Patent Publication Number: US-2007110842-A1

Title: System for molding and assembly of sterilized articles

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention generally relates to molding systems, and more particularly the present invention relates to a system that includes a combination and permutation of a molding machine, a mold, a sterilization mechanism, and an assembly mechanism for assembling molded articles.  
     BACKGROUND  
      Nothing in the following description in the background will be construed as an admission of prior art.  
      The state of the art includes various devices and methods for removing molded parts from multicavity molds. When the molded part includes a container and a lid, sometimes it may be desirable to attach the lid to the container before the container is removed from the molding machine. Attaching the lid to the container immediately after molding can maintain the sterility of the interior of the container.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 4,976,603 (Inventor: Disimone; Assignee: Husky Injection Molding Systems Limited, Canada), U.S. Pat. No. 5,518,387 (Inventor: Disimone; Assignee: Husky Injection Molding Systems Limited, Canada), and U.S. Pat. No. 5,709,833 (Inventor: Disimone; Assignee: Husky Injection Molding Systems Limited, Canada) disclose mechanisms for removing molded parts that do not significantly increase molding cycle time and that utilize pivoting arms having suction devices thereon to unload molded parts. These patents are directed to part ejection systems that use a pivoting arm attached to one of the mold plates to enter an open mold space, capture an ejected molded part and transport it to a position adjacent the mold so the part can be released.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 5,037,597 (Inventor: McGinley et al; Assignee: Husky Injection Molding Systems Limited, Canada) discloses an apparatus for assembling two parts within a stack mold. The parts are retrieved from the molding surface by vacuum cups attached to pivoting arms. The arms are rotated one hundred and eighty degrees in the mold to move the parts into an assembled position (that is, an interlocked position). When in the assembled position, the vacuum to the vacuum cups is removed and the assembled parts are permitted to drop down a chute in the mold onto a conveyor for transporting the assembled parts away from the molding machine.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 6,145,277 (Inventor: Lawecki et al; Assignee: Medrad, USA) discloses apparatus for forming parts in an injection molding machine with a clean environment incorporated around the mold. The formed parts are transferred to an inspection station and then to an assembly station in the clean environment.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 5,378,422 (Inventor: Musiel et al; Assignee: S. C. Johnson &amp; Son, Inc., USA) discloses using a mechanism to fit two molded parts together in the mold.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 3,685,933 (Inventor: Schneider; Assignee: Firma Werner &amp; Mertz GmbH, Germany), WO Patent 0228622A1 (Inventor: Christinger; Assignee: Schöttli Ag, Industrie, Switzerland), U.S. Pat. No. 4,476,083 (Inventor: von Holdt; Assignee: not assigned), and WO Patent 2004/041507A2 (Inventor: Vanderploeg et al; Assignee: Husky Injection Molding Systems Limited, Canada) disclose molding machines that provide a mold that maintains a hinged connection between the parts.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 5,043,126 (Inventor: Thurau; Assignee: Frank Plastic GmbH, Germany) discloses a process where a first part is molded around a second part.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 6,692,684 (Inventor: Nantin et al; Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings &amp; Finance S. A., Switzerland) U.S. Pat. No. 5,141,430 (Inventor: Maus et al; Assignee: Galic Maus Ventures, USA) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,880,581 (Inventor: Dastoli et al; Assignee: Alcon Laboratories, Inc., USA) disclose methods for maintaining a sterile environment around the molded parts sterile. These prior art methods need sterilization of a subsequent environment where the molded parts are removed from the molding machine for assembly or other operations.  
      US Patent Application 20040113328A1 (Inventor: Hekal; Assignee: not assigned) discloses an improved method for sterilization of biaxial-oriented, hollow thermoplastic preforms and a process of molding thermoplastic preforms into bottles and similar containers in which pressurized liquids, such as water, are used in the stretching and shaping process rather than pneumatic gases, such as heated air. The result is greater control over crystallizing the thermoplastic material and economies of scale. Peroxides, or similar materials, may be used for sterilization can be added to the liquid thereby conditioning the container for immediate filling with a product and eliminating the need for an added sterilization step following completion of the molding step. As an added step, dry, sterile air can be used to vent and dry the container just before introduction of the product. Also use of a liquid rather than heated air provides a washing or cleansing of acetaldehydes or ethanol, which may be present in the extruded preform.  
      US Patent Application 20040052891A1 (Inventor: Kalemba et al; Assignee: Husky Injection Molding Systems Limited, Canada) discloses an injection molding apparatus for closing hinged molded part, and the apparatus includes a part-removal apparatus that grips a molded lid and/or a molded container. The apparatus for folding a hinged molded part in a molding machine is also described. As the part-removal apparatus moves the lid out of the mold, a deflector (connected to the mold) engages a container and begins folding the lid to the container at the hinge. The deflector further folds the lid and the container as the mold closes.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 5,344,305 (Inventor: McKillip; Assignee: CCL Label, Inc., USA) discloses a method and apparatus for in-mold labeling in which labels are individually cut from a continuous web as demanded by the cycling of a mold. The web of labels is advanced through a die cutter which sequentially cuts individual labels from the web. A transfer device picks a freshly cut label from the die cutter and places the label in the cavity of a mold found proximal to the die cutter. By individually cutting labels from a web at the time of use rather than loading a stack of precut labels in a magazine, this arrangement permits using thinner, less expensive and compatible plastic label material.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 4,872,304 (Inventor: Thompson; Assignee: Tri-Tech Systems International Inc., USA) discloses a container and a cap and a method of forming the cap. In the method the cap is molded from plastic and includes a top well, an outer depending skirt and an internal depending substantially annular wall having an upper end integral with and depending from the top wall and a lower free end. The free end is engaged by a curling tool to progressively turn the free end away from the internal wall to curve the free end into a curvilinear compressible and resilient free end adapted to be engaged for sealing.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 4,026,982 (Inventor: Dardaine et al; Assignee: E. P. Remy et Cie, France) discloses a process for supplying sterile gas to an extruded parison confined between the two shells of a mold. The sterile gas is sequentially applied at a first pressure slightly higher than atmospheric pressure, at a second pressure much higher than the first pressure which inflates the parison, and at a third pressure that is much lower than the second pressure and corresponds to the desired inflating pressure of the hollow body to be formed.  
      U.S. Patent Application No. 20040052891A1 (Inventor: Kalemba et al; Assignee: Husky Injection Molding Systems Limited, Canada) discloses An apparatus and method for folding a hinged molded part in a molding machine. As a part-removal apparatus, preferably a swing arm mechanism, grips one of the lid portion or the base portion of the molded part and moves the molded part out of the mold, a deflector connected to a portion of the mold engages the other portion of the part and initiates folding of the lid portion to the base portion at the hinge. The deflector further folds the part as the mold closes. The portions of the part are pushed together and latched in one embodiment by the swing arm mechanism that grips and moves the molded part against the deflector, and in another embodiment by a closing actuator operated separately from the swing arm mechanism.  
      Handling of the parts in the mold may expose molded components to the atmosphere long enough to degrade sterility of the molded components to unacceptable levels. Therefore the components (containers and lids) are molded, collected into boxes, assembled, stored and then they are sterilized after assembly (for example, 1 to 3 months after molding the components) by subjecting the components to gamma radiation or placing the components in a container that is flooded with a decontamination gas such as ethylene oxide for several hours. This extra step of sterilization adds considerable expense to producing sterilized molded components.  
     SUMMARY  
      According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system, including a molding machine configured to cooperate with a mold to mold a first part and a second part, the second part interlockable with the first part, the second part molded separately from the first part, and also including an assembly mechanism configured to interlock the first part with the second part.  
      According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system, including a molding machine configured to cooperate with a mold to mold a first part and a second part, the second part interlockable with the first part, the second part molded separately from the first part, and also configured to cooperate with an assembly mechanism, the assembly mechanism configured to interlock the first part with the second part.  
      According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system, including an assembly mechanism configured to interlock a first part with a second part, the first part and the second part molded by a molding machine configured to cooperate with a mold to mold the first part and the second part, the second part interlockable with the first part, the second part molded separately from the first part.  
      According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system, including a molding machine having a molding machine-envelope, the molding machine configured to cooperate with a mold to mold a first part and a second part, the second part interlockable with the first part, the second part molded separately from the first part, and including a sterilization mechanism having a sterilization envelope, the sterilization mechanism configured to maintain, in association with the molding machine-envelope, the first part and the second part sterilized, and also including an assembly mechanism configured to assemble, in association with the sterilization envelope, the first part with the second part.  
      The technical advantage of the present invention is improved way to interlock molded parts with each other. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
      A better understanding of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention (including alternatives and/or variations thereof) may be obtained by referring to the detailed description of the exemplary embodiments with the following drawings, in which:  
       FIG. 1A  is a cross-sectional view of a system including a mold, an assembly mechanism and a sterilization mechanism and a perspective view of a molding machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 1B  is a perspective view of the sterilization mechanism of  FIG. 1A  according to a variation of the first embodiment;  
       FIG. 1C  is a cross-sectional view of the mold and the assembly mechanism of  FIG. 1A , in which the mold is placed in a mold-closed position;  
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the mold and the assembly mechanism of  FIG. 1A  (in which the mold is placed in placed in a mold-open position;  
       FIG. 3  is a partial cross-sectional view of the mold and the assembly mechanism of  FIG. 1A ;  
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional elevation view of the mold of  FIG. 1C ;  
       FIG. 5  is a partial end view of the mold of  FIG. 1C ;  
       FIG. 6  is another partial end view of the mold of  FIG. 1C ;  
       FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the mold and the assembly mechanism of  FIG. 1A  according to the second embodiment; and  
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the system of  FIG. 1A . 
    
    
      The drawings are to scale and are sometimes illustrated by phantom lines, diagrammatic representations and fragmentary views. In instances, details that are not needed for an understanding of the embodiments or that give other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted.  
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS  
       FIG. 1A  illustrates a system  200  having a mold  2 , an assembly mechanism  3  and a sterilization mechanism  210 , all according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The system  200  includes a molding machine  202  configured to cooperate with the mold  2 , the sterilization mechanism  210  and the assembly mechanism  3 . Preferably, the molding machine  202 , the mold  2 , the sterilization mechanism  210  and the assembly mechanism  3  are all manufactured and assembled by a single vendor. According to a variation of the first embodiment, the molding machine  202 , the mold  2 , the sterilization mechanism  210  and the assembly mechanism  3  are all assembled by a combination and permutation of a plurality of vendors, and these items are assembled at a factory by a system integrator.  
      The molding machine  202  has or defines a molding-machine envelope  204 . The molding machine  202  cooperates, in use, with the mold  2  to mold a first part  206  and a second part  208 . The second part  208  is interlockable with the first part  206 , and the second part  208  is molded separately from the first part 206 . It is contemplated that the molding-machine envelope  204  may be larger or may be smaller than the size of the molding machine  202 . In a variation, the molding-machine envelope  204  defines a boundary that is up to 2 or 3 metres outwardly offset from the perimeter of the molding machine  202 . According to the first embodiment, the molding-machine envelope  204  matches the perimeter of the molding machine  202 .  
      In an alternative, the first part  206  is a container and the second part  208  is a lid  10  that covers the container. In another alternative, the first part  206  is a urine-sample collection container and the second part  208  is a cap used to cover the urine-sample collection container. Other types of parts are contemplated for the first part  206  and the second part  208 .  
      The sterilization mechanism  210  has or defines a sterilization envelope  212 . The sterilization mechanism  210  maintains, when so actuated and in association with the molding-machine envelope  204 , the first part  206  and the second part  208  sterilized. It is contemplated that the sterilization envelope  212  may be larger, smaller or the same size as the size of the sterilization mechanism  210 . For example, the perimeter of the sterilization envelope  212  may define a boundary that is up to 1 or 2 metres outwardly offset from the perimeter of the sterilization mechanism  210 . It is preferred that the sterilization envelope  212  is associated with the molding-machine envelope  204  in that they overlap in part (as shown in  FIG. 1B ). In an alternative, the sterilization envelope  212  is associated with the molding-machine envelope  204  in that they are offset from each other and do not mutually overlap (for example, the offset between these envelopes is contemplated to be up to 2 metres). In another alternative, the sterilization envelope  212  is larger than the molding-machine envelope  204  (for example, such as up to 1 meter larger than the molding-machine envelope  204 ); while in another variation the sterilization envelope  212  is smaller than the molding-machine envelope  204 .  
      The assembly mechanism  3 , in use, assembles, in association with the sterilization envelope  212 , the first part  206  with the second part  208 . In a variation, the assembly mechanism  3  remains entirely enclosed by the sterilization envelope  212 . In another variation, the assembly mechanism  3  remains partly enclosed by the sterilization envelope  212 . According to the first embodiment, the mold  2  is combined with the assembly mechanism  3 . In a variation, the mold  2  and the assembly mechanism  3  are not combined with each other. The assembly mechanism  3 , according to the first embodiment, does not place a sealing label onto the first part  206  assembled to the second part  208 .  
      According to a variation, the first part  206  defines a first thread configured to threadably interlock with a second thread defined by the second part  208 , and the assembly mechanism  3 , in use, assembles or interlocks the first thread of the first part relative to the second thread of the second part. It is contemplated that the assembly mechanism  3  assembles the first and second threads by performing any one of the following (in any combination and permutation thereof): snap fit the first thread relative to the second thread, and torque the first thread relative to the second thread.  
      According to a variation, the assembly mechanism  3 , in use, assembles the first part  206  with the second part  208  in the molding-machine envelope  204 . The sterilization mechanism  210  is configured to impose a sterile condition on the molding-machine envelope  204  defined by the mold  2 .  
       FIG. 1B  is the view of the sterilization mechanism  210  of  FIG. 1A  according to a variation of the first embodiment, in which the sterilization mechanism  210  includes any one of an ultraviolet lamp  214 , a sterilized-air mover  216 , an air mover  218 , a clean-room enclosure  220 , clean-room barrier  222  and any combination and permutation thereof. The ultraviolet lamp  214 , in use, directs ultraviolet light toward the first part  206  and the second part  208 . The sterilized-air mover  216 , in use, moves sterilized air toward the first part  206  and the second part  208 . The air mover  218 , in use, moves air, and the moved air substantially displaces bacteria away from the first part  206  and the second part  208 . The clean-room enclosure  220 , in use, substantially prevents, at least in part, ingress of bacteria into the molding-machine envelope  204 , the sterilization envelope  212  and any combination and permutation thereof. The clean-room barrier  222 , in use, substantially prevents ingress of bacteria, at least in part, into the molding-machine envelope  204  and/or the sterilization envelope  212  and/or any combination and permutation thereof.  
      According to another variation, the assembly mechanism  3  is operatively connectable to any one of the mold  2 , an end-of-arm-tool of a robot  224  (depicted in  FIG. 1B ), any combination and permutation thereof.  
      According to the first embodiment, two injection units of the molding machine  202  of  FIG. 1A  are used to inject different molding material for the first part  206  and the second part  208 .  FIG. 2  depicts two separate injection paths for carrying different molding materials, one for each of the containers and lids to be molded. According to an alternative, the molding machine  202  of  FIG. 1A  uses one injection unit to provide one molding material used to form the first part  206  and the second part  208 .  
       FIG. 1C  is the sectional view of the mold  2  and the assembly mechanism  3  of  FIG. 1A , in which the mold  2  is placed in a mold-closed position. For sake of simplifying the description of the first embodiment, the first body  206  will hereafter be referred to as the “container  5 ”, and the second body  208  will hereafter be referred to as the “lid  7 ”. The assembly mechanism  3  includes a first swing-arm assembly ( 58  or  57 ) configured to pick up, swing and translate the container  5  toward the lid  7 . The assembly mechanism  3  also includes a second swing-arm assembly ( 48  or  47 ) configured to pick up, swing and translate the lid  7  toward the container  5 . For the sake of simplifying the description of the embodiments and their alternatives, hereafter, the first swing-arm assemblies ( 58 ,  57 ) will be referred to as the “assemblies” ( 58 ,  57 ), and the second swing-arm assemblies ( 48 ,  47 ) will be referred to as the “assemblies” ( 48 ,  47 ).  
      The mold  2  includes a container-mold set  4  adapted to mold a set of containers  5 . The mold  2  also includes a lid-mold set  6  adapted to mold a set of mold lids  7 . To form the set of containers  5 , the molding machine  202  injects a first molding material (not depicted) through an injection channel  8  that leads into injection nozzles  10 , then into the container-mold set  4 . The first molding material includes a plastic resin that is (preferably) translucent when molded. To form the set of lids  7 , the molding machine  202  injects a second molding material (not depicted) through injection channel  12  that leads into injection nozzles  14 , then into the lid-mold set  6 . The second mold material includes a plastic resin that is (preferably) opaque when molded.  
      Containers and lids that were molded during a previous molding cycle of the molding machine  202  are moved or retrieved by the assembly mechanism  3  into chutes  15 A and  15 B. The chutes  15 A and  15 B are formed by the mold  2 . The retrieved containers  5  and lids  7  were retrieved by swing-arm assemblies  47 ,  48 ,  57  and  58  whose operation is described below.  
      The container-mold set  4  includes container-cavity plate  36  that is attached to a center-manifold plate  16 . The plate  36  is configured to receive a container-cavity insert  500 . The container-mold set  4  also includes a container-core plate  30  that is attached to a movable platen (not shown) of the molding machine  202 . The container-core plate  506  is configured to attached to a container core (not depicted in  FIG. 1C  because the container core is hidden in the container  5 ; however, the container core is identified at item  507  in  FIG. 2 ). The container core and the container cavity insert cooperate to define a cavity for molding the container  5 . The center-manifold plate  16  defines apertures  20  and  22  configured to cooperate with a swing-arm assembly  47  and a swing-arm assembly  48  respectively. The assemblies  47 ,  48  are used to handle the containers  5 . The assemblies  47 ,  48  are components included with the assembly mechanism  3 . Container strippers  508  are used to strip or remove the container  5  from the container core once the container is molded and the container-cavity inserts  500  are moved away from the core plate  506 . Strippers  508  are actuated to move side to side.  
      The lid-mold set  6  includes lid-cavity plate  34  that is attached to a center-manifold plate  18 . The plate  34  is configured to receive a lid-cavity insert  502 . The lid-mold set  6  also includes core plates  24  that are attached to a fixed-manifold plate  26 . The plate  24  is configured to attached to lid core  504 . The lid-cavity insert  502  and the lid core  504  cooperate to define a molding cavity for molding the lids  7 . The center-manifold plates  16 ,  18  are affixed to one another. The center-manifold plate  18  defines an aperture  38  and an aperture  40 . The apertures  38 ,  40  receive swing-arm assemblies  57 ,  58  respectively. The assemblies  57 ,  58  are used to handle the lids  7 . The assemblies  57 ,  58  are components included with the assembly mechanism  3 . Lid strippers  510  are used to strip or remove the lid  7  from the lid core  504  once the lid is molded and the lid-cavity inserts  502  are moved away from the lid cores  504 . The strippers  510  are acutated to move side to side.  
      Internal ends  42 ,  44  of the aperture  20  are interconnected to define the downwardly-extending chute  15 A. Internal ends  41 ,  43  of the aperture  22  are interconnected to define the downwardly-extending chute  15 B. The chutes  15 A,  15 B permit a way to pass or convey containers assembled to their lids, which is described below. For the sake of simplifying the description of the first embodiment, some components identified in  FIG. 1C  were not described above but a description of these components will be provided below.  
       FIG. 2  is the sectional view of the mold  2  and the assembly mechanism  3  of  FIG. 1C , in which the mold  2  is placed in a mold-opened position. The container-mold set  4  is associated with the swing-arm assemblies  47 ,  48 . Also the lid-mold set  6  is associated with the swing-arm assemblies  57 ,  58 . The swing-arm assemblies  47  and  48  are used to pick and rotate their containers  5  about pivot positions  49  and  50  respectively. Once the mold  2  is opened (by movement of the movable platen), the swing-arm assemblies  47  and  48  are actuated to rotate one hundred and eighty degrees from an out-of-mold position to an in-mold position (that is, it is a position within a molding area defined by the mold  2  as shown by a position of assembly  48 ).  
      When rotated to the in-mold position, the assembly  48  uses a pick-up head  54  to pick up the container  5  positioned on a molding surface of the mold  2 . The swing-arm assembly  48  is then rotated from the in-mold position (as shown by the position of the assembly  48  as depicted in  FIG. 2 ) to the out-of-mold position (as shown by the position of the assembly  47  as depicted in  FIG. 2 ). In this position, the assembly  47  holds the container  5  inline with the aperture  20  and when the container-mold set  4  and the lid-mold set  6  are moved (that is, the mold  2  is placed in the closed position), containers  5  held by swing-arm assemblies  47 ,  48  enter apertures  20 ,  22  respectively.  
      The swing-arm assemblies  57 ,  58  are actuatably rotatable about their pivot positions  59 ,  60 . When the mold  2  is opened, the swing-arm assemblies  57 ,  58  are actuated to rotate one hundred and eighty degrees from an out-of-mold position (that is, a position that is outside the molding area of the mold  2  as shown by the position of assembly  57  as depicted in  FIG. 2 ) to an in-mold position (that is, a position in the molding area as depicted by the position of assembly  58  in  FIG. 2 ). A pick-up head  56  is in position to retrieve molded lid  7  from a lid core of the core plate  24 . The swing-arm assemblies  57  and  58  are then actuatably rotated back one hundred and eighty degrees to the out-of-mold position. In this position, the lids  7  are aligned with apertures  38 ,  40  in the center manifold plate  18 . When the assemblies  47 ,  48 ,  57  and  58  are all positioned in their out-of-mold positions, the mold  2  is closed and new containers  5  and new lids  7  are molded in the mold sets  4  and  6  respectively, and the lids  7  and containers  5  held by respective swing-arm assemblies are joined in the apertures  20 ,  38  and  22 ,  40 ; then containers joined to their lids are released down the chutes  15 A,  15 B created by internal ends  42 ,  44  and by internal ends  41 ,  43 .  
      The swing-arm assemblies  57 ,  58  have rotated molded lids  7 , and the swing-arm assemblies  47 ,  48  have rotated molded containers  5  one hundred and eighty degrees from their original positions in the mold  2  to an assembly-discharge position (that is, chutes  15 A,  15 B) preferably located in the mold  2 .  
      Although the mold  2  is closed and molding material is injected into the container cavities and the lid cavities, the containers and the lids molded during a previous molding cycle are combined (connected, attached) to one another then they are released into chutes  15 A,  15 B. After the joined parts are released and new parts molded, the mold  2  is opened and the assemblies  47 ,  48 ,  57  and  58  are rotated one hundred and eighty degrees into their mold cavities to retrieve the next set of molded containers  5  and lids  7 . Again, when the mold  2  closes, the molded containers  5  and lids  7  are connected to one another then released down the chutes  15 A,  15 B.  
       FIG. 3  is the detailed sectional view of the mold  2  and the assembly mechanism  3  of  FIG. 1C , in which the mold  2  is placed in a mold-closed position.  FIG. 3  shows schematically how the containers and the lids are brought together in the mold  2  then released into the chutes  15 A,  15 B of  FIG. 1C .  
      As the mold  2  closes, the pick-up heads  54 ,  56  move the container  5  and the lid  7  into apertures  20 ,  38 . The mold  2  closes due to a relative closing movement of the movable platen (not depicted) and center-manifold plates  16 ,  18  toward the core plate  24 . When the mold  2  is fully closed, the container  5  engages the lid  7 . A hydraulic cylinder  77  applies force which acts to a slidable push pillar  78  which drives the pick-up head  54  forwardly to force the container  5  into a full-threaded engagement with the lid  7 . The container  5  becomes snap fitted with the lid  7 . The motion of the push pillar  78  compresses a spring  55  against a bushing  79 . When the container  5  and lid  7  are fully engaged, a vacuum is removed from a suction cup  72  (of  FIG. 3 ) located at the end of the pick-up heads  54 ,  56 , then the hydraulic cylinder  77  is retracted and the pick-up head  54  is retracted by spring  55 , and the assembled lid and container are released into the guide chute  15 A formed at the internal ends  42  and  44 .  
      When the container and the lid are in position in the apertures formed in the mold  2 , an in-mold snapping device (not depicted) is activated to force (that is, snap fit) the threads of the lid with the threads of the container. The snapping device includes a hydraulic shaft  84  that drives push pillar  78  that impels the spring-loaded pick-up head  54  toward the lid  7  and thus in this way the container is forced into snap engagement with the lid. Alignment between the threads of the containers and the threads of the lids is achieved by aligning the container and lid mold sets to appropriately orient start and finish of the threads of the containers and the lids. The suction cups  72 ,  81  and swing-arm assemblies  47 ,  57  keep the containers in their original orientation with respect to one another as the containers are removed from the mold  2  and placed in alignment with the lid. Preferably, the suction cups  72 ,  81  do not permit the containers and lids to rotate and the swing-arms assemblies  47 ,  57  keep the containers and lids in a horizontal plane. The threads on the container and the lid, when properly aligned, may flex enough to permit the lid to be tightly threaded onto the container without the need to torque them together. According to the first embodiment, the lids and the containers are snap-fitted together but they not torqued together, and the snap-fitted containers and lids are released into the chute  15 A. According to the second embodiment (shown in  FIG. 7 ), screwing (torquing) of the lid to the container is performed and the containers having screwed on lids are released into the chute  15 A.  
      Each of the center manifold plates  16 ,  18  has apertures near their periphery. The number of apertures corresponds to the number of parts molded during a molding cycle. Centrally of the apertures is a downwardly-extending chute. When the parts (containers assembled to lids) are released, they are dropped down the chute. The dimensions of the chute are adjustable to accommodate different sizes of containers.  
      The swing-arm assembly  57  for the lids (shown in dotted lines in  FIG. 3 ) is attached to the core plate  24 . The assembly  57  rotates around pivot point  59  between a position in the lid-mold set  6  where the suction cup  81  on the pick-up head  56  is adjacent a molded lid  7  when the mold  2  is opened and a position where the suction cup  81  slides into the aperture  38  in the manifold plate  18  as the mold  2  closes. A pneumatic cylinder  82  mounted on the swing arm  57  provides suction to a suction cup  81  to hold the lid  7  while it is transferred from the mold cavity of the mold  2  to aperture  38  in the manifold plate  18 . A support pillar  83  extending from the fixed core plate  24  provides backing support for a swing bracket  102  and swing-arm assembly  57  when the lid  7  is in the aperture  38 , and this permits the lid  7  to resist forward movement of the container  5  and enables the container threads into a snap-fit engagement with the threads of the lid  7 .  
      A spring-loaded head enables the container to be driven onto the lid. Hydraulic cylinder  77  has a shaft  84  that is pushable on guided clamp plate  86  to drive push pillar  78 . The push pillar  78  abuts the end of the arm of the spring-loaded pick-up head  54  for the container  5  when the assembly  47  aligns the container  5  with the aperture  20  in the manifold plate  16 . As the container  5  is moved to a position adjacent a lid  7 , the spring  55  on the arm of the pick-up head  54  compresses as the container  5  abuts against the lid  7 . When the mold  2  is closed, the hydraulic cylinder  77  is activated compressing the spring  55  and forcing the threads of the container  5  over the threads of the lid  7 . When the container  5  is fully attached to the lid  7 , the vacuum applied to the suction cups on the end of the pick-up heads  54  and  56  is removed and the hydraulic cylinder  77  retracts the push pillar  78 . This action releases the assembled container  5  and lid  7  so the assembly can fall freely down the guide chutes  15 A or  15 B created at the internal ends  42  and  44  to a receiving area outside the mold  2 .  
       FIG. 4  is the sectional elevation view of the mold  2  of  FIG. 1C . Six containers  5  are vertically aligned in apertures  20  in the manifold plate  18 . Each container  5  abuts a lid  7  in preparation for assembling the containers with the lids. A pair of hydraulic cylinders  77  push the guided clamp plate  86  to move the push pillars  78  adjacent each spring-loaded, pick-up head  54  which propels the containers  5  into assembled position with the lids  7 . Servo motors  88  and  69  rotate the assemblies  47 ,  57  between a component assembling position (as shown in  FIG. 4  with the mold  2  in the closed position) and a component pick-up position when the mold  2  is in the opened position (as shown in  FIG. 2 ). Leader pins  90  are used to guide clamp plate  86 .  
       FIG. 5  is the partial end view of the lid-mold set  6  of the mold  2  of  FIG. 1C . The swing-arm assemblies are rotated by servo motors for rapid and accurate retrieval of parts from the mold  2 . Lid cores  25  extend from the mold  2 . Tie bars  27  extend across the mold  2  to help clamp the mold. The support pillars  83  provide support for the swing brackets  63  and  68  when the swing brackets are aligned in the part assembly position (as shown in  FIG. 5 ).  
      As shown in  FIG. 5 , the swing-arm assembly  57  includes an upper swing arm  61  and a lower swing arm  62 . A swing bracket  63  extends between swing arms  61 ,  62  and includes a plurality of pick-up heads  56 . The number of pick-up heads  56  is determined by the number of lid cavities within a column of the lid-mold set  6 . In the shown embodiment there are  6  lid cavities in each column of the lid-mold set  6 . A servomotor  65  is mounted on the center manifold plate  18  by motor mount  113  and has its output shaft  64  attached to the upper swing arm  61  at the pivot position  59 . The motor  65  drives the upper swing arm  61  through one hundred and eighty degrees of rotation to rotate the swing bracket  63  to a position in the open mold so pick-up heads  56  can retrieve lids  7  and a position where the pick-up heads  56  can enter the aperture  38  (of  FIG. 3 ) when the mold closes. The swing bracket  63  rotates about the pivot position  59  midway between the centerline for the lid cavity and the centerline of the aperture  38  (of  FIG. 3 ). Similarly, the swing-arm assembly  58  includes an upper swing arm  66  and a lower swing arm  67 . A swing bracket  68  extends between swing arms  66 ,  67  and includes a plurality of pick-up heads (not shown). A portion of the swing bracket  68  has been cut out between the cut lines  94  and  95  of  FIG. 5  to show the positioning of the support pillars  83 . A servomotor  69  is mounted on the center manifold plate  18  (of  FIG. 3 ) by a motor mount  115  and has its output shaft  70  attached to the upper swing arm  66  at the pivot position  60 . The motor  69  drives the upper swing arm  66  through one hundred and eighty degrees of rotation to rotate the swing bracket  68  to a position in the open mold so pick-up heads  56  (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) can retrieve the lids and a position where the pick-up heads  56  can enter the aperture  40  (of  FIG. 1C ) when the mold closes. The swing bracket  68  rotates about the pivot position  60  midway between the centerline for the lid cavity and the centerline of the aperture  40  (of  FIG. 1C ).  
       FIG. 6  is a partial end view of the container-mold set  4  of the mold  2  of  FIG. 1C . Container cores  29  extend from container core plate  30  (of  FIG. 1C ). Servomotors  88  and  92  drive swing-arm assemblies  47  and  48  to remove containers from the container cores  29  and align them with the openings in the center manifold plate  16  (of  FIG. 1C ). The swing-arm assembly  48  includes an upper swing arm  100 , a lower swing arm  101  and a swing bracket  102 . The pick-up heads  54  are attached to the swing bracket  102  and are rotated by the servo motor  92  into a position to remove containers from the container cores  29  and return with the containers to a position aligned with the apertures  22  (of  FIG. 1C ) in the center manifold plate  16  (of  FIG. 1C ). The swing-arm assembly  47  includes an upper swing arm  104 , lower swing arm  105  and swing bracket  106 . The bracket  106  is shown cut away at lines  108  and  107  to better show the structure behind the swing brackets. As shown, a push pillar  78  is provided behind each pick-up head  54  on the swing brackets  102  and  106 .  
      The swing-arm assemblies  47  and  48  for the containers  5  are attached to the container stripper plate  28  attached to the container core plates  30  and are pivoted about a point midway between the centerline for the container cavities in the container cavity plates  36  (of  FIG. 1C ) and the centerline for the apertures  20  and  22  (of  FIG. 1C ).  
      Swing arms  47 ,  48  include pick-up heads  54 . Each pick-up head  54  is biased by the spring  55  (of  FIG. 2 ). A suction cup  72  is provided at a distal end of each pick-up head  54 . The molded containers are held on the end of the swing arms  47 ,  48  by suction force applied by suction cups at a distal end of the spring-loaded, pick-up heads  54 . The lids are held firmly on the end of the assemblies  47 ,  48  by suction cup  72 .  
      Operation  
      Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the assembly and release of the container and lids is illustrated.  FIG. 2  illustrates schematically the removal of the molded parts from the cores of the mold when the mold is open. As shown by the arrow  74  at the bottom left of  FIG. 2 , the swing arm  48  is rotated one hundred and eighty degrees into position at the base of the container  5 . Vacuum is supplied to the spring-loaded, pick-up head  54  and the container  5  is then held by the head  54 . The swing arm  47  rotates one hundred and eighty degrees to move the container  5  through the positions schematically shown in the top left of  FIG. 2  to a position aligned with the aperture  20  in the center manifold plate  16 . The swing arm assemblies  57 ,  58  are similarly rotated into position to pick up the lids, and then are rotated to a position aligned with the apertures  38 ,  40 .  
      In the top left portion of mold  2  in  FIG. 2 , the travel of a container  5  is illustrated. The container  5  has been withdrawn from the container cavity in the container cavity plate  36  and initially held on the container core  29 . The swing arm  47  rotates the pick-up head  54  into position adjacent the container  5  as indicated by arrow  75 . The container  5  is attached to the suction cup  72  on the end of pick-up head  54 . The container  5  is then rotated through the illustrated intermediate positions to the position shown in  FIG. 2  where the container  5  is aligned with the aperture  20 . The bottom left portion of mold  2  in  FIG. 2  shows a pick-up head  54  in position to retrieve a container  5  from the container stripper plate  28 . In operation, the assemblies  47 ,  48  would rotate into and out of the mold set  4  in unison so that all the containers  5  molded during a molding cycle would be retrieved during the same succeeding molding cycle.  FIG. 2  has been modified to better illustrate the embodiment.  
      The right portion of mold  2  in  FIG. 2 , illustrates the travel of the lids. The lids are retrieved from the mold  2  by pick-up heads  56  on swing arm assemblies  57 ,  58 . The lids  7  are also held on the pick-up heads  56  by suction cups attached to the pick-up heads  56 . Again, the swing-arm assemblies  57 ,  58  operate in unison to simultaneously remove the lids  7  from the mold.  
       FIG. 7  is the sectional view of the mold  200  and the assembly mechanism  300  usable with the molding machine  202  of  FIG. 1A , according to the second embodiment. The second embodiment is the preferred embodiment. According to the second embodiment, the push pillars  78  are of the first embodiment are replaced with a pneumatic-drive motor  111  that actuatably rotates containers  5  relative to lids  7 .  
      In an alternative, it is contemplated that any type of motor that provides controllable torque, such as an electric motor, is used. These motors enable the container  5  to be rotated onto the lid  7  by using to a predetermined torque force. Although controlling the torque force may be desirable sometimes, including the torquing motors with the mold  2  may create an added expense to the molding machine  202 . In an alternative, the torquing devices are used downstream of the chutes  15 A,  15 B (of  FIG. 1C ) to torque the containers to the lids, and this arrangement could require that the containers and the lids are partly assembled in the mold envelope (that is, they are snap fitted together before they are released into chutes  15 A,  15 B) and the snap-fitted parts arrive at the torquing device for subsequent torquing operation.  
      The above alternative describes an embodiment in which a motor is used to torque the container to the lid while the container and the lid are in a molding envelope. It is contemplated to use a gripping means (as a substitute for holding the containers and the lid with suction cups). The gripper means grips the container and the lids so that when torque is supplied the container and the lid will not slip (substantially) with respect to their holding devices.  
       FIG. 8  is a perspective of the molding machine  202  of  FIG. 1A . Depicted is a molding-machine cabinet  117  with HEPA filters  118  mounted on a top wall of the molding-machine cabinet  117 . Assembled containers and lids  119  are dropped down the chutes  15 A,  15 B and onto a conveyor  120  extending from a housing  121 . The exit of the housing  121  is covered to prevent a flow of contaminated air into the conveyor housing  121  and the molding-machine cabinet  117  but is resilient enough that the cover does not interfere with the movement of assembled units containers and lids on the conveyor  120 . With this arrangement, the HEPA filters  118 , when actuated, filter the air entering the sterilization envelope and thereby ensure that the molded assembled containers  119  are kept sterile while eliminating a need to maintain a sterile environment outside the molding envelope or to perform a subsequent decontamination operation of the container and lid at a subsequent station.  
      In an alternative, the environment in the mold is kept sterile using another approach. The HEPA filters are replaced by ultraviolet lamps or by a sterilizing-gas generator could be used to feed sterilizing gas (or air) into the sterilization envelope. Preferably, the sterilizing envelope is substantially sealed and exiting gas is recaptured.  
      In an alternative embodiment, another closure means is contemplated for a container and a lid (other than a threaded means described above). According to an alternative, the lid and the container mate using a bayonet type interconnect means (that is, a palm ‘n’ turn style for example) used for drug vials. According to another embodiment, the lid and the container do not mate with an interconnecting means but rather the lid slides onto the container. According to yet another embodiment, the lid or the container includes a detent that permits the lid to snap fit onto the container. Generally, the aspect that is common between the embodiments and alternatives is that the second part is interlockable with the first part.  
      In an, alternative embodiment, the assembly mechanism  3  is configured to interlock the first part with the second part. The above detailed description has provided examples of interlocking the first part with the second part (threads on the parts, etc).  
      In an alternative, the swing-arm assemblies  47  or  48  are configured to pick up, swing, align and translate the first part toward the second part. The swing-arm assemblies  5  or  58  are configured to pick up, swing, align and translate the second part toward the first part. It is contemplated that any combination and permutation thereof of these assemblies  47 ,  48 ,  57 ,  58  may be used.  
      In an alternative embodiment, sterilization of the container and the lid is not needed, and therefore the system  200  of  FIG. 1 C  includes the molding system  202  and the assembly mechanism  3  and the sterilization mechanism  210  is excluded because sterilization is not needed.  
      The embodiments described above that include the sterilization mechanism  210  are classified as prophetical embodiments or prophetical alternatives (even though the description above was written in the past tense). The embodiments or alternatives described that do not include the sterilization mechanism  210  are classified as working embodiments or working alternatives (such as the embodiments and/or alternatives related to the mold  2 , the assembly mechanism  3  and the molding machine  202 .  
      The description of the exemplary embodiments provides examples of the present invention, and these examples do not limit the scope of the present invention. It is understood that the scope of the present invention is limited by the claims. The embodiments described above may be adapted for specific conditions and/or functions, and may be further extended to a variety of other applications that are within the scope of the present invention. Having thus described the embodiments and alternatives, modifications and enhancements are possible without departing from the concepts as described. Therefore what will be protected by way of letters patent are limited only by the scope of the following claims: