A METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING A CAPSULE

A method and corresponding apparatus for manufacturing a capsule (12) for holding a substance (14,130) which is required to be held in hermetic isolation, the method including the steps of: providing a first capsule portion (2) of flexible material for holding the substance (14), the first capsule portion (2) having a closed end (5), an opposed open end (6) and a predetermined length dimension defined between the ends (5,6) thereof; providing a second capsule portion (4) of flexible material having a closed end (7), an opposed open end (8) and a predetermined length dimension defined between the ends (7,8) thereof, which is shorter than the length dimension of the first capsule portion (2); at least partially filling the first capsule portion (2) with the substance (14); inserting the closed end (7) of the second capsule portion (4) into the open end (6) of the first capsule portion (2) such that a region of the second capsule portion (4) overlaps a region of the first capsule portion (2) so as to close off the open end (6) of the first capsule portion (2) and define a chamber (104) within which the substance (14) is held, wherein a gas-tight chamber (56) is provided in order to achieve a controlled gaseous environment within the chamber (56), the method including locating the first and second capsule portions (2, 4) within the chamber, applying a partial vacuum to the chamber (56) thereby to reduce gas pressure within the chamber (56) to a sub-atmospheric pressure and inserting the closed end (7) of the second capsule portion (4) into the open end (6) of the first capsule portion (2) while in the chamber (56) under sub-atmospheric gas pressure conditions.