Continuous encapsulation and device therefor

Claim 1

The process of claim 1 wherein the solution is aqueous.

Claim 4

A device for continuously manufacturing minute capsules, in operation, comprising: a. a capsule manufacturing conduit having a plurality of spaced-apart material introduction ports and only a single exit port and having introduced sequentially along the conduit and flowing therethrough in a turbulent, steady-state manner, an aqueous solution of polymeric capsule wall material, substantially water insoluble intended capsule core material and liquid-liquid phase separation-inducing material to yield an intimate mixture of encapsulating components, wherein the introduction ports each comprise a tee with a cross-bar and a leg positioned to yield a bend in the conduit of greater than 45* to enhance turbulent flow, an incoming main stream being conducted into the leg, an exiting main stream being conducted out one end of the cross-bar, and a reduced-diameter induction needle for introduction of each capsule manufacturing component located concentric with the other end of the cross-bar, extending inward to just beyond the bend in the conduit and with an incoming additive stream being conducted through the needle and into the turbulent main stream; and b. pumping means operatively attached to the conduit and maintaining substantially steady-state flow in the conduit at a rate such that: (i) DV Rho / Mu is greater than 4,000 where D is the conduit diameter, V is the velocity of a cross-section front of the vehicle moving through the conduit, Rho is the density of the vehicle and Mu is the viscosity of the vehicle; and (ii) DV Rho / Mu is less than 4,000 where D is the capsule diameter, V is the velocity of an individual capsule moving through the conduit, Rho is the density of the capsules and Mu is the viscosity of the ungelled capsule wall; whereby the intimate mixture is conducted through the conduit and minute capsules leave the conduit and at any given cross-sectional location in the conduit the conditions are constant as a function of time.

Claim 5

A device for continuously manufacturing minute capsules at a rapid rate in a liquid capsule manufacturing vehicle comprising: a. a closed conduit having a plurality of sequentially spaced introduction ports to receive components of an encapsulating system and an exit port for release of capsules and the vehicle, said conduit having a length of more than 10 feet, an inside diameter of less than 1 inch and a substantially constant cross-section, wherein the introduction ports each comprise a tee with a cross-bar and a leg positioned to yield a bend in the conduit of greater than 45* to enhance turbulent flow, an incoming main stream being conducted into the leg, an exiting main stream being conducted out one end of the cross-bar, and a reduced-diameter induction needle for introduction of each capsule manufacturing component located concentric with the other end of the cross-bar, extending inward to just beyond the bends in the conduit and with an incoming additive stream being conducted through the needle and into the turbulent main stream; and b. pumping means sealed to ports of the conduit to maintain substantially turbulent flows and substaNtially steady-state conditions in the conduit such that: (i) DV Rho / Mu is greater than 4,000 where D is the conduit diameter, V is the velocity of a cross-section front of the vehicle moving through the conduit, Rho is the density of the vehicle and Mu is the viscosity of the vehicle; and (ii) DV Rho / Mu is less than 4,000 where D is the capsule diameter, V is the velocity of an individual capsule moving through the conduit, Rho is the density of the capsules and Mu is the viscosity of the ungelled capsule wall.