United States Patent:  6,066,335

Assignee:  Machoczek; Horst (Gleichen, DE)

Filed:  July 9, 1996

A method of producing mechanically stable effervescent tablets with a high dissolving velocity and an according effervescent tablet are described. The effervescent tablets consist of at least one active substance or of a combination of active substances, of at least one binder, of possibly carriers as sweeteners, flavors, colorings, scents, softeners, bleaches, and of sherbets. In producing, propylglycol or glycerin is used as a binder for the effervescent tablets, and the active substances or the combination of active substances and possibly carriers are mixed with the binder. Afterwards, the sherbets are added to this mixture in an air-conditioned room. Then, the mixture including the sherbets is formed into tablets.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a method of producing effervescent tablets which consist of at least one active substance or a combination of active substances, of at least one binder, possibly of carriers as sweeteners, flavours, colourings, scents, softeners and bleaches, and of sherbets, wherein propylglycol or glycerin is used as a binder, wherein the active substance or the combination of active substances and possibly the carriers are mixed with the binder, wherein the sherbets are added to this mixture in an air-conditioned room and wherein the mixture including the sherbets is formed into tablets.

Further, according to the invention there is provided a effervescent tablet consisting of at least one active substance or one combination of active substances, of at least one binder, possibly of carriers as sweeteners, flavours, colourings, scents, softeners and bleaches, and of sherbets, which comprise propylglycol or glycerin as a binder.

Propylglycol or glycerin as a binder are only needed in small amounts to achieve the wanted mechanical characteristics of the effervescent tablets and to keep the wanted dissolving attitude. Handling the binder propylglycol or glycerin is also very simple. It can be mixed with the active substance or with the combination of active substances and possibly with the carrier without destroying their tipping ability and thus their simple ability to be mixed with the sherbets. At the same time there is no danger that the binder could cause a loss of carbon dioxide of the sherbets.

The active substances to be used in the method and for the effervescent tablet according to the invention are not limited at all. They include, for example, calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron-II-gluconate, vitamin E, vitamin C, paracetamol, cimetidine, piracetam, acetylsalicyl acid, ambroxol, indomethacin and acetylcysteine or any other active substance.

The combination of substances to be used includes for example multi vitamins, multi vitamins with minerals, beta carotin with vitamin E and/or vitamin C, vitamin C with minerals, anionic and/or not-ionic tensides or other washing active substances. Also all combinations of active substances which can be orally taken in solving form can be used.

The possibly used carriers can be flavourings such as sweeteners, sugar substitutes, flavours or additional or alternate further carriers as colourings or scents. These carriers are well known by those of ordinary skill in the art. The definite choice depends on the wanted result, especially with respect to the taste of the dissolved effervescent tablets, and lies within the knowledge of those skilled in the art.

Those skilled in the art also know possible compositions of sherbets for the effervescent tablets. These sherbets consist of a base component and an acid component wherein especially the acid component also can be used as an active substance. One known example thereof is ascorbic acid (vitamin C). Usually, as base component sodium carbonate, sodium hydrogen carbonate, potassium carbonate, potassium hydrogen carbonate and calcium carbonate are used. As an acid component besides ascorbic acid mono sodium citrate, wine acid and/or citric acid can be considered.

Advantageously, the method according to the invention includes intensely mixing the active substance or the combination of active substances and possibly carriers with the binder before adding the sherbets, and directly forming a mixture including the sherbets into tablets. Advantageously, in case of both the method and the effervescent tablet according to the invention the amount of binder is in the range of 0.004 to 2.5% per weight of the whole effervescent tablets, especially in the range of 0.004 to 1.5% per weight of the whole effervescent tablets, and more especially in the range of 0.01 to 1.0% per weight of the whole effervescent tablets. Further, the amount of sherbets advantageously is in the range of 58 to 93% per weight of the whole effervescent tablets, and especially in the range of 70 to 90% per weight of the whole effervescent tablets.

An important advantage of the new method of producing the effervescent tablets is the small apparatus and the short time needed by equally great freedom concerning the used active substances or combination of substances. Thus, the method can be used to produce pharmaceutical effervescent tablets as well as diet effervescent tablets and tablets for washing, bathing and decalcifying.

Claim 1 of 15 Claims

1. A method of producing effervescent tablets, the tablets comprising at least one active substance and sherbets, said method comprising the steps of:

providing at least one active substance,

providing at least one binder, wherein the binder is a material selected from the group consisting of propylglycol and glycerin,

mixing the active substances with the binder in an atmosphere having a relative humidity of at least approximately 25% to form a first mixture,

adding sherbet to the first mixture in an atmosphere having a relative humidity of less than approximately 25% such that a second mixture is formed, the sherbet comprising a base component and an acid component, wherein the base component is a material selected from the group consisting of sodium carbonate, sodium hydrogen carbonate, potassium carbonate, potassium hydrogen carbonate, and calcium carbonate, and wherein the acid component is a material selected from the group consisting of ascorbic acid mono sodium citrate, wine acid and citric acid, and

forming the second mixture into tablets.

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