Patent ID: 8789347
Filing Date: 2014-07-29
Classification: B65B

Abstract:
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.