The Invention and Outcome of Manual Capsule Filling Machine - การประดิษฐ์เครื่องบรรจุแคปซูลด้วยมือและผลการนำไปใช้บรรจุเกลือแคปซูล

Abstract

          Extrable salt consumption as prescribed can disturb oral sensory perception. As such, it can be minimized by packing it in capsule. Without expensive commercially-available equipment, the process proved time consuming. Therefore the inventors attempted to create manually operated capsule filling machine and evaluated its outcome. The results showed that, the manual capsule filling machine was easy to use. All staffers (11 persons) were satisfied with significantly less time consuming of about 63.41 percent per capsule (p 0.000). The average weight of salt in 300 salt capsules was 0.78 g. (13 mEq) and 2.6 times of the weight of a salt tablet sold in the market (0.3 g.,5 mEq). The machine was reliabl (salt capsules with weight difference from average weight were within the acceptable range of ± 0.050 g.and SD 0.023 g.). The machines was affordable at only 250 baht each. The limitations of the machine was to cap the capsule individually. In conclusion, The manual capsule filling machine could be made, under the normal set-up of any general hospital, and reasonably cheap. It was easy to use and reduced working hours. The weight of the salt capsules were within a reliable range. It also could be used for drugs and herbs.

Key words: manual capsule filling machine, salt capsule