Glass Receptacle, E.g., Ampoule Patents (Class 53/284.6)
  • Patent number: 8720164
    Abstract: An apparatus for closing containers includes a movable closing head for applying closures to the containers and is arranged in the interior of a sterile chamber of the apparatus and arranged to move in a longitudinal direction (L) of the containers to be closed. At least one wall is provided which delimits the sterile chamber, wherein the closing device is arranged on a carrier which is arranged partially inside the sterile chamber and partially outside the sterile chamber, and extends through the wall and moves in the longitudinal direction (L) relative to the wall. Arranged in the interior of the sterile chamber is a first sealing element which is elastic in the longitudinal direction (L) and which seals off from the sterile chamber a region of the outer periphery of the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Klaus Buchhauser, Guenter Frankenberger
  • Patent number: 8689525
    Abstract: A machine (M) for filling and capping vials (F), comprising, arranged in a cascade fashion: a supply station (1) of empty vials (F); an Archimedes screw (2) having a rotation axis parallel to a longitudinal development of the machine (M), supplied with the vials (F) in arrival from the supply station (1); a device (D) for disengaging a predetermined number of vials (F) from the screw (2), activated in phase relation with the screw (2), and for transferring the vials (F) transversally; a comb conveyor (3), step-moved and designed to receive the predetermined number of vials (F) from the device (D); a filling station (6, 7), designed for introduction of a liquid solution contemporaneously into a plurality of vials (F); a capping station (10, 11) for contemporaneously sealing a plurality of vials (F); an outlet zone (U) for conveying the vials (F) out of the operating line of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Marchesini Group S.p.A.
    Inventor: Giuseppe Monti
  • Patent number: 8375684
    Abstract: An apparatus for closing containers includes a movable closing head for applying closures to the containers and is arranged in the interior of a sterile chamber of the apparatus and arranged to move in a longitudinal direction (L) of the containers to be closed. At least one wall is provided which delimits the sterile chamber, wherein the closing device is arranged on a carrier which is arranged partially inside the sterile chamber and partially outside the sterile chamber, and extends through the wall and moves in the longitudinal direction (L) relative to the wall. Arranged in the interior of the sterile chamber is a first sealing element which is elastic in the longitudinal direction (L) and which seals off from the sterile chamber a region of the outer periphery of the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Klaus Buchhauser, Guenter Frankenberger
  • Patent number: 8356461
    Abstract: An apparatus for washing, filling, and sealing a container includes an enclosure having an opening for receiving a container. The apparatus may include a rotary assembly, a wash station, a rinse station, a fill station, and a seal station all contained within the enclosure. The rotary assembly may include any number of racks for carrying the containers. The rotary assembly advances (e.g., about an axis) and facilitates the washing, filling, and sealing of the containers within the enclosure. The apparatus may be employed in a method for washing, rinsing, filling, and sealing containers within an enclosure. The method may be conducted consecutively. The steps of washing, filling, and sealing are conducted simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: H2Local, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Pompei Cedrone
  • Patent number: 8341922
    Abstract: The machine, either in a version for open vials or in one for closed vials, has a cantilevered architecture such that at the sides of the relative conveyor line of the vials there is a substantially vertical air passage gap developing in a downwards direction and connected with a conveyor which opens into an air outlet facing externally of the machine and positioned considerably below the conveyor line. The operating organs of the machine, among which the conveyor line, are inserted in a chamber having a controlled atmosphere, to which means for forced ventilation are associated, which means generate a laminar flow of air directed from above in a downwards direction. The part of the laminar flow, which strikes the sides of the conveyor line and the vials present therein, enters, without perturbation, the air passage gap and exits from the air outlet; thus entry of polluting particles into the inlet of the vials is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: CO.RI.M.A. S.r.l.
    Inventor: Dario Anatrini
  • Patent number: 8161715
    Abstract: A packaging device for packaging a foodstuff within a receptacle includes an inerting unit having an empty zone, walls of the empty zone configured to receive an upper portion of the receptacle, and the walls being made of a porous material capable of passing an inert gas under pressure, and a closure means retractably disposed above the inerting unit, wherein the inerting unit is configured to pass the inert gas through the walls and into the receptacle, and the closure means is configured to retractably extend into the empty zone to seal the passed inert gas within a headspace volume of the upper portion of the receptacle disposed the foodstuff.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: 1/4 VIN
    Inventors: Pascal Carvin, Christian Mura
  • Patent number: 8151831
    Abstract: Containers for packaging liquid or powder products are directed onto a carousel (1) presenting a support element (9) equipped with a number of peripheral stations (10), each accommodating a relative container (2), and set in rotation about a vertical axis (X) by a drive system (6) housed internally of floor-standing frame (5) on which the carousel (1) is mounted. The support element (9) presents substantially disc-like appearance and is hollow, composed of a top panel (11) and a bottom panel (12) distanced one from another in such a way as to create an annular chamber (13) between the two panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche A.C.M.A. S.p.A.
    Inventors: Gianpietro Zanini, Marco Baroni
  • Patent number: 7980046
    Abstract: An apparatus for filling a container includes an enclosure (11) having an opening for receiving a container (14). The apparatus may include a shuttle assembly (15), a wash station (20), a fill station (21), and a seal station (16) contained within the enclosure (11). The shuttle assembly (15) may include a frame structure (23) and a shuttle (22). The shuttle (22) may advance along a path of travel and facilitate the washing, filling, and sealing of the container (14). The apparatus may be employed in a method for consecutively washing, filling, and sealing at least one container in an enclosed housing. The method includes the steps of providing at least one container, washing the container, filling the container, and sealing the container. The method may be conducted along a path of travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: H2Local, Inc.
    Inventors: Ali Reza Yousefpour, Robert Wesley Brown, Daniel Pompei Cedrone
  • Patent number: 7930867
    Abstract: Low-speed inerting elements for depleting a receptacle of oxygen, include at least one hollow duct (2232), with walls (2233) of the hollow duct (2232) that are directed towards the receptacle (31) being made of a material including pores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: 1/4 VIN
    Inventors: Pascal Carvin, Christian Mura
  • Publication number: 20100083613
    Abstract: A beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage material having a filling machine. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Inventor: Dieter-Rudolf KRULITSCH
  • Patent number: 7685797
    Abstract: A beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage filling material, a container filling plant container information adding station, such as, a labeling station, configured to add information to containers, such as, bottles and cans, and modules for labeling stations proposed a labeling machine. Each module comprises a first coupling structure to permit interchangeable position of a module at one of a plurality of second coupling structures. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: KHS Maschinen- und Anlagenbau AG
    Inventor: Heinz-Michael Zwilling
  • Patent number: 7430842
    Abstract: For the prevention of contamination of a vial with traces of medicinal fluids, for example cytostatics and antibiotics, which may be spilt on the outside of the vial while filling, the vial is provided with a tight-fitting protective envelope, preferably made of a transparent synthetic material, as a last step in the production process. Because of this, a possible contamination which remains on the outside of the vial is encapsulated between the vial and the envelope. Hereby, a user is no longer exposed to toxic substances, because the user will not touch the vial itself, but will touch the envelope. An additional advantage of the provision of the envelope is that if breaking of the vial occurs, the envelope will keep the pieces of broken glass together and will possibly prevent the medicinal fluid from leaking away.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Pharmachemie B.V.
    Inventor: Dick De Vos
  • Patent number: 7421833
    Abstract: In the case of nested containers to be filled by a filling station, a gripping device grasps an entire row of empty containers and conveys it to a weighing station, where the containers are weighed. Following weighing, all containers of the row are simultaneously filled and then reweighed. The containers are then reinserted into the nest and sealed, without being refilled, which allows checking the operation of the filling station without wasting product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: inova pharma systems GmbH
    Inventors: Juergen Rothbauer, Bernd Laukenmann
  • Patent number: 7328558
    Abstract: A beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage filling material, a container filling plant container information adding station, such as, a labeling station, configured to add information to containers, such as, bottles and cans, and modules for labeling stations proposed a labeling machine. Each module comprises a first coupling structure to permit interchangeable position of a module at one of a plurality of second coupling structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: KHS Maschinen- und Anlagenbau AG
    Inventor: Heinz-Michael Zwilling
  • Publication number: 20070277482
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for inserting a previously compressed resilient stopper into a bottle and includes a plunger unit having a protrusion; a compressor having a first and second portion with the first portion having a first cavity that has a first aperture and a second aperture and with the second portion having a centering guide. The protrusion has a protrusion length sufficient to push the stopper along the first cavity so as to partially insert the stopper into a mouth of the bottle when the mouth is held against the centering guide. The first cavity has a dimension that compresses the stopper so that it fits into the mouth of the bottle when the stopper is pushed along the first cavity, while permitting the extraction of the compressor away from the stopper and the bottle without extracting the stopper from the mouth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Applicant: LLOYDCO, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Lloyd, Jerome A. Carlson
  • Patent number: 7146781
    Abstract: In a system and method for packaging sensitive materials, such as parenteral medications, the materials are reliably packaged by being inserted into an uncontaminated reservoir without being contaminated during such packaging. The reservoir is a component of a container assembly that also includes an uncontaminated sleeve and an uncontaminated film. There is an opening at the top of the reservoir. A lower portion of the sleeve extends from the reservoir opening and an upper portion of the sleeve is sealed by the film. The container assembly is moved into an uncontaminated filling chamber within a confined structure; whereupon the film is penetrated to break the seal and thereby open a passage through the sleeve to the reservoir opening. While the container assembly is still within the filling chamber the sensitive material is inserted into the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Inventor: Nathan Albert Cole
  • Patent number: 7013624
    Abstract: A beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage filling material, a container filling plant container information adding station, such as, a labeling station, configured to add information to containers, such as, bottles and cans, and modules for labeling stations proposed a labeling machine. Each module comprises a first coupling structure to permit interchangeable position of a module at one of a plurality of second coupling structures. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: KHS Maschinen- und Anlagenbau AG
    Inventor: Heinz-Michael Zwilling
  • Patent number: 6910317
    Abstract: In an airtight chamber in an atmosphere under a desired degree of evacuation to be generated by use of a vacuum pump, there are provided an ampoule holder, which can hold at an upright position, a plurality of ampoules with an open upper portion faced upward, a stage for putting the ampoule holder thereon, a melt-sealing unit for the upper portion of each of the ampoules, and a transfer unit, which catches an ampoule held in the ampoule holder, transfers the ampoule to the melt-sealing unit, catches again the ampoule melt-sealed by the melt-sealing unit and transfers the melt-sealed ampoule to the ampoule holder to hold the ampoule therein. The ampoule holder and the stage are made of metal having a good thermal conduction. There is provided a temperature controller for the stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Inventors: Ken-ichiro Suzuki, Sugao Kato, Kenzo Takagi
  • Patent number: 6796108
    Abstract: The method comprises viewing by of a magnetic recording camera the zone for the opening of vials and for metered filling thereof and continuously recording the zones visually during the operation of the installation and simultaneously carrying out the identification marking of each full glass container, with indelible marking means, at the outlet of the installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Probitas Pharma S.A.
    Inventors: Javier Jorba Ribes, José R. Sanchez Sabate, Ramón Morales Pérez
  • Publication number: 20030172628
    Abstract: In an airtight chamber in an atmosphere under a desired degree of evacuation to be generated by use of a vacuum pump, there are provided an ampoule holder, which can hold at an upright position, a plurality of ampoules with an open upper portion faced upward, a stage for putting the ampoule holder thereon, a melt-sealing unit for the upper portion of each of the ampoules, and a transfer unit, which catches an ampoule held in the ampoule holder, transfers the ampoule to the melt-sealing unit, catches again the ampoule melt-sealed by the melt-sealing unit and transfers the melt-sealed ampoule to the ampoule holder to hold the ampoule therein. The ampoule holder and the stage are made of metal having a good thermal conduction. There is provided a temperature controller for the stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2003
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Applicant: Kenzo Takagi
    Inventors: Ken-ichiro Suzuki, Sugao Kato, Kenzo Takagi
  • Patent number: RE38747
    Abstract: Apparatus for filling sterile containers is disclosed which defines an elongated but narrow sterile zone in which a number of operating stations are disposed. An elongated vertical wall is armed by an elongated frame and a cabinet type enclosure cooperates with the vertical wall to define the sterile zone. The plurality of operating stations are disposed in sequential relation over the length of the sterile zone, and an elongated container conveyor is disposed within the sterile zone to convey the containers through the plurality of operating stations. The conveyer is vertically oriented, consisting an endless belt mounted on end wheels that rotate on horizontal axes. Each of the operating stations includes an operating portion disposed within the sterile zone. Actuating means are included for each of the operating stations as well as the elongated conveys, each of which is disposed outside the sterile zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Robert Bosch Packaging Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Theodore W. Jagger
  • Patent number: RE37471
    Abstract: Apparatus for filling sterile containers is disclosed which defines an elongated but narrow sterile zone in which a number of operating stations are disposed. An elongated vertical wall is carried by an elongated frame and a cabinet type enclosure cooperates with the vertical wall to define the sterile zone. The plurality of operating stations are disposed in sequential relation over the length of the sterile zone, and an elongated container conveyor is disposed within the sterile zone to convey the containers through the plurality of operating stations. The conveyor is vertically oriented, consisting an endless belt mounted on end wheels that rotate on horizontal axes. Each of the operating stations includes an operating portion disposed within the sterile zone. Actuating means are included for each of the operating stations as well as the elongated conveyor, each of which is disposed outside the sterile zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2001
    Assignee: Robert Bosch Packaging Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Theodore W. Jagger