# US 2018/0021994 A1 · Moulding assembly and method for producing a syringe body > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0021994 A1 - Document ID: US20180021994A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/546,491 - Filed: 2016-02-05 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2015-02-06 - Assignees: Aptar France SAS - Applicants: Aptar France SAS - Inventors: Thierry HUBERT; Vincent HEBERT; Olivier HIS - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180021994A1 ## CPC - B29C 45/14065: {Positioning or centering articles in the mould} - B29C 45/04: using movable moulds {or mould halves}(B29C45/08 takes precedence) - B29C 45/14008: {Inserting articles into the mould (B29C45/14827 takes precedence)} - B29C 45/14336: {Coating a portion of the article, e.g. the edge of the article (B29C45/14573 and B29C45/14598 take precedence)} - B29C 45/14598: {Coating tubular articles} - B29K 2705/00: Use of metals, their alloys or their compounds, for preformed parts, e.g. for inserts - B29L 2031/7544: {Injection needles, syringes} - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS - B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES ## Abstract A molding assembly for manufacturing a syringe barrel, each syringe barrel provided with a cannula and having a cylindrical portion and a hub portion to which the cannula is fastened. A mold unit is provided having a first mold portion, a second mold portion axially movable relative to the first mold portion between an open position and a closed position, and a core situated in the mold cavity; and a clip unit for the cannula movable between an open position in which a cannula can be loaded in a proximal axial end of the clip, and a closed position. The clip unit is axially movable so as to arrange a cannula in the mold cavity, the movement of the clip being independent of the axial movement of the first and second mold portions between the open and closed positions of the mold unit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A molding assembly for manufacturing at least one syringe barrel, each syringe barrel being provided with a cannula, each syringe barrel comprising a cylindrical portion and a hub portion to which said cannula is fastened, the molding assembly being characterized in that it comprises: at least one mold unit, each mold unit comprising a first mold portion, a second mold portion that is axially movable relative to said first mold portion between an open position and a closed position in which said first and second mold portions co-operate with each other to define a mold cavity between them, and a core that is situated in said mold cavity so as to define the shape of said syringe barrel; and at least one clip unit for clipping the cannula, each clip unit comprising a clip that is movable between an open position in which a cannula can be loaded in a proximal axial end of said clip, and a closed position in which said cannula is held in said clip, said clip unit being axially movable relative to said mold unit so as to arrange a cannula in said mold cavity, the movement of said clip between its open and closed positions being independent of the axial movement of said first and second mold portions between the open and closed positions of said mold unit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A molding assembly according to claim 1, wherein Each clip unit includes an actuator element that is axially movable between a closed position and an open position, said actuator element being adapted to move said clip between said closed and open positions. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A molding assembly according to claim 2, wherein said actuator element includes a frustoconical proximal axial end that co-operates with a distal axial end of said clip, said distal axial end of said clip having a hollow conical shape that is complementary to said frustoconical proximal axial end of said actuator element, such that axial movement of said actuator element causes radial movement of said clip between said closed and open positions. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) A molding assembly according to claim 2, including at least one control member, such as a jack, that co-operates with said actuator element of said at least one clip unit, so as to move said actuator element between its closed and open positions. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) A molding assembly according to claim 2, wherein each clip is urged resiliently towards its closed position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A molding assembly according to claim 1, further comprising at least one cannula-loading unit that is adapted to load a respective cannula into a respective clip unit. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A molding assembly according to claim 6, wherein said at least one clip unit is mounted on a pendular arm that is adapted to move said at least one clip unit transversally, in particular by pivoting, between a cannula-loading first position in which said at least one cannula-loading unit loads a respective cannula in said at least one clip unit, and a molding second position in which said at least one clip unit is adapted to arrange said cannula in a respective mold unit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A molding assembly according to claim 7, wherein said molding assembly includes two mold units, two cannula-loading units, and four clip units, said four clip units being mounted in pairs on said pendular arm, such that there is always one clip unit facing each cannula-loading unit and each mold unit). ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A molding assembly according to claim 8, wherein said molding assembly further includes control members, each of which co-operates with a first clip unit in said cannula-loading first position of said pendular arm, and with a second clip unit in said molding second position of said pendular arm. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) A molding assembly according to claim 6, wherein said at least one cannula-loading unit is fastened on said second mold portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A molding assembly according to claim 1, wherein each clip includes a recess that receives the perforating tip of the cannula in all positions, such that no stress is exerted on said perforating tip while loading said cannula into said clip by said cannula-loading unit, while moving said clip, and while molding said syringe barrel around said cannula by said mold unit. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A molding assembly according to claim 1, wherein each mold unit includes a positioner member that co-operates with the axial end of the cannula that is remote from said perforating tip, so as to ensure that said cannula is positioned accurately in said mold unit while molding the syringe barrel 10. ### Claim 13 A method of manufacturing a syringe barrel provided with a cannula, said syringe barrel comprising a cylindrical portion and a hub portion on which said cannula is fastened, the manufacturing method being characterized in that it comprises the following steps: providing a clip unit including a clip that is movable between a closed position and an open position; opening said clip by means of an actuator element of said clip unit, said actuator element being controlled by a control member, such as a jack; loading a cannula (20) into said open clip by means of a cannula-loading unit; closing said clip on said cannula; moving said clip unit containing said cannula sideways to face a mold unit comprising a first mold portion and a second mold portion that is axially movable relative to said first mold portion between an open position and a closed position in which said first and second mold portions co-operate with each other to define a mold cavity between them, a core being situated in said mold cavity so as to define the shape of said syringe barrel; moving said clip unit containing said cannula axially relative to said mold unit, so as to insert said cannula into said mold unit; injecting synthetic material into said mold unit so as to mold said syringe barrel around said cannula; opening said clip by means of said actuator element of said clip unit, said actuator element being controlled by a control member, such as a jack; and opening said mold unit so as to eject said syringe barrel molded around said cannula. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A method according to claim 13, wherein said step of moving said clip unit containing said cannula axially relative to said mold unit so as to insert said cannula into said mold unit is performed as follows: opening said mold unit by moving said second mold portion axially relative to said first mold portion; inserting said clip unit into said second mold portion; and closing said mold unit by moving said second mold portion, together with said clip unit, axially relative to said first mold portion. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) A method according to claim 13, wherein said step of moving said clip unit containing said cannula axially relative to said mold unit so as to insert said cannula into said mold unit is performed as follows: closing said mold unit by moving said second mold portion axially relative to said first mold portion; and moving said clip unit containing said cannula axially relative to said closed mold unit so as to insert said cannula into said mold unit. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) A method according to claim 13, wherein said step of moving said clip unit containing said cannula sideways is performed by means of a pendular arm, in particular pivotally mounted. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) A method according to claim 13, wherein in the closed position of said clip, said cannula may be moved axially relative to said clip). ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A method according to claim 17, wherein, when said cannula is inserted into said mold unit, the axial end of said cannula that is remote from said perforating tip co-operates with a positioner member of said mold unit, so as to ensure that said cannula is positioned accurately in said mold unit while molding the syringe barrel. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) A method according to claim 13, wherein said clip includes a recess that receives the perforating tip of the cannula in all positions, such that no stress is exerted on said perforating tip while loading said cannula into said clip by said cannula-loading unit, while moving said clip, and while molding said syringe barrel around said cannula by said mold unit. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) A method according to claim 13, wherein said step of opening said clip so as to load said cannula is performed by a first control member, and said step of opening said clip after molding said syringe barrel is performed by a second control member, said control members being actuated independently of each other, and independently of the movements of said mold unit. ### Claim 21 (depends on 13) A method according to claim 13, wherein said step of closing said clip is performed automatically, said clip being urged resiliently towards its closed position.