Thermo-sealing apparatus for filling and sealing liquid containers

A thermo-sealing machine for filling containers with liquids and sealing them, comprising a bearing structure on which a bell member is mounted, at a higher position than that of support means for supporting at least a container to be filled and sealed, said bell member comprising a metering device, die-cutting means and sealing means, for die-cutting and sealing a film slidable between said bell member and the container to be filled, said machine being provided with an anti-polluting and operator safety system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a thermo-sealing apparatus for filling containers with liquids and sealing said containers.

As is known, for preserving biologic material samples are frequently used solutions of formic aldehyde, known by the commercial name of formalin.

For example, in a hospital environment, the biologic materials are preserved in formalin contained in sealed containers to allow the preserved samples to be analyzed as desired.

The use of formalin has at least two main problems.

The first is that it is necessary to properly meter the formalin amount used for each sample, since an excessive dose would alter the sample thereby preventing it from being properly tested, whereas an insufficient dose would prevent the sample to be properly preserved.

The second main problem is to reduce as far as possible an exposure of the operators to formalin and vapors thereof.

In fact, formaldehyde has been entered by the “Associazione Internazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro” in a list of substances considered as carcinogenic for the human beings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the present invention is to provide a thermo-sealing machine for filling containers with liquids and sealing them, allowing to precisely and automatically meter the liquid while preventing any undesired exposure of the operators to said liquids or vapors thereof.

Within the scope of the above mentioned aim, a main object of the invention is to provide such a machine which has been specifically designed for using formalin to preserve biologic material samples in sealed containers or vessels.

Another object is to provide such a machine adapted to operate with different size containers.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a machine which, owing to its specifically designed constructional features, is very reliable and safe in operation.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the above mentioned aim and objects, as well as yet other objects, which will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a thermo-sealing machine for filling containers with liquids and sealing them, characterized in that said machine comprises a bearing structure on which a bell element is mounted, at a top position with respect to support means for supporting at least a container to be filled and sealed.

Said bell member comprises a metering device, die-cutting means and sealing means, adapted to die-cut and seal a film sliding between said bell member and the container to be filled.

The machine is characterized in that it further comprises an anti-polluting and safety system for the operator.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the number references of the above mentioned figures, the thermo-sealing machine for filling containers with liquids and sealing them, according to the present invention, which has been generally indicated by the reference number1, comprises a bearing structure2, optionally of a wheel-mounted type, on which a bell member3is assembled, at a higher position than that of supporting means for supporting at least a vessel or container4,44to be filled and sealed.

The bell member3comprises a metering device5, die-cutting means6,66, sealing means7,77, provided for die-cutting and sealing a film8, slidingly movable between the bell member3and the container4,44to be filled.

Said film8is supplied from a film bobbin9and entrained by entraining or driving means10, preferably comprising an electric motor.

The container supporting means comprise a drawer member11, including a counter-biasing recess12and provided for supporting a small size container4.

A lifting device13is herein provided for vertically displacing the drawer member11, as schematically shown inFIG. 8, to displace in turn the container4from a sealing and filling position to a lowered position for allowing the film to properly slide therethrough.

The support means comprise moreover a second drawer member111, provided for supporting a larger size container44.

The second drawer member111is not vertically movable, and only the bell member4is vertically displaced or driven, between a sealing and filling position and a film8sliding position.

Between the drawer member11and the cover of the machine1, a bellows member14is arranged for providing a tight or sealed relationship between the inner part of the machine and the outer environment, while allowing said drawer member to be crosswise driven.

The metering device5comprises a nozzle15, driven by a metering pump16and coupled to a supply tube, in turn coupled to a liquid tank.

The die-cutting means of the bell member3comprise a first cylindric die-cut member6and a second cylindric die-cut member66having a larger diameter than that of the first die-cut member6and coaxially extending therewith.

The first die-cut member6is mounted on a first sealing ring element7, which forms, in cooperation with a second sealing ring element77, said sealing means.

The second die-cut member66is mounted on the second sealing ring element77.

Said cylindric die-cut members6and66are arranged outside of the respective sealing ring elements7and77.

Each die-cut member-ring element pair is vertically movable, in an independent manner from one another, so as to be displaced from a raised position to a lowered position where the die-cut member6or66will die-cut the film8and the respective ring element7or77will perform a sealing of the film8on the edge of the container4or44.

Advantageously, the sealing operation is a cold-sealing operation.

The machine comprises moreover a suction system for sucking vapors which may be produced during the injection step.

The thermo-sealing machine according to the present invention allows to package under vacuum or in a controlled atmosphere condition liquid containers, by an anti-polluting and operator safety system.

The operation of the machine according to the present invention will be hereinbelow disclosed with reference to a small diameter container4.

More specifically, a container4, containing a sample30, is engaged in the counter-biasing recess12provided in the drawer member11, as the latter is arranged in a withdrawn position thereof shown by dashed lines inFIG. 8.

Then, the drawer member11is engaged in the machine body at a liquid feeding and sealing position, which is shown by continuous lines in saidFIG. 8and moreover inFIG. 2.

The bell member4is then automatically lowered and the metering device5will inject a given amount of liquid31, for example formalin, into the container4through the injection nozzle15, as shown inFIG. 3.

Thus, the liquid31will enter the container4through an opening preformed in the film8in a preceding loading operation, as it will be disclosed hereinbelow.

The bell member is spaced from the top edge of the container to allow the film8to properly slide so as to cover the container, as shown inFIG. 4.

Then, the bell4is again tightly closed on the drawer member, and in this time the machine will perform a vacuum, gas and sealing operating cycle, or it will perform only the sealing operation, depending on the product packaging requirements.

More specifically, the sealing is performed by a cold-sealing or welding operation, performed through the sealing or welding ring element7.

In this operating step, shown inFIG. 5, an atmosphere communicating solenoid valve is opened, and simultaneously a further solenoid valve coupled to the suction device is also opened.

Then, the bell member is automatically re-opened, as shown inFIG. 6, and the drawer member11is withdrawn.

In this position it is possible to remove the container, in a sealed condition, and the machine will be ready for performing a following operating cycle with a film8already die-cut by the cylindric die-cut member6during the second closure of the bell member4.

In an operation with the small diameter container4, the opening and closing of the bell member are performed by lowering and raising the drawer member11through the raising or lifting device13.

The operation of the inventive machine for a greater size container44is analogous to the preceding one, with the difference that the die-cutting and sealing operations are performed by the outermost cylindric die-cut member66and the corresponding sealing ring element77.

Moreover, for a larger diameter container44, the support drawer111is not vertically movable, and only the bell member4will be driven for performing its opening and closing operations.

It has been found that the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects.

In fact, the invention has provided a machine including an efficient anti-polluting and operator safety system, allowing containers to be automatically filled with liquids and sealed.

According to the present invention, the film, entrained by an electric motor between the container and the corresponding sealing ring element, allows the injected liquid to pass through the die-cut openings of the film performed in a preceding operating cycle; after the metering cycle, the film will be again fed to be further sealed and die-cut on the container.

In practicing the invention, the used materials, as well as the contingent size and shapes, can be any according to requirements.