Filing Information

Inventor(s)	Daniel Py ·
Assignee(s)	PY DANIEL ·  View assignee updates
Correspondent	MCCARTER & ENGLISH LLP;CITYPLACE I ·
Application Number	US11074513
Filing date	03/07/2005
Publication date	10/13/2005
Predicted expiration date	03/07/2025
U.S. Classifications	53/140  · 53/510  · 53/264  · 53/281  · 53/167  ·
International Classifications	--
Kind Code	A1

Patent Family

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.

Independent Claims | See all claims (20)

1. 1. An apparatus for molding and assembling containers having container bodies defining openings in communication with interior chambers for receiving a substance therein, and stoppers receivable within the openings 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 stopper; and an assembly device located adjacent to the first and second mold cavities, 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 stopper 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 stopper assembly, wherein the first and second temperatures are greater than an ambient temperature of the apparatus.
2. 18. An apparatus for molding and assembling containers having container bodies defining openings in communication with interior chambers for receiving a substance therein, and stoppers receivable within the openings 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 stopper; and third means located adjacent to the first and second means and movable relative thereto for transferring one of a formed container body and stopper from the respective first or second means into engagement with the other of a formed container body and stopper located at least partially within the respective first or second means, and in turn forming an empty stopper and container body assembly defining a substantially sterile chamber therein.