Patterns are often required to be printed on the surface of the capsule when customizing. Capsule printing includes linear printing, circular printing, two-color printing, directional printing, and the like.

However, printing defects may also occur during the capsule printing process. According to the standards of China Pharmaceutical Packaging Association, the printing defects of gelatin empty capsules can be divided into three types: serious defects, which refers to the defects that printed patterns (including texts and letters) cannot be distinguished; main defects, which refers to a defect that printed patterns can be identified, but the patterns are not clear or a defect with a reversed position; minor defect, which refers to a print defect that only affects the appearance.

Defect classification description
Serious Defects Unprinted No pattern on the capsule
Repeat printing Repeated printing on the capsule
Seriously incomplete printing The important part of the pattern is incomplete, resulting in unconfirmed or incorrect confirmation.
Major Defects Reverse The pattern on the cap and body is opposite to the specified direction
Blurred pattern The pattern is illegible, resulting in unclear patterns
Incorrect position More than a quarter of the pattern is covered by the cap after the final lock or the pattern on the cap is missing.
Ink point The ink dot on the capsule ＞ 0.5 mm
Ink mark The ink mark on the capsule ≥ 3 mm
Minor Defects Incomplete The text (letter) on the pattern is missing, but the pattern is identifiable (except for missing parts at the lock part).
Blurred pattern A part of the pattern is illegible, but the pattern is identifiable.
Incorrect position Less than a quarter of the pattern is covered by the cap after the final lock or the pattern on the cap is missing.
Ink point Capsule inking point size is between 0.3~0.5 mm
Ink mark 1mm≤ Ink mark on the capsule ＜ 3 mm

 

Referance: China Pharmaceutical Packaging Association