Abstract: A system and method for sterile packaging of beverages in plastic containers forms the plastic containers and fills them with sterile beverages in a common sterile environment. The containers are formed from a blow molding process in which the containers reach elevated temperatures sufficient to at least in-part sterilize the interior of the containers, are filled with sterile beverages immediately after the containers are formed in the same sterile environment. This eliminates the need for heavy use of sterilizing fluids for the plastic containers such as hydrogen peroxide or the like.

Abstract: A system and method for on-the-go forming of a cover seal, on-the-go filling of a container and on-the-go induction sealing of a cover seal to a container with the system including a first transfer mechanism for picking empty containers from a conveyor, a traveling punch for on-the-go punching a cover seal from a roll of cover seal material, a rotateable head carrying a set of positionable filler spouts that fill the containers to a preselected level and a set of elevator platforms that raise and lower a container located thereon to facilitate low splash filling, a cam-and-spring system for maintaining a cover seal in pressure contact with a container, a cover-sealing apparatus for on-the-go inductive sealing of a cover seal to a container and a second transfer mechanism for returning the filled and sealed containers to the conveyor.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing and packaging a photographic film has a film supply unit for unreeling and cutting off a film roll of an elongate photographic film, and supplying a sized film, a film winding unit for winding the sized film around a spool thereby to produce a roll, a cartridge production unit for crimping a cap on an end of a rounded barrel plate thereby to produce a one-end-open cartridge, an assembling unit for inserting the roll into the one-end-open cartridge and thereafter crimping a cap on an opposite open end of the one-end-open cartridge thereby to produce a film-contained cartridge, and an encasing unit for placing the film-contained cartridge into a case and attaching a case cap to an open end of the case thereby to produce a packaged product. The film supply unit, the film winding unit, and the assembling unit are accommodated altogether in a dark chamber.

Abstract: A machine for the automated packaging of armed sutures or; in effect, surgical needles having sutures attached thereto and, more particularly, a package feed arrangement in an automated machine including a package tray supplying carousel arrangement and robotic pivot arm mechanism for the high-speed feed of package trays for the individualized packaging of single or individual surgical needles each having an attached suture into a tray and detachable cover providing a suture package utilized for the packaging of the individual or single needles and attached sutures.

Abstract: A machine and a method for the automated packaging of armed sutures or; in effect, surgical needles having sutures attached thereto and, more particularly, an automated machine for the high-speed individualized packaging of single or individual surgical needles each having an attached suture into a tray and detachable cover providing a suture package utilized for the packaging of the individual or single needles and attached sutures. Additionally, the automated packaging machine incorporates operative mechanism adapted to wind the sutures into a peripheral channel of the tray and facilitating the attachment of the cover to the tray which contains the single needle and attached wound suture, and which cover concurrently constitutes a product-identifying label as a component of the tray, and upon removal of the cover enables a user to gain access to the contents of the tray; in essence, the armed suture.

Abstract: A machine for the automated packaging of armed sutures or; in effect, surgical needles having sutures attached thereto and, more particularly, an arrangement and a method for applying covers to package trays in an automated machine for the highspeed individualized packaging of single or individual surgical needles each having an attached suture into a tray and detachable cover providing a suture package utilized for the packaging of the individual or single needles and attached sutures.

Abstract: A drug filling machine has a plurality of feeders containing a plurality of different kinds of drugs. A plurality of drugs are discharged from one or some or the feeders into a vial. A sealing unit is provided for sealing the mouth of the vial with a transparent sheet. The sealing unit includes a sheet presser for pushing the transparent sheet into the mouth of the vial to form a sealing sheet having a tray-shaped section, a cutter for cutting the transparent sheet into a predetermined shape, and a heater for fusing the transparent sheet to the top end of the vial to seal the mouth of the vial.

Abstract: An opening part cuts a periphery of a package which contains a bundle of PS (photosensitive) plates. Then, a lifter separates a top piece of the package from the bundle of the PS plates, and a cartridge body, which has been transferred by the lifter, is put on the bundle of the PS plates from which the top piece of the package has been separated. An inverter inverts the top and bottom faces of the bundle of the PS plates covered with the cartridge body, and then, the lifter separates the bottom piece of the package from the bundle of the PS plates. A cartridge lid, which is transferred by the lifter, is put on the bundle of the PS plates from which the bottom piece of the package has been separated.

Abstract: A box handling apparatus having particular application in the packaging of semiconductor wafers, includes a box opening assembly which can unlatch a lid from a bottom of the box and separate the lid from the bottom. Arms can grip an article, such as a wafer cassette, in the bottom of the box and lift it out. The cassette can be loaded, or wafers already in the cassette unloaded. The apparatus can replace the loaded cassette in the bottom of the box and latchingly re-engage the lid.

Abstract: A method of automatically producing a plurality of prefilled, sterile delivery devices with a desired quantity of fluid. The sterile delivery devices each include a hollow barrel with a dispensing nozzle at one end and an open opposite end. A piston plunger is positioned within the open end and is slidable in sealing engagement with the barrel to retain a fluid therein. A tip is secured to the dispensing nozzle. A plurality of the sterile delivery devices are automatically fed along a predetermined path. Tips are then removed from the dispensing nozzles of the sterile delivery devices. The hollow barrels of the sterile delivery devices are then filled through the dispensing nozzles with a desired is quantity of fluid. The dispensing nozzles of the sterile delivery devices are then closed and sealed after the filling step to provide sealed sterile delivery devices with sterile fluid contents.

Abstract: A capping assembly includes at least one tube fixed to a spindle of an automatic machine and provided with a piston and cylinder unit for axially displacing a bush operatively connected with the tube and formed with a shaped recess to releasably engage a respective formation on a cup support upon displacement of the piston in the cylinder.

Abstract: A bottling plant is described wherein a bottle feed line and a plurality of specific function groups are each provided with selectively operable devices acting on the bottles moving along the feed line. Each special function group includes one or more motors for actuating the selectively operable devices and a walled sterile chamber through which the bottles pass. The sterile chambers are kept slightly pressurized and contain at least a portion of the selectively operable devices of the specific function group. The wall structure of each sterile chamber separates the sterile chamber from the motors and from at least some of the selectively operable devices.

Abstract: A system and apparatus for filling a plurality of vials, and for securing respective caps on each vial securely mounting a plurality of caps on, and filing with a substance, a plurality of vials. A guidance apparatus is provided that has a guide member with a T-shaped track mounted thereon and an traverse carriage having a T-shaped channel formed therein. The traverse carriage further includes two opposingly spaced and offset apertures for receiving the substance therethrough. The two opposingly spaced and offset apertures are each in axial alignment with one of the plurality of vials at the set points as the traverse carriage is slid along the guide member for filing two of the plurality of vials at each of the set points with the substance. A capping apparatus is also included that has two opposingly spaced side walls, and a track mounted between the base and side walls for slidably receiving the plurality of vials.

Abstract: A capsule handling system is formed of a loader component and an opener/encapsulater component. The system can handle different sized capsules, and has interchangeable parts so that a compounding pharmacist can conveniently produce a variety of distinct filled capsules, on the order of a prescribing medical professional to meet the unique needs of patients.

Abstract: A continuous particle monitoring system for use in a filling machine is provided. The filling machine has a plurality of processing stations in which containers are conveyed to each processing station to execute at least one process to collectively form, fill and seal each container. The filling machine also includes an air intake in fluid communication with a clean air supply. A chamber is connected in fluid communication with the air intake to receive the clean air supply. The particle monitoring system is constructed and arranged to monitor the clean air supply within the chamber. To this end, the particle monitoring system includes a sampling probe arranged in the chamber and oriented anisoaxially with respect to the clean air supply. The sampling probe preferably includes a substantially tubular body having a sampling port arranged at an end thereof. Also, a mounting plate for securing the probe within the filling machine is formed in the tubular body.

Abstract: A capsule filling device includes a manually operated system of dispensing specific quantities of pharmaceutical or other suitable substance into capsules. A desired quantity of pharmaceutical is placed in a capsule by using interchangeable plates with set volumes of wells to measure specific quantities of pharmaceutical.

Abstract: There is disclosed a press-on cap having a flat top with a cylindrical skirt with an annular tear band defined by a pair of annular score lines, and with at least two annular inner beads which seat in annular grooves in the neck of a bottle. The cap skirt extends below the lower score line of the annular tear band to form a tamper-proof ring which is bonded by laser radiation at least one, preferably two, spots to the neck of the plastic bottle. The spot bonds preferably have a diameter no greater than about 0.15 inch. The invention also comprises a bottle filler line which includes a capping station in which caps are applied and pressed downwardly over the narrow necks of the bottles which have been filled with a liquid such as milk or non-carbonated beverage, and a cap bonding station in which the capped and filled bottles are passed between laser beam effectors which are pulsed momentarily to spot bond the tamper-proof rings of the caps to the necks of the bottles.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for aseptically producing, harvesting and packaging a pharmaceutical product. A section of the apparatus includes an aseptic reactor and structure for introducing a reactant thereinto so that a reaction can be conducted for the purpose of producing a pharmaceutical product. The pharmaceutical product is subsequently introduced into a filter/dryer for the purpose of recovering the pharmaceutical product. Thereafter, the filtered/dried pharmaceutical product is delivered to a hammer mill for delumping or a micronizing mill for calibration and sizing the recovered product to produce a final powdered product. Thereafter, the final powdered product is introduced into a dosing device and aseptically introduced into a transportable bin. The small bins are encased inside of a sterile bag for transport and further aseptic handling.

Abstract: A cartridge of wound-up photographic film has an elongate housing within which the film is received, the housing having an outlet through which the film leader projects. In order to insert the cartridge of film into a cylindrical container it is necessary to wrap the film leader around the housing of the cartridge. A method of inserting the cartridge into the container involves conveying the cartridge into the open end of the container whilst simultaneously rotating the cartridge about its longitudinal axis so that the film leader is brought into engagement with the rim of the open end of the container whilst it is rotating. This causes the film leader automatically to be wrapped around the housing of the cartridge to permit the ready insertion of the cartridge and the film leader into the container. An apparatus for automatically performing the function of inserting the cartridge into the container using this method is also described.

Abstract: The specification discloses an automated apparatus and method for packaging surgical needles having sutures attached thereto wherein a bundle of needles and sutures are placed at a semi-automated separation station and an operator feeds the needles, one at a time, into a rotating needle feed wheel. As the feed wheel advances, the suture is tensioned and directed along a pre-determined path to separate it from the remaining sutures in the bundle. The apparatus has a plurality of individually rotatable tool nests which are sequentially spaced on a rotating or indexing turntable. These tool nests sequentially receive plastic packages for receiving the needle and suture at a first station. At a second station, a needle is inserted into the package by robotic fingers which have retrieved the needle and attached suture from the rotating needle feed wheel. The rotating needle feed wheel and the rotating tool nests are synchronized to step together as each advances.

Abstract: The specification discloses an automated apparatus and method for packaging surgical needles having sutures attached thereto wherein a bundle of needles and sutures are placed at a semi-automated separation station and an operator feeds the needles, one at a time, into a rotating needle feed wheel. As the feed wheel advances, the suture is tensioned and directed along a pre-determined path to separate it from the remaining sutures in the bundle. The apparatus has a plurality of individually rotatable tool nests which are sequentially spaced on a rotating or indexing turntable. These tool nests sequentially receive plastic packages for receiving the needle and suture at a first station. At a second station, a needle is inserted into the package by robotic fingers which have retrieved the needle and attached suture from the rotating needle feed wheel. The rotating needle feed wheel and the rotating tool nests are synchronized to step together as each advances.

Abstract: The specification discloses an automated apparatus and method for packaging surgical needles having sutures attached thereto wherein a bundle of needles and sutures are placed at a semi-automated separation station and an operator feeds the needles, one at a time, into a rotating needle feed wheel. As the feed wheel advances, the suture is tensioned and directed along a pre-determined path to separate it from the remaining sutures in the bundle. The apparatus has a plurality of individually rotatable tool nests which are sequentially spaced on a rotating or indexing turntable. These tool nests sequentially receive plastic packages for receiving the needle and suture at a first station. At a second station, a needle is inserted into the package by robotic fingers which have retrieved the needle and attached suture from the rotating needle feed wheel. The rotating needle feed wheel and the rotating tool nests are synchronized to step together as each advances.

Abstract: A low-cost capsule filler has a capsule holder with a medication tray, and cavities in the tray for receiving capsule bodies and capsule covers for filling with powdered or granulated medication. A wall around the medication tray contains loose medication, and the tray surface slopes toward each cavity to facilitate filling. Medication is tamped into the capsules with posts on an extractor; the extractor after tamping is inserted from beneath into the base of the capsule filler so the extractor posts push the filled capsules upward from their cavities where they can be gripped and removed.

Abstract: A packaging arrangement for packaging products, such as contact lenses, in packages such as blister packs. The packaging arrangement includes a rotary index table defining on its upper surface a plurality of identical, radially-oriented support pallets, equally spaced apart around the rotary index table. Each support pallet is designed to support an array of individual package bases thereon, and is sequentially rotated to stop at angularly spaced radial positions in the rotary packaging machine. At a first radial position, the rotary packaging station receives blister package bases, each having a product deposited therein, and places the package bases in the support pallet then at the first radial position.

Abstract: A method for making sterile suture packages employs a frame assembly line, a sterilization line and a blanker/cartoner line. A web of foil is advanced in a series of movements through the frame assembly line to assemble a frame containing needle-suture assemblies in a plurality of cavities in the frame, the frame having top and bottom aluminum foils with heat seal coatings on their facing surfaces. The cavities are formed in the bottom foil of each frame by a combination of pressurized air and mechanical plugs which are forced against the bottom foil and an underlying die having recesses for defining the cavities. A blanking operation following sterilization and sealing separates individual packages, each containing one needle-suture assembly, from the frame. The packages are then conveyed by belts through inspection stations and reoriented for loading into shipping cartons.

Abstract: A controlled environment sealing system and method of operating the same. The controlled environment sealing system having a transport system for transporting containers between processors, a lid placement processor positioning lids on the containers, a controlled environment processor providing the containers with a controlled environment and pre-sealing the lids to the containers, and a permanent sealing processor permanently sealing the lids to the containers in a contaminating environment.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for producing closed sealed capsules are disclosed. The capsules contain releasable substances packaged in at least one cavity inside the capsules which are formed of two or more joined sealed parts of substantially organic, film forming material. The process comprises the steps of: (a) providing a first part of the capsule having a first contact zone; (b) filling the first part of the capsule with the substances to be packaged; (c) providing at least a second part of the capsule having a second contact zone; (d) applying binding means to at least one of the contact zones; (e) joining the parts of the capsule, so that the contact zones come into contact via the binding means; and (f) pressing the joined parts of the capsule together with a predetermined force so that portions of opposite contact zones are kept in pressed contact for a predetermined period of time to obtain the closed sealed capsule.

Abstract: A method for filling and closing a package which is initially open on its upper side and has sealable plastic material about the periphery (2) of that side. The package is first conveyed to a location (6), where it is filled. Thereafter, a covering foil sheet (12) is sealed to periphery (2) to cover the open side. The package is brought to a standstill at the filling location (6), and filled through an opening (11) in a strip of the covering foil (7). The strip of covering foil (7) is then moved in a direction (10) lateral to the direction of conveyance (5) of the package, until the open side of package (1) is covered by the foil strip (7). A foil cover piece is then punched from the foil strip (7), leaving a new opening (11), and is sealed to the periphery (2) of the open side of the package (1). The sealed package (1) is then moved from filling location (6) by the conveyor belt (4).

Abstract: An apparatus and process for loading ligating clips into ligating clip cartridges. Ligating clips are fed to an inversion wheel having cavities for receiving the clips. The clips are inverted by rotating the wheel. The clips are pushed into ligating clip cartridge covers by an insertion blade. The cartridge cover is indexed by an automatic control system to receive the clips. A cartridge base is inserted into the cover after it has been loaded with clips to form the assembled cartridge.

Abstract: An apparatus for successively securing a plurality of small bags to a first belt-like member via an adhesive layer is provided including a transportation path for transporting the plurality of small bags, one by one, towards said first belt-like member and an attaching apparatus for simultaneously attaching a plurality of small bags on the transportation path to the first belt-like member along the feeding direction of the first belt-like member. The attaching apparatus includes a stopper which stops the small bag in the middle of the transportation path and a pusher which compresses the small bag so stopped to the adhesive layer of the first belt-like member. A plurality of the attaching apparatuses are provided along the transportation path. In one embodiment of the invention, the stopper includes an end plate to block the transportation path, a side plate to pivot the end plate towards the transportation path, and an axis to support the side plate in a rotatable manner.

Abstract: This invention relates to a medical powder filling machine, especially a medical powder filling machine which can control the filling amount of powder by means of a non-step speed mechanism, the powder hopper mouth of the medical powder filling machine being controlled by a limit switch, the limit switch would start a motor to make the powder in the powder hopper to be filled into medical capsules when the powder hopper covering the whole medical capsule dish so as to get the same amount of medical powder in each medical capsule, furthermore the medical powder filling machine having an automatic powder filler which can fill the powder into a mold cavity of the medical capsule dish accurately by means of an intermittent movement of the medical capsule dish, in addition, the rotation speed of the powder filler and the stirrer for powder hopper being controlled by a control box, and the medicine dish motor being controlled by a non-step speed motor so as to avoid complex gear assembly.

Abstract: A suture winder machine and, more particularly, a semi-automated suture winding station of the machine adapted to facilitate the high-speed winding of multiple sutures, which are each attached to needles, into a peripheral channel of a tray utilized for packaging the needles and attached sutures. A substantially flat suture tray loaded with multiple needles and sutures extending therefrom is mounted on a rotatable platform incorporating registration structure for ensuring the appropriate mounting and positioning of the suture tray thereon, and with the winding machine containing operative structure adapted to rotate the suture tray about an axis perpendicular to the planar surface thereof so as to enable the extending multiple sutures to be bundled and wound for depositing in a channel formed along the periphery of the suture tray.

Abstract: A suture winder machine and, more particularly, a semi-automated suture winding station of the machine adapted to facilitate the high-speed winding of multiple sutures, which are each attached to needles, into a peripheral channel of a tray utilized for packaging the needles and attached sutures. A substantially flat suture tray loaded with multiple needles and sutures extending therefrom is mounted on a rotatable platform incorporating registration structure for ensuring the appropriate mounting and positioning of the suture tray thereon, and with the winding machine containing operative structure adapted to rotate the suture tray about an axis perpendicular to the planar surface thereof so as to enable the extending multiple sutures to be bundled and wound for depositing in a channel formed along the periphery of the suture tray.

Abstract: A ribbon-like flat web having a plurality of side by side depressions is fed through a horizontal slot having a downward facing surface having an aperture communicating with a reservoir of reagent containing solution. The web is urged against the downward facing surface to provide sealing as the solution is fed into the upward facing depressions. The aperture communicating with the reservoir is profiled as a parallelogram having a leading edge which is oblique to the direction of movement. After emerging from the dispensing apparatus the exposed solution is dried in hot air, followed by spray application of a second solution, further drying in hot air, and application of a backing to form capillary chambers. The method is especially useful for manufacturing coagulation assays having magnetic particles and thromboplastin.

Abstract: In a device for conveying and processing packs for liquids, a feed conveyer is provided. The device further includes processing stations, including processing stations for filling and closing of the packs, arranged sequentially, the feed conveyor feeding packs to the processing stations. The device includes a removal conveyer for removing processed packs from the device. The device includes a first main conveyer device, the first main conveyer device being a one-step vertical conveyer device and having at least one vertically movable bridge with at least one horizontally arranged support rod for transporting a plurality of packs simultaneously, and a second main conveyer device, the second main conveyer device being a one-step horizontal displacement device. The first and the second main conveyer devices have a common conveyance position at a bottom one of two conveyance positions of the first main conveyer device.

Abstract: An automated machine for the high-speed packaging of multiple surgical needles each with an attached suture into a tray and detachable cover structure providing a suture package utilized for the packaging of the needles and attached sutures. Additionally, the automated packaging machine incorporates operative mechanism adapted to wind the sutures into a peripheral channel of the tray and facilitating the attachment of the cover to the tray which contains the needles and attached wound sutures, and from which cover there is concurrently formed a separate product-identifying label as a component of the tray upon removal of the cover to gain access to the contents of the tray.

Abstract: Method and device for manufacturing a thermally insulated container (1) for storing and transporting material such as vaccine, biological material and the like requiring a substantial constant temperature during a substantial period of time, the container comprising an insulated first can-shaped vessel (2) filled with a solid-to-liquid phase transforming refrigerant material (5). In a first step of the method a multilayer insulation is baked under vacuum and arranged about said first vessel (2) by wrapping so that it encloses said first vessel on all sides, in a second step said first vessel is inserted under vacuum into an outer vessel, in a third step the bottom part (18) and the cover part (19) of the container are welded together under vacuum.

Abstract: The bases and caps are aligned in two stages, with displacement by first pointed pushers (13-31) into corresponding calibrated horizontal channels (12-29) followed by displacement by second pushers (21-44) into corresponding calibrated vertical and descending channels (312-329). The second pusher (21) pushes the bases horizontally into the wider terminal part (20) of the descending channel, where the base is sucked by its sealed end and inserted into the corresponding supporting socket (1), with a vertical disposition and with the opening upwards. The second pusher (44), operating with the caps, acts on the intermediate parts of these with a point (144) which causes the caps to rotate with the opening downwards and transfers them with a vertical disposition into the wider terminal part (42) of the descending channel where the cap is held by a suction tube (46) which inserts it into the corresponding supporting socket (2).

Abstract: In a machine for closing a filled bottle wherein a bottle is removed from the filling valve of a filling device and closed in a closing device by placing and flanging a crown cap to the bottle's opening to permit a tight closing of the bottle in a simple way and within the shortest time possible, the crown cap which is kept ready in the closing device and a closing tool which is used for flanging the crown cap are positioned in a positioning phase between bottle's opening and the filling valve to immediately close the filled bottle, and the crown cap is then placed on the bottle opening without pressure being exerted on the top thereof, and the closing phase is then initiated.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved process for the filling and closing of vessels, preferably of bottles with a liquid, in which vessels filled in a filling means are closed with a closure element with the deformation of the closure element or/and the vessel and with the formation of a sealing press fit between the vessel and the closure element and a device for carrying out the process. The process according to the invention is characterized in that the closure element is affixed with a low sealing pressing pressure to form a sealing press fit in a first closing phase and the final sealing pressing pressure is produced in a second closing phase.

Abstract: Apparatus for fabricating blister packs comprising a first support for a web of plastic material located at the input end of the apparatus; a feeder to feed the web of plastic material along a path of travel through the apparatus to the output end thereof; a former means along the path of travel to form wells in a conveyed web of plastic material; dispensers means along the path of travel to dispense pills into the wells; a second support for a web of rupturable material located above the linear path of travel to feed rupturable material onto the plastic material for movement therewith in a two part laminate; a tray for a stack of cards laterally offset from the path of travel; a conveyor to sequentially feed cards from the support means to a location adjacent to the web of plastic material and then into contact therewith; a coupler along the path of travel to couple the plastic material with the cards to form a three part laminate; and a cutter along the linear path of travel to cut the laminate for forming

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a container filled with a product is disclosed. The container has a substantially tubular body portion of thin-walled plastic or laminated plastic material and a butt-weldable end-piece at each end of the body portion. A first end-piece is fitted to one end of the body portion and the product is introduced into the container via the open end of the body portion, a second end-piece 13 is introduced into the open body portion end to an intermediate position at which it partially projects into the body portion, and the plastic material of the body portion end region and the second end-piece is softened through application of heat energy. The end-piece by means of relative displacement between it and the body portion, is pressed into the body portion to its terminal position during evacuation of air from the interior of the container via an opening in the end-piece and the opening is thereafter heat-sealed.

Abstract: A capsule handling system is formed of a loader component and an opener/encapsulater component. The system can handle different sized capsules, and has interchangeable parts so that a compounding pharmacist can conveniently produce a variety of distinct filled capsules, on the order of a prescribing medical professional to meet the unique needs of patients.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for encapsulating small articles such as medicines in caplet or cylindrical form are disclosed. Gelatin half capsules are formed on the pins of pin blocks and are delivered to a station at which they are trimmed and fitted over the opposite ends of the product to be encapsulated. The capsule halves are first dried to a condition in which they have about 20 wt. % moisture and are thereafter press fitted over the ends of the caplets and allowed to dry to shrink fit tightly onto the caplets making it virtually impossible to remove them from their gelatin coverings without leaving visible evidence of tampering. The finished product has a smoother outer surface which lends itself to overprinting.

Abstract: An automated apparatus and method for filling a container with a fluid. This apparatus is particularly well suited for the filling of relatively large containers of the type that utilize removable, threaded plugs for gaining access into the containers. For such containers, the apparatus can perform the tasks usually involved in the typical filling operation (e.g., aligning, opening, fluid dispensing, closing and sealing the container). Such automated tasks are especially relevant when dealing with fluids which are toxic, inclined to foaming or likely to mix readily with the surrounding gaseous environment. The apparatus includes a container transport system to coordinate the movement of a container between and its interaction with the following task oriented assemblies: bung alignment, kicker, bung cap handling, fluid dispensing, and sealing cap installation.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing vacuum blood collecting tubes comprises a pinhole checker for checking the bottom portion of each of bottomed tubular containers for pinholes, a sprayer for spraying a blood coagulant to the inner surface of the container, an injector for injecting a serum separating agent into the container, an evacuating-closing device for evacuating the interior of the container and applying a stopper to an opening of the container, and container transport devices between these components.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a sealed and filled container in which a preform of crystallizable plastic material having a body, a closed bottom portion and an open mouth portion is filled with the goods to be sealed therein whereafter a mechanical forming and thermocrystallizing tool is applied against the closed bottom of the preform, with pressure, to reshape the bottom of the preform by displacing at least a portion of the bottom of the preform inwardly of the body towards the open mouth of the preform. The tool is heated so that the temperature of the bottom portion is greater than the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the plastic material and the tool is maintained in contact with the bottom portion during its reshaping for a length of time sufficient for the plastic material to obtain a total crystallization of at least 15%. The open mouth portion is sealed to produce a sealed and filled container.

Abstract: A method for applying an end plate to a container body includes applying a heated end blank made of deformable material to one end of the container body and creating a pressure difference between the two sides of the end blank to seal the edges of the end blank to the edges of the container body. The apparatus for applying an end plate to a container body includes a jacket having a chamber into which the container body can be fitted. A vacuum source is provided at one end of the jacket and a lid or clamping device is located at the opposite end of the jacket. The chamber into which the container body is fitted is not as deep as the container body so that when the container body is fitted into the chamber, the upper edges of the container body extend above the surface of the jacket. In that, the end blank can be applied to the container body and thereafter, the clamping device is used to clamp the end blank between the upper edge of the jacket and the clamping device.

Abstract: An automatic capsule filling apparatus includes a body holding ring and a superposed cap holding ring mounted on a ring carrier. The body holding ring includes rows of body cavities for holding a body portion of a capsule. A vacuum line is connected to an orifice in the bottom of each body cavity for retaining capsule body portions. The cap holding ring is superposed thereover and has corresponding cap cavities for receiving preassembled capsules. The cap holding ring includes a lip for engaging the cap portion when the cap holding ring is lifted from the vacuum-retained body holding ring, thereby removing the cap. The preassembled capsules are properly oriented and inserted into the rings row-by-row by a capsule rectifier. Once the rings are filled with capsules, the body holding ring vacuum is utilized to retain the capsule body portions, and the cap holding ring is lifted from the body holding ring to remove the caps from all of the preassembled empty capsules.

Abstract: An annular container mounted at the base of a passage between a layering tube and a central mandrel is charged with a layered tube of flexible tubing delivered over a floating mandrel when coaxially in contact with mandrel by driving rollers coacting with pinch rollers on the floating mandrel. The tubing passes over the mandrel and gathers in the layering tube while being compacted by two sets of shoes reciprocated 180.degree. out of phase by rotating discs and connecting rods. When sufficient tubing has been delivered the floating mandrel is raised to enable a hot wire to pass between the mandrels to sever the tubing. The layering tube and central mandrel with the container can then be carried by a turntable through further stationary positions where the layered tubing is further compressed by reciprocable rings, a lid is put on the container to form a cassette and the cassette is discharged.