Abstract: In a blow/fill/seal packaging machine, aseptic environment is provided by a telescoping fill station shroud through which a sterile curtain gas flows. The telescoping fill station shroud includes an open-ended lower sleeve, an open-ended upper sleeve slidably coacting with the open-ended lower sleeve, and a manifold plate mounted over a proximal end portion of the upper sleeve.

Abstract: A hermetically sealed thermoplastic container or ampoule having a hollow body portion, a neck portion, unitary with the body portion and terminating in a circumferential, inwardly extending sealing flange, and a removable cap. The neck portion defines an access passageway to the hollow body portion a portion of which is configured as a tapered female connector adapted to receive a tapered male connector when the access passageway is open. The outer surface of the neck portion can be provided with lugs for engaging a tapered male connector with a threaded collar.

Abstract: A fill assembly sterilization method and system for a blow/fill/seal machine utilizes a closed loop circulation of sterilant containing gas. A typical sterilant is nitrogen dioxide in humidified air. The closed loop includes a shroud that defines a plenum and encloses the fill system. Optionally, at least one high efficiency particulate absorption (HEPA) filter is provided in the closed loop. Sterility assurance level of 10?6 can be achieved by subjecting the fill system to the sterilizing gas for at least 20 minutes at a temperature in the range of about 18° C. to about 30° C. Preferred sterilant gas is humidified air containing about 10 to about 20 milligrams of nitrogen dioxide per liter.

Abstract: A blow molding apparatus is provided with a mold carriage movable in a path between an extruder station and a blow-and-fill station. The mold carriage can have one or more mold assemblies. Each mold assembly has opposed first and second mold halves that together define a mold cavity. The first mold half is fixed to the mold carriage while the second mold half is independently movable relative to the first mold half within the mold carriage to open and close the mold assembly.

Abstract: A hermetically sealed thermoplastic container or ampoule having a hollow body portion, a neck portion unitary with the body portion and terminating in a circumferential, inwardly extending sealing flange, and a removable cap. The neck portion defines an access passageway to the hollow body portion configured as a Luer female fitting adapted to receive a Luer male connector when the access passageway is open. The outer surface of the neck portion is provided with lugs for engaging a Luer lock male connector and the like.

Abstract: A fill assembly sterilization system for a blow/fill/seal machine utilizes a closed loop circulation of sterilant containing gas. A typical sterilant is nitrogen dioxide. The closed loop includes a shroud that defines a plenum and encloses the fill system. Optionally, at least one high efficiency particulate absorption (HEPA) filter is provided in the closed loop. Sterility assurance level of 10?6 can be achieved by subjecting the fill system to the sterilizing gas for at least 20 minutes at a temperature in the range of about 18° C. to about 30° C.

Abstract: A hermetically sealed thermoplastic container having a dispensing nozzle occluded by a unitary but removable cap is provided with at least one fin alongside the dispensing nozzle. The fin is situated adjacent to the cap so that the rim of the cap can engage the fin to facilitate removal of the cap from the container.

Abstract: A hermetically sealed thermoplastic container is equipped with a unitary closure that includes a draining spike access aperture occluded by a removable, twist-off cap and an internal draining spike stabilizer situated in the neck portion of the container.

Abstract: A hermetically sealed container having a nozzle that defines a dispensing orifice closed by a unitary but removable cap. Accumulation of container contents in the cap is minimized by a constriction in the nozzle situated at least 0.1 inches from the dispensing orifice.

Abstract: A device for splitting apart a card of thermoplastic ampoules is described. The splitter device includes a card receiving base, a cutter assembly, and a pusher assembly for pushing the card along the base through the cutter assembly so as to divide the card into separate thermoplastic ampoules or groups of ampoules.

Abstract: A child safety overcap is provided for a hermetically sealed container with a twist-off access closure having a unitary grip tab. The overcap has a top portion defining at least one slot adapted to engage the tab on the access closure when the overcap is pushed toward the container and a skirt portion that terminates in an expandable rim, e.g., provided with dentils adapted to flex away from the container when the overcap is pushed toward the container. Beads extending inwardly from a distal end of each of the dentils are adapted to snap into a circumferentially groove formed in a neck portion of the container for removably securing the overcap to the container.

Abstract: A hermetically sealed container including a dispensing nozzle and a hollow closure with a lobate region removably secured thereto along a frangible web. The lobate region in the hollow closure reduces the retention of liquid droplets against the closure inner surface. The nozzle includes a straight inwardly and upwardly tapered wall which causes liquid droplets or aliquots in the closure and the nozzle to pass downwardly into the body of the container. As a result, liquid is not splashed when the closure is severed from the nozzle along the frangible web.

Abstract: A hermetically sealed container has a closure connected to the container by a frangible web and is provided with a unitary drop dispenser suitable for dropwise dispensing of a liquid contained therein. A hollow container body defines a liquid enclosure and has a dispensing nozzle that is unitary with the container body at a proximal end thereof. A hollow, campanulate chamber is situated at the distal end of the nozzle. The dispensing nozzle defines a liquid flow passageway in communication with the liquid enclosure and with the companulate chamber, and has a substantially uniform inside diameter. The hollow, campanulate chamber has a maximum inside diameter that is larger than the inside diameter of the liquid flow passageway and defines a drop dispensing aperture having an inside diameter that is smaller than the inside diameter of the liquid flow passageway. The drop dispensing aperture is defined by an annular flange that is connected to a closure cap at a frangible web.

Abstract: A hermetically sealed container and a medicament bearing insert assembly therefor are disclosed. The medicament bearing insert assembly is protected by a severable overcap. A pocket within the insert assembly is provided with a pierceable membrane. Rupture of the membrane by a built-in plunger causes the medicament to drop out of the pocket and into the container where it is mixed with the container contents.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for molding and optionally filling a container including an extruder head for extruding a length of parison and a vibrating knife operatively associated with the apparatus for reciprocating movement and having a blade positioned below the extruder head which traverses the path of the extruded parison to sever the parison. Preferably, the vibrating knife vibrates the blade at ultrasonic frequencies.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying bags along a path which includes a plurality of work stations. The conveyor apparatus includes a plurality of conveyor assemblies. Each of the conveyor assemblies includes opposed belt assemblies, one of which is laterally displaceable. Opposed belts of the opposed belt assemblies are contiguous for grasping the sides of the bags and transporting the bags in a generally upright orientation as the belts are driven in synchronism.

Abstract: An article, such as a card of thermoplastic material containing vials, is molded by a method and apparatus which deforms a portion of the mold flash so as to form a reference surface. In a preferred embodiment, the article has a pair of lower walls extending from a central wall in a generally inverted V-shape configuration diverging from an apex which defines a downwardly facing reference surface from which a predetermined reference position can be established for subsequent operations. A conveyor belt can be employed to engage the reference surface and support the article at the reference position.