초록 ▼

An apparatus and a method for capping and sealing a vial with a cap assembly including a deformable annular seal, e.g., a ferrule, is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a base for holding the vial, a pressure applying platen, plural sealing rollers and associated electronic circuitry and motors. The

An apparatus and a method for capping and sealing a vial with a cap assembly including a deformable annular seal, e.g., a ferrule, is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a base for holding the vial, a pressure applying platen, plural sealing rollers and associated electronic circuitry and motors. The platen is arranged to be moved relative to the base, whereupon it engages and applies a force to the cap assembly. The load cell measures the force applied and provides a signal indicative thereof to the electronic circuitry. The electronic circuitry determines when a desired amount of force has been applied to control the operation of the rollers, whereupon the rollers apply a force to the annular seal to permanently crimp the annular seal on the vial.

대표청구항 ▼

1. Apparatus for capping and sealing a vial with a cap, the vial comprising a hollow body having an opening to the interior thereof and a flanged neck surrounding the opening, the flanged neck having an undersurface, the cap comprising an elastomeric stopper arranged for disposition within the openi

1. Apparatus for capping and sealing a vial with a cap, the vial comprising a hollow body having an opening to the interior thereof and a flanged neck surrounding the opening, the flanged neck having an undersurface, the cap comprising an elastomeric stopper arranged for disposition within the opening in the vial and an annular seal arranged to be crimped around and tightly engage the flanged neck of the vial to hold the stopper in place, said apparatus comprising a base and a carriage, said carriage comprising a first member, a second member, a shaft, a platen, a load cell and at least one roller, said platen being secured to said shaft, said first member being secured to said shaft, said shaft being movable with respect to said carriage, said second member being fixed with respect to said carriage, said load cell being mounted between said first member and said second member, said base being arranged to receive the vial thereon with the vial oriented so that the neck of the vial confronts said platen, at least one of said base and said carriage being arranged to be move with respect to each other whereupon said platen is moved towards said base after the stopper is located in the opening of the vial to cause said platen to engage and apply a force to the stopper to drive the stopper into the opening of the vial, whereupon said load cell is squeezed between said first member and said second member to provide a signal indicative of the force applied to the stopper, said apparatus being arranged to halt the relative movement between said platen and said base when said signal provided by said load cell indicates the application of a desired force to the cap to thereby firmly seat the stopper within the opening in the vial and to cause said at least one roller to apply a force to the annular seal to crimp the annular seal on the neck of the vial to hold the stopper in place within the opening in the vial and thereby seal the vial. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first member comprises a plate that is arranged to be adjustably secured to said shaft. 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said shaft comprises at threaded member and wherein said first member is threadedly secured to said shaft. 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said carriage is movable and is arranged to be moved toward and away from said base. 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said base is movable and arranged to be moved toward and away from said platen. 6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said base is movable and arranged to be moved toward and away from said platen. 7. A method for capping and sealing a vial with a cap, said vial comprising a hollow body having an opening to the interior thereof and a flanged neck surrounding the opening, the flanged neck having an undersurface, said cap comprising an elastomeric stopper and an annular seal arranged to be crimped around and tightly engage said flanged neck of said vial to hold said stopper in place, said method comprising: disposing said vial on a base and under a platen so that the neck of said vial confronts said platen, said platen forming a portion of a carriage, said carriage additionally comprising a first member, a second member, a shaft, a load cell and at least one roller, said platen being secured to said shaft, said first member being secured to said shaft, said shaft being movable with respect to said carriage, said second member being fixed with respect to said carriage, said load cell being mounted between said first member and said second member;disposing a stopper in said opening in said vial and disposing an annular seal about said stopper and said neck of said vial;moving at least one of said base and said carriage with respect to each other so that said platen applies a force to said stopper to drive said stopper into said opening, whereupon said load cell is squeezed between said first member and said second member to provide a signal indicative of the force applied to the stopper;halting the relative movement of said carriage with respect to said base when said load indicates that a desired amount of force has been applied to said stopper to cause said stopper to be firmly seated within said opening in said vial; andutilizing said at least one roller to apply a force to said annular seal to crimp said annular seal on said neck of said vial to hold said stopper in place within said opening in said vial and thereby seal said vial. 8. The method of claim 7 wherein said base is movable and is moved toward said platen to apply the desired amount of force to said stopper. 9. The method of claim 7 wherein said carriage is movable and is moved toward said base to apply the desired amount of force to said stopper. 10. The method of claim 7 wherein both said carriage and said base are movable and are moved toward each other to apply the desired amount of force to said stopper.