Injection wedge for rotary die system

Abstract

An injection wedge includes a housing having a first face and a second face. A first tube extends through the housing and is coupled to a first nozzle on the first face of the housing. A second tube extends through the housing and is coupled to a second nozzle on the second face of the housing. The first face of the housing is opposite the second face of the housing. The first nozzle and the second nozzle are angled away from a vertical axis of the injection wedge. The first tube and the second tube are adapted to carry a fill material to the first nozzle and the second nozzle for injection into die pockets formed onto surfaces of a pair of rotary die drums.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An injection wedge, comprising: 
 a housing having a first face and a second face;    a first tube extending through the housing and coupled to a first nozzle on the first face of the housing; and    a second tube extending through the housing and coupled to a second nozzle on the second face of the housing,    wherein the first face of the housing is opposite the second face of the housing, the first nozzle and the second nozzle are angled away from a vertical axis of the injection wedge, and the first tube and the second tube are adapted to carry a fill material to the first nozzle and the second nozzle for injection into die pockets formed onto surfaces of a pair of rotary die drums.    
     
     
         2 . The injection wedge according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing is triangular-shaped.  
     
     
         3 . The injection wedge according to  claim 1 , wherein the fill material is a colored fluid.  
     
     
         4 . The injection wedge according to  claim 1 , wherein the fill material is selected from the group consisting of a vitamin, a pharmaceutical, and a cosmetic.  
     
     
         5 . The injection wedge according to  claim 1 , wherein the fill material is a viscous fluid.  
     
     
         6 . The injection wedge according to  claim 1 , wherein the die pockets are semi-spherical die pockets.  
     
     
         7 . A rotary die system, comprising: 
 an injection wedge having a first face and a second face;    a first tube extending through the injection wedge and coupled to a first nozzle on the first face of the injection wedge;    a second tube extending through the injection wedge and coupled to a second nozzle on the second face of the injection wedge, wherein the first face of the injection wedge is opposite the second face of the injection wedge, the first nozzle and the second nozzle are angled away from a vertical axis of the injection wedge, and the first tube and the second tube are adapted to carry a fill material to the first nozzle and the second nozzle for injection; and    a pair of rotary die drums having semi-spherical die pockets formed onto surfaces thereof, wherein the pair of rotary die drums are adapted to receive encapsulating ribbons at the surfaces of each rotary die drum, and the first nozzle and the second nozzle are adapted to inject the fill material uniformly into the semi-spherical die pockets of the rotary die drums to form an encapsulated spheroid.    
     
     
         8 . The rotary die system according to  claim 7 , wherein the injection wedge is triangular-shaped.  
     
     
         9 . The rotary die system according to  claim 7 , wherein the fill material is a colored fluid.  
     
     
         10 . The rotary die system according to  claim 7 , wherein the fill material is selected from the group consisting of a vitamin, a pharmaceutical, and a cosmetic.  
     
     
         11 . The rotary die system according to  claim 7 , wherein the fill material within the encapsulated spheroid is evenly distributed therein.  
     
     
         12 . The rotary die system according to  claim 7 , wherein the fill material comprises a viscous fluid.  
     
     
         13 . The rotary die system according to  claim 7 , wherein the encapsulating ribbons comprise a thermoplastic linear polymer.  
     
     
         14 . The rotary die system according to  claim 13 , wherein the encapsulating ribbons have a thickness from about 0.005 to 0.040 inches.  
     
     
         15 . The rotary die system according to  claim 7 , wherein the encapsulated spheroid is a projectile.  
     
     
         16 . A method of producing an encapsulated spheroid, the method comprising: 
 providing a fill material to an injection wedge having a first face and a second face;    injecting the fill material from a first nozzle on the first face of the injection wedge and a second nozzle on the second face of the injection wedge, wherein the first face of the injection wedge is opposite the second face of the injection wedge, and the first nozzle and the second nozzle are angled away from a vertical axis of the injection wedge;    rotating a pair of rotary die drums having semi-spherical die pockets formed onto surfaces thereof, wherein the pair of rotary die drums are adapted to receive encapsulating ribbons at the surfaces of each rotary die drum, and the fill material is injected uniformly into the semi-spherical die pockets;    sealing the fill material with the encapsulating ribbons; and    cutting the encapsulated spheroid from the encapsulating ribbons.    
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the injection wedge is triangular-shaped.  
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the fill material is a colored fluid.  
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the fill material is selected from the group consisting of a vitamin, a pharmaceutical, and a cosmetic.  
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the fill material within the encapsulated spheroid is evenly distributed therein.  
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the fill material is a viscous fluid.  
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the encapsulating ribbons are a plastic material.  
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the encapsulating ribbons are a gelatin material.  
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the encapsulated spheroid is a projectile.