Multicomponent and Multilayer Compacted Tablets

Abstract

Horizontally layered tablets, methods of making the horizontally layered tablets, and tableting equipment capable of producing the horizontally layered tablets are described. The horizontally layered tablets can be produced by simultaneously feeding a segregated flow of different compositions that form the respective layers of the tablet.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of making a tablet, the method comprising:
 simultaneously feeding a segregated flow of a first composition and a second composition to a tablet die defining a volume, the first composition forming a first section and the second composition forming a second section, the first section and the second section being oriented side-by-side in the tablet die; and simultaneously compressing the first section and the second section in the tablet die with sufficient pressure to form a single tablet body.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the segregated feed is simultaneously fed from a reciprocating feed device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the segregated feed provides an interface between the first section and the second section, the interface generally divides the tablet die volume. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first composition is a dry powder and the second composition is a dry powder. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises ejecting the single tablet body from the tablet die. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the single tablet body has a hardness in a range between about 10 to about 500 lb f . 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one from a group comprising the first composition and the second composition independently comprises a disinfectant, sanitizer, pH adjuster, buffer, hardness modifier, algaecide, corrosion inhibitor, scale inhibitor, dispersant, flocculent, clarifier, oxidizer/shock, sequestrant, chelant, emulsifier, demulsifier, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one from a group comprising the first composition and the second composition independently comprises a sanitizing composition, a shock composition, a clarifier composition, an algaecide composition, a pH or water hardness balancer composition, a corrosion control composition, a scale control composition, a cleaning composition, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first composition comprises trichloroisocyanuric acid, and the second composition comprises sodium dichloroisocyanuric acid. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first composition comprises trichloroisocyanuric acid, and the second composition comprises trichloroisocyanuric acid and a sodium or potassium salt of cyanuric acid. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the feeding step and the compressing step are performed under ambient temperature. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the segregated flow is oriented along a vertical axis and the first section and the second section are oriented side-by-side along a horizontal axis. 
     
     
         13 . A method of making a tablet, the method consisting of:
 simultaneously feeding a segregated flow of a first composition and a second composition to a tablet die defining a volume, the first composition forming a first section and the second composition forming a second section, the first section and the second section being oriented side-by-side in the tablet die; and simultaneously compressing the first section and the second section in the tablet die with sufficient pressure to form a single tablet body.