Abstract: A capping machine for caps made of compressible material includes a compression box and compression units, each being housed in a cavity in the compression box and defining a cap compression seat. A bottle centering device is associated with each compression unit and is mechanically associated with the compression box at a housing seat on a lower face. The capping machine includes a fastener for removably retaining each bottle centering device in its respective housing seat. The fastener includes for each bottle centering device a movable engagement element movably associated with the lower face moveable between: a locking position, wherein the movable engagement element interferes with the respective bottle centering device creating an undercut to retain the bottle centering device inside the housing seat; and an unlocking position, wherein the movable engagement element does not interfere, allowing the bottle centering device to freely engage or disengage the housing seat.

Abstract: An automatic test tube recapper is presented that is capable of recapping thousands of test tubes per day. Specially designed caps are poured into an upper triangular shaped hopper. The randomly oriented caps are transported by a pair of belts to an upper slide. Misaligned caps are rejected and fall back into the hopper, while properly aligned caps slide down the slide to a cap catch, one at a time. A hammer shaft then drives the cap into the top of the test tube until the cap is firmly seated. The hammer shaft reverses, which withdraws the shaft upwards. As the hammer shaft moves upwards, it triggers a pair of arms that allows another cap to fall into the cap catch. A conveyor also automatically moves the next uncapped test tube under the cap. The cycle then repeats itself.

Abstract: This device comprises an elastomer stopper (501) and a cap (502) suitable for covering both the neck (12) of a container and the stopper in position in this neck. The cap comprises a ring (503) provided with means (503G) for locking it to the neck and an operating member (504). The operating member (504) is fitted with at least one deformable part (506C) for transmitting a thrust load (f2) parallel to a central axis (X503) of the ring (503), between two portions (505, 506) of this member (504) or between an external material (301) and this member (504). The load transmitting part (506C) is deformable between a first configuration in which its length (L506) parallel to the central axis (X503) is a first value and a second configuration in which this parallel length is a second value that is less than the first value.

Abstract: A manufacturing method for a toner container provided with an opening, said method includes a filling step of filling the toner container with toner through an opening; a closing step of setting a cap member and closing the opening with the cap member, after said filling step; a sealing step of sealing the opening by vibration welding of the cap member to the toner container by a welding jig, wherein the cap member is welded to the toner container while imparting a relative movement of the welding jig relative to the toner container toward an un-welded portion.

Abstract: A stopper change device (10) includes an airtight chamber body (21) detachably mountable on a head of a bottle, a gas supply port (19) for supplying N gas to the chamber body, an air vent valve (57) for discharging air from the chamber body, a first supporting structure (28) movable upward and downward for supporting a corkscrew, and a second supporting structure (34) movable upward and downward for containing a substitute stopper. The first and second supporting structures are mutually position changeable, and one of them is selectively placed above an opening of the bottle. When the first supporting structure (28) is placed above the opening, a bottle stopper can be pulled in N gas atmosphere. On the other hand, when the second supporting structure (34) is placed above the opening, the substitute stopper is mountable on the head of the bottle in N gas atmosphere.

Abstract: A stopper change device (10) includes an airtight chamber body (21) detachably mountable on a head of a bottle, a gas supply port (19) for supplying N gas to the chamber body, an air vent valve (57) for discharging air from the chamber body, a first supporting structure (28) movable upward and downward for supporting a corkscrew, and a second supporting structure (34) movable upward and downward for containing a substitute stopper. The first and second supporting structures are mutually position changeable, and one of them is selectively placed above an opening of the bottle. When the first supporting structure (28) is placed above the opening, a bottle stopper can be pulled in N gas atmosphere. On the other hand, when the second supporting structure (34) is placed above the opening, the substitute stopper is mountable on the head of the bottle in N gas atmosphere.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for venting a filled bottle closed by a stopper is disclosed. The venting is designed to equalize the pressure between the interior of the bottle and the atmosphere such that the stopper inserted into the filled bottle is not forced out of the bottle by excess pressure in the bottle. The venting may be accomplished by deforming the stopper in the bottle opening to form an air-outlet opening in the region sealed by the stopper and the bottle. The venting may be implemented by a squeezing device arranged on at least one side of the stopper, the squeezing device being active in a direction perpendicular to the central axis of the bottle opening.

Abstract: In an apparatus for corking bottles, the corks are fed in succession within the cavities of a plurality of vice-like devices, which are driven in rotation by a carousel device and which are designed to be radially compressed by the vice-like devices before their insertion into the respective bottles. The cavity of the vice-like device that each time comes to occupy the position for receiving the cork is set in communication with a negative-pressure source, which sucks the cork downwards, causing it to drop into the cavity, and maintains it in the correct vertical position. Preferably, a similar suction device is provided at the outlet end of feed channel for feeding the corks, which brings the corks to a loading station. A transfer wheel with a vertical axis transfers the corks in succession from the loading station to the starting station of the corking apparatus, where the corks are received within the respective vice-like devices.

Abstract: A device for aseptically filling sterile containers provided with a mouth closed by a frangible membrane, comprising actuators (K) carrying a fill group provided at its distal end with cutting means (T) and valve means and at its proximal end with means (Y) for driving the valve means. The valve means consist of a fill tube (R) closed by a conical bottom (U), externally provided with an elastomeric plug (P), and having one or more lateral slots (A) at the bottom (U), the fill tube (R) being slidably arranged within an external guide tube (E) suitable to abut on the container mouth, upon cutting of the membrane, and with which the plug (P) achieves a seal.

Abstract: In a device for singling out items coming from a feeder, with the feeder comprising an outlet channel for conveying the items an end section, compacting air jets are placed along the outlet channel for gathering the items one behind the other according to a continuous row, at the end section. The device is equipped with and abutment and catching comb for singling out a series of single and successive leading items of the row of items at the end section, and a driving belt moves the abutment and catching comb according to a direction of extraction at the end section, for abutting and catching a series of single and successive leading items and for transferring and placing the series of singled out items at a handling station.

Abstract: A capping device and method for installing overcaps onto a plurality of aerosol cans moving on a manufacturing line is disclosed. The capping device has a pressure plate with a cap contact surface on one side and a bearing surface on an opposite side. The contact surface is oriented to face overcaps that are rested on a plurality of aerosol cans moving past the pressure plate on the manufacturing line. The contact surface is rotated about an axis so that an installation segment of the contact surface moves in concert with the plurality of aerosol cans. A pressure wheel has a rotatable circumferential surface arranged to bear against a part of the pressure plate to further bear the installation segment into contact with the overcaps of the plurality of aerosol cans. As the cans move past the pressure wheel and plate, the overcaps are installed on the aerosol cans by force applied via the installation segment of the contact surface that is moving along with the cans.

Abstract: An apparatus for advancing and uniting first and second components into respective single items, includes a first conveyor for supplying the first components in a series; a feeding device for supplying the second components in a series; a second conveyor adjoining the discharge end of the first conveyor; a plurality of first carriers mounted on the second conveyor for receiving a respective first component from the first conveyor at the discharge end thereof; and a plurality of second carriers mounted on the second conveyor for receiving a respective second component from the feeding device. The second carriers are in alignment with the respective first carriers for advancing the respective first components and the respective second components together and in alignment with one another; and a device for uniting a first component with a respective second component during advancement of the first and second components by the second conveyor.

Abstract: An embossed seal is formed in a cavity in the neck of a corked bottle over a cork using a die having a die surface with a die image. A first molten seal material is introduced into a die cavity. The die cavity is formed in part with the die surface. The introduction of the first molten seal material deposits an embossed seal portion with an embossed surface. The embossed seal portion is allowed to cool. A second molten seal material is introduced into the cavity of the neck of the corked bottle. The embossed seal portion is brought into contact with the molten seal material in the bottle cavity with the embossed surface disposed on top facing away from the molten seal material. The molten seal material partially melts the embossed seal portion to form a single seal upon cooling. The embossed seal portion is sufficiently cooled and solidified to prevent melting and damage of the embossed surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for sealing tops onto openings of packs arranged at a distance (m) from each other. The apparatus includes a first conveying means, e.g. a first conveyor, for intermittently conveying the packs in a first direction of travel through a row of at least three sealing stations spaced a machine pitch (m) from each other, and a transport apparatus, e.g. a second conveyor, for transporting the tops in a row behind each other and transversely to the first direction of travel, intermittently over the openings of packs located in the row of sealing stations. The transport apparatus includes a tops belt guided over drive rollers to which the tops are detachably attached behind each other using holding bridges. The tops are spaced a belt pitch (t) from each other and the tops belt is provided with positioning apparatus for properly positioning the tops over the openings.

Abstract: An evacuation and closure device in linear construction can be docked to a conveyor device for bottles. A closure stopper supply device is used to supply closure stoppers for the bottles. The device provides a combined closure stopper and evacuation unit for each bottle. The closure stopper and evacuation units are combined into a closure stopper and evacuation module. The closure stopper and evacuation module is fastened to one of three carriers that can be moved in three movement axes (X, Y, Z) in relation to one another. The movement is carried out by means of freely programmable drive mechanisms. Because of its construction, the evacuation and closure device according to the invention can be simply and flexibly adapted to various types of filling machines.

Abstract: A sample-contained container corking-up method of the present invention comprises a first step of holding each stopper supplied from a stopper supply means by a stopper holder and opposing an inserted portion of the stopper to the open top of the container which is supported at its corked-up position, a second step of pushing the inserted portion of the stopper, which has been opposed to the open top of the container by the first step, into it to a first predetermined position, while holding the stopper at a certain state by the stopper holder, a third step of releasing the stopper holder from the stopper and retreating the stopper holder to its waiting position after the stopper pushing operation conducted by the second step, and a fourth step of further pushing the inserted portion of the stopper into the container to a second predetermined position, deeper than the first one, while leaving the stopper holder retreated to the waiting position by the third step.

Abstract: A sterile product packaging system includes a bottle filling/stoppering machine housed within a sterile environment and a bottle capping machine housed within a non-sterile environment separated by a partition wall from the sterile room. Each of the filling/stoppering machine and capping machine has a belt conveyor associated therewith for moving bottles to and from the machines, each belt conveyor residing entirely within the respective sterile and non-sterile rooms. A transfer conveyor system is provided to transfer bottles from the filling/stoppering machine belt conveyor, through the opening in the partition wall, to the capping machine belt conveyor. The transfer conveyor system includes a lead screw formed of an elongated shank having a continuous spiral thread along its length. A transfer plate overlaps the ends of the two belt conveyors, and is situated beneath and substantially contiguous with the lead screw.

Abstract: A method for the design of a pressure vessel which incorporates two ends of a straight wall cylinder which are capped and sealed to form a container capable of holding the vessel contents under pressure. This method is applicable to metal as well as non-metal vessels and to vessels having unusual shapes or combinations of such geometries, such as square, oval, triangular, complex and irregular curves or combinations. The vessel may be made on a continuous basis from endless lengths of vessel stock continuously cut to length.

Abstract: A housing contains a plurality of vertically spaced shelves movable vertically relative to each other upon activation of a fluid pressure piston-cylinder unit mounted on the housing. Elongated suspension rods depend from the top shelf to support the next two adjacent shelves for relative vertical movement, and each subsequent lower shelf is similarly supported by a shelf above it but separated from it by one intervening shelf. The two top-most shelves also are arranged to be secured together detachably in abutting relationship. The lower end of each suspension rod mounts a rotary disc which supports a pair of upstanding spaced pins arranged in one position of rotary adjustment to abut the underside of a lug extending laterally from the adjacent shelf, and in a second position of rotary adjustment, 90.degree. from the first position, to register with openings in the lug, whereby the associated shelf is lowered from the first position of support a distance substantially equal to the length of the support pins.

Abstract: Upper shelves supported within a tall vacuum drying chamber of freeze drying apparatus are positioned above eye level sighting of an operator of average height, rendering loading of vials upon these upper shelves and unloading therefrom, a difficult task. Typically, the vials, containing pharmaceutical or biological liquid, have stoppers loosely engaged therein. Means are provided for stacking the upper shelves to an appropriate sighting level for sequential loading which returns the shelves to their initial position. The loaded shelves are again lowered to a comfortable height for unloading thereof after all vials on lower and upper shelves have their loosely fitted stoppers fully engaged within their vials by stoppering means.

Abstract: The invention's application is suited in particular to the lubricated turning pairs of crawler tracks. It makes provision for the sealing of the lubricant reservoir by means of an elastomer plug, and for the introduction of a needle into and through the plug. The needle serves to effect evacuation of any existing air from within the reservoir, and the subsequent introduction of lubricating oil. The needle is then withdrawn from the plug which, by virtue of the elastic properties of the elastomer, automatically re-encloses the puncture produced by the needle.