtures which contain pharmaco-
logically acceptable polymers (with the glass transition tempera-
ture of the mixture being below the decomposition temperature of
all the components in the mixture)~ for example polyvinylpyrrol-
45 idone (PVP), copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone (NVP) and vinyl
acetate, copolymers of vinyl acetate and crotonic acid, partially
hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, ethylene/vinyl
CA 022323~3 1998-04-20
BASF Akt~engesellschaft O.z. 0480/01154
acetate copolymers, polyhydroxyethyl methacrylate, copolymers of
methyl methacrylate and acrylic acid, cellulose esters, cellulose
ethers, polyethylene glycol or polyethylene. The K values
(according to H. Fikentscher, Cellulose-Chemie 13 (1932), 58-64
5 and 71-74) of the polymers are in the range from 10 to 100,
preferably 12 to 70, in particular 12 to 35, and for PVP
preferably 12 to 35, in particular 12 to 17.
The polymeric binder must soften or melt in the complete mixture
10 of all the components in the range from S0 to 180, preferably 60
to 130 C, so that the composition is extrudable. The glass transi-
tion temperature of the mixture must therefore be below 180, pre-
ferably below 130, C. If necessary, it is reduced by conventional
pharmacologically acceptable plasticizing ancillary substances
15 such as long-chain alcohols, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol,
trimethylolpropane, triethylene glycol, butanediols, pentanols,
hexanols, polyethylene glycols, silicones, aromatic carboxylic
esters (eg. dialkyl phthalates, trimellitic esters, benzoic
esters, terephthalic esters) or aliphatic dicarboxylic esters
20 (eg. dialkyl adipates, sebacic esters, azelaic esters, citric and
tartaric esters) or fatty acid esters.
Examples of conventional pharmaceutical ancillary substances,
whose total amount can be up to 100 % of the weight of the poly-
25 mer, are
extenders or bulking agents, such as silicates or diatomaceousearth, magnesium oxide, aluminum oxide, titanium oxide, stearic
acid or salts thereof, eg. the magnesium or calcium salt, methyl-
30 cellulose, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, talc, sucrose, lactose,cereal starch or corn starch, potato flour, polyvinyl alcohol,
especially in a concentration of from 0.02 to 50, preferably 0.20
to 20, % of the total weight of the mixture;
35 lubricants such as aluminum and calcium stearates, talc and sili-
cones, in a concentration of from 0.1 to 5, preferably 0.1 to
3, % of the total weight of the mixture;
dyes, such as azo dyes, organic or inorganic pigments or dyes of
gO natural origin, with inorganic pigments being present in a con-
centration of from 0.001 to 10, preferably 0.5 to 3, % of the to-
tal weight of the mixture;
flow aids such as ~ni~l or vegetable fats, especially in hydro-
95 genated form and those which are solid at room temperature. These
fats preferably have a melting point of 50 C or above. Triglycer-
ides of Cl2, Cl4, Cl6 and Cl8 fatty acids are preferred. It is also
CA 022323~3 1998-04-20
BASF Aktiengesellschaft O.Z. 0480/01154
possible to use waxes such as carnauba wax. These fats and waxes
can advantageously be adrnixed alone or together with mono- and/or
diglycerides or phosphatides, especially lecithin. The mono- and
diglycerides are preferably derived from the abovementioned fatty
5 acid types. The total amount of fats, waxes, mono- and di-
glycerides and/or lecithins is from 0.1 to 30, preferably 0.1 to
5, % of the total weight of the composition for each layer;
stabilizers such as antioxidants, light stabilizers, hydroperox-
10 ide destroyers, radical scavengers and stabilizers against micro-
bial attack.
It is furthermore possible to add wetting agents, preservatives,
disintegrants, adsorbents, mold release agents and propellants
15 (cf., for example, H. Sucker et al., Pharmazeutische Technologie,
Thieme-Verlag, Stuttgart 1978).
Ancillary substances also mean for the purpose of the invention
substances for producing a solid solution with a pharmaceutical
20 active ingredient. Examples of these ancillary substances are
pentaerythritol and pentaerythritol tetraacetate, polymers such
as polyethylene and polypropylene oxides and their block copoly-
mers (poloxamers), phosphatides such as lecithin, homo- and co-
polymers of vinylpyrrolidone, surfactants such as polyoxyethylene
25 40 stearate, and citric and succinic acids, bile acids, sterols
and others as indicated, for example, in J. L. Ford, Pharm. Acta
Helv. 61 (1986) 69-88.
Also regarded as pharmaceutical ancillary substances are addi-
30 tions of bases and acids to control the solubility of an active
ingredient (see, for example, K. Thoma et al., Pharm. Ind. 51
(1989) 98-101).
The only prerequisite for suitability of ancillary substances is
35 an adequate thermal stability.
Pharmaceutical active ingredients for the purpose of the inven-
1_ion mean all substances with any pharmaceutical effect and mini-
rnal side effects as long as they do not decompose under the pro-
40 cessing conditions. The arnount of active ingredient per dose unitand the concentration may vary within wide limits depending on
t:he efficacy and rate of release. The only condition is that they
suffice to achieve the desired effect. Thus, the concentration of
active ingredient can be in the ranqe from 0.1 to 95, preferably
45 from 20 to 80, in particular 30 to 70, % by weight. It is also
possible to employ combinations of active ingredients, eg. ibu-
profen/caffeine. Active ingredients for the purpose of the inven-
CA 022323~3 1998-04-20
BASF Aktiengesellschaft O.Z. 0480~01154
tion are also vitamins and minerals, as well as crop treatment
agents and insecticides. The vitamins include the vitamins of the
A group, of the B group, by which is meant, besides ~1~ B2, B6 and
B12, and nicotinic acid and nicotinamide, also compounds with
5 vitamin ~ properties, such as adenine, choline, pantothenic acid,
biotin, adenylic acid, folic acid, orotic acid, pangamic acid,
carnitine, p-aminobenzoic acid, myo-inositol and lipoic acid, and
vitamin C, vitamins of the D group, E group, F group, H group, I
and J group, K group and P group. Active ingredients for the pur-
10 pose of the invention also include peptide therapeutic agents.
The process according to the invention is suitable for processingthe following active ingredients, for example:
15 acebutolol, acetylcysteine, acetylsalicylic acid, acyclovir,
alprazolam, alfacalcidol, allantoin, allopurinol, ambroxol,
amikacin, amiloride, a~inoacetic acid, amiodarone, amitriptyline,
amlodipine, amoxicillin, ampicillin, ascorbic acid, aspartame,
astemizole, atenolol, beclomethasone, benserazide, benzalkonium
20 hydrochloride, benzocaine, benzoic acid, betamethasone,
bezafibrate, biotin, biperiden, bisoprolol, bromazepam,
bromhexine, bromocriptine, budesonide, bufexamac, buflomedil,
buspirone, caffeine, camphor, captopril, carbamazepine,
carbidopa, carboplatin, cefachlor, cefalexin, cefatroxil,
25 cefazolin, cefixime, cefotA~i m~, ceftazidime, ceftriaxone,
cefuroxime, selegiline, chloramphenicol, chlorhexidine,
chlorpheniramine, chlortalidone, choline, cyclosporin,
cilastatin, cimetidine, ciprofloxacin, cisapride, cisplatin,
clarithromycin, clavulanic acid, clomibramine, clonazepam,
30 clonidine, clotrimazole, codeine, cholestyramine, cromoglycic
acid, cyanocobalamin, cyproterone, desogestrel, dexamethasone,
dexpanthenol, dextromethorphan, dextropropoxiphen, diazepam,
diclofenac, digoxin, dihydrocodeine, dihydroergotamine,
dihydroergotoxin, diltiazem, diphenhydramine, dipyridamole,
35 dipyrone, disopyramide, domperidone, dopamine, doxycycline,
enalapril, ephedrine, epinephrine, ergocalciferol, ergotamine,
erythromycin, estradiol, ethinylestradiol, etoposide, Eucalyptus
globulus, famotidine, felodipine, fenofibrate, fenoterol,
fentanyl, flavine-mononucleotide, fluconazole, flunarizine,
40 fluorouracil, fluoxetine, flurbiprofen, furosemide, gallopamil,
gemfibrozil, gentamicin, Ginkgo biloba, glibenclamide, glipizide,
clozapine, Glycyrrhiza glabra, griseofulvin, guaifenesin,
haloperidol, heparin, hyaluronic acid, hydrochlorothiazide,
hydrocodone, hydrocortisone, hydromorphone, ipratropium
45 hydroxide, ibuprofen, imipenem, indomethacin, iohexol, iopamidol,
isosorbide dinitrate, isosorbide mononitrate, isotretinoin,
ketotifen, ketoconazole, ketoprofen, ketorolac, labetalol,
CA 022323~3 1998-04-20
BASF Aktiengesellschaft O.Z. 0480/01154
.
lactulose, lecithin, levocarnitine, levodopa, levoglutamide,
levonorgestrel, levothyroxine, lidocaine, lipase, imipramine,
lisinopril, loperamide, lorazepam, lovastatin, medroxy-
progesterone, menthol, methotrexate, methyldopa, methylpredni-
5 solone, metoclopramide, metoprolol, miconazole, midazolam,
minocycline, minoxidil, misoprostol, morphine, multivitamin
mixtures or combinations and mineral salts, N-methylephedrine,
naftidrofuryl, naproxen, neomycin, nicardipine, nicergoline,
nicotinamide, nicotine, nicotinic acid, nifedipine, nimodipine,
10 nitrazepam, nitrendipine, nizatidine, norethisterone,
norfloxacin, norgestrel, nortriptyline, nystatin, ofloxacin,
omeprazole, ondansetron, pancreatin, panthenol, pantothenic acid,
paracetamol, penicillin G, penicillin V, phenobarbital,
pentoxifylline, phenoxymethylpenicillin, phenylephrine,
15 phenylpropanolamine, phenytoin, piroxicam, polymyxin B,
povidone-iodine, pravastatin, prazepam, prazosin, prednisolone,
prednisone, bromocriptine, propafenone, propranolol,
proxyphylline, pseudoephedrine, pyridoxine, quinidine, ramipril,
ranitidine, reserpine, retinol, riboflavin, rifampicin, rutoside,
20 saccharin, salbutamol, salcatonin, salicylic acid, simvastatin,
somatotropin, sotalol, spironolactone, sucralfate, sulbactam,
sulfamethoxazole, sulfasalazine, sulpiride, tamoxifen, tegafur,
teprenone, terazosin, terbutaline, terfenadine, tetracycline,
theophylline, thiamine, ticlopidine, timolol, tranexamic acid,
25 tretinoin, triamcinolone acetonide, triamterene, trimethoprim,
troxerutin, uracil, valproic acid, vancomycin, verapamil, vitamin
E, folinic acid, zidovudine.
Preferred active ingredients are ibuprofen (as racemate,
30 enantiomer or enriched enantiomer), ketoprofen, flurbiprofen,
acetylsalicylic acid, verapamil, paracetamol, nifedipine or
captopril.
In a few cases, solid solutions may form. The term nsolid solu-
35 tions" is familiar to the skilled person, for example from the
literature cited at the outset. In solid solutions of pharmaceu-
tical active ingredients in polymers, the active ingredient is
present in a molecular dispersion in the polymer.
gO The pharmaceutical mixture is then melted in a conventional way,
preferably in an extruder, and supplied to the molding belt cal-
ender as described, for example, in US-A 4,880,585. If necessary,
the tablets are cooled after the calendering, eg. in an air or
cooling bath.
CA 022323~3 1998-04-20
BASF Aktiengesellschaft O.Z. 0480/01154
.
11
In the case of sticky or highly viscous materials which are de-
tached from the mold only with difficulty or not at all, it is
expedient to use a mold release agent, for example a silicone oil
or a silicone paint.
Preferred embodiments of the machine according to the invention
are explained hereinafter by means of the appended drawing. In
this:
10 - Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic view of the molding belt calen-
der according to the invention,
- Figure 2 shows a detailed view in longitudinal section ac-
cording to a first embodiment of the molding belt which is
passed between the calender rolls of the machine from Fig-
ure 1,
- Figure 3 shows a view as in Figure 2 of a second embodiment
of the molding belt.
Figure 1 shows the molding belt calender 10 according to the in-
vention, with a molding belt 12 being passed between calender
rolls 14, 16 over deflecting rolls 18. An extruder 20 is used to
produce the plastic product composition, which is preferably pro-
25 duced as a wide product ribbon 22. The calender rolls 14, 16, themolding belt 12 and the product ribbon 22 preferably have essen-
tially the same width. The direction of circulation of the mold-
ing belt 12, and the direction of rotation of the rolls 14 and 16
are indicated by arrows. The product ribbon 22 is fed, parallel
30 to the direction of ~ovement of the molding belt 12, into the
trough-like depression 26 between the rolls 14 and 16.
The molding belt 12 has on its surface depressions 24 or aper-
tures 30 as depicted, in particular, in Figures 2 and 3.
Figure 2 shows a first embodiment of the machine according to the
invention, in which the molding belt 12 has depressions 24. Mold-
ing belt 12 and product composition 22 are passed together into
the increasingly narrow slit between the two rolls 14 and 16,
40 with the product composition 22 being forced into the recesses 24
of the molding belt 12. If, for example, the product composition
is supplied in a hot, plastic state, it is possible for at least
one of the rolls 14, 16 to be cooled so that the product composi-
tion cools down on passing between the rolls in the recesses 24,
45 resulting in solid moldings 28 which can subsequently be removed
from the recesses.
CA 022323~3 1998-04-20
BASF Aktiengesellschaft O.Z. 0480/01154
Figure 3 shows the same detail as Figure 2 of a molding belt cal-
ender according to the invention as shown in Figure 1, with the
molding belt 12 in Figure 3 having, according to another embodi-
ment of the invention, continuous apertures 30 into which the
5 product composition 22 is forced on passing between the rolls 14
and 16 of the machine. The moldings 28 produced in this case have
two smooth surfaces. The apertures 30 in the molding belt 12 are
preferably produced by punching out the molding belt. As is evi-
dent from Figure 3, the resulting moldings 28 have edge angles
10 which are essentially 90 . Any protruding product composition can
easily be deflashed in the case of tablets molded in this way.
CA 022323~3 1998-04-20
