Abstract:
An apparatus and method for applying a cap member to a receptacle or container. The apparatus and method are particularly suitable for use in placing the cap member, including a bail, snugly onto the end of a receptacle adapted to contain a pharmaceutical agent.

Description:
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 604,706, filed on Oct. 26, 1990, now abandoned. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention pertains generally to an apparatus and method for placing a cap on an end of a receptacle or container. More particularly, the invention relates to the apparatus and method for applying a cap member, supporting a bail, to an end of a receptacle of the type widely used in hospitals. The receptacle is particularly suited to contain a pharmaceutical agent, with the receptacle in use being inverted and suspended by the bail during administration of a pharmaceutical product to a patient. 
     A hospital intravenous (I.V.) bottle is commonly provided with a bail, or hanger, so that the bottle can be suspended upside down during fluid dispensing. The bail must be secured to the base of the bottle. One method previously used for the placement of bail members, commonly made of plastic, on the bottom of I.V. bottles was manual. A person would pick up a bottle individually and force the bottle into a bail supporting cap resting on a table top or other flat surface. This procedure was tedious and time consuming. Consequently, the manual bail placement method was automated using machinery. However, the mechanized method in principle functioned in much the same manner as the manual version, that is, forcing a bottle into a cap supported on a flat surface. 
     In an effort to overcome the deficiencies of prior bail applying devices and methods, the present apparatus and method was devised. The present inventive device and method is compact and efficient and employs the principle of rotary motion and an inclined surface. A rotating platform or starwheel is used to move a receptacle into contact with a bail supporting cap member located on the inclined surface. The rotary starwheel, having chamfered pockets to apply both lateral and downward force to the receptacle, moves both the receptacle and cap causing the cap to move up the inclined surface and become seated on the receptacle. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed toward an apparatus for applying an end cap member to a receptacle comprising means for moving the receptacle from a first position to a second position in a first plane, a first surface located intermediate the first and second positions defining a second plane having a first portion spaced from the first plane, with the second plane extending from the first portion toward the first plane generally in the direction of receptacle movement, the cap member being positioned on the surface and with the cap member being configured for receiving an end of the receptacle, and means for moving the receptacle and the cap member, with the receptacle being positioned for receipt within the cap member, along the first surface wherein the cap member and the receptacle are pressed snugly into engagement. The cap member is generally cup-shaped and includes a bottom wall and a side wall having an inner surface with means for engaging complementary means disposed on the receptacle. The cap member supports a bail member. The apparatus further includes means for capturing and for substantially maintaining the receptacle in a predetermined orientation. The apparatus also includes a second surface which contacts the receptacle for substantially restraining the receptacle against movement in a plane substantially perpendicular to the first plane. 
     The invention in another aspect embodies a first surface having a first slope, means for advancing a receptacle along the first surface, a second surface having a second slope, with the second surface being stepped down from the first surface at a first location along the first surface and with the second surface sloping upwardly from the first location in the direction traveled by the advancing receptacle, a cap member being positioned on the second surface proximate the first location, with the cap member being configured to receive therein an end of the receptacle, and means for advancing the receptacle, aligned for receipt within the cap member, and the cap member along the second surface wherein the cap member is pressed snugly onto the receptacle. The first surface might have a substantially horizontal slope and the apparatus might include means for maintaining the receptacle substantially vertical. The cap member, being of cup-shaped configuration, might include a flexible bail member formed in a bottom wall thereof. Additionally, the apparatus might include a third surface, being beveled, for contacting a shoulder portion of the receptacle and for substantially restraining the receptacle against movement in a plane substantially perpendicular to the first surface. 
     Additionally, further embodied within the scope of the invention is a method of applying an end cap member to a receptacle according to the steps of supplying a receptacle at a first location, advancing the receptacle along a pathway to a second location, at the second location, supplying a cap member being configured to receive therein an end of the receptacle and being positioned on a surface extending toward the pathway and sloping in the direction of receptacle advancement, aligning the receptacle and the cap member, positioning the receptacle for receipt within the cap member, and advancing along the surface the aligned receptacle and cap member and pressing the receptacle and the cap member into snug engagement. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic, top plan view, with a cut-away section, of a bail applicator in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged, partial, perspective view showing a portion of the elements depicted in FIG. 1 and particularly illustrating a receptacle, a supply of bail supporting cap members, and a cap member positioned below the receptacle prior to alignment of the receptacle and the cap member. 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3--3 of the applicator shown in FIG. 1 and showing a first receptacle with a cap member snugly placed thereon and a second receptacle and cap member in alignment prior to coupling. 
     FIG. 4 is a view like that depicted in FIG. 3 and showing the first receptacle in another position, the second receptacle in alignment just prior to placement of the cap thereon, and a third receptacle and cap member positioned to begin the coupling sequence anew. 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged, partial view illustrating the receptacle, in an inverted position, with the cap member securely attached and further showing a bail formed in the bottom wall of the cap member. 
     FIG. 6 illustrates the receptacle, with attached cap member and bail, suspended for use during patient administration of a pharmaceutical agent. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The description herein presented refers to the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views. Referring to FIG. 1, in accordance with the principles of the present invention, there is illustrated a top plan view schematic of bail applicator 10. Also included in this view are platforms 12 and 13 which rotate about spindle 14 in the direction indicated by arrow R. A motor, not shown, is used to impart motion to the platforms. Further depicted is trackway 16 with rails 18 guiding an inlet supply of receptacles or containers 20. Additionally shown is supply chute 22 having rails 24 and guide finger 25 for directing an inlet feed of end cap members 26. In this view, sequentially, receptacle 20 is fed to inlet location A and advanced toward location B along surface 28, substantially horizontal in this embodiment, by rotating platform 12 having receptacle contacting edge 30 and receptacle receiving pocket 32. Platform 13, in the preferred embodiment, also assists in guiding receptacle 20 as will be better seen in FIGS. 2-4. At location B, end cap member 26 is fed into aligned position beneath receptacle 20 for subsequent placement thereon as the combination receptacle and cap member is advanced toward location C wherein the rotating platforms release the receptacle. Thereafter, the finished product leaves the bail applying apparatus at location D. 
     Turning now to FIG. 2, location B is shown therein in greater detail. Specifically, there is illustrated receptacle 20, a supply of bail supporting cap members 26 and a cap member positioned on surface 34 below receptacle 20, sitting on surface 28, prior to alignment of the receptacle and the cap member. Also shown in this view, in greater detail, are platform 13 which, like platform 12, rotates about spindle 14, pocket 38 disposed in platform 13 and contacting outer wall 40 of receptacle 20, and beveled surface 42 of pocket 32 which contacts shoulder portion 44 of the receptacle. The primary function of pocket 38 in platform 13 is to substantially maintain receptacle 20 in a predetermined orientation. Here the orientation is substantially vertical and substantially perpendicular to substantially horizontal surface 28. It should here be understood that the bail applicator can also be functional without rotating platform 13 but, that in the preferred embodiment, platform 13 is included. As will be shown in greater detail in subsequent views, beveled surface 42 of pocket 32, upon bearing against shoulder 44 of receptacle 20, functions to limit movement of the receptacle. Here movement is restricted upwardly in the vertical direction. Further shown are bottom edge 46 and recess 48 of receptacle 20 and projecting segment 50, inner surface 51 and bottom wall 52 of end cap member 26. The next two drawing figures will better illustrate the bail applicator and its function. 
     Now turning to FIG. 3, there is shown a line of sight taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows. The rightmost receptacle, no longer in contact with surface 28, is in contact with and positioned for receipt within cap member 26. Pockets 32 and 38 will control the movement of the receptacle in the horizontal direction indicated by the arrows. The rightmost receptacle will be moved to the leftmost position by rotation of platforms 12 and 13. The receptacle and cap member will together move from right to left up surface 34 to the leftmost position shown where vertical movement of the receptacle will be limited by the bearing of beveled surface 42 of pocket 32 on shoulder 44 as shown at location designation 54. Projecting segment 50 of end cap member 26 will slide over bottom edge 46 of receptacle 20 and snap fit into recess 48. The maximum force exerted on the receptacle and cap member to press the receptacle and the cap member into snug engagement is generated when the combination is on surface 56 at the leftmost position in this view. Thereafter, the coupled receptacle and cap member is further advanced to a location on surface 58 (FIG. 4) wherein beveled surface 42 is no longer exerting a force against shoulder 44. The combination is then still further moved along to location C (FIG. 1) wherein it is released from the rotating platforms and guided for exit from the system at location D (FIG. 1). 
     FIG. 4 is a view much like that of FIG. 3. Therein shown on surface 58 is a capped receptacle at the leftmost location. A receptacle and end cap member is shown at the middle location being moved up the ramp surface 34 for receptacle and cap coupling. A third receptacle on surface 28 at the rightmost location is shown being moved forward for positioning to engage a cap member resting on the sloping surface 34. 
     FIG. 5 illustrates a partial, inverted view of receptacle 20 with end cap member 26 securely attached thereto. Also shown in this view, is flexible bail member 60 disposed in bottom wall 52 of the end cap member. FIG. 6 illustrates the coupled receptacle and bail supporting end cap member in a typical use position. In this view, bail 60 has been rotated to the position shown and is hung over a curved end of support pole 62 wherein fluid is delivered from receptacle 20 to patient P via tubing 64. 
     The device of the present invention in the preferred embodiment automatically applies and secures bails to receptacles. Using a starwheel, each receptacle is controlled and moved along a circular path. The cap members, each with at least one bail, are fed into the device. Each cap member is picked up by the leading bottom edge of a receptacle and moved up a ramp surface and securely pressed onto the bottom of the receptacle. The vertical force necessary for seating the cap member and bail onto the base of the receptacle is imparted by a tapered pocket of the top section of the starwheel which bears on the shoulder of the receptacle. The receptacle with attached cap member and bail is subsequently discharged from the device. 
     The present invention has been described herein with specific reference to the preferred embodiments thereof. However, those skilled in the art will understand that changes may be made in the form of the invention covered by the claims without departing from the scope and spirit thereof, and that certain features of the invention may sometimes be used to an advantage without corresponding use of the other features.