Apparatus for molding and assembling containers with stoppers and filling same
AssigneeMedical Instill Technologies, Inc.
InventorDaniel Py
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A stopper and container body are molded in the same molding machine. An assembly device, such as a pick and place robot, transfers the stopper from one mold cavity into the opening in the container body located within another mold cavity, or vice versa, to assemble the stopper and container body. Then, the assembled container body and stopper are removed from the molding machine and transported to a needle filling and laser resealing station for filling and laser resealing. A laminar flow source directs a substantially laminar flow of air or sterile gas over the mold surfaces, stoppers and container bodies, and assembly device, to prevent contamination during assembly.
Claims21
An apparatus for molding and assembling containers having container bodies defining openings in communication with interior chambers for receiving a substance therein, and resealable members for sealing the openings and substances received in the containers, the apparatus comprising:
- first means for forming therein a container body;
- second means for forming therein a resealable member;
- and
- third means located adjacent and movable relative to the first means and the second means for at least one of
- (i) transferring a formed container body from the first means to a formed resealable member which is located at least partially within the second means and forming an empty resealable member and container body assembly defining a substantially sterile chamber therein;
- and
- (ii) transferring a formed resealable member from the second means to a formed container body which is located at least partially in the first means and forming an empty resealable member and container body assembly defining a substantially sterile chamber therein.
An apparatus for molding and assembling containers having container bodies defining openings in communication with interior chambers for receiving a substance therein, and resealable members for sealing the openings and substances received in the containers, the apparatus comprising:
- first means for forming therein a container body;
- second means for forming therein a resealable member;
- third means located adjacent and movable relative to the first means and the second means for at least one of
- (i) transferring a formed container body from the first means to a formed resealable member which is located at least partially within the second means and forming an empty resealable member and container body assembly defining a substantially sterile chamber therein;
- (ii) transferring a formed resealable member from the second means to a formed container body which is located at least partially in the first means and forming an empty resealable member and container body assembly defining a substantially sterile chamber therein;
- and
- (iii) assembling the container body and the resealable member each at a bactericidal temperature and forming an empty resealable member and container body assembly defining a substantially sterile chamber therein;
- fourth means for penetrating the resealable member of a sealed, empty container and resealable member assembly and aseptically filling a substance into the interior chamber thereof, and
- fifth means for thermally resealing the resulting penetration hole in the resealable member.
An apparatus for molding and assembling containers having container bodies defining openings in communication with interior chambers for receiving a substance therein, and resealable members for sealing the openings and substances received in the containers, the apparatus comprising:
- at least one first mold cavity shaped to form the container body;
- at least one second mold cavity shaped to form the resealable member;
- and
- an assembly device, wherein at least one of the first mold cavity, second mold cavity and assembly device is movable relative to the others for assembling a substantially sterile resealable member at a first temperature from the first mold cavity and a substantially sterile container at a second temperature from the second mold cavity into a sealed container and resealable member assembly, the first and second temperatures are greater than an ambient temperature of the apparatus, and the assembly device is located adjacent to the first and second mold cavities and configured to at least one of (i) transfer the resealable member from the second mold cavity to the container body which is located at least partially within the first mold cavity for assembling the resealable member to the container body, and (ii) transfer the container body from the first mold cavity to the resealable member which is located at least partially within the second mold cavity for assembling the container body to the resealable member.
Apparatus for molding and assembling containers having container bodies defining openings in communication with interior chambers for receiving a substance therein, and resealable members for sealing the openings and substances received in the containers, the apparatus comprising:
- at least one first mold cavity shaped to form the container body;
- at least one second mold cavity shaped to form the resealable member;
- an assembly device, wherein at least one of the first mold cavity, second mold cavity and assembly device is movable relative to the others for assembling a substantially sterile resealable member at a first temperature from the first mold cavity and a substantially sterile container at a second temperature from the second mold cavity into a sealed container and resealable member assembly, the first and second temperatures are greater than an ambient temperature of the apparatus, and the assembly device is located adjacent to the first and second mold cavities and configured to at least one of (i) transfer the resealable member from the second mold cavity to the container body which is located at least partially within the first mold cavity for assembling the resealable member to the container body, and (ii) transfer the container body from the first mold cavity to the resealable member which is located at least partially within the second mold cavity for assembling the container body to the resealable member;
- and
- a needle filling and thermal resealing station including (i) at least one needle that is movable between a first position for penetrating the resealable member and introducing a substance from the needle therethrough and into the interior chamber of the container body, and a second position spaced away from the resealable member;
- and (ii) a thermal source for thermally sealing a needle penetrated region of the resealable member upon withdrawal of the needle therefrom.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.